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Immunosuppression with cyclosporine (CYC) results in an early, acute, reversible reduction in renal hemodynamlcs. In an attempt to establish a model for investigating the functional and morphologic effects of ACIN at the single nephron level, renal micropuncture (MP) and ultra-structural (EM) studies were performed in growing male rats (100-140 g). Pair-caged animals were treated with IM injections of CYC (10 or 25 mg/kg/d) or olive oil for 1 week. Daily weight gain was reduced in both treated groups (-32%, n=24, and -44%, n=6, p

We want to report the preliminary results of an ongoing study documenting the beneficial effects of active pneumococcal vaccination during gammaglobulin replacement therapy in young children, with low IgG2 subclass levels. Four children suffering from early chronic rhinitis and from respiratory problems were representing abnormal low levels of plasma IgG2 and an absence of salivary IgA (twice checked). Surinfection was relapsing twice a month and streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated at least on four occasions from cultures of nasal secretions. The allergic check-up was non-contributive, nor the evaluation of plasma immunoglobulin levels, complement system and neutrophil function. Repeated IM injections of gammaglobulins every three weeks, subjectively improved the patient status but did not modify the frequency of relapsing infections, nor the IgG2 levels sequentially reassessed before each injection. With the consent of the parents, antipneumococcal vaccination then was given simultaneously to the last gammaglobulin injection. In all cases, we observed a total remission on the recurrent infections and a significative increase of their IgG2 levels (p

Establishing a reliable test of androgen sensitivity is still prerequisite for etiological diagnosis in infants suspected of androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). Since androgens are known to decrease SBP levels we have investigated the possibility of using plasma SBP as a marker of androgen sensitivity, and studied the conditions for a rational protocol. The ontogenic pattern of SBP from birth to adulthood was first established in 695 controls, (by a solid phase method). SBP levels (μg/l) low at birth, (6.3±3) rise to 22.3±7.5 during the first month of life correlatively with time, with no sex difference but large individual variations. In addition, SBP decreased significantly after either an acute or a 3-day routine ACTH test. Whatever the age (1 mo-13 yr ), SBP levels decreased significantly (mean=30%) in a group of 40 boys at the end (day 14) of an hCG test (1500 IU/48 h × 7), but the response was very variable and not correlated with testosterone levels. In contrast, the exogenous administration of fluoxymesterone (10 mg/m2/d.x 10 d.) or depo-testosterone (4 IM injections of 100 mg/m2 every 2 weeks) induced a siginificant drop (mean 2 fold) in 10 infants with idiopathic male pseudohermaphroditism, but not in 2 suspected of AIS. In conclusion. SBP appears a good marker of androgen sensitivity in infancy, however establishing a protocol requires three conditions: 1) the test should not be done during the 1st month of life (rising basal levels), 2) neither after an ACTH test and 3) utilise the exogenous administration of a high dose of androgens for somewhat a prolonged period of time.