[A study in the Ivory Coast (1985-1987) of the efficacy and tolerance of ivermectin (Mectizan) in human onchocerciasis. I. A comparative double-blind study of 220 patients with onchocerciasis treated with a single oral dose of 100, 150 or 200 mcg/kg].

Two hundred and twenty adult males living in endemic onchocerciasis areas in Ivory Coast, with a mean of 59 to 64 mf/mg of skin microfilariae, having or not ocular lesions, were divided into 4 homogeneous groups and treated by placebo or by a single oral dose of 100, 150 or 200 mcg/kg of ivermectin. Parasitological, clinical, ophthalmological, biological data were gathered before treatment (J less than 1) and at day 4 and 3, 6, 12 months post treatment. The doses of 150 to 200 mcg/kg gave the best results with a reduction of microfilariae of 75 to 79% at day 4 and of 97 to 99% at 3 months.

1H-NMR studies on nucleotide binding to the catalytic sites of bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase.

The conformation of adenine nucleotides bound to bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase was investigated using transfer nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements. It is shown that all nucleotides investigated adopt a predominantly anti conformation when bound to the catalytic sites. Furthermore, the experiment suggests that 8-azido-ADP and 8-azido-ATP, which are predominantly in the syn conformation in solution, are in the anti conformation when bound to F1 catalytic sites.

Inhibition of H+-transporting ATPase by formation of a tight nucleoside diphosphate-fluoroaluminate complex at the catalytic site.

Inhibition of the mitochondrial and bacterial F1-type ATPases [of ATP phosphohydrolase (H+-transporting), EC 3.6.1.

Sero-epidemiological survey for toxoplasmosis in Burundi.

The first sero-epidemiological survey for toxoplasmosis in Burundi was conducted in 1985. The global prevalence among 622 subjects tested in ELISA and IFI was 44.1% with a higher rate in men (49.

Mapping of nucleotide-depleted mitochondrial F1-ATPase with 2-azido-[alpha-32P]adenosine diphosphate. Evidence for two nucleotide binding sites in the beta subunit.

Photolabeling of nucleotide binding sites in nucleotide-depleted mitochondrial F1 has been explored with 2-azido [alpha-32P]adenosine diphosphate (2-N3[alpha-32P] ADP). Control experiments carried out in the absence of photoirradiation in a Mg2+-supplemented medium indicated the presence of one high affinity binding site and five lower affinity binding sites per F1. Similar titration curves were obtained with [3H]ADP and the photoprobe 3'-arylazido-[3H]butyryl ADP [( 3H]NAP4-ADP).

Invasive nosocomial pulmonary aspergillosis: risk factors and hospital building works.

A retrospective epidemiological study of 22 observations of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, of which 18 were fatal, occurring over a period of 30 months, implicated certain building sites within the hospital. The building works were responsible for the diffusion into the atmosphere of fungal spores from normally closed reservoirs, notably false ceilings, fibrous thermal and/or acoustic insulation materials and roller-blind casings. The results of our study permit us to suggest that protective measures should be set up or that immunodepressed patients are evacuated when such works are to be carried out in an in-patient establishment.

[Early diagnosis and surveillance of congenital toxoplasmosis. The comparative immunological profiles method].

More than 8000 samples (sera, cord blood, CSF, etc.) from patients who had, or were likely to have, toxoplasmosis were studied by the CIP-ELIFA technique. The first stage in this technique is immunoelectrodiffusion on a microporous cellulose acetate membrane.

Host serum protein levels in cysts of human hydatidosis.

8 proteins (albumin, IgG, IgM, IgA, C3c, C4, orosomucoid and alpha 1 antitrypsin) were determined by laser immunonephelometry in hydatid cyst fluid from cysts and sera from 16 patients. The cystic level of albumin was 34.5 +/- SD 59.

Identification of amino acid residues photolabeled with 2-azido[alpha-32P]adenosine diphosphate in the beta subunit of beef heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase.

When beef heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase is photoirradiated in the presence of 2-azido[alpha-32P]adenosine diphosphate, the beta subunit of the enzyme is preferentially photolabeled [Dalbon, P., Boulay, F., & Vignais, P.

High resolution NMR studies of histidine-substituted and histidine-perturbed hemoglobin variants. Histidine assignments, electrostatic interactions at the protein surface, and implications for hemoglobin S polymerization.

The aromatic region of the proton NMR spectrum of human adult hemoglobin (HbA) contains resonances from at least 11 titratable histidine residues. Assignments for five beta chain histidines have previously been proposed. In order to further characterize the aromatic spectra of HbA we studied 11 histidine-substituted and -perturbed hemoglobin variants in oxy and deoxy states and at different pH values by 400 MHz NMR spectroscopy.

Hemoglobin La Desirade alpha A2 beta 2 129 (H7) Ala----Val: a new unstable hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin La Desirade is a new unstable hemoglobin variant arising from the substitution of beta 129 (H7) Ala for Val. Hb La Desirade exhibits a low oxygen affinity and normal heme-heme interaction. The variant was found in two unrelated black families in association with Hb S, Hb C or beta o thalassemia.

[Bacterial infections and early Plasmodium falciparum malaria].

Two cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria associated with bacterial infections--streptococcus A septicemia and Legionnaires' disease--are described. The association of these two infections is probably not incidental, and the hypothesis of Plasmodium falciparum induced immuno-deficiency is discussed.

[First case of subcutaneous phycomycosis seen in Gabon and treated successfully with ketoconazole].

First observation of subcutaneous phycomycosis observed in Gabon. Diagnosis was made by histological study. Biopsy permitted isolation of B.

[Presence of Leishmania major Yakimoff and Schokhor, 1914 in Mali. Enzymatic identification of a strain of human origin].

The first case of oriental sore reported to Leishmania major is identified in Mali. The characterization of the stain isolated from a left arm lesion of a 30 years old european woman is carried out by electrophoretic analysis using enzymes, i.e.

[Congenital toxoplasmosis. Tolerability of the sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine combination. 24 cases].

The pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine combination, active against acute toxoplasmosis in the mouse, was administered to 24 children with congenital toxoplasmosis in doses of 500 mg sulfadoxine and 25 mg pyrimethamine per 20 kg bodyweight once every fortnight. The drug appeared to be as effective as other sulfonamide-pyrimethamine combinations. It was generally well tolerated and was withdrawn in only 3 patients on account of minor side-effects.

[Flubendazole in human Echinococcus granulosus hydatidosis. Preoperative care: parasit-pharmacologic study].

The effect of flubendazole in human hydatic disease due to E. granulosus has been studied in 22 patients with one or several hydatic cysts of different sites. Flubendazole has been given orally before surgery for a 10 days mean period, at 4 g daily in adults and 1 g daily in children.

Two new cases of heterozygosity for hemoglobin Knossos alpha 2 beta 2 27 Ala----Ser detected in the French West Indies and Algeria.

Hb Knossos alpha 2 beta 2 27 Ala----Ser was first described in a Greek family as a silent beta(+) thalassemia variant. Reexamination of 5,000 isoelectric focusing patterns of patients with microcytosis allowed the presumptive identification of two additional propositi. The first originated in the French West Indies (Martinique) and the second in Algeria.

[Diagnosis of isolated hypereosinophilia in parasitology (378 cases)].

378 cases of isolated hypereosinophilia (eosinophils greater than 500 by mm3 of blood) are presented. The diagnosis was done for 189 cases: 184 parasitic diseases and 5 non parasitic diagnosis (3 neoplastic syndromes). The diagnosis was done more often if patients came back from a tropical area, if hypereosinophilia was observed on two samples of blood, if hypereosinophilia was major (greater than 2,500 eosinophils).