[Thoraco-abdominal aortitis in ankylosing spondylitis: a case report and review of literature]. / Aortite thoraco-abdominale au cours d'une spondylarthrite ankylosante: un nouveau cas et revue de la littérature.

UNLABELLED: We report a case of aortitis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis revealed by an unexplained persistent inflammation. CASE STUDY: The diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis was retained in a 64-year-old woman suffering from inflammatory back and neck pain combined with buttock pain relieved by anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) since 2004 and more recent bilateral heel pain in the morning since 2006; sacroiliitis was grade 3 on the right and grade 2 on the left (modified New-York criteria). The patient had remained asymptomatic from April 2006 to 2007 with NSAID as needed. Nevertheless, biological inflammation persisted: erythrocyte sedimentation rate 44 to 55 mm/h, activated protein C 34 to 90 mg/L. Complementary examinations are negative: bilateral temporal artery biopsy, endoscopy with duodenal biopsy looking for Tropheryma whipplei. The thoraco-abdominal and pelvic CT scan revealed aortitis extending from the abdominal aorta to the iliac axis. Treatment with prednisone 0.5 mg/kg was started to decrease the inflammatory aortitis. DISCUSSION: The most "classical" cardiovascular damage observed in spondylitis is aortic insufficiency and conduction disturbances. The first cases of aortitis were reported in 1958. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory vascular disease should be evoked as a possible diagnosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis the presenting an unexplained biological inflammation (ESR and CRP).

[Evaluation of the CIS Allergen Screen I kit versus the Pharmacia Cap System and skin tests in the diagnosis of respiratory allergy]. / Evaluation de la trousse CIS Allergen Screen I vis-à-vis de Pharmacia Cap System et des tests cutanés dans le diagnostic de l'allergie respiratoire.

This study has given evaluation of a new pneumallergen diagnostic test CIS Allergen Screen I in comparison with Pharmacia Cap System and intradermal skin test. Five allergens (Mite (DPT) D1, Mite (DF) D2, Cat E1, Dog E2, Orchard grass G3) have been studied with in vitro tests (CIS Allergen Screen I Cap System) and the results obtained gave on patient to patient comparison a sensitivity of 91%, a specificity of 100% and on allergen comparison a sensitivity of 84%, a specificity of 99% and an accuracy of 93%. Compared with intradermal skin test for two allergens (Mite (DT) D1 and Orchard grass G3), CIS Allergen Screen I have good results to G3 but less specificity and sensitivity to D1. These results could be to depend on different standardisation between allergen extracts especially for Mite.

[Correlation between the regional blood volume and epileptic seizures in Papio papio]. / Corrélation entre volume sanguin régional et crise d'épilepsie chez le Papio papio.

The method of labelling red cells with technetium-99m was used to measured regional blood volume auring different types of epileptic seizures induced in the Baboon Papio papio. During seizures the cerebral blood volume increases and there is simultaneously a decrease of blood volume in nasal and hepatic regions, and a transitory increase of blood volume in the forepaws.

[Measurement of multiregional blood volumes: a cerebral vascular autoregulatory phenomenon (author's transl)]. / Mesure du volume sanguin multi-régional: phénomène d'autorégulation vasculaire cérébral.

The variations in regional cerebral blood volume (RCBV) during controlled severe hypotension induced by sodium nitroprusside were studied in a series of 29 patients with aneurysms (14), meningiomas (6) and arteriovenous malformations. Two characteristic variations were noted. The RCBV and mean blood pressure (MPB) vary inversely, this type of variation being known as "Active variation". When pathological lesions are present the RCBV and MBP are modified in the same direction in the regions affected and this is called "Passive variation". A quantitative study in 21 patients showed that in the healthy regions there was a change from the active to the passive mode of variation for a MBP situated between 44 and 52 mm of mercury.

Diagnosis of cerebral lesions by Thallium 201.

The authors describe the diagnostic possibilities of Thallium 201 in cerebral lesions of various kinds. Two radiopharmaceuticals were used in 124 patients: thallium 201 citrate and technetium-99m pertechnetate labelled. When 201Tl was used, all cases of definite cerebral lesion gave a positive result within 10 minutes of injection. In 85.4% the definition was better, and small metastases which were invisible with 99mTc could be demonstrated. More than two-thirds of the time, neoplastic lesions were better defined and distinguished from adjacent normal areas of hyperactivity. 201Tl promises greater diagnostic usefulness with an examination time of only 30 minutes.

The effect of tin on the tissue distribution of 99mTc-sodium pertechnetate.

When tin complex is administered prior to the injection of 99mTc-sodium pertechnetate, the distribution of the tracer is altered such that: (a) the concentration at foci of cerebral pathology is drastically reduced; (b) the concentration in the stomach (mucus cells), thyroid and salivary glands, and choroid plexus is greatly increased; and (c) there is a shift of the tracer from the plasma to the red blood cells. Bone studies utilizing a tin complex should be done after other organs have been evaluated.