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The ability of extracellular matrix heparan sulfate to alter the susceptibility of human endothelial cells to S. aureus was investigated. Endothelial cells grown on extracellular matrix synthesized by S. aureus-infected endothelial cells were more susceptible to subsequent staphylococcal infection than endothelial cells grown on the extracellular matrix synthesized by untreated endothelial cells. Endothelial cells were more susceptible to S. aureus infection when (1) grown on heparitinase-treated extracellular matrix that removed heparan sulfate chains, (2) grown on extracellular matrix produced by chlorate-treated endothelial cells that reduced sulfation in the matrix heparan sulfate proteoglycans, (3) grown on heparan sulfate purified from extracellular matrix elaborated by infected endothelial cells, and (4) endothelial cells were chlorate-treated and therefore expressed desulfated cellular heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Extracellular matrix produced by S. aureus-infected endothelial cells contained heparan sulfate proteoglycans with reduced sulfation. The altered extracellular matrix with reduced sulfated heparan sulfate proteoglycans signalled the uninfected endothelial cells to produce under sulfated cellular heparan sulfate proteoglycans that increased S. aureus adherence to the endothelial cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 173:102–109, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The cost of the three dominant technologies for delivering radiosurgery to the brain are compared. Included in the analysis is the cost of the equipment and labor costs for each procedure. Once a unit is treating more than 100 patients per year the Gamma Knife becomes the most cost-effective technology by a factor of almost 100%. These findings are primarily a result of the greater labor input required for alternate technologies.

Fifteen patients were treated in the Gamma Knife Unit and followed for 18 months or longer. Four patients had Cushing's disease, 4 had acromegaly, 3 had Nelson's syndrome and 3 had prolactinomas. One patient had no endocrinopathy. One of the patients with acromegaly and 2 of those with prolactinomas had been operated prior to Gamma Knife treatment. Radiological tumor localization was not an insuperable problem in this series. The effect of Gamma Knife treatment on the anterior pituitary neoplasia, as such, was consistently successful. All the tumors which received 10 Gy or more to the edge showed either a reduction in volume or at least cessation of growth. On the other hand, the effect of the treatment was less consistent in respect to the endocrinopathies. These results are discussed in respect of dose and tumor size. It is suggested that the role of the Gamma Knife in the treatment of pituitary adenomas requires further clarification, based on prospective studies.

Introduction La Societe francaise de psycho allergologie (SFPA), creee le 17 mars 2011, a pour objet d’etudier les liens entre le patient allergique, sa pathologie et son environnement selon ses dimensions psychologique, culturelle, sociale et politique afin de contribuer par son action a une meilleure qualite de soins grâce a la prise en charge globale du patient. La SFPA a mene en 2013 et 2014 une etude sur le ressenti de la personne allergique. Methodes La premiere phase de cette etude a consiste en une enquete qualitative par entretiens semi-directifs aupres de 23 personnes allergiques. La deuxieme phase s’est appuyee sur un questionnaire quantitatif a questions fermees etabli a partir des resultats de cette enquete qualitative diffusee aupres de leurs patients par des allergologues a travers toute la France. A ce jour, nous avons recueilli et analyse 266 questionnaires, renseigne par 153 femmes et 113 hommes, de 2 a 80 ans, avec un âge moyen de 32 ans. Toutes les pathologies allergiques sont representees. Resultats Il n’y a aucune correlation entre le type d’allergie ou sa gravite avec les reponses. L’allergie est une gene et une contrainte. Les patients ressentent avant toute impuissance, frustration et resignation. L’attitude de leurs proches est avant tout de la comprehension. Mais ils se sentent tres souvent dans l’obligation de se justifier. L’allergie a un impact negatif sur leur vie personnelle, leur vie professionnelle, l’image de soi, l’image du corps, leur vie sociale. Mais peut parfois avoir un impact positif sur leur vie personnelle et sociale principalement. Ils attendent des medecins qu’ils prennent les allergies au serieux. Ils attendent de la societe un meilleur remboursement des medicaments. Ils ne desirent pas etre reconnus en tant qu’allergiques par peur d’etre stigmatises. Conclusion Pour confirmer ou infirmer ces reponses, l’enquete va etre poursuivie avec un questionnaire a completer en ligne, relaye par des sites d’associations de patients. Un troisieme volet sera realise aupres des medecins : est-ce que les medecins tiennent compte du ressenti de leurs patients allergiques ? De l’impact de leur pathologie sur leur environnement psychologique, social, culturel, et politique ?