[Severe leptospirosis in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Nebut.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Pathological effects of asbestos are probably dependent on the size and surface properties of the fibers. Surface-modified chrysotile fibers were injected into the pleural cavity of rats to investigate the potency of the fiber to induce mesothelioma. Chrysotile fibers were modified by a phosphorylation process, resulting in the presence of phosphorus at the fiber surface. Phosphorylated samples were characterized by enhanced durability and reduced affinity for biological macromolecules. Five samples were tested: 1 untreated and 4 phosphorylated. ChrP1, ChrP2 and ChrP3 corresponded to phosphorylated samples obtained by first, second and third passages through an Alpine classifier; Pm was defibrillated ChrP1. The number of fibers per microgram and the size distribution were determined by transmission electron microscopy and classified in 4 size groups. Groups of 35 rats were inoculated with 20 mg of fibers suspended in 0.9% NaCl solution. No mesothelioma was found in the saline controls. All fiber samples were proficient in producing mesothelioma; the percentages were different between groups and untreated chrysotile but not significantly so. The differences may be explained on the basis of the number of fibers injected which were greater than 8 microns in length and less than 0.25 microns in diameter. The findings of a proficiency of long fibers to produce mesothelioma, previously reported by others for glass fibers, could be applied to chrysotile.
Rat pleural mesothelial cells treated in vitro with chrysotile fibers have been successfully transplanted into nude mice. Three cultures (1 untreated, 2 treated) were injected at passage 75; a fourth culture was obtained from a mesothelioma induced in rat by chrysotile fibers. Overall, tumors grew in each series, but the delay between cell injection and tumor formation was 22 wk with untreated cells whereas only 1 or 2 wk were needed with treated cells, and 1 wk with cells from in vivo-induced mesothelioma. Pathological study by light and electron microscopy of tumors is reported here and showed the mesothelial nature of the cells. Comparison between the ultrastructure of the injected cells and tumor cells indicated that the morphology of injected cells was retained in tumors even if the delay in tumor formation was long. These results suggest that this model is useful for investigating mesothelial cell transformation resulting from in vitro or in vivo exposure to certain carcinogens.
Conflicting data are found in the literature concerning the carcinogenic potency of attapulgite. We tested the carcinogenic potency of French attapulgite in rats, and compared it with 2 chrysotile samples: Rhodesian UICC (Ch A) and short Canadian fibres (Ch C). The mean length of the fibres was 0.77 micron (attapulgite), 3.21 microns (Ch A) and 1.25 microns (Ch C). The mean diameter was 0.06 micron in the 3 samples. The particles (20 mg) in saline were inoculated into the pleural cavity of Sprague-Dawley rats allowed to survive for their full lifespan. The incidence rates of mesothelioma were: 0% (saline controls), 0% (attapulgite), 19% (ChC) and 48% (Ch A). In vitro studies were carried out using cultures of rat pleural mesothelial cells (RPMC). Attapulgite and Ch C did not modify cell growth except at high doses of 10 micrograms/cm2. Unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) was detected using [3H]thymidine incorporation in confluent RPMC (GoG1 arrested) and a scintillation method. UDS was stimulated with either Ch A or Ch C at doses ranging from 2 to 10 micrograms/cm2. In contrast, attapulgite did not significantly enhance [3H]thymidine incorporation at doses ranging from 2 to 20 micrograms/cm2. The results show that the attapulgite tested here had no carcinogenic potency. The in vivo and in vitro reactivity of the fibres used in this experiment might perhaps be related to the fibre size; however, other parameters may also be important.
The carcinogenicity of several samples of mineral fibers was tested following injection of 20 mg in the pleural cavity of noninbred Sprague-Dawley rats. Three samples of chrysotile asbestos (mean length: 3.2, 2.1, and 1.2 micron) induced mesotheliomas at a rate of 48, 52, and 19%, respectively. The first sample was acid leached prior to intrapleural injection; in that group, the percentage of mesotheliomas was reduced to 25%. Treatment with amosite and crocidolite resulted in the occurrence of 57 and 56% of mesotheliomas. Acid-treatment of amphiboles did not significantly modify the percentage of mesotheliomas. When the Stanton's fiber dimensions were taken into consideration to correlate with mesothelioma incidence, the observed number of mesotheliomas in the chrysotile-treated animals was much lower than that expected, suggesting that other fiber parameters (chemistry, physicochemistry) play a role in the carcinogenicity. Attapulgite fibers (mean length: 0.77 micron) did not induce tumor, and the mean survival time was of the same order as that observed in the control groups. The injection of quartz resulted in no mesothelioma but did result in 6 malignant histiocytic lymphomas (17%) and 2 malignant schwannomas (6%). In vitro experiments did not show strong correlation between cytotoxicity and the carcinogenic potency of these minerals, but the qualitative cellular responses might give some indications on the fiber's potency. In addition, the in vitro effects of the fibers seem to be modulated by their size.
The French mesothelioma register has three objectives. The first, collection of morbidity data could not be achieved since the data collected are not exhaustive. The second, the collection of histological material for establishing diagnostic criteria, has provided interesting data; and the third, etiological research, may constitute the basis for well-defined studies.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The cause of pleural effusion was studied in 300 consecutive patients by clinical examination and laboratory tests. The three most common causes were found to be cancer 117 cases (metastatic 65, bronchogenic 34, mesothelioma 10, lymphoma 7, other 1); tuberculous infection 53; and bacterial infection 38. The cause was not found in 62 patients. Cancer diagnosis was established by cytological examination of pleural fluid (63), closed pleural biopsy (37), and open pleural biopsy (11). Tuberculosis was diagnosed by culture of pleural fluid (12), closed pleural biopsy (38), and open pleural biopsy (3). In cases of empyema 12 Gram-positive and two Gram-negative cocci and two anaerobes were identified. The various causes and the usefulness of the different investigative procedures are discussed, and the data evaluated in the light of current knowledge about mechanisms of transfer through the pleural space.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.