No correlation between wine intolerance and histamine content of wine.

BACKGROUND: Histamine is thought to be the main cause of adverse reactions to wines. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the level of histamine in wine affects the tolerance to wine in 16 subjects with wine intolerance. METHODS: We performed a study to examine the effects of wine histamine content in 16 adults with wine intolerance. Each subject underwent 2 double-blind provocation tests with wine: 1 with a wine poor in histamine (0.4 mg/L), and 1 with a wine rich in histamine (13.8 mg/L). Blood was collected for histamine and methylhistamine RIAs at 0, 10, 30, and 45 minutes after ingestion of the wine. Methylhistamine and methylimidazolacetic acid (gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) were measured in urine 5 hours before and 5 hours after ingestion. RESULTS: No significant differences in the occurrence of adverse reactions were noted after ingestion of either of the wines (McNemar test). At 10 minutes, a significant increase was observed in plasma histamine with histamine-poor wine. No significant changes (Wilcoxon test) were observed in the methylhistamine and methylimidazolacetic acid levels after ingestion of either histamine-poor or histamine-rich wine. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that there is no correlation between the histamine content of wine and wine intolerance. The increase of plasma histamine levels at 10 minutes with histamine-poor wine suggested the role of a histamine-releasing substance. The role of acetaldehyde is discussed.

[Measurement of carotenoids by high pressure liquid chromatography: from difficulties to solutions]. / Dosage des caroténoïdes par chromatographie liquide haute performance: des difficultés aux solutions.

The measurement of serum carotenoids by HPLC has been largely improved during the last 10 years. However these techniques still require much time and skills, and direct application of published methods is rarely satisfying. We report here the difficulties that we met to transfer some HPLC methods described in the literature to our laboratories. We propose some solution to overcome the problems that we have encountered, our experience will perhaps help out other biologists. We reported also some results obtained in healthy populations.

Bovine beta-lactoglobulin receptors on transformed mammalian cells (hybridomas MARK-3): characterization by flow cytometry.

Flow cytometry was used to demonstrate the presence of beta-lactoglobulin (betaLG) receptors on living murine hybridoma MARK-3 cells using a fluorescein isothiocyanate-betaLG conjugate (FITC-betaLG: molar ratio of 5:1). A site occupation curve was produced using a shift in the mean channel fluorescence at various concentrations of FITC-betaLG. The binding of labelled ligand was concentration dependent and was inhibited by unlabelled betaLG. The on-rate constant was 3.2x10(2) M(-1) min(-1) and the off-rate constant was 0.002 min(-1). Scatchard plot analysis gave a dissociation constant (K(d)) of 44+/-21x10(-7) and 39+/-24x10(-5) M (n=3). Flow cytometry indicated that at least 15% of the FITC-betaLG were internalized for 5 min and that internalization was temperature- and time-dependent. The internalization was confirmed by 3-D fluorescence microscopy (CELLScan system).

[Carotenoids: 2. Diseases and supplementation studies]. / Les caroténoïdes: 2. Pathologie et études de supplémentation.

Inverse correlations have been found in most studies on the relationship between dietary intake and plasma concentrations of carotenoids on one side and degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases on the other side. Protective effects of carotenoids have been found for pathologies of the retina and the skin. Concentrations of these molecules in blood are lower in digestive pathologies and HIV. Short- and long-term toxicity of carotenoids was found to be low. In combination with the beneficial effects found for diets rich in carotenoids, this has initiated trials with relatively high doses of carotenoid supplements. In the study in Linxian (China) in a rural population with poor nutritional status, supplementation with beta-carotene, zinc, selenium and vitamin E lowered total mortality and mortality from stomach cancer. Other studies (ATBC, Caret.) on well-fed subjects did not show beneficial effects on mortality from cancer and cardiovascular diseases. On the contrary, higher mortality and lung cancer incidence was found in supplemented subjects that were also exposed to asbestos and cigarette smoke. In these studies, doses of supplemental beta-carotene were high and varied from 20 to 50 mg/day. One still ongoing study, called Suvimax, doses subjects for eight years with a cocktail of vitamins and minerals including 6 mg per day of beta-carotene. This supplementation with physiologically seen more "normal" doses might give clarity on the question if beta-carotene is the protective factor in fruits and vegetables.

[Carotenoids: 1. Metabolism and physiology]. / Les caroténoïdes: I. Métabolisme et physiologie.

Carotenoids are a family of pigments with at least 600 members. They derive from lycopene after steps of cyclisation, dehydrogenation and oxidation. It is their chemical structure that determines their physiochemical properties and, in part, their biological activities. About 50 carotenoids can be found in human diet and about 20 of them have been found in plasma and tissues. There is no RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for carotenoids. Quantities of carotenoids in diet are difficult to estimate, partly because methods used for the establishment of food composition tables were not specific and sensitive enough. Also, given values do not always take into account variations due to season and region of culture. Absorption of beta-carotene in humans has been the subject of numerous studies but only very little is known about other carotenoids. In general, absorption depends on bioavailability from the food matrix and solubility in micelles. After absorption through passive diffusion, carotenoids follow the chylomicrons metabolism. They are taken up by the liver and released in the blood stream in lipoproteins (VLDL). Carotenoids with no-substituted beta-ionone cycles (alpha and beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin) have provitamin A activity. Highest activity has been found for all-trans beta-carotene. Not all steps of vitamin A biosynthesis and metabolism of other carotenoids have been clarified yet. Besides their provitamin A activity, carotenoids have numerous biological functions. They are efficient scavengers of free radicals, particularly of 1O2. In vitro they have been shown to protect LDL. However, results in vivo are inconsistent. Other functions include enhancement of gap junctions, immunomodulation and regulation of enzyme activity involved in carcinogenesis.

Growth response of adult germ cells to rat androgen-binding protein and human sex hormone-binding globulin.

Androgen-binding protein (ABP) is produced by Sertoli cells depending on the development and the stage of the spermatogenic cycle. Germ cell proliferation is at its peak when ABP is at its peak and secreted towards the testicular basal compartment containing spermatogonia and premeiotic spermatocytes. Rat isolated adult germ cell DNA synthesis was studied in vitro in the presence of ABP with and without steroids and in the presence of pure or recombinant sex steroid hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) using thymidine incorporation. Results are: SHBG is able to promote DNA synthesis in the absence of cofactors. Testosterone reacted negatively to the stimulatory effect of SHBG. We conclude that ABP, the physiological steroid-binding protein, should be considered as a paracrine regulator of spermatogenic DNA synthesis in the adult rat.

Sensitivity to taxoid derivatives of a newly established human endometrioid ovarian adenocarcinoma radioresistant cell line.

An endometrioid ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line CAVEOC-2 was characterized. Maintained in monolayered culture, CAVEOC-2 cells exhibited a 33-hr doubling time. When xenografted into nude mice, these cells produced fast growing tumors. Colony-forming efficiency in agar was 50%. DNA index was 1.5 and cytogenetic analysis showed a triploid karyotype. CAVEOC-2 cells did not express mdr-1 gene and were chemosensitive to doxorubicin (IC50 = 1.82 +/- 0.76 mumol/l), paclitaxel (IC50 = 3.33 +/- 0.26 nmol/l) and docetaxel (IC50 = 0.68 +/- 0.28 nmol/l), while they showed an intermediate sensitivity to cisplatin (IC50 = 9.40 +/- 1.02 mumol/l). CAVEOC-2 cells seemed highly radioresistant (SF2 = 0.81, alpha = 0.02 Gy-1, beta = 0.025 Gy2, and MID = 4.31 Gy). Activities of glutathione S transferase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were respectively 23.5- and 3.4- fold higher than those of sensitive A2780 cell line. These characteristics make the CAVEOC-2 cells a suitable model for the study of human endometrioid ovarian adenocarcinoma.

Selenium, oxygen-derived free radicals, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. An experimental study in the rat.

Circulatory shock and its treatment have been compared to a whole-body ischemia and reperfusion with activation of oxygen-derived free radicals. A pilot study had suggested a selenium redistribution in this context. To verify this hypothesis, an experimental study was designed. Temporary occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery was performed in 18 male adult Wistar rats using clamping for 0, 10, and 20 min. Hemodynamic and biochemical data were assessed before clamping and 20 min after release of the mesenteric blood flow. After release, mean arterial pressure decreased, plasma lactate increased, and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase decreased. Plasma and erythrocyte selenium did not change; however, a slight decrease in plasma selenium was observed when related to hematocrit (to take into account the fluid balance). Erythrocyte-reduced glutathione did not change. In contrast, liver and kidney selenium increased, whereas reduced glutathione decreased in kidney, but not in liver after 20 min of clamping as compared to the sham-operated group. These results suggest that, after temporary intestinal ischemia, the changes in selenium and reduced glutathione observed in blood and tissues, like liver or kidney, could be related to a redistribution pattern in selenium metabolism during shock injury.

Expression of secreted recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-KI) cells were cotransfected with a plasmid pcDNAI containing the human preproinsulin-like growth factor II cDNA linked downstream to the human cytomegalovirus promoter and with a plasmid containing the neomycin resistance gene (pMAM-neo). CHO neo+ were selected by growth in medium supplemented with G418 geneticin. After amplification, the neomycin-resistant clones were screened for IGF-II production. IGF-II produced was identified by dot blot and quantified by ELISA. The clones C24, C40 and C94 secreted IGF-II at about 350-400 ng per 10(6) cells per day. DNA analysis of C24 and C40 CHO cells by PCR demonstrated the presence of the IGF-II construct in the transfected cells, presumably integrated into the chromosomal DNA. IGF-II produced by CHO cells and purified by RP-HPLC was a mitogen for MCF-7 stimulating mitosis 2-fold.

Assessment of the clinical value of urinary trypsin inhibitory activity in elderly people.

To assess the clinical value of urinary trypsin inhibitory activity (UTIA) in elderly people, a prospective study was carried out over 4 months in our internal medicine department. Two hundred and forty-three patients of more than 60 years of age were included. A positive correlation was observed between UTIA and serum creatinine (p < 10(-3)). In the population with serum creatinine of less than 133 mumol/l (200 patients), UTIA was independent of age, sex and serum creatinine. UTIA was compared with seven serum inflammatory proteins titrated on patient admission. The principal interest of UTIA determination appeared in bacterial infections. UTIA was significantly increased in this group (p < 10(-4)). However, a positive correlation was proved only with C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 9 x 10(-4)). Nevertheless, CRP appeared to be the best marker of bacterial infectious diseases after receiver operating characteristic curves analysis.

[Urinary concentration of cobalt and chromium in patients with a non-cemented total hip prosthesis]. / Concentration urinaire du cobalt et du chrome chez les patients porteurs d'une prothèse totale de hanche non cimentée.

The concentrations of cobalt and chromium have been measured in the urine of 22 patients who had received uncemented hip prostheses made from cobalt, chromium and molybdenum alloy, and in 21 patients who had not received prostheses, using absorption spectrophotometry. The results were statistically analysed using the Wilcoxon test. The levels of cobalt in the urine in the patients with uncemented prostheses did not show a significant increase, indicating that there is no greater risk of cobalt toxicity. The concentration of chromium was significantly raised (p less than 10(-2) in the urine of patients with uncemented prostheses, and in three of these patients significant corrosion had occurred.