Quantitative videomicroscopic analysis of the sociologic behavior of non-invasive and invasive tumor cell lines.

To analyze the spatial distribution of tumor cell lines with different invasive properties, we used time-lapse videomicroscopic recordings associated with software programs we have developed for quantification. We observed that non-invasive tumor cells rapidly formed small clusters which aggregated to form larger clusters, whereas highly invasive tumor cells remained isolated and did not form clusters. An attraction index computed from a cellular automaton model was used to quantify the degree of attraction-repulsion between cells. The results suggest that the cluster formation by noninvasive cells is not related to a global attraction model and that the random (dispersed) distribution of invasive cells is not related to cell repulsion. According to these results, we can conclude that random cell movement combined with the intrinsic properties of cells explains the phenomenon of cluster formation.

Hypoglycaemic response to Zygophyllum gaetulum extracts in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Zygophyllum gaetulum leaves are one of several traditional remedies used for diabetes treatment in Morocco. Its ability to lower the blood glucose was studied in 13 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The reaction time of the Z. gaetulum aqueous extract at a single oral dose (440 mg/kg) producing a significant hypoglycaemic effect is 6 h after administration. The same dose ingested twice daily resulted in a significant reduction of blood glucose during the first week, and maintained the patient in normoglycaemia throughout the 2 week course of treatment, with no change in body weight.

[Pseudomyxoma of the peritoneum. Apropos of 4 cases]. / Maladie gélatineuse du péritoine. A propos de quatre cas.

Peritoneal pseudomyxoma is a rare disease (400 published cases). In 60% of all cases, an ovarian tumor is the cause of the disease. The second cause is appendicular mucocele. We report about four personal cases after a longer time lapse. No clinical or biological sign is specific. Ultrasonography associated to CT may allow establishing the preoperative diagnosis. Peritoneal pseudomyxoma has several main features: it is insidious, recurrent, obstinate and severe. Recent work has shown that peritoneal pseudomyxoma is secondary to malignant mucosecretory tumors, mainly of ovarian (cystadenocarcinoma) or appendicular origin, with intraperitoneal cell implants. Surgery is the only treatment with proven effectiveness. The effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy has not been established.