[Is there an indication for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment in elderly women with Addison disease? Beneficial and adverse effects of DHEA]. / Y a-t-il une indication au traitement par la déhydroépiandrostérone (DHEA) chez les femmes âgées et les Addisoniens? Effets bénéfiques et indésirables de la DHEA.

DHEA is a cetosteroid secreted by the adrenal gland. Serum levels of DHEA decline by an average of 10% per decade whereas cortisol levels remain stable. The relative lack of DHEA secretion in elderly people has been called adrenopause. The daily administration of 50 mg of DHEA to women over 60 years old results in a two-fold increase in serum level of testosterone and androstenedione and in a 10% increase of estradiol in men. A 10 to 20% increase of IGF-1 is observed in both sexes. In women over 70 years old treated by 50 mg/day of DHEA for 6 months an improvement of bone turnover and of skin status was observed as well as an increase of overall well-being and of libido. These beneficial psychological effects have also been observed in younger men and women with adrenal insufficiency. In men 50 to 65 years old, 100 mg/day of DHEA for 6 months could slightly increase the lean body mass and the muscle strength. Moreover DHEA could increase immune function and NK cell activity. As there are no actual data about cardio-vascular and oncological risks of a prolonged treatment with DHEA, the administration of this steroid must still be considered experimental. Previous or present cancer of the breast or of the prostate is an absolute contraindication to DHEA treatment.

[Hairy root induction and in vitro cultivation of Pueraria lobata willa. ohwi].

OBJECTIVE: To study the hairy root induction and hormone-free in vitro liquid cultivation of Pueraria lobata (Willd) Ohwi. METHOD: Co-cultivation of super-virulent Agrobacterium rhizogenes R1601 with P. lobata leaves in vitro. RESULTS: Hairy roots of rapid growth, high branches and plagiotropism developed vigorously on the surface of leaves, exhibiting rapid growth and resistance to kanamycin in hormone-free medium in vitro. CONCLUSION: A method of hairy root induction with A. rhizogenes as well as a system hairy root liquid cultivation in vitro for P. lobata have been established.

[Attempted suicide with 400 thyroxine pills: what happened to the physician-patient relationship?]. / Tentamen avec 400 comprimés de thyroxine: que s'est-il passé dans la relation médecin-malade?

Patient aged 49 who developed hypothyroidism after receiving 1131 for relapsing Graves' disease after treatment with propylthiouracil followed by homeopathy. Substitution with thyroxine (0.05 mg/day) was prescribed. Depressed by the perspective of a life long treatment, the patient swallowed 400 pills (20 mg). The evolution was uncomplicated after betablockers administration at hospital. One year later she became euthyroid without further medication. The occurrence of transient hypothyroidism after curitherapy is discussed. The importance of mutual participation in the patient/physician relationship is underlined in the framework of divergent conceptions of medicine.

The effect of external Ca2+ and Ca(2+)-channel modulators on red-light-induced swelling of protoplasts of Phaseolus radiatus L.

Red-light-induced swelling of the protoplasts isolated from hypocotyl of etiolated mung bean (Phaseolus radiatus L.) was observed only when Ca2+ ions were present in the medium. The optimal CaCl2 concentration was 250 microM. Swelling response declined when Ca2+ was supplied into the medium after red light irradiation. The Ca(2+)-chelator EGTA eliminated the red-light-induced swelling and 45Ca2+ accumulation in the protoplasts. In contrast, A23187, a Ca(2+)-ionophore, could mimic the effect of red light in darkness. These results indicate that Ca2+ may play a role in light signal transduction. In addition, swelling response was prevented by TFP and CPZ (both are CaM antagonists), implying the involvement of CaM in red-light-induced and Ca(2+)-dependent protoplast swelling.