[Electron microscopic study of the sera of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) subjects (author's transl)]. / Apport de la microscope électronique dans l'étude du sérum de sujets Ag HBs positifs.

Electron microscopic observation of sera from 59 subjects(HBs Ag-negative controls, HBs Ag-positive asymptomatic blood donors, and HBs Ag-positive patients with acute viral hepatitis, chronic persistant or active hepatitis and alcohol-induced liver damage) was capable of specifying the morphology of the HB virus (spherical particles, rod-shaped particles and Dane particles) and of correlating the aspect of the observed viral material with the nature and evolution of the liver damage. The viral particles are observed in small amounts in asymptomatic blood donors and in patients with acute viral hepatitis, but are present in very significant quantities in chronic hepatitis. Dane particles and viral particle aggregates are more numerous in chronic active hepatitis than in chronic persistant hepatitis. The detection of HBeAg in the serum, especially found in chronic active hepatitis, correlates with the presence of Dane particles. In most cases, the observed viral particle aggregates do not seem to be associated with an immunological process.

Progressive ophthalmoplegia associated with asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis. Histologic, histochemical, cytochemical, and ultrastructural studies of muscle and liver biopsy specimens.

The authors report a case of progressive ophthalmoplegia associated with asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis diagnosed by the finding of antimitochondrial antibodies and liver biopsy. Electron microscopic findings showed mitochondrial abnormalities, especially intramitochondrial paracrystalline inclusions, not only in skeletal muscle but also in hepatocytes. Enzymatic digestion revealed the acidic protein nature of the intramitochondrial paracrystalline inclusions of the hepatocyte. To the authors' best knowledge, the association of progressive ophthalmoplegia and primary biliary cirrhosis has not yet been reported in the literature. Despite the mitochondrial abnormalities in both skeletal muscle and liver and the presence of serum antimitochondrial antibodies, no apparent connection between these two diseases was found.

[Peptic esophageal strictures. Dilatation with the Eder-Puestow's olives system (author's transl)]. / Sténoses peptiques de l'oesophage. Traitement par le dilatateur d'Eder-Puestow.

Esophageal dilatations under topical pharyngeal anesthesia with the Eder-Puestow's metallic olives system were performed 101 times on 30 patients presenting peptic strictures. This method uses first a metallic wire introduced into the esophagus and the stomach under endoscopic control. Then, the wire allows to guide dilatating olives through very tight strictures. Functional results were excellent 28 times out of 30; two patients only required repeated dilatations because of uncomplete treatment (stenosis on esojejunal anastomosis). Finally, surgical procedure was never indicated. The use of Eder-Puestow's material together with fiberoptic esophagoscope reduces the hazard of peroral bougienage: no complication occured in our series.