Neocortical lateralization of NK activity in mice

The natural killer (NK) reactivity of mouse spleen cells is controlled by the left brain neocortex and not by the right symmetrical brain area. The finding strongly suggests direct relationships between the central nervous system and the immune system, both involved in biological adaptation for the maintenance of homeostasis and body integrity in relation to the external environment.

[Fistula between right pulmonary artery and left atrium. A case report and review of the literature (author's transl)]

The communication between right pulmonary artery and left atrium is a very uncommon cause of right to left shunt. The 18th case in the world literature and the first case in France is reported here. Normal pressure in the right cavities and in pulmonary artery is evocative. Angiography assesses the diagnosis and precises the place and connections of the fistula. Surgical closing of the fistula must be promptly achieved in order to obviate embolic complications.

[Bartter's syndrome: seven cases in siblings. Hypothesis of mild forms (author's transl)]

Three children with a Bartter's syndrome have been investigated: all of them had growth retardation, hypokalemia (less than 3 mmol/l), raised plasma renin activity and urinary prostaglandins (PGE2 and PGF2 alpha) and a decreased sensibility for angiotensin. In the siblings two children had also growth retardation with mild biological signs of Bartter's syndrome, and two children had normal growth slight hypokalemia raised RPA and urinary PH, and normal sensibility for angiotensin. These data suggest mild forms of this syndrome which could be the Bartter's syndrome diagnosed in adults after laxatives or diuretics absorption. Besides these data stated a negative correlation (p less than 0,01) between plasma K+ and RPA, negative correlation (p less than 0,01) between plasma K+ and urinary PGE2 and a positive correlation (p less than 0,01) between RPA and urinary PGE2. From these observations physiopathology of Bartter's syndrome is discussed.

[Hashimoto's thyroiditis and monoclonal gammapathy (two cases) (author's transl)]

The authors describe two cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with a monoclonal dysproteinemia (IgG lambda in one case and IgG kappa in the other). They show that the antithyroid activity (anti-microsomial in the first case, anti thyroglobulin in the second case) is not carried by the abnormal gammaglobulin. The two diseases, therefore, appear to be separate but can both be considered as the consequence of a particular immunological state.

[Acute leukemia in 3 children with chronic juvenile arthritis treated with chlorambucil]

Three children out of a total of 40 who had been treated with chlorambucil for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis developed acute leukaemia. No malignancy was detected in 160 patients in those treated with steroids and/or other anti-inflammatory drugs. Chlorambucil may have induced the malignancies and its use should be avoided in rheumatoid arthritis.