[Validation of DNA tools in the identification of Leishmania sp. parasites in Algeria]. / Validation d'outils ADN dans l'identification de parasites Leishmania sp. en Algérie.

The present study aimed at homogenizing the use of DNA tools for Leishmania parasite characterization in two endemic countries, Algeria and Tunisia. Two genomic DNA probes, pDK10 and pDK20, previously developped in Tunisia, were here applied to a collection of 41 isolates obtained from Algerian patients having cutaneous or visceral leishmaniases. These DNA tools allowed to discriminate among and to identify causal agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis, L. infantum and L. major. Apart from the pDK20--hybridization pattern obtained usually for the species L. infantum, new hybridization patterns were identified for isolates obtained from both visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases patients. Use of DNA probes in complement to isoenzyme typing offers interesting propects for a better description of transmission cycles.

[A controlled survey comparing 2 short-term therapeutic regimes in lymph node tuberculosis]. / Enquête contrôlée comparant deux régimes thérapeutiques de courte durée dans la tuberculose ganglionnaire.

To study the efficacy of short term chemotherapy in the treatment of peripheral glandular tuberculosis a controlled trial was carried out in Algiers in March 1982 comparing two therapeutic regimes. All the patients admitted to the study presented with glandular tuberculosis which was proved either histologically or bacteriologically. They were recruited in three clinics serving the Algerian population and were required to live in Algiers. The two anti-tuberculous regimes used consisted of an initial phase of four drugs: Rifampicin (R), Isoniazid (H), Streptomycin (S) and Pyrazinamide (Z) every day for two months. This initial phase was followed by R.H. every day for four months in regime A, making six months treatment in all and for seven months in regime B making nine months treatment in all. 141 patients were thus admitted to the study, of whom 117 could be used for analysis at the end of treatment. Of these 68 were female making up 58% of the total. 12 patients or 10% were under 15 years of age. After two years of review following the end of treatment there were nine therapeutic failures (7.7%) of whom five were in regime A and four were in regime B (no significant difference). Amongst the failures large volume nodes persisted in three patients and two patients presented with new nodes. The lymph nodes increased in volume at the end of treatment in two cases; and finally two patients presented again with fistulae at the end of treatment. There were eight unfavourable outcomes in nine patients under observation during treatment or at the end of chemotherapy. There was only one failure noted some time after the finish of treatment at the end of two years of follow up.

[Arginine aspartate effects on rabbit acute and chronic alcoholization (author's transl)]. / Effets de l'aspartate d'arginine sur l'alcoolisation aiguë et chronique du lapin.

Oral arginine aspartate treatment effects (acute administration: 1 g 30 minutes after load, chronic administration: 0.33 g a day during 9 months) are researched on rabbit acute alcoholizing load (1 ml alcohol 40 degrees/100 g) and alcohol chronic intoxication (0,5 ml alcohol 40 degrees/100 g a day during 9 months). 1) Arginine aspartate acute administration decreases 6 h alcoholemic rates, when compared to normals T + t receiving an equal nutritional placebo at 30 minutes (p < 0.01), without 1 h peak modification, and increases ethyloxydation coefficient (p < 0,01). Aspartate, arginine or pyruvate isolated administration at 30 minutes, increases ethyloxydation coefficient in following order: arginine (no significant difference with T + t), pyruvate + arginine and pyruvate (limit p 0,10 or p < 0,05), aspartate (p < 0,05). It is maximum with arginine aspartate (p < 0.01). 2) Arginine aspartate chronic administration partially reduces hyperalcoholemy (p < 0,01) and hypertriglyceridemy (p < 0.10), strongly increased in non treated alcoholized (p < 0.01). Transaminases rates, which remained about normal in non treated alcoholized, decrease under same time alcoholized (p < 0,10) and 0 values (p < 0.05). Hepatic histology shows, after 9 months, in alcoholized group, inflammatory oedema with some cellular damage, without steatosis. Arginine aspartate seems to provoke some hepatic protection with cellular regeneration.