[Ventricular repolarisation disorders and long QT syndrome: clinical and genetic study in 10 paediatric cases].

We report 10 paediatric cases of ventricular repolarisation disorders and long QT syndrome, which differed in their mode of revelation, from asymptomatic forms to syncope events or heart arrest. Diagnosis is based on electrophysiological explorations and exhaustive genetic investigation. It allows a well-codified preventive and therapeutic action according to the genotype.

Physico-chemical and hygienic property modifications of stainless steel surfaces induced by conditioning with food and detergent.

The effect of repeated conditioning procedures (25 runs), consisting of soiling (milk and meat products) and cleaning steps, on the hygienic status, physico-chemical properties and surface chemical composition of stainless steel (SS) surfaces, was investigated. Five SSs differing in grade and finish were used. Both soiling and surface cleaning/conditioning procedures resulted in a similar increase in the surface contamination with carbon, while the changes in the basic component of the surface free energy depended on the conditioning procedure.

Chaotic mixing in cross-channel micromixers.

In this article we concentrate on a particular micromixer that exploits chaotic trajectories to achieve mixing. The micromixer we consider here is a cross-channel intersection, in which a main stream is perturbed by an oscillatory flow, driven by an external source. Depending on the amplitude and frequency of the oscillatory flow, one obtains wavy and chaotic regimes, reminiscent of a tendril-whorl mapping.

Influence of surface chemistry on the hygienic status of industrial stainless steel.

Coupons of fourteen different stainless steels were investigated in terms of surface chemistry and ease of cleaning. Steel surfaces were exposed to Bacillus cereus spores in static saline solution for 2 h. Surfaces were rinsed and then covered with whole milk and allowed to dry.

Predictors of recovery following involuntary hospitalization of violent substance abuse patients.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the results and predictors of good recovery following involuntary hospitalization of violent substance abuse patients. Twenty patients (16 male, aged 13 to 53 years [mean+/-s.d.

Adhesion of Bacillus spores and Escherichia coli cells to inert surfaces: role of surface hydrophobicity.

The ability of bacterial spores and vegetative cells to adhere to inert surfaces was investigated by means of the number of adherent spores (Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis spores) and Escherichia coli cells and their resistance to cleaning or rinsing procedures (adhesion strength). Six materials (glass, stainless steel, polyethylene high density (PEHD), polyamide-6, polyvinyl chloride, and Teflon) were tested. Slight differences in the number of adherent spores (less than 1 log unit) were observed between materials, but a higher number of adherent E.

Degenerated pIX-IVa2 adenoviral vector sequences lowers reacquisition of the E1 genes during virus amplification in 293 cells.

A critical issue for E1-deleted adenoviral vectors manufactured from 293 cells is the emergence of replication-competent adenovirus (RCA). These contaminants arise through homologous recombination between identical sequences framing the E1 locus displayed by 293 cells, and the vector backbones. Modified recombinogenic sequences (syngen) were thus introduced within the vector backbone, and virus viability and RCA emergence were assessed.

Interleukin-6 overexpression as a marker of malignancy in human gliomas.

Object: Glioblastomas multiforme (GBMs) grow rapidly and are highly resistant to treatment compared with other glioma types and grades. Consequently, it is of major interest to identify markers of aggressiveness in these tumors that could represent new therapeutic targets. Interleukin (IL)-6 is frequently produced in gliomas and, given its manifold properties, could be considered as a candidate marker.

Transgene amplification and persistence after delivery of retroviral vector and packaging functions with E1/E4-deleted adenoviruses.

Adenovirus DNA is rapidly lost in actively dividing cells. In addition, first-generation (E1-defective) vectors trigger a strong cytotoxicity that impairs the duration of transgene expression. To solve these issues, we have developed a chimeric vector system that uses E1/E4 doubly defective adenoviruses for efficient production of infectious retroviral vectors.

Long-term gene delivery into the livers of immunocompetent mice with E1/E4-defective adenoviruses.

We have compared the in vitro and in vivo behaviors of a set of isogenic E1- and E1/E4-defective adenoviruses expressing the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli from the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat. Infection of tumor-derived established cell lines of human origin with the doubly defective adenoviruses resulted in (i) a lower replication of the viral backbone that correlated with reduced levels of E2A-specific RNA and protein, (ii) a significant shutoff of late gene and protein expression, and (iii) no apparent virus-induced cytotoxicity. Independently of the extent of the deletion, the additional inactivation of E4 from the viral backbone therefore drastically disabled the virus in vitro, with no apparent effect on transgene expression.

Prothymosin alpha is phosphorylated in proliferating stimulated cells.

Prothymosin alpha is a widely distributed polypeptide whose function, though unknown, seems to be related to cell proliferation. In vitro, it is a substrate for casein kinase-2. In this work, extracts of mitogenically stimulated murine splenic lymphocytes labeled with [32P] orthophosphate were found to contain [32P]prothymosin alpha.

Prothymosin alpha is phosphorylated by casein kinase-2.

Prothymosin alpha (ProT alpha) is a 12.5 kDa acidic polypeptide that is considered to have a nuclear function related to cell proliferation. Inspection of its amino acid sequence revealed the presence of sequences that may serve as targets for phosphorylation by casein kinase-2 (CK-2).

[Vaccination against hepatitis B virus at the Lyon Pasteur Institute. A seven-year evaluation].

Results of immunization against hepatitis B among Pasteur Institute staff members are reported. Prior to immunization, 439 subjects were tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers, including HBs antigen, anti-HBs antibody, and anti-HBc antibody (Ausria, Ausab, Corab assays; Abbott). Forty-seven subjects tested positive for anti-HBs antibody.

Treatment of advanced neuroblastoma with high-dose melphalan and autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Fifteen children with advanced neuroblastoma according to Evans' classification (1 with stage III and 14 with stage IV) were treated with high-dose melphalan (HDM) followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation. Before HDM, all patients had been extensively treated with multimodality therapy for a median duration of 9 months. At the time of HDM, seven children were in partial remission (PR) with measurable residual tumor and 8 were in complete remission (CR) or good partial remission (GPR).