The effect of gamma-linolenic acid on plasma and membrane lipids and renal prostaglandin synthesis in older subjects.

UNLABELLED: Senescence is associated with a decreased activity of enzyme delta-6 desaturase, which converts linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid. This enzymatic defect may alter the composition of plasma and membrane lipids, and influences the biosynthesis of renal prostaglandins. Exogenous supplementation of GLA during 3 months increases the plasma level of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (p < 0.002), and to a smaller degree, the level in erythrocyte membrane lipids. This treatment was associated with a beneficial reduction of cardiovascular risk factors (arterial hypertension, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I) and the renal function has become stable reached. Epogam treatment also increased the biosynthesis of renal prostaglandins, especially that of prostaglandin E2, which has a vasodilatory effect on vessel walls and reduces the elevated blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation of essential fatty acids such as gamma-linolenic acid to old subjects has beneficial effect on their health condition. (Tab. 6, Fig. 5, Ref. 37.)

[Post-natal diagnostic strategy of urinary tract malformations detected by prenatal screening]. / Stratégie diagnostique postnatale des uropathies malformatives dépistées avant la naissance.

BACKGROUND: The increasing experience with prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis allows detection of more and more mild urinary tract anomalies. Thus, the clinical significance of many pyelectasis detected before birth is not known. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From a retrospective study of 78 patients, we determined the positive predictive value (PPV) of prenatal ultrasound findings for urinary tract malformations. RESULTS: This PPV was 27.3% when the prenatal pelvic dilatation was isolated, but grew up to 100% if a caliceal dilatation was associated. Renal pelvic diameter in the third trimester of pregnancy could predict the degree of post-natal renal impairment, as pelvic size was 6.7 +/- 2.15 mm for the post-natal pyelectasis group, significatively smaller than 13.4 +/- 3 mm in the ureteropelvic junction obstruction group (grade 1) and than 17 +/- 9 mm in other pathological renal units. On the other hand, antenatal ultrasound had a bad sensibility for vesico-ureteral reflux detection, four primary reflux among 14 being detected without homolateral antenatal ultrasound anomaly. CONCLUSION: According these results, we propose a post-natal diagnostic strategy. Urological explorations are performed when the prenatal renal pelvic diameter is larger than 10 mm. If the postnatal ultrasound shows an isolated pyelectasis below this level, a clinical follow-up is advised, the parents being informed of the possibility of vesico-ureteral reflux and of the necessity to perform a cytobacteriological exam of urines in case of unexplained fever.

The use of numerical imagery and photogrammetric methods for the monitoring of unstable slopes

comparison and combination of high - resolution Digital Elevation Models and ortho - images generated from multi - date stereo photogrammetric aerial views, provides a powerful tool for the study of large ground movements, e.g. landslides and creep. Several sites have been studies in France; for each, a digitised image of the deformation field of a continuous ground surface has been computed, The extraction of qualitative and quantitative data, such as displacement and the volume of superficial deformetion, provides the necessary data for characterising and understanding the evolution of such sites. (AU)

Late and unusual intestinal features in cystic fibrosis-pseudotumoral intestinal wall thickening.

12 C.F. patients, 3 males and 9 females, aged 7 y to 36 y (mean 15 y) have had radiological studies of the G. I. tract, either by barium meal or barium enema, resulting in the following findings: - thickened mucosal folds of the duodenum in 2 cases, - a defect of the medial part of the caecum with or without propensity to intussusception, due to a large appendix with hypertrophic mucus glands in 7 cases; - tiny defects of the walls of the caecum and of the colon due to enlarged mucus glands in 5 cases, - a pseudotumoral thickening of the walls of the caecum and of the right colon, confirmed by CT and endoscopy in a woman aged 36 y. Several of these cases have been histologically confirmed either after surgery or by endoscopy. The lesions of the appendix with propensity to intussusception account for the intermittent colicky pains of these patients; radiological evaluation may result in eventual surgery.

[Severe epithelio-exfoliative colitis in infants. Anatomical data]. / Colite grave épithélio-exfoliative du nourrisson. II. Données anatomiques.

Amongst the uncommon forms of congenital severe colitis, we wish to draw attention to a peculiar and probably previously never described condition that we propose calling provisionally, epithelio-exfoliative colitis. This condition appears to be characterized by the following features: its early beginning within the first weeks of life; the smooth, glossy appearance of the mucosa, without ulcerations visible to the naked eye; the prevalent degenerative changes of the epithelial cells which become vacuolated, break away prematurely from the basement membrane and finally exfoliate within the glandular lumens; the distension and rupture of the glands, the mucous contents of which intrude into the lamina propria and induce a localized, mild and non suppurative inflammatory reaction; accessory reactive traits: intense mucus production actively regenerating epithelium (high mitotic activity, syncytial cells) and increase of the cholinergic fibers within the lamina propria. Although patchily distributed, these lesions involve the colon exclusively. The cause of epithelio-exfoliative colitis is unknown. However, the ultrastructural studies and immunocytochemical investigations using anti-collagen IV, antilaminin, anti-fibronectin antibodies disclose in some glands localized thinning and rupture of the basement membrane. These data suggest a primary disorder within the molecular arrangement of either the basement membrane itself or the proteins which anchor the glandular cells to the basement membrane.

[Aortic stenosis associated with vascular malformations of the digestive tract. 2 cases (author's transl)]. / Rétrécissement aortique associé à des malformations vasculaires gastro-intestinales. 2 observations.

Two patients with aortic stenosis had recurrent digestive haemorrhages. Fiberoscopy showed the presence of angiodysplasia of the stomach in one patient and of the colon in the other. This association had been reported in subjects older than 60. It does not seem to be fortuitous. The authors discuss the theoretical and practical implications, including the need for full radiological and endoscopic exploration of patients with recurrent digestive haemorrhages, particularly when associated with aortic stenosis.

[Palliative intubation under fibre-endoscopic control in cancer of the esophagus and cardia (24 cases) (author's transl)]. / Intubation palliative par voie endoscopique des cancers oesophagiens. Vingt-quatre cas.

Positioning of the intra-esophageal prothesis under fibre-endoscopic control sets up a simple and effective method as a palliative treatment of dysphagia in patients with esophageal cancers unable to take advantage of curative treatment. It makes the short survival of those patients more comfortable with a low mortality rate. An X-Ray-therapy may be associated.

[Decabromobiphenyl : toxicological study (author's transl)]. / Décabromobiphényle : etude toxicologique..

The paper presents results of experimental studies on a polybrominated flame retardant. Decabromobiphenyl was found not to be irritant to the rabbit skin or eye. The oral and dermal LD 50' in the rat are greater than 5 g/kg. In a 90 days feeding trial in rats no toxic effect were demonstrated at the levels of 100 and 500 ppm. However, hepatic change occured with diet containing 2.000 ppm. In a 4 weeks dust inhalation study, the no effect level was between 0.005 and 0.05 mg/l of air. The higher concentrations induced hepatic changes. Decabromobiphenyl was not teratogenic or embryotoxic to the rat at 10, 100 and 1.000 mg/kg per os. There was no evidence to indicate that the compound has mutagenic potential. Comparing the toxicological profile of decabromobiphenyl with other polybrominated biphenyl flame retardants would indicate that the toxicity decreases when the number of bromine atoms is increased.