On the fate of ingested Bacillus spores.

Spores of various Bacillus species, including B. subtilis, B. cereus and B. clausii, are used as probiotics, although they are generally absent from the normal microflora of man. We used two nonpathogenic Bacillus species, B. subtilis and B. clausii, to follow the fate of spores inoculated intragastrically in mice. We did not find detectable amounts of vegetative cells in intestinal samples, probably because of high toxicity of the conjugated bile salt taurodeoxycholic acid against Bacillus species. Both spores and cells were detected in the lymph nodes and spleen of one mouse. Our results indicate that Bacillus is present in the intestinal tract solely as spores and that nonpathogenic Bacillus spores may germinate in lymphoid organs, a finding reminiscent of B. anthracis germination in macrophages. These results indicate that any claimed probiotic effect of B. subtilis should be due to spores or, alternatively, to vegetative growth outside the intestine.

Seasonality of suicides: environmental, sociological and biological covariations.

The monthly rates of completed suicides in France from 1978 until 1982 were analyzed. The seasonal variations of environmental (daylight and sunlight durations, mean temperature, geomagnetism), sociological (unemployment, deaths of all causes, birth and conception rates), and biological (melatonin, cortisol and serotonin circannual rhythms) factors were compared to the seasonal patterns of suicides. A clear seasonal variation (with peaks in May and September) in suicidal behavior was detected. These patterns tended to differ as a function of age (bimodal in young, unimodal in old people). The component analysis clearly pointed out that seasonal patterns of suicides may be considered as the sum of two components, unimodal and bimodal. Almost similar covariations were found between the main seasonal (unimodal) component of suicides and environmental (daylight duration and mean monthly temperature) or sociological factors whereas the secondary component was more correlated to variations in environmental factors and, to some extent, to biological parameters.

[The psychotropic action of TRH]. / L'action psychotrope de la T.R.H.

During a double-blind trial about using TRH perfusions, the authors didn't established any antidepressive effect. On the other hand they observed an anxiety reaction under a 1,200 microgram in perfusion. The study of the basic level of T3, T4, T.S.H. and Prolactin corroborated the normality of the biological evaluation among the depressed. No difference of the hormonal response under T.R.H. was established depending on different types of depression. The authors reported that the Prolactin respons is higher among the subjects for whom the T.R.H. was the more distressing.

[Neurological tolerance of lithium-psychotropic drugs association (author's transl)]. / Tolerance neurologique de l'association lithium-psychotropes. A partir de 265 cures associatives.

The authors have studied the neurological tolerance from the combination of lithium-psychotropic drugs from 265 associated cures carried out on 132 patients between 1971 and 1978. The risk of neurological inability to assimilate is not greater when haldol is combined with lithium by comparison with other combinations where it is not included. Only the presence of cerebral organicity presents a risk factor. The 117 associated cures were preceded by preliminary treatments during which either the lithium or the psychotropic drugs were used to the same extent during the treatment. This series seems to allow on one hand to demonstrate that the incidence of neurological signs is multiplied by two by the combination, on the other hand to note that the intensity of the neurotoxic effects increases.

[Speech of neurotic and psychotic subjects according to Rorschach test responses]. / Etude de l'enonciation de sujets nevrotiques et psychotiques d'apres les reponses au test de rorschach.

The authors have studied in Rorschach's test the syntaxic structures of fifty neurotics subjects and fifty psychotics subjects. They have particulary remarked that phrases determinated by situation of test are more frequent in neurotic protocols than psychotic protocols. They note also the importance of verb with detriment of nominal syntagm for the latter.

[Two-dimensional immuno-electrophoresis of cephalospinal fluid proteins wih a study of the IgG/albumin ratio in psychiatry (author's transl)]. / Immunoélectrophorèse bidimensionnelle des protéines du liquide céphalo rachidien (LCR) avec étude du rapport IgG/albumine en psychiatrie.

The purpose of this study (about 187 adult psychiatric patients) is to investigate correlations between "organic brain syndrome" (vascular or abiotrophic) and values of CSF proteins (technique of two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis). The authors show positive correlations between 'vascular' brain syndrome and increase of one alpha 2 globulin, between 'abiotrophic' brain syndrome and decrease in all globulins, the importance of brain damage and increase of IgG/albumin ratio.

[Clinical significance of the erythro-plasmatic ratio of lithium (author's transl)]. / Signification clinique du rapport érythro-plasmatique du lithium.

Six hundred erythrocyte-plasma lithium ratios have been gathered from 67 patients presenting affective disorders. Ratios values in relapse period are not altered regarding those in remission phase as between periods with neuroleptic associations and those without. Ratios values are not noticeably modified by personality, sex and the evolution of affective disorders. But lithium preventive action is essentially found in patients with high erythrocyte-plasma.

[Multicentre rating of a delusional patient with help of the AMDP scale]. / Cotation multicentrique d'un délirant au moyen de l'échelle AMDP.

A videotaped interview of a delusional patient was evaluated by 33 French, Swiss and Belgian raters. The inverse factor analysis of the raters and multivariate indexes demonstrate in this single case study that the interrater reliability depends on: a) the general training of the raters in psychopathology; b) their knowledge of the AMDP System; c) a comprehensive understanding of the psychopathology of the patient; d) AMDP concepts; e) the interview technique (this latter deficiency may be corrected by a semi-structured interview.