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Pistachio nuts have high economical and nutritional value, mostly due to their elevated oil con­tent (50%), which is composed mainly of oleic and linoleic fatty acids. Box-Behnken experimental designs were performed to optimize the oil extraction by response surface analysis. The independent variables measured were seed moisture content (SMC), restriction die (RD), screw press speed (PS) and pressing temperature (PT), while the response variables considered were oil recovery (OR), fine solid contents in the oil (FSC), oil remain­ing in the cake (OC) and parameters related to oil quality (free fatty acid composition (FFAC, mg KOH/g oil), peroxide value (PV, meq O2/kg oil), K232, K270 and pigment contents, mg/kg oil). Given that the chemical quality of pistachio nut oil pressed under different conditions was not affected, the process response was optimized in order to maximize OR under two pressing temperatures. Therefore, at 75 °C, pistachio oil extraction showed a maximum OR (79.61 g/100 g oil) at 8% SMC, 4 mm RD and 20 rpm SP; while, under cold-pressed conditions, the maximum OR (65.97 g/100 g oil) was achieved at 10% SMC, 4mm RD and 20 rpm SP. It is important to highlight that OR values were higher than the results reported previously and the chemical quality parameters from both oils were in the range of Codex standards for virgin (non-refined) oils (FFAC < 0.31 and PV < 0.33). Los frutos de pistacho son altamente nutritivos, principalmente debido a su contenido de aceite (50%), compuesto principalmente por ácidos grasos mono y di-insaturados. Con la finalidad de conocer las condiciones de proceso adecuadas que permitan maximizar la cantidad de aceite extraído preservando la calidad química del mismo se utilizaron dos diseños experimentales de Box-Behnken. Las variables independientes analizadas fueron la humedad de la semilla (HS), el diámetro de reducción (DR), la velocidad y temperatura de prensado (VP y TP, respectivamente), mientras que las variables de respuesta fueron el rendimiento en aceite (RA), el contenido de sólidos finos en el aceite (CFA), el aceite remanente en torta (AT) y parámetros relacionados con la calidad (composición en ácidos grasos libres (CAGL, mg KOH/g aceite), índice de peróxido (IP, meqO2/kg aceite), K232, K270 y pigmentos (mg/kg aceite)). La calidad química de los aceites obtenidos no mostró daño oxidativo y/o hidrolítico significativo bajo las diferentes condiciones del proceso (IP< 0.33 y CAGL< 0.31, respectivamente), por lo tanto, la respuesta se optimizó para maximizar RA a dos TP, 75 y 40 °C. El rendimiento en aceite se maximizó ajustando HS (8% ó 10% b.h.), DR (4 mm), VP (20 rpm) a ambas temperaturas, alcanzando extracciones de aceite de 79.61% y 65.97%, respectivamente

Resume Trois systemes chemo-sensoriels situes en bouche, juste a l’entree du tube digestif, olfaction, gustation et chemo-sensibilite trigeminale, sont specialement stimules au cours de la prise alimentaire. De la mise en jeu synergique des deux premiers resulte la sensation de flaveur, communement appelee le « gout des aliments ». La perception sensorielle resultant de la projection a differentes aires cerebrales des afferences nerveuses nees des appareils gustatif et olfactif comporte trois composantes : les deux composantes discriminative qualitative et discriminative quantitative permettent au cerveau d’identifier la nature physico-chimique de l’aliment en bouche pour dire « qu’est-ce que c’est » et « combien c’est ». La troisieme composante, de nature affective, correspond au plaisir ou au deplaisir que le stimulus en bouche evoque chez le consommateur : c’est la palatabilite. Apres la presentation de quelques donnees d’acquisition recente sur la physiologie des fonctions gustatives et olfactives, le role specifique des differentes composantes de la sensation qu’elles procurent sera discute. Nous montrerons que la composante affective attachee aux sensations alimentaires et sa modulation selon le patrimoine genetique, l’etat energetique du consommateur et son histoire alimentaire, constituent un outil essentiel pour le controle quantitatif regulateur de la prise alimentaire.

Resume Les edulcorants intenses (EI), ingredients alimentaires a tres haut pouvoir sucrant, n’apportent ni nutriment, ni calorie en quantite suffisante pour que leurs constituants propres soient susceptibles d’induire, par eux-memes, des effets metaboliques significatifs. En revanche, et par definition, ils ne sont pas depourvus d’effets sensoriels. Aussi, a l’instar de la stimulation par les sucres caloriques, les sensations gustatives sucrees qu’ils apportent peuvent, dans certaines circonstances, provoquer une liberation tres precoce d’insuline appelee phase cephalique d’insulino-secretion. Cependant cette reponse, qui est de tres faible amplitude et non toujours observee, est insuffisante pour entrainer des consequences metaboliques significatives. Notamment, l’hypothese que le decouplage entre la stimulation sensorielle orale et l’absence d’apport nutritionnel puisse augmenter la sensation de faim, accroitre l’ingere alimentaire subsequent, et etre ainsi une possible cause de surcharge ponderale, a ete largement dementie par nombre de travaux scientifiques. Il est inversement possible que l’emploi d’EI, surtout dans les boissons, permette une certaine reduction de l’apport energetique favorable en vue d’une bonne gestion ponderale. Des effets anorexigenes propres de l’aspartame encapsule ont memes ete decrits. La decouverte recente de la presence de recepteurs gustatifs aux sucres dans les cellules intestinales produisant les entero-hormones GLP1 et GIP a relance le debat d’une possible capacite des EI a directement stimuler la liberation de ces incretines, effet non confirme par les etudes cliniques realisees sur l’Homme.

Flaveur pour les scientifiques, « gout d'un aliment » pour le commun des mortels, la sensation complexe evoquee par un aliment en bouche resulte de la stimulation concomitante de l'appareil gustatif et de l'appareil olfactif sollicite par voie retro- nasale. Pour le « gout pur », sur la base de l'analyse perceptuelle des sensations et des descripteurs psychophysiques, on ne distinguait traditionnellement en occident que quatre saveurs fondamentales (sucree, salee, acide, amer) contrairement aux extremes- orientaux qui identifiaient traditionnellement une cinquieme modalite gustative, l'umami. Ce mot, qui signifie « delicieux » en japonais, designe un gout typique de la cuisine asiatique dont le vecteur prototype est le glutamate, mais aussi les acides nucleiques: c'est le gout des produits carnes, viandes et poissons.

Resume Contexte Malgre l’interet scientifique de sa connaissance, le statut nutritionnel des enfants francais en bas âge n’a ete que peu etudie. Objectifs Evaluer les apports energetiques, macro- et micronutritionnels des enfants francais âges de un a 36 mois. Procedure experimentale Une enquete alimentaire transversale a ete realisee de janvier a mars 2005 sur un echantillon representatif des nourrissons et enfants francais en bas âge, tenant compte de l’âge des enfants, de l’activite professionnelle de la mere, de la categorie socioeconomique de la famille, mais en excluant les enfants totalement ou partiellement nourris au sein. Sujets Sept cent six enfants ont ete repartis en 11 groupes d’âge allant de un a trois mois a 31–36 mois. Analyses Les releves alimentaires individuels de trois jours consecutifs ont ete convertis en consommation energetique et consommation de 24 nutriments, a l’aide de tables de composition de 1260 aliments standard et des 850 preparations lactees infantiles et aliments specifiques bebes presents sur le marche francais en 2005. Resultats Jusqu’a l’âge de sept mois, les apports energetiques moyens etaient, en 2005, superieurs aux apports conseilles en energie, mais ils devenaient inferieurs apres un an. Les apports de proteines, de lipides et de glucides etaient satisfaisants, tandis que ceux de calcium, de phosphore et des vitamines du groupe B etaient au-dessus des apports nutritionnels recommandes pour les 11 groupes d’âge. Cependant, certains enfants âges de plus de 12 mois etaient a risque d’apports insuffisants pour l’acide alpha-linolenique, la vitamine E, la vitamine C, le fer et le zinc, tandis que les apports moyens de sodium de chaque groupe d’âge etaient au-dessus des besoins nutritionnels moyens pour ce nutriment. Conclusions Le regime alimentaire des enfants francais en bas âge semble satisfaisant pour une large proportion d’entre eux, couvrant la plupart de leurs besoins nutritionnels. Cependant, les apports en fer et en acide alpha-linolenique specialement necessiteraient une amelioration pour certains enfants francais de plus d’un an.

Il a ete observe que l'energie procuree par les boissons caloriques (BCS) est mal comptabilisee par le controle physiologique de la prise alimentaire. En consequence la consommation de telles boissons en quantite excessive pourrait favoriser le desequilibre de la balance energetique et contribuer a la genese de l'obesite. L'objectif de cet expose est de faire la revue des arguments experimentaux et epidemiologiques en faveur ou non de cette hypothese. Globalement, au vu de resultats parfois divergents, il n'est pas possible de formellement conclure a la responsabilite certaine des BCS dans la recente progression du surpoids et de l'obesite. Il est cependant probable qu'elles puissent y contribuer, au moins pour certains sujets en raison de differences de susceptibilite individuelle. La prudence incite donc a limiter la consommation de BCS en les reservant a leur seule veritable fonction qui est de procurer du plaisir orosensoriel dans des circonstances festives.

RESUME La qualite des eaux consommees en France est globalement excellente. Toutefois, le consommateur doit etre clairement informe de leur composition et des mises en garde dont elles peuvent faire l’objet, ce qui est loin d’etre le cas aujourd’hui. On distingue, pour l’essentiel : — Les eaux minerales naturelles pre-emballees, dont la purete naturelle est garantie, qui ont l’avantage d’un nom commercial specifique et d’une composition constante pour chaque source. Cependant, certaines d’entre elles comportent des concentrations d’ions trop elevees pour pouvoir etre consommees sans restriction, ce qui, parallelement, leur confere d’authentiques indications therapeutiques (eaux riches en calcium, en sulfates...). — Les eaux de source pre-emballees, dont l’equilibre physico-chimique est controle selon des normes, ce qui les met a l’abri de tout exces en mineraux. Cependant, ces eaux ont un nom commercial qui n’est pas specifique d’une source — Les eaux de distribution publique, soumises apres traitement aux normes de potabilite (controles reguliers), qui peuvent etre bues toute une vie sans inconvenient. — Des « boissons supplementees ou aromatisees a base d’eau de source ou d’eau minerale » regies par d’autres lois. Les eaux minerales naturelles distribuees en France presentent une grande richesse du fait de la diversite de leur origine et de leur composition, ce qui leur confere un large eventail d’utilisation. Il est preferable, pour la consommation familiale courante, d’utiliser une eau minerale naturelle peu mineralisee ou une eau de source, si l’on souhaite remplacer l’eau de distribution. Leur gout agreable en fait un precieux recours pour prevenir et traiter les pertes hydro-electrolytiques (fievre, temperature exterieure elevee, traitement diuretique, diarrhee...), notamment chez les personnes âgees dont les besoins en eau sont eleves (1500 a 1700 mL/j) et qui doivent etre encouragees a boire lorsque leur sensation de soif est alteree. A la difference des eaux de source, dont le residu sec doit etre

Resume En 1981 et 1989, deux enquetes nationales decrivaient l'evolution de la consommation alimentaire des nourrissons francais. En 1997, une troisieme enquete a ete realisee par les memes equipes suivant la meme methode. Population et methodes L'echantillon, representatif, est constitue de 660 enfants de 1 a 30 mois. La quantite de chaque aliment ingere par chaque enfant a ete relevee pendant 3 jours. On a calcule la valeur energetique de la ration, l'apport en protides, lipides, glucides, mineraux, vitamines et acide linoleique, la repartition des apports entre les repas de la journee et le pourcentage de l'energie provenant des differents aliments. Resultats De 1989 a 1997, la part des laits infantiles dans l'alimentation a augmente a 4, 5, 7 et 8–9 mois. A partir de 5 mois, les apports observes en protides sont superieurs au double des apports recommandes chez 75 % des enfants. Les apports moyens en fer sont plus eleves qu'en 1989 de 7 a 12 mois. Les apports moyens en acide linoleique sont inferieurs aux apports recommandes a partir de 6 mois. Conclusion Cette evolution conduit a une meilleure couverture des apports recommandes. Cette situation peut etre amelioree, notamment pour le fer et les acides gras essentiels en incitant a la prolongation de la duree d'allaitement exclusive avec un lait pour nourrissons et a l'utilisation plus systematique et plus prolongee des laits de suite et des laits de croissance.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of alimentary sensory stimulation on the thermic effect of food. SUBJECTS: Nine male healthy volunteers (age: 20-34y, body mass index (BMI): 17.4-25.3 kg/m 2 ). DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS: Four experimental situations were investigated on different days. Subjects: 1) ate a four course meal containing 2582kJ (meal), 2) saw, smelt and tasted the same courses (alimentary sensory stimulation), 3) saw, smelt and tasted non-alimentary substances (non-alimentary sensory stimulation), 4) received directly into the stomach the previous meal (tube feeding). Energy expenditure (EE) was measured over a 20 min rest period, then for 110 min. RESULTS: The changes over midday rest EE were: meal = + 12.0%; alimentary sensory stimulation = + 3.2%; non-alimentary sensory stimulation = -2.6%; tube feeding = + 5.7%. The increase in EE was higher after the meal than after either alimentary sensory stimulation (P

Cyproheptadine (CH) is a serotonin antagonist that increases food intake and body weight. In order to elucidate its mechanism of action on the control of food intake, hunger ratings, pleasure-displeasure to sweet gustatory stimuli and negative alliesthesia induced by a 50 g glucose load were compared in 14 healthy subjects after they had received a placebo or 16 mg of CH. Cyproheptadine did not affect the hunger rating, nor the affective rating in fasted subjects, but it reduced significantly the negative alimentary alliesthesia induced by the glucose load. It was concluded that CH increases food intake more by reducing satiation than by increasing hunger. This is in line with the anti-serotoninergic properties of CH, and the action of serotonin on the control of food intake.

Introduction Nous rapportons une contamination inter-echantillons sur automate Ortho © AutoVue Innova dont le dossier de verification de methode incluait un test d’absence de contamination selon le principe suivant : apres rincage (verifie par 1 negatif), 1 echantillon fortement positif (IgG de titre 1/64) 3 fois consecutivement, puis 3 negatif consecutivement, puis un positif, places de facon que l’aiguille preleve d’abord un positif puis un negatif. Description La contamination a touche 6 echantillons, analyses juste apres le serum contaminant : 5 depistages et 1 controle qualite interne (CQI) non conforme qui a donne l’alerte. Apres rincage-decontamination, les depistages ont tous ete retrouves negatifs et le CQI conforme. L’etude d’impact de cette non-conformite a mis en evidence 2 prelevements anterieurs du patient traites sur l’automate dans les jours precedents (j−1 et j−3). Lors des 2 passages, les 2 echantillons analyses juste apres le plasma suspect ont ete contamines. Pour l’un des passages il s’agissait du depistage et de l’identification conjointe d’un patient, (connu avec un allo-anti-D), ce qui a entraine le rendu d’un resultat errone : anti-Fya rendu par exces. Pour l’autre, le depistage positif n’a ensuite pas ete confirme en identification. Resultat Le serum contaminant presentait un anti-Fya titrant au 1/65 536 en technique tube saline, explique par une transfusion de ce patient immunise, en urgence vitale immediate, en CGR phenotypes Rh-K de phenotype Fya non teste a j−18. Conclusion Le titrage tres eleve nous permet d’identifier la cause de cette contamination inter-echantillon due a une limite de methode et non pas une defaillance de l’automate.

Improvement of needle-point sharpness and improved injection comfort for patients remain active areas of research. This article reports on a five-bevel needle for subcutaneous administration with a prefillable syringe, and the results of a clinical trial to verify and validate the bench measure of sharpness.

Canada is providing a new home to refugees from around the globe, who have left their countries of origin because of persecution and are seeking safety elsewhere. These families bring with them myriad stresses arising from their migration. Child refugees, in particular, have special needs that must be considered--trauma from witnessing violent crimes, language difficulties, family disruption, and adjustment to a different culture--in addition to the challenges that accompany childhood and growing up.

In 1981 and 1989, two French nationwide food consumption surveys reported the dietary intakes of infants and toddlers. In 1997, another survey was conducted.Six-hundred and sixty, 1 to 30-month-old infants and children were recruited. Food records were completed by their parents during a 3-day period. Energy, proteins, carbohydrates, total lipids, minerals, vitamins, linoleic acid contents were calculated. Energy contribution of various food groups and the pattern of the distribution of the different meals were indicated.Between 1989 and 1997, the contribution of milk-based infant formulas increased at 4, 5, 7 and 8-9 months. From the age of 5 months, approximately 75% of the children had a protein intake twice as high as the official recommendations. Mean iron intakes were higher than those calculated in 1989 at the age of 7, 8-9 and 10-12 months. The average daily intake of linoleic acid was lower than the recommended daily allowance from the age of 6 months.Trends in dietary intakes between 1989 and 1997 indicated that the nutritional needs of French infants and toddlers are better covered as recommended by scientific committees. More effective efforts are needed for improvement of their nutritional status particularly for iron and essential fatty acids. For example, weaning foods should be introduced later and toddler's formulas should be used more systematically and longer.

Cigarette smoking is associated with low plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I levels, which may explain, in part, its deleterious effects on coronary heart disease (CHD). In a group of ex-smokers, we assessed the influence of smoking cessation on apo A-I particle levels. Plasma lipid, apolipoprotein, and lipoparticle concentrations of 58 subjects who had completely stopped smoking (ex-smokers) were compared with those of 37 subjects who had continued smoking (smokers) before and after a smoking cessation counseling program. Nutritional intake was recorded before and after the program to adjust for potential interaction with plasma lipid variables. Smokers and ex-smokers were similar in gender distribution, age, body mass index (BMI), social status, and nutrient intake. There were significantly greater increases in total cholesterol (P < .04), HDL-C (P < .005), HDL2-C (P < .008), and lipoprotein (Lp) A-I:A-II (P < .04) in ex-smokers than in smokers. After smoking cessation, ex-smokers consumed more vegetable protein (P < .02) and polysaccharides (P < .04) and had higher plasma levels of HDL-C (P < .0004), apo A-I (P < .001), Lp A-I (P < .007), and Lp A-I:A-II (P < .01) than smokers. Adjustments on nutritional variables did not show any additional difference between ex-smokers and smokers, suggesting that smoking per se affects Lp A-I and Lp A-I:A-II levels. In conclusion, HDL particles including Lp A-I and Lp A-I:A-II are higher in ex-smokers than in smokers.

Accumulating evidence suggest that a good way to compare the satiety power of meals with different compositions or energy contents is to measure the onset latency of the next meal when freely requested by subjects deprived of any time cues. This study was performed in normal-weight young men (aged 19-24 y) isolated from time cues. At sessions 1 and 2, we studied the effects of two high-carbohydrate pasta lunchs with either 50 g low-energy butter substitute (lunch A) or 50 g butter (lunch B) on hunger ratings, on the latency of the dinner request, and on energy and nutrient intakes at the offered ad libitum dinner. Sessions 3 and 4 were designed to examine the effects of the two lunchs on the postlunch and predinner profiles of plasma glucose, insulin, glucagon, and lipids; consequences on the metabolic and hormonal responses to the fixed dinner offered on request also were tested. The addition of 1588 kJ butter to the pasta lunch compared with the addition of 67 kJ butter substitute had no effect on hunger ratings but significantly delayed the onset of dinner by approximately 38 min; however, neither energy intake nor nutrient intakes were different. The high-fat lunch led to a slightly different postlunch plasma glucose concentration profile but, as expected, to higher plasma triacylglycerol and fatty acid concentrations. The high-fat lunch also led to postdinner glucose intolerance with normal insulin and high fatty acid concentrations that may help explain the partial and delayed adjustment in energy intake after a high-fat meal as reported by some studies.

A national dietary survey was carried out in 1981 among a representative sample of 499 French infants 1 to 18 months of age. When compared with the French Recommended Dietary Allowances, the diets were found to be well supplied in energy, protein and calcium, and inadequately supplied in iron and linoleic acid, mainly for infants aged 4-10 months. A comparative dietary survey conducted by using the same methodology (food consumption was measured by means of a 3-day food record) in 1989 showed that linoleic acid intake was higher in the 6-month-old group. Similarly, iron intakes were higher in 1989 for infants aged 1-7 months. The mean daily iron intake increased between 1981 and 1989 from 5.0 +/- 1.9 mg to 7.3 +/- 2.6 mg in the 6-month-old group and was similar for the older infants. The data suggest that educational programs were partially efficient but it is clear that more effective efforts are needed.

SummaryUnilateral lesions involving the area immediately caudal to the locus coeruleus in the cat are associated with slight decreases of noradrenaline (NA) in both sides of the spinal cord without any important change of serotonin (5-HT) concentration in the spinal cord and of N A and 5-HT concentrations in the cerebral cortex of both sides. In other cats with similar lesions involving the same area bilaterally (postlocus lesions) NA is markedly decreased and 5-H T slightly decreased in the hypothalamus and spinal cord but the concentrations of NA and 5-HT of the cerebral cortex, striât urn and thalamus are not conspicuously modified by such postlocus lesions.Unilateral lesions in the area of the loci coeruleus and subcoeruleus in the rat are associated with a marked decrease of noradrenaline (NA) in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex without any important change of NA in the contralateral cortex and in the spinal cord of both sides. Under such conditions the concentrations of serotonin (5-HT) are not significantly modified in the cerebral cortex and spinal cord of both sides. NA and 5-HT concentrations of the cerebral cortex of both sides are unmodified by unilateral lesions of the cerebellar nuclei in the rat. In the latter group of animals slight increases of NA and 5-HT in the spinal cord are significant in comparison to the values obtained in the control animals but not from one side of the spinal cord to the other.These results further support the suggestion that the noradrenergic coeruleo-cortical pathway originating in the loci coeruleus and subcoeruleus ascends on the same side and ends in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex. In the light of the results of this investigation and of those reported in a companion paper (Marchand et ai, 1979) NA fibers reaching the hypothalamus and spinal cord most likely arise from neurons located caudally in respect to the locus coeruleus. Moreover NA fibers ending in the hypothalamus do not ascend in the dorsolateral part of the isthmic area and, therefore, have a different course than the N A fibers reaching the cerebral cortex and thalamus.

SummaryUnilateral lesions in the area of the loci coeruleus and subcoeruleus in the cat are associated with a significant and sustained decrease of noradrenaline (NA) in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex without any important change in the concentrations of NA in the contralateral cortex and in the spinal cord of both sides. The serotonin (5-HT) concentrations of the spinal cord and cerebral cortex of both sides remained unchanged in the same groups of animals. Bilateral lesions in the same area result also in a marked decrease of NA in the cerebral cortex of both sides. The latter lesions also result in slight decreases of NA in the hypothalamus and of NA and 5-HT in the spinal cord but the NA and 5-HT concentrations of the stria-turn and thalamus and the 5-H T concentrations of the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus are unmodified by such lesions. Unilateral lesions of the area immediately rostral to the locus coeruleus (praelocus lesions) result in a very significant decrease of NA in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex without any change of NA in the contralateral cerebral cortex and spinal cord of both sides. Similar lesions produced bilaterally in another group of cats resulted in marked decreases of NA in the cerebral cortex of both sides and a slight decrease of NA in the thalamus without any change of NA in the striatum, hypothalamus and spinal cord and of 5-HT in the cerebral cortex. In the same group of animals with lesions which, however, extended more closely to the midline than in cats with locus coeruleus lesions, 5-HT is markedly decreased in the striatum and thalamus and slightly decreased in the hypothalamus and spinal cord.These results support the view that the noradrenergie coeruleo-cortical pathway is made up of fibers which originate in the loci coeruleus and subcoeruleus and pre-dominently end ipsilaterally to their origin in the cerebral cortex. Ascending NA fibers ending in the thalamus appear to originate from NA neurons located more laterally in the upper pons and more specifically at the level of the parabrachial nuclei.

Resume A dix sujets sains on propose des stimulations gustatives sucrees avant et apres injection intragastrique de glucose. Chaque sujet au cours de 4 experiences recoit 0 g. 25 g, 50 g et 100 g de glucose. On suit l'evolution de la sensation dans les deux heures suivantes. Les resultats montrent une alliesthesie negative (diminution du plaisir donne par le saccharose) apparaissant en 15 min croissant jusqu'a un maximum vers la 55ieme minute puis decroissant. L'effet est d'autant plus marque que la dose de glucose ingere est importante. Ces resultats sont compatibles avec une intervention de l'alliesthesie negative dans la perception consciente de la satiete.

Endogenous opiate or opioïds are peptidic neuromodulators which bind with specific receptors (mu, kappa, delta, etc), and thus control numerous physiological process, mainly pain and food intake (FI). Endogenous or exogenous agonists of opioïd receptors increase FI. Antagonists decrease it. However several results indicate discrepancies. The anorectic activity of antagonists is different of the activity of classical anorexigenic drugs since inhibition of opioïd receptors did not induce long term change of body weight. The analysis of the neurophysiological action of the opioïd system on FI can explain this apparent discrepancy. Opioïds act on the short term control of FI modulating the rewarding properties of alimentary stimuli: agonist increase and antagonists decrease it. Such an action correspond to a control of food palatability or, in human, to a control of the sensory pleasure/displeasure associated with food stimuli. Opioïd system does not seem to directly act on body weigh regulation.

We assessed the efficacy of a natural clay (smectite) on the frequency and the duration of acid (pH less than 4) and very acid (pH less than 3) gastroesophageal reflux (GER) measured by 24-hour continuous pH recording (CPR). Twenty newborn infants were enrolled in this double-blind controlled study owing to pathological CPR in supine position. After inclusion, all the patients were maintained in the 30-degree elevated prone position and received either smectite (3 g/day; n = 10) or placebo (n = 10) for 7 days. On the 8th day, a second 24-hour CPR was performed in supine position. The postural therapy alone (placebo group) was followed by a significant decrease in the numbers of acid GER (p less than 0.05) during the second CPR. The combination of postural therapy and smectite treatment was followed by a decrease in the number of acid (p less than 0.05) and very acid GER (p = 0.01), the percentages of time spent at pH below 4 (p less than 0.05) and 3 (p less than 0.01) and the maximal duration of acid GER (p less than 0.05).

In some isolated parts of North Africa, there persists an ancient Berber custom of imposing an overfeeding regimen on young girls before marriage, to achieve an obesity which is regarded as aesthetically pleasing. We have studied the effect of such a regimen, lasting 12–16 weeks, on blood lipids and on the affective reactions to sweet tastes in nine subjects. It is known that the pleasantness of alimentary cues i.e., the feeding behaviour, depends on the subject's nutritional state. Only three subjects gained weight (by 3, 5 and 8 kg), in spite of the strong pressure to overeat. No change in plasma lipid concentrations were observed. Nevertheless, at the end of the regimen every subject showed a highly significant decrease in the rated pleasantness of sweet stimuli when they were tested fasting. However, the reduction in sweet pleasantness induced by ingestion of a 200 ml load of 1·4 M glucose solution was not changed by the overfeeding. Thus, pressure to overfeed can reduce hunger, as seen in the attractiveness of sweet foods in fasted subjects, without modifying glucose-induced satiety.

Twenty-three of 23 neonates were contaminated in the course of an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in a neonatal care unit. Symptoms among 22 infected symptomatic infants included rhinitis (n = 21), dyspnea (n = 19), cough (n = 17), apnea (n = 5), seizures (n = 3), fever (n = 3). Five patients presented with severe respiratory distress. The occurrence of non-obstructive apnea was significantly correlated with a history of respiratory disease, RSV infection during the first 15 days of life and the severity of lower respiratory tract RSV infection.

The food hoarding behaviour paradigm (HB) was used to evaluate the modification of the set-point of body weight (BW) regulation induced by dexfenfluramine (D-FF) in rats fed with chow or previously made obese by a cafeteria diet for 51 days. Daily injections of D-FF at a dose of 7 mg/kg (i.p.) induced a 58.5 g shift-down of the BW set-point in a group of chow fed rats submitted to HB measurement, and induced an equivalent weight reducing effect in a control-BW group always fed with chow ad libitum. In the rats fed ad libitum with the cafeteria diet, the BW reducing effect of D-FF(7 mg/kg/day) was about twice as great as in the lean rats. The HB measurement indicates that the vehicle-injected/cafeteria-obese rats had a BW set-point 54.6 g lower than the BW they reached when fed ad libitum with the cafeteria diet. It was concluded that the hyperphagia induced by the cafeteria diet was above that needed for BW regulation, and that D-FF may suppress this unregulated weight increase. In the cafeteria-obese rats submitted to HB measurement and D-FF injections a BW set-point 110.7 g lower than their initial ad libitum BW was observed. It is concluded that D-FF has induced a double effect in these rats: (1) a shift-down of the BW set-point and (2) the suppression of the unregulated weight increase induced by the cafeteria diet.

Unilateral lesions in the area of the loci coeruleus and subcoeruleus in the cat are associated with a significant and sustained decrease of noradrenaline (NA) in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex without any important change in the concentrations of NA in the contralateral cortex and in the spinal cord of both sides. The serotonin (5-HT) concentrations of the spinal cord and cerebral cortex of both sides remained unchanged in the same groups of animals. Bilateral lesions in the same area result also in a marked decrease of NA in the cerebral cortex of both sides. The latter lesions also result in slight decreases of NA in the hypothalamus and of NA and 5-HT in the spinal cord but the NA and 5-HT concentrations of the striatum and thalamus and the 5-HT concentrations of the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus are unmodified by such lesions. Unilateral lesions of the area immediately rostral to the locus coeruleus (praelocus lesions) result in a very significant decrease of NA in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex without any change of NA in the contralateral cerebral cortex and spinal cord of both sides. Similar lesions produced bilaterally in another group of cats resulted in marked decreases of NA in the cerebral cortex of both sides and a slight decrease of NA in the thalamus without any change of NA in the striatum, hypothalamus and spinal cord and of 5-HT in the cerebral cortex. In the same group of animals with lesions which, however, extended more closely to the midline than in cats with locus coeruleus lesions, 5-HT is markedly decreased in the striatum and thalamus and slightly decreased in the hypothalamus and spinal cord. These results support the view that the noradrenergic coeruleo-cortical pathway is made up of fibers which originate in the loci coeruleus and subcoeruleus and predominantly end ipsilaterally to their origin in the cerebral cortex. Ascending NA fibers ending in the thalamus appear to originate from NA neurons located more laterally in the upper pons and more specifically at the level of the parabrachial nuclei.

This study was aimed at testing the efficacy and innocuousness of a single dose of sodium valproate (SV) for the treatment of epilepsy, as compared with 3 daily doses. It was tested on 35 children, 5 to 15 years of age, presenting with the idiopathic form of generalized epilepsy. At the end of one year of treatment with 20 mg/kg/day of SV in 3 daily doses, the children were given a single dose at 8 PM daily. Every 3 months for a period of one year, patients were examined in order to monitor the clinical efficacy and side effects, liver function tests and serum levels of SV at 9 AM and 6 PM. Twenty patients who were well controlled with 3 daily doses had no fits with the single dose treatment. Ten patients, who had had one fit every 6 months during the observation year had no convulsions during the year on a single dose: however, 5 others who had had one fit every 6 months with 3 doses, had fits with the same frequency with the single dose treatment. There were no side effects. SV plasma levels at 9 AM were always higher than those at 6 PM. The efficacy of a single dose may result from the action of SV which increases the intra-cerebral levels of GABA, which are delayed and prolonged.

Eight healthy nonobese volunteers were asked to rate, on a pleasure-displeasure scale, sucrose and salty solutions as well as alimentary and nonalimentary odors. Effects of intragastric glucose load (vs. water load) and naltrexone (vs. placebo) were tested. Naltrexone produces a significant decrease for sweetened solution on the pleasure scale, a shift even stronger than that of the glucose load itself. Such a decrease is also observed for alimentary odors but not for responses to nonalimentary stimuli. Thus the opioid system is involved in ingestive behavior in humans, and this action is perhaps specific.

Dexfenfluramine is undoubtedly the most studied molecule in the field of feeding behaviour and it has increased our fundamental knowledge of food intake and body mass regulation. Animal and human studies have shown that dexfenfluramine increases the degree of satiety induced by food intake. Dexfenfluramine seems to act directly on the fundamental mechanisms of energetic regulation. Dexfenfluramine also has an original effect on some food intake disorders. In "carbohydrate cravers", dexfenfluramine reduces total food intake by selectively reducing carbohydrate snacks without reducing protein intake significantly.

Food intake is the homoeostatic behaviour through which all beings regulate their energy balance. Short-term control is exerted by the brain at each meal, according to the nutritional requirements. The purpose of this control is to ensure long-term regulation of the energy (or adipose) mass reserve which is the principal determinant of bodyweight. After 75 years of investigation, it now appears that the systemic stimulus which initiates food intake probably is a fall in the capacity of cells to produce energy (and therefore power) and that this parameter is most likely to be measured by hypothalamic receptors. The discontinuation of food ingestion behaviour always takes long before the nutriments ingested have been absorbed and have been able to correct the hunger signal. This means that it has its own inhibitory mechanisms the starting point of which is the various sensitivities aroused by food intake and by nutriments before they reach the milieu interne, viz.: the oronaso-pharyngeal analyser system, the gastric stretch receptors and the intestinal or portal-hepatic chemoreceptors. Their activation rests on conditioning processes or on reflex processes one of the effects of which is to induce a change in the affective component associated with food stimuli. It is through these mechanisms that hedonic factors are integrated in the control of food intake. In terms of neurophysiology, it is certain that the main role is played by the ventro-medial and lateral nuclei of the thalamus, although these nuclei should no longer be regarded as centres of hunger or satiety but as integrating areas acting synergistically with many other cerebral structures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

At very low doses dexfenfluramine, a serotonin agonist, is a potent inhibitor of hoarding behavior. The dose able to suppress 40% of this food motivated response (ED 40) is approximately 0.3 mg/kg. The action of dexfenfluramine is mediated through serotoninergic receptors because it is suppressed by a pretreatment with metergoline, a selective serotonin-receptor blocker, but is not modified by haloperidol, a dopamine antagonist.

A prospective study was carried out among 190 low birthweight neonates (less than 2,500 g) in order to assess their ratio of total body fat by 2 adiposity indices: Weight/Height3 (W/H3) at birth and Weight/Height2 (W/H2) subsequently. Adequate for gestational age (AGA) girls with weight indices (W/H3) above the 10th percentile (AGA/I+) had a lower height than AGA/I- girls on the 6th (p less than 0.01) and 9th (p less than 0.05) months of corrected chronological ages. Mean weight and height of small for gestational age (SGA) neonates with weight indices (W/H3) lower than the 10th percentile (SGA/I-) were similar to the SGA/I+ as soon as 3 months of corrected chronological age. SGA/I+ infants experienced a progressive increase in low weight indices (W/H2) until 15-18 months without significant differences with SGA/I- at 3, 6, 9 months of corrected chronological age. Meanwhile, low indices (W/H2) were more frequently observed in SGA/I- at 15-18 months. Thus the early characteristics in weight indices disclose a lower ratio of body fat in SGA infants than in normal children, at least up to age 15-18 months.

The pleasure ratings for alimentary and nonalimentary odors and tastes were tested in 10 subjects, at ambient temperatures 0°, 10°, 20°, 30° and 40°C. The taste stimuli were kept at 20°C and the odor stimuli at 36°C. The group median rating for all subjects and all nonalimentary substances did not change at any ambient temperatures. The increase in ambient temperature produced a moderate decrease in the median rating for alimentary stimuli. In another group of 8 subjects, alliesthesia was tested in a cold environment. Cold exposure almost completely suppressed negative alliesthesia to sweet stimuli. The return to 20°C restored alliesthesia. This phenomenon seems to be independent of the temperature of the solutions tasted. Nonalimentary odors were not affected by cooling.

The principle of behavioural therapy was used in anti-tobacco treatment. An assessment of the first 100 patients is given here. From the beginning of treatment, which was individual and lasted for one week, the subjects, with three exceptions, stopped smoking between the treatment sessions. After treatment was completed, 93 subjects maintained this abstinence for at least 15 days; 74 patients have not started to smoke again, with a follow-up period ranging from 2 to 18 months. The degree of motivation of the patients would seem to be the only parameter related to relapse.