Cellulase families revealed by hydrophobic cluster analysis.

The amino acid sequences of 21 beta-glycanases have been compared by hydrophobic cluster analysis. Six families of cellulases have been identified on the basis of primary structure homology: (A) endoglucanases B, C and E of Clostridium thermocellum; endoglucanases of Erwinia chrysanthemi and Bacillus sp.; endoglucanase III of Trichoderma reesei; endoglucanase I of Schizophyllum commune; (B) cellobiohydrolase II of T. reesei; endoglucanases of Cellulomonas fimi and Streptomyces sp; (C) cellobiohydrolases I of T. reesei and of Phanerochaete chrysosporium; endoglucanase I of T. reesei; (D) endoglucanase A of C. thermocellum and an endoglucanase from Ce. uda; (E) endoglucanase D of C. thermocellum and an endoglucanase from Pseudomonas fluorescens; (F) xylanases of C. thermocellum and of Cryptococcus albidus and the cellobio-hydrolase of Ce. fimi. For each family, conserved potentially catalytic residues have have been listed and previous allocations of the active-site residues are evaluated in the light of the alignment of the amino acid sequences. A strong homology is also reported for the putative cellulose-binding domains of cellulases of Ce. fimi and of P. fluorescens.

[Rare tumor of the posterio-superior mediastinum. Therapeutic approach. Apropos of a case. Review of the literature]. / Tumeur rare du médiastin postéro-supérieur. Attitude thérapeutique. A propos d'un cas. Revue de la littérature.

The authors report an exceptional case of giant cell tumour of the third thoracic vertebra revealed by its mediastinal development. Despite intimate involvement of the large mediastinal vessels, a double surgical approach, starting with sternotomy to ensure vascular control then anterolateral thoracotomy, allowed curative resection of this tumor. Treatment was completed by a second neurosurgical operation followed by 5,000 rads of radiotherapy. Based on a review of the literature, the authors discuss the pathogenesis and consider the various therapeutic problems raised by giant cell tumours of the vertebrae (situated above the sacrum).

[Value of bony resection-reconstruction by avascular autologous fibular graft in the tropical milieu. Treatment of a giant cavernous hemangioma of the humerus]. / Intérêt de la résection-reconstruction osseuse par péroné autologue non vascularisé en milieu tropical. A propos du traitement d'un hémangiome caverneux géant de l'humerus.

In a poorly equipped tropical setting, limb amputation is often considered as the only therapeutic solution for malignant tumors or large benign tumors. However it can be avoided by bone replacement using an avascular autologous fibular graft. This method was used in a young girl from Tchad presenting a giant cavernous hemangioma of the humerus. This technique allowed salvage of the extremity but resulted inevitably in radial paralysis. The time needed for bone healing was normal. This technique required minimum facilities and was perfectly biocompatible. It can be used in tropical settings where allograft techniques and prosthetic replacement are not available.

[Uncommon complication of the use of implantable chambers in oncology]. / Complication inhabituelle de l'utilisation des chambers implantables en oncologie.

The catheter of an implantable chamber migrated into the pulmonary infundibulum in a patient given chemotherapy for bronchogenic cancer. Current management of such cases is to remove the catheter under pulmonary angiography control using a basket system.