[C3 complement polymorphism in patients suffering from obstructive chronic bronchopneumopathy in Tunisia]. / Polymorphisme du C3 du complément chez des patients atteints de bronchopneumopathie chronique obstructive en Tunisie.

We analysed the C3*S and C3*F polymorphism of the third component of the complement (C3), first at the protein level by the electrophoresis of the plasma on agarose gel and second on the gene level by the ARMS PCR technique. We determined the phenotypic and genotypic frequencies of the C3 on a sample of 90 patients suffering from the obstructive chronic bronchopneumopathy (OCBP) disease. Comparisons have been done with frequencies observed on a control sample of 437 healthy individuals from the Tunisian population in order to establish a putative correlation between the polymorphism studied and the disease. Frequencies of the C3*S and C3*F alleles in OCBP patients are 0,788 and 0,212 respectively. They are not significantly different from those observed in control sample (0,834 and 0,152 respectively). Therefore, no correlation is observed between the C3 polymorphism and the risk of developing the OCBP disease.

[Thyroid papillary microcarcinoma. Salah Azaiz Institute experience]. / Microcarcinomes papillaires de la thyroïde. Expérience de l'Institut Salah Azaiz.

The incidence of thyroid papillary microcarcinoma appears to be increasing and therapeutic modalities remain controversial. This retrospective study concerns 25 cases, from 1978 to 1999. The circumstances of diagnosis were: a cervicotomy for thyroid nodule (88% of cases), cervical node metastases (8%), and osseous metastases (4%). The sensitivity of ultrasounds was 22.2%, that of scintigraphy was 9.1% and that of extemporaneous histological examination was 18.2%. Multifocality was found in 16% of cases and bilaterality in 16.6%. Treatment modalities were guided by histological examination. Adjunctive radioiodine ablation was used for 20% of the patients. The treatment of the osseous metastases was completed with external irradiation. The average follow up was 4.8 years (4 months to 19 years), with a rate of survival without disease of 100%.

[The use of neuron specific enolase in the prognosis and followup of neuroblastoma in children. Results of a retrospective series of 21 patients]. / Apport de la neuron specific enolase dans le pronostic et le suivi des neuroblastomes de l'enfant. Résultats sur une série rétrospective de 21 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To report the results of seric neuron specific enolase in pediatric neuroblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our retrospective study concerns 21 children treated in our institution from 1992 to 1998 for neuroblastoma. Seric NSE was determined by immunoenzymology technique at different stages of the disease and the treatment. RESULTS: Mean value for the 39 dosages of the whole patients was 127.9 ng/ml with a sensitivity of 56%, five patients has presented normal values. Mean value for the 18 patients in stage IV was 132.38 ng/ml. We also observed in 3 patients, an evolution of the seric NSE parallel to this of the disease under chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: NSE represents a moderate sensitive and specific tumor marker for pediatric neuroblastoma. However, it represents a good value in prognosis and follow-up after chemotherapy.