Exercise and Zoledronic Acid on Lipid Profile and Bone Remodeling in Ovariectomized Rats: a Paradoxical Negative Association?

Exercise (EXE) and amino-bisphosphonates (BP) are both considered as useful strategies in the prevention of post-menopausal bone loss. Exercise reduces lipid levels, and BP may induce increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). We hypothesized that combined effects of BP and exercise would produce a better improvement of lipid profile. We studied the specific and combined effects of zoledronic acid (Z) and EXE on lipid profile and bone remodeling in mature ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Six-month old female rats were randomly assigned to either a sham-ovx group (n = 12) or one of four OVX groups (n = 12): vehicle-treated sedentary (OVX); OVX + EXE (OVX-E, running on a treadmill for 12 weeks); OVX + Z (20 μg/kg, i.v.), (OVX-Z); OVX + Z+EXE (OVX-ZE). Total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C and bone remodeling markers were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. We demonstrated that both Z and EXE prevented the increase in bone resorption resulting from OVX, and individually improved the atherosclerotic risk index. Therapy with Z resulted in significant increase (39.00 ± 0.03 vs. 53.6 ± 0.01 mg/dl; +37.4%, P < 0.05) in serum concentration of HDL-C and a non significant decrease in TC (135.30 ± 0.03 vs. 144.80 ± 0.05 mg/dl; −5.8%) in the OVX-Z group compared to the OVX group. Post-menopausal women have elevated risk of CVD and bone resorption, hence, these data ultimately demonstrate (except for the elevated ratio in the combined group) that exercise and zoledronic acid are useful in minimizing the impact of these two processes in women and the combination of the two may be clinically relevant.     

Synthese et proprietes electrochimiques de sels conducteurs derives du tetramethyltetraselenofulvalene—I. Chlorure et bromure

The oxidation of TMTSF in the presence of chloride or bromide ions has been studied by several electrochemical techniques. The formation of stable intermediate phases (TMTSFCl_0.8 and TMTSFBr_0.8) has been deduced from the analysis of the current-voltage curves obtained by means of a carbon paste electrode. These phases have been isolated by electrolysis and their redox properties have been studied.     

Stability of vacuolar betaxanthin pigments in juices from Moroccan yellow Opuntia ficus indica fruits

Pigment stability of yellow juices prepared from Moroccan cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica) was determined as a function of temperature and pH. The experiments were carried out at temperatures ranging from 80 to 100 °C with juices at pH 3.5, 5 and 6.5. The degree of pigment retention decreased when the temperature increased. The degradation constant rates were determined for thermal degradation rates of pseudo-first order. The Arrhenius plot obtained for the degradation of betaxanthin from the yellow fruits was not linear. Regardless of the temperature treatment, the lowest degradation was obtained for pH 5. Where some stabilizers were tested for the protection of pigments, the results showed that ascorbic acid was a better protective agent at pH 3.5, increasing the protection by 40%.     

Assessment of the power deposition on the MEGAPIE spallation target using the GEANT4 toolkit

This work aims at evaluating the reliability of the GEANT4(GEometry ANd Tracking 4) Monte Carlo(MC) toolkit in calculating the power deposition on the Megawatt Pilot Experiment(MEGAPIE), the first liquid–metal spallation target worldwide. A new choice of codes to study and optimize this target is provided. The evaluation of the GEANT4 toolkit is carried out in comparison with the MCNPX and FLUKA MC codes. The MEGAPIE is an international project led by the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. It aims to demonstrate the safe operation of an intense neutron source to power the next generation of nuclear reactors, accelerator-driven systems(ADSs). In this study, we used the GEANT4 MC toolkit to calculate the power deposited by fast protons on the MEGAPIE target.The calculation focuses on several structures and regions.The predictions of our calculations were compared and discussed with that of the MCNPX and FLUKA codes,adopted by the MEGAPIE project. The comparison shows that there is a very good agreement between our results and those of the reference codes.     

Transition to turbulence: The case of a pipe in radial oscillations

This paper deals with an experimental study on flows in a pipe forced to oscillate horizontally about a vertical axis through the center of its inlet section. The study is concerned with the laminar and transition flow regimes and the flow is investigated using streak lines as a visualization technique. According to a similitude analysis, four criteria govern this phenomenon: the flow Reynolds number, the oscillations Reynolds number (or the reduced frequency), the oscillations amplitude and the Euler number. This paper is mainly concerned with the effects of the oscillations and the flow Reynolds numbers. The results show that the pipe oscillations destabilize the laminar flow: the straight streak line observed in the case of a stationary pipe undergoes a bending and then deforms into an S shape; the longitudinal location of these flow events correlates with both Reynolds numbers. The pipe oscillations are also observed to induce an earlier transition from the laminar to the turbulent regimes; again, the flow and oscillations Reynolds numbers determine the flow regime present in the oscillating pipe. A chart based on the results of 130 tests is proposed to define the conditions of these regimes.     

The 13C-urea breath test in Helicobacter pylori gastric infection in children

Helicobacter pylori gastric infection in children is a public health problem. Classical diagnostic tools such as endoscopy are excessively invasive in the usual clinical context. Serology at this age has multiple drawbacks. The urea-13C breath test seems today the most appropriate alternative method. The principle of the test relies upon the indirect detection of H pylori through its high urease activity. The test uses a stable (ie, non radioactive) isotope, which allows its repeated use. The main indications are the detection and the follow-up of H pylori infection.