[Meteorological data and risk assessment in France after the Chernobyl accident (26 April 1986). Historical update].

The authors indicate the origin of the data used by the French Public Health Authority in 1986 to estimate the risk of the radioactive fall out following the Chernobyl accident. The technical means developed in order to establish this data, and the precedent experience gained, are described. The principal results are given.

Ultraviolet irradiation of platelet concentrates: feasibility in transfusion practice.

Ultraviolet (UV)-B irradiation abolishes lymphocyte functions (the ability to respond and to stimulate) in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). This effect may have practical application in the prevention or reduction of transfusion-induced alloimmunization against HLA class I antigens. To study this, platelet concentrates (PCs) were obtained with a cell separator, suspended in autologous plasma in a final volume of 400 mL, and transferred into a large (22 X 30 cm) cell culture bag.

Fructose is as good a fuel as glucose for exercise in normal subjects.

50 g fructose and 50 g glucose loads, naturally 13C labelled, were orally administered in random order to six healthy subjects submitted to 90 mn exercise at VO2 max/2 on a treadmill. 13CO2/12CO2 variations in the expired air were followed before and after exercise for a total of 240 min. On the whole, fructose appeared to be as good a fuel as glucose during exercise even if slight but significant differences in kinetics were observed: the delta 13C peak values at 90 min were significantly lower with fructose.