[Dynamic mesh of carpal scaphoid]. / Maillage dynamique du scaphoïde carpien: une aide au vissage percutané.

Despite the use of cannulated compression screws, it is still difficult to screw non-displaced fractures of the scaphoid percutaneously. That is due in particular to the difficulty in assessing the correct position for the guide pin from the 2D fluoroscopic images. This work is designed to enable 3D visualisation of the scaphoid during surgical operations by using the technique of dynamic meshing and having the image appearing on a computer screen rather than as a mental image. In this context, the MEFP3C software includes applications for converting a generic scaphoid into a virtual scaphoid, based on the fluoroscopic 2D images of a given scaphoid. These applications include a module for acquiring a cloud of points, a modeller, a dynamic meshing system, an animation module, a texture module and a multi-resolution meshing system. The result of this process, the virtual scaphoid, in spite of the imperfections, enables images to be obtained comparable with those from tomodensitometric reconstruction of the same scaphoid specimen. The virtual scaphoid can be moved over the computer screen in the three spatial planes in translation, rotation and scaling. In conclusion, we think that dynamic meshing is a powerful, simple and ergonomic method of viewing a scaphoid in 3D, which could, in future, be routinely integrated into the fluroroscopic monitor.

Activation of normal human B cells through their antigen receptor induces membrane expression of IL-1 alpha and secretion of IL-1 beta.

We studied whether normal human B cells would express IL-1 activity and transcribe IL-1 genes before or after activation through their Ag receptor. Anti IgM antibody-activated B cells expressed IL-1 alpha on the cell surface and secreted IL-1 beta. Optimal induction of IL-1 occurred within 16 h of anti-IgM activation. mRNA specific for both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta was also induced upon activation. It is likely that the expression of m-IL-1 alpha on activated B cells together with the secretion of IL-1 beta represent important contributions in the efficient Ag-presenting capacity of B cells to T cells.

The low-affinity receptor for IgE (CD23) on B lymphocytes is spatially associated with HLA-DR antigens.

Two hybridomas that produce the mAbs 135 and 449 B4 were obtained that inhibited the binding of IgE to the Fc epsilon RL/CD23 on the EBV-transformed B cell line RPMI 8866. mAb 135 was obtained from a mouse immunized with RPMI 8866 cells, whereas mAb 449B4 was obtained from a mouse immunized with a partially purified preparation of Fc epsilon RL/CD23 obtained as the eluate of an IgE immunoabsorbent loaded with a soluble extract of RPMI 8866 cells. These two mAbs bound to Fc epsilon RL/CD23- cell lines and precipitated two polypeptides with 36,000 Mr and 28,000 Mr, which were the HLA-DR alpha and beta chains, respectively. Immunoprecipitation with mAb 135 of NP-40 lysates from dithio-bis(succinimidyl propionate) (DSP) crosslinked 125I-labeled RPMI 8866 or normal B cells incubated with rIL-4 showed three polypeptides with 42,000, 36,000, and 28,000 Mr. The 42,000 Mr polypeptide is identical to the Fc epsilon RL/CD23 since it could be precipitated by the anti-Fc epsilon RL/CD23 mAb 25 after resolubilization from the SDS-PAGE gel. Immunoprecipitations of the crosslinked cell extracts carried out with the anti-Fc epsilon RL/CD23 mAb 25 yielded the same three polypeptides. Furthermore, when RPMI 8866 or rIL-4 preincubated normal B cells were solubilized with a digitonin buffer, which prevents the dissociation of noncovalently linked polypeptide complexes, mAb 135 and mAb 25 precipitated complexes composed of three molecules with 42,000, 36,000, and 28,000 Mr. The well-characterized anti-HLA-DR mAb L243 was unable to block the binding of either IgE or mAb 135 to RPMI 8866 cells, although it could immunoprecipitate the complex (HLA-DR-Fc epsilon RL/CD23) from crosslinked cell lysates. Since mAb 135 and L243 were able to both bind the RPMI 8866 cells, it demonstrates that they bind to different epitopes of the HLA-DR complex, the mAb 135 epitope of the HLA-DR molecule being close to the IgE binding site of the Fc epsilon RL/CD23. These data demonstrated that the Fc epsilon RL/CD23 and HLA-DR antigens are spatially associated on the B cell membrane.