Effects of a choline-deficient ethionine-supplemented diet on phospholipase C activity in mouse pancreatic acinar cell membranes and in electropermeabilized mouse pancreatic acini.

The nonhydrolyzable guanyl nucleotide GTP gamma S stimulated phosphoinositidase C activity in two preparations obtained from mouse pancreatic acini labeled with myo[2-3H]inositol: a cell-free membrane fraction and intact electropermeabilized acini. This action was dose-dependent, was shared by other nonhydrolyzable guanyl nucleotides such as GMP-phencyclidine hydrochloride and GMP-PMP, as well as by fluoride, and was calcium-independent. Contrarily, no effect was observed even at doses of GTP gamma S as high as 10 microM when the same protocol was repeated on identical acinar preparations from mice fed a choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented diet.

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease. Contribution of magnetic resonance imaging to an early diagnosis.

The lesions of the cerebral white matter which characterize Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease are classically observed at pathological examination. An early diagnosis can now be obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In an eutrophic first son born at term, stridor, nystagmus-like eye movements and axial hypotonia were noted immediately after birth and pyramidal signs appeared at 2 months, the only extra-clinical finding at that age being prolonged latencies of evoked visual potentials.

Dural fistulae of the tentorium cerebelli. Radioanatomical, clinical and therapeutic considerations.

Among the 84 intracranial dural fistulae treated in the Neuroradiology department of the University Hospital Centre of Nancy between August 1983 and April 1990, 10 (11.9%) were located on the tentorium cerebelli. The patients were 7 men and 3 women aged from 41 to 61 years at the time of diagnosis.

Long term hemodialysis spondylarthropathy: an atlanto-occipital location.

A 41 years old patient on hemodialysis for 17 years with a clinical and radiological picture of osteoarticular beta 2 microglobulin amyloidosis, is presented. The patient had skeletal involvements, included cystic lesions of the left hip and both humeral heads and a C5/C6 spondylarthropathy. She had also associated carpal tunnel syndrome.

Role of angioplasty in the treatment of symptomatic vascular spasm occurring in the post-operative course of intracranial ruptured aneurysms.

Angioplasty of vascular spasm (VS), related to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has been recently introduced to the medical field. The authors report 5 cases treated by this mean in the postoperative period. These patients were all symptomatic from their VS inspite of early surgery and of the preventive treatment by Nimodipine.

La récolte et le transfert d'embryons chez la chèvre Angora.

The objective of this study was to analyze the efficiency of embryo collection and transfer in Angora goats during the breeding season. Synchronization was obtained by placing an intravaginal sponge for either a short period of time (11 days + PGF(2alpha)) or a long period (17 to 21 days). Thirty-three goats were superovulated, embryo collection was not attempted on seven goats (four did not respond to the superovulation treatment, three did not show estrus), and four gave oocytes only.

[Intracerebral cavernous angioma].

Thirty four cases (18 operated, 16 non-operated), of cavernous angioma are reported. The presenting symptoms and signs were epilepsy in 22 cases, neurologic deficit in 9 and cerebromeningeal hemorrhage without vigilance disorders in 3. In the operated group 15 angiomas were supratentorial, 3 were subtentorial.

[Developmental aspects of inflammatory pseudotumors of the orbit. Apropos of 15 cases].

Authors report clinical and computed tomographic evolutive course of 15 cases of orbital idiopathic inflammatory pseudotumors. 3 patients had complete disappearance of the symptoms but did not have a computed tomography scanning control, 3 patients had clinical and CT recovery. 4 had clinical resolving with a CT-residual hyperdensity.

[Embolization of vertebral hemangioma. Technic-indications-results].

A series of 19 cases of vertebral hemangiomas treated by hyperselective embolization is reported. Localization is thoracic in 12 cases and lumbar in 7. Patients were referred for back pain in 10 cases, neurological signs of spinal cord compression in 5 and of radicular compression in 4.

Effects of the zona pellucida, agar embedding, and culture on the survival of micromanipulated bovine embryos after freezing and thawing.

Three experiments were undertaken to compare how the integrity of the zona pellucida, embedding in agar, and incubation in the sheep oviduct, respectively, affected the survival of bovine embryos after micromanipulation, freezing, and thawing. In Experiment 1, the proportions of whole day 7 embryos that continued their development in vitro after being frozen without a zona pellucida (N = 18), or with the zona pellucida opened over one-half (N = 14), or one-fourth (N = 14) of its circumference, or left intact (N = 17) did not differ significantly (44, 43, 36, and 59%, respectively). Experiment 2 compared the survival of bisected day 7 embryos frozen with or without embedding in agar cylinders.

[Immediate and severe epistaxis caused by traumatic rupture of the carotid siphon. Apropos of a case treated by intravascular approach].

The authors report a recent case of massive and immediate epistaxis resulting from a rupture of the internal intracavernous carotid artery caused by closed head injury. The point out the unusualness and the extreme severity of such lesions. The pathogenesis of these epistaxis can be explained by an immediate arterial rupture proceeding from a sphenoidal fracture.

[A case of semi-delayed hypersensitivity to dry sausage dust].

The authors record a case of semi-delayed hypersensitivity to sausage dust in an employee of a wholesale pork butcher and curing business. The symptoms combined cough and fever with rigors; there were no clinical or laboratory data to suggest alveolar disease. The immunoallergic "work-up" suggested a precipitin mediated disease with notably 10-14 precipitation arcs to the products of sausage sweepings.

Development of the nucleolus in early goat embryos.

In vivo nucleologenesis was studied in goat embryos from the pronuclear stage to the blastocyst stage by light and electron microscopy. Ultrastructural changes of the nucleoli were characterized by the following progression: homogeneous electron-dense fibrillar primary nucleoli in the pronucleus; small, dense fibrillar masses dispersed in clusters of chromatin at the two-cell stage; ring-shaped nucleoli made up of a fibrillar center surrounded by a layer of dense fibrillar components at the four-cell stage; reticulated nucleoli composed of a three-dimensional network of fibrillar components surrounded by small amounts of granular components at the eight-cell stage; fully developed compact-type nucleoli consisting of several fibrillar centers each surrounded by a layer of fibrillar components and abundant granular components in morulae and blastocysts. Moreover, it was concluded that activation of rRNA transcription, as evidenced by specific silver nitrate staining of the nucleolus organizer regions of metaphase chromosomes, occurs at the two- to four-cell stage and that the morphological changes accompanied a substantial increase in nucleolar transcriptional activity up to the blastocyst stage.

Spinal involvement in alveolar echinococcosis: assessment of two cases.

Two cases of spinal involvement in alveolar echinococcosis are reported. Conventional radiographs showed bone lysis and spondylitis; computed tomographic scans showed detail of local spread to the ribs, other vertebrae, and soft tissues. Differential diagnosis, which includes other infections and hydatidosis, is difficult, and the diagnosis may be suggested by evidence of a primary hepatic focus, geographic propensity to the infection, and laboratory findings.

A cytogenetical study of 7-day-old bovine embryos of poor morphological quality.

Seven-day-old embryos were collected from Canadian Holstein and Ayrshire heifers after superovulation with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). A total of 103 morphologically abnormal (type C) and 23 morphologically normal (type A) embryos were cytogenetically analyzed after 4, 20-24, or 44-48 h of culture in enriched phosphate-buffered saline or Eagles minimum essential medium. Twenty-one of 23 (91.

[Aneurysm of the ampulla of Galen. Nosologic reflections and endovascular therapy].

Nosologic concepts distinguish three types of aneurysm of Galen's ampulla: true aneurysms, related aneurysms, false aneurysms, whatever the type the majority of these malformations can be treated by the endovascular approach, frequently the most effective alternative therapy. Experience acquired during treatment of intracerebral arteriovenous angioma allows perfect control of direct, high output arteriovenous fistula by injection of pure isobutyl cyanoacrylate. Occlusion of shunts should be combined with prevention of consequences, that is to say extensive venous thrombosis.

Microvascularization of the intracranial dura mater.

The authors have studied the microvascularization of the intracranial dura mater by microradiographic and histologic examination of 73 injected anatomic specimens. There exists a very abundant superficial arterial plexus which also serves to supply the inner table of the cranial vault. This plexus is continuous, even at the walls of the venous sinuses and the dural septa.

Bisection of post-compaction bovine embryos: the difference in viability between the two monozygotic halves.

Bisection of bovine post-compaction embryos has become a useful tool for improving embryo transfer results. Compared to pre-compaction division, the technique is simpler but is does involve some cellular damage and rarely provides two completely identical “halves”. Monozygotic pairs can therefore be divided into “good” and “poor” half embryos.

Attempts to stimulate mitosis in cultured trophoblast cells of cattle embryos.

Trophoblast from Day-14 bovine embryos was cultured in medium containing mitogens to determine if the mitotic index could be altered. Trophoblast from each of 15 embryos was cultured in minimum essential medium (Eagles) with 20 % fetal calf serum (control) or in this medium supplemented with pokeweed mitogen (1 %, v/v), phytohemagglutinin (1 %, v/v), concanavalin A (1 %, v/v) or thymidine (2 mg/ml). No mitogenic effect was observed due to any of the treatments.