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Although the conventional system remains the predominant choice for hospital foodservice, alternative systems such as cook-chill and cook-freeze are prevalent as well. Many foodservice directors have reported improvements in operational and financial indicators when switching from a conventional to one of the alternative systems. Objectives for this research included determination of parameters of operating costs in conventional, cook-chill, and cook-freeze systems and comparison of costs for the three foodservice systems. Operational and financial data were collected for 33 conventional, 22 cook-chill, and 11 cook-freeze hospital foodservice systems. Results indicated little difference among the three systems for most operational and financial variables, suggesting that, in general, managers of conventional, cook-chill, and cook-freeze systems are employing similar resources to achieve their objectives. The number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) was found to be the strongest predictor of operating costs in all three systems. Data suggest that installation of a ready-food system may not lead to savings in costs.

Micronuclei have been induced by colchicine in rat kangaroo (Potorous tridactylis) PtK1 cells. The synthesis of RNA was investigated both in isolated micronuclei by quantifying RNA polymerase activities at different ionic strengths with or without inhibitors, and in micronucleated cells by radioautography after [3H]uridine pulse labeling. In vitro transcription shows that isolated micronuclei are able to take up [3H]UTP. The rate curves of incorporation are close to those of isolated diploid nuclei, though the level of incorporation was relatively lower (65-70%) than control nuclei. This indicates that micronuclei react to the ionic environment and to inhibitors in the same manner as described for many species of isolated diploid nuclei. The labelling distributions plotted from radioautographs show that micronuclei were able to efficiently incorporate the hot precursor. Furthermore, for short pulses there is no homogeneity in the labelling density among the different micronuclei and there is no correlation between the labelling intensity and the size of micronuclei. After 60-min pulse time, there is an enhanced uptake of [3H]uridine and all the micronuclei exhibit considerable labelling, although less than control cells. Thus, the micronuclei exhibit some characteristic RNA transcriptional activity in situ as well as after isolation. This material should be a particular interesting model with which to study the physiological activity and the role of each individual interphasic chromosome.

During the three last years, the authors carried out cytogenetic studies of couples with spontaneous abortions, and of spontaneously aborted foetuses. Among 99 couples studied, 9 abnormal karyotypes were detected. In two cases, maternal balanced translocation appears obviously responsible. Concerning aborted foetuses on 46 karyotyped specimens, 13 are found to bear chromosome anomalies. The authors consider the value of cytogenetic studies when repeated spontaneous abortions occur.

The effect of synthetic granular hydroxyapatite (HAP) on cultured fibroblastic cells (L929, human bone and gingiva cells) was studied. Phagocytosis of HAP particles and resulting morphological cell changes were demonstrated by microscopic examinations. Cell counts and [3H]thymidine uptake indicated significant increases in cell proliferation and DNA synthesis. These results could account for some of the alterations of the fibroblast behavior induced by changes in intracellular levels of calcium ions released from the material.

We report another patient with del(11p) and aniridia, catalase deficiency, and cardiomyopathy. This association is confirmed from a review of previously reported cases. Since other dysplasias are known in this syndrome, the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in del(11p) children may also represent an abnormality of tissue development.

Serum proteins have never been described in enamel as they have been in dentin or bone where they are bound to apatite, may be because of the specific organic/crystal relationship which makes enamel crystals different from the other biological apatites. In the present study, crystals from bovine developing enamel have been isolated to test their ability to bind serum albumin in vitro. Those crystals, although naturally coated with enamelins proved to be able to bind gold-labelled serum albumin. Consequently, free binding sites exist at the surface of these biological crystals. It is suggested that the 'sheath' surrounding crystals in TEM observations is the fixed aspect of a dynamic process in vivo. Finally, the lack of blood proteins in enamel cannot be attributed to a particular property of enamel crystallites.

Five members of our study family were carriers of a balanced insertion (10;5) (q22;q13;q22). One of the children had psychomotor retardation and malformations resulting from a partial trisomy of the proximal long arm of chromosome 5, having received the maternal der(10). Amniocentesis identified another case of partial proximal trisomy in a fetus of a subsequent pregnancy. This clinical and family study is compared with two other published cases of proximal trisomy 5q.

Two cases with chromosome 11 anomaly related to cancer are reported. The first one has a pericentric inversion (inv. p14 q12) with sympathoblastoma and Ondine's curse. The second one has a deletion (11p13) with aniridia and catalase deficiency but without Wilms tumor at two year of age. Retinoblastoma, nephroblastoma and sympathoblastoma may be related to genome modification. The mechanism of oncogenesis are discussed.

After recalling the main studies about the fragile sites, a fra (2) (q11) in a girl with familial lymphohistiocytosis is described. The influence of medicine, inducers, mutagenic agents are analysed.

The introduction of a synthetic calcium phosphate into a biological environment is likely to result in surface-mediated chemical events. On the basis of such an assessment, we studied the chemical changes occurring in the mineral after exposure of a synthetic hydroxyapatite ceramic to both in vivo (implantation in human) and in vitro (cell culture) conditions. A small amount of the material was phagocytized but the major remaining part behaved as a secondary nucleator as evidenced by the appearance of a newly formed mineral. Morphologically, the newly formed mineral appeared as tiny crystals precipitated and grown from the surface of the initial synthetic crystals. The density of the additional mineral increased from the periphery to the core of each biomaterial aggregate. Chemically, it was identified by IR spectroscopy as a carbonated apatitic mineral. We propose that the adsorption of biomolecules could inhibit precipitation, accounting for the increasing amount of precipitate from the periphery to the core of the aggregates.