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A study carried out in collaboration between the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Paris and the INSERM (SC8) concerned all the suicide occurred in Paris region over 1990; 455 suicides in Paris and 1,229 in the suburbs of Paris (overall, 1,684 suicides observed in Paris area for the same period). For Paris city, the rate of suicide reaches 23.3 per 100,000 subjects. This frequency increases up to 40 years and falls after this age with a further rise between 75 and 85 years. Suicide represents 17% of the total mortality for adolescents and young adults living in Paris, with a large over-representation of males (277 males, 178 females). Suicide is more frequent before 45 years in Paris than in France but this tendency is reversed after 45 years. It represents the first cause of violent deaths among young population (15-34 years) living in Paris and is, after AIDS, the second cause of death. In Paris suburbs, it constitutes the second cause of mortality after traffic accidents. The mode of suicide in Paris is essentially poisoning, then hanging and jumping from high place. In contrast, outside Paris, the hanging is more frequently used than poisoning and firearms. The contribution of the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Paris is essential for the knowledge of these voluntary deaths, a large part of them being unknown in the National statistic of causes of death. This underestimation is extremely important: only 68% of the suicides are known by the Official Statistic in Paris region and 26% for Paris city.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Paris (Melanthiaceae) is a temperate genus of about 24 perennial herbaceous species distributed from Europe to eastern Asia. The delimitation of the genus and its subdivisions are unresolved questions in the taxonomy of Paris. The objective of this study is to test the generic and infrageneric circumscription of Paris with DNA sequence data. METHODS: Phylogenetic analysis of 21 species of Paris based on nuclear ITS and plastid psbA-trnH and trnL-trnF DNA sequence data, alone and in combination, was employed to assess previous classifications. KEY RESULTS: Paris is monophyletic in all analyses. Neither of the two traditionally recognized subgenera (Paris and Daiswa) are monophyletic. Sections Axiparis, Kinugasa, Paris and Thibeticae are monophyletic in only some of the analyses. Species of sections Dunnianae, Fargesianae and Marmoratae are consistently intercalated among species of section Euthyra in all analyses. Strong discordance between nuclear and plastid lineages is detected. CONCLUSIONS: The data support the classification of Paris as a single genus rather than as three genera (Daiswa, Kinugasa and Paris sensu stricto). They provide justification for the transfer of section Axiparis from subgenus Paris to subgenus Daiswa and for the combination of sections Dunnianae, Fargesianae and Marmoratae into section Euthyra. The nuclear-plastid discordance is interpreted as the result of interspecific hybridization among sympatric species.
Fibrinogen Paris I contains a mutant gamma chain that is longer than the normal chain, resulting in altered fibrin polymerization and cross-linking. Because these functions involve the carboxy-terminal region of the gamma chain, we decided to determine whether fibrinogen Paris I or the isolated Paris I gamma chain supports normal ADP-induced platelet aggregation, a function that requires the ultimate 12 residues of the normal gamma chain (400 through 411). Aggregation of ADP-stimulated normal platelets was defective with fibrinogen Paris I and markedly depressed with the gamma Paris I chain. These findings prompted us to characterize the carboxy-terminal structure of the region of the gamma Paris I chain responsible for this activity. The carboxy-terminal cyanogen bromide (CNBr) peptide of the normal gamma chain (385 through 411) or that from gamma Paris I was isolated by differential adsorption to triethylene-tetramine resin or by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The CNBr peptide from the Paris I gamma chain was identical to that of the normal gamma chain in its retention time on HPLC, its amino acid composition, and its sequence. Thus, the primary structure of the gamma Paris I chain from residue 384 through 411 is normal, indicating that a peptide insertion has occurred upstream from residue 384, resulting in an impairment of those physiologic functions attributable to the carboxy-terminal end of the gamma chain from position 384 (ie, cross-linking, ADP-induced platelet aggregation, and at least a portion of the gamma chain polymerization site). These observations demonstrate that the gamma chain platelet recognition site in the fibrinogen molecule is necessary but not alone sufficient to support normal ADP-induced platelet aggregation. There appears to be an additional requirement for normal conformation of the gamma chain or availability of its terminal sequence during the interaction of fibrinogen with platelets.
Paris I dysfibrinogenemia results in the production of a fibrinogen molecule containing a functionally abnormal gamma-chain. We determined the basis of the molecular defect using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the gamma-chain region of the Paris I subject's genomic DNA. Comparative sequence analysis of cloned PCR segments of normal and Paris I genomic DNA revealed only an A-->G point mutation occurring at nucleotide position 6588 within intron 8 of the Paris I gamma-chain gene. We examined six normal individuals and found only normal sequence in this region, indicating that this change is not likely to represent a normal polymorphism. This nucleotide change leads to a 45 bp fragment being inserted between exons 8 and 9 in the mature gamma Paris I chain mRNA, and encodes a 15 amino acid insert after gamma 350 [M-C-G-E-A-L-P-M-L-K-D-P-C-Y]. Alternative splicing of this region from intron 8 into the mature Paris I gamma-chain mRNA also results after translation into a substitution of S for G at position gamma 351. Biochemical studies of 14C-iodoacetamide incorporation into disulfide-reduced Paris I and normal fibrinogen corroborated the molecular biologic predictions that two additional cysteine residues exist within the gamma Paris I chain. We conclude that the insertion of this amino acid sequence leads to a conformationally-altered, and dysfunctional gamma-chain in Paris I fibrinogen.
ApoA-I(R151)Paris is a natural apolipoprotein (apo) A-I variant that is associated with low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and the partial deficiency of lecithin:cholesterol acyl-transferase (LCAT) in the plasma of heterozygous carriers. We compared the abilities of recombinant normal apoA-I and recombinant apoA-I(R151C)Paris to clear an emulsion of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), to form reconstituted lipoproteins with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), to activate LCAT, and to promote efflux of biosynthetic cholesterol from porcine aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) or of exogenous cholesterol from lipid-loaded mouse peritoneal macrophages. Recombinant apoA-I(R151C)Paris occurred in monomeric and dimeric forms at a ratio of 60:40. Normal apoA-I and apoA-I(R151C)Paris cleared DMPC emulsions at equal rates. Both isoforms associated completely with DPPC during cholate dialysis. Normal apoA-I formed one single particle with a mean diameter of 9.3 nm, whereas apoA-I(R151)Paris gave rise to three particles with mean diameters of 9.3 nm (containing 74% of apoA-I), 10.6 nm, and 12.1 nm, respectively. Compared to normal apoA-I, apoA-I(R151C)Paris had a reduced LCAT-cofactor activity with a 60% lower Vmax/Km ratio due to a 50% higher affinity constant, Km. During incubations for 10 min and 360 min, normal apoA-I/DPPC complexes and apoA-I(R151C)Paris/DPPC complexes were equally efficient in releasing biosynthetic cholesterol from SMCs. In the lipid-free form, apoA-I(R151C)Paris induced normal hydrolysis of cholesteryl esters and normal cholesterol efflux from lipid-loaded mouse-peritoneal macrophages. In conclusion, in addition to its ability to form homo- and heterodimers, apoA-I(R151C)Paris is characterized by defective LCAT-cofactor activity but by normal lipid binding and cholesterol-efflux-promoting abilities.
Fibrin obtained from the plasma of a patient having abnormal fibrogen Paris I contains normal alpha, beta, and gamma polypeptide chains as well as an abnormal gamma-chain (gammaParis I) of approximately 51,000 daltons molecular weight. Plasmic digestion of Paris I fibrogen and noncrosslinked fibrin yields both normal and abnormal Fragment D molecules, the latter having a higher negative charge and molecular weight than that liberated from normal fibrinogen and noncorsslinked fibrin. After disulfide bond reduction, an abnormal polypeptide chain of approximately 40,500 +/- 2,000 daltons molecular weight was demonstrated in the Paris I digests by dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparison with the electrophoretic pattern for reduced digests of normal substrates indicates that it is a gamma-chain remnant in the normal Fragment D. Although the carbohydrate content in the gamma-Paris I-chain is slightly higher than that in the normal gamma-chain, as measured by periodic acid-Schiff reagent (PAS) staining intensity, it is concluded that extra carbohydrate does not account for the high molecular weight of the gamma-Paris I-chain since the 40,500 dalton chain does not stain with PAS. Plasma digestion of Paris I crosslinked fibrin yields a large amount of Fragment D in addition to Fragment D-D ("D-dimer") and E molecules, in contrast to a digest of normal crosslinked fibrin, from which only the latter two fragments are formed. This finding suggests that the defect in fibrinogen Paris I derives from an abnormality in the carboxy-terminal region of the gammaParis I-chain, so that in the presence of Factor XIII, these chains are not crosslinked and Fragment D-D molecules are not liberated upon subsequent plasmic degradation. The data provide support for the previous conclusion that a longer than normal polypeptide chain sequence at the carboxy-terminal portion of the gammaParis I-chains accounts for the increased size of these chains relative to the normal gamma-chains and for the abnormal function of the intact fibrinogen Paris I molecule.
Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are the most widespread mycorrhiza in nature and form two morphologies, Arum- and Paris-type. The determining factors defining the two different morphologies are not well understood. In this study, the distribution of Arum- and Paris-type AM was determined in a mixed pine forest. A total of 35 plant species belonging to 20 families and 32 genera were identified and examined for AM colonization and morphological types. AM morphological types in 14 families were confirmed as follows: Arum-type in Rosaceae, Oleaceae, Lauraceae, Vitaceae and Compositae, Paris-type in Aquifoliaceae, Ulmaceae, Araliaceae, Theaceae, Magnoliaceae, Rubiaceae and Dioscoraceae, and both and/or intermediate types in Caprifoliaceae and Gramineae. Plant families whose AM morphological status was previously unknown were clarified as follows: Polygonaceae and Commelinaceae showed Arum-type morphology; Celastraceae, Menispermaceae and Elaeagnaceae had typical Paris-type morphology. The proportion of Arum-type to Paris-type species decreased in the following order: annuals > perennials > deciduous species > evergreen species, and pioneer group > early successional group > late successional group. Evergreen plants had a higher tendency to form Paris-type AM than annuals, perennials and deciduous plants. The results indicate that environmental changes, such as shade during plant succession, control the distribution of plant growth forms in mixed pine forest and may also play a part in the distribution of Arum- and Paris-type morphology. The identity of the plant seems to strongly influence AM morphology, though control by the fungal genome cannot be ruled out.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The use of high dose rate stepping source in interstitial brachytherapy provides more possibility to conform the dose distribution to the target volume compared to the classical systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate implants made according to the Paris, the stepping source and the conformal dosimetry system with respect to dose homogeneity and conformality, and to compare these systems using volumetric parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-plane and double-plane implants with catheters arranged in square and triangle pattern were used in the analysis. Twenty-seven idealized planning target volumes (PTV) were generated. They formed slabs with rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section. The lengths were 3, 5 and 7 cm, the widths and heights were determined according to the Paris system for catheter separation of 1, 1.5 and 2 cm. The dose specification was selected such that the coverage index was 0.95 for each implant. Optimal active lengths were determined according to the best conformality at the optimized implants. From the dose-volume histogram (DVH) the following indices were calculated for every implant: conformal (COIN), external volume (EI), relative dose homogeneity (HI) and overdose volume (OI). Furthermore, the mean central dose (MCD) and minimum target dose (MTD) was also determined. The dosimetry systems were compared through the mean values of these parameters and the volumetric indices were analyzed according to the geometry of the PTV. RESULTS: For the optimized systems the optimal active length was 0.5-1.0 cm shorter than the target volume length, depending on the catheter separation and geometry of the PTV. For the Paris, the stepping source and the conformal dosimetry system, the mean COIN was 0.66, 0.82 and 0.82; the mean HI was 0.71, 0.68 and 0.68; the mean EI was 0.44, 0.17 and 0.17; the mean OI was 0.11, 0.13 and 0.12, respectively. The statistical analysis showed that the Paris system differed from the optimized systems significantly. For the Paris, the stepping source and the conformal dosimetry system, the mean reference isodose was 85, 90 and 95%, the MCD was 100, 100 and 109%, the MTD was 67, 71 and 73%, respectively. Regarding geometry of the PTV, the most conformal and homogeneous dose distributions occurred when the catheter separation was small, the target volume was long and its shape was a thick rectangular slab. CONCLUSIONS: Positioning the catheters according to the rules of the Paris system, but applying optimization on dose points placed either between the catheters in the whole target volume or on the surface of the target volume, and selecting the reference isodose by DVH, can provide highly conformal dose distribution to the target volume, with only a slightly worsened dose homogeneity compared to the Paris system.
AIMS: The Aerodose inhaler is a novel, palm-sized, breath actuated device which requires little patient coordination. This study compared the dose-response of salbutamol delivered by the Aerodose Inhaler (Aerogen Inc., Mountain View, USA) vs Pari LC Plus jet nebulizer (Pari LC Plus; Pari GmbH, Starnberg, Germany) and Ventolin Evohaler HFA pMDI (Evohaler; Allen & Hanburys [GlaxoSmithkline], Uxbridge, UK). METHODS: Twenty-two moderate to severe asthmatic patients, mean (s.d.) age: 44.7 (9.4), FEV(1): 58.1 (12.0), received 4 cumulative doubling doses of salbutamol in a randomised, investigator blind, balanced crossover design. Spirometry and systemic safety variables (heart rate, blood pressure, T wave amplitude, QTc interval and potassium) were measured at baseline and after each dose. RESULTS: Parallel regression analysis revealed that microgram relative potency ratios for the Aerodose Inhaler to be five times more efficient for FEV(1) than either the Pari LC Plus (0.202, 90% CI: 0.189-0.216) or the Evohaler (0.202, 90% CI: 0.189-0.216), while there was no difference between Pari LC Plus vs Evohaler. Similarly, Aerodose Inhaler vs. Pari LC Plus showed approximately five-fold greater potency for all systemic parameters, except blood pressure. As compared to the Evohaler, Aerodose Inhaler had equivalent potency for plasma potassium and T wave amplitude, but demonstrated greater potency for heart rate and QT(c) interval. CONCLUSIONS: This study has indicated therefore, that Aerodose Inhaler is approximately five times as efficient as the Pari LC Plus and Evohaler in relative lung delivery of salbutamol in moderate to severe asthmatics.