Hydroxyapatite ceramic-coated femoral components in young patients followed up for 17 to 25 years: an update of a previous report.

This study reports the results of 38 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in 33 patients aged < 50 years, using the JRI Furlong hydroxyapatite ceramic (HAC)-coated femoral component. This represents an update of previous reports of the same cohort at ten and 16 years, which were reported in 2004 and 2009, respectively. We describe the survival, radiological and functional outcomes at a mean follow-up of 21 years (17 to 25). Of the surviving 34 THAs, one underwent femoral revision for peri-prosthetic fracture after 21 years, and one patient (one hip) was lost to follow-up. Using aseptic loosening as the end-point, 12 hips (31.5%) needed acetabular revision but none needed femoral revision, demonstrating 100% survival (95% confidence interval 89 to 100). In young patients with high demands, the Furlong HAC-coated femoral component gives excellent long-term results.

Anaphylactic reactions after therapeutic injection of mistletoe (Viscum album L.).

Mistletoe (Viscum album) is a plant that is semiparasitic of several trees: apple, oak, pine trees, etc. Because of the probable cytolytic action of one of the leaf's most abundant composites, in some countries mistletoe is used as a complementary medicine. Although only a few adverse reactions have been noted (cephalea, fever), cases of anaphylactic shock have been described. We present three cases of severe reaction after injection of mistletoe extract. Two of the patients had cancer. The third, whose brother had cancer, used the plant for preventive purposes. We discuss the danger of possible severe reactions due to the use of products employed in so-called alternative therapies.

Anaphylactic reactions after therapeutic injection of mistletoe (Viscum album L.)

Mistletoe (Viscum album) is a plant that is semiparasitic of several trees: apple, oak, pine trees, etc. Because of the probable cytolytic action of one of the leaf's most abundant composites, in some countries mistletoe is used as a complementary medicine. Although only a few adverse reactions have been noted (cephalea, fever), cases of anaphylactic shock have been described. We present three cases of severe reaction after injection of mistletoe extract. Two of the patients had cancer. The third, whose brother had cancer, used the plant for preventive purposes. We discuss the danger of possible severe reactions due to the use of products employed in so-called alternative therapies (AU)

El Mistletoe (Viscum album) (muérdago o visco blanco) es una planta semiparásita de algunos árboles: manzano, roble, pino, etc., que por la probable acción citolítica de algún compuesto más abundante en las hojas, se emplea en algunos países en el tratamiento del cáncer como medicación complementaria. Aunque se han observado pocas reacciones adversas (cefalea, fiebre) se han descrito casos de choque anafiláctico. En este trabajo se presentan tres casos de reacción grave, tras la inyección de un extracto de la planta. Dos pacientes padecían cáncer y otro empleó el producto por prevención por el N hecho de que un hermano padecía cáncer. Se advierte de las posibles reacciones graves por el uso de productos utilizados en las llamadas terapias alternativas (AU)

Relocation of net-acid-generating waste to improve post-mining water chemistry.

Acidic drainage and metal leaching are long-term environmental liabilities that can persist for many decades to millennia. One technique to improve the water chemistry and ecology of post-mining landscapes is to relocate and submerge net-acid-generating mine materials in a lake or water-retaining impoundment. One example of a carefully executed relocation of waste rock took place at the Eskay Creek Mine in Canada. Pre-relocation studies included an empirical relationship that related (1) the amount of acidity retained by the waste rock during past oxidation to (2) the amount of lime needed in each truckload for neutralization of the acidity and for suppression of metal release. During relocation, thousands of rinse pH measurements indicated net acidity varied significantly over short distances within the waste rock and that acidic rock could not be reliably segregated from near-netural rock. After relocation, water from the watershed continued to be acidic for a few years, then returned to near-neutral pH and near-background concentrations of metals. The chemistry of the lake where the waste rock was submerged remains near background conditions. Therefore, with careful planning and implementation, the relocation and submergence of net-acid-generating materials can greatly improve post-mining water chemistry.

[Pollen environment and its evaluation]. / L'environnement pollinique et son évaluation.

We review the methods available for determining airborne pollen. In addition to the classical gravimetric and volumetric methods, new immunochemical techniques are also used for detecting allergenic pollen and measuring of the size of allergen-carrying particles. Pollen counts are available in France for 39 urban sites. In the last decade changes in the pollen environment have basically concerned higher counts from resinous trees in southern France and birch tree counts in northern France as well as a lesser role for ash trees. Among the recent acquisitions, it has been demonstrated that allergens are present in twigs and leaves, or even the bark of certain trees. Interactions with atmospheric pollution is better understood and could be a contributing factor to the increasing number of people allergic to pollen. Pollen allergens can be carried on particles of various sizes and immunochemical studies have demonstrated that gramineous pollen allergens can be carried on starch particles less than 3 mu in diameter. These recent studies would explain the apparent disagreement between pollen counts and the number of clinical manifestations.

Protective effect of nedocromil sodium on the dual asthmatic response to bronchial antigen challenge.

The effects of nedocromil sodium and placebo on the asthmatic response to antigen bronchial provocation were studied in a double-blind, randomized, crossover trial. Twelve subjects sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were challenged with successive doubling doses of this allergen (1.25-80 x 10(-3) mg) on two separate occasions, at least 15 days apart. A single dose of either nedocromil sodium 4 mg, or, a matching placebo was given 30 min before challenge. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was measured 5, 10 and 15 min after challenge. Early asthmatic response was analyzed using three indices: dose producing a 20% decrease in FEV1 (PD20), the slope of and area under the dose-response curve. Nedocromil sodium was significantly superior to placebo with respect to all three indices, providing significant inhibition of the early asthmatic responses. Seven of the 12 patients showed a late asthmatic response. There was no significant difference between the effects of nedocromil sodium and placebo treatments on the decline in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) during the late asthmatic response but it should be noted that when patients had been treated with nedocromil sodium they were receiving two to eight times the dose of allergen given after placebo treatment.

[Multiple elemental organic components of the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid in normal subjects and in various lung pathologies (excluding silica and asbestos fibers)]. / Etude multi-élémentaire des composants inorganiques du liquide de lavage broncho-alvéolaire chez le sujet normal et dans diverses pathologies pulmonaires (silice et fibres d'amiante exclues).

Owing to a technical analysis enabling the detection of mineral elements present in trace amounts in small volumes, an analysis of the liquid obtained in 148 broncho-alveolar lavages could be studied. The elements consistently recovered were as follows: iron, copper, zinc, nickel, lead and titanium. Normal values were established. In the absence of exposure, there was no significant difference distinguishing the different pulmonary diseases studied. In occupational disease, the presence of iron in large quantities, tungsten, nickel and rare earths could be shown objectively, as well as the persistence of gold or iodine after medical absorption. However, this preliminary work does not allow one to establish a formal correlation between the alveolar concentrations obtained and the pulmonary disease observed.

[Sequential analysis of specific IgE and IgG titres as a function of the cumulated doses of venoms injected in allergies to Hymenoptera and correlation with specific IgE, clinical manifestations and skin tests]. / Analyse séquentielle des titres d'IgE et d'IgG spécifiques en fonction des doses cumulées de venin injectées dans les allergies aux hyménoptères et corrélation entre IgE spécifique, manifestations cliniques et tests cutanés.

The numbers of IgE and specific IgE in ten desensitized to wasp-venom patients are retrospectively analysed, in order to study their variation according to the cumulated dose of administered venom during the desensitization (mean-time 18.4 months). Our results allow to find after a latency period, a growth of the specific IgE number, then their gradual decrease, while the specific IgE number gradually rises to reach a deal-level.