Inhibition of activity of the protease from bovine leukemia virus.

In view of the close similarity between bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) we investigated the possibility of developing specific inhibitors of the proteases of these retroviruses using the purified enzyme from BLV. We tested the ability of this protease to specifically cleave various short oligopeptide substrates containing cleavage sites of BLV and HTLV-I proteases, as well as a recombinant BLV Gag precursor. The best substrate, a synthetic decapeptide bearing the natural cleavage site between the matrix and the capsid proteins of BLV Gag precursor polyprotein, was used to develop an inhibition assay. We determined the relative inhibitory effect of synthetic Gag precursor-like peptides in which the cleavable site was replaced by a non-hydrolyzable moiety. The encouraging inhibitory effect of these compounds indicates that potent non-peptidic inhibitors for retroviral proteases are not unattainable.

An epidemiological study of a Schistosoma intercalatum focus in south-east Gabon.

A Schistosoma intercalatum focus in south-east Gabon was studied between July 1989 and July 1990. Among the 356 permanent residents in the village, 354 provided stool specimens and 101 (28.5%) were excreting eggs (geometric mean of egg density = 101.4 eggs/g, with a range of 1-3200). The pattern of prevalence and intensity of infection with age showed the curve usually found in schistosomiasis, i.e. increasing during the first 2 decades of life and then gradually decreasing. The analysis by stepwise logistic regression of factors shown to be important in determining infection in other schistosomiasis clearly demonstrated the significant and independent effects of both age and water contact on infection by S. intercalatum. These similarities with other schistosomal infections could indicate that similar immune mechanisms were operating. Urine from 284 subjects, of whom 90 were egg excreters, was tested for circulating antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a Schistosoma genus-specific monoclonal antibody (Sm 10.27.12). The test was positive for 90 subjects but only 35 of these were egg excreters. Although S. intercalatum is usually considered of low pathogenicity in man, this study showed a relationship between egg excretion and both splenomegaly and lower haemoglobin levels, even after taking into account the confounding presence of Plasmodium falciparum.

[Seroprevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in pregnant women coming for maternity consultation to the hospital center of Libreville (Gabon) in June 1990]. / Séroprévalence du virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH) chez des femmes enceintes venues consulter à la maternité du centre hospitalier de Libreville (Gabon) en juin 1990.

The pregnant women as a control group was chosen in 1990 in order to estimate the HIV Seroprevalence in Libreville. As a result of that survey it appears that the prevalence of that retrovirus seems to remain under 2% and that those women are HIV-1-infected.

[Uretero-iliac artery fistula: endovascular treatment. Complications of prolonged use of double J endoprosthesis]. / Fistule urétéro-artérielle iliaque: traitement endovasculaire. Complication du maintien prolongé d'une endoprothèse double J.

The authors report a case of fistula between the external iliac artery and the left ureter, in a patient with a double J stent for several years to treat iatrogenic ureteric stenosis. The diagnosis was suggested by the patient's history and the presence of bright haematuria from the left ureteric meatus. Interventional radiology established the positive diagnosis and allowed treatment by placement of a covered prosthesis in the external iliac artery. This is the fourth published case of endovascular treatment of an iliac uretero-arterial fistula.