Clarification of the relationship between free radical spin trapping and carbon tetrachloride metabolism in microsomal systems

It has been proposed that the C-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone/trichloromethyl radical adduct (PBN/.CCl3) is metabolized to either the C-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone/carbon dioxide anion radical adduct (PBN/.CO2-) or the glutathione (GSH) and CCl4-dependent PBN radical adduct (PBN/[GSH-.CCl3]). Inclusion of PBN/.CCl3 in microsomal incubations containing GSH, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), or GSH plus NADPH produced no electron spin resonance (ESR) spectral data indicative of the formation of either the PBN/[GSH-.CCl3] or PBN/.CO2- radical adducts. Microsomes alone or with GSH had no effect on the PBN/.CCl3 radical adduct. Addition of NADPH to a microsomal system containing PBN/.CCl3 presumably reduced the radical adduct to its ESR-silent hydroxylamine because no ESR signal was observed. The Folch extract of this system produced an ESR spectrum that was a composite of two radicals, one of which had hyperfine coupling constants identical to those of PBN/.CCl3. We conclude that PBN/.CCl3 is not metabolized into either PBN/[GSH-.CCl3] or PBN/.CO2- in microsomal systems.     

Use of a thick-film capillary column for the analysis of organic acids in body fluids

Contradictory evidence as to the effects of alcohol on early information processing stages has been obtained from behavioral and psychophysiological investigations. In the present study, choice reaction times, error rates, and event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded in a task in which variations in stimulus discriminability and of the (task irrelevant) correspondence between stimulus location and response location were orthogonally combined. Both discriminability and stimulus-response correspondence affected reaction time and electrophysiological chronometric measures as expected. However, no behavioral effects of alcohol were observed, possibly because of strategic adjustments. Psychophysiological chronometric measures indicated that alcohol leaves the initial flow of perceptual evidence to motor stages unimpaired, whereas it appears to increase the duration of stimulus evaluation. Interestingly, a number of alcohol effects appeared in the ERP amplitudes. Decrements in early ERP components indicate alcohol-induced impairments of involuntary visual attention and/or the automatic stimulus location-dependent activation of response channels. In contrast, a strong enhancement of a late slow-wave component under alcohol may reflect the investment of processing resources in order to maintain normal performance levels.     

Isolated premature breast development in young girls. Results of the LH-RH test

Thirty-six cases of premature thelarche in girls 9 months to 7 years old have been studied. In most cases, breast development began before 3 years and came to regression. Onset after 3 years was less common and led usually to breast persistance. Height was lightly but significantly advanced. Plasma levels of estrone, estradiol (in 21 cases) and gonadotropins (FSH and LH, in 12 cases) were not significantly increased. However, LH-RH test (in 12 cases) suggested prolongation and/or increase of the physiologic gonadotropic hyperactivity of normal female infants.     

The composition of dietary lipids and the blood coagulation time in the rat

The study of the coagulation in rats fed with a balanced diet, including 12% of different animal or vegetable fats, during 6 months, shows that the time of coagulation in rats receiving one of the following oils: palm, sunflower, Canbra, is significantly higher than the ones fed with butter. On the other hand, the coagulation time observed in the groups is correlated with the oleic acid level in the corresponding diet. The results obtained here may lead to important practical applications.     

Peripharyngeal space. Pathology

Tumors are the most frequent pathological pattern found in the peripharyngeal space. Topographically, intrinsic and extrinsic tumors can be distinguished. Intrinsic tumors are mostly salivary, nervous and vascular. Extrinsic tumors extend from the oral cavity, pharynx and parotid gland. MRI globally gives more impressive results than CT. Diagnosis of the tumor type often remains dubious in intrinsic tumors. CT-guided biopsy is then required.     

Hormonal suppressive therapy of thyroid nodules

In this article we report on a 43-year-old man, who had been treated with two cortisone injections containing soja bean oil for epicondylitis humeri radialis. Four weeks after the second injection necrotized fat which had been extracted surgically was sent to us for histological examination. We could show a calcifying collagen fibre necrosis being cleared by a granulomatous reaction and resorbed by granulation tissue. The calcifying necrosis of collagen fibres might have been induced by soja bean oil which were used as carrier of the drug.     

Haglund disease treated by simple resection of calcaneus tuberosity. An angular and therapeutic study. Apropos of 74 cases with 2 years follow-up

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The authors report the treatment of Haglund's disease, using a simple os calcis tuberosity resection. They reviewed long term results and the value of radiological criteria for pre-operative evaluation. MATERIAL: The series included 54 patients (74 feet) mostly female and young. The simple resection of os calcis tuberosity was performed without further operation or post-operative splint. METHODS: Post-operative results were appreciated according to 3 criteria: pain, functional activity and shoe wearing. Radiological criteria used Fowler and Philip angle, angle of calcaneal inclinaison, total angle, CL angle, Denis and Huber-Levernieux test and Heneghan and Pavlov parallel lines. Correlation tests with simple regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Results were graded as excellent and good in 73 per cent fair in 16.2 per cent and poor in 10.8 per cent cases. DISCUSSION: Results were compared to other series. Neither radiological criteria, angular or not, can rule out simple tuberosity resection, because results showed no relation between test and angle measurements. There is no correlation between post-operative radiographs and final result. The only efficient criteria of resection is the difference between Fowler and Philip, and CL angles. This technique may be recommended after few months of medical treatment, without using calcaneal osteotomies of Zadek type. CONCLUSION: The simple resection of os calcis tuberosity showed good results in 73 per cent cases at an average follow up of 6 years 9 months.     

Human plasma albumin transports [13C]docosahexaenoic acid in two lipid forms to blood cells

Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) decreases blood platelet function and is highly concentrated in the brain where its depletion leads to functional impairments. Because the platelets and blood brain barrier capillary endothelium cannot hydrolyze the complex lipids for fatty acid (FA) uptake, nonesterified FA (NEFA) bound to albumin are assumed to be the delivery route of FA to these cells. The supply of 13C-labeled 22:6 to blood cells by plasma albumin was studied in humans after a single ingestion of this FA esterified in a triglyceride (TG). The 22:6 13C/12C ratio, measured by gas chromatography combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry was measured in lipid classes from albumin, platelets, leukocytes, and erythrocytes (taken as a tentative index of the brain uptake). Nonesterified [13C]22:6 bound to albumin was rapidly produced after ingestion, as a result of the hydrolysis of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) plus chylomicron TG. We found that albumin carried another source of 22:6, lyso-phosphatidylcholines (lyso-PC), in which [13C]22:6 accumulated while the nonesterified [13C]22:6 reached its minimal plasma concentrations. Computation of the relative contribution of NEFA and lyso-PC for the [13C]22:6 delivery to platelets and erythrocytes showed that the [13C]22:6 supply to platelets occurred uniquely through NEFA, whereas this pool was weakly involved in the delivery to erythrocytes. In contrast, lyso-PC was uniquely concerned with the 22:6 delivery to erythrocytes and represented the major part of this supply. We conclude that plasma albumin carries 22:6 in two lipid forms that are involved differently in the delivery of this FA to target cells.