[Metabolic differentiation of the human longus colli muscle].

The cervical muscles have a dual postural and dynamic function, in order to ensure both the stability and the motility of the cervical spine. The functional duality together with the complexity of the cervico-cephalic system render the study of the cervical muscles difficult, and their physiology is not fully understood in humans. This study has been carried out on ten samples from the m.

[Fetal development and postnatal maturation of the longus colli muscle].

In adults, the predominant expression of a slow phenotype in the m. longus colli corresponds to its important postural function. Morphologically, there is a dispersion in fiber size predominating on the fast type 2 fibers which are significantly smaller than the slow type 1 fibers.

[From bioethics to the new technology ethics].

Just as what we can all "technoscience" is emerging in our everyday life, a reflection should be conducted concerning the implications of the scientific and technical progress within our society from now on globalised. We will tackle successively: 1. The ambiguities and paradoxes related to the development of new technologies: in the field of bioethics: artificial reproduction, mammal cloning, genetically modified organisms.

Increased cell surface expression of histocompatibility class II I-A(d) in c-fos transfected clones of the P388D1 murine macrophage cell line.

Numerous biological functions of the monocyte-macrophage lineage are affected by the presence of immunomodulators. Enhancement in transcription of c-fos has been shown in the murine P388D1 macrophage line treated by LPS, TPA, Ca++ ionophore or dibutyryl cAMP. In order to study the effects of an increased c-Fos protein level on macrophage functions, we previously have established stable c-fos-overexpressing clones in the P388D1 cell line.

[Growth of spinal muscles in the human fetus].

The spinal muscles, located in the paravertebral region, derive embryologically from the medial part of the somites. It has been shown in different animals that their differentiation occurs within the somite itself following the action of diffusible factors of chordal, neural and epiblastic origin. In these animal species, it thus appears that several factors determine the potential of migration as well as the muscular specification of the somitic cells.

[Early nuclear modifications related to cellular activation: from histology to molecular cytopathology (1967-1997)].

The nuclear chromatin structure and function are altered as soon as the first steps of cellular activation induced by membrane stimulation. Different studies carried on lymphatic tissues as well as isolated cell suspensions (lympho-monocytes) demonstrate that an early and transitory chromatin dispersion, visualised by nuclear refringency (1967), is related to the genome derepression allowing DNA transcription mechanism. This is linked to the expression of c-fos proto-oncogene and that of specific proteins synthesis.

Increased density of oligodendrocytes in childhood ataxia with diffuse central hypomyelination (CACH) syndrome: neuropathological and biochemical study of two cases.

We report neuropathological, biochemical and molecular studies on two patients with childhood ataxia with diffuse central nervous system hypomyelination (CACH) syndrome, a leukodystrophy recently defined according to clinical and radiological criteria. Both had severe cavitating orthochromatic leukodystrophy without atrophy, predominating in hemispheric white matter, whereas U-fibers, internal capsule, corpus callosum, anterior commissure and cerebellar white matter were relatively spared. The severity of white matter lesions contrasted with the rarity of myelin breakdown products and astroglial and microglial reactions.

[Agenesis of the corpus callosum. Neuropathologic study and physiopathologic hypotheses].

The neuropathological study of corpus callosum agenesis requires a two-phase approach: first it should analyze the putative causal factors, i.e. absence of callosal neurons, commissuration inability or synapse remodelling defect; secondly it has to detect any morphogenetic effects stemming from the absence of commissure such as nonregression of archicortical structures, ventricular enlargement or possible invasion of the remaining telencephaplic commissure by callosal neurons.

[Histogenesis of the corpus callosum].

The corpus callosum results from neocortical commissural axon fasciculation. Its development reflects the interhemispheric circuitry and then follows the successive steps of synaptogenesis. The first stage consists of callosal neuron differentiation, which allows the extention of the future callosal axon; this is an early event that occurs while neuronal migration to the cortical plate is still ongoing.

Effect of c-Fos overexpression on the murine macrophage cell line P388DI.

In order to study the role of Fos on the regulation of proliferation in the monocyte-macrophage lineage we realized a stable transfection of the murine P388D1 cell line by the murine c-fos gene under the control of the human metallothionein IIA promoter. Several clones have been selected by geneticin: they show a variable number of integrated transgene (two to ten copies). Their expression has been analyzed in the presence or absence of cadmium chloride as inducer (5 x 10(-6) M).

Absence of human papillomavirus DNA detected by polymerase chain reaction in French patients with esophageal carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Recent studies have suggested that esophageal human papillomavirus infection could be a risk factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of human papillomavirus DNA sequences in the esophagus of French patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: Multiplex polymerase chain reactions with consensus primers directed to the L1 gene or specific primers for human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, and 33 directed to E6 gene (40 cycles followed by restriction mapping of the amplified products) were used to determine the presence of human papillomavirus DNA sequences in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (n = 75), normal adjacent mucosa (n = 49), and metastatic lymphadenopathies (n = 5).

Characterization of a human perinatal myosin heavy-chain transcript.

Using a monoclonal antibody specific to the neonatal myosin heavy chain, we have cloned the full-length heavy chain cDNA from an 18-week human fetal cDNA library. Ribonuclease protection assays were used to survey a human muscle collection ranging from 11 weeks gestation to 16 years. Expression of the RNA encoded by this cDNA was observed at 20 and 21 weeks gestation and at 2 days after birth.

Research on the human genome and patentability--the ethical consequences.

The genome is one of the primordial elements of the human being and is responsible for human identity and its transmission to descendants. The gene as such ought not be appropriated or owned by man. However, any sufficiently complete description of a gene should be capable of being protected as intellectual property.

Improved detection of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in cervical scrapes by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction: a 4% prevalence among 120 French women with normal cytology.

Background: Cancer of the cervix is still a deadly disease. Since the finding of an association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical carcinoma, the development of a reliable means of detecting viral DNA in cervical scrapes has become a priority. We have used the polymerase chain reaction to detect DNA from HPV types 16 and 18 in cervical scrapes.

De novo t(X;21)(q28;q11) in a girl with phenotypic features of Williams-Beuren syndrome.

We describe a female infant with mental retardation and some of the phenotypic features of Williams-Beuren syndrome. Chromosome analysis showed t(X;21)(q28;q11). Diagnosis, inactivation of the X chromosome, and possible involvement of the translocation breakpoints in the pathogenesis of this syndrome are discussed.

Scanning electron microscopy of femoral ossification in the human foetus.

The ossification of human femoral bone was studied in 10 fetuses aged from 8 to 40 weeks, and in a 3 1/2 month-old child. After dissection and radiographic examination, each femur was sectioned in a sagittal plane. One part was processed for routine histology, the remaining one for scanning electron microscopy.

Segregation of three reciprocal translocations in the same family: t(3;4), t(5;10), and t(15;21).

A male infant with static antenatal encephalopathy and epilepsy was found to have a duplication of 5p12----5pter and deficiency of 10p13----10pter. Each of his parents was a carrier of a balanced reciprocal translocation. A third translocation was found in the maternal grandfather.

Expression of c-fos and c-myc oncogenes in the P388D1 murine macrophage line treated by immunomodulators: absence of direct correlation with DNA synthesis.

Complex patterns of metabolic and functional characteristics are induced in macrophages by biological response modifiers. The study of the early events resulting from the transduction of immunomodulatory signals could be an approach for a better understanding of this activation process. The transcription of c-fos and c-myc genes has been shown to be rapidly modified in many cells responding to various signals.

C-fos and c-myc modulation, mitogenic effect and Ia expression in the P388D1 murine macrophage line treated by immunomodifiers.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the early modulation of the c-fos and c-myc oncogenes could give some orientation to the impact of immunomodulators on the monocyte-macrophage lineage. In order to work in a homogeneous system we used the P388D1 mouse macrophage cell-line which is considered as an almost mature macrophage. When P388D1 cells were stimulated by LPS, interferon-gamma or the association of both compounds, no direct correlation could be found between the modulation of DNA synthesis and the early expression of the c-fos and c-myc oncogenes.

[Quantification of the diameter of muscular fibres in the course of the development of the quadriceps].

Muscle biopsies were taken from the medium portion of the vastus lateralis of a hundred fetuses (aged between 10 and 40 weeks), children, adolescents and adults without any neuro-muscular disease. Diameters of the muscle fibers were measured with a Leitz ASM 68K on frozen sections which had been stained for myofibrillar ATPase. The results have been expressed as average diameters and histograms.

[Limb-girdle dystrophy and pregnancy: a case report].

A case of pregnancy with Limb-girdle dystrophy is presented. The course of pregnancy remained uncomplicated, the patient has been delivered at 42 week's gestation by cesarean section, performed for dystocia and fetal distress. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations of the myometrium were unable to show its involvement in the muscular disease.

[Rhesus phenotype and lymphocyte subpopulations].

Lymphocyte subpopulations identified by OK3, OK4 and OK8 monoclonal antibodies were studied as a function of certain Rh markers in 2 groups of subjects: 47 children and adolescents with proven reaginic IgE-dependent allergies and 29 healthy adult controls. The Rh antigens C and c were evaluated in their 3 possible configurations: CC, Cc and cc. In both groups studied, the same significant distribution was observed.