[Effect of a calcium inhibitor, verapamil, on the development of heterotopic ossifications. An experimental study in rats]. / Effet d'un inhibiteur calcique, le vérapamil, sur le développement des ossifications hétérotopiques. Etude expérimentale chez le rat.

After division of the tendo achilles in rats heterotopic bone forms in the muscle and in the tendon stumps. Tenotomy was performed in 26 male rats. Thirteen received Verapamil (36 mm/Kg) for six days per week for five months, and the remainder were not given this drug. The onset of heterotopic ossification was monitored by monthly x-rays. After five months the animals were killed and the sectioned tendons examined microscopically. The radiographs had shown that the amount of ossification was less in rats treated with Verapamil. This was confirmed at microscopy, but examination of the sections under polarised light showed that the ratio of lamellar to woven bone was the same in the two groups. Verapamil appeared to reduce the amount of heterotopic bone formation but did not influence the substitution of woven by lamellar bone.

[Microradiographic study of iliac bone biopsies taken after treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with sodium fluoride. Histomorphometric correlations]. / Etude microradiographique de biopsies osseuses iliaques prélevées après traitement de l'ostéoporose post-ménopausique par le fluorure de sodium. Corrélations histomorphométriques.

Thirty seven female patients with osteoporosis underwent iliac bone biopsy after 10 to 23 months of continuous or discontinuous treatment with sodium fluoride, calcium, and vitamin D. Microradiographs of the biopsies from 13 patients showed one or--more often--several of the characteristic appearances of bone fluorosis: defects in periosteocytic mineralization, unmineralized strips inside the trabeculae of spongy bone, construction of fibrous bone, hypercalcified periosteal apposition. The occurrence of these microradiographic signs of fluorosis does not seem to be linked either to the age of the patients, to the interval elapsed since ovarian function ceased, or to the degree of bone remodelling at the time that treatment was started. Moreover, none of these patients showed signs of even moderate renal insufficiency. Should the development of this fluorosis, which is most frequently clinically asymptomatic, be considered as a condition or as a factor in therapeutic efficacy? Or are the effects detrimental and therefore to be avoided by a reduction in dosage or a change in therapeutic methods?

[Radiological study of metaphyso-epiphyseal anomalies in osteogenesis imperfecta. Apropos of 61 cases]. / Etude radiologique des anomalies métaphyso-épiphysaires dans l'ostéogenèse imparfaite. A propos de 61 observations.

The object of the present study was to examine all the metaphyseal and epiphysial abnormalities from sixty one patients with osteogenesis imperfecta. Regarding the growing ends of the bones, eight of the 61 children (13%) had disorders in the epiphyseal ends of the bones. The development of the radiological features can be divided into three stages. The last one is characterized by a severe epiphyseal deformation. Histologically there is a disorderly proliferation of the calcified cartilage at the center of the epiphyses. Several physio-pathological hypothesis may be advanced, and particularly the responsibility of the vascular upsets secondary to fractures.

[Radiological study of epiphyseal abnormalities in osteogenesis imperfecta. Apropos of 61 cases]. / Etude radiologique des anomalies épiphysaires dans l'ostéogénèse imparfaite. A propos de 61 observations.

Sixty-one cases of osteogenesis imperfecta were studied to try to discover the cause of metaphyseal and epiphyseal deformities. These deformities were noticeable in 8 cases out of 61 at the level of the upper and lower end of the femur in all cases and sometimes at the level of the lower end of the tibia and the upper end of the humerus. Several grades are described: First grade - protrusion of the growth plate into the epiphysis. Second grade - disorganization of the architecture of the epiphysis. Third grade - major deformity. It seems that the deformities are secondary to lesions of the growth plates. Several hypotheses are suggested. The authors consider that the main role is played by segmental fractures creating areas of ischemia in the epiphyses.

[Acceleration of repair of non-unions by electromagnetic fields (author's transl)]. / Résultats de la stimulation par champ électromagnétique de la consolidation des pseudarthroses. A propos de 37 cas.

This work deals with the results obtained by four French orthopaedic departments using the electromagnetic field stimulation for non union treatment. This is the method established by A. Bassett. 37 cases are studied, the results are known for 35 of them with 6 failures and 29 successes. The failures can be explained for four of them by a bad application of the device. Concerning the 29 successful cases, the role of the stimulation is discussed. Discarding those who have been treated a short time after a surgical procedure, those who have been immobilized more than 6 months and those where the non union could have been a delayed union, it remains 14 successful cases apparently undisputable. For them the role of the electromagnetic field stimulation seems real.

[Effect of some electric signals transmitted by an induction coil on weight increase, incorporation of marker, and histological and ultrastructural appearance of the skeleton in a chick embryo]. / Effet de certains signaux électriques transmis par bobine d'induction sur la croissance pondérale, l'incorporation marquée, l'aspect histologique et ultra-structural squelettique de l'embryon de Poulet.

Embryo Chicks were exposed to various types of electrical impulses transmitted by induction coils between the 6th and 13th day of incubation. Compared with controls, the Chick tibias showed a highly significant increase in weight and length as well as increased incorporation of tritiated thymidine. In addition, the total weight of the treated embryos was significantly greater than that of the controls. The results suggest that the effects of these electro-magnetic fields, particularly their skeletal effects, act principally on cellular multiplication and/or enhanced cellular activity following an increase in protein synthesis.

[Polymorphic histological changes in a case of angio-immunoblastic adenopathy (author's transl)]. / Evolution histologique polymorphe d'une adénopathie angio-immunoblastique.

A patient aged 65 years was observed to have successive adenomegalic syndromes over a period of 4 years, with variable histological appearances. A right cervical adenopathy had the histological appearance of a simple antigenic-stimulation lesion. Three years later, a right inguinal adenomegaly presented all the histological criteria of angioimmunoblastic adenopathies, without, however, any humoral immunity disturbance. Two months later, a biopsy of a palatine tumour confirmed the diagnosis of an immunoblastic sarcoma. The condition then became generalized as a lymphoblastic type of diffuse lymphosarcoma, and autopsy one year later showed the presence of a pleomorphic lymphosarcoma in several lymphoid formations. This case serves as a basis for discussing the concept of angio-immunoblastic adenopathy; the result of various antigenic aggressions or the early stage of a haematosarcoma. It also clearly demonstrates the sometimes contingent characteristics and difficulties in classification of haematosarcomas.

[A duodenal schwannosarcoma with hepatic metastases (author's transl)]. / Un schwannosarcome duodénal avec métastases hépatiques

The authors present a case of duodenal schwannosarcoma, a rare tumor revealed by an ordinary dyspeptic syndrome. Radiological examination of the stomach revealed the presence of an internal paraduodenal diverticular picture. Arteriography showed the hypervascularized tumor as well as its extension and hepatic metastases.