[Thrombotic microangiopathies].

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) encompass various diseases characterized by a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, platelet clumping, and organ failure of variable severity. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a particularly severe form of TMA characterized by systemic organ failure which results from a severe defect in ADAMTS13, a plasma enzyme specifically involved in the cleavage of highly hemostatic unusually large (UL) von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers into smaller and less adhesive VWF forms. Failure to degrade these UL-VWF multimers leads to excessive platelet aggregates and capillary occlusion.

Respiratory viruses in children admitted to hospital intensive care units: evaluating the CLART® Pneumovir DNA array.

Viruses play a significant part in children's respiratory infections, sometimes leading to hospitalization in cases of severe respiratory distress. The aim of this study was to investigate respiratory infections in children treated in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU). Assays were performed using the CLART® Pneumovir DNA array assay (Genomica, Coslada, Madrid, Spain), which makes it possible to detect 11 genus of respiratory viruses simultaneously.

RNA-acting antibiotics: in-vitro selection of RNA aptamers for the design of new bioactive molecules less susceptible to bacterial resistance.

During the last few years, antibiotic multiresistance has been increasing, not only in hospitals, but also, more worryingly, in general medicine. Different ways are being explored to bypass this problem. RNA-acting antibiotics such as aminosides (aminoglycosides) bind to bacterial RNA causing premature termination of proteins and mistranslation in bacteria.

International indoor and outdoor evaluation of Bacillus sphaericus products: complexity of standardizing outdoor protocols.

Only one Bacillus sphaericus strain, strain 2362, is currently used commercially to control Culex larval populations. A reliable methodology, easily used, was developed to identify new strains for field application. Larvicidal activities of 3 highly mosquitocidal strains, strains C3-41, Mal, and LB24, previously selected in the laboratory, were compared with that of strain 2362 in tropical and European countries.

[Microsporum langeronii dermatophytosis in a newborn infant contaminated in France].

Dermatophytosis due to Microsporum langeronii was observed in a 21-day neonate born in Bordeaux, France to a mother of West African origin. A typical misleading manifestations were: non alopecic squamation of the scalp with seborrhoea associated with circineous vesiculo-squamous lesions of the forehead. The source of the contamination was undoubtedly the mother who presented squamation without alopecia of the scalp.

[Development of the prevalence rate of four intestinal parasites in children].

During the last 2 decades, the same coprological techniques for the detection of parasites have been applied by the same team in the parasitology laboratories of the Children's Hospital of Bordeaux. A marked decrease in the prevalence of the most frequently occurring parasites (Giardia and Entamoeba coli cysts, Ascaris and Trichocephale eggs) has been observed. Similar results have also been found in other French parasitology laboratories.

[Course of the dermatophytic spectrum in tinea capitis. Apropos of 124 cases seen in Bordeaux].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of tinea capitis in the Bordeaux area (Dermatology Unit of the Hôpital des Enfants, Bordeaux) during a 6-year period (January, 1979 to December, 1984). Dermatophytic infection of the hair was proven by culture in 124 patients, 21 of whom had a negative potassium hydroxide direct examination. Age and sex distribution are shown in figure 1.

[Evaluation of the larvicidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis serotype H14 on mosquitoes in natural breeding places].

The experiments conducted with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, serotype H14, in nature, show that this Bacillus has a specific and extremely high larvicidal power against the larval population of Culicidae. It operates very quickly but its action seems relatively short-time lasting.

[Tinea capitis: 73 cases observed in Bordeaux (author's transl)].

73 cases of tinea capitis were observed in the "Hôpital des Enfants" in Bordeaux during these last five year. 71 children under 14 years of age and only 2 adults have seen. The dermatophytic spectrum transformation noticed in other parts of Western Europe is also encountered in Bordeaux.