The interferon antagonist sarcolectin in the progress of HIV-1 infection and in AIDS.

Sarcolectin (SCL) is a nonspecific stimulator of cellular DNA synthesis that was found in all animal sera tested to date. It inhibits the established interferon (IFN)-dependent antiviral state, restoring cells to their normal status. In this study, we examined the excretion/secretion of the IFN antagonist SCL in sera from healthy donors and in sera collected during different periods of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. We followed HIV-1-infected patients during all stages of development (seroconversion, initial and advanced phases of AIDS) and found a significant increase in SCL in sera of HIV-infected patients compared with seronegative subjects used as controls. This increase was established during seroconversion, and then the titers leveled off. In the final stage of the disease, the SCL titer increased again very significantly. We attribute this rapid rise to the virus-dependent destruction of T cells that can no longer be repaired. The high SCL level observed at this final stage, which is most predictive of the disease's progression, suggests that the action, rather than the production, of IFN is impaired.     

Description of a large measles epidemic in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2010–2013

Background

Although measles mortality has declined dramatically in Sub-Saharan Africa, measles remains a major public health problem in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Here, we describe the large measles epidemic that occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2010 and 2013 using data from the national surveillance system as well as vaccine coverage surveys to provide a snapshot of the epidemiology of measles in DRC.

Methods

Standardized national surveillance data were used to describe measles cases from 2010 to 2013. Attack rates and case fatality ratios were calculated and the temporal and spatial evolution of the epidemic described. Data on laboratory confirmation and vaccination coverage surveys as a part of routine program monitoring are also presented.

Findings

Between week 1 of 2010 and week 45 of 2013, a total of 294,455 cases and 5,045 deaths were reported. The cumulative attack rate (AR) was 0.4%. The Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) was 1.7% among cases reported in health structures through national surveillance. A total of 186,178 cases (63%) were under 5 years old, representing an estimated AR of 1.4% in this age group. Following the first mass vaccination campaigns, weekly reported cases decreased by 21.5%. Results of post-vaccination campaign coverage surveys indicated sub-optimal (under 95%) vaccination coverage among children surveyed.

Conclusions

The data reported here highlight the need to seek additional means to reinforce routine immunization as well as ensure the timely implementation of Supplementary Immunization Activities to prevent large and repeated measles epidemics in DRC. Although reactive campaigns were conducted in response to the epidemic, strategies to ensure that children are vaccinated in the routine system remains the foundation of measles control.

     

Expression of members of Wnt and Frizzled gene families in the postnatal rat cochlea

The functioning of the mammalian cochlea is entirely based on its mechanical properties, which are supported by a highly complex tissue architecture resulting from the precise arrangement of sensory hair cells and non-sensory supporting cells. Growing evidence indicates that evolutionary conserved signaling pathways are involved in inner ear development and in the differentiation of its diverse cell types. We investigated whether members of the Wnt and Frizzled gene families, which play key roles in a wide variety of cellular and developmental processes, are expressed in the postnatal rat cochlea. A PCR screening of a rat cochlea cDNA library performed with degenerate primers allowed us to isolate five members of the Wnt gene family (RWnt-2B, -4, -5A, -5B, and -7A) and six members of the Frizzled gene family (Rfz1, Rfz2, Rfz3, Rfz4, Rfz6, Rfz9). In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry experiments demonstrated that RWnt-4, -5B, -7A have distinct, although partly overlapping, expression patterns in the juvenile rat cochlea. These results suggest that the Wnt-Frizzled signaling pathway could be involved in several aspects of late cochlear differentiation and/or auditory function.     

A particular hereditary anemia in a two-month-old infant: elliptocytosis.]

We report the case of a 2.5-month-old infant with severe anaemia discovered fortuitously during an acute febrile illness. The patient was admitted because of a septic arthritis of the knee. Initial biology showed a 3.5 g/dl haemoglobin concentration. The anaemia was microcytic and hypochromic, with obvious haemolysis and reticulocytosis. Standard analysis was not contributive. Further investigations allowed the diagnosis of elliptocytosis. The patient was treated by antibiotics, orthopaedic measures and iterative transfusions. Now, 18 months from the initial episode, she is in good health. With this history, we discuss the clinical process facing severe anaemia during infancy and review the particularities of such uncommon congenital anaemia. Elliptocytosis is a haemolytic anaemia caused by congenital anomalies of the erythrocyte membrane. Diagnosis requires morphological studies of the red blood cells on peripheral blood smear. The disease is often overlooked by membrane protein electrophoresis. The condition is heterogeneous concerning clinical, biochemical and genetic aspects. Most of the cases are linked to mutations of the alpha-spectrin gene, in autoassociation regions. Search of spectrin and protein 4.1 genes mutations can confirm the diagnosis but is not routinely performed.     

Personal sports training in the management of obese boys aged 12 to 16 years]

OBJECTIVE: Estimation of both physical and psychological effects of an adapted physical training on children undergoing an obesity treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey was carried out on 36 obese boys (ages = 12-16 years) who stayed in the medical center for at least four months. Eighteen of them were trained with the SELF method (the SELF-training is global, progressive, adapted to each boy, controlled and takes place within a ten-week period with five sessions a fortnight, each session lasting 30 to 40 minutes). The parameters that were studied concerned auxology, breathing function exploration, aerobic and anaerobic capacities, muscle strength and psychomotor qualities; the subjective effects of the training were estimated with a questionnaire about life quality, and the hand test. At inclusion the results were reported to a standard kind of population. At the end of the training the results of the 18 boys that were trained were compared to those of the 18 controls. RESULTS: Compared to a standard population, the obese children' aerobic capacity is diminished for the maximum power but is identical in absolute value for the VO2 max; their anaerobic capacities, muscle strength and psychomotor capacities are lower and their psyche is affected by the disease. After a three-month training period and after comparison with the 'control' group, there can be noticed a significant improvement in the psychomotor capacities, a major tendency for the improvement of the aerobic capacities and very positive effects on the psyche. CONCLUSION: SELF-training in association with dietetics appears to be very useful in the therapeutic care of obese children. For the follow-up at home it would need to be registered within the domain of physiotherapy.     

Evaluation of various methods of studying fecal occult blood

Occult blood testing for detection of asymptomatic colorectal cancer is an old concept. The authors review the literature about the screening value of current tests. Among the chemical tests, Hemoccult is the most popular and the best studied. Sensitivity and specificity are moderate. False negative reactions are due either to the test itself (high level of sensitivity, loss of reactivity) or to the tumour (intermittent or insufficient bleeding, localization etc...). False positive reactions are due to the interference of a high peroxidase diet. The Hemoccult test is nevertheless interesting because it is simple, cheap and well accepted. Detected cancers tend to be at a relatively early stage: 60 to 80% of Dukes A or B. New methods--Hemoquant and immunochemical methods--are being developed. Their high degree of sensitivity and specificity for human hemoglobin makes them too complex and too costly. Whatever the efficacity of a test to detect occult blood may be, we must know whether the screening of an asymptomatic population could decrease the mortality rate of colorectal cancer, before using it on a large scale. Only long-term controlled trials can give us an answer in the future.