New tricyclic and tetracyclic pyranocoumarins with an unprecedented C-4 substituent. Structure elucidation of tamanolide, tamanolide D and tamanolide P from Calophyllum inophyllum of French Polynesia.

Three new pyranocoumarin derivatives, tamanolide (1), tamanolide D (2) and tamanolide P (3), were isolated from the almond seeds of Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Clusiaceae) grown in French Polynesia. These compounds, having an unprecedented C-4 isobutyl substituent, have been characterized as a new class of pyranocoumarins called tamanolides. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques (COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC) in association with MS (HR-ESI-MS) data analysis.

Follow-up of kidney donors who developed uremia and went on the waiting list for a transplant: should they have allocation priority?

BACKGROUND: The increasing use of living kidney donors requires knowledge about long-term effects, especially number and causes of donors with chronic renal failure (CRF), and discussion about a regular follow-up program for donors, policies giving priority to kidney donors on the waiting list for a kidney, and a national record of donors. METHODS: We performed a Retrospective analysis of 470 records of our kidney donors from the kidney transplantation unit between 1977 and 1997. RESULTS: Five out of the 470 donors developed CRF (1.1%), with a calculated incidence of 610 per million people a year. CONCLUSION: The data showed that the risk of a donor developing CRF may be higher than in the in general population. These results showed the necessity of creating an effective follow-up program for donors and a national record.

Chromatographic and immunological identification of GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) variants. Occurrence of mammalian and a salmon-like GnRH in the forebrain of an eutherian mammal: Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Mammalia, Rodentia).

The molecular variants of Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in brain extracts of the eutherian mammal Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Mammalia, Rodentia) were characterized. An indirect method combining reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) with different antisera was used. Two different forebrain regions (olfactory bulbs and preoptic-hypothalamic region) were analyzed. Characterization of RP-HPLC fractions from preoptic-hypothalamic extracts with three different RIA systems revealed two immunoreactive GnRH (ir-GnRH) peaks coeluting with mammalian GnRH (mGnRH) and salmon GnRH (sGnRH) synthetic standards. These results were additionally supported by serial dilution studies with specific antisera. Similar results were obtained from olfactory bulb extracts with the same methodology. However, a third ir-GnRH peak in a similar position to that of chicken GnRH II (cIIGnRH) synthetic standard was revealed. As far as we know, this is the first report showing chromatographic and immunological evidences for the presence of a second GnRH variant in the forebrain of an eutherian mammal.

Fatty acid composition of seed oils from sixAdansonia species with particular reference to cyclopropane and cyclopropene acids.

The oil content of sixAdansonia species (Bombacaceae family) of Madagascar (Adansonia grandidieri, A. za, A. digitata, A. fony, A. madagascariensis andA. suarenzensis) and Africa (A. digitata) ranges from 8 to 46%. All the oils give a positive response to the Halphen test. Malvalic, sterculic and dihydrosterculic acids were detected using gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS). Epoxy or hydroxy fatty acids were not found in these oils. Fatty acid composition was determined by GLC using glass capillary columns coated with BDS and Carbowax 20 M. Results obtained for cyclopropenic fatty acids (CPEFA) were compared to those given by glass capillary GLC after derivatization with silver nitrate in methanol, by hydrogen bromide titration and by proton magnetic resonance (PMR). Good agreement was observed for the results given by the various methods. Malvalic acid content ranges from 3 to 28%, sterculic acid from 1 to 8% and dihydrosterculic acid from 1.5 to 5.1%. Odd-numbered fatty acids (Pentadecanoic and hepatadecanoic) were also observed in minute amounts (0.1-1.1%). Among the normal fatty acids, we observed mainly palmitic (21-46%), oleic (15-40%) and linoleic (12-32%). The relationship between fatty acid composition andAdansonia species is discussed.

Immunosuppression in pancreas transplantation: mycophenolate mofetil versus sirolimus.

The use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in pancreas transplantation has increased graft survival and decreased the incidence of acute rejections episodes (ARE), regardless of the choice of calcineurin inhibitor. The combination of MMF with tacrolimus (TAC) is the most common protocol, it is considered the gold standard for new protocols. In the last few years, there have been reports of a small number of patients treated with sirolimus (RAPA), usually combined with TAC. Patient and pancreas survival rates as well as the incidence of ARE were similar to protocols with TAC and MMF. Twenty simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplantations were performed using an immunosuppressive protocol of TAC, RAPA, and steroids (STE) after 2000. The incidence of ARE was 25%; all episodes responded to STE. Only 2 patients (10%) displayed hypercholesterolemia requiring treatment with statins. The use of RAPA as an alternative to MMF is promising, although presently one with limited experience. The combination of MMF and RAPA with or without a calcineurin inhibitor is an option to be evaluated in the future.

[How to plan the treatment of prostatic adenoma today?]. / Comment concevoir aujourd'hui le traitement de l'adénome prostatique?

Surgical treatment, mainly transurethral resection of the prostate, still remains the reference treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Two studies conducted in the Urology Department of the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital have tried to define certain characteristics of this surgery. The first study tried to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients operated for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Analysis of 881 replies to a questionnaire sent to 3,147 patients operated for BPH (between 1976 and 1989) assessed functional status (by Madsen's symptom score), quality of life (by Fowler's method), and sex life (by two specific questions), with a follow-up ranging from 5 to 14 years. At this follow-up, 90% of patients declared to be satisfied with their voiding status, 95% considered their quality of life to be excellent and about 50% had maintained a sex life. The second study was designed to evaluate the morbidity of this treatment in elderly patients. A group of 33 operated patients over the age of 80 was compared to a control group composed of 66 patients between the ages of 60 and 70 years, treated in a similar way, in the same centre and in the same year. Morbidity was higher in the first group, but age itself did not appear to constitute a poor prognostic factor for surgery; it only intervenes by allowing certain complications of benign prostatic hyperplasia (acute retention) to create emergency situations complicating the perioperative period. Following demonstration of the short-term and long-term efficacy of this conventional surgery, many new technologies were subsequently developed in order to reduce perioperative discomfort, anaesthetic requirements, duration of catheterization and hospital stay. Some of them constitute a new approach to endoscopic surgery, such as prostatic tissue vaporization techniques (electrovaporization, laser contact vaporization), which have a comparable efficacy to that of TURP, while reducing bleeding, catheterization time and hospital stay. However, the duration of postoperative irritative symptoms is much longer. Other techniques use a thermal effect to obtain coagulation necrosis of prostatic tissue, using various energy sources: microwaves (thermotherapy), laser (interstitial laser), radiofrequency waves (TUNA). These techniques are perfectly adapted to outpatient surgery with local or regional anaesthesia. They do not interfere with continence, sexual function, but may be followed by high dysuria or retention rates, with a variable cathererization time, sometimes several weeks. Finally, urethroprostatic stents are easy to insert, provide a solution in critical situations and have replaced old indwelling catheters. The current choice of treatment therefore comprises several approaches: more effective, but still purely symptomatic medical treatment, safe conventional surgery providing excellent long-term results, but generating a certain perioperative discomfort and a certain morbidity, or, on the contrary "minimally invasive" techniques, greatly simplifying the therapeutic procedure, but whose morbidity has not yet been determined and whose results are still uncertain.

Abattoir based survey of Salmonella in finishing pigs in the United Kingdom 2006-2007.

All European Union (EU) Member States (MSs) were required to conduct a baseline survey from October 2006 to September 2007 to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella infection in finisher pigs at slaughter. In the United Kingdom (UK), samples for microbiological culture were collected from the ileo-caecal lymph nodes, from carcass swabs and from caecal contents. Meat juice samples were also collected for testing in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MJE) to detect a serological response. Salmonella was isolated from 22% (CI95% 19-25%) of ileo-caecal lymph nodes, 15% (CI95% 12-18%) of carcass swabs and 22% (CI95% 19-26%) of caecal contents. A quarter (25%, CI95% 22-29%) of MJE samples were positive for Salmonella antibodies (cut-off, S/P≥0.25). The most frequently identified serovars were Salmonella typhimurium (57%) and Salmonella derby (26%). The results were used to investigate some factors associated with Salmonella infection in slaughter pigs. The weight of the carcass was significant, with a lower probability of obtaining a positive meat juice result from pigs with a weight greater than 75 kg (p=0.03). The weight of the lymph node sample was significantly associated with Salmonella status, with a heavier sample of lymph nodes being more likely to be positive (OR=2.16 CI95% 1.07-4.39). 'Carcass weight' in two of the classes - 75-79 kg and 80-84 kg - (OR=0.44 CI95% 0.28-0.70; OR=0.64 CI95% 0.49-0.85) and 'fewer-than-1500-pigs' scheduled for slaughter on the day of sampling' (OR=0.41 CI95% 0.24-0.71) were also associated with a reduced risk of isolating Salmonella from lymph node. The model for carcass swabs showed a positive association with 'time-elapsed-since-the-start-of-the-line' indicating a higher risk of contamination as the day progressed (p<0.01). This model also showed positive association between isolation of Salmonella from a carcass swab and the occurrence of Salmonella in caecal contents from the same pig (OR=2.22 CI95% 1.38-3.59) and a negative association with time in singeing units (OR=0.88 CI95% 0.79-0.98).

Efectos de un programa multiprofesional de tratamiento de la obesidad sobre los factores de riesgo para síndrome metabólico en niños prepúberes, púberes y adolescentes: diferencias entre géneros / Effects of a multidisciplinary program of obesity treatment on risk factors for metabolic syndrome in children in prepubertal, pubertal and adolescent stages: differences between genders

Objetivo. Analizar los efectos de un programa multidisciplinar de tratamiento de la obesidad (PMTO) sobre los factores de riesgo del Síndrome Metabólico (SM) en niños prepúberes, púberes y adolescentes de acuerdo con el género. Método. Participaron en el estudio 69 niños y adolescentes obesos entre 10 y 18 años de edad divididos en dos grupos: grupo de intervención (GI) (n = 37) y grupo control (GC) (n = 32). En el GI había 23 niñas, en el GC 14. El GI fue sometido a intervención multidisciplinar, con duración de 16 semanas. Se evaluaron parámetros antropométricos, aptitud cardiorrespiratoria y factores de riesgo para SM. Resultados. Se observó que el GI obtuvo reducción en la prevalencia de SM (- 35,8 % para género masculino y - 8,7 % para femenino), entre tanto se mantuvo el valor en las niñas del grupo GC y aumentó en los niños del GC (+ 11,1 %). En relación a dislipidemias, hubo una reducción en el GI para ambos géneros (- 7,2 % para el masculino; - 17,4 % para el femenino), y para el GC se observó aumento para el masculino (+ 22,2 %) y femenino (14,3 %). Las niñas del GI tuvieron mejoras significativas para las variables índice de masa corporal, circunferencia de cintura y cadera, y sensibilidad a la insulina, que no fueron observadas en el género masculino del GI, que presentaron aumento de masa magra. Conclusión. Los resultados del estudio muestran que 16 semanas de intervención multidisciplinar, basada en una terapia cognitivo-conductual, son suficientes para promover reducción de la prevalencia de SM y dislipidemias en niños y adolescentes obesos (AU)

Objetive. To analyze the effects of a multidisciplinary program of obesity treatment (PMTO) on risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MS) in children and adolescents at prepubertal, pubertal and adolescents stages according to gender. Method. he study included 69 obese children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years. They were allocated to the intervention group (GI) (n = 37) and control group (GC) (n = 32). There were 23 girls in GI and 14 in GC. The GI was submitted to the multidisciplinary intervention, lasting 16 weeks. It was assessed anthropometric parameters, cardiorespiratory fitness and risk factor for MS. Results. We found that the GI achieved a reduction in the prevalence of MS (7.1 % for boys and 8.7 % for girls), and in GC a maintenance for girls and increasing for boys. For dyslipidemia, a reduction in GI for both genders (boys 78.6 % to 71.4 %; girls 82.6 % to 65.2 %), and increasing in GC for both genders. GI Girls had significant improvements for the variables, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference and insulin sensibility which was not observed in GI boys who increased lean body mass. Conclusion. The findings show that 16 weeks of multidisciplinary intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy are sufficient to promote decreasing in the prevalence of MS and dyslipidemia in obese children and adolescents (AU)

Structures of new secofriedelane and friedelane acids from Calophyllum inophyllum of French Polynesia.

Three new friedelane-type triterpenoids, 3,4-secofriedelan-3,28-dioic acid (1), 27-hydroxyacetate canophyllic acid (2) and 3-oxo-27-hydroxyacetate friedelan-28-oic acid (3), were isolated from the leaves of Calophyllum inophyllum (Clusiaceae) grown in French Polynesia. Their structures were established by the concerted application of 2D NMR techniques including gs-COSY, gs-HMQC and gs-HMBC.

Structures of cadinane- and guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids from Enterospermum madagascariensis (Baill.) Homolle.

Three new cadinane- and guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids, 2-hydroxy-10-epi-zonarene 1, 2, 15-dihydroxycalamenene 2 and guaia-4, 6-dien-3-one 3, were isolated from the wood of Enterospermum madagascariensis (Rubiaceae) grown in Madagascar. Their structures were established from concerted application of 2D NMR techniques including gs-COSY, gs-HMQC, gs-HMBC and NOESY.

Relating Factors Between Studies Based Upon Different Individuals.

A method for relating factors between studies based on different individuals is developed. This approach yields a measure of reltionship between all factors under consideration, a measure which may be interpreted as a correlation coefficient.

[Study of the antimicrobial action of various essential oils extracted from Malagasy plants. II: Lauraceae]. / Contribution à l'étude de l'action antimicrobienne de quelques huiles essentielles extraites de plantes malgaches. II: Les lauracees.

The microbial growth inhibitory properties of some Lauraceae essential oils, Laurus nobilis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon) and Ravensara anisata were studied by the determination of their respective M.I.C. (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration). Five bacterial strains, one fungi and two yeasts were used to evaluate the essential oils inhibitory capacities. These vegetable extracts, with decrease activity, were range also: C. zeylanicum--bark greater than R. anisata--bark greater than C. zeylanicum--leaves greater than L. nobilis greater than R. anisata--leaves. The essential oils extracted from cinnamon and R. anisata--bark were very interesting by their antifungic activities.

[Antibacterial action of essential oils extracted from Madagascar plants]. / Contribution à l'étude de l'action antibactérienne de quelques huiles essentielles extraites de plantes malgaches.

The following aromatherapy study reports the antimicrobial activity of eight Malagasy essential oils by the determination of their respective M.I.C. (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) on enteropathogenic and spoilage bacteria strains. The aromatic plants used were taken from the Labiatae family (Thymus vulgaris, Ocimum gratissimum), the Myrtaceae family (Eugenia caryophyllata, Melaleuca viridiflora) and the Compositae (Helichrysum lavanduloides, H. bracteiferum, H. gymnocephalum, Psiadia altissima). Their inhibitory effect were tested on eight referied strains commonly used for antibiotic measurements and also on twelve others enteropathogenic bacteria strains. The results showed that three oils from Thymus vulgaris, Ocimum gratissimum and Eugenia caryophyllata were particularly efficient with a large spectra action. We noticed that the essential oil of Melaleuca viridiflora had also a high inhibitory effect especially on Gram positive bacteria.

Determination of sterol and triterpene alcohol acetates in natural products by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A partial separation of nine sterol acetates and seven triterpene alcohol acetates by reversed-phase liquid chromatography is described. Good results are obtained using acetonitrile-water (90:10, v/v) as mobile phase with an UV detector at 205 nm. The variation in sterol sensitivity shows that this technique is not suitable for quantitative analyses. A combination of this technique for the fractionation of the natural sterol mixture, gas-liquid chromatography for quantitation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for identification is necessary for the determination of sterol compounds contained in natural products. An example of the separation, identification and quantitation of sterol acetates from sunflower seed oil is given.

Differential distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone variants in the brain of Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Mammalia, Rodentia).

1. In a previous paper we reported evidence for the presence of mGnRH- and sGnRH-like peptides in the preoptic-hypothalamic region of the capybara Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Montaner et al., 1998). In that study, the presence of a cGnRH-II like molecule in olfactory bulb extracts was suggested. 2. The capybara, the largest living rodent in the world, belongs to the order Hystricomorpha, which is considered to be one of the oldest groups of rodents. Some authors consider that this group is the ancestor of all remaining rodents. 3. In this study we have characterized GnRH molecular variants found in extracts from the olfactory bulbs and the mesencephalic region of capybara. These regions represent the two GnRH neuronal systems: the terminal nerve-septopreoptic and the midbrain systems. 4. An indirect method combining reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to characterize GnRH variants. The analysis of both extracts with two different RIA systems revealed three immunoreactive GnRH peaks, coeluting with mGnRH, cIIGnRH, and sGnRH synthetic standards. These results were additionally supported by serial dilution studies with specific antisera. 5. To our knowledge this the first report on the presence of three GnRH variants in the brain of an eutherian mammal. These results suggest that, similarly to other vertebrates, the expression of multiple GnRH variants may also be a common pattern in mammals.