How microwaves can help to study membrane ageing.

This paper studies original protocols of rapid PES/PVP membrane NaOCl degradation allowing at reaching ageing states that are representative of industrial ageing. The long term objective is to propose basis for further fundamental studies aiming at the improvement of the impact of membrane ageing on behaviour in UF (fouling and cleaning mastering). The key of several protocols is the use of ageing acceleration thanks to microwave irradiation, either continuous or pulsed ones, that can be further associated (or not) with short ageing time in UF conditions. To evaluate the representativeness of obtained aged membranes, comparisons are achieved between pristine, voluntary laboratory aged membranes and an industrial membrane at the end of its service-life. Several physico-chemical analyses were used (ATR-FTIR, SEM-EDX, contact angle, SEC-HPLC). Evaluation of UF performances were made in UF of a model protein (Lysozyme, 14,300 g.mol-1). Finally, the proof of concept is done that conditions using MW exist to reach ageing state representative of industrial ageing.

Diverse familial malignant tumors and Epstein-Barr virus.

Continued monitoring of a family for new malignant tumors has revealed diverse immunological and neoplastic disorders during a 15-year period. In 1966, the proband developed lymphoma. In 1975, his antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) became elevated, and again, he developed a malignant lymphoma. He also had borderline hypo-immunoglobulin A, died of glioblastoma multiforme in 1977, and at autopsy, had adenomatous colonic polyps. His eldest brother has normal immunoglobulin levels, but developed immune thrombocytopenia in 1973 and had elevated EBV antibody titers in 1980. Another brother had hypo-immunoglobulin A, thymoma in 1965, and adenomas and adenocarcinoma of the colon. Two other brothers succumbed to glioblastoma in 1968 and 1969. The father of the proband had bronchiectasis in 1952, hypo-immunoglobulin M documented in 1972, and elevated EBV antibody titers 5 years preceding development of a malignant lymphoma. The latter contained 10 EBV genome equivalents/cell by EBV viral DNA/DNA reassociation kinetics analysis. The proband's grandmother had died of an immunoglobulin G-secreting myeloma in 1977, and his grandfather had borderline low immunoglobulin M, elevated EBV antibody titers, and hypopharyngeal carcinoma in 1980. Predisposition to oncogenesis in this family was probably inherited.

Persistent transfusion-associated infectious mononucleosis with transient acquired immunodeficiency.

Trauma and blood transfusion led to profound, persistent infectious mononucleosis in a 21 year old man. Splenectomy and trauma had apparently produced transient immune deficiency which was complicated by osteomyelitis of a fractured tibia. The transfused blood probably contained Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Infectious mononucleosis had ensued 25 days after a blood transfusion was given, antibodies to EBV appeared in his serum, and the infectious mononucleosis persisted for nearly two years. His immunity returned gradually to normal, but because of nonunion of the fracture site, which was infected by Staphylococcus aureus, above-knee amputation was required. The acquired, transient immune deficiency to EBV and profound infectious mononucleosis seen in this patient is analogous to inherited, permanent immune deficiency to this virus in the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases signal inhibition of apoptosis in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated neutrophils.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil (PMN) apoptosis is critical to the resolution of infection and the limitation of inflammation. Bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) inhibits PMN apoptosis and activates the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal cascade. The role of p38 and other MAPKs (ERK and SAPK/JNK) in regulating PMN apoptosis after LPS stimulation is unknown. We hypothesize that MAPK activation by LPS signals inhibition of PMN apoptosis. METHODS: PMNs were isolated from the blood of healthy human volunteers and incubated with PD98059 (ERK inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor), or 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (vehicle) for 1 hour before treatment with LPS (0, 10, or 1000 ng/mL). Neutrophil MAPK activation was determined by Western blot analysis for phosphorylated p38, ERK, and SAPK/JNK. Apoptosis was quantified by flow cytometry with use of propidium iodide and annexin V. RESULTS: LPS inhibited PMN apoptosis and activated p38 and ERK in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. SAPK/JNK was not activated by LPS. Treatment of cells with ERK inhibitor before LPS stimulation abrogated LPS signaled inhibition of PMN apoptosis. Conversely, p38 inhibition with SB203580 augmented inhibition of apoptosis by LPS. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate opposing roles of MAPKs in mediating PMN apoptosis after LPS stimulation. We conclude that LPS signal transduction by ERK inhibits PMN apoptosis while activation of p38 promotes apoptosis.

[Health care needs of students and personnel at a university]. / Les besoins de santé des étudiants et du personnel d'une université.

Working with a professor and the head of a clinical laboratory, a group of nursing students interested in setting up a health clinic conducted an analysis of the health needs of students and staff at a university. The results high-light the importance of providing health activities to the entire university community. Many of the activities selected focus on prevention, screening and health promotion. Several could be conducted by nursing students as part of their career training.

[Attitude of nursing personnel towards patients with AIDS: impact of an awareness program]. / Attitudes du personnel soignant à l'égard des personnes atteintes du SIDA: impact d'un programme de sensibilisation.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of an awareness program aimed at experienced personnel and personnel in training who provide healthcare services to patients with AIDS. The purpose of the program was to prepare healthcare staff psychically in working with patients. Six groups of approximately ten people each watched a video showing a nurse stating her concerns about AIDS. After the video, people were encouraged to express their own emotions regarding the disease and people suffering from it. Other participants making up a control group did not attend the discussion. All subjects (N = 124) completed questionnaires on their attitudes and knowledge about AIDS before and after the discussion. Results show an improvement of attitudes with respect to homosexuality, as well as a better understanding of AIDS. However, these observations do not seem to correspond with a more favourable attitude towards AIDS patients. An analysis of these discussions reveals that there is a conflict between the will to help patients and the feeling of shame when faced with the difficulty of showing empathy. As a result, the authors recommend that training programs aimed at healthcare personnel be geared to alleviate this conflict.

Analysis of transformation with Epstein-Barr virus and phenotypic characteristics of lymphoblastoid cell lines established from patients with hairy cell leukemia.

In order to assess the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL), we have sought to characterize 1) the ability of EBV to infect and transform hairy leukemic cells in vitro and 2) the phenotypes of cell lines putatively derived from those leukemic cells. Analysis of EBV-induced transformation and the kinetics of Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) induction in leukemic preparations indicated that most leukemic cells were not susceptible to EBV infection but that at least a small subpopulation of leukemic cells could be infected with EBV. Lymphoblastoid cells lines were established after exposure of peripheral blood or splenic cells from HCL patients to B95-8 or QIMR-WIL EBV. Splenic leukemic cell preparations were more sensitive targets for EBV transformation than were peripheral blood cell samples. The newly established cell lines, but not long-established B lines such as Raji, demonstrated high levels of synthesis of p35, (a protein complex expressed abundantly by cells of a subset of HCL patients) and high levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (an enzyme relatively diagnostic for HCL). Lymphoblastoid lines from one patient with HCL expressed lambda light chains and no kappa chains as did the patient's leukemic cells. Virus expression in these lines showed that HCL-derived lines had spontaneous early antigen (EA) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) expression. Transforming EBV could be rescued from HCL-derived cell lines but not from cord blood-derived lines.

X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome registry report.

Immune deficiency, especially to the Epstein-Barr virus, and increased susceptibility to fatal infectious mononucleosis, acquired agammoglobulinemia, and lymphoma are the cardinal features of the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome. Since the establishment of the XLP Registry in September, 1978, 59 affected males in seven unrelated kindreds were comprehensively studied. A spectrum of lymphoproliferative phenotypes was observed. Thirty-four patients (57%) died from infectious mononucleosis, eight (14%) had fatal infectious mononucleosis with lymphoma (immunoblastic sarcoma), nine (15%) had depressed immunity following EBV infection, and eight (14%) developed lymphoma. Several patients with XLP lacked EBV antibodies despite infection by EBV. The results of this study suggest that EBV can be an oncogenic agent in patients who are immune deficient with XLP.