[Inflammatory fibroid polyps of the colon]. / Polypes fibro-inflammatoires du côlon.

Inflammatory fibroid polyp is an uncommon lesion involving the stomach, the small bowel and occasionally the colon. Inflammatory fibroid polyp is a large polypoid lesion arising from the submucosa. It has no malignant potential although extensive infiltration may occur. The main histological characteristics are diffuse inflammatory infiltrate with eosinophils and highly vascularized fibrocytic stroma. Immunohistochemistry is always positive for vimentine and negative for S 100 and desmin. We report four cases of inflammatory fibroid polyps, 3 of which mimicked carcinoma of the colon. Exploratory laparotomy and histopathological examination of the resected specimen were necessary to confirm definitive diagnosis. In the last case, diagnosis was established by histological examination of an endoscopically-removed colonic polyp.

Heparin induces fibroblast proliferation, cell-matrix interaction and epidermal growth inhibition.

We have examined the effect of heparin on fibroblasts cultivated in monolayer or in a 3-dimensional culture system: the so-called collagen lattices. Thereafter, we have investigated the effect of heparin on the kinetics of epidermal growth on the collagen lattices. In monolayer culture, heparin stimulated the fibroblast growth with an optimal response at 0.01 mg/ml. The volume of treated fibroblasts was smaller than that of untreated controls. In the collagen lattices, heparin stimulated the fibroblast growth with an optimal response at 0.1 mg/ml. The volume of treated fibroblasts was greater than that of untreated controls, the opposite to the result observed in monolayer culture. The beginning of the contraction of the collagen lattices was inhibited by heparin. Heparin inhibited epidermal growth on the immersion as well as on the emersion collagen lattices. These effects of heparin should be the consequences of heparin-induced modifications of cell-matrix interactions.

Effect of human basic fibroblast growth factor on fibroblast proliferation, cell volume, collagen lattice contraction: in comparison with acidic type.

Human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mitogen for normal human dermal fibroblasts in the presence of heparin which binds to and stabilizes it. The optimal mitotic response is obtained with a concentration of 1 ng/ml of bFGF in monolayer cultures (non-differentiated fibroblasts) as well as in the better-differentiated fibroblasts obtained through the 'collagen lattices' culture system (fibroblasts embedded in a 3-dimensional collagen gel) achieving a doubling of the cell number in 8 days. Despite increasing the number of cells, bFGF decreases the ability of fibroblasts to contract collagen fibers. This inhibition is concentration-dependent and reaches a plateau at a dose of about 1 ng/ml. This effect is associated with a bFGF-induced decrease of fibroblast volume. Various dosing regimens indicate that although the highest response was obtained by daily dosing nearly optimal response was obtained either by early daily dosing or short intermittent treatment. Interestingly, the fibroblast mitotic response to bFGF decreases steadily when fibroblasts mature in collagen gels. The mitogenic properties of bFGF associated to its ability to inhibit fibroblasts contraction, if demonstrated in vivo, may be of interest in the management of wound healing.

Assessment of healing kinetics through true color image processing.

A quantitative method of skin healing assessment using true color image processing is presented. The method was developed during a clinical trial using healthy volunteers, the goal of which was to study a drug for accelerating healing. Photographic images of the skin were sequentially acquired between day 1 and day 12 after pure painless epidermal wounds. The images were digitized in controlled conditions using a color video camera connected to a computer system. A color threshold based segmentation was developed to provide an operator-independent delineation of the wound. Two healing indexes were built measuring, the wound area and the wound color. The method was implemented in a software system allowing a fully automated determination of the healing indexes. The method provides a new quantitative global assessment of healing kinetics. It is noninvasive and well suited for multicentric clinical trials.

[Reoperations for failure of gastroesophageal reflux surgery. Apropos of fifty reoperations]. / Réinterventions pour échec de la chirurgie du reflux gastro-oesophagien. A propos de cinquante réinterventions.

Fifty patients were reoperated for failed antireflux procedures or post-fundoplication symptoms. Cases of severe esophagitis, that is stenosis or Barrett's esophagus, were excluded. The usual cause of failure was a technical error. All of the operations, a new fundoplication in 35 cases and a total duodenal diversion in 15 cases, were performed via an abdominal incision. Operative mortality was nil. After a 42 months follow-up, according to the patient, the clinical results were good or excellent in 93% of the cases. The objective results-fibroscopy, pHmanometry, X-Ray were normal in 86%.

Activities of human acidic fibroblast growth factor in an in vitro dermal equivalent model.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor is a potent mitogen for human dermal fibroblasts in an in vitro three-dimensional collagen matrix, the "dermal equivalent." Both cell numbers and DNA synthesis are optimally stimulated by daily doses of 1 ng/ml of the pure human mitogen in the presence of heparin, which binds to, and stabilizes, the protein. Under daily treatment by 1 ng/ml aFGF, the fibroblast mitogenic response is marked but transient, and decreases steadily when fibroblasts mature in the collagen matrix. aFGF mitogenic stimulation also results in a decrease in cellular volume and inhibition of fibroblast-mediated contraction of the collagen gel. Various dosing regimes indicate that, although the greatest mitotic response was generated by daily dosing, nearly optimal responses can also be achieved with either a short duration of early daily dosing or longer-term intermittent treatment.

Transformation mapping of the regulatory elements of the ecdysone-inducible P1 gene of Drosophila melanogaster.

The transcription of the P1 gene is induced by 20-hydroxyecdysone in fat bodies of third-instar larvae. Germ line transformation showed that sequences between -138 to +276 contain elements required for a qualitatively correct developmental and hormonal regulation of P1 transcription. Sequences from -138 to -68 are essential for this expression.

Structure of the ecdysone-inducible P1 gene of Drosophila melanogaster.

The P1 gene codes for a major RNA, which accumulates specifically in the fat body cells at the late third larval stage of Drosophila melanogaster development under the positive control of the insect molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. The primary structure of the P1 gene and the 5' upstream flanking region to position -776 relative to the transcription start was determined by sequence analysis of a cloned genomic DNA segment and two cDNAs containing sequences complementary to the 5' and 3' ends of the P1 transcript. The RNA coding region spans 3469 nucleotides and contains a 59-base-pair intron close to its 5' end, as predicted by computer analysis and established by S1 nuclease protection, primer extension and cDNA sequencing. The predicted P1 polypeptide contains 1030 amino acids, including a putative 16-amino acid signal peptide and two stretches of 12 and 11 aspartic and asparagine residues. Short stretches of nucleotide sequences similar to sequences located in the 5' regions of other genes expressed in the D. melanogaster fat body were found in the proximal promoter and transcribed region of the P1 gene.

[Pancreatic transplantation: technics--results]. / Transplantation pancréatique: techniques--résultats.

Renewed interest is occurring in organ transplantation due to improvement of results. Pancreatic transplantation, carried out in more than 60 centers worldwide, has evolved since the first transplant in Minneapolis in 1966. Until 1978 an average of 6 operations per year were performed with a 1-year graft survival of 3%. The initial technic used was mainly duodenopancreatic transplantation with digestive by pass of external pancreatic secretions. Serious surgical complications led to progressive abandon of this procedure. Segmental transplantation, particularly after the appearance of methods of obliteration of wirsung's duct in 1978, has simplified the surgical act and stimulated renewed interest in pancreatic transplantation. The improvement in the technic, selection of donors and recipients and protocols of immunosuppression can hopefully allow a 1-year survival of graft of 55%. The current tendency is also to restore use of duodenopancreatic or total pancreatic transplants with intestinal or bladder drainage of secretions, providing improved survival of the graft in technically successful transplantations.

[Diverticular peritonitis. Clinical, prognosis and therapeutic aspects]. / Péritonites diverticulaires. Aspects cliniques, pronostiques, thérapeutiques.

The results of diagnosis and management of perforated sigmoid diverticulitis were studied retrospectively over a 10 years period. 23 patients underwent operation, 17 for generalized peritonitis and 6 for local peritonitis. The mean age of patients was 65.7 years. Diverticular disease were known previously in 5 patients (21%) and complicated (diverticulitis) in 2 patients (8.6%). Depending on the symptoms and the spreading of the peritonitis 4 types of the disease can be described: primary generalized peritonitis, secondary generalized peritonitis, progressive generalized peritonitis and local peritonitis. Hartman procedure was performed in 16 patients, and proximal colostomy with drainage in 6 patients, ideal resection in one. The over all mortality was 34.7%, 43% after resection, 16% after conservatrice procedure, depending on the clinical status, duration of symptoms, type of peritonitis, surgical procedure. Improved results will require early diagnosis, adapted surgical procedure, appropriate antibiotics therapy and extension of prophylactic segmentation colectomie after one acute diverticulitis.

A complete and a truncated U1 snRNA gene of Drosophila melanogaster are found as inverted repeats at region 82E of the polytene chromosomes.

A phage containing two sequences homologous to U1 snRNA was isolated from a Drosophila melanogaster genomic library, and identified with a previously cloned D. melanogaster U1 snRNA gene. DNA sequence analysis showed that complete and truncated U1 snRNA genes are present, both of which have base substitutions relative to U1 snRNA. These genes show conservation of 5' and 3' flanking regions relative to other U1 and U2 snRNA genes of Drosophila. Intramolecular renaturation experiments and electron microscope mapping demonstrates that the two U1 snRNA sequences are present as inverted repeats about 2.7kb apart, separated by a smaller pair of inverted repeats of an unrelated sequence. These U1 snRNA sequences were located by in situ hybridization at 82E, and related sequences were found at 21D and 95C on the polytene chromosome map. The results are discussed with reference to the origin and function of snRNAs.