Glioma tumor grade correlates with parkin depletion in mutant p53-linked tumors and results from loss of function of p53 transcriptional activity.

Gliomas represent the most frequent form of primary brain tumors in adults, the prognosis of which remains extremely poor. Inactivating mutations on the tumor suppressor TP53 were proposed as a key etiological trigger of glioma development. p53 has been recently identified as a transcriptional target of parkin. Interestingly, somatic mutations on parkin have also been linked to glioma genesis. We examined the possibility that a disruption of a functional interaction between p53 and parkin could contribute to glioma development in samples devoid of somatic parkin mutations or genetic allele deletion. We show here that parkin levels inversely correlate to brain tumor grade and p53 levels in oligodendrogliomas, mixed gliomas and glioblastomas. We demonstrate that p53 levels negatively and positively correlate to bax and Bcl2 respectively, underlying a loss of p53 transcriptional activity in all types of glial tumors. Using various cell models lacking p53 or harboring either transcriptionally inactive or dominant negative p53, as well as in p53 knockout mice brain, we establish that p53 controls parkin promoter transactivation, mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, we document an increase of parkin expression in mice brain after p53-bearing viral infection. Finally, both cancer-related p53 inactivating mutations and deletion of a consensus p53 binding sequence located on parkin promoter abolish p53-mediated control of parkin transcription, demonstrating that p53 regulates parkin transcription via its DNA binding properties. In conclusion, our work delineates a functional interplay between mutated p53 and parkin in glioma genesis that is disrupted by cancer-linked pathogenic mutations. It also allows envisioning parkin as a novel biomarker of glioma biopsies enabling to follow the progression of this type of cancers.

[Functional colonic pathology in the Ivory Coast]. / La pathologie fonctionnelle colique en Côte-d'Ivoire.

Functional colic disorders such as the irritable bowel syndrome are very common in Ivory Coast. Etiologic, clinical, biological and roentgenological features were studied in 100 randomized cases. Findings were compared to the features encountered in Caucasians. Psychologic factors, constipation and therapeutic problems that seem to be of significance for understanding functional colic conditions in Ivoirians and other West Africans are discussed.

[Epidemiology of colorectal cancer in the Ivory Coast]. / Réflexions sur l'épidémiologie du cancer colo-rectal en Côte-d'Ivoire.

Several epidemiologic studies using data from hospital departments and from the pathological department of the Abidjan University show that colorectal cancer is infrequent in Ivory Coast (2% of all cancers). The incidence of the various factors classically incriminated in colic carcinogenesis is analyzed and discussed: precancerous conditions (adenomas, polyps, inflammatory bowel disease), histogenesis (condition of the colic mucosa) and nutritional factors. Constipation, which is very common in spite of a high intake of fibers, cannot be regarded as a predisposing factor.

[Significance of the presence of Australia antigen in liver diseases seen in a department of internal medicine in Abidjan]. / Réflexions sur la signification de la présence de l'antigène Australia dans les hépatopathies observées dans un service de médecine interne à Abidjan.

The exact responsibility of the hepatitis B virus in hepatic diseases seen in Ivory Coast is difficult to specify for several reasons, particularly technical ones. Nevertheless, we have tried to determine the prevalence of the HB virus in hospital practice and in patients hospitalized for liver diseases (viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, primary liver cancer). Comparison of the results to the prevalence of the virus in the ivorian population and statistical processing has led us to moderate the influence of HB virus in the different hepatic disorders. In primary liver cancer, the role of aflatoxine whose carcinogenic potential is now well established has not been disproved.

[Hepatic amebiasis: recent aspects. One hundred and sixty one case reports (author's transl)]. / L'amibiase hépatique: aspects actuels. Cent soixante et une observations.

The authors describe their experience of 16l patients (151 adults and 10 children) with hepatic amebiasis. Diagnosis and treatment were carried out at the Treichville Hospital University Center in Abidjan over a three-year period, from September 1976 to November 1979. Diagnosis was established without question in all cases. The indirect immunofluorescence reaction was particularly helpful. All patients were treated by metronidazole or it's derivatives. Semiology, course and therapy are described in detail. A comparison is made with cases published in the literature during the last 15 years. Most of the classical pictures were encountered in this study. The clinical picture may be misleading, for instance when it is suggestive of cancer or when jaundice is present. Immunology is particularly interesting in atypical forms. The authors insist on the unvarying and high morbidity due to this disease which accounts for 2% of all hospitalizations. Prognosis has improved, the mortality rate among adults was 4.5%. A fall in the number of surgical procedures was recorded. Only 10% of the patients underwent surgery. The therapeutic principles advocated by the authors are described. They can be used even when echotomography is not available, as is usually the case in regions where the disease is endemic.

[The complementary reasonable explorations to consider about young hypertensive patient. (With regard to 389 selection bed-rests in view of national service) (author's transl)]. / Les explorations complémentaires raisonnables à envisager chez le jeune hypertendu. A propos de 389 dossiers de sélection pour le service national.

About a retrospective study turning on 600 bed-rests during 3 years, the writers study 433 confirmed high blood pressures including 389 without therapeutic among which 67 p. 100 labil or limit H.B.P. and 33 p. 100 permanent H.B.P. By light of current ideas and withdrawn informations from complementary explorations done, they try to define a reasonable attitude concerning twenty years old young hypertensive male patients in view of selection. This attitude can be extended to the general field of young H.B.P. people. They establish that a good number of systemically researched elements are without great interest; functional signs, which are more the neurotonia witness than the H.B.P. consequence, heart or renal repercussion, negligible in this age, the too shematic distinction between permanent, labil or limit H.B.P. On the other hand, some parameters deserve to be searched : family antecedents (greater than 60 p. 100), obesity (approximately 20 p. 100), ocular repercussion (approximately 15 p. 100), perturbation of lipidemia, above all hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia and urinary sediment abnomalies. As for I.V.U., in spite of an exact study of vascular times, and second reading by the same observer, it never allowed to display any renovascular H.B.P. Other pathologic uronephrologic established images are all almost associated to urinary sediment anomalies or to proteinuria. More, a few frequent incidents among young people and the price of the exam bring to purpose. I.V.U. only when H.B.P. context is hard or going with urinary signs. Other more specific exams (V.M.A., catecholamines) will be asked according to the context.

[Pleuropulmonary manifestations in amebiasis. Sixty-one cases seen in Abidjan over a three-year period (author's transl)]. / Manifestations pleuro-pulmonaires del'amibiase. A propos de soixante et un cas observés à Abidjan sur une période de trois ans.

Sixty-one observations of pleuropulmonary amebiasis are reported with a detailed analysis of radioclinical features In 13.1% of the cases there were no clinical signs of associated hepatic involvement. Diagnostic difficulties were encountered in 42.6% of the cases which were suggestive of bacterial pleuropulmonary disease, tuberculosis or carcinoma. Serologic tests for amebiasis, which were positive in 95% of the cases, are very helpful diagnostic tools. Metronidazole and its derivatives were used in 80% of the cases with satisfactory results: death occurred in 3.5% of the cases and good short-term results in 84.6%. Sequelae were mainly observed after amebic empyema which resulted in chronic pleural disorders in 27.7% of the cases.

[Pheochromocytoma in black African. Five cases whose three ectopic. Review of literature: thirty-three cases (author's transl)]. / Phéochromocytomes chez le noir africain. Cinq cas dont trois ectopiques. Revue de la littérature: trente-trois observations.

The authors report five cases of pheochromocytoma observed in black African people, followed in the Hospital University Center of Treichville. Three of these pheochromocytoma were in ectopic location. In connection with these observations, the authors review the African literature, regrouping 33 cases, which allows to define the principal aspects of the disease in black African patients. The over morbidity amongst the female patient, the frequent discovery during pregnancy or even at the onset of labour, the frequency ectopic localization are quite original characteristics.

[Treatment and prophylaxis of amoebiasis. New therapeutics in view (author's transl)]. / Traitement et prophylaxie des amibiases perspectives thérapeutiques nouvelles.

Problems posed by treatment of amoebiasis differ according to latitudes, safe immunologic reactions and technics of no invasive exploration allowed important progress, but diagnostic means are rarely disposable in Africa. Great progress of last ten years is owed to arrival of metronidazole and derivates under oral form and recently injectable. These therapeutics compose the base of treatment. In the first part, the author proposes a practice classification of different amoebicides in these groups; derivatives of the 5 nitro-imidazole, dehydroemetine, and other amoebicides. Structural characters, posology and the presentation of essential imidazole derivates are ouned up in a synoptic table. Pharmacokinetics characteristics, efficacy and secondary effects are studied afterwards. In a second part, indications and management are considered about means manifestations of amoebiasis.

[Pericarditis in adults in Abidjan. Study of one hundred observations (author's transl)]. / Les péricardites de l'adulte a Abidjan. Etude à propos de cent observations.

The goal of this work is to precise the respective aetiologic prevalence and the bases of diagnosis of pericarditis in Ivory Coast. The epidemiologic study has been done about 197 cases diagnosed between march 1972 and april 1978. These results are comparable to those collected previously in West Africa: the pericarditis is present in 1% of the patients admitted in the hospital and in 5.6% of the cardiovascular diseases of the unit of internal medicine in the Treichville Hospital (Abidjan). The semeiologic and evolutive study has been done with the 100 best documented records, with 90 acute and sub-acute pericarditis and 10 chronic pericarditis. The usual bases of diagnosis are used; the frequency of chest pain and signs of adiastole is emphasized. The aetiologic repartition is as follows: tuberculous 33%, septic 18%, benign acute pericarditis 15%, rheumatic 5%, uremic 13%, malignant 3%, undetermined 12%. These numbers are comparable to other author's numbers in West Africa. They confirm the important number of tuberculous and septic infections. These infections processus explain probably the frequency of constrictive pericarditis. However, the aetiology of constrictive pericarditis is often difficult to state precisely.U

[Hepatic manifestations in typhoid fever (author's transl)]. / Atteintes hépatiques au cours de la fièvre typhoïde.

Typhoid fever is always endemic in Ivory Coast. Among the various visceral injuries able to arrive during the course of the illness, a study of hepatic manifestations realized in 279 patients show, by the realization of systematic LBP, that, beside clinically and/or biologically certain forms, an hepatic injury is histologically constant. Aetiological, clinical, biological, diagnostic and therapeutic particularities connected with the hepatic localizations are considered and compared with findings of other authors. To remark, in Ivory Coast, on one hand the great predominance of Eberth bacillus aetiology, on the other hand the lack of statistically significative relation with drepanocytary waste. The pathogenic signification of the constancy of the hepatic injury and its peculiar histological pattern of non specific reactive hepatitis is discussed.

[Value of indirect immunofluorescence test in the diagnosis and prognosis of intestinal and extra-intestinal amoebiasis in endemic areas (author's transl)]. / Intérêt de l'immunofluorescence indirecte dans le diagnostic et le pronostic des amibiases intestinales et extra-intestinales en zone d'endémie.

A comparative study of 108 patients with patient amoebiasis and a reference group of 85 free of the disease but living in endemic area. The positivity of the test has been more frequent and has given higher titers in the extra-intestinal forms than in the intestinal ones. The positivity rate in the reference group has been 15 per 100.