Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against Taylorella equigenitalis.

Monoclonal antibodies were produced against Taylorella equigenitalis using two reference strains. Out of the 79 hybridoma clones shown to express antibodies to T equigenitalis by indirect immunofluorescence assay, 16 were selected for monoclonal antibody production and characterization. These clones recognized different field strains of T equigenitalis isolated in France. They showed no cross-reaction with bacterial strains with previously reported antigenic cross-reactivity, nor did they react with other bacteria commonly found in genital flora. The epitopes recognized by eight of the monoclonal antibodies were situated in proteins of 150, 120, 52.7 and 22 kDa. These epitopes were resistant to the extraction denaturing conditions. These monoclonal antibodies could be used as reagents for specific detection of T equigenitalis.

A new microcannula for injections in rat brains without disturbing social interactions.

A new cannula system is presented that allows intracerebral microinjections of neuroactive substances in freely moving rats in a social environment. By connecting a microcannula to a freely rotating stainless steel spring, small (0.2 microliter) injections can be made without disturbing the ongoing social interaction. This microinjection system can be used for instantaneous injections, but can also be used for microinfusions during a considerable longer period of time.

[Continuous inflation of a leaking cuff of an intubation tube]. / Inflation permanente du ballonnet rompu d'une sonde d'intubation.

Perforation of the cuff of the endotracheal tube peroperatively is a very serious problem, especially when it occurs in a patient prone on an orthopaedic table. This is even more dramatic when the patient is not breathing spontaneously and he cannot be turned over to be reintubated. Given the unusual character of this situation, an apparatus has been designed to keep the cuff inflated permanently. It was a circuit consisting of a manual pressure valve, flexible tubing, a peripheral catheter and the cuff supply tube. The gas used was medical air at 3 bar pressure. This method proved perfectly safe and efficient, the operation having continued without reintubation.

[Zona after spinal anesthesia: coincidence or consequence?]. / Zona après rachianesthésie: coïncidence ou conséquence?

A case is reported of a herpes zoster infection occurring a few days after spinal anaesthesia in a man with severe cardiac disease who had undergone transurethral endoscopic resection of a prostatic epithelioma. The question as to whether there was a relationship between the two events had to be asked, all the more so as the rash seemed to be centered on the puncture wound. Others factors involved may have been the effect of anaesthesia on the body's defence mechanisms, the use of prophylactic antibiotics and the neoplasm.

[Surgery and the acquired inhibitor of factor VIII coagulant]. / Chirurgie et inhibiteur acquis du facteur VIII coagulant.

A case is reported of an 80 year old woman with old sarcoidosis and acquired factor VIIIc inhibitor undergoing orthopaedic surgery. This was successfully carried out after she had been given a total of 48,420 units of factor VIII concentrate: there were no haemorrhagic complications. The main pathological states in which acquired factor VIIIc inhibitor may be found are related: principal treatments available nowadays are discussed: immunosuppressors, human factor VIII, animal factor VIII, prothrombin complex concentrate, plasma exchange.

[Potentiation of a vitamin K antagonist by a pefloxacin-rifampicin combination]. / Potentialisation d'une antivitamine K par l'association péfloxacine-rifampicine.

The combination of a new quinolone, pefloxacin, with rifampicin seemed of interest in the treatment of staphylococcal osteitis. Interactions of a coumarin anticoagulant (acenocoumarol) and several antibiotics were well known, mostly resulting in a decrease of the anticoagulant activity. A new interaction of this anticoagulant drug with the pefloxacin-rifampicin combination is described which gave an increase in the anticoagulant activity.

[Hemorrhagic delivery in a full-term abdominal pregnancy with a live infant]. / Délivrance hémorragique lors d'une grossesse abdominale à terme avec enfant vivant.

This is a new case report of a primary abdominal pregnancy with a full-term live baby in a 26 yr old women. The diagnosis was only made at laparotomy. The premature placental separation was followed by massive haemorrhage. Over a period of five days, the patient required a transfusion of 139 blood units and nine surgical explorations before control of the bleeding site could be obtained. Control of the haemorrhage could only be obtained with massive transfusions of fresh platelets and biological monitoring of coagulation by specialized laboratories. This case confirmed the diagnostic difficulties and the need to leave the placenta in situ until control of bleeding sites can be obtained.

[Determination of methylmethacrylate in expired gases after hip prosthesis cementing]. / Dosage du méthacrylate de méthyle dans les gaz expirés après scellement des prothèses de hanche.

Total hip replacement using methylmethacrylate can induce early intraoperative hypoxaemia caused, according to some authors, by alveolar gas dilution by acrylic monomer vapour. In order to test this hypothesis, expired monomer was measured in ten patients undergoing total hip replacement carried out under narconeuroleptanalgesia. Methylmethacrylate was collected by adsorption on activated charcoal and measured by gas chromatography. The quality of expired monomer was 25 +/- 10 micrograms after cotyloid sealing. It is of 264 +/- 396 micrograms after femoral sealing; the most important excretion took place in the first three minutes, and its total duration may exceed 18 min. A simple calculation showed quite convincingly that the volume of expired monomer vapour was not sufficient to explain the hypoxaemia: impaired arterial oxygenation associated with the use of methylmethacrylate is not due to a dilution technique.