Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Louis.
Total immunoreactive neurophysins levels increased significantly in rats after they had been trained in a situation based on the innate light-dark avoidance principle. These levels varied according to the amount of 'familiarisation cues' which characterised the situation. The results are discussed in terms of arousal/stress-neurophysins relationships.
The authors report on 15 HIV seropositive cases detected within 2 years in New Caledonia (150,000 inhabitants). Testing HIV antibodies was systematic among blood donors (9,917 persons) and was carried out in defined samples (1,475 persons): population at risk, rural area, and tests required by clinicians. All seropositive individuals belong to "high risk group". One certain AIDS case, group IV C (as defined by CDC Atlanta), another probable one (early death) and several opportunistic infections: herpes zoster, oral and candidosis, were observed. Biological exploration is quite good (Pasteur Institute in Noumea). However, therapy is problematic in this South Pacific Island, and management of seropositive patients is difficult.
The hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal function has been tested in 9 normal individuals (age 22 - 50; 2 women and 7 men) in the course of a vasodilatator perfusion (sodium nitroprussiate) in standardized conditions. Vasopressin-neurophysin (hNPI), oxytocin-neurophysin (hNPII) and total immunoreactive neurophysins (IRN) have been assayed. Our preliminary results show a clear-cut increase of hNPI and IRN when the decrease of the mean blood-pressure exceeds 20 +/- 10% (15 - 33). There is only a weak, if any, increase of hNPII. There is a highly significant relationship (r : 0.90, p less than 0.01) between maximal increment of IRN and maximal increment of heart frequency suggesting a similar way of activation. Vasodilatator perfusion could be, in the future, a reliable test for hypothalamo-neuropituitary function although it's reproducibility has still to be deeper investigated.
Authors describe an extensive outbreak of dengue 4 virus which is observed for the first time out of its Asian original focus. The whole archipelagos of French Polynesia have been contaminated in a space of four months. Usual form of the disease is typical with lightness of the symptoms. This outbreak has been implicated in the death of a child by shock; and two cases of reversible encephalitis have been certainly caused by this virus. The neurotropism is the main characteristic of dengue virus type 4.