[Hematuria and obstructive uropathy in children with hemophilia]

Nine patients from a series of 76 hemophilic children followed up from 1967 to 1982 presented a total of 26 episodes of hematuria. Most of the episodes occurred after age of five. There was no correlation between the number of episodes and the factor level. Radiological studies showed a high incidence of urinary flow obstructions attributable to clotting within the urinary tract. No clear correlation could be established between the pattern of management and the duration of the hematuria.

[Partial 10q trisomy (q24;q ter) caused by a balanced maternal translocation t(6;10)(q26;q24)]

Authors have had the opportunity to study a patient affected by a malformative syndrome with severe motricity and mental retardation. Physical findings (namely: spacious forehead, flat and round face, small palpebral fissures, hypotonicity and growth retardation) are similar to the phenotype previously described in trisomy 10q. Chromosomal diagnosis failed until G, Q and R banding technique was applied. With this technique a partial 10q trisomy (q24 leads to q ter) due to a maternal translocation t(6:10)(q26;q24) was found.

[Thrombocytopenia-absent radius syndrome (author's transl)]

A patient affected with thrombocytopenia and bilateral absence of radius is described. Authors present data suggesting an acquired etiology: intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection and X-ray exposure during the ovulatory period. Patient showed some radiological features not previously described: methacarpian synostosis and absence of sternum ossification centers. Anemia was etiologically related to the iron deficiency secondary to bleeding. Chronic diarrhea, a feature common in this syndrome, was caused by cow's milk protein intolerance, other causes of chronic diarrhea, like pancreatic malfunction or disaccharidal intolerance were discarted. Finally comments on the differential diagnosis of the illness, its' evolution and treatment, pointing out the possibility of an intrauterine diagnosis, crucial for a correct genetic counselling are made.

The mass spectra of 13C labelled methylene derivatives of steroids--IV

The mass spectra of the 3-ethylene ketal of delta 5-pregnan[20-13C]methylene-3-one and 17 beta-acetoxyl[3-13C]methyleneandrost-1-ene have been examined. In both cases there are some fragments which show either relatively large retention or elimination of 13C label and these can be assigned to some fragmentation paths which generally follow those found for diterpenic and steroidal hydrocarbons, and are in good agreement with the empirical fragmentations rules in mass spectrometry.

[Physiology of taste]

The various types of taste papillae, in and on the tongue have been studied, together with its role in discriminating between the basic tastes (sweet, sour, bitter and salt). The importance of the other factors associated with taste is also discussed.

Comparative study of American cutaneous leishmaniasis and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in two strains of inbred mice

Two Leishmania strains, AZV (isolated from a typical case of American cutaneous leishmaniasis) and AMP (from a case of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis), were studied in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. After infection with 10(4) amastigotes of either strain, C57BL/6 mice developed self-resolving lesions lasting 20 to 23 weeks and showed both delayed hypersensitivity response to leishmanial antigen and specific agglutinating antibodies. On the other hand, BALB/c mice infected with 10(4) AZV or AMP amastigotes developed chronic, large, ulcerated lesions and showed impaired cellular and humoral responses to the parasite. When BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice received 10(2) AMP amastigotes, patterns of infection were similar to those observed after inoculation of 10(4) amastigotes. In vitro studies revealed that spleen cells from AZV- or AMP-infected C57BL/6 mice showed an increased DNA-synthetic response to leishmanial antigen, concanavalin A, and phytohemagglutinin. Spleen cells from AZV- or AMP-infected BALB/c mice showed an increased response to concanavalin A and diminished responses to leishmanial antigen, phytohemagglutinin, and lipopolysaccharide.