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The not-for-profit issue has been debated in November 2016 in Paris; this issue is one of the four canonical pillars of ethical blood donation. It is intimately bound to benevolence though it is distinct, as not-for-profit calls for institutions while benevolence calls for individuals. It is indeed intended that voluntary blood donors do not benefit from their donation and are thus non-remunerated. Not-for-profit is essential since it refers to the public character of blood as a putative public resource aimed at being shared as a tribute of solidarity. A central question however is linked to the capacity- or not -of public sectors to ensure that blood components are universally available, with special mention to plasma derived drugs, without the contribution of the for profit, private sector.

Summary Objectives Mortality among HIV patients with tuberculosis (TB) remains high in Eastern Europe (EE), but details of TB and HIV management remain scarce. Methods In this prospective study, we describe the TB treatment regimens of patients with multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Results A total of 105 HIV-positive patients had MDR-TB (including 33 with extensive drug resistance) and 130 pan-susceptible TB. Adequate initial TB treatment was provided for 8% of patients with MDR-TB compared with 80% of those with pan-susceptible TB. By twelve months, an estimated 57.3% (95%CI 41.5–74.1) of MDR-TB patients had started adequate treatment. While 67% received ART, HIV-RNA suppression was demonstrated in only 23%. Conclusions Our results show that internationally recommended MDR-TB treatment regimens were infrequently used and that ART use and viral suppression was well below the target of 90%, reflecting the challenging patient population and the environment in which health care is provided. Urgent improvement of management of patients with TB/HIV in EE, in particular for those with MDR-TB, is needed and includes widespread access to rapid TB diagnostics, better access to and use of second-line TB drugs, timely ART initiation with viral load monitoring, and integration of TB/HIV care.

The objective of the present study was to characterize the relationship between vitellogenin (Vtg) and vitellin (Vt) concentration profiles during the reproductive cycle of the penaeid prawn Fenneropenaeus indicus. Vt was purified from ovaries of vitellogenic females by gradient ultracentrifugation. Purified Vt was used to raise polyclonal antibodies (anti-Vt) for this species. Vtg and Vt concentrations in hemolymph, hepatopancreas, and ovaries were measured by validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Parallel displacement curves were obtained between purified Vt and tissues from ovaries, hepatopancreas, and hemolymph. Vtg concentrations increased in the hemolymph and hepatopancreas in the early stages of ovarian development (until GSI 3.4) and decreased significantly (P

Purpose: To determine the effect of low-dose splenic irradiation on severe Zidovudine-resistant, HIV-1–associated thrombocytopenia (HAT). Methods and Materials: Between September 1994 and October 1996, 17 patients were included in a prospective study. The patients met the following criteria for inclusion: hemorrhagic symptoms or a platelet count below or equal to 50 × 10 9 /l and normal numbers of megakaryocytes on bone aspiration. The mean baseline platelet count was 20.3 (± 14.4) × 10 9 /l; four patients had a platelet count inferior to 10 × 10 9 /l. Splenic volume was defined by ultrasonography. A total dose of 9 Gy was given using an isocentric parallel pair field technique. Results: One month after the end of treatment six patients had a significant rise in their platelet count. Clinically, hemorrhagic symptoms stopped for all patients that were symptomatic. Unfortunately, duration of response was short because for one patient only the platelet count remains stable with a follow-up of 6 months. All patients are alive and in recent evaluation, with four out of eight patients receiving a combination of antiretroviral therapy had a platelet count above 50 × 10 9 /l. Conclusion: Our results are disappointing concerning the duration of response, especially comparatively to those reported in autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Mechanisms of HAT are more complex, and megakaryocytes' infection may play an important role. Splenic irradiation should be considered as palliative treatment for the minority of patients with severe bleeding that does not respond to standard medical treatment.

Day and night variations (nycthemeral) of ammonia excretion were studied in post-larvae and adults (male and female) of Penaeus japonicus . When the photoperiod was 16:8 ( L D ), ammonia excretion by adults varied only at night, with two maxima: 21.00–23.00 h and 01.00–03.00 h. Ammonia excretion by the post-larvae exhibited variations during the whole day, with four maxima: 21.00–23.00 h, 01.00–03.00 h, 07.00–09.00 h and 13.00–15.00 h. In adults, hourly specific excretion was enhanced during the dark period (× 2). There was no such difference for post-larvae between day and night. The daily specific excretion did not differ between males and females except for some periods of the daily cycle. The daily specific excretion by post-larvae (47.8 μatg NNH 3 NH 4 ·g −1 live weight·24 h −1 ) was about five-fold higher than excretion by adults (10.3 μatg NNH 3 NH 4 ·g −1 live weight·24 h −1 at 23°C). The relationships between behaviour and ammonia excretion variations are discussed.

1. 1. This study deals with the modifications of the hemolymph proteins of the Crustacea, Isopoda Idotea balthica basteri when this isopod is exposed to the effect of a non-ionic detergent (long-term effect: > 3 months). 2. 2. Three concentrations were used: 1, 5 and 30 mg/l, and the effect of the temperature was considered 3. 3. The electrophoretograms indicate that in the second month there were numerous fractions produced. In the third month there was an important and general reduction in proteins. 4. 4. The hemocyanin fractions were affected by the detergent. The detergent may stop or stimulate the synthesis of fraction B and influence the process of coupling-separation of fractions A and C. 5. 5. In females, detergent may cause resorption of oocyte proteins.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and the efficacy of high-dose chemoradiotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell support with peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) harvested after high-dose cyclophosphamide (HDCYC) treatment in patients with high-risk multiple myeloma (MM). Inclusion criteria were: age less than 65 years and high-risk MM defined as stage II MM, stage III MM, refractory or relapsed MM. The design of the study was: 1) HDCYC +/- hematopoietic growth factors followed by PBPC collection, and 2) high-dose melphalan combined with total body irradiation (or busulfan for previously irradiated patients) followed by PBPC reinfusion (ABPCT). All 60 patients completed the procedure except two who died from infection after HDCYC and another of acute cardiac failure after reinfusion of PBPC. Out of the 60 evaluable patients, three failed to respond while the other 57 achieved either a partial (n = 33) or complete (n = 24) response. Thirty-one patients progressed or relapsed after a median duration of response of 15 months (range: 3-43). The median follow-up for the other 26 responder patients was 24 months (range: 2-66). Twenty-one patients died, 18 of MM (2 after failure, 16 after relapse) and three responders of lung cancer (n = 1) and infection (n = 2). In conclusion, this study shows that this therapeutic approach is feasible and efficient.

Variations in ascorbic acid content of the ovary, somatic tissues and the whole female body were studied during ovarian development and the molting cycle of Palaemon serratus. The conclusions are incomplete, due to insufficient data on the role of ascorbic acid in the physiology and metabolism of animals, and especially crustaceans. However, some results indicate that Vitamin C is accumulated in the female as the gonad index increases. Ascorbic acid is concentrated preferentially in the ovarian tissue. Some hypotheses are put forward relating to the role of ascorbic acid in the biosynthesis of chitin, steroid hormones, and in ovarian maturation.

The activities of esterase 2C, esterase 14C, L-leucine aminopeptidase, α-glucosidase, alkaline and acid phosphatases of the stomach, the caeca and the gut of Mugil capito were examined by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Fishes of three sizes were compared: the smallest only showed esterase 2C and phosphatases activities. Zymograms for each size and each organ were examined and the molecular weights of the isozymes evaluated with an accuracy of 10,000 daltons. It was found that (a) the existence of some isozymes is dependent to the size and the organ; (b) some enzymes are found only in some parts of the digestive tract; (c) for any given organ, enzymatic activity differs from one isozyme to another; and (d) the digestive enzymatic activities differ for each organ considered and in different ways dependent on the size of the fish.

The electrophoretic behaviour of haemolymph lipoprotein was determined throughout a 24 h light-dark cycle. All of the 14 lipoprotein bands did not always appear at the same time, and their level did not remain constant, showing mainly tri- and tetracircadian variations. Values are not the same in males and females. Despite the fact that the lipoprotein variation was not closely synchronized with circadian periodicity, some lipoproteins were responsible for light-dark transition.

Modifications in the digestive enzymic profile in three parts of the digestive tract (stomach, pyloric caecum and intestine) were studied during the first year of life of the teleost Mugil capito by the semi-quantitative APIZYM method. Higher enzymic activity was found int he pyloric caecum and intestine than in the stomach. Moreover, a decrease in protease activities appears during growth and is apparently due to adaptation to changes in diet.

Variation in Esterase 2 C activities, involving the hydrolysis of 2-carboxylic esters, α-glucosidase acetyl-glucosaminidase and alkaline and acid phosphotases, in the hepatopancreas and the abdominal muscle of Palaemon serratus was examined by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Soluble proteins were measured in the hepatopancreas and the abdominal muscle, and trypsin and chymotrypsin activities in the hepatopancreas. The activities and the isoenzymatic variations in shrimps acclimated at 5 different temperatures (between 14 and 30°) were compared and the molecular weight of each isozyme evaluated. It was found that: (a) the concentrations of soluble proteins decrease in the hepatopancreas between 18 and 30°, but remain unchanged in the abdominal muscle; (b) esterase and phosphatase activities increase with temperature but in a more or less random manner, according to the isozyme under consideration; (c) glycosidase activities increase with temperature; and (d) trypsin activity varies in an inverse relation to chymotrypsin activity.

The esterase activities of Penaeus japonicus hemolymph, revealed by a mixture of α- and β-naphtylacetate exhibit tricircadian variations under an LD:12-12 photoperiod. During the 24 h period, the total esterase activities can vary by 0,12 to 0,64 V/μg of protein. Under the experimental conditions adopted, circadian variations of the hemolymph esterase activities are observed whatever the sex and molt stage; the sex factor seems to be predominant for the esterase activities studied. Concurrently, a circadian rhythm of individual variabilities is observed for both sexes. The variabilities are assessed from the ratio of standard deviations on the esterase activity means, for each hour of experimentation. The minimum variabilities correspond to maximum total or specific esterase activities for the females whereas they precede the maximum esterase activities for males.

Palaemon serratus at larval stage 2, acclimatized at 16°, were subjected to a temperature increase of 15° for periods of 5, 20 or 40 min with or without return to the initial temperature for 12 h. The soluble protein concentration of larvae subjected to a thermal shock of 20 min duration is lower than in control larvae. Total esterase-2C activity per mg of soluble protein after a thermal shock of 20 min duration is less than in control larvae but, in contrast with larvae subjected to a shock of 40 min duration, the initial activity is restored after 12 hours. Esterase-2C activity zymograms, after polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis, show twelve isozymes. The activity of each isozyme examined varies according to the duration of the thermal shock.

The effects of the carbohydrate and protein composition of compound diets on growth rate and on the amylase and protease content of the hepatopancreas have been studied in Palaemon serratus. The best growth rate for animals weighing between 80 and 380 mg is obtained with a diet containing 3.5% carbohydrate and 64% protein. Diets which are very rich in carbohydrate and poor in protein result in poor growth and high mortality; the same is true for foods containing a high concentration of only one protein. Variations in the wet weight of the hepatopanereas and in the total digestive enzymatic activities are linked to variations in the growth rate of the shrimp. Maximal specific amylase activity is reached when assimilable carbohydrate amounts to 2.8%. Maximal specific protease activity is reached when the food protein level reaches 45%. When the amounts of carbohydrate and protein are higher or lower, the values of specific enzymatic proteins diminish.

Six pelletized diets containing different amounts of protein (fish and crustacean meals, gluten), from 21.8 to 45.5%, were tested on six groups of 100 juvenile lobsters, having reached stage VIII, and kept individually. The best weights and linear growths were obtained with a feed containing at least 35% protein. The DNA rate and wet weight/DNA ratio reveal a better growth at the cellular level for the lobsters fed the diet containing 36.6% protein. This growth is more by hyperplasia than by hypertrophy. The RNA rate and the total protein content per individual confirm these results. The RNA/DNA ratio, which is an indicator of cell activity, is the best for this batch: 2.1 after 146 days. Analyses of the hepatopancreas and, in particular, the specific digestive protease and amylase activity, corroborate these conclusions. In the course of this experiment, an inverse relation between discoloration and diet protein rate was observed.

Body free amino acids (FAA) content and ammonia excretion have been measured on the one hand in post-larvae of Penaeus japonicus acclimatized in six water salinities and, on the other hand, in post-larvae after an osmotic stress. Various tested salinities were: 44, 38, 32, 26, 20 and 14‰. When environmental salinity changes, body moisture is not very much affected. However, FAA content and ammonia excretion exhibit large variations. Lowering water salinity from 44 to 14‰. induces an increase of ammonia excretion from 2.3 to 3.5 μatg N/g liver wt/h and a decrease of FAA content from 283 to 204.5 μmol/g live wt. Ammonia excretion is at a maximum at 26‰. (3.7 μatg N/g liver wt/h). FAA content is at a minium at 26‰. (183.7 μmol/g live wt). Modest changes of ammonia excretion and FAA content observed between 26 and 14‰. lead to the hypothesis of a main role played by FAA in osmotic regulation for a salinity range between 44 and 26‰. Intracellular osmotic regulation is effective 8 h after an hyposmotic stress from 44 to 14‰, but does not seem to be realized 24 h after an hyperosmotic stress (14–44‰.). Among analysed amino acids, main variations are registered for glycine, alanine, glutamine and asparagine.

Lipids content of the haemolymph and the hepatopancreas in the decapod Crustacean P. japonicus exhibits a bicircadian rhythm characterized by one maximum in the night and another one during the day. The maximal values in the haemolymph are approximatively two and a half times greater (8 mg/ml) than minimal ones (3 mg/ml). Variations are less important in the hepatopancreas.A bicircadian rhythm of lipid classes in the haemolymph is observed very significantly in concentration of polar lipids and free sterols with maximal values (6.87 mg/ml and 0.59 mg/ml) and minimal values (2.63 mg/ml and 0.23 mg/ml) respectively.Polar lipids are the major lipid fractions in the haemolymph (87%). The electrophoretic behaviour of haemolymph lipoproteins is determined.

1. 1. A quantitative and electrophoretic study of copper and zinc in hemolymph of the crustacea decapoda, Carcinus maenas, has been carried out. 2. 2. Most of the copper was linked with hemocyanin. 3. 3. All copper-binding proteins are hemocyanin. 4. 4. Zinc belongs to three different compartments: more than 68% is linked with hemocyanin; about 10% is shown in the fraction containing blood cells, lipids and carotenoids; 15% is present in the hemolymph under a soluble and dialysable form. 5. 5. Specific zinc-binding protein has not been found out in the serum of Carcinus maenas. 6. 6. Zinc linked with hemocyanin is found on high molecular weight protein fractions only.

1. 1. Certain aspects of β-sitosterol metabolism at various stages of the molting cycle in the prawn Penaeus japonicus Bate were studied. 2. 2. The radioactivity (dis/min) per mg of tissue or organ of prawn injected with [ 14 C]β-sitosterol was very high in the gonads and hepatopancreas, high in hypodermis at stages A–B, C 1 –C 2 , C 3 –C 4 , D 1 –D 2 ; and high in the gonad, hypodermis and hepatopancreas at stage D 4 . 3. 3. The rate of bioconversion of β-sitosterol to cholesterol in the hepatopancreas of prawn at stage A–B, three days after injection, was 30–40%. 4. 4. Thin-layer chromatographic analyses of lipids indicated the presence of free sterol, steryl ester and polar steroid in all the tissues and organs. Free sterol was predominant, accounting for 75.7–97.4% of the radioactive compounds present.