[Setting the preferential retinal locus. Part 2. When, Where, and how does it become established?]. / La mise en place de zone rétinienne préférentielle. Partie II: Quand? Où? Pourquoi s'installe-t-elle?

INTRODUCTION: The mechanisms underlying the localization of the preferred retinal locus (PRL) for visually impaired people has brought raised a number of hypotheses. In Part 1 we dissociated localizing the PRL from reading and writing tasks. Part 2 presents new hypotheses. MATERIAL: and methods: This study was conducted on 100 partially sighted people consulting at our low-vision rehabilitation center. The technique used compares angiofluorographies with images recorded with the scanning laser ophthalmoscope during fixation tasks. It localizes the PRL with respect to the fovea. RESULTS: The PRL position was related to the size of the scotoma and the patient's visual damage. When there was only slight damage, the PRL was located on the left side or possibly in the superior position. When it worsened, the right position was significantly dominant; when it was severe, the PRL was generally located in the superior position or on the right. These positions were nearly always available for a given person. DISCUSSION: The new visual message must be integrated into the most suitable cerebral locations for low spatial frequencies, damaged forms, messages transmitted by retinal rods, and finally global visual perception. It must favor the peri-personal space and near vision. These elements correspond to the new visual surroundings of the visually impaired. We believe that these data are better processed if they are transmitted by the lower and left visual fields. The rehabilitation program must take into account the above considerations. If the vision therapist orients the PRL location using eccentric view training or by having the patient wear a prism, he must keep in mind that the partially sighted's activities of daily life are the most important. At first, the superior side position, which leaves the field open to a maximum of visual tasks, must be trained, followed by the right position. Of course, when this localization has already been achieved, it must be respected.

[Setting the preferential retinal locus. Part 1. Analysis of the rehabilitation results as a function of positioning]. / La mise en place de la zone rétinienne préférentielle. Partie I: analyse des résultats rééducatifs en fonction du positionnement de cette zone.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the various positions of preferred retinal locus (PRL) with the results of low vision rehabilitation to reading in view to elucidate the mechanisms involved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 100 visually impaired subjects who came to the center for rehabilitation of low vision. The technique is based on a scanning laser ophthalmoscope recording, compared with angiofluorographic pictures to obtain the PRL position with respect to the fovea. RESULTS: It is shown that unsuccessful rehabilitations are not related to the eccentricity or to the angular value of the PRL but are only correlated to its absence. The difficulties that arise from the multiplicity of the PRL or from the confinement of the fovea by an annular scotoma can be overcome with the help of rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: The upper and right positions are manifestly dominant, but they do not favor reading or writing. We believe that their purpose is to favor the integration of the new visual message of visually impaired people to facilitate their daily life activities. Therefore, using one or another of these peexisting PRL during eccentric viewing training should be preferred.

[Adrenal adenoma secreting exclusively estrogens in a woman during her reproductive period. 11-year follow-up]. / Adénome surrénalien sécréteur exclusif d'estrogènes chez une femme en période d'activité génitale. Recul de 11 ans.

Feminizing tumours are rare, most are malignant, and they are usually seen in children and male adults. We report an 11-year follow-up of a feminizing adrenal tumour which was unusual on three accounts: it was a benign adenoma, it secreted estrogens only and the patient was an female in her active reproductive years. To our knowledge, similar cases have not yet been published.

[Evidence, in vitro, of estrone and estradiol-17 beta 3-sulfoconjugate hydrolysis in the uterus of pregnant guinea pigs]. / Mise en évidence, in vitro, de l'hydrolyse de l'oestrone et de l'oestradiol-17beta 3-sulfoconjugue's par l'utérus gravide de Cobaye.

The metabolism, in vitro, of [6,7-3H]-oestrone-3-sulfate and [6,7-3H]-oestradiol-17beta-3-sulfate by the uteri of pregnant female Guinea-Pigs has been studied using 900 g supernatants. A hydrolysis of the sulfate moiety was observed: 35% of the radioactivity was recovered in the unconjugated fractions after 1 hr. of incubation. Gluruconide oestrogens were also recovered but the rate of synthesis was very low (3.6% after 1 hr.). OEstrone and oestradiol-17beta have been identified in unconjugated, glucuro and sulfo-conjugated fractions after incubation with the tritiated oestrogen sulfates.

[3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane-17-one-3-sulphate in hirsute women's plasma (author's transl)]. / Sulfate de 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane-17-one plasmatique chez la femme hirsute.

The determination of serum androsterone-3-sulphate was carried out by radioimmunoassay with an antiserum specific against 15 alpha-carboxymethyl-androsterone-BSA. The values obtained (mean +/- SD) in ng/ml were 739 +/- 190 (n = 9) for Men; 285 +/- 157 (n = 13) for Women; 677 +/- 464 (n = 131) for hirsute women respectively and were compared to the values of urinary sulphate of dehydroepiandrosterone in the same subjects.

The preparation of three fluorescence-labeled derivatives of testosterone.

Three fluorescence-labelled derivatives of testosterone were prepared consisting of the steroid separated from the fluorochrome by a hydrocarbon "bridge". "Bridges" of different lengths (C2 to C7) were used as the length required to avoid steric hindrance effects by the fluorochrome in studies on steroid-protein binding was unknown. The three derivatives prepared were: 17 beta-hydroxy--4-androsten-3-one 3-(O-(N-(2'-mercapto)ethyl)carbamoylmethyl)oxime, 17 beta-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one 3-(O-(N-(3'-amino)propyl)carbamoylmethyl)oxime and 17 beta-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one 3-(O(N-(7'-amino)heptyl)carbamoylmethyl)oxime. These were then coupled with either a dansyl or a fluorescein molecule. Overall yields were sufficient and the products immunoreactive with anti-testosterone antiserum.

Kinetic study of the interaction between rat haptoglobin and rat liver cathepsin B.

One of the roles of the acute phase reactants (APR), according to Koj, is to regulate the action of tissue proteinases released during the inflammatory reaction. To study this phenomenon in vitro, rat liver cathepsin B (EC 3.4.22.1), a lysosomal proteinase, and a typical APR, rat serum haptoglobin, were purified. By kinetic study, haptoglobin was found to inhibit cathepsin B and the inhibitory activity of a competitive type was increased with the molecular weight of the substrate. When 125I-labelled denatured bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a substrate, the apparent Michaelis constant (Km app.) for cathepsin B was 5 +/- 0.4 X 10(-6) M. When haptoglobin was added, the apparent inhibition constant (Ki app.) was 3.5 +/- 1.5 X 10(-8) M. Native haptoglobin was not catabolized by cathepsin B while under the same conditions denatured haptoglobin was degraded by the enzyme.

Semi-automated fluorometry of total estrogens in plasma during late pregnancy.

We describe a mechanized method for determining total estrogens in plasma during the last trimester of pregnancy. This method involves rapid enzymic hydrolysis, automatic extraction (in a tube) with cyclohexane/ethyl acetate, purification of the extracted material by anion-exchange chromatography on a disposable "mini-column" of Dowex AG1 X 2 (acetate form), and continuous-flow fluorometric quantification. Conditions of hydrolysis and extraction were studied. The mean within-day imprecision (CV) was 7% and between-day imprecision was 8.1%. Sensitivity was 75 nmol/L of plasma. Results are obtained in 4 h. The technique is quite suitable for routine determinations: 90 assays can be done by a team of three technicians in one working day.

[In vitro aromatization of androgens in the presence of testosterone binding proteins from human placenta or serum]. / Aromatisation in vitro des androgènes en présence de protéines humaines, placentaire ou sérique, liant la testostérone.

Two related 17 beta hydroxy steroid binding proteins of serum and placental origin respectively are shown to inhibit significantly the aromatization of testosterone and androstenedione by isolated human placenta microsomes. Quantitative correlations suggest that this inhibitory effect is due to the fixation of the testosterone substrate (or androstenedione previously converted to testosterone) on the binding proteins. A possible role for these macromolecules in the steroidogenic activity of the placenta is discussed.

Rapid fluorometry of estrogens in nonpregnancy urine, with use of chloroform extraction and purification by anion-exchange chromatography.

We describe a new method of extraction and purification of estrogens in low concentration in urine, involving a rapid enzymic hydrolysis of a 10-mL sample, automatic extraction (in a tube) with CHCl3/ethyl acetate, purification by chromatography on a disposable "mini-column" of AG 1-X2, and fluorometry by continuous flow according to Itrich's procedure [Acta Endocrinol. (Copenhagen) 35, 34 (1960)]. Conditions of hydrolysis, extraction, and purification were studied. Within-day precision (CV) was 7.5%, the mean between-day precision 8.5%. The sensitivity was 6 microgram of total estrogens per liter of urine. The specificity was assessed particularly by comparison with the results obtained by Schöller et al. [Acta Endocrinol. (Copenhagen) 57, suppl. 107 (1966)] and by gas-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. The normal limits as calculated by this technique were identical to values reported by others. The technique is rapid; results are obtained in 3 h. It is quite suitable for routine determinations: 100 assays can be done by a team of three technicians in one working day.

[An automated spectrofluorometry method for urinary estrogens determination in pregnant and non-pregnant subjects (author's transl)]. / Méthode de dosage automatique par spectrofluorimétrie des estrogènes urinaires au cours et en dehors de la grossesse.

An automated method has been developed for the measurement of estrogens in the urine of pregnant and non-pregnant subjects. Using the Kober-Ittrich fluorescence procedure, this automated method was applied to the assay of estrogens in the purified urinary extracts of non-pregnant women, men or children. For pregnant-women it had been possible to simplify the purification of urinary extracts, and the reaction was performed directly on the sodium hydroxide fraction. The precision, accuracy, and sensitivity of the method had been analysed.

Identification of haptoglobin in chicken serum and specificity of the chicken haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex formation.

1. The presence of haptoglobin in chicken serum has been demonstrated by three different techniques: gel filtration, cellulose acetate electrophoresis and fluorescence quenching. 2. Chicken haptoglobin shows a narrow species specificity; it binds only avian and reptilian but not mammalian hemoglobins. 3. Haptoglobin seems to have been subjected to profound changes during the course of evolution.

Conversion, in vitro, of (7n-3H) testosterone to estrone and estradiol-17beta and their 3-sulfate conjugate by the guinea-pig placenta.

Different cellular fractions of guinea-pig placenta were incubated in the presence of (7n-3H) testosterone. Microsomal aromatization of 3H-testosterone into estrone and estradiol-17beta was demonstrated in the presence of NADPH. The predominance of estrone after incubation with 17beta-hydroxylated precursors, (7n-3H) testosterone and (6,7-3H) estradiol-17beta, indicate that there is a microsomal 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. In this report, cytosolic sulfurylation of estrogens is demonstrated. This latter activity represents a quite original characteristic of the placental metabolism of estrogens in guinea-pigs. In contrast with the human placenta where there is considerable sulfatase activity, the guinea-pig placenta can sulfurylate estrogens.