Site conditions for regeneration of climax species, the key for restoring moist deciduous tropical forest in Southern Vietnam.

Understanding the requirements and tolerances of the seedlings of climax species is fundamental for tropical forest restoration. This study investigates how the presence and abundance of seedlings of a previously dominant, now threatened species (Dipterocapus dyeri Pierre), varies across a range of environmental conditions. Dipterocapus dyeri seedling abundance and site characteristics were recorded at 122 observation points (4 m2) at nine clusters from two sites. Seedling presence (p = 0.065) and abundance varied significantly (p = 0.001) between the two sites, and was strongly correlated with adult D. dyeri dominance and lower soil pH, and weakly correlated with canopy openness and total stand basal area. Dipterocarpus dyeri seedlings were also grown in shade houses with three light levels on two soils. Seedling survival was significantly lower at the lowest light level (<10% full irradiance) at 13% for the forest soil and 25% for degraded soil. At higher irradiance the seedling survival rates were greater than 99%. Moisture levels remained high at the lowest light level and many seedlings died from fungal infection. We concluded that secondary forests which contain adequate numbers of adult D. dyeri as seed sources, light availability, soil pH of < 5.0, and good drainage strongly favour survival and growth of D. dyeri seedlings. Historically, D. dyeri was dominant in moist deciduous tropical forest across south-eastern Vietnam, but today it is rare. Active management of these recovering forests is essential in order to recover this high-value, climax forest species.

Expression of Phosphate Transporters during Dental Mineralization.

The importance of phosphate (Pi) as an essential component of hydroxyapatite crystals suggests a key role for membrane proteins controlling Pi uptake during mineralization in the tooth. To clarify the involvement of the currently known Pi transporters (Slc17a1, Slc34a1, Slc34a2, Slc34a3, Slc20a1, Slc20a2, and Xpr1) during tooth development and mineralization, we determined their spatiotemporal expression in murine tooth germs from embryonic day 14.5 to postnatal day 15 and in human dental samples from Nolla stages 6 to 9. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and X-gal staining, we showed that the expression of Slc17a1, Slc34a1, and Slc34a3 in tooth germs from C57BL/6 mice were very low. In contrast, Slc34a2, Slc20a1, Slc20a2, and Xpr1 were highly expressed, mostly during the postnatal stages. The expression of Slc20a2 was 2- to 10-fold higher than the other transporters. Comparable results were obtained in human tooth germs. In mice, Slc34a2 and Slc20a1 were predominantly expressed in ameloblasts but not odontoblasts, while Slc20a2 was detected neither in ameloblasts nor in odontoblasts. Rather, Slc20a2 was highly expressed in the stratum intermedium and the subodontoblastic cell layer. Although Slc20a2 knockout mice did not show enamel defects, mutant mice showed a disrupted dentin mineralization, displaying unmerged calcospherites at the mineralization front. This latter phenotypical finding raises the possibility that Slc20a2 may play an indirect role in regulating the extracellular Pi availability for mineralizing cells rather than a direct role in mediating Pi transport through mineralizing plasma cell membranes. By documenting the spatiotemporal expression of Pi transporters in the tooth, our data support the possibility that the currently known Pi transporters may be dispensable for the initiation of dental mineralization and may rather be involved later during the tooth mineralization scheme.

A Serological Protein Microarray for Detection of Multiple Cross-Reactive Flavivirus Infections in Horses for Veterinary and Public Health Surveillance.

The genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae includes some of the most important examples of emerging zoonotic arboviruses that are rapidly spreading across the globe. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are mosquito-borne members of the JEV serological group. Although most infections in humans are asymptomatic or present with mild flu-like symptoms, clinical manifestations of JEV, WNV, SLEV, USUV and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) can include severe neurological disease and death. In horses, infection with WNV and JEV can lead to severe neurological disease and death, while USUV, SLEV and TBEV infections are mainly asymptomatic, however, and induce antibody responses. Horses often serve as sentinels to monitor active virus circulation in serological surveillance programmes specifically for WNV, USUV and JEV. Here, we developed and validated a NS1-antigen protein microarray for the serological differential diagnosis of flavivirus infections in horses using sera of experimentally and naturally infected symptomatic as well as asymptomatic horses. Using samples from experimentally infected horses, an IgG and IgM specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 95% for WNV and 100% for JEV was achieved with a cut-off titre of 1 : 20 based on ROC calculation. In field settings, the microarray identified 93-100% of IgG-positive horses with recent WNV infections and 87% of TBEV IgG-positive horses. WNV IgM sensitivity was 80%. Differentiation between closely related flaviviruses by the NS1-antigen protein microarray is possible, even though we identified some instances of cross-reactivity among antibodies. However, the assay is not able to differentiate between naturally infected horses and animals vaccinated with an inactivated WNV whole-virus vaccine. We showed that the NS1-microarray can potentially be used for diagnosing and distinguishing flavivirus infections in horses and for public health purposes within a surveillance setting. This allows for fast, cheap, syndrome-based laboratory testing for multiple viruses simultaneously for veterinary and public health purposes.

Betahistine reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic gynecological surgery.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery are at high risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). We compared the antiemetic efficacy of ondansetron plus betahistine with that of ondansetron alone in this patient population. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blinded study, 168 patients were randomly allocated to receive placebo (O group) or betahistine 18 mg (OB group) orally 3 hours before surgery and 24 hours thereafter. In both groups, ondansetron 4 mg was administered at the end of surgery and 8 mg were added to an intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) fentanyl solution. The primary outcome was complete response (no PONV and no rescue antiemetics) during the first 48 hours after surgery. The severity of nausea, pain score, and adverse events were assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of complete response was significantly higher in OB group than in O group (69% vs. 46%, P=0.004). The severity of nausea was lower in OB group than in O group during 30 minutes to 6 hours and 6 to 24 hours after surgery (P=0.001 and P<0.001). Pain score was similar between the groups. The incidence of dizziness was lower in OB group than in O group (13% vs. 40%, P < 0.001). Six patients (7%) in OB group and 15 patients (18%) in O group required early IV-PCA discontinuation, primarily because of PONV and/or dizziness (P=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to ondansetron alone, ondansetron plus betahistine was more effective to prevent PONV and dizziness in high-risk patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery.

Assessment LOPU-IVF in Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon nippon) and application to Vietnamese sika deer (Cervus nippon pseudaxis) a related subspecies threatened with extinction.

In mammals, recovery of oocytes by laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU) coupled with in vitro production (IVP) of embryos represents a promising strategy for both amplification and genetic management of sparse animals from captive endangered wild species. As integrated technique developed mainly for domestic livestock, LOPU-IVP requires several studies to set up protocols for follicular stimulation or optimization of IVP before envisaging successful transposition to wild species. In deer, many endangered subspecies would be potentially concerned by applying such an approach using common subspecies for protocols optimization. The aim of the present study was to assess efficiency of follicle stimulation using ovine FSH (oFSH) for recovery of oocytes by LOPU in common sika deer (Cervus nippon nippon) before transposition of an optimized methodology for IVP of embryos from endangered Vietnamese sika deer hinds (Cervus nippon pseudaxis). In common sika deer, two doses of oFSH (0.25 and 0.5 U) and two frequencies of administration (12 and 24 h) were compared by monitoring of subsequent ovarian response, quality of oocytes recovered by LOPU, and in vitro developmental competence. In a first experiment, the dose of oFSH administered did not significantly affect the total number of follicles aspirated per hind per session (8.6 ± 1.0 vs. 8.2 ± 1.6 with 0.5 vs. 0.25 U oFSH, respectively; not significant). In a second experiment, frequency of 0.25 U oFSH administration did not affect ovarian response. Efficiency of IVP determined on blastocysts rates after in vitro maturation, fertilization, and development in oviduct epithelial cells coculture was increased when FSH was administered at 12-h intervals. Immune response after several follicular stimulations was detected against exogenous oFSH in plasma from the majority of sika deer hinds but was not associated with decreased ovarian response. When 0.25 U oFSH was administered at 12-h intervals to Vietnamese sika deer (N = 4), good quality cumulus oocyte complexes with complete and compact cumulus investments were recovered allowing a high cleavage rate after in vitro maturation and fertilization. Development to the blastocyst stage occurred in a high proportion (30% of oocytes) after coculture with ovine epithelial cells allowing cryobanking of transferable embryos from Vietnamese sika deer. These results confirm that LOPU-IVF after ovarian stimulation with oFSH may be a successful tool for cryobanking transferable embryos from endangered sika deer subspecies.

Rapid assessment of the stability of DNA duplexes by impedimetric real-time monitoring of chemically induced denaturation.

In this article, we report on the electronic monitoring of DNA denaturation by NaOH using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in combination with fluorescence imaging as a reference technique. The probe DNA consisting of a 36-mer fragment was covalently immobilized on nanocrystalline-diamond electrodes and hybridized with different types of 29-mer target DNA (complementary, single-nucleotide defects at two different positions, and a non-complementary random sequence). The mathematical separation of the impedimetric signals into the time constant for NaOH exposure and the intrinsic denaturation-time constants gives clear evidence that the denaturation times reflect the intrinsic stability of the DNA duplexes. The intrinsic time constants correlate with calculated DNA-melting temperatures. The impedimetric method requires minimal instrumentation, is label-free and fast with a typical time scale of minutes and is highly reproducible. The sensor electrodes can be used repetitively. These elements suggest that the monitoring of chemically induced denaturation at room temperature is an interesting approach to measure DNA duplex stability as an alternative to thermal denaturation at elevated temperatures, used in DNA-melting experiments and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis.

Prepuncture ultrasound-measured distance: an accurate reflection of epidural depth in infants and small children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidural cannulation is technically difficult in children who have small anatomic structures. Ultrasound information regarding the distance of skin-to-ligament flavum may be useful, leading to an increase in success rate without dural puncture. This study was performed to assess whether ultrasound-measured, skin-to-ligament flavum distance would reflect the needle depth during epidural puncture in infants and children. METHODS: The study compromised 180 children, aged 2 to 84 months, undergoing urologic surgery. After induction of anesthesia, ultrasound images of the longitudinal median and transverse views were acquired from L4-L5 in lateral decubitus position. Measured distance of skin-to-ligament flavum in each view was compared with the perpendicular skin-to-epidural depth, which was obtained from needle depth and angle by use of a trigonometric ratio equation. Additionally, we evaluated the ultrasound visibility of the ligament flavum and dura mater, number of puncture attempts, and complications. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between measured distance and perpendicular epidural depth was slightly higher in longitudinal median view (R2 = 0.848) than in transverse view (R2 = 0.788). The visibility of ligament flavum and dura mater was "good" in 91 and 170 of 180 patients, respectively, and "sufficient" in the remaining subjects. The epidural space was located on first puncture attempt in 179 of 180 cases (99.4%). No incidents of dural puncture or bloody tap occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound, particularly in the longitudinal median view, provides accurate information on the distance of skin-to-ligament flavum in infants and children. With reference to the measured distance, epidural puncture can be performed with minimal risk of dural puncture (upper limit of 95% CI = 1.67%).

Hepatic resection by the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator increases the incidence and severity of venous air embolism.

UNLABELLED: The Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA) is an innovative tool for resecting hepatic parenchyma, which reduces intraoperative blood loss and perioperative morbidity. We designed this study to compare the incidence and severity of venous air embolism (VAE) detected via transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during hepatic resection by using either the clamp-crushing method or the CUSA method. Fifty patients scheduled for hepatic resection were randomly assigned to receive hepatic resection by the clamp-crushing method (CC group) or by CUSA (CUSA group). After the induction of anesthesia, the TEE probe was inserted into the patient's esophagus. An independent anesthesiologist graded VAE shown in the 4-chamber view of TEE. All patients in the CUSA group showed VAE during hepatic resection and 44% of the patients had air embolism filling more than half the right heart diameter. In CC group, 68% of the patients showed VAE, which filled less than half the right heart diameter. There were no significant differences in hemodynamics and end-tidal CO2 partial pressure between the two groups. In conclusion, hepatic resection by CUSA increases the incidence and severity of VAE. IMPLICATIONS: This study demonstrated that venous air embolism during hepatic resection was more frequent and severe when using the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator. Although we found no evidence of hemodynamic compromise, increased venous air embolism may increase the risk of paradoxical embolism in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Effect of ginseng saponins on the recombinant serotonin type 3A receptor expressed in xenopus oocytes: implication of possible application as an antiemetic.

OBJECTIVES: Nausea and vomiting are the most frequently reported side-effects by patients who are given general anesthesia perioperatively and patients with cancer who undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) type 3A receptor (5HT(3A) receptor) is known to mediate nausea and vomiting and its antagonists have been used effectively to prevent and/or reduce the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting. However, the adverse effects on cardiac function, such as QT interval prolongation, limit their routine use by these patients. This study was designed to elucidate the effect of ginseng saponins on the recombinant 5HT(3A) receptor expressed in the xenopus oocyte. DESIGN: After in vitro transcription of the recombinant human 5HT(3A) receptor in the Xenopus laevis oocyte, we examined Panax ginseng saponins (total saponin [TS], panaxadiol saponin [PD] fraction, panaxatriol saponin [PT] fraction, and ginsenoside-Rb1 and -Rg1) for their ability to inhibit current flow through the 5HT(3A) receptor using the voltage-clamp technique. RESULTS: All saponin fractions (TS, PD, PT fraction, as well as ginsenoside-Rb1 and -Rg1) inhibited the peak current induced by the agonist 5HT on the 5HT(3A) receptor in a concentration-dependent, reversible, and voltage-independent manner. The PT fraction inhibited 5HT-induced currents in 5HT(3A) receptor more than the PD fraction; meanwhile, there was a similar degree of inhibition between ginsenoside-Rg1 and -Rb1, the main substitutes of PT fraction and PD saponin fractions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that ginseng saponins, especially PT fraction, have substantial inhibitory effects on the recombinant 5HT(3A) receptor, suggesting that some of the specific types of ginsenoside might have an antagonistic action against 5HT(3A) receptor related to nausea and vomiting.

Biochemical characteristics of beta-adrenoceptors in rats after an 18-day spaceflight (LMS-STS78).

BACKGROUND: To ascertain whether there was autonomic adaptation with the development of adrenoceptor hypersensitivity under microgravity, the biochemical properties of the beta-adrenoceptors were determined using (125I)iodocyanopindolol (ICYP) binding in rats flown for 18 d onboard the space shuttle. METHODS: This study was performed on heart and kidneys of 3 groups of 12 animals: the flight and 2 ground control (vivarium and AEM) groups. To distinguish the possible role of the corticosteroids, half of each animal group was bilaterally adrenalectomized (ADX rats) with an aldosterone and corticosterone supplementation while the other half was SHAM operated. RESULTS: The Scatchard analysis of the ICYP-binding in both organs revealed no significant alterations in the dissociation constant (Kd) and in the maximal binding capacity (Bmax) between SHAM flight and control groups. The Kd of the beta-adrenoceptors in the cardiac atria of the SHAM flight rats (74 +/- 5 pm) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in those of the ADX flight rats (60 +/- 3 pm) while the Bmax was nonsignificantly higher (1925 +/- 370 in SHAM flight rats vs. 1482 +/- 283 fmol x mg(-1) protein in ADX flight rats). No significant change was determined for the Bmax and Kd values in the kidneys of the ADX and SHAM flight rats. CONCLUSIONS: This work performed on animals did not show any obvious effect of microgravity on the beta-adrenergic function in the heart and kidneys. Inflight rodent sacrifice protocols should definitely ensure assessment of the influence of microgravity on the animals.

AutoPap 300 QC system scoring of cervical smears without "epithelial cell abnormalities".

OBJECTIVE: To examine four morphologic features other than epithelial abnormality to identify if they are associated with a high quality control (QC) score with the AutoPap 300 QC system. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 180 slides (140 with a high QC score and 40 with a low QC score [the control group]) were manually reviewed, and four morphologic features were assessed while blind to the QC score, as follows: adequacy, epithelial fragments and clumps, cytohormonal pattern, and diagnostic categories within normal limits and benign cellular changes (BCC). RESULTS: Both atrophy and a diagnosis of BCC were associated with a high QC score at a statistically significant level. CONCLUSION: Certain characteristics of the slide population submitted for AutoPap QC review could have an impact on the overall laboratory workload (QC review rate). There are opportunities to optimize the workload of the laboratory when using AutoPap for QC selection.

La sante des adolescents en Algerie : etat d'avancement d'un programme de cooperation mene dans la region de Sidi-Bel-Abbes

Un certain de donnees ont ete receuillies entre 1980 et 1982 dans le domaine de la sante des adolescents dans le cadre d'une these de doctorat en Sciences Medicales dans la region de Sidi-Bel-Abbes regroupant pres de 500.000 habitants. Ces donnees diverses interessent la morbidite generale et hospitaliere; la mortalite; les aspects socio-demographiques de la sante des jeunes ainsi que des resultats d'enquetes aupres des services de sante scolaire; de medecine ambulatoire et des adolescents eux-memes. L'objectif de ce travail etait de determiner les besoins de sante a cet age de vie et d'analyser les reponses offertes par le systeme de sante aux problemes ainsi identifies

[Variations in blood lipid levels in adolescents: relation to changes in lifestyle. A longitudinal approach]. / Evolution des lipides sanguins chez les jeunes: relation avec les changements du mode de vie. Approache longitudinale.

In order to assess the relationship between changes in life style (taking up smoking, giving up sporting activity) and plasma lipids, 3,650 young subjects aged 14 to 18 years, from the Lorraine region, were examined on two occasions separated by a 5 year interval. At the second examination, 39% of the boys and 33.8% of the girls had taken up smoking, and 52% of the boys and 68% of the girls had given up strenuous physical activity. These changes in life style were associated with a significant change in total cholesterol in boys and also of triglycerides after adjustment of values for age and variation in body mass: starting smoking or the giving up of sporting activities was associated with a greater increase in cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These results underline need for increasing efforts in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in young subjects, and emphasise the importance of maintaining physical activity and of not smoking.

[Public knowledge and attitude towards colorectal cancer]. / Connaissances et attitudes du public à l'égard du cancer colo-rectal.

The public's knowledge and attitude concerning cancer were studied in 1,422 subjects aged 16 to 65 who attended the Center of Preventive Medicine in Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy during the first months of 1988. There was an obvious lack of knowledge about predisposing factors and early symptoms of colorectal cancer with important differences between age groups and socio-educational levels. Only 40% of the population knew at least one risk factor for this cancer (food) or an early symptom (generally bleeding), one out of three subjects was able to quote a screening method (fecal occult blood test, radiology, endoscopy). The public's knowledge about early detection of colorectal cancer must be improved. Each practitioner should fell concerned and involve himself in health education in order to improve the prevention of this cancer, by modifying the public's attitude toward risk factors and early diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

[The health of adolescents: what do parents think about it?]. / La santé des adolescents: qu'en pensent les parents?

Parental care of adolescent children was studied in 501 families who attended the Centre of Preventive Medicine of Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy. The health of their adolescent children was the parents' main concern and they considered morale, hygiene and alimentation as being the most important health determinants. Twenty-eight per cent of the parents indicated that they were anxious about their adolescent children. When they contacted the Centre of Preventive Medicine, parents were mostly seeking a regular check-up and information for their offspring. A correspondence analysis showed a breakdown of the parents into several groups, according to their responses and degree of concern for the health of their adolescents.