Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B Laurent.
The use of immunofixation for identification of the presence of CSF by demonstrating its two electrophoretically separate bands of transferrin has proved to be a valid and rather simple method, particularly when the samples obtained from the nose or ear are very small and contaminated.
Continuous ECG recording (Holter technique) was carried out in 25 patients undergoing similar ophtalmological surgery for retinal detachment. The patients were selected at random and divided into two groups. Premedication (alimemazine 25 mg. atropine 0.5 mg given one hour before the operation) and induction (penthiobarbital 4 mg.kg-1 and succinylcholine iodide 1 mg.kg-1) were given in the same way. General anaesthesia was maintained in Group I (n = 12) with halothane and in group II (n = 13) using neuroleptanalgesia. There was no significant difference in the percentage of arrhythmias between the two groups. There was a remarkablly high prevalence of sinus bradycardia and ventricular pauses (8/25). The respective role of atropine and of retrobulbar local anaesthesia in prevention is discussed in the light of data from the literature. If arrhythmias occurring at the time of intubation are included, the total percentage of rhythm disturbances was 80 p. 100 (20/25).
Six new serotypes (G to L) of Flavobacterium meningosepticum are described herein. Cross-reactions between the 12 serotypes, A to L (including the 6 serotypes A to F of Owen and Lapage, 1974) are described. Sixty-six strains isolated in France (61 from Strasbourg) belong to the following serotypes (with number of strains): A (1), F (4), G (51), H (1), I (1), J (6), K (1) and L (1). Use of meningosepticum serotyping is recommended as an epidemiological tool.
A 33-year-old man had a 6-year history of clinical signs suggesting multiple sclerosis : visual lesion at 27 years of age, cerebellar and visual disturbances at 31, which partly regressed, lymphocytosis and increased-gammaglobulin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Biological and anatomical (optical and ultrastructural) examinations gave results typical of a subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. A cytopathogenic measles virus was isolated from a cerebral biopsy specimen. The agent was transmissable to vero cells by co-culture but infectivity was always related to the cells and was therefore an incomplete viral infection. Virus-like particles were found in the nucleus and cytoplasm after electron microscopy examination of the co-cultures. Biochemical tests demonstrated that the viral proteins were all synthesized except hemagglutinin, which is a characterist abnormality of a "defective" measles virus.
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By definition, haemodilution involves the use of filling solutions, but in this technique the role of different solutions has yet to be clearly defined. Amongst the criteria of choice used at the present time, two would seem to be essential: good tolerance, limiting the risks of complication and side effects to an absolute minimum; and a sufficiently long intravascular half-life ensuring good control of blood volume. On this basis, amongst the crystalloids Ringer lactate offers definite advantages. It is almost always used in association with a colloidal solution, very often human albumin or a dextran.
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Two sporadic cases of striato-nigral degeneration were characterized by the onset at the age of 61 of an akinetic-hypertonic syndrome and of a minimal or absent rest tremor, with a pyramidal syndrome, sphincter disorders, dysphonia, difficulty in swallowing and an unfavorable development in the space of two or three years not affected by L-Dopa. In one case, total insomnia was demonstrated by means of 3 polygraphic recordings during the night, two of them consecutive, and aprobenecide test showed a definite fall in H.V.A. and 5 H.I.A.A. in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid. Anatomical verification showed, in one case, isolated putamino-nigral degeneration, and in the other associated with lesions of the olivo-cerebellopontine system. Much of the excess pigmentation found only in the putamen was melanotic in character and resulted perhaps from the striato-nigral degeneration, making it possible to classify this more accurately among the other multisystem degenerations, especially olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy and Shy-Drager syndrome
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Delta1-tetrahydrocannabinol was found to be a potent inhibitor of some membrane-bound enzymes, such as Mg-ATPase, Na-K-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase. At a given concentration, the degree of inhibition varied for each enzyme; the inhibition was more pronounced for the enzymes that are parts of the membranes. As the kinetic parameters of these enzymes are functions of the membrane composition and organization, these parameters were studied in vitro in the presence of THC. Although the Mg-ATPase was inhibited by THC, there was no change in the allosteric behaviour of the enzyme, indicating that the alterations caused by THC did not affect the enzymatic structure. The Na-K-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase had a different allosteric behaviour as compared to controls; these modifications were like the alterations caused by the decrease in membrane fluidity. These results suggest the fact that THC is incorporated in the membranes and causes alterations in the physical organization of the membranes.
Apart from the use of anamnestic data the most common techniques for the diagnosis of CSF leakage have included X-ray studies, and chemical analysis of glucose, protein, and electrolytes of the fluid obtained from the nose or ear, intrathecal staining, and radioactive cisternography. These studies, although useful, have not always succeeded in demonstrating the CSF leakage, especially when the leak is delayed, small, or contaminated. A new immunochemical technique for the identification of the CSF leakage is described. It is based on demonstration of an extra band of transferrin located in the beta 2-fraction of protein electrophoresis of CSF. This beta 2-transferrin is pathognomonic for liquor and could not be demonstrated in serum, nasal secretions, saliva, tears, or peri- and endolymph. After routine protein electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membranes, the transferrins are identified by application of anti-transferrin on beta-regions. Stained precipitates in both beta-regions demonstrate clearly the presence of CSF. Compared with other methods, the new technique offers many advantages. The amount of sample needed for the procedure is small, moderate contamination does not invalidate it, it makes it possible to localize the leak by differential suction, and it is absolutely safe for the patient.
These bucco-linguo-facial and choriform hyperkinesies still remain all too frequent in many neurological diseases. The authors study exclusively the dyskinesies of essential origin or iatrogenous including the post neuroleptic and post dopatherapy dyskinesies. All the neuroleptics can be involved at different stages of the treatment, giving rise to difficulties in the diagnosis. Dopatherapy in the Parkinson disease is also responsable of many dyskinesias. Time of appearance after the drug's taking, significance and treatment are discussed. The idiopathic dyskinesis are more unusual either with the some only facial involvement, or in association with another abnormal movements. The physiopathology is doubtful, so the treatment is often very difficult.
A retrospective study of the case records of 215 patients developing an acute or chronic psychotic process between the ages of 15 and 25 years indicated that the father had died or disappeared during childhood in 25% of cases, a figure of 7% being found for a control group - a highly significant statistical difference. By contrast, there was no statistically significant difference in the disappearance of the mother between the two groups. The date of death (or disappearance) of the father occurred at three particular periods - at birth, towards the age of 5 and at 11 or 12 years. The authors' discussion concerns the convergence of the results of this statistical approach of the past history of psychotic patients with certain psychodynamic interpretations of psychosis.