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Summary Occurrence of a perforation after endoscopic CPRE sphincterotomy is a complication previously reported in the literature, with frequent repercussions on the duodenum and the periampullary region (Stapfer types 1 and 2); treatment modalities are strictly codified. During an endoscopic procedure, it may be associated with manipulation of a guide wire, generally leading to isolated pneumoretroperitoneum (Stapfer type 4), which is conservatively treated. Secondarily to endoscopic maneuvers, Stapfer type 3 may also occur, causing pancreatic or biliary ductal lesions. When perforation is highlighted following an endoscopic procedure, treatment depends on the presence of an intraperitoneal or retro-peritoneal liquid or aerial effusion. When perforation is contained and clinical tolerance remains satisfactory, conservative treatment is carried out. Conversely, in the event of poor tolerance or intraperitoneal contamination, emergency surgery is called for.

Resume La survenue d’une perforation apres sphincterotomie endoscopique avec CPRE est une complication deja decrite dans la litterature et qui interesse, le plus souvent, le duodenum ou la region periampullaire (types 1 et 2 de Stapfer) avec une prise en charge bien codifiee. Elle peut aussi etre liee au maniement du fil-guide lors de la procedure endoscopique entrainant generalement un retropneumoperitoine isole (type 4 de Stapfer) qui sera traite de facon conservatrice. Enfin, elle peut etre de type 3 de Stapfer, secondaire aux manœuvres endoscopiques avec des lesions canalaires biliaires ou pancreatiques. Si la perforation est mise en evidence apres le geste endoscopique, le traitement depend de la presence d’un epanchement aerique ou liquidien intra- ou retroperitoneal. Le traitement est conservateur en cas de bonne tolerance clinique et si la perforation est contenue, alors qu’une intervention chirurgicale devra etre realisee en urgence en cas de mauvaise tolerance ou de contamination intraperitoneale.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in regulating and maintaining the epithelial barrier, particularly during early life. Notably, patients with chronic intestinal inflammation have a dysregulated process of renewal and replenishment of the intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) barrier, which is linked to disturbances in the gut microbiota. To date, there are no studies focussed on understanding the impact of inflammatory cell shedding events during the early life developmental window, and which host and microbial factors mediate these responses. Here we sought to determine pathological cell shedding outcomes throughout the postnatal developmental period (day 14, 21, 29 and week 8). Surprisingly neonatal mice (day 14 and 21) were highly refractory to induction of cell shedding after intraperitoneal administration of LPS, with day 29 mice showing strong pathological responses, more similar to those observed in adult mice. These differential responses were not linked to defects in the cellular mechanisms and pathways known to regulate cell shedding responses, although we did observe that neonatal mice had elevated anti-inflammatory (IL-10) responses. Notably, when we profiled microbiota and metabolites from these mice, we observed significant alterations. Neonatal mice had high relative abundances ofStreptococcus,EscherichiaandEnterococcusand increased primary bile acids. In contrast, older mice were dominated byCandidatusArthromitus,AlistipesandLachnoclostridium, and had increased concentrations of SCFAs and methyamines. Faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) and antibiotic studies confirmed the importance of early life gut microbiota in cell shedding responses. In these studies, neonates treated with antibiotics restored LPS-induced small intestinal cell shedding, whereas adult FMT alone had no effect. Our findings further support the importance of the early life window for microbiota-epithelial interactions in the presence of inflammatory stimuli and highlight areas for further investigation to probe underlying mechanisms to drive therapeutic development within the context of chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases.

La loi du 22 avril 2005 relative aux droits des malades et a la fin de vie (dite loi Leonetti) a donne un cadre legal aux decisions de limitation et d’arret de traitement (LAT) en reanimation et a instaure l’obligation d’une deliberation collegiale pour les patients incapables d’exprimer leur volonte. Les modalites de cette collegialite ont ete precisees en 2006 par un decret d’application qui impose notamment au medecin en charge du patient de prendre l’avis motive d’un consultant avant toute decision de LAT. L’objet de ce texte est de preciser la vision qu’a la commission d’ethique de la Societe de reanimation de langue francaise du role et du positionnement de ce consultant et de proposer des elements d’orientation pour en guider le choix en pratique.

L’interne, agent public en formation specialisee, exerce par delegation et sous la responsabilite du praticien dont il releve. Sur le plan indemnitaire, dans la majorite des cas, l’hopital (son assurance) assume la responsabilite des fautes commises, sauf si la faute est qualifiee de « detachable du service » (responsabilite civile de l’interne). Cependant, d’une maniere generale les internes encourent pour leurs fautes une mise en cause sur le plan penal et disciplinaire.

Antibodies raised against a Lagovirus were found in healthy rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus sampled in 2003 and 2004 in the Kerguelen archipelago. The serological test we used enabled the detection of antibodies due to both pathogenic and non-pathogenic viruses related to the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). The overall proportion of seropositive rabbits was 35% and differed between sites. Since previous studies have failed to detect antibodies raised against pathogenic RHDV strains, the antibodies detected in the present study were likely due to non-pathogenic strains. The interest of these strains circulating in the Kerguelen archipelago is that they have evolved independently of those detected in the other parts of the world and should derive from an ancestral RHDV precursor. Their characterization may help understanding the evolution of the virus and the emergence of the disease.

H5 low-pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) has the potential to become highly pathogenic and to cause serious problems in animal and public health. AIV surveillance and characterization in both wild and domestic species is therefore necessary. In order to acquire molecular information and to identify possible reassortments in French viruses, we analysed the entire genome of five H5N3, three H5N2 and two H5N1 LPAIV, isolated in France between 2002 and 2008 mostly from captive ducks (free-range commercial poultry or decoy ducks). Some of the genome sequences showed atypical characteristics, such as an insertion of 1 aa in the PB1 protein of one H5N3, a highly truncated PB1-F2 protein (11 aa in length instead of 90 aa) in one H5N2, and an insertion of 8 aa in the NS1 protein of H5N1. These two last molecular characteristics have not been described previously. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that all genes of French LPAIV, except the closely related matrix protein genes, clustered within the Eurasian avian influenzavirus lineage and fell into at least two phylogenetic subgroups. In addition, the French H5 LPAIV were segregated into eight genotypes, suggesting that many reassortment events have occurred in H5 LPAIV in Europe. However, it is not known whether the reassortment events have occurred in wild waterfowl and/or in captive birds in direct or indirect contact with wild birds.

A prospective study was performed by 30 ophthalmologists to determine the prevalence of exfoliation syndrome (ES) in different areas of France and its relationship with glaucoma. The prevalence of ES in France is 5.5 %; there are geographical variations: in Brittany and in the South East, the prevalence of ES is statistically higher than in the other areas. The percentage of patients with ES and glaucoma is 65.5 %. The mean age of patients with ES with glaucoma (74.8) is significantly lower than the meanage of patients with ES without glaucoma (76.9). The association of ES with glaucoma appears early and does not increase with age.

The capability of eight nutrient models to predict annual nutrient losses (nitrogen and phosphorus) at catchment scale have been studied in the EUROHARP project. The methodologies involved in these models differ profoundly in their complexity, level of process representation and data requirements. This evaluation is focused on model performance in three core catchments: the Vansjø-Hobøl (Norway), the Ouse (Yorkshire, UK) and the Enza (Italy). These three different model applications have been evaluated by comparing calculated annual nutrient loads (total N or nitrate and total P), based on observed flow and total nitrogen or nitrate and total phosphorus concentrations, and the annual nutrient loads that were simulated by the eight nutrient models. Four statistics have been applied for this purpose: the root mean squared error (RMSE), the mean absolute error (MAE), the mean error (ME), and Nash¿Sutcliffe¿s model efficiency (NS). The results show that all model approaches can predict the calculated annual discharges. Depending on the observed statistics (RMSE, MAE, ME and NS) the scores of the model application differed, therefore no overall ¿best model¿ could be identified. Although the water and nutrient loads from (sub)catchments can be predicted, the modelled pathways of nutrients within agricultural land and the nutrient losses to surface waters from agricultural land vary among the catchments and among those model approaches which are able to make this distinction., JRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resources

Background and purpose In the neurosurgery setting, incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) are considered as low to moderately low (1 to 10%). These infections are nevertheless a major problem because of the associated morbidity and mortality. A SSI survey system has been initiated in our neurosurgical unit. We report the incidence of SSI and identified SSI risk factors. Methods Data collected included demographic and medical information recorded with the operating room computer system. Any SSI occurring during the patient's postsurgical hospital stay or observed at postoperative visits was notified using a standardized questionnaire. SSIs were registered using Centers for Disease Control criteria. A multiple logistic regression model was used to determine SSI incidence and evaluate risk factors for SSI. Results were reported to the neurosurgical team every three months. Results From October 1998 to January 2003, 7399 operative procedures were collected. One hundred and twenty-two SSIs were notified with a mean incidence per patient of 1.65% (95% CI [1.37–1.95]). Among the SSIs 42% were superficial, 58% were deep or organ-space. Risk factors significantly associated with SSI were operation site (higher risk with CSF shunt), operation modality (higher risk with postponed operation) and operation duration greater than 75th percentile. Conclusion SSI are an important problem in neurosurgery. This SSI survey gave us fundamental information about SSI and risk factors. Complementary studies are now necessary about postponed operative procedures. Propositions are made to improve the system.

To discriminate orange juice from grapefruit juice in a context of fraud prevention, (1)H NMR data were submitted to different treatments to extract informative variables which were then analysed using multivariate techniques. Averaging contiguous data points of the spectrum followed by logarithmic transformation improved the results of the data analysis. Moreover, supervised variable selection methods gave better rates of classification of the juices into the correct groups. Last, independent-component analysis gave better classification results than principal-component analysis. Hence, ICA may be an efficient chemometric tool to detect differences in the (1)H NMR spectra of similar samples, and so may be useful for authentication of foods.

This study investigates the use of high resolution 1H NMR as a suitable alternative to the standard chromatographic method for the determination of adulteration of orange juice (Citrus sinensis) with grapefruit juice (Citrus paradisi) based on flavonoid glycoside content. Fifty-nine orange juices (OJ), 23 grapefruit juices (GJ) and 10 blends (OG), obtained from local retail outlets were used to assess the performance of the 1H NMR method. The work presented here introduces the Evolving Window Zone Selection (EWZS) function that holds promise for the automatic detection of spectral regions tailored to discriminate predefined groups. This technique was applied on the pre-processed 1H NMR spectra of the 92 juices. Independent Component Analysis (ICA) is a good alternative to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for recovering linearly-mixed unobserved multidimensional independent signals and has been used in this study to build supervised models that classify the samples into three categories, OJ, GJ, OG. The regions containing the known flavonoid glycoside markers were selected as well as another zone containing the signals of sucrose, alpha-glucose and other components that were tentatively attributed. ICA was applied on three different groups of selected variables and showed good results for both discrimination and interpretation of the signals. Up to 97.8% of the juices were correctly attributed. This method gave better results than the commonly used PCA method. In addition, the time required to carry out the 1H NMR analysis was less than half the time of the standard chromatographic method.

International audience; Genetic diversity between French European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) viruses since the disease appeared has been evaluated. Nucleotide sequencing of the partial capsid protein genes of 169 EBHS viruses collected from various parts of France between 1989 and 2003, three reference strains, and a Greek EBHSV collected in 2002 revealed a maximum nucleotide divergence of 11.7%, indicating a high level of conservation between viruses. Two major groups were identified. The first group contained EBHS viruses collected since 1989 from different parts of France, the reference strains, and all of the viruses located in the far north of France. In this group, three genogroups were clearly identified as mainly related to their geographic origin. The distribution of the viruses suggests that the early viruses have not disappeared and have slowly evolved in their area of origin. The second group, supported by a significant bootstrap value, contained the Greek EBHSV with the French EBHS viruses collected between 1999 and 2003 from regions of southern France. It constitutes a newly identified genogroup. Our results demonstrate strong differences in genetic evolution between EBHSV and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus, with persistence of the earlier EBHS viruses and interaction between the geographical and temporal distributions.

Resume L'expert judiciaire est contraint de s'adresser au juge quand lors d'une expertise il n'a pas l'autorisation des ayants droit pour consulter un dossier medical detenu par un etablissement de sante et indispensable pour repondre aux questions de la mission. Le detenteur devait-il fournir le dossier et etre condamne selon les termes de l'article 226-13 du Code penal pour violation du secret professionnel ou invoquer le motif legitime et refuser la communication ? L'arret du 7 decembre 2004 de la Cour de cassation confirme que le secret medical constitue un empechement legitime que l'etablissement de sante peut invoquer lorsqu'il n'a pas l'accord des ayants droit.

Resume La loi du 4 mars 2002 a permis la transmission d’informations medicales concernant une personne decedee a ses ayants droit dans trois situations. Les assurances sur la base de cet article du Code de la sante publique demandent systematiquement la transmission du compterendu d’hospitalisation (CRH). Que faut-il faire, sur la base des regles regissant le secret professionnel et la jurisprudence dans ce domaine ? Le secret professionnel constituant un interet legitime, il est possible de refuser la transmission du CRH dans certains cas en redigeant un certificat medical circonstancie.

In order to evaluate genetic variation between rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) isolates and to derive phylogenetic relationships, 56 virus isolates collected from various parts of France over a 7 year period (1988 to 1995) were examined. Analyses were carried out by direct nucleotide sequencing of PCR fragments of three genomic regions encoding the capsid protein (VP60) (regions A and B) and a non-structural protein (region C). Multiple sequence alignments revealed maximum nucleotide divergence of 7.6, 9.4 and 8.7% for regions A, B and C, respectively, indicating a high level of conservation between isolates. Irrespective of the genomic region analysed, phylogenetic analyses carried out using various methods allowed the identification of three genogroups; distribution of isolates within these genogroups appears to be more related to the year of their collection than to their geographical origin. The possible evolution of RHDV is discussed.

At present there is no sensitive method for the detection of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), a calicivirus causing high mortality in rabbit populations. For this purpose a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was established in the N-terminal portion of the RHDV capsid region. The RT-PCR was 10(4)-fold more sensitive than ELISA testing for the detection of the virus and was able to detect as few as 12 copies of template cDNA. By using the RT-PCR test and sequencing, 96.6 to 98.7 per cent homology was demonstrated in the N-terminal portion of the capsid protein of three isolates from geographically and temporally separate outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic disease, indicating that this portion of the RHDV capsid protein is highly conserved.

Telephone switching systems require the use of more complex and bulky software. It is therefore important for France Telecom to take an interest in software quality before the operational phase. Trend tests show the evolution of detected failures during the validation phase. When these tests show a tendency towards improvement, we can apply software-reliability growth models. This paper describes experiments conducted at CNET, Lannion A Center, concerning the use of failure-intensity models in the software-validation phase of 3 telecommunication products. The experiments show that the logarithmic model is the most accurate. This paper also addresses future perspectives in data collection and use of reliability models.

Resume Les reanimateurs sont quotidiennement confrontes a des decisions de limitations et/ou arret des traitements (LAT). Des lois et des decrets encadrent ces decisions, comme le rappelle la recente mise a jour des recommandations de la SRLF qui souligne la necessite de mettre en place une organisation formalisee et d’evaluer les procedures adoptees. La demarche d’evaluation des pratiques professionnelles (EPP) se prete idealement a cette evaluation. La Commission ethique de la SRLF a elabore trois documents d’EPP qui peuvent aider les equipes de reanimation a s’autoevaluer et, lorsque c’est necessaire, a ameliorer leur pratique : EPP retrospective permettant de dresser l’etat des lieux ; EPP prospective destinee a l’autoevaluation des procedures utilisees ; le chemin clinique permettant d’ameliorer ses pratiques au fur et a mesure du deroulement des decisions de LAT. Les criteres d’autoevaluation de chacune de ces EPP sont presentes dans le texte. Les grilles correspondantes et necessaires a la notation sont disponibles sur : http://www.srlf.org/Data/ModuleGestionDeContenu/application/848.pdf (referentiel EPP).

International audience; A combination of enzyme mapping, FT-IR microscopy and NMR spectroscopy was used to study temporal and spatial aspects of endosperm cell wall synthesis and deposition in developing grain of bread wheat cv. Hereward. This confirmed previous reports that changes in the proportions of the two major groups of cell wall polysaccharides occur, with b-glucan accumulating earlier in development than arabinoxylan. Changes in the structure of the arabinoxylan occurred, with decreased proportions of disubstituted xylose residues and increased proportions of monosubstituted xylose residues. These are likely to result, at least in part, from arabinoxylan restructuring catalysed by enzymes such as arabinoxylan arabinofurano hydrolase and lead to changes in cell wall mechanical properties which may be required to withstand stresses during grain maturation and desiccation

Bronchial provocation tests using aerosols in laboratory animals are difficult to standardize and quantify, because the amount of drug actually reaching the airways is unknown. To improve the quantification of aerosolized inhaled stimuli, we designed an apparatus that allows, in anesthetized intubated ventilated animals, control of temperature and hygrometry of inspired air, computerized measurement of pulmonary resistance, and fully automated delivery of a known amount of aerosolized drug directly into the trachea. Calibration of the aerosol delivery involved direct measurement of liquid delivered at the tip of the tracheal cannula. Despite all our efforts at standardization and full automation of all steps, reproducibility of aerosol delivery was poor, with stroke-by-stroke differences of 26 or 42%, according to whether an air-jet or an ultrasonic nebulizer was used. Histamine dose-response curves performed in 15 guinea pigs with this device confirmed marked differences among animals and also disclosed large intraindividual changes in bronchial responsiveness.

In this study, we examined the effect of unilateral lung transplantation on in vitro responses of bronchial smooth muscle to electrical field stimulation (EFS) and exogenous acetylcholine (ACh). In syngeneic Lewis rats, we compared the contractile responses of the left hilar transplanted bronchus with that of the nontransplanted right bronchus and the left and right bronchi from control and sham-operated animals. Atropine-sensitive bronchial contraction to EFS was greater on left transplanted than on right nontransplanted bronchi at all frequencies and voltages used. In control and sham-operated animals, contractile responses to EFS were identical on left and right sides and similar to the responses of the right nontransplanted bronchus of the lung transplant recipient. Concentration-response curves to exogenous ACh were similar on transplanted and all control bronchi. Intramural cholinergic nerve cell bodies reactive for acetylcholinesterase were present in the transplanted bronchus. We conclude that EFS-induced cholinergic contraction of rat bronchial smooth muscle is enhanced after lung transplantation. Enhancement is not a result of medication, inflammation, or rejection, absent from our syngeneic transplant, or of upregulation of muscarinic post-junctional receptors because the response to exogenous ACh was normal. Hence, an increased release of ACh from cholinergic nerve terminals may occur, due either to hyperexcitability of postganglionic parasympathetic nerves or to loss of inhibitory mechanism resulting from interruption of neural connections with the central nervous system.

Significant mortalities have been observed in populations of Saint-Jacques scallops Pecten maximus, in association with numerous intracellular colonies of Rickettsiales-like organisms (RLO) in the gills. Isolation of the procaryotes from infected tissues and their subsequent purification were achieved by a specifie proto col based on differential and isopycnic centrifugations on sucrose and renografin density gradients. The purity and integrity of purified procaryotes were verified by electron mieroscopy. Specifie polyclonal antibodies were prepared for serological characterization. Fifteen major constituent proteins were electrophoretieally identified, their molecular weights ranging between 148 and 16 kD. Ten enzyme activities were biochemically identified, including acid phosphatase and catalase, which could be related to procaryote pathogenicity.

Using hybridoma technology, monoclonal antibodies (MABs) were prepared against a Rickettsiales-like organism (RLO) from the gills of the Saint-Jacques scallop Pecten maximus. The 5D7 MAB was then selected as a specific reagent suitable for an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) and evaluated for RLO diagnosis on P. maximus gill smears. Monoclonal antibody 5D7 showed no cross-reactivity with an RLO associated with a related pectinid species Chlamys opercularis.

The effect of antigen challenge on the airway responses to substancePand on the epithelial neutral endopeptidase (NEP) activity was investigated in aerosol sensitized guinea-pigs. In vivo, bronchial responses to aerosolized substancePwere similar to the responses observed in antigen-challenged guinea-pigs and in the control groups. In contrast, when the guinea-pigs were pretreated with the NEP inhibitor, phosphoramidon, a significant increase in the airway responses to substancePwas observed after antigen challenge in vivo. However, in vitro, the contractile responses of the tracheal smooth muscle to substancePwere similar between groups of guinea-pigs, in respect to the presence or absence of the epithelium and/or phosphoramidon. Histological studies showed an accumulation of eosinophils in the tracheal submucosa after antigen challenge and intact epithelial cells. These results show that in vivo bronchial hyperresponsiveness to substancePafter antigen challenge in the guinea-pig is not associated with increased responses of the smooth muscle to exogenousSPin vitro. In addition, the results with phosphoramidon suggest that loss of NEP activity cannot account for the in vivo bronchial hyperresponsiveness to substancePpresently observed.

Axe 1 Fractionnement des Agro ressources : bases structurales et physicochimiques ; procédés de broyage, extraction et de séparation Contact: paroi cellulaire; endosperme; International audience; Previous studies using spectroscopic imaging have allowed the spatial distribution of structural components in wheat endosperm cell walls to be determined. FT-IR microspectroscopy showed differing changes in arabinoxylan (AX) structure, during grain development under cool/wet and hot/dry growing conditions, for differing cultivars (Toole et al. in Planta 225:1393-1403, 2007). These studies have been extended using Raman microspectroscopy, providing more details of the impact of environment on the polysaccharide and phenolic components of the cell walls. NMR studies provide complementary information on the types and levels of AX branching both early in development and at maturity. Raman microspectroscopy has allowed the arabinose:xylose (A/X) ratio in the cell wall AX to be determined, and the addition of ferulic acid and related phenolic acids to be followed. The changes in the A/X ratio during grain development were affected by the environmental conditions, with the A/X ratio generally being slightly lower for samples grown under cool/wet conditions than for those from hot/dry conditions. The degree of esterification of the endosperm cell walls with ferulic acid was also affected by the environment, being lower under hot/dry conditions. The results support earlier suggestions that AX is either delivered to the cell wall in a highly substituted form and is remodelled through the action of arabinoxylan arabinofuranohydrolases or arabinofuranosidases, or that low level substituted AX are incorporated into the wall late in cell wall development, reducing the average degree of substitution, and that the rate of this remodelling is influenced by the environment. (1)H NMR provided a unique insight into the chemical structure of intact wheat endosperm cell walls, providing qualitative information on the proportions of mono- and disubstituted AX and the levels of branching of adjacent units. The A/X ratio did not change greatly with either the development stage or the growth conditions, but the ratio of mono- to disubstituted Xylp residues increased markedly (by about fourfold) in the more mature samples, confirming the changes in branching levels determined using FT-IR. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that intact endosperm cell walls have been studied by (1)H NMR.

In less than ten years, two very serious viral hepatic diseases have spread through Leporidae populations (rabbits and hares) in numerous countries. In May 1989, the Office International des Epizooties designated this new disease of rabbits "viral haemorrhagic disease" and entered it as a List B disease in the International Animal Health Code. Clinically, the disease is very similar to the European brown hare syndrome. However, numerous uncertainties prevail today on the true nature of the viruses of the two species. Although they are related, the viruses appear to be different and cross infection between species has given contradictory results. Hepatitis of Leporidae have probably existed in Europe for several years, although their viral aetiology has been demonstrated only recently. The acute form has occurred in hares in Northern Europe since approximately 1980, while the inapparent (or ignored) form has been present in rabbits in Czechoslovakia since 1975. These diseases of Leporidae are true viral hepatitis which, in their fulminating forms, bear a remarkable resemblance to human viral hepatitis (B and non-A non-B) with regard to clinical symptoms, pathological lesions and mode of transmission. The dominant faecal-oral transmission observed for types A and E hepatitis would explain the particular susceptibility of family-kept rabbits, as they are fed potentially contaminated fodder. As the clinically similar fulminating hepatitis in human beings is caused by a diversity of viruses (both RNA and DNA), the disease in Leporidae might also be caused by different viruses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

During a study of Rickettsiales-like organisms (RLO) in Pecten maximus gill, histological observation of free RLO in hemoclymph led us to consider interactions between the pathogen and the hemocytes. Firstly, the production of oxygen radicals by hemocytes was established using a luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence method with zymosan axs stimulant. The effects of serveral inhibitors of oxidative metabolism were investigated. The internalization of RLO into hemocytes was demonstrated by electron microscopy but was not related to chemiluminescent activity. The possible involvement of RLO acid phosphatase as the inhibitor of respiratory burst was assessed.

Rickettsia-like microorganisms were described in gill endothelial cells during mass mortalities of Saint-Jacques scallops Pecten maximus in Saint-Brieuc Bay (North Brittany, France) during winter 1985-86. In order to evaluate the epizootiological significance of rickettsiosis of scallops, an analytical and descriptive epizootiological study was undertaken. The study included the geographic distribution, incidence and severity of the disease for several northern European and French scallop populations. Since the center of French scallop production is in Saint-Brieuc Bay, epizootiological investigations were concentrated in this area. Dissemination appeared to be by horizontal transmission. The pathogenic significance of the rickettsia-like organism in mortalities of P. maximus is discussed.

To date information on rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in Spain and Portugal has been scarce, although the disease is endemic and continues to have a considerable impact on species conservation and hunting industry. We analysed RHDVs obtained between 1994 and 2007 at different geographic locations in Portugal (40 samples), Spain (3 samples) and France (4 samples) from wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) that succumbed to the disease. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial VP60 gene sequences allowed a grouping of these RHDVs into three groups, termed "Iberian" Groups IB1, IB2 and IB3. Interestingly, these three Iberian groups clustered separately, though not far from earlier RHDVs of Genogroup 1 (containing e.g., strain "AST89"), but clearly distinct from globally described RHDV strains of Genogroups 2-6. This result, supported by a bootstrap value of 76%, gives rise to the hypothesis that the virus evolved independently since its introduction to wild rabbit populations on the Iberian Peninsula, with the Pyrenees acting as a natural barrier to rabbit and hence to virus dispersal. No differences were observed in RHDV sequences obtained from geographic regions where the rabbit subspecies O. c. algirus prevails compared with those obtained from O. c. cuniculus.

A quality control workshop prototype based on a quantitative approach which is operational from the validation phase was developed. Several telecommunications software systems were analyzed, particularly those areas pertaining to complexity and reliability. The workshop, the methods use to collect, handle, and analyze data, and the tools employed are described. The results allow evaluation of tool usefulness, pertinence of metrics, and validation of the reliability model. It is noted that the research carried out will lead to the application and evaluation of software quality assurance plans and to the evaluation of current beliefs concerning validity, efficiency, and costs. >

Prevalence of avian influenza infection in free-range mule ducks (a cross between Muscovy [Cairina moschata domesticus] and Pekin ducks [Anas platyrhychos domesticus]) is a matter of concern and deserves particular attention. Thus, cloacal swabs were collected blindly from 30 targeted mule flocks at 4, 8, and 12 wk of age between October 2004 and January 2005. They were stored until selection. On the basis of a positive H5 antibody detection at 12 wk of age with the use of four H5 antigens, the samples from eight flocks were selectively analyzed. Positive samples were first screened with a matrix gene-based real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay before virus isolation. Eight avian influenza subtypes (H5N1, H5N2, H5N3, H6N2, H6N8, and H11N9) and three avian paramyxovirus type 1 viruses were isolated. All 11 are characterized as low pathogenicity (LP) and avirulent, respectively, by in vivo tests and, when relevant, nucleotide sequencing of the hemagglutinin (or fusion [F]) protein cleavage site. Regarding H5 isolates, all of their eight genes belong to the avian lineage and some particular genetic traits were determined. H5 genes were fully sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed; they all belong to the Eurasian lineage, lack additional glycosylation sites, and do not cluster, suggesting separate introductions from the wild reservoir. None were grouped with the Asian isolates. The N1 gene (H5N1 isolate) was very close genetically to an Italian LP-H7N1 gene. Antigenic relationships between these H5 isolates and others were assessed comparatively by crossed hemagglutination inhibition tests. All these data are very useful to control the evolution of H5 viruses at the genetic and antigenic level to better understand the source of new outbreaks (new introductions from wild birds or the result of spread among poultry) and to assess the immunity afforded by available vaccines. These data are useful also to update antigens for avian influenza survey and to choose the most suitable vaccine in the case of preventive vaccination of ducks.

Control of H5/H7 low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus circulation is a major issue regarding animal and public health consequences. To improve vaccines and to prevent vaccinated poultry from becoming infected and from shedding wild viruses, we initiated studies targeting prevention of H7 infection through DNA vaccines encoding H7 and M1 viral proteins from an Italian H7N1 LPAI virus isolated from poultry in 1999. More recently, we expressed recombinant H7 and M1 proteins in the baculovirus system to assess whether they might enhance immunity when given as a boost after DNA vaccination. The protection afforded by three vaccine combinations-DNA/DNA, DNA/protein, protein/protein-given 3 wk apart were experimentally compared in 20 specific-pathogen-free chickens per group. Ten days after the boost, chickens were challenged with a homologous (Italian H7N1 LPAI) or heterologous (French H7N1 LPAI isolated from mallards in 2001) virus. Tracheal and cloacal shedding was measured by a matrix gene (M)-based real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay and compared with that displayed by unvaccinated infected controls. After the homologous challenge, chickens of every vaccinated group displayed a significant decrease in cloacal shedding, whereas tracheal shedding was not significantly reduced in the protein/protein group. After the heterologous challenge, only the DNA/DNA group showed a nonsignificant decrease in tracheal shedding. According to these two trials, prime-boost DNA/protein vaccination appeared be more advantageous. Further development could be aimed at improving protein expression, shifting subtype (H5), and assessing the interest of proteins as a boost of recombinant vaccines.

In the neurosurgery setting, incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) are considered as low to moderately low (1 to 10%). These infections are nevertheless a major problem because of the associated morbidity and mortality. A SSI survey system has been initiated in our neurosurgical unit. We report the incidence of SSI and identified SSI risk factors.Data collected included demographic and medical information recorded with the operating room computer system. Any SSI occurring during the patient's postsurgical hospital stay or observed at postoperative visits was notified using a standardized questionnaire. SSIs were registered using Centers for Disease Control criteria. A multiple logistic regression model was used to determine SSI incidence and evaluate risk factors for SSI. Results were reported to the neurosurgical team every three months.From October 1998 to January 2003, 7399 operative procedures were collected. One hundred and twenty-two SSIs were notified with a mean incidence per patient of 1.65% (95% CI [1.37-1.95]). Among the SSIs 42% were superficial, 58% were deep or organ-space. Risk factors significantly associated with SSI were operation site (higher risk with CSF shunt), operation modality (higher risk with postponed operation) and operation duration greater than 75th percentile.SSI are an important problem in neurosurgery. This SSI survey gave us fundamental information about SSI and risk factors. Complementary studies are now necessary about postponed operative procedures. Propositions are made to improve the system.

In implant dentistry, bone loss is attributed to numerous factors that often include infection or trauma. Various surgical techniques and implant components have been developed to enable more effective management of such deficiencies. While the first installment of this article discussed the role of biological response and implant stability in implant therapy, this portion focuses on decision-making factors related to the number of implants, grafting materials, and achieving aesthetics with implant restorations.This article discusses factors that influence the outcome of implant restorations. Upon reading this article, the reader should: Be able to identify these factors and their effects. Be aware of the current trends in implant dentistry.

In implant dentistry, the loss of bone is generally caused by infection or trauma but can also be attributed to other involved factors. Innovative surgical techniques and implant components have been developed in an effort to overcome the challenges (eg, bone topography and density, primary and secondary stability, aesthetics) traditionally associated with implant-supported restorations.