In vivo retroviral-mediated transfer of a marker-gene in ornithine transcarbamylase-deficient Spf(ash) mice.

Gene therapy is a new therapeutic approach for inherited metabolic hepatopathies. The authors studied the potential application of such a strategy to the correction of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency by in vivo protocol of retroviral-mediated gene transfer to the liver. A partial hepatectomy was followed (24 to 48 hours later) by asanguinous perfusion of the regenerating liver with beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) recombinant retrovirus.

[Conservative treatment of injuries of the spleen in children].

Resolutely convinced of the necessity to preserve the spleen in all circumstances, the authors detail the indications and possibilities of non operative management and conservative surgery that allow the injured spleen to be salvaged. Of 55 cases observed from 1978 to 1982, only 22 required splenectomy because of our new experience; 13 of the remaining cases were treated non operatively and 20 had a conservative surgery. It is concluded that unless the child prognosis is directly and immediately involved, by the splenic injury (such cases require splenectomy or better still partial resection) every effort should be made to preserve a traumatized spleen.