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After a study about 146 cases of echinococcosis which 8 osseous localizations, indirect immunofluorescence reactions and immunoprecipitation reactions allow for comparing between right immunologic answers in hydatid cyst of liver and hydatid cyst of bone. The right immunogenicity of osseous hydatid cyst can be explained by a close contact host-parasite and by a good vascularization and a good fertility.

The authors describe a case of sub-acute spongiform encephalopathy with an ultrastructural study in a man of 65 with associated dementia, extra-pyramidal syndrome, myoclonia, optical disorders, pyramidal syndrome and speech disorders, rapidly leading to death one and a half months later. Electroencephalograms were at first disorganized with persistent delta and theta activity and only in the last record did short runs of repetitive activity appear. Histologically, there was severe status spongiosus, a moderate degree of neuronal depopulation with a noticeable astrocytary gliosis. Under the electron microscope, the neuropile in the astrocytes was found to be pitted with numerous cavities and so were, to a lesser extent, the axonal projections. The vessels were normal. Nothing was found to indicate viral structures. Attention is drawn to the nosological connection between this type of observation and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (G.F.A.P.) is characteristic of astrocytes. Its estimation in a tumour fragment removed surgically may be used to confirm whether or not a cerebral tumour is glial in nature. This was confirmed here by study of 6 cases. G.F.A.P. levels were normal only in the 2 patients whose cerebral tumours were not glial. It remains to be determined whether this estimation may be used to define a particular treatment or prognosis.