[Portal vein aneurysm]. / Anévrisme de la veine porte.

In a 72-year-old female patient suffering from non specific and vague abdominal pain, an aneurysm of the portal vein was discovered. In the absence of complication, and because the risk of operation appeared too high, the decision was to abstain from surgery. With more than 3 years of regular follow-up, the patient was free of symptoms, and the portal vein aneurysm was unchanged. Sixty cases including this one are reviewed.

Bcl-2 and adenovirus E1B 19 kDA protein prevent E1A-induced processing of CPP32 and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase.

The E1A oncoproteins of adenovirus type 5 are potent inducers of apoptotic cell death. To manifest growth promoting and transforming properties, therefore, E1A requires the co-expression of a suppressor of apoptosis. During normal viral infection, this function is provided by the E1B 19 kDa protein. However, the cellular suppressor Bcl-2 can substitute for 19K during infection, and both proteins can effectively cooperate with E1A to facilitate transformation of primary cells in culture. How E1A induces apoptosis and at what point(s) on this pathway Bcl-2 and E1B 19K act are not presently known. Here, we demonstrate that E1A-induced apoptosis is accompanied by specific endo-proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), an event that is linked to the Ced-3/ICE apoptotic pathway in other systems. PARP cleavage was also observed in p53-null cells infected with 19K- virus expressing 13S E1A. In addition to PARP cleavage, expression of E1A caused processing of the zymogen form of CPP32, a Ced-3/ICE protease that cleaves PARP and is required for apoptosis in mammalian cells. These events were prevented when E1A was co-expressed with E1B 19K or BCL-2, which places these suppressors of apoptosis either at or upstream of processing of pro-CPP32.

[Abdominal traumas due to the safety belt (author's transl)]. / Les traumatismes de l'abdomen par ceinture de sécurité.

The use of motorcar safety belts has reduced mortality in road accidents but has given rise to the so-called "safety belt syndrome", a new pattern of lesions the most common and most severe of which are lesions of the abdominal wall and viscera. A case of transsection of the whole abdominal wall with mesenteric tear is reported here and numerous cases of intestinal perforation have been published. Diagnosis is often difficult and delayed. Analysis of the pathophysiology of these lesions shows that most of them are caused by incorrectly placed or adjusted belts. Prevention can only result from improved education of car drivers and passengers and from the development of more efficient safety devices.