[Efficacy of the red vine leaf extract AS 195 in Chronic Venous Insufficiency]. / Action de l'extrait de feuilles de vigne rouge AS 195 dans l'in- suffisance veineuse chronique.

An open, observational clinical study to investigate the onset of action of the extract of the red vine-leaf AS 195 has been conducted in 39 patients suffering from Chronic Venous Insufficiency [CVI; grade I or II according to the Widmer classification (grade 2 to 4 of the international CEAP classification)]. Symptoms of CVI in the patients included oedema and subjective clinical complaints. The patients received 180 mg of extract twice daily (360 mg in total) during six weeks. The parameters investigated were objective measurements (lower leg volume by water plethysmography and the circumference of the leg at a fixed height), as well as subjective criteria such as heaviness and pain in the leg, measured using visual analogue scales (VAS). A clear and significant effect was already observed after two weeks of treatment. This effect was still present and increased slightly after four and six weeks in all objective and subjective parameters tested in this study. The decrease of the calf volume was statistically significant after 2, 4 and 6 weeks. The calf volume decreased on average by 26.3 ml after 2 weeks (t=-5.37 p<0.001), 29.8 ml after 4 weeks (t=-6.44 p<0.001) and 32.7 ml after 6 weeks (t=-7.67<0.001). The intensity of the sensation of heaviness and pain decreased also statistically significantly after 2, 4 and 6 weeks. The measured intensity on the VAS decreased on the average by 2.2 points after 2 weeks (t=-8.21 p<0.001), 2.6 points after 4 weeks (t=-10.93 p<0.001) and 2.6 points after 6 weeks (t=-10.75 p<0.001). In general, the treatments were well tolerated. Three patients prematurely stopped the trial for reasons not linked to the treatment or to the disease. This study has shown a fast onset of action and an excellent efficacy of the vitis viniferae Folia AS 195 extract in Chronic Venous Insufficiency.

A sequence in M13 phage detects hypervariable minisatellites in human and animal DNA.

The term "DNA fingerprint" has been used to describe the extensive restriction fragment length polymorphism associated with hypervariable minisatellites present in the human genome. Until now, it was necessary to hybridize Southern blots to specific probes cloned from human genomic DNA in order to obtain individual-specific restriction patterns. The present study describes the surprising finding that the insert-free, wild-type M13 bacteriophage detects hypervariable minisatellites in human and in animal DNA, provided no competitor DNA is used during hybridization. The effective sequence in M13 was traced to two clusters of 15-base pair repeats within the protein III gene of the bacteriophage. This unexpected use of M13 renders the DNA fingerprinting technology more readily available to molecular biology laboratories.

[A family of hypervariable minisatellites detected by means of a sequence derived from phage M 13]. / Une famille de minisatellites hypervariables détectée au moyen d'une séquence dérivée du phage M 13.

A new family of "hypervariable minisatellites" has been identified in the genome of man and of a variety of animal species using as a probe a DNA segment isolated from the M 13 bacteriophage. This finding provides a new series of hyperpolymorphic genetic markers and renders the "DNA-fingerprinting" methodology available to every molecular biology laboratory.

[Induction of cell surface antigens on a lymphomatous cell line by gamma interferon]. / Induction d'antigènes à la surface de cellules d'une lignée lymphomateuse par l'interféron gamma.

The interferons are known to induce the expression of cell surface determinants. Gamma interferon, in particular, has been shown to enhance class II antigens (DR) on the cell surface. We used this gamma interferon to induce beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2 mu) and a minor, sex related transplantation antigen called H-Y on the surface of B lymphoma cells. The antitumor effect of interferon could thus be at least twofold: an antiviral effect already known and an increase of intercellular recognition (by cell surface marker enhancement); allowing the tumor cells to be "seen" better by cells of the immune system.

Therapeutic effect of human recombinant interferon-alpha-2C in essential thrombocythaemia.

Human recombinant interferon-alpha 2C was given to 4 patients with essential thrombocythaemia. Three patients achieved a complete remission on day 19 +/- 1 and the 4th achieved a partial remission. After 4 weeks of induction therapy, a maintenance therapy of twice weekly intramuscular injections of 5 X 10(6) or 10 X 10(6) IU was instituted but did not maintain the remission.