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We tested the sera of 67 consecutive patients for hepatitis G virus (HGV) RNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These patients (42 males and 25 females, median age 35 years, range 13-64 years) had liver disease of unknown aetiology and were without markers of hepatitis (A-E) viruses or signs of genetically determined, autoimmune, alcoholic or drug-induced liver disease. The controls in this study were 110 patients (50 females and 60 males, median age 45 years, range 9-65 years) with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (19 patients) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (91 patients). Ten of 67 (14.9%) patients with cryptogenic disease were positive for HGV RNA by at least three separate tests; HGV RNA was also detected in one of 19 (5.3%) hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers and in nine of 91 (16.6%) patients with antibody to HCV. These data suggest that HGV occurs as frequently in HCV-infected patients as in those with cryptogenic disease. Elevated serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) (higher than twice the normal value) and alkaline phosphatase levels were found in eight of 10 (80%) HGV RNA positive patients and in six of 57 (10.5%) HGV RNA negative patients (P < 0.0001). Five (50%) HGV RNA positive patients had non-specific inflammatory bile duct lesions. A statistically significant difference was observed between HGV RNA positive and negative patients with chronic HBV or HCV infections (P < 0.029). Therefore, the spectrum of liver disease associated with HGV is wide, but a characteristic lesion of the bile duct leading to elevation of cholestatic enzymes might be specific for this virus.

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Après une étude classique de toxicité, les effets de l'utilisation, en milieu aquatique, des alcools gras supérieurs (hexadécanol et octadécanol) ont été étudiés sélectivement sur la fonction respiratoire de la truite arc-en-ciel selon deux techniques. 1. Dans les conditions du confinement aquatique, seules des concentrations massives (1000 ppm) d'octadécanol provoquent en aigu un abaissement significatif du point d'oxygéno-dépendance aussi bien durant la phase d'exposition qu'après deux heures de récupération en eau pure. Par ailleurs, la consommation d'oxygène est augmentée seulement pendant la phase de récupération en eau pure et ceci 2 heures après une exposition à des concentrations de 10, 100 et 1000 ppm d'alcools gras. 2. Dans les conditions du semi-confinement aquatique, les alcools gras supérieurs ne semblent pas affecter la valeur globale du métabolisme de repos du poisson pour des concentrations de 2 à 3 ppm d'alcools gras.
Following a standard study of toxicity, effects of use, in water, of fatty alcohols (hexadécanol and octadécanol) were experimented on the respiratory function of rainbow trout by two selective techniques : 1. under aquatic confinement conditions, a significant drop of the oxygeno-dependance level occurs only with high concentrations (1000 ppm) of octadécanol, during the exposure period as well as after two hours recuperation in pure water. On the other hand, oxygen consumption increases only during the recuperation period in pure water and two hours following exposure at 10, 100 and 1000 ppm of fatty alcohols. 2. under aquatic semi-confinement conditions, fatty alcohols do not seem to affect the total value of the rest metabolism of fish at concentrations of 2 to 3 ppm

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