A chronobiological study of delta-amino levulinic acid urinary excretion.

Determination of urinary delta-amino levulinic acid (ALA) is now systematically used in occupational health to detect an excessive exposure to lead in professionally exposed workers. However, to determine whether circadian changes of the urinary excretion of ALA alter the significance of the test, we quantified the ALA levels in the urine of 19 healthy young adults. Urine samples were taken every 3 hr between 0700 and 2300 hr and ALA levels were determined by a spectrocolorimetric method. The data indicated that the 24-hr mean ALA level was: 1.81 mg/g creatinine. The peak values (2.24 +/- 0.24) were obtained between 1400 and 1700 hr whereas the lowest ALA levels were found between 2200 and 0300 hr. Cosinor analysis revealed a significant circadian rhythm while no significant difference could be found according to sex. Possible explanations of our findings are discussed.

Are there circadian variations of polymorphonuclear phagocytosis in man?

Eleven male subjects were investigated to detect a possible circadian rhythm of the polymorphonuclear phagocytosis. Both cell activity and serum opsonins were studied for numerical detection of granulocytes having ingested at least one particle and for the mean number of ingested particles per cell. No significant temporal differences (ANOVA and cosinor) were found.

[Absence of changes in elderly patients of circadian variation of various so-called inflammation proteins]. / Absence de modifications chez le sujet âgé des variations circadiennes de certaines protéines dites de l'inflammation.

In order to demonstrate possible modifications of circadian rhythms of plasma proteins in elderly, we measured every four hours during 28 hours in 14 aged (greater than 60 years) subjects orosomucoid, alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and ceruleoplasmin (Cp). A circadian rhythm of the 3 proteins was significantly detected: the 24 hour mean values of orosomucoid and AAT were higher in elderly compared to young subjects but not difference was detected concerning Cp. As far as acrophase and amplitude of these rhythms were concerned no statistical differences were found between elderly and young subjects.

[Blood cadmium and plasma zinc in hypertensive patients. Apropos of 76 cases]. / Cadmium sanguin et zinc plasmatique chez l'hypertendu. A propos de 76 observations.

Changes in total blood cadmium level (CdT), in blood plasma Zinc level (ZnP) and in CdT/ZnP ratio were studied in 39 hypertensive patients compared to 37 healthy subjects. The hypertensive patients were caracterized by a higher CdT level (p less than 10(-5)), a lower ZnP level (p less than 10(-7)) and a higher CdT/ZnP ratio (p less than 10(-7)). A negative correlation was found between CdT and ZnP, and between blood pressure values (systolic and diastolic) and ZnP. A positive correlation was found between blood pressure values and CdT, and therefore CdT/ZnP ratio.

[A case of staphylococcal spondylodiscitis after spinal injury. Post-traumatic spondylodiscitis?]. / Une observation de spondylodiscite staphylococcique après traumatisme rachidien. Spondylodiscite post-traumatique?

The authors report the case of a patient who had a D9-D10 staphylococcic spondylodiscitis three month after a fracture of the first lumbar vertebra, which they consider to be posttraumatic despite the fact that it is localised in a different area. They insist on the insufficiency of the literature existing on such cases and on the various pathogenic hypotheses to be applied by the practitionner.

Temporal variations of lorazepam pharmacokinetics.

Lorazepam pharmacokinetics were evaluated in eight healthy male and eight healthy female subjects after a single 3.5 mg oral dose. This randomized crossover study consisted of a morning dose (7:00 a.m.) or an evening dose (7:00 p.m.) separated by one week. While no consistent temporal changes in any parameter characterizing elimination of lorazepam were observed, absorption constant rate (Ka) and absorption half-life (t1/2a) were significantly modified by the hour of administration, the drug being more rapidly absorbed after the morning (t1/2a = 0.52 +/- 0.11) than after the morning trial (t1/2a = 1.18 +/- 0.26, p less than 0.05). Daily differences in pharmacokinetic parameters observed in this work suggest the need for taking in account the hour of administration during its pharmacokinetics determination.

[Thrombocytosis and anaemia (author's transl)]. / Hyperplaquettose et anémie.

The authors found a significant statistical association between thrombocytosis and anaemia in 600 patients admitted to Hotel-Dieu of Marseille: p < 10(-3) with Chi 2 test and p < 5.10(-4) with Mann-Whitney test. There is also a significant correlation (linear and non-parametric Spearmann): r = -0,212; p < 10(-3); and a partial correlation between platelets count and weight of haemoglobin, which is independant of sedimentation rate.

[Cadmium, zinc, pseudo-cholinesterase and aldolase blood levels in hypertensive and alcoholic patients. Preliminary statistical computerised study on 124 cases (author's transl)]. / Taux sanguin du cadmium, du zinc, de la pseudo-choline estérase et de l'alidolase chez l'hypertendu et l'éthylique. Etude statistique et informatique préliminaire à propos de 124 cas.

Changes in blood-level of cadmium, zinc, pseudocholinesterase and aldolase were studied in 44 normal subjects, 40 hypertensive patients and 40 alcoholic ones. The highest serum concentration of cadmium and pseudocholinesterase, the lowest serum and blood concentrations of zinc, the lowest serum concentrations of aldolase were found in the two groups of patients, with still lower levels in alcoholic patients than in hypertensive ones. There was a negative correlation between zinc and cadmium levels in the three groups of subjects. There was a high correlation between systolic and diastolic blood pressure value and cadmium, and negative correlation between blood pressure and zinc blood and serum levels.

[The fuzzy set theory as a biomedical diagnostic aid (author's transl)]. / Service de Médecine Interne, Hôtel-Dieu, Marseille.

In this paper, the theory of fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic is approached as a diagnostic aid for practitioners and biologists. A few theoretical considerations are followed by two practical applications. The first is a modification of the WHO-Fredrickson classification of hyperlipoproteinemias, with the introduction of secondary or minor types corresponding to everyday medical practice. The other is an attempt at classifying the four most prevalent anemias encountered in internal medicine. Recent studies have shown that the various parameters should be grouped on a hierarchical basis.

[Circadian rhythms of the so-called inflammation proteins in healthy subjects]. / Rythmes circadiens des protéines dites de l'inflammation chez le sujet sain.

Circadian rhythms for the factors listed below were investigated in 14 subjects hospitalized in apparently good health: total proteins, albumin, pre-albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, orosomucoid, ceruloplasmin, C3, C-reactive protein, haptoglobin and transferrin. Seven venous blood samples were taken from each subject over a 24 hour period. A circadian rhythm was detected for the total proteins, prealbumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, orosomucoid, ceruloplasmin and transferrin. The acrophases occurred at about 12 hour intervals and the authors research group are already investigating these rhythms for the "inflammation proteins" and the transport proteins in cancer and inflammatory processes.