Assessment of prenatal cerebral and cardiac metabolic changes in a rabbit model of fetal growth restriction based on 13C-labelled substrate infusions and ex vivo multinuclear HRMAS.

BACKGROUND: We have used a previously reported rabbit model of fetal growth restriction (FGR), reproducing perinatal neurodevelopmental and cardiovascular impairments, to investigate the main relative changes in cerebral and cardiac metabolism of term FGR fetuses during nutrient infusion. METHODS: FGR was induced in 9 pregnant New Zealand rabbits at 25 days of gestation: one horn used as FGR, by partial ligation of uteroplacental vessels, and the contralateral as control (appropriate for gestation age, AGA). At 30 days of gestation, fasted mothers under anesthesia were infused i.v. with 1-13C-glucose (4 mothers), 2-13C-acetate (3 mothers), or not infused (2 mothers). Fetal brain and heart samples were quickly harvested and frozen down. Brain cortex and heart apex regions from 30 fetuses were studied ex vivo by HRMAS at 4°C, acquiring multinuclear 1D and 2D spectra. The data were processed, quantified by peak deconvolution or integration, and normalized to sample weight. RESULTS: Most of the total 13C-labeling reaching the fetal brains/hearts (80-90%) was incorporated to alanine and lactate (cytosol), and to the glutamine-glutamate pool (mitochondria). Acetate-derived lactate (Lac C2C3) had a slower turnover in FGR brains (~ -20%). In FGR hearts, mitochondrial turnover of acetate-derived glutamine (Gln C4) was slower (-23%) and there was a stronger accumulation of phospholipid breakdown products (glycerophosphoethanolamine and glycerophosphocholine, +50%), resembling the profile of non-infused control hearts. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate specific functional changes in cerebral and cardiac metabolism of FGR fetuses under nutrient infusion, suggesting glial impairment and restricted mitochondrial metabolism concomitant with slower cell membrane turnover in cardiomyocytes, respectively. These prenatal metabolic changes underlie neurodevelopmental and cardiovascular problems observed in this FGR model and in clinical patients, paving the way for future studies aimed at evaluating metabolic function postnatally and in response to stress and/or treatment.

Extracción endoscópica de cuerpos extraños digestivos / Endoscopic extraction of digestive foreign bodies

Introducción: La ingestión de cuerpo extraño (CE) es frecuente en la infancia, requiriendo en el 10-20 por ciento de los casos extracción endoscópica. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar las características demográficas, clínicas y endoscópicas de los pacientes con ingesta de CE que requieren manejo endoscópico. Pacientes y Método: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo. Se incluyen los pacientes derivados al servicio de urgencia de Clínica Alemana de Santiago para extracción de cuerpo extraño entre noviembre de 2007-noviembre de 2011. Se registran variables demográficas, clínicas y endoscópicas, clasificando la sintomatología en respiratoria, digestiva y otros. Se evaluaron factores de riesgo y complicaciones. Resultados: 170 pacientes, 52,4 por ciento varones, edad promedio de 4 años y 3 meses. En 78,5 por ciento la ingestión de CE ocurrió en el hogar, el 82,1por ciento consultó en las primeras 2 h. Los síntomas más comunes post ingestión fueron digestivos, respiratorios y dolor local. La localización del CE fue con radiografía simple en 87,6 por ciento. En el 91,8 por ciento se extrajo el CE. Localización: 1,3 por ciento retrofaríngeo, 69,3 por ciento esófago, 23 por ciento estómago, 1,9 por ciento duodeno, 3,8 por ciento distal a duodeno. Los CE más frecuentes fueron los redondos (56,4 por ciento) y dentro de ellos las monedas, punzantes (24,1 por ciento), pilas (14,7 por ciento), imanes (2,9 por ciento) y otros de gran tamaño (1,8 por ciento). Se encontró lesión de mucosa en el 53,5 por ciento, requiriendo hospitalización el 9,8 por ciento de los niños. Conclusiones: La ingestión de CE ocurre en el hogar y es más frecuente en pre escolares. El CE más frecuentes fue la moneda. La localización del CE fue con radiografía simple y no hubo fracaso ni complicaciones en la extracción endoscópica.

Introduction: The ingestion of a foreign body (FB) is very common in childhood, 10 to 20 percent of the cases require endoscopic removal. The aim of this study is to analyze the demographic, clinical and endoscopic characteristic of patients with FB ingestion requiring endoscopic management. Patients and Methods: The design corresponded to a Prospective Cohort Study. It included patients referred to the Clinica Alemana ER in Santiago in order to remove foreign bodies from their digestive systems between November 2007 and November 2011. Demographic, clinical and endoscopic characteristics were recorded, classifying the symptoms as respiratory, digestive and other manifestations. Risk factors and complications were evaluated. Results: 170 patients, 52.4 percent male with average age of four years and three months old. In 78.5 percent of the cases, the FB ingestion occurred at home, 82.1percent sought medical attention within two hours from the ingestion. Digestive, respiratory and local pain were among the most common symptoms. The location of the FB took place using simple x-ray in 87.6 percent of the cases. 91.8 percent of the FBs were extracted. Location: retropharyngeal 1.3 percent, 69.3 percent esophagus, stomach 23 percent duodenum 1.9 percent and 3.8 percent distal duodenum. Round FB were the most frequent (56.4 percent) like coins, sharp objects (24.1 percent), batteries (14.7 percent), magnets (2.9 percent) and other large items (1.8 percent). Mucosal lesion was found in 53.5 percent of the cases and 9.8 percent required hospitalization Conclusions: The ingestion of FB occurred at home, and it is most frequent in preschool children. The most common FB was a coin. The location of the FB was through x-ray and no failure or complications were described during the endoscopic removal.

Assessment of a 1H high-resolution magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy procedure for free sugars quantification in intact plant tissue.

In most plants, sucrose is the primary product of photosynthesis, the transport form of assimilated carbon, and also one of the main factors determining sweetness in fresh fruits. Traditional methods for sugar quantification (mainly sucrose, glucose and fructose) require obtaining crude plant extracts, which sometimes involve substantial sample manipulation, making the process time-consuming and increasing the risk of sample degradation. Here, we describe and validate a fast method to determine sugar content in intact plant tissue by using high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HR-MAS NMR). The HR-MAS NMR method was used for quantifying sucrose, glucose and fructose in mesocarp tissues from melon fruits (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus and Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis). The resulting sugar content varied among individual melons, ranging from 1.4 to 7.3 g of sucrose, 0.4-2.5 g of glucose; and 0.73-2.83 g of fructose (values per 100 g fw). These values were in agreement with those described in the literature for melon fruit tissue, and no significant differences were found when comparing them with those obtained using the traditional, enzymatic procedure, on melon tissue extracts. The HR-MAS NMR method offers a fast (usually <30 min) and sensitive method for sugar quantification in intact plant tissues, it requires a small amount of tissue (typically 50 mg fw) and avoids the interferences and risks associated with obtaining plant extracts. Furthermore, this method might also allow the quantification of additional metabolites detectable in the plant tissue NMR spectrum.

Influence of the spinning rate in the HR-MAS pattern of mobile lipids in C6 glioma cells and in artificial oil bodies.

OBJECT: To evaluate how spinning rate affects mobile lipid (ML) resonances visibility in HR-MAS spectra of C6 glioma cells and artificial oil bodies (AOB), as models of cytosolic lipid droplets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using C6 cells and AOB of two different sizes, 780 ± 580 and 240 ± 293 nm, as models, we acquired HR-MAS pulse and acquire spectra at different spinning rates between 500 and 15,000 Hz, all at 37 °C. RESULTS: Sample spinning at 15,000 Hz increased by 2.3 and 4.6-fold with respect to 500 Hz spinning the area of resonances corresponding to ML at 0.88 and 1.28 ppm, respectively, for log phase C6 cells. Furthermore, postconfluent C6 cells displayed an increase of 2.5-fold at 0.88 ppm and 4.2-fold at 1.28 ppm. These changes were reversible upon low speed spinning. AOBs did show much lower ML area increases (1.4-1.5-fold) upon high-speed HR-MAS. CONCLUSION: ML can be reversibly mobilized in C6 glioma cells by high-speed HR-MAS, partially unveiling the NMR "invisible" ML pool. A small part of the ML pool also shows reduced visibility in freely tumbling AOBs.

Alergia a proteína de leche de vaca en el menor de un año / Allergy to dairy protein in children under one year old

Food allergies are defined as an immune reaction to a food protein. It may be mediated by IgE antibodies or not, or by mixed mechanisms. During the first year of life, allergy to dairy products is the most frequent cause of food allergy. This paper reviews mechanisms and management of allergy to dairy products.

Se define alergia alimentaria como una reacción adversa que se produce frente a la exposición de un alimento, mediada por una respuesta inmune específica y reproducible. La alergia alimentaria puede ser mediada por anticuerpos de tipo IgE, por mecanismos mixtos o no mediada por IgE. Durante el primer año de vida la alergia a la proteína de leche de vaca (APLV) es la forma más frecuente de presentación de la alergia alimentaria. Esta revisión pretende entregar una propuesta al enfrentamiento clínico de un lactante menor de un año con sospecha de APLV.

13C-labelling studies indicate compartmentalized synthesis of triacylglycerols in C6 rat glioma cells.

NMR-visible mobile lipid (ML) signals have been detected in (1)H-NMR spectra of tissues in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro, and have been shown to change in apparent intensity in association with pathology (necrosis in brain tumours) and normal processes (cell differentiation, cell growth arrest and apoptosis). Although it is widely accepted that ML signals originate mainly from fatty-acyl chains in triacylglycerols (TAG) contained in cytosolic lipid droplets (LD), the dynamics of TAG in LD is not yet fully understood. In order to better understand the synthesis of cellular TAG and its relationship to ML dynamics we carried out a set of labelling experiments with C6 rat glioma cells in culture. TAG and phospholipid metabolism was monitored by incubating C6 cells with [1-(13)C]-glucose at two time points during cell growth curve -24 h incubation starting at log-phase; 48 h incubation starting at saturation density- and by acquiring the 2D-HMQC NMR spectra of the respective total lipid extracts. The resulting TAG, diacylglycerol (DAG) and phospholipid labelling patterns can only be explained if TAG synthesis takes place in two different subcellular compartments. One compartment would be the endoplasmic reticulum, which is known to be involved in TAG metabolism, while the other compartment could be the plasma membrane and/or the LD. This possible role of LD is further supported by the recent description of diacylglycerolacyltranferase-activity associated with LD. Accordingly, we postulate the existence of a carbon-shuttling mechanism between plasma membrane phospholipids and endoplasmic reticulum by way of LD content. The results we have obtained with C6 cells may also apply to other cellular systems and should be taken into account when interpreting ML dynamics detected by NMR in vivo.

Calcium-induced formation of subdomains in phosphatidylethanolamine-phosphatidylglycerol bilayers: a combined DSC, 31P NMR, and AFM study.

We study the effect of Ca(2+) on the lateral segregation of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPG) (3:1, mol/mol). Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Since SLBs are formed from liposomes of POPE:POPG, we examined the effect of calcium on these suspensions by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P NMR). AFM images revealed the existence of two separated phases, the higher showing a region with protruding subdomains. Force spectroscopy (FS) was applied to clarify the nature of each phase. The values of breakthrough force (F(y)), adhesion force (F(adh)), and height extracted from the force curves were assigned to the corresponding gel (L(beta)) and fluid (L(alpha)) phase. The endotherms obtained by DSC suggest that, in the presence of Ca(2+), phase separation already exists in the suspensions of POPE:POPG used to form SLBs. Due to the temperature changes applied during preparation of SLBs a (31)P NMR study was performed to assess the lamellar nature of the samples before spreading them onto mica. With in situ AFM experiments we showed that the binding of Ca(2+) to POPG-enriched domains only induces the formation of subdomains in the L(beta) phase.

Thermal response of domains in cardiolipin content bilayers.

In the study described here, supported planar bilayers (SPBs) of 1-palmitoy-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE):cardiolipin (CL) (0.8:0.2, mol/mol) were examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). SPBs were formed from suspensions of POPE:CL (0.8:0.2, mol/mol) in inverted hexagonal (H(II)) phases (buffer containing Ca(2+)). Three laterally segregated domains which differ in height were observed at 24 degrees C. Based on the area accounted for each domain and the nominal composition of the mixture, we interpret that the higher domain is formed by CL, while the intermediate and lower domains (LDs) are formed by POPE. The three domains respond to temperature increase with relative changes in their area. At 37 degrees C, we observed that the increase in the area of the intermediate domain occurs at the expense of the LD. (31)P-nuclear magnetic resonance ((31)P-NMR) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used in combination with AFM to characterize the phase behavior of the suspensions and to elucidate the nature of the structures observed.

In vivo quantification of response to treatment in patients with multiple myeloma by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy of bone marrow.

OBJECT: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard non-invasive technique to detect malignant disease in the bone marrow. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can be performed as a quick adjunct to routine spinal MRI. We performed proton MRS to patients with multiple myeloma (MM) at diagnosis and after treatment to investigate the possible correlation of MRS data with response to therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with newly diagnosed MM underwent combined MRI/MRS explorations of a transverse center section in the fifth lumbar vertebral body. MRS was acquired with STEAM and 40 ms TE. Areas of unsuppressed water and lipid resonances were used to calculate the lipid-to-water ratio (LWR). RESULTS: No association was detected between initial LWRs and the clinical characteristics of patients. Post treatment MRS was available in 16 patients of whom 11 (69%) presented an LWR increase, this included all complete responders (8/8, 100%, P = 0.012). A post-treatment LWR value equal to or larger than one is proposed as a non-invasive marker of complete response to treatment. CONCLUSION: Only patients responding to treatment presented a significant increase in bone marrow LWR after therapy. MRS may provide an adequate quantification of response to chemotherapy in patients with MM.

An iron-based T1 contrast agent made of iron-phosphate complexes: in vitro and in vivo studies.

A new iron-based T1 contrast agent consisting of a complex of iron ions coordinated to phosphate and amine ligands (Fe(phos) in short) has been characterized by spectroscopic and magnetic measurements. NMR relaxation studies showed r1 values to be dependent on the phosphate salt concentration, K2HPO4, present in the medium. r1 reaches a maximum value of 2.5 mM(-1) s(-1) for measurements carried out at 7 T and 298 K. 31P MRS, Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements of Fe(phos) solutions suggest paramagnetic Fe3+ ions present in the studied iron-phosphate complex. In vitro and in vivo toxicity experiments with C6 cells and CD1 mice, respectively, demonstrated lack of toxicity for Fe(phos) at the highest dose tested in the MRI experiments (12 mM iron for C6 cells and 0.32 mmol iron/kg for mice). Finally, T1 weighted images of brain tumours in mice have shown positive contrast enhancement of Fe(phos) for tumour afflicted regions in the brain.

Supported planar bilayers from hexagonal phases.

In this work the presence of inverted hexagonal phases H(II) of 1-palmitoy-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE) and cardiolipin (CL) (0.8:0.2, mol/mol) in the presence of Ca(2+) were observed via (31)P-NMR spectroscopy. When suspensions of the same composition were extended onto mica, H(II) phases transformed into structures which features are those of supported planar bilayers (SPBs). When characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), the SPBs revealed the existence of two laterally segregated domains (the interdomain height being approximately 1 nm). Cytochrome c (cyt c), which binds preferentially to acidic phospholipids like CL, was used to demonstrate the nature of the domains. We used 1-anilinonaphtalen-8-sulfonate (ANS) to demonstrate that in the presence of cyt c, the fluorescence of ANS decreased significantly in lamellar phases. Conversely, the ANS binding to H(II) phases was negligible. When cyt c was injected into AFM fluid imaging cells, where SPBs of POPE:CL had previously formed poorly defined structures, protein aggregates ( approximately 100 nm diameter) were ostensibly observed only on the upper domains, which suggests not only that they are mainly formed by CL, but also provides evidence of bilayer formation from H(II) phases. Furthermore, a model for the nanostructure of the SPBs is herein proposed.

A possible cellular explanation for the NMR-visible mobile lipid (ML) changes in cultured C6 glioma cells with growth.

The NMR-visible mobile lipid (ML) signals of C6 glioma cells have been monitored at 9.4 and 11.7 T (single pulse and 136 ms echo time) from cell pellets by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. A reproducible behavior with growth has been found. ML signals increase from log phase (4 days of culture) to postconfluence (7 days of culture). This ML behavior is paralleled by the percentage of cells containing epifluorescence detectable Nile Red stained cytosolic droplets (range 23%-60% of cells). The number of positive cells increases after seeding (days 0-1), decreases at log phase (days 2-4), increases again at confluence (day 5) and even further at post-confluence (day 7). C6 cells proliferation arrest induced by growth factors deprivation induces an even higher accumulation of cytosolic droplets (up to 100% of cells) and a large ML increase (up to 21-fold with respect to 4-day log phase cells). When neutral lipid content is quantified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on total lipid extracts of C6 cells, no statistically significant change can be detected (in microg/10(8) cells) with growth or growth arrest in major neutral lipid containing species (triacylglycerol, TAG, diacylglycerol, DAG, cholesteryl esters, ChoEst) except for DAG, which decreased in post-confluent, 7-day cells. The apparent discrepancy between NMR, optical microscopy and TLC results can be reconciled if possible biophysical changes in the neutral lipid pool with growth are taken into account. A cellular explanation for the observed results is proposed: the TAG-droplet-size-change hypothesis.

Development of a decision support system for diagnosis and grading of brain tumours using in vivo magnetic resonance single voxel spectra.

A computer-based decision support system to assist radiologists in diagnosing and grading brain tumours has been developed by the multi-centre INTERPRET project. Spectra from a database of 1H single-voxel spectra of different types of brain tumours, acquired in vivo from 334 patients at four different centres, are clustered according to their pathology, using automated pattern recognition techniques and the results are presented as a two-dimensional scatterplot using an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). Formal quality control procedures were performed to standardize the performance of the instruments and check each spectrum, and teams of expert neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists and neuropathologists clinically validated each case. The prototype decision support system (DSS) successfully classified 89% of the cases in an independent test set of 91 cases of the most frequent tumour types (meningiomas, low-grade gliomas and high-grade malignant tumours--glioblastomas and metastases). It also helps to resolve diagnostic difficulty in borderline cases. When the prototype was tested by radiologists and other clinicians it was favourably received. Results of the preliminary clinical analysis of the added value of using the DSS for brain tumour diagnosis with MRS showed a small but significant improvement over MRI used alone. In the comparison of individual pathologies, PNETs were significantly better diagnosed with the DSS than with MRI alone.

In vitro characterization of an Fe(8) cluster as potential MRI contrast agent.

The complex [(tacn)(6)Fe(8)(micro(3)-O)(2)(micro(2)-OH)(12)]Br(8).9H(2)O (Fe(8)) was evaluated in vitro as a new kind of possible MRI contrast agent. Relaxivities were measured at 1.41 and 9.4 T for Fe(8) and commercial Gd-DTPA dissolved in PBS. There was significant difference for r(1) and r(2) values between Fe(8) and Gd-DTPA at high field (9.4 T) and for r(1) at low field (1.4 T) (p<0.05). Phantom studies with T(1)-weighted MRI at 9.4 T suggest T(1) contrast potential for Fe(8). That is, up to 5.2 times higher intensity enhancement with respect to that of equimolar Gd-DTPA was obtained with an Fe(8) concentration, referred to the whole molecule, of 0.2 mM, for which no toxicity on C6 cells could be detected. No toxic effects on cultured C6 cells were observed up to a concentration of 1 mM Fe(8).

[Foetomaternal erythrocyte incompatibilities: from immunohaematologic surveillance of pregnant women to haemolytic disease of the newborn]. / Incompatibilités foetomaternelles érythrocytaires (IFME): de la surveillance immunohématologique des femmes enceintes à la maladie hémolytique du nouveau-né (MHNN).

Despite the generalization of prevention measures against foetomaternal alloimmunization with anti-D immunoprophylaxis since 1970s, retrospectively 30 years later, its complications (new-born child's severe haemolytic disease, foetal death by anemia or nuclear icterus by bilirubin encephalopathy) have not disappeared. At the same time, alloimmunizations against antigens other than D increase with no possible prevention. As part of the set up in France of regional files analysing and making an inventory of serious foetomaternal incompatibilities requiring in utero or neonatal transfusion, we felt the need to synthesize current data, biological profiles (early screening of erythrocytic alloimmunization and its follow up during pregnancy, father's immunohaematologic status, evaluation of in utero immune haemolysis and impact of new non invasive techniques of diagnosis-RH1 foetal genotypage from ADN foetal of RH1--mothers' maternal plasma), clinical and paraclinical data (evaluation of foetal haemolysis by echography, recording of foetal movements and foetal cardiac rhythm), therapeutic indicators (in utero foetal transfusions or exsanguinotransfusions, neo and postnatal transfusions or exsanguinotransfusions, induced premature labour, newborn's intensive continue phototherapy and Rhesus immunoprophylaxis) in order to enable medical and paramedical professionals to carry out the specific supervision of pregnancies with foetomaternal incompatibility, the in utero, neo- and postnatal treatment of child and the efficient therapeutic prevention of anti-D alloimmunization, in a cooperative way.

Migración recurrente del botón de gastrostomía: "síndrome de Buried Bumper" / Recurrent migration of internal bumper gastrostomy: Buried bumper syndrome

Introducción: En la actualidad la gastrostomía ha cambiado el manejo de los niños para el soporte nutricional ambulatorio, así como el soporte nutricional a largo plazo en pacientes con patología crónica. La gastrostomía endoscópica percutánea (GEP) es la técnica de elección hoy en día principalmente por ser segura y porque constituye un procedimiento mínimamente invasivo. Sin embargo, como toda técnica quirúrgica no está libre de complicaciones, siendo una de ellas la migración del botón de gastrostomía en la pared abdominal o gástrica, conocido como Síndrome de Buried Bumper. Caso clínico: Con el fin de ilustrar esta complicación, hasta ahora poco descrita en niños, se presenta el caso de un preescolar a quien se le realizan dos gastrostomías percutáneas por vía endoscópica, en distintos sitios del estómago, complicándose en ambas oportunidades con este síndrome. Conclusión: Creemos que si bien es cierto la PEG puede brindar una serie de ventajas al constituir un acceso seguro a la vía digestiva, ésta es una técnica invasiva, con complicaciones no despreciables desde infección de herida operatoria hasta el Buried Bumper, lo cual hace necesario revisar en detalle cada caso en particular con el fin de no agregar morbilidad a nuestro paciente.

Measurement by nuclear magnetic resonance diffusion of the dimensions of the mobile lipid compartment in C6 cells.

The (1)H spectrum of certain tumor cells, in vivo tumors, and their biopsies in vitro shows a narrow and intense resonance at 1.26 ppm, which has been assigned to the fatty acyl chain of triglycerides [nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) visible mobile lipids, MLs]. We have used diffusion-weighted NMR spectroscopy to directly address the subcellular origin of MLs in the case of C6 cells in which lactate accumulation had been inhibited by prior iodoacetamide incubation. Borage oil and artificial lipid droplets were used as model systems of free and restricted diffusion, respectively. The characteristic diameter for the ML resonance compartment measured by NMR for the C6 cells was not significantly different from the one obtained with phase contrast microscopy (1.88 +/- 0.04 micro m from NMR versus 1.37 +/- 0.33 micro m from microscopy). We herewith provide direct and noninvasive evidence that the lipid signal at 1.26 ppm in C6 cells, which remains visible in long echo time (T(E) = 136 ms) experiments, mostly originates from subcellular structures with diameters of 1-2 micro m, which correspond to the cytosolic lipid droplets that can be detected in optical microscopy preparations of the same cells.

[Increase in plasma androgens in menopausal women with rheumatoid polyarthritis]. / Elévation des androgènes plasmatiques chez les femmes ménopausées atteintes de polyarthrite rhumatoïde.

The concentrations of sex hormones were studied in 45 women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The patients were classified into two groups. Group I (premenopausal) consisted of 26 women and group II (postmenopausal) included 19 women. The two groups were compared with 40 control women (20 premenopausal and 20 postmenopausal). Age and weight were comparable in the 2 groups (controls and patients). The average plasma concentrations of oestradiol, progesterone and androgens were comparable in group I (patients with RA) and the control group (premenopausal women). On the other hand, the plasma concentration of androgens was statistically significantly higher in patients in group II by comparison with the postmenopausal controls. It thus seems that a hyperandrogenic situation may occur in menopausal women with RA, and this might have a beneficial clinical effect on the disease.