Low dose Rituximab for pre-emptive treatment of Epstein Barr virus reactivation after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The most used preemptive therapy for Epstein Barr virus reactivation post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (HSCT) transplant is Rituximab, 375 mg/m2, once weekly until EBV viremia negativity. There is no data suggesting such a high dose. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that a lower dose of Rituximab would be as efficient with less toxicity. PATIENTS: In a retrospective, monocentric study, we analyzed 16 consecutive patients treated preemptively with low dose Rituximab for EBV reactivation post HSCT. Patients were treated with low Rituximab dose of 100 mg/m² weekly. Success was defined by a decrease of EBV viremia of 1 log10 and below 1000 UI/ml, and the absence of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). RESULTS: Success rate was 93.4% (15/16). One (1/16, 6%) PTLD was diagnosed after preemptive therapy, despite a negative viremia. CONCLUSION: A low dose of Rituximab of 100 mg/m² per injection for pre-emptive therapy of EBV reactivation post HSCT is safe and effective for preventing PTLD. Prospective, randomized, multicentric trials with larger number of patient are needed to determine the best rituximab dose.

Effect of ingestion of thermally oxidized sunflower oil on the fatty acid composition and antioxidant enzymes of rat liver and brain in development.

BACKGROUND: The current study was undertaken to assess the effects of oxidized sunflower oil ingestion (obtained by heating at 98 degrees C with air insufflation during 48 h and incorporated at 5% in a fat-free diet) on liver and brain fatty acid composition, and some serum parameters and protective enzymes against peroxidation (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). RESULTS: The main results show that the oxidized oil contains 262 mmol/kg of hydroperoxides, 5.7% of the esters are oxidized and 50.4% are polymerized. In the liver, we noticed that oxidized oil exercises a toxic effect as confirmed by the increase in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentration. In the same way, we noticed that vitamin E exercises a favorable effect in the preservation against free radicals and lipid peroxidation; however, it cannot ensure this protection alone. In the liver, only glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities were positively correlated with the TBARS concentration. In the treated groups, we also noted changes in the fatty acid profiles of liver and brain homogenates, essentially by the appearance of trans fatty acid (18:1 trans) and an increase in arachidonic acid content.

Effects of dietary crude palm oil, fish oil and their association on cholesterol and lipoprotein constants in rats which could be beneficial in humans.

The aim was first to examine the differential effects of crude and refined palm oil (CPO and RPO) on the lipid and lipoprotein constants of plasma in rats and to compare the effect of crude palm oil to that of fish oil. Secondarily, it was to know whether one can take advantage from the association of CPO with FO. Twenty-four-day-old weaning rats were divided into five experimental groups, each receiving a purified diet containing 10% oil as either a single oil or an equal amount of two oils. After a feeding period of 36 days, the main results were as follows. As compared to the rats fed the RPO diet, those fed the CPO diet had lower total cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C and apoB and higher HDL-C/LDL-C and apoA1/apoB ratios. Those fed the FO diet had only lower VLDL-C and triglycerides and higher HDL-C and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio. Whereas FO associated with RPO in the same diet had the same effect as FO alone, FO associated with CPO tends to reinforce the effect of CPO. This is particularly true for the effects on apoB and apoA1 which were found to be synergistically depressed and enhanced, respectively. Given the role played by these biological constants as predictors of CVD in humans, and in spite of the fact that these predictors are not relevant in rats, these results would suggest the potential interest of CPO or the association of CPO with FO in human nutrition.

[Effect of desertomycin on the synthesis of cell wall polymers in Saccharomyces uvarum]. / Action de la désertomycine sur la synthèse des polymères pariétaux du Saccharomyces uvarum.

The desertomycin action upon Saccharomyces uvarum wall synthesis has been studied. Spheroblast regeneration was carried out in a liquid medium containing labeled glucose to monitor the synthesis of different wall components. In the presence of desertomycin, wall synthesis was affected; this was expressed as a net reduction of insoluble alkali constituents content, more precisely the insoluble acido-alkali fraction that, in yeasts, is constituted by chains of beta(1,3)-glucans linked among themselves by beta(1,6) bonds. Mannan formation was not inhibited such polymers that cannot be fixed to the glucan matrix of the wall were liberated in the regeneration medium. Because of desertomycin action, the decrease in insoluble alkali content revealed an interference with the enzymatic systems catalyzing glucan synthesis. In vitro, however, this antifungal had little effect upon glucan synthetase activity: doses 5 times superior to the subinhibiting level used in vivo caused only 30% inhibition. This result can be explained by an indirect action of desertomycin. Parietal disorders were the result of membrane structure disturbance, notably the phospholipids and localized enzymatic systems. This antifungal presents an analogical structure with macrolides with recognized membrane action.

[Mortality levels very elevated again. Seminar on dissemination of EMIS/Burkina findings]. / Des niveaux de mortalite encore tres eleves. Seminaire de dissemination des resultats de l'EMIS/Burkina.

PIP: A national seminar was held in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, in August 1988 to disseminate the results of the Survey of Infant Mortality in the Sahel (EMIS). The seminar was organized by the National Institute of Statistics and Demography and funded by the Center for Studies and Research on Population (CERPOD). Various themes were discussed, including the development of surveys on infant and child mortality, maternal-child health policies, contraceptive knowledge and practice and its impact on child survival, and the principal causes of morbidity and mortality among children. The participants adopted a number of resolutions and requested assistance from CERPOD for a more detailed analysis of the survey data, a survey of health and demography covering the entire nation of Burkina Faso, and a regional seminar in Ouagadougou on analysis of the 2nd series of censuses in the Sahel. The EMIS surveys were conducted in 5 urban and 1 rural site in the Sahel. The rural survey was in the region of Thies, Senegal. 4 urban surveys were in Burkina Faso and 1 was in Bamako, Mali. Information was gathered through home visits in the 2 years following the child's birth on infant and early childhood mortality, the mother's use of the health system, and infant feeding practices. Despite numerous errors in data collection, the results show that infant mortality is still very high among children in the Sahel, even in urban areas. There were 13,421 births in the 4 urban areas of the Burkina Faso study. There were 88 deaths per 1000 births in the 1st year and 125 in the 2nd year. In Bamako, Mali, there were 12,114 births, 91 deaths per 1000 births in the 1st year and 122 in the 2nd year. In rural Senegal there were 4987 births, 113 deaths per 1000 births in the 1st year, and 172 in the 2nd year.^ieng