Proteomic analysis of semimembranosus and biceps femoris muscles from Bayonne dry-cured ham

The aim of the study was to delineate and compare the proteomic maps of two muscles of dry-cured ham: the biceps femoris and the semimembranosus. For this purpose, we used two-dimensional electrophoresis on a subcellular muscle fraction: insoluble protein in low ionic strength buffer. After protein identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and bioinformatic analyses, we found differences in expression levels in the two muscles. Seventy-three proteins or fragments were differentially expressed: 43 were over-represented in semimembranosus and 30 in biceps femoris. Although the study was performed on the insoluble protein fraction in low strength ionic buffer, protein and fragment identifications by mass spectrometry showed that most of the proteins were involved in energy metabolism. The differences observed between the two muscles can be explained by the differences in salt and moisture content in the course of dry-cured ham processing.     

Breast Cancer and Microcalcifications: An Osteoimmunological Disorder?

The presence of microcalcifications in the breast microenvironment, combined with the growing evidences of the possible presence of osteoblast-like or osteoclast-like cells in the breast, suggest the existence of active processes of calcification in the breast tissue during a woman’s life. Furthermore, much evidence that osteoimmunological disorders, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or periodontitis influence the risk of developing breast cancer in women exists and vice versa. Antiresorptive drugs benefits on breast cancer incidence and progression have been reported in the past decades. More recently, biological agents targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines used against rheumatoid arthritis also demonstrated benefits against breast cancer cell lines proliferation, viability, and migratory abilities, both in vitro and in vivo in xenografted mice. Hence, it is tempting to hypothesize that breast carcinogenesis should be considered as a potential osteoimmunological disorder. In this review, we compare microenvironments and molecular characteristics in the most frequent osteoimmunological disorders with major events occurring in a woman’s breast during her lifetime. We also highlight what the use of bone anabolic drugs, antiresorptive, and biological agents targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines against breast cancer can teach us.     

Gold flails by electrochemical deposition: The role of gelatin

In this paper, we report on novel flail-like gold architectures obtained by a simple and template-free electrochemical method. The addition of gelatin plays a major role in the fabrication of this original structure and might open new possibilities for electrochemical deposition of other metals. The size of the flail-like gold structures can be varied very precisely from 250 nm to 8.5 μm by controlling the electrodeposition time. Importantly, as a preliminary application, such flail-like gold structures show a strong SERS effect associated with their geometry and size.     

On the Yttrium Tantalate – Zirconia phase diagram

The phase diagram for the YTaO₄-ZrO₂ quasi-binary has been determined up to 1600?°C. There are three distinct compositional regimes: an extensive YTaO₄ solid solution, an extensive ZrO₂ solid solution and a two-phase intermediate region. The addition of ZrO₂ to YTaO₄ decreases the M–T transition temperature almost linearly from 1426?°C to approximately 450?°C at the solubility limit (～28?mol% ZrO₂), and then remains constant until the ZrO₂ solid solution phase boundary is reached. Within the intermediate region, there exists an extensive two-phase tetragonal (T?+?t) phase field above the M–T transformation temperature. The transformation exhibits no hysteresis on heating and cooling but nonetheless there is a distribution with temperature in the mass fraction of the monoclinic and tetragonal phases so no unique transformation temperature can be identified. No other high temperature phases were observed but it is suggested that a higher temperature solid solution phase is likely above 1700?°C, based on the similarity in crystallographic relationship between the two tetragonal solid solution structures.     

A highly stable polyethylene glycol-conjugated human single-chain antibody neutralizing granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor at low nanomolar concentration

GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor) plays a central role in inflammatory processes. Treatment with antibodies neutralizing murine GM-CSF showed significant therapeutic effects in mouse models of inflammatory diseases. We constructed by phage display technology a human scFv, which could potently neutralize human GM-CSF. At first, a human V(L) repertoire was combined with the V(H) domain of a parental GM-CSF-neutralizing rat antibody. One dominant rat/human scFv clone was selected, neutralizing human GM-CSF with an IC50 of 7.3 nM. The human V(L) of this clone was then combined with a human V(H) repertoire. The latter preserved the CDR 3 of the parental rat V(H) domain to retain binding specificity. Several human scFvs were selected, which neutralized human GM-CSF at low nanomolar concentrations (IC50 > or = 2.6 nM). To increase serum half-life, a branched 40 kDa PEG-polymer was coupled to the most potent GM-CSF-neutralizing scFv (3077) via an additional C-terminal cysteine. PEG conjugation had a negligible effect on the in vitro neutralizing potential of the scFv, although it caused a significant drop in binding affinity owing to a reduced on-rate. It also significantly increased the stability of the scFv at elevated temperatures. In mouse experiments, the PEGylated scFv 3077 showed a significantly prolonged elimination half-life of 59 h as compared with 2 h for the unconjugated scFv version. PEGylated scFv 3077 is a potential candidate for development of a novel antibody therapy to treat pro-inflammatory human diseases.     

What kind of knowledge sharing network for a consultant profile?

Management consultants appear to be particular knowledge workers that are characterised by an expert and self-sufficient profile. The aim of this research is to understand whether their professional characteristics still allow them to share knowledge and lead them to use a formal network (through a knowledge management system, kms) or an informal one (person-to-person). To study their kms using and sharing behaviour, a qualitative case study methodology was adopted, based on observation and multi-hierarchical ranking, multi-site, partly-structured interviews among consultants within the same consulting firm. The results firstly show that use and knowledge-sharing behaviours are differently influenced by practical and social characteristics; moreover, the social professional context of these self-sufficient experts encourages most of them to share knowledge within a more informal network.     

Allergenic and immunogenic potential of cow's milk β-lactoglobulin and caseins evidenced without adjuvant in germ-free mice

Scope: In most animal models of allergy, the development of an IgE response requires the use of an adjuvant. Germ‐free (GF) mice exhibit Th2‐polarized antibody responses combined with defective immunosuppressive mechanisms. The sensitizing potential of milk proteins was investigated in GF mice in the absence of adjuvant. Methods and results: β‐lactoglobulin (BLG) and whole casein (CAS) allergenicity was evaluated by means of intraperitoneal injections without adjuvant. Injections of BLG induced significant IgE and IgG1 responses in GF mice, while CAS injections provoked the production of IgG1 toward κ‐ and αS1‐caseins. No significant antibody response was evidenced in conventional (CV) mice. After in vitro BLG‐reactivation, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐13 and IFN‐γ productions by splenocytes were higher in GF mice than in CV mice. Heat‐treatment decreased BLG allergenicity as indicated by the absence of IgE production in GF mice. However, heat‐treatment increased protein immunogenicity and led to the production of anti‐BLG and anti‐κ‐casein IgG1 in both GF and CV mice. This correlated with enhanced productions of IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐13 in BLG‐reactivated splenocytes from CV mice. Conclusion: Gut colonization by commensal bacteria appeared then to significantly reduce the susceptibility of mice toward the intrinsic allergenic and immunogenic potential of milk proteins.     

Development of two screening duplex PCR assays for genetically modified organism quantification using multiplex real-time PCR master mixes

Since 2001, the traceability and labelling of genetically modified organism (GMO) food and feed derived products are obligatory in the European Union. Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are commonly detected via PCR tests. These tests typically involve several steps: (1) screening (2) construct specific (3) event specific and (4) reference gene. Screening tests are based on sequences frequently used for GM development, allowing for the detection of a large number of GMOs. To improve GMO detection efficiency, using specific multiplex master mixes, we developed two real-time PCR screening duplex PCR assays for the detection of P35S/Tnos and Pnos/T35S sequences. By combining these tests, we were able to reduce the time and cost of analysis. For the Pnos/T35S duplex, good sensitivity was obtained using one of the mixes compared to the others. Both duplexes had 100% specificity when tested on DNA from GM maize, rapeseed and soybean. When the duplexes were tested on DNA containing various amounts of GM maize and soybean, the corresponding targets were detected. The detection limit of our methods was found to be between 2 and 8 haploid genome copies for both P35S/Tnos and Pnos/T35S tests. In summary, with high efficiency and good linearity, the proposed two screening duplexes allow for more efficient GMO detection.     

Sexual Dimorphism of Corticosteroid Signaling during Kidney Development

Sexual dimorphism involves differences between biological sexes that go beyond sexual characteristics. In mammals, differences between sexes have been demonstrated regarding various biological processes, including blood pressure and predisposition to develop hypertension early in adulthood, which may rely on early events during development and in the neonatal period. Recent studies suggest that corticosteroid signaling pathways (comprising glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid signaling pathways) have distinct tissue-specific expression and regulation during this specific temporal window in a sex-dependent manner, most notably in the kidney. This review outlines the evidence for a gender differential expression and activation of renal corticosteroid signaling pathways in the mammalian fetus and neonate, from mouse to human, that may favor mineralocorticoid signaling in females and glucocorticoid signaling in males. Determining the effects of such differences may shed light on short term and long term pathophysiological consequences, markedly for males.