Premenstrual symptomatology: an interaction hypothesis

An experiment on mood changes in relation to the premenstrual phase of the cycle is reported. Two groups of 24 female phobic patients (one with natural cycles and the other taking the oral contraceptive) were tested either premenstrually or intermenstrually using concurrent and retrospective methods of mood assessment. Although subjects retrospectively reported experiencing negative mood changes during the premenstrual phase as compared to the intermenstrual phase, no such differences were found when subjects were tested at these particular phases when the purpose of the study was disguised. The implication of this finding, together with those reported previously concerning conditionability and defensive reactions, are discussed.

[Portal hypertension in chronic lymphatic leukemia (author's transl)]

A syndrome of portal hypertension with hemorrhagic ascites was developed in a 44-year-old patient, 2 years after he had been diagnosed as having a chronic lymphatic leukemia. The study of the patient, including two liver biopsies and a laparoscopy, excluded the existence of another hepatic or extrahepatic associated condition. The clinical course of the patient was rapidly fatal progressive in spite of the cytostatic therapy, and he died as a result of an acute liver failure. The autopsy confirmed the absence of vascular occlusions in the suprahepatic veins or in the vena porta. The liver showed, in contrast to the findings of previous biopsies and laparoscopy, an evident fibrotic pattern.

[Clinical course characteristics of polymyalgia arteritica. Study of 16 cases]

Clinical and biological characteristics are studied in 16 patients with polymyalgia arteritica. 12 of them were diagnosed by biopsy of the temporal artery and the other 4 because they presented clinical, biological data and a high response to corticosteroids. There were no differences according to sex. Most patients (75%) had symptoms since 1-6 months, headache being the most common (75%). Fever (56%), polymyalgia (50%), weight loss (37%), intermittent claudication, loss of vision and arthritis (12%) were the symptoms seen in these patients. ERS was high in all cases, hemoglobin was less than 8 g/100 ml in 8 cases and an increase of alfa-2-globuline was found in 8 patients. Temporal artery palpation was abnormal in 11 patients. Two of 5 patients who presented a normal arterial palpation had a positive biopsy. All patients received 6-metil-prednisolone. 3 are well after 3, 4 and 6 months therapy. 8 are also well but receiving small doses of steroids as treatment.

Congenital atresia of the foramen of Monro

Two cases of congenital atresia of the foramen of Monro are described, one 8 days old and the other 2 months old. Both are associated with a parieto-occipital paraventricular diverticulum and spontaneous ventriculostomy with the passing of the cerebrospinal fluid to the posterior fossa and the formation of a cyst in the supracerebella region which compressed and displaced the structures of the posterior fossa.

[Chronic gastritis in children (author's transl)]

The gastric mucosa in 113 children from 6 months to 14 years old was studied from a histopathological point of view. Samples were obtained by means of a multiple biopsy technique during an endoscopic examination. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A was composed of 97 children with abdominal pain of an unknown etiology. Group B was formed of 16 patients with extragastric pathology in whom it was possible to take biopsies during an endoscopic exam. All of the biopsies were normal, and therefore were used as the control group. 49 patients from group A were histologically normal. In the other 48, lesions of chronic gastritis ranging in severity, were found in the antrum and/or in the gastric body. An analysis of the histopathological findings, and of the lesional sings of activity was done in accordance with Whitehead's criteria. Macroscopic objective features observed during the endoscopical examinations, were also evaluated and compared with the existence or nonexistence of chronic gastritis lesions. In the gastric body, the existence of endoscopic features such as enlarged folds, erosions or friable mucosa, were found to be coincident with the presence of histologic lesions of chronic gastritis. The same relationship was found in the antrum between the granular mucosa and/or irregular coloration and the lesions of chronic gastritis. In the same time, acid secretion studies (BAO, MAO and PAO) from 40 patients from group A were done using pentagastrin as a stimulant. It was demonstrated that both basal acid output and maximal acid were significantly lowered in cases of advanced lesions of chronic gastritis located in the gastric body. Finally the importance of this entity is emphasized in the gastrointestinal pathology in children.

Vulnerability and defensive reactions in relation to the human menstrual cycle

The effects of alterations of the organism's internal state, attributable to the menstrual cycle, upon heart-rate responsivity and conditioning are reported. Two groups of 24 female phobic patients (one with natural cycles and the other taking the oral contraceptive) were tested, either premenstrually or intermenstrually, using a conditioning procedure in which a small blue light was the CS and white noise the UCS. Subjects tested premenstrually were significantly differentiated from those tested intermenstrually respecting HR responsivity to the first UCS. Significant differences were also found in conditioned responses following three acquisition trials. The type of reactions observed are similar to those which have been called defensive reactions. Subjects taking the oral contraceptives showed increased susceptibility to acquisition of conditioned responses.

Vulnerability and conditioning in relation to the human menstrual cycle

An experiment aimed at testing some implications of a model of symptom acquisition is reported. In particular, the effect conditioning and extinction is examined. Sixteen female phobic patients were tested either immediately pre-menstrually or inter-menstrually. Using white noise as the UCS and a blue light as the CS, conditioned GSR responses were readily established in members of the pre-menstrual group, who also showed resistance to extinction. Subjects tested inter-menstrually were less susceptible to these effects. Those subjects taking the contraceptive pill showed increased sensitivity to the acquisition of conditioned responses.

Effect of fosfomycin on the thrombocytal aggregation induced by ADP

The effect of fosfomycin on the thrombocytal aggregation induced by ADP was studied. Plasma rich in thrombocytes was used. It was obtained from blood donors. Fosfomycin was used in concentrations of 1.3 X 10(-3); 1.3 X 10(-2), and 1.3 X 10(-1)M and the ADP in concentrations of 1.17, 2.34 and 3.51 X 10(-6)M. Two experimental groups were used: the first group was made up of five experiments, with an incubation time for the fosfomycin with the thrombocytes of 2 min; the second experimental group was made up of five experiments whose incubation times were 5 and 10 min. Fosfomycin inhibits the thrombocytal aggregation which is induced by ADP. This inhibition (1) is larger, the smaller the concentration of ADP, (2) for a single concentration of ADP it is proportional to the concentration of fosfomycin that is used, and (3) there are no significant differences according to the time of incubation. This thrombocytal anti-aggregating activity is related to the presence of a phosphonic group in the molecule of fosfomycin.

Diamond-Blackfan syndrome: lymphocyte-mediated suppression of erythropoiesis

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from six patients with congenital hypoplastic anemia suppressed erythroid cell formation by normal human bone marrow cells in response to erythropoietin in vitro. The results suggest that the anemia in these children has an immunologic basis.

[Modifications induced through beta receptors in adrenergic nervous system and gastric ulcers (author's transl)]

The experimental relation between adrenergic nervous system and ulcus has been studied. Administration of adrenaline to rats did not induce any ulcers, or showed any noteworthy modification in the studied pH, acidity and peptic activity of gastric content parameters. The number of ulcers induced by the Shay method, acidity and peptic activity decreased after beta receptor blockage. Ko-592 did not induce any significant change on these parameters when the animals were subjected to stress conditions by restraint. Beta receptors discretely participate in ulcer pathology.

[The effect of oxytocin and dihydrostilbestrol on various uterine cations (author's transl)]

The effect of dihydrostilbestrol diacetate and oxytocin on the Na+, K+, Ca++ and Mg++ content in uterine Wistar rats has been studied. A bilateral ovariectomy on the animals was performed. After seven days dihydrostibestrol (0.25 mg/kg a day) and oxytocine (0.025 U.I./kg a day) were administered separately and simultaneously i.p. during a period of five days. Twenty four hours after the first, third and fifth administration, five rats from each group were decapited and the above uterine cation content was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Dihydrostibestrol induced a marked increase and a slight decrease in K+ and Na+ contents respectively, lowering the Na/K ration. It also increased greatly Ca++ and Mg++ content. Oxytocin induced a Na+ and K+ increase, a Ca++ decrease, and slight changes in Mg++. These results partially confirmed the bioelectric and biomechanic alterations produced by the above hormones on the uterine cells.

CONDYLO-CEPHALIC NAIL FIXATION FOR TROCHANTERIC FRACTURES OF THE FEMUR

1. An initial series of 100 consecutive cases of trochanteric fracture treated by the Küntscher technique of condylo-cephalic nailing with the aid of an image intensifier has been reviewed.

2. The advantages of this simple method over internal fixation by open reduction and insertion of some kind of nail and plate are discussed.