Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis is a rare parasitic zoonosis, potentially lethal in childhood. It is due to Echinococcosis multilocularis whose larva insidiously develops in the liver. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl, living in the Vosges Mountains, followed for recurrent abdominal pain, with recent worsening. Diagnosis of alveolar echinococcosis was immediately suspected based on the liver ultrasound scan and then confirmed by imaging (CT scan, NMR) and serology. A curative surgical treatment (segmentectomy) was performed 3 months after diagnosis, under oral albendazole treatment, maintained for at least 2 years. Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis usually has a negative prognosis, except if diagnosed early, which allows rapid surgical treatment, as in our patient.

L’objectif de l’étude était d’estimer la durée d’allaitement maternel et d’identifier les facteurs associés à son initiation et au sevrage.

UNLABELLEDOur objectives were to estimate duration of breastfeeding and to identify factors associated with initiation and weaning.METHODSA prospective study was carried out among 353 mothers delivering in three obstetric hospitals at Aix-Chambery (Savoie, France). Breastfeeding was considered as survival data with censored observations. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.RESULTSBreastfeeding was initiated by 70.8% (66.1-75.5) (exclusive breastfeeding = 39.9% and complementary breastfeeding = 30.9%). Respectively, 58.1% (52.9-63.3) and 12.2% (8.3-16.1) were continuing some breastfeeding at one and six months. The median duration of breastfeeding was 13 weeks (11.6-14.4). Shorter duration was associated with contact beyond one hour from birth (adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] = 1.25 [1.03-1.52] and with contact beyond eight hours aHR = 1.78 [1.66-1.92]), pacifier use (aHR = 1.72 [1.19-2.47]), breastfeeding at fixed hours (aHR = 1.78 [1.29-2.45]), and decision to breastfeed during pregnancy or the postpartum period (aHR = 1.70 [1.45-2.00]).CONCLUSIONBreastfeeding initiation and duration were higher in maternity hospitals of Chambéry than estimations measured in the 1998 French perinatal survey and in other ad hoc surveys. Identified factors should be used in order to plan future programs designed to increase duration of breastfeeding.

IgE synthesis is controlled by interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-gamma but there is heterogeneity in the IL-4 response depending on the sensitization of patients and natural allergen exposure. In patients sensitized to various allergens, we studied the synthesis of IL-4, IFN-gamma and IgE to determine to what extent their in vitro immune response may be influenced by pollen season depending on their sensitization. We studied 12 nonallergic individuals, seven patients sensitized to cypress pollen, 12 sensitized to grass pollen, 14 sensitized to several pollens, and 42 patients with polysensitization. The release of IL-4 and IFN-gamma from peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by polyclonal agents (calcium ionophore A23187 and phorbol myristate acetate) was measured by ELISA. The spontaneous and IL-4-induced release of IgE was measured by ELISA. In patients with cypress pollen allergy, IL-4 and IgE release were significantly lower than in patients with other allergies. In the pollen-sensitized group, IL-4 and IgE release were significantly higher during the pollen season than out of it. No variation in IL-4 or IgE release was observed in the polysensitized group. IFN-gamma production was not affected by the pollen season. These data show that the seasonal variations of IL-4 and IgE synthesis differ according to the sensitization of patients.

Airway macrophages are activated in asthmatic subjects. Peripheral blood monocytes from these subjects present some functional features of activation, but their membrane markers are not known. Recently a new subtype of blood monocytes, CD14+/CD16+, has been identified which possesses the characteristics of tissue macrophages. A study was carried out on nine normal subjects and 11 untreated asthmatics having variable severities of the disease to examine the phenotypic characteristics of monocytes. CD14, CD16, HLA-DR, CD11a, CD11b, CD44 and CD54 were studied using double fluorescence flow cytometry since these antigens have been defined in the CD14+/CD16+ monocytes. The functional activation of monocytes was examined using the release of superoxide anion. The co-expression of CD14 and CD16 by monocytes in terms of percentage and mean fluorescence intensity was significantly higher in asthmatics (P < 0.002 and P < 0.0001, respectively, Mann-Whitney U-test). There was no difference for the other membrane markers between asthmatics and normal subjects. Superoxide anion release was significantly increased in asthmatic subjects (P < 0.01). This study shows that most blood monocytes of asthmatics are CD14+/CD16+ and are likely to present features of tissue macrophages.

IgE synthesis is controlled by interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-gamma, but there is heterogeneity in the IL-4 response depending on the sensitization of patients and natural allergen exposure. In patients sensitized to various allergens, we studied the synthesis of IL-4, IFN-gamma, and IgE to determine to what extent their in vitro immune response may be influenced by pollen season, depending on their sensitization. We studied 12 nonallergic individuals, seven patients sensitized to cypress pollen, 12 sensitized to grass pollen, 14 sensitized to several pollens, and 42 patients with polysensitization. The release of IL-4 and IFN-gamma from peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by polyclonal agents (calcium ionophore A23187 and phorbol myristate acetate) was measured by ELISA. The spontaneous and IL-4-induced release of IgE was measured by ELISA. In patients with cypress pollen allergy, IL-4 and IgE release were significantly lower than in patients with other allergies. In the pollen-sensitized group, IL-4 and IgE release were significantly higher during the pollen season than out of it. No variation in IL-4 or IgE release was observed in the polysensitized group. IFN-gamma production was not affected by the pollen season. These data show that the seasonal variations of IL-4 and IgE synthesis differ according to the sensitization of patients.

In asthma, alveolar macrophages (AMs) are hyperreactive releasing large amounts of mediators and expressing high levels of surface markers. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) upregulates monocytes and AMs, and may be involved in the hyperreactivity of AMs. The effects of GM-CSF were tested on monocytes and AMs from normal subjects by examining the expression of factors thought to be upregulated in asthma. After various incubation times of GM-CSF, the expression of CD23 and beta 2-integrins (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c) was studied by FACS and the release of sCD23 was measured by ELISA. The priming and stimulatory effects of GM-CSF were tested on monocytes and AMs and the release of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) was measured by ELISA. GM-CSF induced the expression of CD11c and CD23 and the release of sCD23. GM-CSF primed and stimulated monocytes and AMs to release LTB4. The effects of GM-CSF may explain partly the hyperreactivity of AMs in asthma.

Atopy is heterogeneous and the IgE immune response of patients allergic to a single allergen (monosensitized) differs from that of those allergic to multiple allergens (polysensitized). Since interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) regulate human IgE synthesis in vitro, we determined whether cytokines may be involved in the heterogeneity of atopy by comparing the serum IgE and sCD23 titres to the cytokine profile of T lymphocytes from 44 atopic patients (13 mono- and 31 polysensitized) and seven non-atopic subjects. Monosensitized patients were allergic to grass or cypress pollens or house dust mites, and polysensitized ones to many pollen species (n = 5) or many allergens (n = 26). Total serum IgE was lower in the control group than in both atopic groups and in the monosensitized group than in the polysensitized one. IgE immunoblots to orchard grass pollen and house dust mites were less heterogeneous in the monosensitized group than in the polysensitized one. IL-4 production by in vitro-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was significantly higher in the polysensitized group than in the monosensitized, and marginal in the control group. In contrast, IFN-gamma production was strongly reduced in both atopic groups, and IL-2 production comparable in the three groups. IgE and soluble CD23 (sCD23) release was higher in the atopic groups than in the control, and higher in the polysensitized group than in the monosensitized one. This study shows that PBMC of mono- and polysensitized subjects have a different IL-4 and sCD23 profile and suggests that human beings may be classified into high and low IgE responders on the basis of IL-4 production.

During strenuous exercise in endurance athletes, monocytes are activated and there is an acute inflammation and hypoxemia possibly due to lesional pulmonary edema. IL-6 and TNF-alpha released by monocytes may be implicated in the acute phase of lesional pulmonary edema. A study was carried out to determine whether TNF-alpha and IL-6 are released during strenuous exercise, and, if adrenalin released during exercise alters their generation. Ten young and six master athletes underwent an incremental exercise test. Arterial blood was drawn at rest, at the end of the exercise, and 20 minutes afterwards. Monocytes were isolated and incubated for 18 hours in the presence or absence of adrenalin. IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured in monocyte supernatants. The spontaneous release of IL-6 or TNF-alpha was increased in young athletes when compared to older subjects. The spontaneous release of TNF-alpha was increased, but not significantly, by exercise and there was no correlation between the release of IL-6 and TNF-alpha and lung function measured during hypoxemia. Adrenalin inhibited the release of IL-6 or TNF-alpha. Correlations were observed between the in vitro release of IL-6 or TNF-alpha and age, VO(2)max, maximal ventilation and maximal power output of the subjects.

Establishment of T cell clones derived from bronchial biopsies and peripheral blood from allergic asthmatics has shown that they secret a different IL-4 and IFN-γ pattern of cytokines, suggesting that the micro-environment of the bronchi may influence the phenotype of the T cells.

Plankton production in the Bay of Villefranche was relatively constant during March and April 1986 but the particle size at which the production occurred was more variable. At the beginning of the study, production was dominated by the larger (ca. 6 μm) flagellates but towards the end it was more or less equally divided between the nano- and picoplankton. There were considerable differences in the estimates of population growth rates, depending on the methods used, but on average the population doubling times were close to 12 hours for autotrophs and 24 hours for heterotrophs. As autotrophs do not grow during the night, each population was therefore doubling once per day. It seemed that each of the nanoor picoplankton populations could adversely affect the growth of the others. This could be either by simple predation or by some form of inhibition. Although nutrient levels in the bay were uniformly low, the addition of nutrients did not always stimulate algal growth. The plankton populations seemed to be both in a state of equilibrium and intense ecological competition.

Helvetica Chimica ActaVolume 12, Issue 1 p. 881-893 Article Recherches sur l'action chimique des décharges électriques I. Influence de la nature des électrodes sur la production d'oxyde d'azote dans l'arc électrique E. Briner, E. Briner Genève, Laboratoire de Chimie technique et théoriqueSearch for more papers by this authorA. Rivier, A. Rivier Genève, Laboratoire de Chimie technique et théoriqueSearch for more papers by this author E. Briner, E. Briner Genève, Laboratoire de Chimie technique et théoriqueSearch for more papers by this authorA. Rivier, A. Rivier Genève, Laboratoire de Chimie technique et théoriqueSearch for more papers by this author First published: 1929 https://doi.org/10.1002/hlca.19290120192Citations: 6AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume12, Issue11929Pages 881-893 RelatedInformation