Search

Resume Le but de cette etude est d'evaluer l'influence de l'infection par le virus de l'immunodeficience humaine (VIH) sur la reponse au traitement par interferon (IFN) de l'hepatite chronique C. Deux groupes ont ete constitues; le groupe A, comprenant 7 patients coinfectes par le virus de l'hepatite C (VHC) et le VIH, le groupe B comprenant 8 patients infectes par le VHC seul. Le taux moyen de CD4 des patients infectes par le VIH etait de 433/mm 3 (44-1073). Les patients ont ete compares selon des criteres biochimiques (ALAT), histologiques et virologiques (VHC RNA). L'interferon a ete administre a la dose de 3 MU 3 fois par semaine pendant 6 mois. Une reponse complete (normalisation des ALAT au moins 2 mois apres la fin du traitement) a ete observee chez 5 patients dans le groupe A et 1 dans le groupe B. Une reponse partielle (diminution du taux de transaminases d'un facteur 2,5 au moins pendant le traitement, suivie de valeurs anormales apres le traitement) a ete constatee chez 1 patient dans le groupe A et 5 dans le groupe B. Une absence de reponse a ete notee chez 1 patient dans le groupe A et 2 patients dans le groupe B. Une negativation de la PCR (VHC RNA) a ete observee chez 1 patient dans le groupe A et chez 5 patients dans le groupe A. Une positivite persistante (pendant et au moins 2 mois apres le traitement) a ete observee chez 5 patients dans le groupe A et chez 1 patient dans le groupe B. Enfin une negativation transitoire a ete constatee chez 1 patient dans le groupe A et chez 2 patients dans le groupe B. Dans cette etude restreinte, l'interferon α au dosage de 3 MU trois fois par semaine semble etre moins efficace dans le traitement de l'hepatite chronique C chez les patients infectes par le VIH par rapport aux sujets non infectes par le VIH. Des etudes complementaires sont necessaires pour determiner la strategie therapeutique optimale de l'hepatite chronique C chez les patients infectes par le VIH, en tenant compte des caracteristiques de l'infection a VHC (anciennete, genotype, severite histologique) et de l'infection a VIH (profil evolutif, alteration immunitaire, therapeutique antiretrovirale).

Dans cette etude nous cherchons a observer le comportement de solvants purs et melanges lors de leur penetration dans des barreaux de polyethylene. La progression des fluides est suivie par imagerie de resonance magnetique et quantifiee par integration des profils de tranche. Nous mettons en evidence que l'invasion de solvant s'effectue selon une loi fickienne et que le comportement d'un meme solvant se fait differemment selon qu'il est pur ou en melange

Detection of HIV-1 RNA in semen is used commonly to determine the safety of semen processing procedures before assisted reproductive technology (ART). Using two panels of prepared semen samples containing HIV-1 the performances of protocols from 14 centers have been compared. No false-positive results were detected but false-negative results were frequent when the concentration was below 500 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml of seminal plasma. Frequency of HIV-1 RNA detection was higher on seminal cells than on seminal plasma. Assays (or protocols) for quantifying HIV-1 RNA in semen performed less well than standardized blood plasma assays. The HIV load in seminal plasma could be a useful marker of the risk of sexual transmission of the virus. Its use as a marker of global HAART efficiency in the HIV reservoir needs further study. Standardized assays are required for detection and measurement of HIV-1 RNA in semen samples. J. Med. Virol. 84:183–187, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Der aktuelle Trend zu enantiomerenreinen Wirkstoffen hat eine weltweite Suche nach effizienten Methoden zur chromatographischen Trennung von Enantiomeren ausgelost. Am Beispiel von Naproxen - einem nichtsteroidalen Entzundungshemmer mit einem Weltmarkt von ca. 1 Mrd. DM12)hyphen; wird demonstriert, wie man mit der Datenbank CHIRBASE geeignete Methoden recherchiert.

The chromatographic separations of some substitutedN-arylthiazoline-2-thione atropisomers are described, using reversed-phase HPLC withγ-cyclodextrin as a chiral mobile phase additive. The effects of the size and lipophilicity of various substituents are discussed and emphasize the close relationship between inclusion inside the cyclodextrin cavity and the chromatographic selectivity.

The German Commuters in Switzerland: recent Evolution and Transformations. The author remarks an increasing flow of German commuters to the Norh of Switzerland, particularly from the middle of the Eighties and asks himself about the effects of this growth: residence and work areas; structures by age and gender of this population; commuters' qualifications; distribution by sector and type of economical activity., L'auteur observe une augmentation des flux de travailleurs frontaliers allemands vers la Suisse septentrionale, notamment depuis le milieu des années 1980 et s'interroge sur les effets de cette croissance : lieux de résidence et de travail; structures par âge et par sexe de cette population ; qualification des navetteurs ; répartition par secteur et branche d'activité économique des emplois occupés., Mohr Bernhard, Roussel M. C., Renard Jean-Pierre. Les frontaliers allemands en Suisse : évolution récente et mutations. In: Espace, populations, sociétés, 1992-2. Population et frontières - Population and frontiers. pp. 237-251.

Annual peak-streamflow frequency estimates are needed for flood-plain management; for objective assessment of flood risk; for cost-effective design of dams, levees, and other flood-control structures; and for design of roads, bridges, and culverts. Annual peak-streamflow frequency represents the peak streamflow for nine recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 250, and 500 years. Common methods for estimation of peak-streamflow frequency for ungaged or unmonitored watersheds are regression equations for each recurrence interval developed for one or more regions; such regional equations are the subject of this report. The method is based on analysis of annual peak-streamflow data from U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations (stations). Beginning in 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and in partnership with Texas Tech University, began a 3-year investigation concerning the development of regional equations to estimate annual peak-streamflow frequency for undeveloped watersheds in Texas. The investigation focuses primarily on 638 stations with 8 or more years of data from undeveloped watersheds and other criteria. The general approach is explicitly limited to the use of L-moment statistics, which are used in conjunction with a technique of multi-linear regression referred to as PRESS minimization. The approach used to develop the regional equations, which was refined during the investigation, is referred to as the “L-moment-based, PRESS-minimized, residual-adjusted approach.” For the approach, seven unique distributions are fit to the sample L-moments of the data for each of 638 stations and trimmed means of the seven results of the distributions for each recurrence interval are used to define the station-specific, peak-streamflow frequency. As a first iteration of regression, nine weighted-least-squares, PRESS-minimized, multi-linear regression equations are computed using the watershed characteristics of drainage area, dimensionless main-channel slope, and mean annual precipitation. The residuals of the nine equations are spatially mapped, and residuals for the 10-year recurrence interval are selected for generalization to 1-degree latitude and longitude quadrangles. The generalized residual is referred to as the OmegaEM parameter and represents a generalized terrain and climate index that expresses peak-streamflow potential not otherwise represented in the three watershed characteristics. The OmegaEM parameter was assigned to each station, and using OmegaEM, nine additional regression equations are computed. Because of favorable diagnostics, the OmegaEM equations are expected to be generally reliable estimators of peak-streamflow frequency for undeveloped and ungaged stream locations in Texas. The mean residual standard error, adjusted R-squared, and percentage reduction of PRESS by use of OmegaEM are 0.30 log10, 0.86, and −21 percent, respectively. Inclusion of the OmegaEM parameter provides a substantial reduction in the PRESS statistic of the regression equations and removes considerable spatial dependency in regression residuals. Although the OmegaEM parameter requires interpretation on the part of analysts and the potential exists that different analysts could estimate different values for a given watershed, the authors suggest that typical uncertainty in the OmegaEM estimate might be about ±0.10 log10. Finally, given the two ensembles of equations reported herein and those in previous reports, hydrologic design engineers and other analysts have several different methods, which represent different analytical tracks, to make comparisons of peak-streamflow frequency estimates for ungaged watersheds in the study area.

The structure of /s/-initial clusters is debated in developmental phonology. Pan and Snyder (2004) took the Government Phonology (GP) framework and proposed that production of /s/-initial clusters requires the positive setting of two binary parameters [+/-Branching rhyme (BR)] and [+/-Magic empty nucleus (MEN)] and the initial /s/ is treated as a "coda" preceded by an empty nucleus. It is predicted that /s/-initial clusters should never be acquired prior to branching rhymes (CVCC sequences under the GP definition). This study tests Pan and Snyder's prediction in disordered speech. Their prediction is supported by the data of seven English-speaking children with phonological delays. None of the children acquired /s/-initial clusters before branching rhymes. Implications for phonological intervention are discussed in light of the finding.

Resume Une poussee epidemique de meningites a Echovirus 20 concemant 84 patients a ete etudiee par les techniques classiques d'isolement et de serologie. Nous avons pu evaluer parallelement l'interet d'une technique d'immunocapture-hemadsorption en phase solide (ICPS) specifique des IgM, deja decrite pour de nombreux virus hemagglutinants. Pour les enterovirus, ce test serologique cherche a etablir un diagnostic specifique de groupe en exploitant l'inconvenient apparent des nombreuses reactions heterotypiques observees. L'ICPS s'est averee positive dans 20 % (14/69) des serums preleves precocement (≤ J4) et dans 53 % (16/30) des serums preleves tardivement (≥ J7). Cette technique, de sensibilite limitee, a une specificite acceptable et peut facilement etre utilisee quand un seul prelevement de serum est disponible et/ou quand l'isolement a ete mis en defaut.

The Arroyo Colorado is in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas and extends from near Mission, Texas, eastward to the Laguna Madre estuarine and coastal marine system, which separates Padre Island from the Texas mainland. Streamflow in the Arroyo Colorado primarily is sustained by effluent from municipal wastewater-treatment plants along the stream banks. Since 1986, the tidal segment of the Arroyo Colorado from the port of Harlingen to Laguna Madre has been listed by the State of Texas as an impaired water body because of depressed dissolved oxygen concentrations. Efforts to develop predictive water-quality models for the tidal segment of the Arroyo Colorado have been hampered by the availability of physical, biological, and biochemical data. Specifically, data on hydrodynamics, primary algal productivity, nutrient cycling, sediment deposition rates, and the inter-relations between these processes and dissolved oxygen dynamics to support water-quality modeling efforts are lacking. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, did a study in 2006 to collect data associated with hydrodynamics, primary algal productivity, nutrient cycling, and dissolved oxygen dynamics in the tidal segment of the Arroyo Colorado. Specific objectives of the study were to (1) characterize water quality by measuring basic properties; (2) characterize the concentrations of carbon and nutrients, biochemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, total suspended solids, and volatile suspended solids; (3) measure the seasonal differences of nutrient-dependent algal growth and algal production in the water column; (4) measure oxygen respiration or production rates; and (5) measure rates of sediment deposition.

The design of small runoff-control structures, from simple floodwater-detention basins to sophisticated best-management practices, requires the statistical characterization of rainfall as a basis for cost-effective, risk-mitigated, hydrologic engineering design. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation, has developed a framework to estimate storm statistics including storm interevent times, distributions of storm depths, and distributions of storm durations for eastern New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The analysis is based on hourly rainfall recorded by the National Weather Service. The database contains more than 155 million hourly values from 774 stations in the study area. Seven sets of maps depicting ranges of mean storm interevent time, mean storm depth, and mean storm duration, by county, as well as tables listing each of those statistics, by county, were developed. The mean storm interevent time is used in probabilistic models to assess the frequency distribution of storms. The Poisson distribution is suggested to model the distribution of storm occurrence, and the exponential distribution is suggested to model the distribution of storm interevent times. The four-parameter kappa distribution is judged as an appropriate distribution for modeling the distribution of both storm depth and storm duration. Preference for the kappa distribution is based on interpretation of L-moment diagrams. Parameter estimates for the kappa distributions are provided. Separate dimensionless frequency curves for storm depth and duration are defined for eastern New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Dimension is restored by multiplying curve ordinates by the mean storm depth or mean storm duration to produce quantile functions of storm depth and duration. Minimum interevent time and location have slight influence on the scale and shape of the dimensionless frequency curves. Ten example problems and solutions to possible applications are provided.

Calcium binding proteins, such as calretinin, are abundantly expressed in distinctive patterns in the central nervous system but their physiological function remains poorly understood. Calretinin is expressed in cerebellar granule cells which provide the major excitatory input to Purkinje cells through parallel fibers. Calretinin deficient mice exhibit dramatic alterations in motor coordination and in Purkinje cell firing recorded in vivo through unknown mechanisms. In the present paper, we review the results obtained with the patch clamp recording techniques in acute slice preparation. This data allow us to investigate the effect of a null mutation of the calretinin gene on the intrinsic electroresponsiveness of cerebellar granule cells at a mature developmental stage. Calretinin deficient granule cells exhibit faster action potentials and generate repetitive spike discharge showing an enhanced frequency increase with injected currents. These alterations disappear when 0.15 mM of the exogenous fast calcium buffer BAPTA is infused in the cytosol to restore the calcium buffering capacity. Furthermore, we propose a mathematical model demonstrating that the observed alterations of granule cell excitability can be explained by a decreased cytosolic calcium buffering capacity due to the absence of calretinin. We suggest that calcium binding proteins modulate intrinsic neuronal excitability and may therefore play a role in the information processing in the central nervous system.

Background Heelstick is the most frequently performed skin-breaking procedure in the NICU. There are no large multicenter studies describing the frequency and analgesic approaches used for heelsticks performed in NICUs. Objective To describe the frequency and analgesic therapy used for heelsticks in neonates. To determine the factors associated with the use of specific analgesia prior to heelsticks. Methods EPIPPAIN2 is a descriptive epidemiological study prospectively collecting data on all heelsticks and corresponding analgesic therapies during the first 14 days of admission for all neonates admitted to 16 NICUs within the Parisian region in France. Results From May to October 2011, 562 neonates who underwent heelsticks were included. The mean (SD) gestational age was 33.3(4.4) weeks. Each neonate experienced a mean (SD) of 16.0(14.4) heelsticks during the study period (range 1–86 heelsticks). Of the 8995 heelsticks studied, 2487 (27.6%) were performed while the newborn was receiving continuous analgesia and 5236 (58.2%) were performed with specific analgesia given prior to the heelstick. Overall, 6764 (75.2%) heelsticks were performed with analgesia (continuous and/or specific analgesia). Table 1 shows the main pre-procedural analgesic regimens used. Table 2 shows a multivariate multilevel model (GEE) of factors associated with the use of pre-procedural analgesia. Conclusions Heelstick is a painful procedure performed routinely and frequently in NICUs. Most heelsticks (75.2%) were carried out with some form of analgesia. Given the availability of non-invasive methods for measuring clinical variables and less painful methods for obtaining blood, the necessity of performing this procedure so frequently is questionable.

Background Neonates admitted to NICUs are frequently subjected to invasive procedures, often with sub-optimal analgesic treatment. Objective To determine the number of invasive procedures and analgesic practices in NICUs. Methods Invasive procedures and corresponding analgesic therapies on days 1–14 of NICU admission were prospectively studied over a 2-month period in all neonates admitted to the 16 NICUs in the Paris region. Results For 589 neonates included, mean (SD) gestational age, birth weight, CRIB scores, and number of days of participation were 33.3 (4.5) wks, 1983 (943) gm, 1.5 (2.5), and 7.4 (4.5) days, respectively. 103239 procedures were performed in all neonates, 40927 were classified as painful and 62312 were stressful. The median (range) number of all procedures, painful procedures (PP) and stressful procedures (SP) per infant were, respectively, 124 (0–699), 44 (0–353), and 78 (0–406). Table 1 shows most frequent PP. Analgesic therapy before PP varied widely among procedures. Analgesic therapy was given before 28.1% of PP. Continuous infusions of sedatives and/or analgesics were given during 38.8% of PP. Overall, 61.8% of PP were performed with an analgesic given before the procedures and/or while the neonate was receiving continuous sedation/analgesia. Fig. shows factors associated with preprocedural analgesia use. Conclusions There is an urgent need to reduce the number of procedures and the pain produced by routine NICU procedures in neonates. Analgesic therapy should be matched with the intensity and duration of acute pain caused by invasive procedures.

Objectif Epidemiologie comparative des gestes douloureux entre 2005 et 2011 chez le nouveau-ne en reanimation. Materiel et methodes Recueil prospectif pendant 14 jours des gestes stressants et douloureux pratiques chez 589 nouveau-nes dans les 16 unites de reanimation neonatale d’Ile de France. Resultats La moyenne (DS) d’âge gestationnel et de duree de participation a l’etude etaient respectivement de 33,3 (4,5) semaines d’amenorrhee et de 7,4 (4,5) jours. Les nouveau-nes ont subi 103239 gestes dont 40927 (39,6%) douloureux et 62312 (60,4%) stressants. La mediane (extremes) du nombre total des gestes par enfant a ete de 125 (3-699) pendant l’etude et de 21 (2–50) par jour d’hospitalisation. Quant aux gestes douloureux, la mediane (extremes) a ete de 44 (0–353) pendant l’etude et de 8 (0–27) par jour d’hospitalisation. Sur les 40927 gestes douloureux, 38,8% ont ete realises avec une analgesie specifique au geste et 61,8% avec une analgesie specifique et/ou une analgesie par perfusion continue de fond. Ces chiffes etaient superieurs a ceux retrouves lors de l’etude Epippain1 en 2005 qui etaient de 34,2% et 50,9%, p Conclusion Le nombre de gestes douloureux et stressants demeure important. L’utilisation des moyens analgesiques a augmente entre 2005 et 2011.

Objectifs Decrire la frequence, les moyens analgesiques utilises lors de la ponction au talon chez le nouveau-ne hospitalise en reanimation neonatale ; determiner les facteurs associes a l’utilisation d’analgesiques specifiques au geste. Materiel et methodes Recueil prospectif pendant 14 jours des ponctions au talon pratiquees chez 562 nouveau-nes dans les 16 unites de reanimation neonatale d’Ile de France. Resultats L’âge gestationnel moyen (DS) des nouveau-nes etait de 33,3 (4,4) semaines d’amenorrhee. La moyenne (DS ; extremes) du nombre de ponctions au talon par nouveau-ne etait de 16 (14,4 ; 1-86) pendant l’etude. Sur les 8995 ponctions au talon repertoriees, 2487 (27,6%) ont ete realisees avec un traitement analgesique continu, 5236 (58,2%) avec un traitement specifique au geste. Au total, 6764 (75,2%) ponctions au talon ont ete realisees avec un traitement analgesique continu et/ou specifique au geste. Apres ajustement, le sexe masculin, la prematurite, la ventilation spontanee, la presence parentale, l’absence d’analgesie continue et un score de gravite CRIB bas, ont ete associes a l’utilisation plus frequente d’analgesique specifique au geste. Conclusions La ponction au talon est un geste tres frequent et non systematiquement accompagne d’analgesique.

Background —In this retrospective study, ≈440 patients received mitral valve replacements with the St Jude Medical prothesis. The last patient was operated on 10 years before the beginning of the follow-up. The extended follow-up was 19 years. Methods and Results —Four hundred forty patients (sex ratio, 1.32 [men to women]; age, 60±11.4 years; age range, 7 to 75 years) were operated on from 1979 to 1987. All patients underwent isolated mitral valve replacement. Tricuspid plasty was the only associated procedure. The follow-up at 19 years was 98% complete. The overall actuarial survival rate was 63±3.3% at 19 years, and the actuarial survival rate (only valve related) was 83±2.7%. The operative mortality rate (0 to 30 days) was 4.09%. We found that 89.4% of the patients alive at 19 years were in NYHA class I/II. Multivariate analysis showed that age and sex were significantly correlated with valve-related mortality and that age, sex, NYHA class, and atrial fibrillation were significantly correlated with overall mortality. The linearized rates (percent patient-years) of thromboembolism, thrombosis, and hemorrhage were 0.69, 0.2, and 1, respectively. At 19 years, freedom from endocarditis and reoperation was 98.6±1% and 90±3%, respectively. Conclusions —In this study, the very-long-term results confirm the excellent durability of the St Jude Medical prosthesis in the mitral position and show the difficulty of adjusting the anticoagulation protocol, even after long-term treatment.

High performance liquid chromatography coupled to ICP-AES detection provides a rapid, reliable and sensitive method for arsenic speciation. The separation of As(III), As(V), DMA and MMA was achieved with ion exchange chromatography coupled to an axially-viewed sequential ICP-AES. After optimization of the chromatographic parameters (pH and concentration of the mobile phase), a careful study of the interface was conducted. Five nebulizers associated to three spray chambers were tested. Response of the ICP to each arsenic species was strongly affected by the selection of the nebulizer and spray chamber, however similar responses were obtained for each arsenic species. Best signal-to-noise ratios were obtained by using a microconcentric nebulizer and a cyclone spray chamber and did not affect the chromatographic resolution. Detection limits better than 10 microg L(-1) were obtained for As(III), DMA, MMA and 20 microg L(-1) for As(V), which is a significant improvement over previously published results.

The Comede health care center for political refugees received 4,414 first arrivals from 70 African, Asian and South American countries in 1989. Many arrived from areas where intestinal parasitic infections are endemic, and where infections by nematodes (Ancyclostoma duodenale, Necator americanus, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis), trematodes (Schistosoma hematobium, Schistosoma stercoralis) and protozoa (Entamoeba coli) cause significant morbidity. The question that arises is whether we should screen stools and urine only in the case of African refugees, or treat all refugees empirically (mass treatment program). We carried out a retrospective study of 1,425 patients seen for the first time in the Comede from August 1, 1989 to December 31, 1989. Three-quarters of the subjects were men and the mean age was 29 years. 63.2% of the subjects were from 28 African countries, 18.6% from 8 Asian countries, 10% from 5 South American countries and the West Indies, and 6.4% from 4 countries of the Mediterranean basin. 4 countries of the Mediterranean basin. All the subjects were asked to provide stool and urine specimens at the Paris City Laboratory, which were examined using the merthiolate iodo formol direct methods, two concentration methods (MIF and Kato) and Baermann's technique. Patients with infestations were prescribed appropriate treatment at a second visit, compliance with which was good (86%). The prevalence of intestinal parasite infections was 60%. Albendazole was given to 44% of patients, while 45% of African patients were given praziquantel and 2.7% tinidazole.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The results of 109 intra-uterine inseminations with cryopreserved prepared donor semen (IUId) in stimulated cycles, performed among 42 couples from November 1987 to June 1991, were analysed. The single IUId was performed 39 +/- 3 hours after the injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin. For each IUID 1,25 +/- 1.4 x 10(6) motile spermatozoa (mean +/- standard deviation) were inseminated. 27 pregnancies were obtained and the pregnancy rate per cycle was 24.8%. The number of motile spermatozoa inseminated was significantly higher in the group of pregnant women than in the population without pregnancy (1.64 x 10(6) x 10(6)/IUI versus 1.13 x 10(6)/IUI). The sperm count and the number of motile spermatozoa inseminated were significantly higher when the semen was prepared on discontinuous Percoll gradients than after swim-up in Menezo B2 medium (8.2 x 10(6)/ml versus 4.3 x 10(6)/ml and 1.7 x 10(6) versus 0.77 x 10(6)). Among the 27 clinical pregnancies, 3 were twins and 2 were triplets. The ovarian hyperstimulation associated with the use of a prepared semen of donor, generate a high risk of multiple pregnancies. To improve the results without increasing the risk of multiple pregnancies, we propose to inseminate about 1.5 x 10(6) motile spermatozoa with a maximum plasma estradiol level of 1 100 pg/ml, on the day of hCG injection, associated with 2 preovulatory follicles. This technique may augment the rate of pregnancy and represents an appreciable time gain. These results must be confirmed by randomized prospective studies.

Molecular recognition mechanisms for cooperative chiral stationary phases such as cellulose triacetate are still poorly understood. Here studies on the effect of the position and type of the subtituent on the separation of N-arylthiazoline-2-thione and N-arylthiazolin-2-one atropisomers on cellulose triacetate (CTA1) are described.

A latex enzyme immunoassay (LEIA) for detecting IgG class antibody to rubella virus was compared with the latex agglutination test (LA) and a haemagglutination inhibition assay (HI). Of 243 sera tested, four discrepant results were observed among all three techniques, corresponding to borderline values. Except for one sample containing specific IgM class antibody, the difference between quantitative results from each pair of tests was always within a value corresponding to two doubling dilutions and was considered to have acceptable variation. The LEIA technique allowed 10 seroconversions to be detected, as determined by the other techniques. The LEIA required a single 1 in 8 sample dilution, took 30 minutes, and provided a useful alternative assay for the quantitation of rubella antibodies.