Levels of insulin, corticosterone, T3, T4 and insulin sensitivity in fat and lean chickens

The late generations of fat (FL) and lean (LL) chickens were compared. In the fasted state, plasma glucose was lower in FL chickens, whereas insulin, T3, T4 and corticosterone were unchanged. In the fed state, plasma insulin and T4 were increased in FL chickens whereas glucose, T3 and corticosterone were unchanged. During ad libitum refeeding both plasma glucose and insulin, and to a lesser degree T3, were lower and T4 higher in FL chickens whereas corticosterone remained unchanged between lines. The low glucose and insulin levels observed in FL during refeeding, which were not observed in the F4 generation, were also found after force-feeding. In contrast, during oral glucose tolerance test, as in previous generations, a better glucose tolerance, higher plasma insulin and slightly higher free fatty acid levels were found in FL chickens. The hypoglycemic effect of exogenous insulin was very similar (and poor) in both lines in the fed state and was higher in FL than in LL chickens in the fasted state. From the present and previous studies, a change in the glucose-insulin balance and possibly, in T3, could account for the differences in fattening of both lines.     

In vivo lipogenesis of genetically lean and fat chickens: effects of nutritional state and dietary fat

In vivo lipogenesis was estimated in liver and carcass of male chickens selected for leanness (LL) or fatness (FL) by use of tritiated water. Effects of nutritional state and of a high fat diet (90 g/kg) were examined. Different classes of liver lipids were also measured. Fed birds exhibited enhanced hepatic lipogenesis, which was more pronounced in FL than in LL birds (+73%, mean of three experiments). Extrahepatic lipogenesis was poorly influenced by nutritional state in LL birds and not modified in FL ones. The high fat diet induced a fall in liver triacylglycerol and reduced de novo lipogenesis more drastically in liver than in carcass of both lines. Reduction of carcass lipogenesis was less pronounced in FL than in LL. Starvation led to a fall in liver triacylglycerols, nonesterified fatty acids and free cholesterol. The fat diet had similar but less pronounced effects. In most circumstances FL chickens exhibited a higher liver triacylglycerol content than LL ones. Comparison of fed and refed birds 100 min after the beginning of refeeding showed that de novo lipogenesis did not reach a plateau and differences between lines were still not significant.     

Immediate placement of an implant after extraction: indications and surgical requirements

Following the extraction of a tooth, a 3 to 6 months period of healing is generally necessary before a screwed or impacted titanium implant can be placed. After what, another 3 to 6 months period is necessary before it is possible to expose the implant and put it to function. Nonetheless, in some clinical situations, and under certain surgical conditions, it has become apparent that the immediate positioning of an implant after extraction is currently possible and even recommended, thus ensuring an aesthetic and psychological advantage for the patient.     

Les cryofibrinogénémies

Cryofibrinogenemia (CF) is an unrecognized disorder and is rarely symptomatic. CF represents 10 % of the whole cryoproteins. Mean age at diagnosis is between 50 and 60 years. The skin is the most frequently involved organ, in 80 % of patients at diagnosis. Skin lesions include purpura, livedo and Raynaud's phenomenon. In severe cases, skin ulcerations or necrosis and gangrene may occur. Arterial thrombosis is frequently reported (20 to 40 % of cases). Defect in the fibrinolysis process may lead to the cryofibrinogen accumulation and clotting in small and medium arteries and provide a rationale for the use of fibrinolytic agents at least in the most severe cases. In this article, we review the clinical presentation, pathogenesis and treatment of CF.     

Peripheral neuropathies associated with primary Sjögren syndrome: immunologic profiles of nonataxic sensory neuropathy and sensorimotor neuropathy

We conducted this study to characterize the relationship between primary Sj?gren syndrome (pSS)-associated peripheral neuropathy (PN) and markers of B-cell monoclonal proliferation and chronic activation. The cohort included 120 consecutive patients presenting with definite pSS according to the American-European Consensus Group criteria. Serum markers of chronic B-cell activation included autoantibodies and hypergammaglobulinemia. Markers of monoclonal B-cell proliferation included mixed cryoglobulin, monoclonal gammopathy, abnormal κ/λ free light chain (FLC) ratio, and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). Definite PN was present in 30 patients (25%) including 7 patients (23%) with sensorimotor neuropathy, 3 patients (10%) with ataxic sensory neuropathy, and 20 patients (67%) with nonataxic sensory neuropathy. Patients with a sensorimotor neuropathy differed from those without PN by higher rates of monoclonal B-cell proliferation markers, that is, mixed cryoglobulin (57% vs. 11%; p = 0.008), monoclonal gammopathy (71% vs. 17%; p = 0.004), higher FLC ratio (2.7 ± 1.5 vs. 1.7 ± 1.8; p = 0.024), and B-NHL (57% vs. 3%; p < 0.001). Patients with nonataxic sensory neuropathy were characterized by a higher age (57.5 ± 10.7 vs. 48.7 ± 14.3 years; p = 0.007), more frequent central nervous system (CNS) involvement (15% vs. 2%; p = 0.04) and a lower prevalence of chronic B-cell activation serum markers, that is, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) (60% vs. 90%; p = 0.003), anti-SSA (Ro) (40% vs. 72%; p = 0.009), anti-SSB (La) (15% vs. 41%; p = 0.039), rheumatoid factor (37% vs. 67%; p = 0.02), and hypergammaglobulinemia (35% vs. 64%; p = 0.023). In multivariate analysis, sensorimotor neuropathy was associated with the presence of B-NHL (odds ratio [OR], 39.0; p < 0.001), whereas nonataxic sensory neuropathy was associated with the presence of CNS involvement (OR, 17.0; p = 0.025) and ANA (OR, 0.07; p < 0.001). In conclusion, we found that up to 25% of pSS patients presented with PN, predominantly sensory neuropathy. Distinctive immunologic profiles were found according to the type of SS-associated neuropathy: nonataxic sensory neuropathy was marked by a low prevalence of B-cell activation markers, and sensorimotor neuropathy was marked by a high prevalence of B-cell monoclonal proliferation markers.