[Outcome at 2 years of very premature infants cared at the hospital of Cayenne in 1998]. / Devenir médicosocial à l'âge de 2 ans des grands prématurés pris en charge au centre hospitalier de Cayenne en 1998.

UNLABELLED: Perinatal mortality in French Guyana is twice as high as the national rates. Within a global project rallying all the people working around the birth, a catching up program benefited the neonatal unit of the Cayenne hospital in order to make up for the important lack of modern structures and means. OBJECTIVES: To establish some quality care for the less than 33 weeks preterm infants born in 1998, and to estimate the medical and familial future for these infants after they have reached 2 years of age. METHODS: All less than 33 weeks old infants born alive and admitted at the neonatology unit of the CHC were included in the study. The obstetrical and neonatal data were recorded from the medical files. A survey was conducted through a questionnaire including the familial and medical outcome and was led from december 1999 to july 2001. Results were analysed with Epi-info 6.0 software (CDC, Atlanta, USA). RESULTS: Eighty-eight infants issue from 78 pregnancies were included. Among them, 29 were transferred in utero and 12 were transferred after birth. The mothers' situations were mainly characterized by precariousness, a poor follow-up of the pregnancy (27% non-declared), a higher morbidity of their newborns. Neonatal results did not differ from national results from Epipage cohort in terms of gestational age (29.9 weeks), weight at birth (1411 g), mortality (90.9 alive when released from the hospital), morbidity, growth at 2. However, 26% were hypotrophic (15% in Epipage cohort) in relation with the 29% pregnancies complicated with hypertension. Four infants were suffering from acquisition retardation due to motor handicaps; 2 infants had severe socio-educative difficulties. The postnatal follow-up was mainly performed by the Mother and Children Health Centers. A third of medical exams were not recorded in the health book, sensory screening exams were not performed. The opening of a medicosocial actions center in 2001, will allow a prospective follow-up of this population. CONCLUSION: Early neonatal mortality decreased from 10.3 for 1000 births to 4.4 in 1998. This reflects the improvement of the new-born caring possibilities. However, an improvement of mortality rates will not be possible without a better pregnancy follow-up.

Near-UV light protection effect against lethality induced by stannous chloride in Escherichia coli.

Stannous chloride (SnCl2) is a reducing agent largely employed in industry and in medical procedures. To evaluate its potential genotoxicity, several Escherichia coli strains were treated with SnCl2 and their survival rates determined. Results showed that the double mutant on specific genes for the repair of deoxyribonucleic acid damage was the most sensitive strain. Simultaneous near-UV illumination inhibited the lethal effect of SnCl2 in the wild type strain. Although the nature of the induced lesions are not known these results indicate the potential genotoxicity of SnCl2.

Near-ultraviolet illumination inhibits the liquid holding recovery in Escherichia coli B.

Liquid holding recovery (LHR) consists of an increase in the survival of UV-irradiated cells when they are held under non-nutrient conditions before plating. In this study we investigated in E. coli B cells the effect of the growth inhibition induced by near UV (365 nm) illumination (growth delay, GD) before irradiation with UV-254 nm on the amplitude of LHR and the induction of an SOS function (filamentation) during the liquid holding period. Our results demonstrated that pre-illumination with near-UV inhibits LHR and the induction of filamentation when the cells are incubated in nutrient medium. Moreover, this inhibition is due to GD, an effect caused by a photoproduct in the E. coli t-RNA, the 8-13 link.

Near-ultraviolet illumination inhibits the liquid holding recovery in Escherichia coli B

Liquid holing recovery (LHR) consist of an increase in the survival of UV-irradiated cells when they ar held under non-nutrient conditions before palting. In this study we investigated in E. coli B cells the effect of the growth inhibition induced by near UV (365 nm) illumination (growth delay, GD) before irradiation with UV-254 nm on the amplitude of LHR and the induction of an SOS function (filamentation) during the liquid holding period. Our results demonstrated that pre-illumination with near-UV inhibitis LHR and the induction of filamentation when the cells are incubated in nutrient medium. Moreover, this inhibition is due to GD, an effect caused by a photoproduct in the E. coli t-RNA, the 8-13 link

Induction of the SOS function sfiA in E. coli by systems which generate triplet ketones.

Generation of triplet ketones, either chemically through thermal decomposition of 3-hydroxymethyl-3,4,4-trimethyl-1,2-dioxetane and 3-[N-(pyridino)carbamoyl]methyl-3,4,4-trimethyl-1,2-dioxetane++ + or enzymatically via the aerobic oxidation of isobutyraldehyde trimethylsilyl enol ether catalyzed by horse-radish peroxidase, triggers the SOS function sfiA in E. coli. Although the observed effects are relatively weak and the triplet ketone scavenger tryptophan was ineffective in this system, our results provide evidence for the involvement of triplet ketones in this type of DNA damage. Possible mechanisms are discussed.