The Concorde and cosmic rays.

In 1976, Air France's Concordes operated 2,642 h of flight time during 772 commercial flights to Rio de Janeiro, Caracas, and Washington. The cosmic radiation dose equivalent rate was measured during each of these flights. The average amount recorded was 0.99 mrems/h. A distinction must be made between the high latitudes (Washington route), on which an average dose equivalent rate of 1.49 mrem/h was recorded, and low latitudes (Rio de Janeiro and Caracas routes), on which the average dose equivalent rate was only 0.78 mrems/h. These figures show that 1976 Concorde passengers and crews were exposed to very low quantities of radiation--very much lower than the maximum value recommended for the general public, which is 500 mrems per year.

[Acrodermatitis enteropathica; zinc sulfate therapy]. / Acrodermatitis enteropathica action thérapeutique du sulfate de zinc.

We present the case of two siblings with acrodermatitis enteropathica. Zinc levels were low. Oral administration of 100 mg of zinc sulfate allowed total regression of all signs. When zinc therapy was interrupted, the manifestations reappeared and disappeared again when treatment was resumed. A defect of genetic origin in digestive zinc absorption is suggested. Mohnahan's advocated zinc treatment of acrodermatitis enteropathica in 1973; it is a non-toxic treatment, which is always active and be considered as a diagnostic test.

[The adoption of foreign children]. / L'adoption des enfants étrangers.

Over the last twenty years, adoptions of foreign children have increased considerably, even as the number of French children eligible for adoption has fallen. Most adopted foreign children come from South America, India and the Far East, which are all socioeconomically underprivileged areas. Private Agencies for Adoption in foreign countries and Adoptive Family Organizations play a beneficial role. The adoption process is complex and varies from country to country, raising considerable difficulties for the adoptive parents. The child's foreign origin may compound the relational problems that can arise in any adoption. Considerable efforts have been made to provide adoptive parents with the necessary information and support. The outcome of foreign adoptions depends largely on these efforts, that must therefore be intensified.

[Subacute symmetrical osteomyelitis]. / Ostéomyélite symétrique subaiguë.

An 11 year old girl who developed subacute osteomyelitis in both distal tibial metaphyses is reported. The diagnosis was difficult and the importance of a bone biopsy in the absence of positive findings is emphasised. Recovery followed prolonged antibiotic therapy. This case is compared with seven similar cases in the literature.

[Acrodermatitis enteropathica. Anatomo-clinical study of 2 familial cases treated with zinc sulfate]. / Acrodermatitis enteropathica. Etude anatomo-clinique de deux das familiaux traites par le sulfate de zinc.

Two familial cases of acrodermatitis enteropathica began at the time of weaning, with characteristic dermatologic lesions and digestive signs, resulting in lack of weight gain: at 13 months of age growth future was evident in the elder child. The anatomic lesions were those of an exophagitis and, in the duodenal mucosa, a dilation of the capillaries of the chorion in the absence of villous atrophy. The ultrastructural study showed inclusions in Paneth's cells, and changes in keratin cells, with intra-cytoplasmic vacuoles and abnormal melanin pigment in the skin. The administration of zinc sulphate induced a rapid recovery of cutaneous lesions and resumption of growth. The interruption of treatment resulted twice in a quite immediate relapse of cutaneous signs in the first patient, which was rapidly reversible with the reintroduction of zinc sulphate.

[Serum antibodies in urinary infection in children. Significance and relation to pyelonephritis]. / Les anticorps sériques dans l'infection urinaire de l'enfant. Signification et rapport avec la pyélonéphrite

Serum antibodies were measured repeatedly in 176 cases of urinary tract infections in children. The method used, passive haemagglutination with the bacterial antigen of the patient's urinary infection, gives a positive reading from 1/160. Antibodies were found in 139 cases and the lower limit compatible with a diagnosis of pyelonephritis was 1/2560. The result may, however, be negative in infants of less than one year. As in the first publication, the authors describe three types of curves of progression. Analysis confirms the relationship between persistent antibodies and evolutive pyelonephritis. Experimental results and a comparison of clinical and pathological findings are discussed and support the notion of the value of a persistent high antibody level in the diagnosis of chronic pyelonephritis.

[Digestive intolerance to cow's milk proteins in infants. Clinical study of 42 cases]. / L'intolerance digestive aux proteines du lait de vache chez le nourrisson. Etude clinique de 42 cas

The criteria chosen for the diagnosis of gastro-intestinal intolerance to cow milk proteins were the following: occurrence of shock or anaphylaxis, reccurrence of gastro-intestinal symptoms as a consequence of repeated trials of reintroduction of cow milk proteins into the diet. Under these conditions the transient forms, including the secondary forms, of intolerance to cow milk, were eliminated. This diagnostic attitude may explain the early appearance of gastro-intestinal disturbances, the higher frequency in infancy than in childhood of the severe forms, characterized by shock, subacute malabsorption, exsudative enteropathy, bloody diarrhea, the authors are describing in their study report.

[Digestive intolerance to cow's milk proteins in infants. Biological and histological study]. / L'intolerance digestive aux proteines du lait de vache chez le nourrisson et l'enfant. Etude biologique et histologique

Biological and histological studies were performed in 42 cases of gastro-intestinal intolerance to cow's milk proteins. Hypoproteinemia was present in 2/3 of the cases, anemia in 3/4. Malabsorption syndrome (steatorrhea, xylose) was overt in less than 1 patient out of 2. Serum level of vitamin A was more frequently depressed than that of vitamin E and folinic acid. Intestinal biopsy, performed in 32 children, showed consistent abnormalities, a partial atrophy of the villi being most often seen (26 cases). Eosinophilia was present in 50% of the cases. A titer of anti-milk agglutinins of 1/64 or above was always found if the test was performed repeatedly when the diet of the children contained milk. Lymphocyte proliferation in culture, induced by milk proteins, was positive in 70% of the cases. None the less, no biological or histological findings were found to be specific for gastro-intestinal intolerance to milk proteins.