Pulmonary embolism in patients using estrogen-progestagen contraceptives

OBJECTIVES: The risk of thromboembolism in patients taking estrogen-progestagen oral contraceptive drugs has apparently increased since the introduction of third-generation progestagens (desogestrel, gestodene). We examined the clinical features, risk factors and outcome of pulmonary embolism in this context. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed 11 cases of thromboembolism in patients on oral contraception and hospitalized in emergency situations in 1995 and 1996 for pulmonary embolism in order to determine the gravity of the thromboembolic event, risk factors and type of drug used. RESULTS: Early clinical signs had preceded the onset of embolism by 2 to 164 days. PaO2 was below 70 mmHg in 4 patients. Diagnosis was achieved with pulmonary scintigraphy (11 cases), spiral CT (3 cases) and angiopneumography (2 cases). Duplex Doppler visualized the phlebitis in 7 patients. Given heparin (with fibrinolysis in 3 cases) then anti-vitamin K, and after withdrawal of the oral contraceptive, outcome was favorable in all cases. There were no recurrences. The nature of the oral contraceptive varied. Five patients were taking third-generation progestagens. In two cases, embolism had occurred following a change from a second-generation to a third-generation progestagen. Family history of phlebitis and/or abnormal laboratory findings were observed in 6 patients: resistance to activated protein C (2 patients), protein C deficiency (2 patients), anticardiolipin (2 patients) and low-titre antinuclear antibodies (2 patients). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary embolism in patients on oral contraceptives persists despite changes in the hormone content of the drugs. Diagnosis is often delayed. Family history of thrombosis or biological risk factors are often found.     

The Detection of Parallel Reactions by the Temperature-Jump Method

When a reaction of the type A ? 2B (I) is accompanied by a parallel, autocatalytic reaction A + B ? 3B (II), the expression for the reciprocal relaxation time contains one concentration-independent term, derived from reaction (I) in the forward direction, and two terms linear in [B], one derived from reaction (I) in the reverse direction, and one derived from reaction (II) in the forward direction (in addition to a quadratic term). In such a case, the equilibrium constant for the reaction cannot be determined from relaxation experiments. It is suggested that the experimental results obtained in the acid hydrolysis of the dichromate ion can be explained on this basis.     

The relationship between pig genetics, myosin heavy chain I, biochemical traits and quality of M. longissimus thoracis

The relationship between muscle biochemical traits, myosin heavy chain I and meat quality of longissimus thoracis was studied using gilts from five divergent porcine lines (A to E) (carcass weight: 83.7±8.7 kg). Intramuscular fat (IMF) and haem pigments content as well as myosin heavy chain 1 (MyHC I) percentage and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) were determined. Only group E, a well conformed line of pigs, included the halothane positive genotype. The presence of the Hal gene in this line resulted in meat of poorer quality in terms of meat of higher exudate compared to line D, also a well conformed line of predominantly Pietrain origin but being halothane gene free. Line C presented the highest IMF content (2.02%) as well as high oxidative characteristics (MyHC I, 10.0%; LDH/ICDH, 1.92 μmol nmol(-1); ICDH activity, 1.78 nmol min(-1) g(-1)) and the lowest drip losses (5.3%). According to a principal component analysis including MyHC I, biochemical traits and meat quality parameters, line C was characterized by a high IMF content and oxidative traits, and line B by a high glycolytic metabolism. Line E was distinguished by high drip losses and by low pH(45) and pH(u). In conclusion, several observed differences in muscle metabolism between lines free of the halothane gene (A, B, C and D) must be caused by other "genetic background" factors.     

Competitive selection from single domain antibody libraries allows isolation of high-affinity antihapten antibodies that are not favored in the llama immune response

Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) found in camelids lack a light chain, and their antigen-binding site sits completely in the heavy-chain variable domain (VHH). Their simplicity, thermostability, and ease in expression have made VHHs highly attractive. Although this has been successfully exploited for macromolecular antigens, their application to the detection of small molecules is still limited to a very few reports, mostly describing low-affinity VHHs. Using triclocarban (TCC) as a model hapten, we found that conventional antibodies, IgG1 fraction, reacted with free TCC with a higher relative affinity (IC(50) 51.0 ng/mL) than did the sdAbs (IgG2 and IgG3, 497 and 370 ng/mL, respectively). A VHH library was prepared, and by elution of phage with limiting concentrations of TCC and competitive selection of binders, we were able to isolate high-affinity clones, K(D) 0.98-1.37 nM (SPR), which allowed development of a competitive assay for TCC with an IC(50) = 3.5 ng/mL (11 nM). This represents a 100-fold improvement with regard to the performance of the sdAb serum fraction, and it is 100-fold better than the IC(50) attained with other antihapten VHHs reported thus far. Despite the modest overall antihapten sdAbs response in llamas, a small subpopulation of high-affinity VHHs is generated that can be isolated by careful design of the selection process.     

Storage affects the phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities of cherries (Prunus avium L) on human low‐density lipoproteins

Four sweet cherry cultivars (cvs), Burlat, Saco, Summit and Van, were analysed at harvest and after storage at 2 and 15 °C for 30 and 6 days respectively. Phenolic profiles in methanolic extracts of freeze‐dried samples of the fresh and differently stored cherries were quantified by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Hydroxycinnamates dominated in all samples and represented 60–74% by weight of the phenols in the fresh and stored samples of the cvs Saco, Summit and Van, and 45% by weight of the phenols in the cv Burlat samples, which were richer in anthocyanins. The relative and total levels of hydroxycinnamates, anthocyanins, flavonols and flavan‐3‐ols varied among cultivars and during storage. Storage at 15 °C increased the phenol levels, particularly the cyanidin‐3‐rutinoside concentration. Cold storage induced decreased total phenol levels in the cvs Summit and Van but increased total phenol levels in the cvs Burlat and Saco. Phenolic cherry extracts inhibited low‐density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro in a dose‐dependent manner. Extracts of freshly harvested cherries exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activities than extracts of stored samples. The cv Summit samples had the highest antioxidant activity. Differences in the antioxidant effects of the cherry samples were positively correlated with their levels of p‐coumaroylquinic acid (p < 0.1) but negatively correlated with their cyanidin‐3‐rutinoside levels (p < 0.05). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Impact of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy in Two Transgenic Mouse Models of Cerebral β-Amyloidosis: A Neuropathological Study

The pathological accumulation of parenchymal and vascular amyloid-beta (Aβ) are the main hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA), respectively. Emerging evidence raises an important contribution of vascular dysfunction in AD pathology that could partially explain the failure of anti-Aβ therapies in this field. Transgenic mice models of cerebral β-amyloidosis are essential to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying amyloid accumulation in the cerebrovasculature and its interactions with neuritic plaque deposition. Here, our main objective was to evaluate the progression of both parenchymal and vascular deposition in APP23 and 5xFAD transgenic mice in relation to age and sex. We first showed a significant age-dependent accumulation of extracellular Aβ deposits in both transgenic models, with a greater increase in APP23 females. We confirmed that CAA pathology was more prominent in the APP23 mice, demonstrating a higher progression of Aβ-positive vessels with age, but not linked to sex, and detecting a pronounced burden of cerebral microbleeds (cMBs) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In contrast, 5xFAD mice did not present CAA, as shown by the negligible Aβ presence in cerebral vessels and the occurrence of occasional cMBs comparable to WT mice. In conclusion, the APP23 mouse model is an interesting tool to study the overlap between vascular and parenchymal Aβ deposition and to evaluate future disease-modifying therapy before its translation to the clinic.     

New Trends in the Microencapsulation of Functional Fatty Acid‐Rich Oils Using Transglutaminase Catalyzed Crosslinking

Preparing stable protein‐based microcapsules containing functional fatty acids and oils for food applications has been a big challenge. However, recent advances with transglutaminase (TGase) enzyme as an effective protein cross‐linker could provide workable solutions for the encapsulation of omega‐3 and omega‐6 fatty acids without compromising their targeted release and their biological and physicochemical characteristics. The recent and available literature related to the microencapsulation techniques, physical and oxidative properties, and core retention and release mechanisms of TGase‐crosslinked microcapsules entrapping edible oils were reviewed. The effects of factors involved in microencapsulation processes, on the efficiency and quality of the produced innovative microcapsules were also discussed and highlighted. A brief focus has been finally addressed to new insights and additional knowledge on micro‐ and nanoencapsulation of lipophilic food‐grade ingredients by TGase‐induced gelation. Two dominant microencapsulation methods for fish, vegetable, and essential oils by TGase‐crosslinking are complex coacervation and emulsion‐based spray drying. The developed spherical particles (<100 μm) with some wrinkles and smooth surfaces showed an excellent encapsulation efficiency and yield. A negligible release rate and a substantial retention level can result for different lipid‐based cores covered by TGase‐crosslinked proteins during the oral digestion and storage. A significant structural, thermal and oxidative stability for edible oils‐loaded microcapsules in the presence of TGase can be also obtained.     

Effects of α-, β- and maltosyl-β-cyclodextrins use on the glucoraphanin–sulforaphane system of broccoli juice

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are macromolecules with several industrial applications, being particularly used in the food industry as health-promoting compounds protection agents, as flavour stabilizers, or to eliminate undesired tastes and browning reactions, among others. This study shows the effects of α- (10, 30 and 40 mmol L⁻¹), β- (3, 6 and 10 mmol L⁻¹) and maltosyl-β-CDs (30, 60 and 90 mmol L⁻¹) use on the health-promoting glucoraphanin–sulforaphane system of a broccoli juice up to 24 h at 22 °C. Maltosyl-β-CD (90 mmol L⁻¹) highly retained glucoraphanin content after 24 h at 22 °C, showing better effectiveness than β-CD (10 mmol L⁻¹). Sulforaphane was efficiently encapsulated with β-CD at just 3 mmol L⁻¹, and the sulforaphane formed was stable during 3 h at 22 °C. On the other hand, 40 mmol L⁻¹ α-CD retained a high glucoraphanin content in broccoli juice. In contrast, glucoraphanin levels in juice without CDs decreased by 71% after 24 h. Consequently, CDs addition may potentially preserve glucoraphanin in this broccoli juice during industrial processing with the possibility to be later transformed by endogenous myrosinase after ingestion to the health-promoting sulforaphane. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry