Pearl formation: persistence of the graft during the entire process of biomineralization.

Most bivalves species of the genus Pinctada are well known throughout the world for production of white or black pearls of high commercial value. For cultured pearl production, a mantle allograft from a donor is implanted into the gonad of a recipient oyster, together with a small inorganic bead. Because of the dedifferentiation of cells during the first steps of the host oyster's immunological reaction, so far the fate of the graft and its exact role in the process of pearl formation could not be determined via classical histological methods. Here we report the first molecular evidence of the resilience of the graft in the recipient organism by showing that cells containing genome from the donor are still present at the end of pearl formation. These results suggest the existence of a unique biological cooperation leading to the successful biomineralization process of nacreous secretion in pearl formation.

[Omega-3 and health]. / Oméga-3 et santé.

N-3 PUFA (omega-3), and the n-6 PUFA (omega-6) are essential fatty acids. They must be absorbed by alimentation and play a very important role in the coagulation (inhibition of platelets aggregation) and in the inflammatory reaction (anti-inflammatory effects). Their effects have been studied in different sicknesses. In cardiovascular diseases, particularly in coronary diseases, studies demonstrated a decreased mortality in populations who eat an omega-3 rich diet or who take an omega-3 supplement. Among others, sudden death after myocardial infarction is decreased. In inflammatory diseases an effect seem to be found in some studies. In rheumatoid arthritis a decrease of different biological markers of inflammation and in some case a clinical improvement has been noticed. It may be the same in COPD. On the other hand, they seem not to give any protection against cancer in general. At this moment the recommendations for healthy people are to eat twice a week fat fish and to take omega-3 rich oils. For pathological cases, recommendations exist only for coronary disease: 1 g of fish oils : mixture of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA/DHA) should be given after a myocardial infarction.

[Recent oral antidiabetic therapy]. / Les antidiabétiques oraux récents.

The improvement of the diabetic equilibrium decreases the microvascular complications. Unfortunately, the HbA1c has tendency to increase with time and too few type 2 diabetic patients are well equilibrated with HbA1c under 7%. We have now new medicaments to improve this. The thiazolidinediones are agonists of the PPARgamma and ameliorate the insulin resistance with decrease of the HbA1c. Pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) are the two thiazolidinediones in Belgium. To be reimbursed, these medicaments have to be prescribed with sulfonylureas or metformin. The glinides are secretagogues drugs acting on the post-prandial glycaemia, but they improve the three parameters of diabetic equilibrium: fasting glycaemia, postprandial glycaemia and HbA1c. There is only one in Belgium: repaglinide (Novonorm). We can also improve the treatment by increasing the compliance. Therefore we can prescribe treatment with once daily dosage so as glimepiride (Amarylle) or gliclazide MR (Unidiamicron). Finally there are 'fixed combinations of two molecules so as glibenclamide + metformin (Glucovance) or rosiglitazone + metformin (Avandamet).

Pharmacokinetics of gliquidone, glibenclamide, gliclazide and glipizide in middle-aged and aged subjects.

Six middle-aged (42-59 years old) and six aged (71-75 years old) subjects received each, on separate days, an oral administration of gliquidone (30 mg), glibenclamide (5 mg), gliclazide (80 mg) and glipizide (5 mg). The plasma concentration of the drugs was measured before and at eight times (60 min to 24 h) thereafter. The half-life of gliclazide was higher than that of the other three hypoglycemic agents in middle-aged subjects and was the sole to be significantly increased in aged subjects. There is no obvious difference between sulfonylureas eliminated mainly by either the kidney (glibenclamide, gliclazide, glipizide) or the liver (gliquidone) in terms of the influence of aging upon their clearance.

Long-term (1 year) acceptability of perindopril in type II diabetic patients with hypertension.

This study is aimed at assessing long-term efficacy and tolerance of a newly developed angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, perindopril, in type II diabetics. After 1 month of placebo (T0), perindopril was given for 12 months (T12) to 17 hypertensive type II diabetics, treated either by insulin, sulfonylurea, and/or biguanide. Supine diastolic blood pressure was normalized (less than or equal to 90 mm Hg) in 12 (67%) and 15 patients (83%) at 1 and 12 months, respectively. Glycemic control remained unchanged throughout the study. No significant changes occurred in creatinine clearance. The lipid profile showed an improvement with a significant increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol without any modification in weight (difference not significant). We conclude that perindopril normalized blood pressure and improved the lipid profile without affecting glycemic control nor renal function during long-term treatment in hypertensive type II diabetic patients.

[Lipoprotein (a): a new cardiovascular risk factor]. / La lipoprotéine (a): un nouveau facteur de risque cardio-vasculaire.

Lp(a) is a lipidic particle constituted of a LDL and an apo(a). This latter is a glycoprotein which shares some features with plasminogen. Several clinical studies have put forward its atherogenic properties. However neither its metabolism nor the underlying mechanism responsible for its atherogenic effect is known yet. When dosage of the Lp(a) will be widespread it should be part of cardiovascular risk assessment.

[Standardization of oculo-cardiac reflex in infants under 3 months of age]. / Standardisation du réflexe oculo-cardiaque chez les nourrissons de moins de 3 mois.

The authors present a standardization of the oculocardiac reflex carried out in early-age infants (under 3 months). This standardization is easy to perform. It takes into account the fall of the cardiac frequency, the asystoly and the range of bradycardia until its normalisation. Thus, it allows inter or intra individual comparison and can be applied to the study of infants at risk for sudden infant death syndrome.

[Epiglottitis and pulmonary edema in children]. / Epiglottite et oedème pulmonaire chez l'enfant.

A case of acute epiglottitis complicated by pulmonary edema, after intubation in a 30 month-old child is reported. The pathophysiology of this complication and its treatment associating oxygen therapy and positive end expiratory pressure are discussed.

[Sleep apnea syndrome and hypothyroidism: apropos of a new case and a review of the literature]. / Syndrome d'apnée du sommeil et hypothydroïdie: à propos d'un nouveau cas et revue de la littérature.

We present the case of a 63 years old man (177 cm height, 111 kg weight) with autoimmune thyroiditis. He had a long term history of hypersomnolence and heavy snoring. Two years ago, because of a bifascicular block and sinus pauses, a cardiac pace-maker was placed. Polysomnography recording showed a systematic periodic breathing characterized by profound desaturation waves (often 92% Sa O2 to 60% Sa O2) every 60 seconds, secondary to prolonged mixed apneas. Hormone replacement therapy and a 17 kg weight loss completely suppressed the sleep apnea syndrome within five months. We conclude that SAS is a major component of the respiratory depression in hypothyroidism and that normalisation of thyroid function can definitely cure the patient.

[Hyperparathyroidism and depression: a clinical case and review of the literature]. / Hyperparathyroïdie et dépression: cas clinique et revue de la littérature.

A case of a patient with a primary hyperparathyroidism presenting essentially with psychiatric signs is described. The physiopathological mechanisms are discussed with a review of the cases described in the literature. The chief role of the calcium in the genesis of this unusual symptomatology is emphasized.

[An ultrastructural study of spermatogenesis in Trichinella spiralis Owen 1835 (Nématode Trichuroide) (author's transl)]. / Etude ultrastructurale de la spermatogènese chez Trichinella spiralis Owen 1835 (Nématode Trichuroïde).

The ultrastructural study of spermatogenesis in T. spiralis demonstrated the main characteristics of the male germ cells in the class Nematoda, i.e. lack of flagella, lack of reconstitution of the nuclear envelope after the meiotic divisions, and atypical structure of the centriole. The spermatozoon of T. spiralis was compared with previous classifications of the nematoda spermatozoa.

[Ultrastructural study of oogenesis in Trichinella spiralis (author's transl)]. / Etude ultrastructurale de l'ovogénèse chez Trichinella spiralis.

The ultrastructural study of oogenesis in T. spiralis makes it possible to subdivide the oocytic growth into 2 phases: a first phase is characterized by an intense nucleolar activity and the transfer of nuclear material to the cytoplasm; a second phase during which the cytoplasmic mass increases and energy reserves (glycogen, lipids) appear. The oocyte does not contain any protein vitellus.