Effect of a functional feed additive on mitigation of experimentally induced gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata enteromyxosis.

In gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata, infection by Enteromyxum leei produces a cachectic syndrome with anorexia, weight loss, severe epaxial muscle atrophy and, eventually, death. Currently, there are neither vaccines nor effective prescription medicines to control this infection. Nutraceutical approaches are raising interest in the aquaculture industry, responding to the lack of therapeutic tools for the management of insidious chronic losses due to parasites. In this study, the effect of a commercially available health-promoting feed additive (SANACORE® GM) at 2 different doses was tested in comparison with a basal diet without the additive during a laboratory-controlled challenge with E. leei. Group performance and biometrical values were monitored, and an in-depth parasitological diagnosis, quantification of parasite loads and histopathological examination were carried out at the end of the trial. Supplemented diets mitigated the anorexia and growth arrestment observed in challenged fish fed the basal diet. This mitigation was maximum in the highest dose group, whose growth performance was not different from that of unchallenged controls. Treated groups also presented lower prevalence of infection and a lower parasite load, although the differences in the mean intensity of infection were not statistically significant. Although the decrease in parasite levels was similar with both doses of additive tested, the pathogeny of the infection was mostly suppressed with the higher dose, while only mitigated with the lower dose. The mechanisms involved in the effects obtained remain to be investigated, but the results point to a modulation of the immunopathological response to the infection.

Analysis of current testing practices for biallelic MUTYH mutations in MUTYH-associated polyposis.

MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) is an autosomal recessive syndrome caused by biallelic mutations in the base excision repair gene MUTYH. Owing to potential limitations in the MAP testing strategy and testing criteria, it is possible that MAP is being under-identified both genotypically and phenotypically. To determine whether full sequencing of MUTYH would increase clinical sensitivity over a founder mutation (FM) strategy, a retrospective analysis of two datasets from a commercial clinical laboratory was performed. The first cohort contained 1522 individuals who received MUTYH analysis for two FMs with subsequent full-gene sequencing. Eighty-five biallelic individuals were identified; 47 carried two FMs, 17 carried one FM and one mutation identified on full sequencing, and 21 carried biallelic mutations identified only on full sequencing. The second cohort contained 921 patients with colorectal cancer <50 years and <10 reported colorectal adenomas who had undergone MUTYH mutation testing. In this cohort, 19 of 921 (2.1%) individuals were identified as biallelic MUTYH carriers. Of these, 13 did not have a personal or family history of polyps and would not have met guidelines for MUTYH testing. These results suggest that individuals with biallelic MUTYH mutations are under-ascertained based on both genotype and phenotype under current standard testing practices.

[Prevention of dementia: is it possible?]. / Prévention de la démence: est-ce possible?

Development of dementia depends on genetic susceptibility and on risk factors accessible to primary prevention. Among the latter, vascular risk factors are well defined: prevention of hyperhomocysteinemia, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and, to some extent, of arterial hypertension could avoid the cognitive decline of dementia. Estrogen replacement therapy, antiinflammatory drugs, alcohol, vitamin E and intellectual activities seem efficacious in term of primary prevention. When dementia is present, only vitamin E, selegiline and some antiinflammatory drugs have proved efficacy compared to placebo to slow the cognitive decline. Long-term effects of cholinesterase inhibitors need to be investigated in future trials.