Portal glucose infusion in the mouse induces hypoglycemia: evidence that the hepatoportal glucose sensor stimulates glucose utilization.

To analyze the role of the murine hepatoportal glucose sensor in the control of whole-body glucose metabolism, we infused glucose at a rate corresponding to the endogenous glucose production rate through the portal vein of conscious mice (Po-mice) that were fasted for 6 h. Mice infused with glucose at the same rate through the femoral vein (Fe-mice) and mice infused with a saline solution (Sal-mice) were used as controls. In Po-mice, hypoglycemia progressively developed until glucose levels dropped to a nadir of 2.3 +/- 0.1 mmol/l, whereas in Fe-mice, glycemia rapidly and transiently developed, and glucose levels increased to 7.7 +/- 0.6 mmol/l before progressively returning to fasting glycemic levels. Plasma insulin levels were similar in both Po- and Fe-mice during and at the end of the infusion periods (21.2 +/- 2.2 vs. 25.7 +/- 0.9 microU/ml, respectively, at 180 min of infusion). The whole-body glucose turnover rate was significantly higher in Po-mice than in Fe-mice (45.9 +/- 3.8 vs. 37.7 +/- 2.0 mg x kg(-1) x min)-1), respectively) and in Sal-mice (24.4 +/- 1.8 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1)). Somatostatin co-infusion with glucose in Po-mice prevented hypoglycemia without modifying the plasma insulin profile. Finally, tissue glucose clearance, which was determined after injecting 14C-2-deoxyglucose, increased to a higher level in Po-mice versus Fe-mice in the heart, brown adipose tissue, and the soleus muscle. Our data show that stimulation of the hepatoportal glucose sensor induced hypoglycemia and increased glucose utilization by a combination of insulin-dependent and insulin-independent or -sensitizing mechanisms. Furthermore, activation of the glucose sensor and/or transmission of its signal to target tissues can be blocked by somatostatin.

Fibrinogen and fibronectin binding cooperate for valve infection and invasion in Staphylococcus aureus experimental endocarditis.

The expression of Staphylococcus aureus adhesins in Lactococcus lactis identified clumping factor A (ClfA) and fibronectin-binding protein A (FnBPA) as critical for valve colonization in rats with experimental endocarditis. This study further analyzed their role in disease evolution. Infected animals were followed for 3 d. ClfA-positive lactococci successfully colonized damaged valves, but were spontaneously eradicated over 48 h. In contrast, FnBPA-positive lactococci progressively increased bacterial titers in vegetations and spleens. At imaging, ClfA-positive lactococci were restricted to the vegetations, whereas FnBPA-positive lactococci also invaded the adjacent endothelium. This reflected the capacity of FnBPA to trigger cell internalization in vitro. Because FnBPA carries both fibrinogen- and fibronectin-binding domains, we tested the role of these functionalities by deleting the fibrinogen-binding domain of FnBPA and supplementing it with the fibrinogen-binding domain of ClfA in cis or in trans. Deletion of the fibrinogen-binding domain of FnBPA did not alter fibronectin binding and cell internalization in vitro. However, it totally abrogated valve infectivity in vivo. This ability was restored in cis by inserting the fibrinogen-binding domain of ClfA into truncated FnBPA, and in trans by coexpressing full-length ClfA and truncated FnBPA on two separate plasmids. Thus, fibrinogen and fibronectin binding could cooperate for S. aureus valve colonization and endothelial invasion in vivo.

Les premiers épisodes psychotiques: de l'importance du case management

Depuis 2004, le département de psychiatrie du centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV) offre une prise en charge spécifique pour les patients présentant un premier épisode psychotique. La rupture de soins très fréquente, dès la sortie de l'hôpital, le mauvais pronostic à long terme en fonction de la durée de la psychose non traitée et enfin le taux élevé de tentatives de suicide avant une première hospitalisation se sont avérés suffisamment inquiétants et significatifs pour qu'une prise en charge de ce type puisse obtenir un soutien décisif. Dans l'article qui suit, nous nous proposons de décrire le programme Traitement et intervention précoces dans les troubles psychotiques (TIPP) en mettant en lumière la notion centrale de cette offre de soins, à savoir le rôle du case management. Il s'agira de rappeler brièvement les connaissances actuelles sur les psychoses émergentes, particulièrement la perspective plus optimiste que celle naguère réservée à cette forme de trouble psychique. Nous évoquerons également les offres de soins récentes telles qu'elles se déploient dans différents pays pour nous tourner ensuite plus spécifiquement vers notre expérience lausannoise. C'est à cet égard que nous développerons plus en détails le travail essentiel et spécifique du case manager, fil rouge du programme TIPP au long des trois ans qui le composent. La conclusion portera sur les projets de recherche en cours dédiés à cette population de jeunes patients, avec l'espoir que le changement de paradigme évoqué plus haut, un optimisme raisonnable pour le pronostic, puisse lui-même rester une question ouverte à de nouveaux apports scientifiques.

Naître et grandir au sein de la triade : le développement de l'alliance familiale

INTRODUCTION : L'alliance familiale : une jonction entre les approches développementale, familiale et systémique / Nicolas Pavez, France Frascarolo-Moutinot et Hervé Tissot - LA TRIADE PARENTS-BEBE : THEORIE ET EVALUATION DES INTERACTIONS : Le modèle de l'alliance familiale et le Jeu Trilogique de Lausanne (LTP) / Nicolas Favez - Observation des interactions triadiques en périnatalité : le Jeu du Change / Jérôme Rime et Werner Stadlmayr - Observation des interactions dans les familles avec plusieurs enfants : le Jeu du Pique-Nique / France Frascarolo-Moutinot et Nicolas Favez - L'observation du coparentage dans les familles biparentales : influence du contexte et de l'âge de l'enfant / Regina Kuersten-Hogan et James P. McHale - LE DEVELOPPEMENT NORMATIF DE LA GROSSESSE A L'ECOLE : La capacité triangulaire du bébé : une illustration à l'aide de deux cas contrastés / Elisabeth Fivaz-Depeursinge et Nicolas Favez - L'alliance coparentale prénatale comme prédicteur des perceptions du coparentage au post-partum / Sarah J. Schappe-Sullivan, Claire M. Kamp Dush et Daniel J. Bower - L'évolution de l'alliance familiale et son impact sur l'enfant à l'âge de 5 ans : une étude longitudinale en Suisse / Nicolas Favez, France Frascarolo-Moutinot et Chloé Lavanchy Scaiola - L'évolution de l'alliance familiale et son impact sur l'enfant à l'âge de 4 ans : une étude longitudinale en Italie / Alessandra Simonelli, Mara Bighin et Francesca De Palo - LA THÉRAPIE AVEC LES TRIADES : Alliance familiale dans les troubles fonctionnels et du comportement du nourrisson : évaluation avant et après une intervention thérapeutique. Une étude exploratoire / Marie-Joëlle Hervé... et al. - Le Jeu Trilogique de Lausanne (LTP) en clinique : application dans le contexte d'interventions de soutien à la relation parents-enfants / Silvia Mazzoni et Anna Lubrano Lavadera - Les comportements relationnels de l'enfant comme porte d'entrée pour intervenir sur le système familial / Chloé Lavanchy Scaiola et Kaija Puura - Le Reflective Family Play : un traitement de la famille entière centré sur l'attachement et le système familial / Diane Philipp et Christie Hayos - APPLICATIONS SPECIFIQUES : Le coparentage comme construit universel caractérisant diverses formes familiales : avancées et perspectives / James McHale et Rahael Kurrien - Les alliances coparentales dans les familles lesboparentales / Salvatore D'Amore, Alessandra Simonelli et Marina Miscioscia - Alliance familiale entre père, mère et leur bébé conçu par fécondation in vitro / Joëlle Darwiche... et al. - CONCLUSION : Le bébé dans la triade précoce / Nicolas Pavez, France Frascarolo-Moutinot et Hervé Tissot

How Much Does It Cost? Optimization of Costs in Sequence Analysis of Social Science Data

One major methodological problem in analysis of sequence data is the determination of costs from which distances between sequences are derived. Although this problem is currently not optimally dealt with in the social sciences, it has some similarity with problems that have been solved in bioinformatics for three decades. In this article, the authors propose an optimization of substitution and deletion/insertion costs based on computational methods. The authors provide an empirical way of determining costs for cases, frequent in the social sciences, in which theory does not clearly promote one cost scheme over another. Using three distinct data sets, the authors tested the distances and cluster solutions produced by the new cost scheme in comparison with solutions based on cost schemes associated with other research strategies. The proposed method performs well compared with other cost-setting strategies, while it alleviates the justification problem of cost schemes.

Light-emitting diodes (LED) for domestic lighting: any risks for the eye?

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are taking an increasing place in the market of domestic lighting because they produce light with low energy consumption. In the EU, by 2016, no traditional incandescent light sources will be available and LEDs may become the major domestic light sources. Due to specific spectral and energetic characteristics of white LEDs as compared to other domestic light sources, some concerns have been raised regarding their safety for human health and particularly potential harmful risks for the eye. To conduct a health risk assessment on systems using LEDs, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), a public body reporting to the French Ministers for ecology, for health and for employment, has organized a task group. This group consisted physicists, lighting and metrology specialists, retinal biologist and ophthalmologist who have worked together for a year. Part of this work has comprised the evaluation of group risks of different white LEDs commercialized on the French market, according to the standards and found that some of these lights belonged to the group risk 1 or 2. This paper gives a comprehensive analysis of the potential risks of white LEDs, taking into account pre-clinical knowledge as well as epidemiologic studies and reports the French Agency's recommendations to avoid potential retinal hazards.

Exposure to bioaerosols, respiratory health and lung-specific proteins: a prospective study in garbage and wastewater workers.

Objectives To prospectively assess respiratory health in wastewater workers and garbage collectors over 5 years. Methods Exposure, respiratory symptoms and conditions, spirometry and lung-specific proteins were assessed yearly in a cohort of 304 controls, 247 wastewater workers and 52 garbage collectors. Results were analysed with random coefficient models and linear regression taking into account several potential confounders. Results Symptoms, spirometry and lung-specific proteins were not affected by occupational exposure. Conclusions In this population no effects of occupational exposure to bioaerosols were found, probably because of good working conditions.