Cordylobia anthropophaga (Diptera: Calliphoridae) outside Africa: a case of furuncular myiasis in a child returning from Congo

International travel to tropical countries accounts for an increasing incidence of imported diseases. An unusual case of furuncular myiasis due to Cordylobia anthropophaga (Blanchard) is reported in northern France in a 9-mo-old infant, after a 4-mo stay in Congo. A review has been made of the major cases of imported furuncular myiasis due to Cordylobia, as well as identification of second larval instars and management of the myiasis.     

A European workshop to investigate technical problems of using HLA monoclonal antibodies in microcytotoxicity assays

Various methods for controlling carryover from monoclonal antibodies (MCA) used in the microcytotoxicity assay to detect HLA antigens were investigated by 45 European laboratories. Carryover was demonstrated in most laboratories when using standard techniques (i.e. as for allo-antisera). Taking into consideration factors such as technical ease, time, accuracy and reagent availability, nearly half the participants selected the "no-touch" technique for adding cells and complement as being the best method for controlling carryover in their laboratory. (This method allows the needle of the Hamilton syringe to touch the oil but not the antibody in each well). Most participants (75%) thought that at least one diluent well was still necessary between each MCA well, even when using their preferred technique.     

Serum alpha-L-fucosidase: a new marker for the diagnosis of primary hepatic carcinoma?

alpha-L-fucosidase, a lysosomal enzyme which catabolizes fucoproteins, was studied in sera from 30 controls, 32 patients with primary hepatic carcinomas, 24 patients with secondary metastatic liver carcinomas and 36 patients with cirrhosis. Serum alpha-L-fucosidase was increased in primary hepatic carcinomas (145.5 +/- 12 nkat per liter) with a high statistical significance versus controls (51.4 +/- 4.5 - p less than 10(-7], secondary metastatic liver carcinomas (58.9 +/- 6.4 - p less than 10(-5] and cirrhotics (71.3 +/- 6 - p less than 10(-5). A level exceeding 110 was a useful marker for the diagnosis of primary hepatic carcinoma with 75% sensitivity and 90% specificity.     

Entomofauna of buried bodies in northern France

Autopsies of exhumed cadavers can reveal important evidence for clarification of medical insurance and social issues. This study concerns insects sampled on 22 exhumed cadavers in the Lille area. For each corpse, the species and the stages of development were noted, as well as the time elapsed after burial, the location of the cemetery, the stage of decay and possible preservation treatment. A total of eight Diptera and two Coleoptera species were sampled on the corpses. The relationships between entomofauna and conditions of burial are discussed. Three species were regularly found because of their preference for underground environments or closed environments: Conicera tibialis, typically associated with buried bodies, Leptocera caenosa which is known to be associated with human faeces, water closets, caves and cracked soil pipes, and Ophyra capensis, sometimes found on human bodies kept indoors for several months, where blowflies have not had access. Triphleba hyalinata, which is associated with human bodies in wooden coffins, was found only twice.     

Robotic versus laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: a French prospective single-center experience and cost-effectiveness analysis

Surgical Endoscopy - Benefits and cost-effectiveness of robotic approach for distal pancreatectomy (DP) remain debated. In this prospective study, we aim to compare the short-term results and real...     

Hepatitis B virus infection markers in genetic haemochromatosis. A study of 272 patients.

Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection markers were studied in 272 patients with homozygous genetic haemochromatosis complicated (n = 33) or not (n = 239) with primary liver cancer (PLC). Controls consisted of 255 029 healthy blood donors from whom age- and sex-matched control groups were extracted for statistical evaluation using the Fisher exact test. In blood donors, HBsAg was positive in 0.075% of males and 0.04% of females. This population was not screened for anti-Hbs. Anti-Hbc alone (without HBsAg) was present in 3.7% of men and 1.8% of women. In patients with genetic haemochromatosis without liver cancer (183 males, 45.6 +/- 11.3 yrs and 56 women, 48 +/- 12.4 yrs), HBsAg was found in 1.1% of men and in none of the women. Anti-HBs was present in 7.3% of males and 1.8% of females. Anti-HBc alone was found in 13% of males (p less than 0.005 vs. controls) and 2.1% of females. From male patients with primary liver cancer complicating genetic haemochromatosis (32 males, 61.7 +/- 6.8 yrs and one female), 6.2% were HBsAg positive, 3.4% were anti-HBs positive and 16.6% anti-HBc positive (p = 0.05 vs. controls). No serum HBV marker was found in the woman. In conclusion, the prevalence of HBV infection markers--especially anti-HBc--is significantly increased in patients with genetic haemochromatosis complicated or not with primary liver cancer.