Enhancement of Above Threshold Ionization in Resonantly Excited Helium Nanodroplets.

Clusters and nanodroplets hold the promise of enhancing high-order nonlinear optical effects due to their high local density. However, only moderate enhancement has been demonstrated to date. Here, we report the observation of energetic electrons generated by above-threshold ionization (ATI) of helium (He) nanodroplets which are resonantly excited by ultrashort extreme ultraviolet (XUV) free-electron laser pulses and subsequently ionized by near-infrared (NIR) or near-ultraviolet (UV) pulses. The electron emission due to high-order ATI is enhanced by several orders of magnitude compared with He atoms. The crucial dependence of the ATI intensities with the number of excitations in the droplets suggests a local collective enhancement effect.

Real-Time Dynamics of the Formation of Hydrated Electrons upon Irradiation of Water Clusters with Extreme Ultraviolet Light.

Free electrons in a polar liquid can form a bound state via interaction with the molecular environment. This so-called hydrated electron state in water is of fundamental importance, e.g., in cellular biology or radiation chemistry. Hydrated electrons are highly reactive radicals that can either directly interact with DNA or enzymes, or form highly excited hydrogen (H^{*}) after being captured by protons. Here, we investigate the formation of the hydrated electron in real-time employing extreme ultraviolet femtosecond pulses from a free electron laser, in this way observing the initial steps of the hydration process. Using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy we find formation timescales in the low picosecond range and resolve the prominent dynamics of forming excited hydrogen states.

[Cancers of the corpus uteri on the Côte-d'Or 1982-1990. Incidence, clinical stage and survival]. / Cancers du corps de l'utérus dans le département de la Côte-d'Or 1982-1990. Incidence, stade clinique et survie.

In the French administrative "departement" of Côte-d'Or, between 1982 and 1990, the crude incidence rate and the age-adjusted world standardised incidence rate (ASR) for corpus uteri cancer were respectively 16.0 +/- 0.8 and 10.7 +/- 0.6 per 100,000 women per year. The incidence increased after 50 years of age, reaching a maximum of 66.7 per 100,000 women per year at the age of 70-74 and thereafter declined. Ninety-six percent of the patients were older than 50. The 5- and 10-year crude survival rates (all histologic types) were 66 +/- 3% and 61 +/- 4%. The 5- and 10-year relative survival rates were 76%. Histologic types were specified in 99.7% of cases, categorized as follows: 92.7% carcinomas (333 cases), 6.7% sarcomas (24 cases) and 0.3% lymphoma (one case). Carcinomas were clinically evaluated according to FIGO staging: stage I: 61.4% (205 cases); stage II: 7.7% (59 cases); stage III: 7.8% (26 cases); stage IV: 6.6% (22 cases) and unspecified stage: 6.6% (22 cases). The ASR by stage, were 6.4 +/- 0.5 (stage I); 0.8 +/- 0.2 (stage II); 1.3 +/- 0.2 (stages III and IV); 0.6 +/- 0.2 (unspecified stage). The 5-year relative survival rates related to FIGO stage were 90% (stage I); 85% (stage II); 25% (stage III) and 0% (stage IV). Elderly patients (> 75) had significantly lower survival rates. With respect to localized disease (stages I and II) the relative risk of death associated with age older than 75 was 4.9. The 5-year relative survival rate of patients with sarcoma was 37%.

[Factors determining the choice between mastectomy and conservative treatment in the Côte-d'Or department (France). The Côte-d'Op6 register of gynecological cancers]. / Facteurs ayant déterminé le choix entre mammectomie et traitement conservateur pour cancer du sein entre 1982 et 1990 dans le département de la Côte-d'Or. Registre des cancers gynécologiques de Côte-d'Or.

The aim of this study is to check, for a defined period and within a geographic area, whether the increased use of breast conserving treatment was related to changes in tumor characteristics, or whether changes in therapeutical practice persisted after adjustment on patients and tumor characteristics. From 1982 to 1990, 1,952 women with invasive carcinomas were registered in the French "departement" of Côte-d'Or. Seventeen hundred and seven non metastatic patients were treated by loco-regional surgery. A breast conserving surgery was performed in 60% of cases. The incidence of this treatment raised from 32% in 1982 to 73% in 1987. In univariate analysis, factors determining the type of tumor excision were: age, hormonal status, tumor size, tumor location, "clinical seriousness", nodal status, multiple tumors, inflammatory tumors, neoadjuvant treatments and year of diagnosis. Age and tumoral factors remained significant in a logistic regression analysis. Other factors being constant, the odds ratios of mastectomy was 12.9 times lower in 1987-1990 than in 1982, and 2.1 times lower than in 1985-1986, showing a "period effect". Ninety four percent of patients treated by breast conserving surgery were irradiated post operatively, showing that the clinical research recommendations were well transferred to the clinical practice in this department.

[Papillary and cystic tumor of the pancreas. Histological, immunohistochemical and flow cytometric study]. / Tumeur papillaire et kystique du pancréas. Etude histologique, immunohistochimique et par cytométrie en flux.

The authors are reporting a case of papillary and cystic neoplasm of the pancreas. This rare malignant epithelial neoplasm occurs mostly in young women and has a more favorable prognosis than the adenocarcinoma. Radiologic investigations showed a well demarcated, heterogeneous, hypovascular mass. The histological study showed the proliferation of epithelial cells in a papillary pattern. The immunochemistry was negative for markers of adenocarcinoma but positive for vimentin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and neuron specific enolase. Receptors of progesterone were also detected. By flow cytometric analysis, the tumours was hypoploid. The histogenesis of these tumours remained controversed. Ultrastructural details of the neoplastic cells suggest that these tumours originate from small duct cells; detection in several cases of markers for endocrine neoplasm suggests that they originate from primitive multipotential cells, that may show exocrine or endocrine differentiation.

[Lympho-epithelial lesions induced by plasma cells in a pulmonary MALT lymphoma]. / Lésions lympho-épithéliales induites par des plasmocytes dans un lymphome MALT du poumon.

One case of pulmonary lymphoma of MALT origin is reported. The diagnosis was made by histological and immunohistological study of surgical specimen. Cytologically, the tumoral proliferation was made by an admixture of centrocyte-like cells, small lymphocytes and vacuolized plasma cells. Lympho-epithelial lesions were particular because induced by tumoral plasma cells. From this case, problems of diagnosis and physiopathology of pulmonary MALT lymphomas are discussed.

Glucagon enhances bile flow, bilirubin uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase activity and biliary bilirubin monoconjugate excretion in the rat.

Intravenous infusion of glucagon (100 micrograms/hr/100 g body weight) in rats produces a 20 to 35% increase in bile flow and enhances the activity of hepatic bilirubin uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase to 132% after a 90 min infusion. When a bilirubin load is given to produce a constant and apparently maximal biliary bilirubin excretion rate (or transport maximum) the administration of glucagon increased the bilirubin transport maximum. The excretion rate of bilirubin monoglucuronides was more enhanced than that of diglucuronide. The enhanced rate of glucuronidation, assayed in vitro, correlated with the augmented biliary output and inversely with the plasma unconjugated bilirubin levels. It is concluded that glucagon, at the dosage used, leads to a higher formation rate of bilirubin monoconjugates and that the choleresis, also induced by the hormone, enhances the biliary secretion of the monoconjugates formed. The enhanced conjugation results in a decreased plasma concentration of unconjugated bile pigment and the associated choleresis leads to a decreased di- to monoconjugate ratio, opposite to what has been observed during bilirubinostasis and cholestasis. The secretory efficacy, as assessed from the bile-to-plasma concentration ratio, is enhanced for all bilirubin pigments after glucagon administration.

Report of a primary lymphoma of the conjunctiva. A lymphoma of MALT origin?

A case of primary conjunctival lymphoma is reported herein. A 47-year-old woman presented with an indolent salmon-coloured tumour of the lower epibulbar conjunctiva. Histologically, we found a lymphoid infiltrate in the epithelium and subepithelium consisting of two components. One component was characterized by centrocytic-like cells and the other by lymphocytic, plasmacytoid and plasma cells. An immunohistological study demonstrated a light chain restricted immunoglobulin expression of the tumour cells as well as some residual polytypic follicles exhibiting reticular dendritic cells. Tumour cell proliferation was associated with a T cell reactive population. A comprehensive investigation (in particular an orbital scan) did not demonstrate any other localization of this lymphoma. Such a lesion raised the question of a possible MALT origin, by analog with MALT-lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract described by Isaacson and colleagues.

[Production of a monoclonal anti-Cryptosporidium sp. antibody for paraffin-embedded sections]. / Production d'un anticorps monoclonal anti-cryptosporidium sp. utilisable sur coupe en paraffine.

Since the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, human Cryptosporidiosis has received increased attention. A provisional histological diagnosis can be made on gastrointestinal tract biopsy specimens by light microscopy by showing small round organisms of 2-5 microns attached to the epithelial cell apex. The definitive diagnosis of certitude can only be made by electron microscopy with the identification of various developmental stages of the parasites. We have produced a monoclonal antibody specific to Cryptosporidium sp. usable in paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Such a monoclonal antibody would be an important tool for histological diagnosis of human Cryptosporidiosis.

[Epilepsy and bilateral occipital calcifications: 3 cases]. / Epilepsie et calcifications occipitales bilatérales: 3 cas.

We report 3 cases of epilepsy with bilateral occipital calcifications followed up for several years. These cases were compared with 21 published cases and were found to differ from the classical Sturge-Weber syndrome on several points: 1) the disease appeared around the age of 5 years and consisted of focal epilepsy without neurological or mental disorders; 2) the epilepsy was easy to control during 2 to 5 years. This was followed by a diffuse encephalopathy with severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy, Gerstmann's syndrome, optic ataxia, cerebellar syndrome and slow activity at EEG. It appears from these 3 cases that: 1) occipital calcifications may be unilateral at the onset of the disease; 2) visual evoked potentials are affected at a late stage, and 3) CT scans are of considerable value in the prognosis of benign epilepsy in childhood.

[Favorable outcome of Wegener's disease limited to the lungs. Apropos of a case]. / Evolution favorable de la maladie de Wegener limitée aux poumons. A propos d'un cas.

A case of Wegener's granuloma limited to the lungs is reported in a 22 year old man. The pulmonary radiograph showed bilateral nodules. A lung biopsy of a nodule revealed a necrosing vasculitis involving the arteries and the veins and some areas of necrosis in geographical contours around these vessels. The renal function was normal and 4 1/2 years later the outcome remains favourable with the minimum of treatment, the exception being a course of antibiotics post operatively. Fifty seven cases of Wegener's granuloma limited to the lungs have been diagnosed after lung biopsy, transbronchial or bronchial material. The outcome was favourable in 72% of cases. This result was observed in the absence of any treatment in 6 cases (13%). In 2 cases the pulmonary nodules disappeared or developed cavities. In 4 cases the anatomical and/or radiological progress is unknown. Currently the factors leading to such an outcome have not yet been identified.

[Is the Tru-Cut needle more efficient than the fine needle in the diagnosis of hepatic lesions? Comparative study of 45 echography-guided punctures]. / L'aiguille Tru-Cut est-elle plus efficace que l'aiguille fine dans le diagnostic des lésions hépatiques? Etude comparative de 45 ponctions guidées par l'échographie.

A comparison of diagnostic efficiency of fine needle biopsy (22 G) versus coarse needle biopsy (Tru-Cut 14 G) was performed on ultrasound-guided liver biopsies in 45 patients. Diagnosis was established through clinical, paraclinical and pathologic features. For each patient pathologic examination of both fine needle biopsy (cytology and histology) and coarse needle biopsy (histology) were performed by a pathologist unaware of any clinical data. Of 36 malignant tumors, diagnosis of malignancy was made in 83 percent of the cases by fine needle biopsy and in 81 percent of the cases by Tru-Cut biopsy, and distinction between primary and secondary cancer, in 83 and 86 percent of cases respectively. Specificity was 100 percent with both techniques. Of 9 benign lesions, the 6 focalized fatty infiltrations were diagnosed by both fine and coarse needle biopsies. As fine needle biopsy is less invasive than coarse needle biopsy and gave equally satisfying results, we suggest that it should be used preferentially in the diagnosis of focalized liver lesions.

[A case of liver angiosarcoma arising in a pre-existing cavernous hemangioma]. / Un cas d'angiosarcome hépatique développé sur un hémangiome caverneux pré-existant.

A 36-year-old woman presented with a solitary hepatic tumor. Macroscopically, the tumor measured 9 cm in greatest diameter, and was well encapsulated; it was reddish, and showed multiple foci of hemorrhage. Microscopic examination revealed two different patterns: a peripheral angiosarcoma surrounding a centrally located cavernous haemangioma. To our knowledge, such an entity has not been reported up to now. Possible pathomechanisms, radiological and pathological findings of this angiosarcoma of liver arising within a cavernous haemangioma are commented.

CD 15 antigen in Hodgkin's disease.

A retrospective analysis of 117 cases of Hodgkin's disease treated at the Centre G.F. Leclerc between 1976 and 1985 was performed with three objectives: 1): to re-evaluate the histologic subtype by the Lukes-Rye classification according to recent data; 2): to demonstrate the frequency of CD 15 antigen by an indirect, three stage immunoperoxidase technique on initial node biopsy histologic sections; 3): to study the prognostic value of this antigen. Histologic reclassification disclosed that 9 cases were in fact non Hodgkin's lymphoma. The remaining 108 cases were classified as lymphocyte predominant (n = 11), nodular sclerosis (n = 77), and mixed cellularity (n = 17), with no cases of either lymphocyte depletion or nodular paragranuloma of Poppema and Lennert identified. In these specimens, fixed in Bouin's solution and embedded in paraffin, CD 15 antigen was detected in the Reed-Sternberg cells and the mononuclear variety of Hodgkin cells in 64 patients (59%). The presence of this antigen was independent of histologic subtype, patient age or sex, clinical stage and the presence of systemic symptoms. Both actuarial disease-free and overall survivals showed that the prognosis of Hodgkin's disease is more favorable in CD 15 positive cases.

Subcellular localization of UDP-glucuronyltransferase by differential centrifugation. Changes produced by pretreatment of rats with secretin, glucagon, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and phenobarbitone.

Subcellular fractionation of liver homogenates from treated rats was carried out in order to study the mechanism of action of the gastrointestinal polypeptides on glucoronidation. Rats were treated for 90 min with an intravenous infusion of secretin (0.4 cU/h/100 g body weight), glucagon (100 micrograms/h/100 g body weight) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (300 ng/h/100 g body weight); controls were sham-treated rats. For comparison, another group of animals was treated with a daily injection of phenobarbitone (10 mg/kg), a well-established enzyme inducer. Treatment with the different polypeptides produced minor changes in the subcellular localization of the enzyme. The bulk of activity was always recovered in the microsomal fraction, as identified by both differential centrifugation and the enrichment in specific activity of glucose-6-phosphatase, esterase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. Secretin produced a specific increase of bilirubin glucuronidation, more evident in all nuclear fractions. Glucagon increased both bilirubin and p-nitrophenol glucuronidation in all subcellular fractions. VIP had a selective action on p-nitrophenol conjugation of similar extent in nuclear and microsomal fractions. The type of changes observed is suggestive of physicochemical modifications occurring into the cell, perhaps at the membrane environment of different organelles, able to modify the overall conjugation of different substrates by the cell.