From cell to man: evaluation of osteopontin as a possible biomarker of uranium exposure.

Background: Ore workers are conventionally monitored for exposure by measuring the uranium in their urine, but specific biomarkers of kidney damage still remain to be discovered. A recent toxicogenomics study allowed us to focus on osteopontin (OSTP) normally excreted in human urine and linked to mineral metabolism.

Objectives: We examined the association between osteopontin and uranium exposure both in vitro, in a human kidney cell model, and in the urine of exposed individuals.

Development of the NIST bone ash standard reference material for environmental radioactivity measurement.

The bone ash standard reference material (SRM), a blend of 4% contaminated human bone and 96% diluent bovine bone, has been developed for radiochemical method validation and quality control for radio-bone analysis. The massic activities of 90Sr, 226Ra, 230Th, 232Th, 234U, 235U, 238U, 238Pu, (239 + 240)Pu and (243 + 244)Cm were certified using a variety of radiochemical procedures and detection methods. Measurements confirmed undetectable radionuclide heterogeneity down to a sample size of 5 g.

[Rapid simultaneous assay of the principalamide-type local anesthetics by gas-liquid chromatography].

This method can assay simultaneously, using 300 microliters of plasma, of the three principle local anesthetic agents used by peridural injection for post-operative anesthesia and analgesia: xylocaïne, etidocaïne, bupivacaïne. The assay method consists of three steps: (a) the addition of an internal calibrating agent (mepivacaïne). (b) defecation using trichlorocetic acid.

[Use of Autobac system in the study of the bacteriostatic effect of combinations of antibiotics (author's transl)].

After determining the LSI80 (light scattering index 80) concentration X and Y of two antibiotics for a given bacteria by an automated light scatter photometric method, we use the same process to test the bacteriostatic effect of all the combinations between the values 2X, X, X/2, X/4, X/8 and 2Y, Y, Y/2, Y/4, Y/8. The results read on the light scatter photometer are interpreted: --approximatealy by means of a simplified schematic diagram; --more precisely by drawing three curves: we begin with two inhibiton curves in order to determine the LSI50 concentrations (CLSI50) of each antibiotic, isolted and in the presence of defined concentrations of the complementary antibiotic; then from these CLSI50 we draw the bacteriostatic effect curve of the combination. When the LSI50 effect of the combination occurs with less than 50% of the CLSI50 of each isolated antibiotic, the combination is synergistic.

Evaluation of exogenous insulin homoeostasis by the artificial pancreas in insulin-dependent diabetes.

With the artificial pancreas used by the authors, insulin was delivered through a venous infusion and the rate of delivery was adjusted according to data provided by a continuous blood glucose monitor. After different trials we selected control algorithms integrating two parameters: instantaneous blood glucose concentration and increasing or decreasing patterns of blood glucose. A constant basal insulin infusion rate was added and improved the control of glycaemic excursions.