[A study of the expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATP-ase gene in the left ventricle of the sheep's fetus submitted to chronic increased afterload in utero].

The messenger RNA of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum ATP-ase (SERCA-2a) increases in the left ventricle (LV) during ontogenic development but decreases in hypertrophy induced by increased afterload. Because of the frequency of increased left ventricular overload in congenital heart disease, the authors investigated to see if these increases were likely to interfere with the normal ontogenic program of expression of the SERCA-2a gene in the LV of sheep's foetus. A preductal coarctation of the aorta was realised by banding the transverse aorta (AoT) at 93 days' gestation in 9 foetus (CoA) matched with 9 healthy twin foetus (T).

Surgical management of atrio ventricular septal defects with normal caryotype.

Objective: Atrio ventricular septal defects (AVSD) with normal caryotype represent in average 25% of AVSD. They constitute a more complex group of patients characterized by frequent left sided heart obstructive lesions, raising the problem of the appropriate indications between biventricular and univentricular procedures.

Methods: Sixty-nine consecutive patients, who had AVSD with normal caryotype underwent surgery.

Quantitative imaging in electron and confocal microscopies for applications in biology.

Among the large number of topics related to the quantification of images in electron and confocal microscopies for applications in biology, we selected four subjects that we consider to be representative of some recent tendencies. The first is the quantification of three-dimensional data sets recorded routinely in scanning confocal microscopy. The second is the quantification of the textural and fractal appearance of images.

Quantification and improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio in a magnetic resonance image acquisition procedure.

A procedure is developed to quantify and improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of magnetic resonance images. The image SNR is quantified using the correlation function of two independent acquisitions of an image. To test the performance of the quantification, SNR measurement data are fitted to theoretically expected curves.

Regenerating cells in human airway surface epithelium represent preferential targets for recombinant adenovirus.

To investigate the efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene delivery in regenerating human respiratory epithelium, we have performed infections with an E1- and E3-deleted type 5 recombinant adenovirus containing the Escherichia coli LacZ reporter gene on different culture models of regenerating human nasal polyp surface epithelium. These models included: (i) an ex vivo organ culture of nasal polyp tissue, (ii) an explant outgrowth cell culture, and (iii) an in vitro wound repair model, on dissociated cells. In ex vivo nasal polyp tissue, transduced cells were not detected in normal pseudostratified areas, but were found in areas of the surface epithelium with a morphology reminiscent of regenerating airway tissue.

Three-dimensional co-location of RNA polymerase I and DNA during interphase and mitosis by confocal microscopy.

The relative three-dimensional co-location of RNA polymerase I (RPI) and DNA was studied using confocal laser scanning microscopy during interphase and all the steps of mitosis in human cancerous cells. For each step of the cell cycle, immunolabeled RPI molecules and DNA specifically stained with chromomycin A3 were simultaneously imaged at high resolution through numerous optical sections. Then, all the data obtained were used to generate transverse sections, anaglyphs and volumic representations, which are all prerequisite approaches to a representative study of the three-dimensional organization of the nucleolus and the mitotic chromosomes.

Multivariate statistical analysis applied to X-ray spectra and X-ray mapping of liver cell nuclei.

Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Factorial Analysis of Correspondence (FAC), two Multivariate Statistical Analyses (MSA), were applied to the analysis of X-ray data. MSA are descriptive methods which graphically display the correlations and anticorrelations between a large number of elements. Series of X-ray spectral data and X-ray maps obtained from rat liver were analyzed with reference to the diffusible elements Na, Mg, Cl, K and Ca and also P and S.

Improvements in biological X-ray microanalysis: cryoembedding for specimen preparation and multivariate statistical analysis for data interpretation.

For biological X-ray microanalysis, cryoembedding (CE) combined with cryofixation (CF) and cryodehydration (CD) was already proposed as an alternative method to freeze-dried cryosections in 1984 by Wróblewski and Wroblewski. CD by freeze-drying (FD) is usually recommended because it provides better retention of diffusible elements. CD by freeze-substitution (FS) has the advantage of being simpler, giving more reproducible preservation of ultrastructure and causing fewer problems for resin infiltration.

Quantitative analysis and cartography in scanning electron microscopy: application to the study of bacterial adhesion to respiratory epithelium.

This paper describes the coupling between a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an image analysis workstation. The system was designed in order to drive the SEM and to analyse any sample. It allows automatic (edge detection) or semiautomatic (pointing, marking, drawing) object detection.

Localization of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in airway secretory glands.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the gene coding for the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). From human normal tracheal submucosal gland cells in culture, we identified endogenous CFTR as a 170 kDa protein, consistent with that of fully glycosylated, mature CFTR molecule. This observation led to the hypothesis that airway secretory glands could be an important site for the CFTR expression.

Immunodetection of low concentrations of ovalbumin in cryoprocessed quail oviduct cells by semi-automatic quantitative analysis.

In a previous paper (Quintana et al, Biol Cel 72, (1991) 167-180) we reported the anti-ovalbumin antibody immunolabeling in the cytoplasm of tubular gland cells from cryofixed, cryosubstituted and acrylic-resin embedded quail oviduct. To confirm these preliminary visual observations, we have carried out a semi-automatic quantitative study of immunogold labeling. The quantitative results confirm the previous data.

Semiautomatic quantification of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions in tissue sections and cellular smears.

Silver staining of nucleoli reveals argyrophilic proteins associated with nucleolar organizer region (Ag-NOR) proteins. Argyrophilic components appear as dots about 1 micron in diameter dispersed throughout the nucleolus (Ag-NOR dots). The count of Ag-NOR dots is a useful index for improving the cancer diagnosis and determination of prognosis.

Digital three-dimensional visualization of cellular organelles studied by medium- and high-voltage electron microscopy.

Tilted thick sections (one-half to several micrometers) of biological specimens observed with medium- to high-voltage electron microscopes are extremely useful for the study of the three-dimensional (3-D) structure of organelles. If high resolution in 3-D visualization and 3-D reconstruction is needed, many images corresponding to various angles of rotation and tilt must be recorded. This necessitates very time-consuming work--including eventual photographic processing--before good positioning of the object is defined.

Identification of phospholipids in secretory granules of human submucosal gland respiratory cells.

Although it has been shown that tracheal epithelial cells in culture synthesize and secrete phospholipids, no direct evidence for in situ phospholipid storage in human respiratory secretory epithelial cells has been demonstrated. We used a high-resolution cytochemical enzyme-gold technique to identify and precisely localize phospholipids in human submucosal gland secretory cells. In addition, lysozyme, a specific serous cell marker, was identified using the biotinstreptavidin gold technique with lysozyme antiserum.

Quantitative immunolocalization of four immunodominant antigens of Toxoplasma gondii.

Ultrastructural localization of four immunodominant antigens of Toxoplasma gondii was investigated quantitatively on thin sections and replicas by an immunogold technique using four monoclonal antibodies (Mab). On immunoblot Mab IV47, GII9, II38 and IE10 identified proteins of 28, 30, 45 and 66-70 kDa, respectively. Use of digital image analyzer and a semi-automatic procedure developed by us, the patterns of label distribution were compared in three cell structures: cell surface, submembrane area and rhoptries.

Semi-automatic quantitation of dense markers in cytochemistry.

The quantitation of electron dense labelling is very tedious when it is done "by hand". Accordingly we developed software allowing, at electron microscopic level, a semi-automatic counting of dense markers in biological specimens. It includes the digitization of images and extraction of dense particles from the grey level of the background.

EELS elemental mapping with unconventional methods. I. Theoretical basis: image analysis with multivariate statistics and entropy concepts.

Electron energy loss filtered images recorded within a transmission analytical electron microscope are now widely used for the mapping of the elemental distribution of a given atomic species in a specimen prepared as a thin film. Such an image processing may produce both valuable results and artifacts if a careful inspection of all the hypotheses needed by the calculation is not carried out. This paper presents some general statistical methods for a contrast information analysis of a noisy image data set.

Stress at work and mental health status among female hospital workers.

Relations between working conditions and mental health status of female hospital workers were studied in a sample of 1505 women: 43% were nurses, 32% auxiliaries, and 7% ancillary staff; 13% were other qualified health care staff, mainly head nurses; 5% had occupations other than direct health care; 63% worked on the morning, 20% on the afternoon, and 17% on the night shift. Data were collected at the annual routine medical visit by the occupational health practitioner, using self administered questionnaires and clinical assessments. Five health indicators were considered: a high score to the general health questionnaire (GHQ); fatigue; sleep impairment; use of antidepressants, sleeping pills, or sedatives; and diagnosis of psychiatric morbidity at clinical assessment.

[Evolution of the primary successes of percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty].

Between November 1985 and August 1988, we performed 89 percutaneous aortic valvuloplasties. Sixty-two of these were considered a primary success on the basis of two main criteria: stage I or II on discharge and greater than 50 p. 100 increase in aortic valve area.

Which image parameter(s) for the automation of the electron microscope?

Experiments on automating the transmission electron microscope rely on the search for minimum variance. This image parameter gives satisfactory results for automatic focusing, astigmatism correction, and beam alignment. We investigate here the different image descriptors that might also be used; we conclude that texture parameters, which are directional, would be better candidates correcting astigmatism and beam tilt.