1,721,675 research outputs found
Challenge for the analysis of chemical hazard at ultra-traces levels in complex biological matrices
No full textL’étude du lien entre l’exposition de l’Homme aux substances chimiques, notamment via son alimentation,et sa santé est un sujet de préoccupation majeure dans notre société qui présente des challenges multiples.Nous nous sommes attelés à l’un d’entre eux par la production de données analytiques fiables relatives à la contamination des denrées alimentaires et des fluides biologiques humains. Le développement de méthodes analytiques reposant sur des technologies en rupture, à même de s’adresser aux paris de la mesure de composés chimiques émergents (e.g. les retardateurs de flamme bromés) ou historiques mais sous le prisme de la sensibilité et du haut débit (e.g. les stéroïdes, les pesticides organochlorés, les dioxines et les polychlorobiphényles) a été au cœur de ce travail. Le couplage GC/APCI/MS sur système triple quadripolaire s’est imposé au cours de nos évaluations. L’association de la chromatographie en phase gazeuse et de l’ionisation chimique à pression atmosphérique a apporté un gain en sélectivité remarquable comparée aux approches traditionnellement retenues dans le domaine et a autorisé l’exploration des ultra-traces dans des matrices biologiques complexes. Cette géométrie nous a permis d’innover en pratiquant des séparations rapides sur colonne capillaire ultra-courte de 2,5 m. La vitesse de balayage et l’excellente sensibilité de l’analyseur de masse nous ont en outre donné accès à une analyse quantitative fiable et multi-paramètres. Ce travail ouvre d’excellentes perspectives vis-à-vis de la production de données d’exposition externe et interne élargies en réponse aux défis à venir entourant la caractérisation de l’exposome Humain.The study of the link between Human exposure tochemical substances (notably via his food the intake) and Health, is a major concern in our society and poses many challenges. We endeavoured to address one of them by producing reliable analytical data on foodstuffs and human biological fluids contamination. The development of analytical methods based on breakthrough technologies, capable of challenging theemerging (e.g. brominated flame retardants) or historical compounds measurement but through the prism of sensitivity and high throughput (e.g. steroids,organochlorine pesticides, dioxins andpolychlorobiphenyls), was at the heart of our work.Using a GC/APCI/MS with a triple quadripole systememerged as a favorable choice as our evaluations progressed. The association of gas chromatography and atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation brought in a remarkable gain in terms of selectivity, compared to the approaches traditionally selected in this field, andauthorized ultra-trace exploration in complex biologicalmatrices. This geometry allowed us to innovate by performing fast separations on an ultra-short 2.5 mcolumn. Besides, the mass analyser scan speed and high sensitivity gave us access to a reliable and multiparameters quantitative analysis. This work opens up excellent perspectives for the production of expanded external and internal exposure data to meet the future challenges surrounding Human exposome characterisation
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Relationship between exposure to persistent organic pollutants and endometriosis
No full textL’endométriose est une maladie gynécologique pour laquelle l’exposition à certains contaminants chimiques environnementaux est évoquée parmi les facteurs de risque associés. Les conclusions des études épidémiologiques existantes restent toutefois non convergentes. Leur hétérogénéité en termes de lésions décrites, de méthodologie et d’effectifs contribuent à ce constat, de même que l’étendue limitée des marqueurs d’exposition considérés dans ces études. Nous avons réalisé une étude cas-témoins appariés à partir d’une bio-collection de 113 patientes réunissant68 cas de patientes opérées d’endométriose profonde et 45 patientes témoins. Un ensemble unique de 78 polluants organiques persistants a été recherché, incluant dioxines, polychlorobiphényles, retardateurs de flamme polybromés, et pesticides organochlorés. Les niveaux d’exposition interne des sujets ont été mesurés à la fois dans les tissus adipeux pariétal et épiploïque ainsi que dans le sérum. La distribution de ces différents polluants au sein de ces trois compartiments a tout d’abord été caractérisée. Celle-ci a permis la prise en compte encore très rare de l’équilibre entre compartiments de stockage et compartiment circulant, ce rapport de concentration apparaissant comme un potentiel indicateur additionnel permettant d’affiner d’éventuels liens de causalité entre exposition chronique à des dangers chimiques et pathologie chez l’homme. Certains des contaminants ciblés sont ensuite apparus significativement associés à l’endométriose profonde, la stratification plus fine de notre population de cas indiquant un lien d’autant plus significatif en présence d’endométriome. Les mécanismes sous-jacents de cette association restent toutefois à élucider.Endometriosis is a gynecological disease for whichexposure to some environmental chemicals is evocatedamong the associated risk factors. Epidemiological studies are however globally non convergent and finally fairly conclusive. Their heterogeneity in terms of lesion localization and sub-phenotype, methodology, size and nature of the populations studied, as well as the limited number of monitored markers of exposure contribute to this situation. We realized a matched case-control study based on a biocollection of 113 patients including 68 patients suffering of deep endometriosis and 45 controls. We characterized the internal exposure levels of an extended range of around 78 persistent organic pollutants (including dioxins, polychlorobiphenyls, brominated flame retardants and organochlorine pesticides). Internal level exposures were measured in three biological compartments (omental fat, subcutaneous fat and serum). First, the distribution of these chemicals was characterized within these compartments. These extended exposure data from deep infiltrating endometriosis patients are the first ones available for France and give a new insight about the equilibrium of chemicals between storage and circulating compartments that should be further considered as a potential indicator permitting to establish a possible association between a chronic exposure to chemical hazards and human pathology. Afterwards, some of the targeted chemicals appeared significantly associated with deep endometriosis. A sub-stratification of our case population indicated a more significant relationship with the presence of endometrioma. Underlying mechanisms remain to be determined
SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) : a new class of anabolic agents. Zootechnical effects and analytical strategies to detect their administration in bovines
No full textDe nouveaux composés anabolisants sont devenus accessibles via Internet : les modulateurs spécifiques des récepteurs androgènes (SARMs) actuellement développés pour le traitement des pertes musculaires. L’Ostarine® (MK-2866, GTX-024, enobosarm) en particulier, exerce ses effets sur les muscles squelettiques et ne présente pas d'activité androgénique. Sur la base de son mécanisme d’action et des résultats cliniques préliminaires, ce produit pourrait être utilisé comme promoteur de croissance en élevage bovin. Dans ce contexte, les objectifs de la thèse sont de valider des outils permettant de décrire les effets zootechniques pouvant être induits par l’administration orale d'enobosarm à des bovins et de développer des stratégies analytiques dédiées à la mise en évidence de son utilisation frauduleuse. En comparant animaux contrôles et animaux traités avec l'enobosarm, aucun effet morphologique n'a été mis en évidence en termes de croissance ou de conformation. Il a été ensuite démontré que l'enobosarm et ses principaux métabolites de phase II sont éliminés dans les urines et les fèces à des concentrations permettant leur détection par des techniques analytiques impliquant le couplage chromatographie en phase liquide et spectrométrie de masse. Enfin, une stratégie de type métabolomique conduite sur matrices urinaire et fécale a conduit à la description d’empreintes spécifiques et discriminantes pouvant signer l’administration d'enobosarm. Ce travail de recherche pluridisciplinaire contribue à générer des connaissances sur une nouvelle classe d'anabolisants, permettant par extension de contribuer à garantir au consommateur une sécurité chimique accrue des denrées d’origine animale.New compounds with anabolic properties have recently become accessible via Internet-based suppliers: selective androgens receptor modulators (SARMs) currently developed for the treatment of chronic diseases with wasting muscle. Ostarine® (MK-2866, GTX-024, enobosarm), in particular, exerts its anabolic effects exclusively on the skeletal muscles and has no androgenic activity. Based on its mechanism of action and clinical preliminary results, this product could potentially be used as a growth promoter in cattle. In this context, the aims of this thesis are to validate tools allowing to describe the zootechnical effects that may be induced by an oral administration of enobosarm in calves and to develop analytical strategies dedicated to highlight its fraudulent use. Following a comparison between control animals and enobosarm treated animals, no morphological effect was visible and measurable in terms of growth and conformation. It was then demonstrated that enobosarm and its main phase II metabolites are eliminated in urine and feces at concentrations allowing their detection with analytical techniques using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupling. Finally, a metabolomics approach on urine and fecal matrices led to the description of specific and discriminant fingerprints signaling the administration of enobosarm. This multidisciplinary research work helps to generate knowledge on a new class of anabolic substance and therefore contributes to guarantee a more chemically-safe food of animal origin to the consumer
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Release and toxicity of adipose tissue-stored TCDD: Direct evidence from a xenografted fat model
No full text1873-6750 Joffin, Nolwenn Noirez, Philippe Antignac, Jean-Philippe Kim, Min-Ji Marchand, Philippe Falabregue, Marion Le Bizec, Bruno Forest, Claude Emond, Claude Barouki, Robert Coumoul, Xavier Journal Article Netherlands Environ Int. 2018 Oct 31. pii: S0160-4120(18)31382-5. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.027.International audienceBackgroundPersistent organic pollutants (POPs) are known to accumulate in adipose tissues (AT). This storage may be beneficial by diverting POPs from other sensitive tissues or detrimental because of chronic release of pollutants as indirectly suggested during weight loss. The aim is to study the biological and/or toxic effects that chronic POP release from previously contaminated grafted AT could exert in a naïve mouse.MethodsC57BL/6J male mice were exposed intraperitoneally to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-doxin (TCDD); their epididymal fat pads were collected and grafted on the back skin of uncontaminated recipient mice whose brain, liver, and epididymal ATs were analyzed (TCDD concentration, relevant gene expression). Kinetics of release and redistribution were modeled using Physiologically Based PharmacoKinetics (PBPK).ResultsThe grafts released TCDD over a period of 10 weeks with different kinetics of distribution in the three organs studied. A PBPK model was used to simulate the AT releasing process and the incorporation of TCDD into the major organs. At three weeks post-graft, we observed significant changes in gene expression in the liver and the host AT with signatures reminiscent of inflammation, gluconeogenesis and fibrosis as compared to the control.ConclusionsThis study confirms that AT-stored TCDD can be released and distributed to the organs of the recipient hence leading to distinct changes in gene expression. This original model provides direct evidence of the potential toxic-relevant effects when endogenous sources of contamination are present
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Stable carbon isotope analyses of natural steroid hormones to determine their abuse in cattle
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