[Inventory of the use of natriuretic peptides in France].

Since the introduction of routine assay for natriuretic peptides (NP), there is an increasing number of clinical applications for these assays. Due to the continuously increasing number of prescription of those tests, a reappraisal of the use of natriuretic peptide assays, namely BNP and NT-proBNP in France was necessary. This was achieved through a national survey to obtain a detailed description of NP prescription and realization by French laboratories.

Goitre and iodine deficiency in Afghanistan: a case-control study.

I deficiency is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation. A number of surveys in Afghanistan show goitre prevalence rates more than 20 % amongst children and women. Access to iodised salt remains low, with disparate coverage by region, despite the recent implementation of a national salt iodisation programme.

Differential responses of proliferative and non-proliferative leukemia cells to oxidative stress.

The response of three human leukemia cell lines, the proliferative promonocyte THP-1 and the promyeloid HL60 cells and the non-proliferative phorbol ester-treated HL60 cells (HL60/PMA), to oxidative stress induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP) treatment was analyzed by fluorescence microplate assay, anti-oxidant enzyme activity measurements, high performance liquid chromatography, yopro-1/PI incorporation, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspase 3 cleavages. After t-BHP treatment, the non-proliferative HL60/PMA cells exhibited a weak increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, a better preservation of thiol content, a decrease of glutathione peroxidase activity and a high ability to undergo necrosis rather than apoptosis. Submitted to the same treatment, the proliferative HL60 and THP-1 cells exhibited a high increase of ROS production, a moderate thiol depletion and a high percentage of apoptosis.