[Fast determination of pulmonary surfactant in amniotic fluid using fluorescent polarization (FLM test Abbott)].

A study of 60 amniotic fluids obtained by amniocentesis shows that the measurement of total surfactant phospholipids by the TDX Fetal Lung Maturity assay makes it possible to predict accurately fetal lung maturity. A sensitivity of 100% is similar to that of other tests currently used but with a higher specificity (93% instead of 65% for the L/S ratio and 55% for the phosphatidylglycerol). The phospholipid/albumin ratio is carried out automatically by means of a fluorescence polarization method with the TDX Abbott apparatus.

[Comparison of three methods evaluating the saturation of serum bilirubin transporters in children with type I Crigler Najjar disease].

The assessment of reserve bilirubin binding capacity of serum in 12 children with type I Crigler-Najjar syndrome was performed by 3 biochemical methods. Two of them use chromatography techniques: thin layer on Sephadex or high performance liquid; they allow the determination of the saturation rate of all serum bilirubin carriers. The third method only evaluates the major carrier, albumin, using the molar bilirubin-albumin ratio.

[Anti-radical enzymes, oxygenated free radicals and lipoperoxydation in rheumatoid polyarthritis. Effects of treatment with D-penicillamine].

Three aspects of the action of oxygenated free radicals were studied in 10 controls and 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 11 not treated and 9 treated with D-penicillamine. Free radical production was evaluated in whole blood, malondialdehyde was measured in plasma, the concentration of antiradicular enzymes (copper and manganese superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathion peroxydase) in hemolysate, platelets and plasma and copper superoxide dismutase activity in a chloroform erythrocyte extract. Only patients treated with D-penicillamine showed a significant decrease in the concentration of platelet anti-radicular enzymes and plasma manganese superoxide dismutase.

Changes in phospholipid composition of tracheal aspirates from newborns with hyaline membrane disease or transient tachypnoea.

Phospholipid analysis of tracheal aspirates obtained from 37 newborn infants, all intubated for respiratory diseases, was performed in order to compare infants having hyaline membrane disease (HMD) (n = 11), to those presenting with transient tachypnoea (TT) (n = 16) or another respiratory disorder (n = 10) and to determine if distinguishing features could be discovered for HMD or TT. In the HMD group, a significantly lower amount (about 20%) of recoverable phospholipid material was observed. Furthermore, the groups differed in their phospholipid profile: infants with HMD presented with a deficiency in saturated phosphatidylcholine, but had a related increase in unsaturated phosphatidylcholine, and an increased proportion of phosphatidylethanolamine (about 2.

[A study of fetal pulmonary maturity using amniotic fluid obtained from the vagina after premature rupture of membranes].

Amniotic fluid was obtained from the vagina not more than 24 hours before delivery in 100 patients who had premature rupture of the membranes. Thirty per cent of these cases had contamination with blood or with meconium. Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) estimate the degree of lung maturity using an immunological method (AMNIOSTAT-FLM test).