Altered Mitochondrial Opa1-Related Fusion in Mouse Promotes Endothelial Cell Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis.

Flow (shear stress)-mediated dilation (FMD) of resistance arteries is a rapid endothelial response involved in tissue perfusion. FMD is reduced early in cardiovascular diseases, generating a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. As alteration of mitochondrial fusion reduces endothelial cells' (ECs) sprouting and angiogenesis, we investigated its role in ECs responses to flow.

Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 serological tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19 through the evaluation of three immunoassays: Two automated immunoassays (Euroimmun and Abbott) and one rapid lateral flow immunoassay (NG Biotech).

Background: The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 has promoted the development of new serological tests that could be complementary to RT-PCR. Nevertheless, the assessment of clinical performances of available tests is urgently required as their use has just been initiated for diagnose.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the performance of three immunoassays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

[Multiparametric biochemical analysis revealing an increase of homocysteinemia and NT-proBNP in hypertensive patients living in Bamako (Mali)].

Introduction: Arterial hypertension is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa due to its high frequency and to the cardiovascular risk that it entails. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of clinical and biological risk factors of hypertension in Bamako (Mali).

Methods: We conducted a case-control study, stratified in function of the sex, of 72 participants including 36 patients with hypertension and 36 controls.

Reproducibility of blood tests of liver fibrosis in clinical practice.

Objectives: To evaluate the inter-laboratory reproducibility of blood test for liver fibrosis: FibroMeter, Fibrotest, APRI and their composites variables.

Design And Methods: Four studies, including 147 patients, were performed: study #1 included 2 metachronous blood samples and 2 laboratories; studies #2, #3 and #4 included synchronous samples with assays delayed at day 1 in 12 laboratories, at day 0 in 10 laboratories and at day 0 or 1 in 2 laboratories, respectively. Agreement was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (r(ic)).

Extracellular fibrinogenolytic enzyme of Aspergillus fumigatus: substrate-dependent variations in the proteinase synthesis and characterization of the enzyme.

To get a better understanding of the role of the previously reported fibrinogenolytic enzyme of Aspergillus fumigatus, we investigated the in vitro conditions of enzyme synthesis and attempted to characterize it. Modification of the nitrogen source did not influence the extracellular serine-proteinase profile, but resulted in important quantitative differences in the yields in batch cultures. The enzyme synthesis appeared to be an inducible phenomenon in A.

Prevention of recurrent variceal bleeding in alcoholic cirrhotic patients: prospective controlled trial of propranolol and sclerotherapy.

We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study to evaluate the effectiveness of propranolol and sclerotherapy, compared to a control group, in the prevention of variceal rebleeding in alcoholic cirrhotic patients. Among the 79 patients included, the distribution of patients according to Child-Pugh classification was: A, 22%; B, 40%; and C, 38%. Propranolol was given twice daily with a mean final dose of 54 +/- 16 mg/day, this resulted in a mean reduction in resting heart rate of 26 +/- 7%.

[Abnormalities of the intrapetrous internal carotid artery].

The abnormalities of the internal carotid artery along its intrapetrosal course are infrequent, but they are interesting because of the etiological hypotheses that must be put forward and because they sometimes have extremely serious consequences if middle ear surgery is performed without a preliminary study of the anatomy and vasculature of this region. No statistics likely to produce accurate guidelines are available at present, as the literature has reported too few cases. After attempting to explain these aberrant variations on the basis of anatomical and embryological considerations, we describe one case encountered in the ENT department of Brest University Hospital, then discuss it according to the data provided by the literature.

[Clinico-immunological profile of hepatic and extrahepatic diseases accompanied by anti-mitochondrial antibodies].

In a 13 year retrospective study mitochondrial antibodies were found in 1.71 p. 100 of patients about 60 years old with a strong female predominance.

[Leukemoid eosinophilic reaction in angioimmunoblastic adenopathy].

A case of eosinophilic leukemoid reaction is described. This picture is seldom encountered during the course of angio-immunoblastic adenopathy. After reviewing various diagnoses and pointing out similar cases of the literature, the authors discuss the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms of eosinophilia in this disorder.

[Spontaneous intramural hematoma of the esophagus. Apropos of a case].

Spontaneous intramural haematoma of the oesophagus is a rare condition which usually produces a clinical picture marked by chest pain, dysphagia and haematemesis of moderate severity. The authors report a new case in a woman aged 70 years, under anticoagulant treatment for viral meningitis and presenting with repeated vomiting. Endoscopy of the upper alimentary tract and oesophageal radiography showed a pseudotumoral appearance of the middle and lower portions of the thoracic oesophagus.

[Primary intestinal lymphangiectasis or Waldmann's disease (author's transl)].

The authors report the observation of a primary intestinal lymphangiectasy diagnosed on a young girl sent for isolated edema of her inferior members, recently appeared. Clinical examination was normal. Biology found a low protein rate at 33 g/l and a low lymph rate : 183 L/mm3.

[Amyloid tumors of the lung. Apropos of a new case].

The authors report a new case of pseudo-tumoral nodular amyloidosis of the lungs. The amyloid nodules being discovered during a surgical procedure for an adenocarcinoma of the lower oesophagus. The histopathological study of the nodules confirmed their amyloid origin and allowed to precise their histochemical features.

[Unusual digestive manifestations during rheumatoid purpura. Apropos of 2 cases].

We have observed two unusual forms of rheumatoid purpura with digestive symptoms in two young girls aged 16 years. In the first case, the signs of complete duodenal stenosis led to a surgical operation which led to the discovery of an infiltrated mesenteric band of adhesions containing numerous lymph nodes, with on the oedematous loops of small intestine, numerous ecchymoses. In the second case, the duodenal-jejunal radiological abnormalities suggested protein-losing enteropathy.

[Extrinsic compression of the celiac trunk by the arcuate ligament of the diaphragm. Apropos of 5 cases].

The authors report 5 cases (3 women and 2 men) of extrinsic stenosis of the coeliac axis by the arcuate ligament of the diaphragm. In one of the latter, the stenosis of the coeliac axis was associated with chronic calcific pancreatitis. These 5 patients were operated on.