In vitro cytotoxic effects of secondary metabolites of DEHP and its alternative plasticizers DINCH and DINP on a L929 cell line.

Background: Phthalic acid esters are widely used to improve the plasticity of PVC in medical devices (MD). The most famous plasticizer is DEHP, whose use in medical devices has been contested by the European authorities since 2008. Several alternative plasticizers are being considered to replace DEHP, such as DEHT, TOTM, DINP or DINCH, but they are also released from the PVC throughout their life cycle and are metabolized in the same way as DEHP.

Application of Millifluidics to Encapsulate and Support Viable Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Polysaccharide Hydrogel.

Human adipose-derived stromal cells (hASCs) are widely known for their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. This study proposes a method to protect cells during and after their injection by encapsulation in a hydrogel using a droplet millifluidics technique. A biocompatible, self-hardening biomaterial composed of silanized-hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Si-HPMC) hydrogel was used and dispersed in an oil continuous phase.

Patients' exposure to PVC plasticizers from ECMO circuits.

Background: ECMO is a therapeutic act with a high risk of exposure to diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), plasticizer from PVC tubings. The replacement of this plasticizer with alternative compounds is recommended but the risks associated with the use of new plasticizers have not been evaluated in ECMO situations.

Methods: Ex vivo ECMO models were performed with different flow rates over 6 days to evaluate the migration of plasticizers and their potential toxic risk for patient.

Polysaccharide Hydrogels Support the Long-Term Viability of Encapsulated Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Ability to Secrete Immunomodulatory Factors.

While therapeutically interesting, the injection of MSCs suffers major limitations including cell death upon injection and a massive leakage outside the injection site. We proposed to entrap MSCs within spherical particles derived from alginate, as a control, or from silanized hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (Si-HPMC). We developed water in an oil dispersion method to produce small Si-HPMC particles with an average size of about 68 m.

In vitro cytotoxic effects of DEHP-alternative plasticizers and their primary metabolites on a L929 cell line.

Phthalic acid esters have been widely used to improve the plasticity of PVC medical devices. They carry a high exposure risk for both humans and the environment in clinical situations. Our study focuses on the cytotoxicity of alternative plasticizers.

Pharmacokinetics of cilazapril in patients with renal failure.

1. The pharmacokinetics of a single 1 mg dose of cilazapril were determined in six subjects with normal renal function and in 19 uraemic patients with various degrees of renal impairment. 2.

[A case of acute sensory and autonomic neuropathy with regression].

The authors report the case of a 24 year old man with no previous disease who presented with a severe autonomic neuropathy. This included major gastrointestinal dysfunction characterised by decreased peristalsis without distension and paralysis of the gall bladder, and orthostatic hypotension with a normal cardiac tachycardia reflex. There was an associated sensory neuropathy affecting heat sensitivity without motor dysfunction and an increased CSF protein content.

[Misleading symptoms of cerebral thrombophlebitis in pregnancy and the puerperium].

Four cases of cerebral thrombophlebitis, 3 of which occurred during post-partum and 1 during the first trimester of pregnancy, are reported. The symptoms were misleading, being predominantly psychiatric, with secondary appearance of an epileptic attack or motor deficit. The value of cerebral angiography is stressed in the literature.

[Syndrome of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome). Study of 13 cases].

Acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon involves acute colic distension without mechanical obstruction or stercoroma in a previously healthy colon. Our study is of 13 patients, all of whom presented a pre-existing extradigestive disorder, for which 12 were taking medication. Nine patients were treated by mechanical ventilation, and five of these had previously presented meteorism.

Temocillin treatment of serious infections due to gram-negative bacilli in an intensive care unit.

In a group of 27 severely ill patients in an intensive care unit, 40 infections caused by Gram-negative bacilli were treated with temocillin 2g twice daily by the direct intravenous route. The patients (17 men and 10 women) were aged from 35 to 93 years (mean 65.7 years) and 22 had severe underlying diseases.

[Lung diseases complicating acute poisoning with psychotropic drugs].

474 patients admitted in ICU between 1976 and 1981 were retrospectively analysed. Pneumonia (P) was assessed by condensation on chest X ray. P developed in 14,3%.

[Contribution of the determination of soluble antigens to the diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumopathies].

We studied the diagnostic value of the detection of soluble pneumococcal antigens by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (ES) in patients with pneumonia. Pneumococcal antigens were detected in blood, urine and pleural fluid. 59 patients were distributed into 3 groups: (Group 1) - 19 patients with a non-pneumococcal, but bacteriologically-proven pneumonia, (Group 2)-32 patients with a bacteriologically confirmed pneumococcal pneumonia, (Group 3)-8 patients with a non-bacteriologically proven pneumonia, but with pneumococcal antigens.

Pattern of respiration in patients recovering from barbiturate overdose.

Ventilation has been recorded in seven patients who were unconscious following self-poisoning. Measurements were obtained on admission to the hospital and repeated daily until the patients regained consciousness. On admission, recordings were characterized by a low minute ventilation as a result of a low tidal volume in spite of a high frequency of respiration.

[Budd-Chiari syndrome with massive thrombosis of the subdiaphragmatic venous system and major fibrinopenia (author's transl)].

A 32-year-old patient without previous medical history died within three weeks of acute Budd-Chiari syndrome with massive thrombosis of the subdiaphragmatic venous system. No definite cause could be elicited. The course of the disease was complicated by anuria attributed to hepotorenal syndrome.

Phospholipase and prophospholipase activities in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in severe acute pulmonary disease with or without ARDS.

Bronchoalveolar lavages were performed in 21 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation: Group I: coma due to sedative overdose (11 cases), without pulmonary impairment, serving as control group; Group II: severe acute pulmonary disease without ARDS (5 cases); Group III: patients with ARDS (5 cases). In the recovered fluid we measured: total proteins (P) and phospholipids (PL), phospholipasic (PLase) and prophospholipasic (PPLase) activities. In ARDS group, considerable increase of P, (p less than 0.