[Results of hemograms of a series of top-level cyclists: an example of a factor of biological variability]. / Résultats d'hémogrammes d'une série de cyclistes de haut niveau: exemple d'un facteur de variation biologique.

We report data about 50 caucasian top-level cyclists (45 males, 5 women, aged between 16 and 36 years, mean 25 +/- 4.5). Recruitment was by controlling top-level athletes in order to follow their blood cell counts to detect variation in haemoglobin concentration and hematocrit level (prevention of erythropoietin abuse). All samples were drawn in the morning, when the cyclists were at rest, according to a standardized protocol. Erythroblastic serie was abnormal in several cases (4 anaemias, 3 macrocytosis, 6 low haematocrit level, 10 mean cell haemoglobin higher than 32 pg, low reticulocyte count). White blood cells showed a trend toward low counts for neutrophils and lymphocytes. Two cyclists had platelets counts below 150.109/l. Our data indicated that top-level cyclism had some effects on the blood cell counts, which is likely to indicate an effect of intense aerobic training on physiological status.

[Mucopolysaccharidosis type I in Morocco: clinical features and genetic profile]. / Mucopolysaccharidose de type I au Maroc: manifestations cliniques et profil génétique.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are inherited metabolic disorders due to lysosomal enzyme deficiencies, leading to glycosaminoglycan accumulation in lysosomes of different tissues. The aim of this study was to characterize MPS types, particularly MPS I, which are difficult to differentiate by clinical features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a period of three years (June 1996-May 1999), 16 Moroccan patients (3-20 years old) with MPS were investigated. Twelve of them came from the Souss region. In subjects with suspected clinical MPS I or II, the diagnosis was confirmed by biochemical investigations, which included the quantification of total glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) released in urine, their identification, and the assay of alpha-L-iduronidase activity in leucocytes. A molecular analysis was performed in parallel, to provide the genetic proof of the diagnosis. RESULTS: These 16 patients belonged to 12 families, nine of which were consanguineous (75%). Twelve patients had Hurler syndrome and three had Hurler/Scheie's syndrome; no case of Scheie's syndrome was observed. Short stature, coarse face, organomegaly, hernia, cardiac disease, mental delay and dysostosis were observed in variable degrees. We report three cases without corneal clouding. Increased total urinary GAGs, identified as dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate by thin-layer chromatography and total deficiency of alpha-L-iduronidase activity, were noted in studied subjects. At the molecular level the P533R mutation was detected in 24 among 26 alleles studied. CONCLUSION: It is now possible to perform the screening of MPS I and II in Morocco by analysis of clinical, radiologic observations and biological investigation. The predominance of P533R mutation could permit the screening of healthy heterozygotes and genetic counselling for families of Moroccan descent.

Homocysteine, vitamins B6, B12, folate, and risk of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography.

Homocysteine and vitamins B were correlated with coronary artery disease in patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. 160 patients having > or =1 stenosis (G1), 55 patients having normal coronary arteries (G2) and 171 healthy volunteers (G3) were prospectively recruited. Homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients, particularly in those with normal coronary angiograms, than in healthy subjects (13.8 +/-6.3 micromol/L in G1 (p < 0.0001) and 15.2 +/- 8.8 micromol/L in G2 (p < 0.0001) versus 10.1 +/- 3.1 micromol/L in G3). Homocysteine levels were not related to the extent of coronary artery disease. In patients with normal angiogram, vitamin B12 and folate levels were significantly higher compared with the other groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) showing that vitamin B deficiency was not involved in the hyperhomocysteinemia. In conclusion, homocysteine and vitamins B levels do not contribute to discriminate for the presence of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. Homocysteine levels, however, were higher in patients referred for coronary angiography than in healthy controls.

Home parenteral nutrition and vitamin B12 status.

The vitamin B12 status of 20 subjects who were on home parenteral nutrition after surgical or functional small bowel resection and were given 1000 micrograms cyanocobalamin every 3 mo was studied by comparing their plasma vitamin B12, homocysteine (HS), and methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations. The plasma vitamin B12 concentration (median 145 pmol/L, 95% confidence interval: 123-217) was subnormal in four cases and borderline in four others. In the "4low B12" group, the concentrations of the markers of vitamin B12 deficiency were in the normal range; HS 10.7 mumol/L (8.0-12.3); and MMA, 0.15 mumol/L (0.09-0.19). References values were HS, 10.0 mumol/L (9.4-12.6); and MMA, 0.16 mumol/L (0.10-0.19). Thus, there were no metabolic signs of vitamin B12 deficiency in these subjects on parenteral nutrition, despite the fact that their plasma vitamin B12 levels were low. Analysis of individual data showed that the four patients with low circulating B12 had markers of intracellular vitamin B12 deficiency in the normal range.

Rapid determination of fecal fat by Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) with partial least-squares regression and an attenuated total reflectance accessory.

Fecal lipid content is usually determined by titrimetric or gravimetric methods, but these methods are time consuming and involve dangerous solvents. We have developed a new method of measuring fecal lipids by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) with an attenuated total reflectance accessory that is fast and requires no solvents. The spectra of stools from 4000 to 750 cm-1 were analyzed, and the lipid concentrations were measured by using a calibration curve prepared by partial least-squares analysis of data from 34 stools. The linearity of the method was tested by mixing low-lipid stools with lipid-overloaded stools to give a range of 0.5-15% lipid. The prediction residual values were -0.49-0.78% for calibrators, and -2.55-2.34% for unknown samples. There was good agreement between the fecal lipids measured by gravimetric (x) and FTIR(y) methods: y = 0.87x + 5.5. The standard error of prediction was 1.07%.

Crohn's disease and vitamin B12 metabolism.

The concentrations of vitamin B12, its analogs, and the haptocorrin and transcobalamin carriers in 21 patients suffering from Crohn's disease and a group of controls (20 adults) were measured. There were no significant differences in the mean values for vitamin B12, total corrinoids (vitamin B12 + analogs), or vitamin B12 or total corrinoids bound to haptocorrin or transcobalamin of the Crohn's and control patients. There was a significant increase in the binding capacity of transcobalamin in the Crohn's patients compared to the controls (P < 0.001), but there was no difference in the binding capacities of haptocorrin. The serum concentrations of the markers of vitamin B12 status, homocysteine and methylmalonic acid, showed an increase (P < 0.01) in homocysteine in the Crohn's disease patients, but no change in methylmalonic acid. As the hyperhomocysteinemia was associated with normal folate concentrations, there may have been a defect in the activation of the enzyme due to altered intracellular vitamin B12 status.

Search for cell proliferation markers suitable for cell count in continuous immobilized cell bioreactors.

The control of hybridoma cell cultures in bioreactors requires the use of convenient indicators to monitor the proliferation of the biomass. In order to select appropriate indications, we followed the variations of several compounds including tumoral markers, polyamines, sialic acids, purine and pyrimidine bases, enzymes and metabolites such as glucose, lactate and amino acids, and the variations of cell density during batch culture. Significant correlations were found between the number of viable cells and alkaline phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, glucose and lactate measured in the culture medium of hybridoma strains. The correlation calculated from alkaline phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase concentrations in culture medium underestimated cell number. The correlation established with glucose and lactate gave the best indication of cell proliferation in continuous culture with an immobilized cell bioreactor. Finally, the exact quantification of the biomass in these culture conditions can be obtained using the mean of glucose and lactate correlations.

[Lysine in human biologic fluids and tissues: reference values, physiologic variations and interferences]. / La lysine dans les liquides biologiques et les tissus chez l'homme: valeurs de référence, variations physiologiques et interférences.

The authors present here the published values of lysine in some biological fluids, plasma, urine, CSF, amniotic fluid, aqueous humor, sweat. The plasma levels are lower in newborn infants than in adult subjects. The urinary excretion of lysine is high in the first pregnancy, the lysine concentration of amniotic fluid decreases progressively. A sex difference has been described in CSF: values higher in men. Changes occur in lysine concentrations when samples are not prepared for analysis immediately after collection and certain drugs interfere with analysis.

[Cerebrospinal fluid amino acids in Alzheimer's disease]. / Acides aminés du liquide céphalo-rachidien dans la maladie d'Alzheimer.

Twenty-two amino acids are measured in cerebrospinal fluid of fourty patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) and of ten age matched healthy control subjects. There is no significant difference between these two groups.

[Amino acids in cerebrospinal fluid. Reference values]. / Les acides aminés du liquide céphalo-rachidien. Valeurs de référence.

Reference values are determined for 28 amino-acids in the cerebro spinal fluid, from literature data. The data collected in this document result from the dosage of amino-acids in the cerebro spinal fluid of 453 patients, adults and children. Two series of reference values are proposed: one for children over 2 and adults, the other for children under 2.

Detection of aluminum by LAMMA spectrometry in plasma and in synovial liquids of patients on chronic dialysis.

The LAMMA (Laser Microprobe Mass Analysis) provides a semi quantitative analysis of mineral and organic ions. This microprobe has been applied in determining the aluminum detection threshold in sera or in synovial fluid of patients on chronic dialysis whose treatment includes some aluminum compounds. The limit of aluminum detection in a lyophilised sera is about 4 ppm that allows to expect on equivalent threshold in biological in heterogous matrices.

Determination of oxalates in plasma and urine using gas chromatography.

A gas-chromatographic procedure for the analysis of oxalic acid is described. The procedure requires relatively small quantities of urine (1 ml) or plasma (5 ml). The procedure consists of three steps: (1) extraction of exalic acid by acidified diethyl ether; (2) esterification by isopropanol; and (3) final analysis by gas chromatography. The oxalic acid was found to have an elution temperature of 107 degrees C and a retention time of 14 min. The standard curve is linear up to 800 nmol. In the described condition the lower limit of detection is 20 nmol. The mean normal plasma and urine oxalate levels (mean +/- 2 S.D.) were found to be 20 mumol/l +/- 17.5 and 275 mumol/24 h +/- 200 respectively.

[Study of a placental protein binding AMPc. Its subcellular distribution. Hypothesis of a relationship with chorionic somatommamotropin hormone]. / Etude d'une protéine placentaire liant l'AMPc. Sa distribution subcellulaire. Hypothèse d'une relation avec l'hormone somatomammotropine chorionique

The authors have shown the presence in the human placenta of a binding activity for cAMP. This activity is protein like substances bound and is principaly located in cytosol and in nucleus. The authors have tried to purified this protein by gel filtration and chromatography on DEAE cellulose. Whatever the method employed, there is always in the protein a mixed activity: cAMP binding activity and HCS immunological activity. Purified HCS by classical method shows no binding activity. However when cAMP is added in immunological system HCS-immun-serum anti-HCS, the reaction is modified in an inhibitory way. This behaviour seem to be specific since never HGH nor TSH have the same. This behaviour has been confirmed several times as well during competition curves which shift toward left in presence of cAMP, as for assays of individual serums or amniotic fluids. In this last cases, the results are twice as eleveted depending if the lecture is done on a curve done without cAMP or with cAMP.