[Inorganic pyrophosphates and parathormone in hypophosphatasia. Study of a family]. / Pyrophosphates inorganiques et parathormone dans l'hypophosphatasie. Etude d'une famille.

The serum concentration of parathormone is usually normal in hypophosphatasia, a rare disease with a defect of bone mineralisation and low serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Nevertheless there are three cases in the literature presenting a hyperparathyroidism with or without hypercalcemia. No anomaly of parathyroid was found at autopsy. The authors describe the first cases of hypophosphatasia with low serum concentration of parathormone and raise the possibility of a trouble in the calcium-parathormone feed-back. They also emphasize the interest of the urinary pyrophosphate excretion. Its increase seem to be the most constant and the most specific biological disorder.

Molecular defect of spectrin in the family of a child with congenital hemolytic poikilocytic anemia.

We present the study of a black family in which the proband suffered from a severe neonatal hemolytic anemia with poikilocytosis. Both the parents, sister's, and brother's proband were clinically normal. The presence of poikilocytes in proband led to a search for a red cell membrane skeleton defect. Owing to recent improvements in the erythrocyte membrane knowledge, it is now possible to approach the diagnosis by means of biochemical evaluation of both parents, even if they are asymptomatic. So, the first time discovery of a spectrin self-association defect in both parents allowed us to suspect double inheritance of this abnormality in the proband. A complete morphological and biochemical evaluation of the family allowed us to propound the diagnosis of heterozygous type I hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) for both parents and the sister and the diagnosis of homozygous type I HE for the proband owing to the following reasons: slight ovalocytosis was present in both parents and the sister; cell deformability ektacytometric studies gave the same profiles of curve as those observed in patients with HE. Defective spectrin dimer self-association found in both parents was also observed in the sister and proband, associated with the same abnormal spectrin digest pattern, namely a decrease in the amount of a 80,000-dalton peptide and a corresponding increase in a 74,000-dalton peptide. However, clinical presentation of the proband was consistent either with hereditary pyropoikilocytosis or homozygous hereditary elliptocytosis; erythrocyte thermal sensitivity studies in the proband could not be conclusive because of the presence of transfused cells. Both these diagnoses are discussed in detail.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Psychosocial determinants of dietary habits]. / Recherche sur les déterminants psycho-sociaux des habitudes alimentaires.

To the nutritional-scientific point of view of consumption habits is opposed the sociological one and briefly explained. It is discussed that only a greater knowledge of psychosocial determinants would make it possible to influence eating habits. A project for the collection of these determinants is presented.

[Neonatal hemolysis secondary to congenital poikilocytosis]. / Hémolyse néonatale secondaire à une poïkilocytose congénitale.

Hereditary pyropoikilocytosis is a congenital haemolytic anaemia recently described. A new case is reported in which the condition was diagnosed by a study of erythrocyte membrane proteins in the parents. The unusual clinical features of this case lead to a discussion of the relationship between hereditary pyropoikilocytosis and other rare forms of elliptocytosis in children.

[Congenital syphilis, malnutrition and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia]. / Syphilis congénitale, dénutrition et pneumopathie à Pneumocystis carinii.

A Korean child aged six months with congenital syphilis and malnutrition developed pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. He recovered after treatment with trimethoprin/sulphamethoxazole with assisted ventilation. There was no evidence of immune deficiency. The role of congenital syphilis and malnutrition predisposing the baby to this infection is discussed.

[Gonococcal septicemia. 1 case]. / Les septicémies à gonocoques. Un cas

This paper describes a case of disseminated gonococcal infection, a rare disease in France. A 41 year-old woman was hospitalised with acute polyarthritis and characteristics skin lesions. Jaundice and liver function abnormalities are difficult to interpret due to a preexisting alcoholic cirrhosis. The possibility of an endocarditis is raised because of a systolic murmur heard at the base of the heart. Bacteriological identification of N. Gonorrhoeae is carried out in blood culture; it has also been recovered by scrapings of a cutaneous bullae by staining only. Therapy was instituted by daily intravenous penicillin G sodium 50 000 000 u. and intramuscular gentamicin 160 mg for 45 days. There resulted good clinical and bacteriological response. The elements of clinical and bacteriological diagnosis, as well as the therapy are discussed.