[Screening and diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Evaluation of the methodological quality of the guidelines of the Haute Autorité de Santé, of the American Diabetes Association, and of the World Health Organisation].

We critically appraised the methodological quality of the clinical practice guideline (CPG) published by the Haute autorité de santé (HAS) about screening and diagnosis of gestational diabetes, and we compared its quality with that of two other CPGs, i.e. that of the American diabetes association (ADA) and that of the World health organisation (WHO).

[Practice guidelines: let us sort them].

A growing number of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) is published. This is understandable because CPG are the corner stone in the evaluation of professional practices (EPP). One cannot deny that EPP is necessary.

trans-Acting factors, detoxication enzymes and hepatitis B virus replication in a novel set of human hepatoma cell lines.

A panel of four novel human hepatoma cell lines was isolated from a single tumor from a male individual. BC1, B16 and B16A2 lines were well differentiated, while cells of the B9 line were only poorly differentiated, being essentially negative for the functions analyzed. These cell lines have been surveyed for expression of a large set of plasma proteins, accumulation of liver-specific mRNAs and DNA-binding activity of ubiquitous and liver-enriched transcription factors.

[Evaluation of assay methods of glycohemoglobin: reference method and parameter].

In this paper, the characteristics of the analytical procedures allowing the measurement of glycated hemoglobin products are presented. With respect to their respective performances, the authors recommend the specific measurement of HbA1c and the more reliable procedure, high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Interleukin 4 inhibits the production of some acute-phase proteins by human hepatocytes in primary culture.

Interleukin 4 (IL4) has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the secretion by monocytes of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL1), interleukin 6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and by inducing the secretion of the IL1 receptor antagonist. We investigated the role of this cytokine on the production of acute-phase proteins in primary human hepatocyte cultures. Cells were exposed to either IL4 and/or IL6, the most potent mediator of hepatic acute phase proteins.

[Erythrocyte ferritin].

Red cell ferritin is a residue of erythroblast ferritin. It reflects the balance between the iron supply to the erythroid marrow and the need for haemoglobin synthesis. Erythrocyte ferritin can be measured in haemolysates after discarding plasma and leucocytes by different methods.

[Serum ferritin assay. Value and limitations].

There is a good correlation between serum ferritin and the amount of iron stored in the body. Reduced levels of serum ferritin are always found in iron deficiency but elevation of serum ferritin can occur without any iron overload. According to pathological situations, red cell ferritin, glycosylated ferritin or acidic ferritin measurements are useful tests for the differential diagnosis of increased serum ferritin concentration.

Alcohol induction of ferritin expression in a human hepatoblastoma cell line (HEP G2).

Hyperferritinemia, an unclear mechanism, is frequently observed in chronic alcoholics. The aim of this work was to study the effect of alcohol on ferritin expression in a human hepatoblastoma cell line, HepG2. This cell line proved to be sensitive to alcohol, since alcohol increased gamma-GT activity both in cells and media.

Iron induction of ferritin synthesis and secretion in human hepatoma cell (Hep G2) cultures.

In order to determine if iron was able to stimulate specifically ferritin synthesis and secretion in transformed human hepatocytes in culture, human hepatoma cell (HepG2) cultures were submitted to increasing doses of ferric nitrilotriacetate. Iron uptake by the cells was demonstrated by incorporation of 59 Fe and the staining method of Perls. The following results were obtained: 1.

[Reference values of erythrocyte ferritin in children and adults].

The erythrocyte ferritin content was measured in 183 healthy subjects in age from 4 to 68 years; 80 were male and 103 were female. In children between the ages of 4 and 12 years there is no significant difference in the mean value between boys and girls. In females the erythrocyte ferritin concentration is independent of age.

[Evaluation of a qualitative test for the demonstration of microalbuminuria].

ALBU SCREEN is a commercial latex inhibition agglutination slide test to detect subclinical elevation of urinary albumin (microalbuminuria). We have appraised two different lots of latex with a sensitivity of 30 and 20 mg/l respectively. The results were compared to immunonephelemetric measurements of urinary albumin.

[Fructosamine and HbA1c during monitoring of glucose levels in diabetes].

The authors compared the nycthemeral variations of fructosamine levels in nineteen patients with diabetes to fluctuations in their glucose levels. Thirty-five other patients with poorly controlled diabetes were given an optimal treatment then followed up for 2 months (mean glucose levels, fructosamine and HbA1c assays). Mean nycthemeral variations in fructosamine levels did not appear to be correlated with glucose levels.

[Value of the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio in the detection of microalbuminuria].

Microalbuminuria is currently defined as a urinary albumin excretion rate of 20 to 200 micrograms per minute, measured in the urine of 24 hours. We present an indirect approach to the urinary albumin daily excretion rate which minimizes the errors due to chronometric measurement and to the difficulty of collecting 24-hour urine. The albumin (mg/l)/creatinine (mmol/l) ratio calculated in urine collected daily indicates microalbuminuria when it is higher than 2.

[The coefficient of saturation of iron in transferrin].

Theoretical iron fixation capacity of transferrin (FCT) can be calculated on its immunochemical titration: (FCT (mumol/l = transferrin (g/l) x 25). Today, its reckoning is more advisable to serum total iron binding capacity measurement. The authors studied the effects of this new proceeding upon usual values interval of transferrin saturation (i.

[Comparison of 2 methods of measuring microalbuminuria. Immunonephelometry and radioimmunology].

The early detection of microalbuminuria in insulin dependent diabetes is considered as a sign of initial stage of nephropathy (possibly reversible if glycemic balance is well maintained). This detection requires very accurate methods as radioimmunoassays. Yet, they are so slow that they represent an obstacle to systematic detection.

[Reference values of serum transferrin in newborn infants, children and adults].

The authors have studied the evolution of serum transferrin concentration in relation with age (newborn child, infant, adult). The mean concentration of serum transferrin is the lowest for neonates (2.15 g/l).