Jacques Amouroux

Fibrocystic disease of the breast in premenopausal women: Histohormonal correlation and response to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analog treatment

Sixty-six patients with fibrocystic mastopathy were enrolled in the trial after being selected according to clinical, radioultrasonographic, and histologic criteria. No characteristic hormonal profile was noted in most patients (52%). Estrogen receptors or progesterone receptors, or both, were found in 57% of patients. Hormone receptor levels were correlated with atypical proliferative mastopathy (87.5%). Mastopathy was associated with a uterine fibroma or a fibromatous uterus in 73% of cases. All patients received intramuscular injections of a sustained delivery system (microcapsules) of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonist [D-Trp6]-LHRH, Ipsen-Biotech, Paris) for 3 to 6 months. In case of partial response at 3 months, an antiestrogen (tamoxifen, 40 mg/day, for estrogen receptor-predominant lesions) or a progestin (cyproterone acetate, 50 mg/day, for progesterone receptor-predominant lesions) was added to the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonist. A complete response was observed in more than half of the patients (n = 35, 53%) treated by [D-Trp6]-LHRH alone (n = 29) or associated with tamoxifen (n = 4) or cyproterone acetate (n = 2). A significant partial response was observed in 30 other patients (45%). Additionally, half of them received inhibitory drugs. The best responses were seen with cyst reformation (complete response, 100%) and fibrous block. Clinical responses to treatment with [D-Trp6]-LHRH alone were independent of hormone receptor status, but synergistic effects occurred with concomitant use of the corresponding inhibitory drugs. We conclude that chronic mastopathy, particularly when associated with uterine fibroma, can be successfully treated by luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogs in premenopausal women.

CO2 reforming of methane: valorizing CO2 by means of Dielectric Barrier Discharge

The impact of pollution on the environment is causing several problems that are to be reduced as much as possible. One important example is the production of CO2 that is emitted by many transport and industrial applications. An interesting solution is to view CO2 as a source instead of a product that can be stocked. The case considered in this work is the CO2 reformation of methane producing hydrogen and CO. It is an endothermic reaction, for which the activition barrier needs to be overcome. The method of Dielectric Barrier Discharge can do this efficiently. The process relies on the collision of electrons, which are accelerated under an electrical field that is created in the discharge area. This leads to the formation of reactive species, which facilitate the abovementioned reaction. The determination of the electron density is performed by PLASIMO. The study is subsequently continued using the Reaction Engineering module in COMSOL (with an incorporated kinetic mechanism) in order to model the discharge phase. Then COMSOL (continuity and Navier-Stokes equations) is used to model the flow in the post-discharge phase. The results showed that both a 2D and 3D model can be used to model the chemical-plasma process. These methods need strongly reduced kinetic mechanism, which in some cases can cause loss of precision. It is also observed that the present experimental set-up that is modeled needs to be improved. A suggestion is made.

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer between non Equilibrium Plasma and a Target Covered by a Semiconductor

ABSTRACT: Elementary phenomena of heat and mass transfer from a non equilibrium low pressure plasma to an oxide target such as ‐n or ‐p type semiconductors have been measured by using an oxygen plasma. The aim of this work is to establish a correlation between the electronic properties of the semiconductors (electronic gap) and their reactivity (activation energy of the recombination reaction). The energetic transfer of a material is defined by the recombination and accommodation coefficients, respectively γ and β. The γ coefficient is measured in a pulsed oxygen plasma reactor in non equilibrium conditions, using an actinometric method. The test materials are ‐p type semiconductors (CoO, MnO, PbO and Sb2O3) and ‐n type semiconductors (SnOx). An experimental study on more complex ceramic material (SiC) is undertaken on a large temperature range (300 K‐1123 K) in order to point out a change in the recombination mechanism when the surface temperature raises. The chemical structure of the material is followed by XPS analyses and shows an oxidation of SiC to SiO2 structure.

Thymus function in patients with resectable lung carcinoma

SummaryA series of 43 patients (median age 57 years, range 39–73) underwent biopsy of the thymic area during resection for primary lung cancer (16 with negative nodes and 27 with positive nodes). In 22 cases in which study of lymphocyte subpopulations was possible T6 precursor thymocytes were found (mean 57%). T4 and T8 cells were present in proportions of 53% and 47%, respectively, equally distributed between T6 and T3 cells. A well-defined lobular structure was found in 11 cases and active thymic tissue with poorly defined lobules in 21 cases. There was no correlation of active thymus tissue either with age or with lymph node status. It is hypothesized that thymic tissue undergoes regeneration in response to tumor development, 50% of thymocytes being of the suppressor type in early tumors. Thymic structure in advanced cancer has not yet been studied.