[en] This patent describes monoclonal antibody 3-3 (HB8369) and 3-40 (HB8368) not capable of immunological reaction with normal, human peripheral T or B blood cell antigens, normal human thymocyte antigens or normal, human bone marrow precursor cell antigens but capable of immunological reaction with separate and distinct T-ALL leukemia antigens (T-ALL) having molecular weights of approximately 35-40,000 KD. The monoclonal antibodies are capable of distinguishing T-ALL leukemia from cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), adult T cell leukemia (ATL) and T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (T-CLL) and are further capable of subsetting T-ALL leukemia into E-Rosette positive and E-Rosette negative cells

[en] Steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency is caused by mutations in the CYP21B gene. This gene and a highly homologous pseudogene, CYP21A, alternate with the C4A and C4B genes encoding the fourth component of complement. Classical deficiency alleles are frequently caused by deletions of CYP21B or by gene conversions that transfer deleterious mutations from the CYP21A pseudogene to CYP21B. Gene conversions involving restriction enzyme sites that distinguish CYP21A and CYP21B (3.7-kb Taq I fragment) might be confused with actual deletions of CYP21B. To determine the incidence of this type of gene conversion, 15 chromosomes (in 13 families) with absent 3.7-kb Taq I fragments were studied. When hybridized with a 21-hydroxylase probe, all of these chromosomes were associated with absent 2.9-kb Kpn I fragments, 14 of 15 were associated with absent 2.4-kb Bgl II/EcoRI fragments, and 13 of 15 were associated with absent 10-kb Bgl II/EcoRI and 12-kb EcoRI fragments. Thirteen of 15 chromosomes had absent 6.0- or 5.4-kb Taq I fragments when hybridized with a C4 probe. Thus, 2 of 15 chromosomes do not carry deletions and may represent gene conversions; 13 of 15 chromosomes studied have a deletion of ∼30 kb, leaving behind the C4A gene and a single CYP21A-like gene. Hybridization with specific oligonucleotide probes showed that in all 13 cases this remaining CYP21 gene carried an 8-base-pair deletion, typical of CYP21A, that prevents synthesis of a functional protein. Thus, gene conversions are rarely confused with deletions as a cause of 21-hydroxylase deficiency

[en] A cDNA clone encoding a human serine esterase gene was isolated from a library constructed from poly(A)⁺ RNA of allogeneically stimulated, interleukin 2-expanded peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The clone, designated HSE26.1, represents a full-length copy of a 0.9-kilobase mRNA present in human cytotoxic cells but absent from a wide variety of noncytotoxic cell lines. Clone HSE26.1 contains an 892-base-pair sequence, including a single 741-base-pair open reading frame encoding a putative 247-residue polypeptide. The first 20 amino aceids of the polypeptide form a leader sequence. The mature protein is predicted to have an unglycosylated M_r of ∼26,000 and contains a single potential site for N-linked glycosylation. The nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of clone HSE26.1 are homologous with all murine and human serine esterases cloned thus far but are most similar to mouse granzyme B (70% nucleotide and 68% amino acid identity). HSE26.1 protein is expressed weakly in unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells but is strongly induced within 6-hr incubation in medium containing phytohemagglutinin. The data suggest that the protein encoded by HSE26.1 plays a role in cell-mediated cytotoxicity

[en] The MLC data from the 20 nonsuppressing patients and the 10 suppressing leukemia patients were analyzed with regard to HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens in the leukemia patients and compared with the presence or absence of suppression. These results demonstrate a significant increase (p < 0.02, Mann-Whitney U test) of HLA antigens Al, A3, and A11 in the leukemia suppressor group. Seven of the 10 leukemia patients showing suppression were A1, A3, or A11, while only 4 of the 20 nonsuppressing leukemia patients carried any of these three HLA-A antigens. The studies demonstrate that a nonspecific suppression of MLC responses is observed in 33% of the patients with acute leukemia

[en] Evidence that different structural components of the measles virus may act as antigens has been provided by the serologic methods of hemagglutination inhibition, hemolysin inhibition, and nucleocapsid complement fixation. Using radioiodinated measles viral antigens, an immune precipitation assay has been designed that is capable of discriminating among various reactivities to measles viral structural components in serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and of distinguishing whether IgG and IgM antibody is involved. This technique has been applied to the study of measles antibodies in CSF and sera of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurologic diseases. From data presented here, it was found that both groups of patients have individual reactivity to measles proteins, present in CSF and serum, whereas three normal CSF samples were found not to have such antibodies. It appears that oligoclonal immunoglobulins in CSF of MS patients may be detected by this method, and one patient with MS was found to have CSF IgM anti-measles antibodies. (auth.)

[en] Evidence that different structural components of the measles virus may act as antigens has been demonstrated by the serologic methods of hemagglutination inhibition, hemolysin inhibition and nucleocapsid complement fixation. Using radioiodinated measles viral antigens, an immune precipitation assay has been designed which is capable of discriminating varying reactivities to measles viral structural components in serum or CSF and of differentiating whether IgG and IgM antibody is involved. This technic has been applied to the study of measles antibodies in CSF and sera of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurologic diseases. From data presented here, it is found that both groups of patients have individual reactivity to measles proteins present in CSF and serum, while three normal CSF samples were not found to have such antibodies. (auth.)

[en] Changes to French nuclear regulations made in June 2006 [1.] have made it necessary for EDF to modify its ruling principles. These modifications required the restructuring of radiochemical guidelines to better reflect their impact on nuclear safety, the environment and radioprotection. In accordance with these aims, a new authoritative document has been produced. This ruling document identifies all parameters with a potential impact on nuclear safety, radiological releases to the environment and personnel dose rates. These diagnostic and control parameters have been identified for a reactor in production and for a reactor during shutdown. For parameters related to a reactor in production, some indicators are used to evaluate impacts on availability, radioprotection and the environment during shutdown and on outage and to anticipate mitigation ways. On the other side, several parameters related to the stages of shutdown were also directly evaluated in order to minimize the impacts. This paper describes the EDF methodology used to establish operational documents: radiochemical guidelines and process specifications, and includes the following: - description of monitored parameters and their associated areas of risk; - justification of target values, frequencies of inspection and the required actions for the monitored parameters. The sizing methodology is based on theoretical studies and on EDF operational experience analysis. By implementing in the operational and technical specifications requirements linked to nuclear safety, radioprotection and environment respect, EDF will benefit from an improved compromise between these areas as well as an increased focus. (authors)

[en] Sphinx1 is a novel pixel architecture adapted for X-ray imaging, it detects radiation by photon counting and charge integration. In photon counting mode, each photon is compensated by one or more counter-charges typically consisting of 100 electrons (e-) each. The number of counter-charges required gives a measure of the incoming photon energy, thus allowing spectrometric detection. Pixels can also detect radiation by integrating the charges deposited by all incoming photons during one image frame and converting this analog value into a digital response with a 100 electrons least significant bit (LSB), based on the counter-charge concept. A proof of concept test chip measuring 5 mm × 5 mm, with 200 μm × 200 μm pixels has been produced and characterized. This paper provides details on the architecture and the counter-charge design; it also describes the two modes of operation: photon counting and charge integration. The first performance measurements for this test chip are presented. Noise was found to be ∼80 e-rms in photon counting mode with a power consumption of only 0.9 μW/pixel for the static analog part and 0.3 μW/pixel for the static digital part.

[en] The authors present the two successive versions of the PANTHERE simulation software developed by EDF-SEPTEN to determine gamma dose flow rate in complex industrial installations. This software predicts dose rates and thus enables interventions in irradiating environment to be optimized. The authors report the demonstration of the industrial version (PANTHEREv1) and of the currently under development version (PANTHEREv2). They outline the evolutions brought to the first version to develop the second one such as the direct importation of CAD models, ergonomic improvements, etc.

[en] Several ultrasonic and electromagnetic methods have been developed to meet the need for quality control of parts following thermal and thermochemical treatments. In this article, we present the methods developed and illustrate the results obtained