Presence of a unique parainfluenza virus 3 strain identified by RT-PCR in visna-maedi virus infected sheep.

The presence in farm sheep of a paramyxovirus closely related to parainfluenza virus type 3 (Pi3) from humans or cattle was confirmed using RT-PCR on RNA samples from lung cells from slaughtered animals. Sequencing and restriction enzyme patterns of the amplified fragment of the F gene confirms the distinctness of the isolate, and suitable PCR primers allow specific detection of the ovine virus. A study of the incidence of ovine Pi3 in samples from sheep with or without distinctive histopathological signs of maedi shows that it is uncommon in aged sheep with overt lentiviral disease, but it occurs at moderate frequency in lambs and may, in the presence of visna-maedi virus, contribute to early lesion formation.

[Reconstruction of the orbital floor using skull grafts obtained during the treatment of craniostenoses and irradiated by gamma rays]. / Reconstruction du plancher de l'orbite à l'aide de greffons de voûte crânienne récupérés lors du traitement des crâniosténoses et irradiés par les rayons gamma.

The authors use skull grafts obtained during the treatment of craniostenoses and sterilized by gamma radiation to reconstruct the orbital walls. They describe the practical modalities of this technique and report a series of 26 cases in which no incidents of complications were observed.

[Diffuse interstitial pneumopathies caused by lentivirus (HIV-1) in humans and animals]. / Pneumopathies interstitielles diffuses dues aux lentivirus chez l'homme (HIV-1) et chez l'animal.

Lentiviruses belong to the retroviruses family (ie RNA viruses with reverse transcriptase activity); they induce inflammatory and/or degenerative slowly progressive diseases, affecting various organs. Some lentiviruses preferentially infect lymphocytes (HIV-1 and HIV-2, SIV and FIV) and are associated with infectious and tumoral disorders. Most lentiviruses induce a pulmonary disease, typically diffuse interstitial pneumonia. The visna/maedi-virus of sheep infects monocyte macrophage cells and the pulmonary lesions are macrophagic and neutrophilic alveolitis, lymphoid infiltration, myomatosis and interstitial fibrosis. Such pulmonary lesions are also induced by the goat and equine lentiviruses. In humans infected by HIV-1 or HIV-2, a diffuse interstitial lung disease also occurs; the histological findings are of alveolitis associated with lymphoid peribronchovascular infiltrates. The mechanism of formation of the lesions involves complex cellular interactions (especially between macrophage and lymphocyte, via cytokine production). These interactions are well modelled by small ruminant lentivirus induction of interstitial pneumonia.

Antigenic immunostaining patterns in somatic hybrids of human HeLa cells and mouse fibroblasts 3T3.4E propagated in conventional medium and delipidized serum.

Somatic cell hybrids were obtained with electric pulse by fusion of human epithelial HeLa cells derived from a carcinoma of the uterine cervix and mouse fibroblasts 3T3.4E, deficient in thymidine kinase. Hybrids were selected and propagated in HAT media; some experiments were carried out in medium with delipidized serum. The hybrid cells were characterized by indirect immunofluorescence with a biotin-streptavidin system using a panel of nine monoclonal antibodies specific for membrane and cytoplasmic antigens of parental cells: intermediate filaments (keratins and vimentin), HLA class 1 (beta 2-microglobulin), cell activation (EGF and transferrin receptors) and cellular adhesion (fibronectin and laminin). All of these antigens were expressed in HeLa cells cultured in conventional medium or with delipidized serum. Conversely mouse fibroblasts contained only vimentin, fibronectin and laminin. All the parental antigens were present in first passage hybrid cells cultured in conventional medium. Vimentin, fibronectin and laminin were maintained in fourth passage hybrids whereas keratins, beta 2-microglobulin, EGF and transferrin receptors were no longer detected. When propagated in medium with delipidized serum, hybrid cells re-expressed these antigens after 5 days of culture. These findings suggest that the reexpression of HeLa cell antigens in hybrid cells was related to deficiency in vitamin A.

Qualification of working cell banks for the Vero cell line to produce licensed human vaccines.

Since 1980, Merieux Institute has prepared on microcarriers four working cell banks from Vero Cells (137th p.) received from the ATCC in May 1979 (at 124th p.). The lots have been or are used for the production of rabies and inactivated poliomyelitis vaccines. Three lots were controlled according to WHO requirements described in the technical report 673, 1982. For the fourth lot, we have followed the WHO requirements corresponding to the technical report 745, 1987. All the tests required us to demonstrate: i) Safety and purity (tests in animals and eggs, sterility tests, cocultures with human cells and other electron microscopic observations). ii) The absence of tumorigenicity (tests in newborn rats treated with antihymocyte serum at the WBC level and on the cells propagated to at least 10 population doublings beyond the maximum passage level used for production. Assays of cell transformation with DNA from the Vero line in the standard 3T3 assay system). iii) Identity (isoenzyme technique). All were satisfactory.

Long-term outcome of the management of ruptured intracranial aneurysm. Review of 328 consecutive patients treated over a period of 12 years.

From 1972 to 1984, 328 patients were admitted into the neurosurgical department for the treatment of a ruptured intracranial aneurysm, being clinically in grades 1 to 4. These patients were submitted to a deferred surgery protocol: 5.5% of the patients died before surgery, and 94.5% were actually operated upon. The follow-up was at least over 1 yr, and up to 14 yr (average 3 yr 8 months). The long-term result was evaluated according to both the physical status of the patients and their activity resumption (professional, familial and social). This long-term result was compared to the immediate results, which had been evaluated either at the time of discharge or a few months later: 25.9% of the 328 patients were 'lost to view', and 74.1% were 'followed-up' (including preoperative and operative death). The immediate results were: death 17.7%, poor 7.3%, fair 9.1%, good 66.2%. The long-term results were evaluated as follows: poor 7%, fair (independent but with emotional or psychological difficulties) 14.8%, good (fully independent) 55.1%. The long-term activity resumption (ability to work) was: normal 46.5%, lesser level of work 7.8%, unable to work 20.5%. Out of the patients with a good and fair immediate result, only 66.5% resumed their previous occupation: 21.2% of these patients did not resume their previous occupation due to psychological or emotional disturbances.

Choroid plexectomy for the treatment of chronic infected hydrocephalus.

Choroid plexectomy was performed for chronic infected hydrocephalus in 17 children via a direct open approach. In 16 cases, the CSF was sterilized soon after the plexectomy. In 37% of cases, the hydrocephalus was arrested without a shunt. The incidence of seizures did not increase after plexectomy. Removal of the choroid plexus was controlled by scintigraphy. Neuropsychological results were not encouraging, probably related to the long history of chronic ventricular infection. Surgical mortality was 6%. Choroid plexectomy should be considered as a possible treatment of chronic infected hydrocephalus in children.

Brain tumors in infants: a study of 76 patients operated upon.

Seventy-six children were studied who had been operated on for intracranial tumors; they ranged in age from 0 to 2 years. Twenty-nine cases were under 1 year and 47 between 1 and 2 years of age. The outlook was relatively poor regarding the highly malignant tumors, but surprisingly encouraging in benign and low-grade malignant neoplasms. The undesirable effects of complementary oncological treatment in this age category are stressed. On the other hand the importance of radical surgery is emphasized as the best treatment for these lesions.

[Long-term results of the treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Study of a series of 328 patients hospitalized from 1972 to 1984]. / Résultats à long terme du traitement de l'anévrysme intra-crânien rompu. Etude d'une série de 328 patients hospitalisés de 1972 à 1984.

Between 1972 to 1984, 328 patients were admitted in the department of neurosurgery, for the treatment of a ruptured intracranial aneurysm, and being clinically in grades I to IV. These patients were submitted to a deferred surgery protocol. 5.5% of the patients died before surgery, and 94.5% were actually operated on. The follow-up was at least over one year, and up to 14 years (mean 3 years and 8 months). The long term result was appreciated according to the physical status of the patients and the activity resumption (professional, familial and social as well). This long term result was compared to the immediate results, which had been appreciated either at the time of discharge or a few months later. 25.9% of the 328 patients were lost of view, and 74.1% were followed (including pre-operative and operative death). The immediate results were: death 17.7%, poor 7.3%, fair 9.1%, good 66.2%. The long term results were appreciated as follows: Poor 7.3%, Fair (independent but with emotional or psychological difficulties), 14.8%, Good (fully independent) 55.1%. The long term activity resumption (ability to work) was: normal 46.5%, lesser level of work 7.8%, unable to work 20.5%. Out of the patients with a good and fair immediate result, only 66.5% have resumed their previous occupation. 21.2% of these patients did not resume their previous occupation due to psycho.