Plasmodium chabaudi p68 serine protease activity required for merozoite entry into mouse erythrocytes.

To define the role of malaria parasite enzymes during the process of erythrocyte invasion, we have developed an in vitro serum-free invasion assay of mouse erythrocytes by purified Plasmodium chabaudi merozoites. The sensitivity of a merozoite-specific serine protease (p68) to various inhibitors and the effect of these inhibitors on invasion indicate a crucial role for p68. The substrate specificity of the purified enzyme has been partially defined using fluorogenic peptides.

[Intradural metastases of visceral cancers. MRI aspects. Apropos of 2 cases].

The authors report two cases of intradural metastasis: a man with bronchopulmonary cancer suffering from left L5 sciatic pain and a woman with breast cancer whose examination shows motor weakness of both legs. CT was negative in the first case. Gadolinium injection on T1 sequence shows in the first case small nodular lesions along the roots of cauda equina and in the second case linear enhancements around the spine, at different levels.

[Action of estradiol-17 beta on the expression of c-Fos gene in endometrial cells in cultured].

The c-fos expression was investigated in primary culture of guinea-pig endometrial cells. Cells were made quiescent by serum depletion. Stimulation of these cells by estradiol (E2, 10(-8)M) alone or in combination with epidermal growth factor (EGF, 100 ng/ml) or insulin (10 micrograms/ml) failed to induce c-fos gene.

[Ovarian metastases in transposed ovaries: x-ray computed tomographic aspect. Report of a case].

Ovarian transposition is frequently performed as part of the treatment of gynaecological cancers in young women. A case of metastases in transposed ovaries is reported. The authors emphasise the role of this technique and the features observed on computed tomography, an essential examination for the follow-up of these patients.

Cloning of cDNAs encoding a rat neuropeptide immunologically related to salmon melanin-concentrating hormone.

In order to identify the neuropeptide related to melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) synthetized by neurons of the posterior hypothalamus in the mammals, we have screened rat hypothalamus and rat brain cDNA expression libraries using MCH antiserum. We isolated 5 distinct immunopositive recombinants with cross-hybridizing cDNA inserts. One of them hybridized to RNAs exclusively located in neurons stained by the same antiserum, as seen by successively performing in situ hybridization and then an immunocytochemical technique on the same section.

[Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA of common precursors of three hypothalamic neuropeptides immunologically related to human somatocrinin 1-37, alpha melanotropin and salmon melanin-concentrating hormone].

We have cloned and sequenced DNAs complementary to the mRNA encoding the precursor of the rat melanin-concentrating hormone. This allowed us to elucidate the primary structure of the 96 C-terminal residues of this precursor. It contains three possible sites for enzymatic cleavage enabling the generation of MCH and of two additional neuropeptides.

[Cloning of the cDNA, while encoding a hypothalamic neuropeptide in the rat, related to the melanin-concentrating hormone in the salmon].

In order to identify the neuropeptide related to salmon melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) synthetized by neurons of the posterior hypothalamus in the mammals, we have screened rat hypothalamus and rat brain cDNA expression libraries using MCH antiserum. Five recombinants were isolated, which cDNAs were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. One of them hybridized to RNAs exclusively located in hypothalamic neurons stained by the same antiserum, as seen by performing in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical techniques on the same section.

[Specific hybridization of a synthetic oligonucleotide in rat hypothalamic neurons immunoreactive to immune serum against salmon melanin-concentrating hormone].

An oligonucleotide probe corresponding to the 9 C-terminal residues encoded by a complementary DNA of a rat peptide related to salmon melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) was synthetized. It specifically hybridized to the neurons stained by antisera to MCH in the rat posterior hypothalamus, as seen by coupling in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical methods. This result validates our sequence determination.

[Evaluation of health expenditures in the first 6 months after the diagnosis of cancer using a population register].

It is currently estimated in France, that the cost of cancer is rising to 25 billion francs, which represents approximately 6% of all health expenditure with an annual growth of 5-10%. The data from the Register of Tumors in the Doubs region have enabled us to make an evaluation of health expenditure, reimbursed by the social security system, and its distribution in relationship with the different posts (assessment, type of treatment, supervision, transport) according to the cancer site. The average cost per patient within the first 6 months of the illness has been evaluated at 26,000 F (1984).

Immunogenicity of Plasmodium falciparum antigenic determinants produced by Escherichia coli recombinant clones.

The immunogenicity of two parasite antigens produced by Escherichia coli as proteins fused to beta-galactosidase was investigated in three animal species: mice, rabbits and squirrel monkeys. 2L protein carries 71 amino acids of a parasite antigen and 11.1 protein carries 23 repeats of a 9-amino-acid repetitive unit.

Radiological anatomy of the right gastroepiploic artery.

Most gastroplasties performed to replace the esophagus are vascularized by the right gastroepiploic artery alone. Its origin, course and anatomical relations are classical and subject to little variation. Conversely, its mode of termination and relations to the left gastroepiploic artery have received quite different descriptions in the literature.

[Epidemiological profile of patients with myocardial infarction and normal coronary arteriography].

Of a total of 4,800 coronary arteriogrammes, 1,280 of which were carried out after myocardial infarction, 25 cases of proven infarction with normal coronary arteriography, confirmed by several "blind" interpretations, were retained. The interval between acute infarction and coronary arteriography was usually less than 6 months. The average age of the patients was 36.

[Hemodynamic effects of normovolemic hemodilution].

After reviewing data from the literature concerning the effects of normovolaemic haemodilution on cardiac output and regional flow rates, the authors illustrate these concepts by a personal study involving the haemodynamics of 10 subjects undergoing operation in normovolaemic haemodilution. Removal of blood was compensated simultaneously by modified liquid gelatin in electrolytic solution (Plasmion) until the haematocrit was 0.30.