Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in the Seychelles according to different definitions, contribution of components, and agreement between different definitions

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MS) represents a cluster of metabolic disorders that predicts diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Several definitions exist and further descriptive and prospective data are needed to compare these definitions and their significance in different populations. Objective: We examined, in a country of the African region, i) the prevalence of MS according to three major definitions (ATP, IDF, WHO); ii) the contribution of individual MS components; and iii) the agreement between the three considered definitions. We also examined the prevalence among diabetics and non-diabetics. Methods: We conducted an examination survey in a sample representative of the general population aged 25-64 of the Seychelles (Indian Ocean, African region), attended by 1255 persons (participation rate of 80.2%). Results: The prevalence of MS was similar with either definition of MS in men (24%-25%) but differed in women (WHO: 25%, ATP: 32%; IDF: 35%). Upon exclusion of diabetic persons, the prevalence was 5-10% lower for all three MS definitions: most diabetic persons had MS although a substantial proportion of diabetic men aged 45-64 did not have MS. The following components were found most often among persons with MS: 90% had high blood pressure (HBP) and 78% had obesity (ATP); 95% had obesity and 84% had HBP (WHO), and 89% had HBP and 75% had impaired glucose regulation (IDF) -not considering impaired glucose regulation and obesity that are compulsory components of the WHO and IDF definitions, respectively. Among persons with MS based on either of the three definitions (37% of total population), less than 80% met both ATP and IDF criteria, 67% both WHO and IDF criteria, 54% both WHO and ATP criteria and only 37% met all three definitions. Conclusions. We found a fairly high prevalence of MS in an African population. However, because there was only poor agreement between the 3 MS definitions, the fairly similar proportions of MS based on ATP, IDF or WHO definitions identified, to a substantial extent, different subjects as having MS.

A contribution to taxonomy and ecology of shrews (Crocidura zimmermanni and C. suaveolens) from Crete and Turkey

Chromosomal and biochemical investigations of shrews from the genus Crocidura from Crete and Turkey show that C. russula monacha Thomas, 1906 and C. caneae Miller, 1909 are both members of the species C. suaveolens Pallas, 1811. C. russula zimmermanni Wettstein, 1953. The population of C. suaveolens in Crete, whose presence on the island dates from at least 3500 years b.p. is biochemically very similar to those of C. suaveolens from Turkey. The same set of electrophoretic data suggests that C. suaveolens from Cyprus became isolated from main land populations much earlier. C. zimmermanni shows closer phylogenetic relationships with C. leucodon and C. suaveolens, than with C. russula. endemic in Crete, C. zimmermanni is syntopic with C, suaveolens at medium and high altitudes, but has been eliminated by the latter in the fertile lowland plains.

U.S. National Parks and "The Tragedy of the Commons" : A contribution to the characterization of U.S. mountain guides' professional practice

This paper aims at presenting the stakes related to the access to protected land in the United States and to its conservation, through the analysis of the professional practice of U.S. mountain guides. From a methodological standpoint, this research is based both on a theoretical analysis grounded in the field of environmental economics and on an empirical study. The authors' starting point is Garrett Hardin's paper, "The Tragedy of the Commons" (Science, 1968), even if it introduces some confusion on the notion of common goods. So as to avoid this confusion, the authors use two theoretical tools pertaining to a typology of common goods and the different property rights that can be applied in National Parks. Finally, they apply this framework to the observations made on the field in Colorado in July 2009.

Contribution à la connaissance des diptères nécrophages du Jorat (Vaud, Suisse)

A contribution to the knowledge of necrophagous flies of the Jorat (Vaud, Switzerlan). A survey of necrophagous flires has been realized from spring to fall (april-october) in a meadow and a forest using selective traps. Seventeen species of carrion flies were collected belonging to the Callophoridae (10 species), Sarcophagidae (3 species) and Muscidae (4 species). Among these species, 14 were found in the meadow, 11 in the forest with 8 common to both habitats. seasonal distribution of the dominant species for each habitat is presented.

Temporal variability of antibiotics fluxes in wastewater and contribution from hospitals.

Significant quantities of antibiotics are used in all parts of the globe to treat diseases with bacterial origins. After ingestion, antibiotics are excreted by the patient and transmitted in due course to the aquatic environment. This study examined temporal fluctuations (monthly time scale) in antibiotic sources (ambulatory sales and data from a hospital dispensary) for Lausanne, Switzerland. Source variability (i.e., antibiotic consumption, monthly data for 2006-2010) were examined in detail for nine antibiotics--azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, clindamycin, metronidazole, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, from which two main conclusions were reached. First, some substances--azithromycin, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin--displayed high seasonality in their consumption, with the winter peak being up to three times higher than the summer minimum. This seasonality in consumption resulted in seasonality in Predicted Environmental Concentrations (PECs). In addition, the seasonality in PECs was also influenced by that in the base wastewater flow. Second, the contribution of hospitals to the total load of antibiotics reaching the Lausanne Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) fluctuated markedly on a monthly time scale, but with no seasonal pattern detected. That is, there was no connection between fluctuations in ambulatory and hospital consumption for the substances investigated.

Contribution of clumping factor B to pathogenesis of experimental endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus Newman with an insertion mutation in clfB, the gene encoding clumping factor B, only marginally decreased infection rate (P>0.05) in rats with experimental endocarditis. In contrast, clfB complementation on a multicopy plasmid significantly increased infectivity (P<0.05) over the deleted mutants. Although clfB could affect endovascular infection, its importance in experimental endocarditis was limited.

Potential contribution of 131I-labelled monoclonal anti-CEA antibodies in the treatment of liver metastases from colorectal carcinomas: pretherapeutic study with dose recovery in resected tissues.

20 patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma undergoing laparotomy received 15-60 mg intravenously, either intact or fragments of, anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (anti-CEA) monoclonal antibodies labelled with 0.55-1.48 GBq (15-40 mCi) of 131I, 3-8 days prior to operation. The uptake measured per gram of metastases ranged from 0.33 to 6.6 x 10(-3%) of injected dose. Tumour to liver uptake ratios ranged from 2 to 33. The radiation dose, estimated in 6 patients (3 of each group), for an extrapolated dose of 3.7 GBq (100 mCi) of 131I ranged from 0.3 to 0.8 Gy in normal liver or spleen (an acceptable estimate for bone marrow radiation dose) and from 3.4 to 8.2 Gy to the hepatic metastases, indicating that probably other therapeutic modalities should be associated with radioimmunotherapy.

Contribution de l'étude CoLaus à l'élucidation des déterminants de l'acide urique sérique [Contribution of the CoLaus study to decipher the determinants of serum uric acid].

Asymptomatic hyperuricemia affects one in five adults in the general population and is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. It is however not clear whether asymptomatic hyperuricemia is a cause or simply a marker of conditions associated with high cardiovascular risk. Sex, age, obesity, renal function and selected drugs are major determinants of serum uric acid. Moreover, recent genome-wide association studies have identified new genes involved in the control of serum uric acid levels, in particular SLC2A9, which encodes a urate transporter located in the kidney. A genetic score based on several genetic variants associated with serum uric acid is strongly associated with the risk of gout, but not with cardiovascular events so far.

Contribution of physical education to overall physical activity.

For many children, physical activity (PA) during physical education (PE) lessons provides an important opportunity for being physically active. Although PA during PE has been shown to be low, little is known about the contribution of PA during PE to overall PA. The aim was therefore to assess children's PA during PE and to determine the contribution of PE to overall PA with special focus on overweight children. Accelerometer measurements were done in 676 children (9.3 ± 2.1 years) over 4-7 days in 59 randomly selected classes. Moderate-and-vigorous PA (MVPA; ≥ 2000 counts/min) during PE (MVPA(PE) ), overall MVPA per day (MVPA(DAY) ), and a comparison of days with and without PE were calculated by a regression model with gender, grade, and weight status (normal vs overweight) as fixed factors and class as a random factor. Children spent 32.8 ± 15.1% of PE time in MVPA. Weight status was not associated to MVPA(PE) . MVPA(PE) accounted for 16.8 ± 8.5% of MVPA(DAY) , and 17.5 ± 8.2% in overweight children. All children were more active on days with PE than on days without PE (differences: 16.1 ± 29.0 min of MVPA(DAY) ; P ≤ 0.001; 13.7 ± 28.0 min for overweight children). Although MVPA(PE) was low, PE played a considerable role in providing PA and was not compensated by reducing extracurricular MVPA.

Contribution à la biologie de Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Under laboratory conditions it has been possible to show that Tapinoma melanocephalum could be considered as a tramp species. Functionnal polygyny, unicoloniality and budding are investigated.