[The old man and the syrup]. / Le vieil homme et le sirop.

Intoxication by glycyrrhizin is a rare cause of hypokalemia. We describe a patient with severe hypokalemia caused by long-term consumption of syrup containing liquorice. The physiopathological mechanism of the intoxication and the differential diagnosis are presented.

[Diabetic ketoacidosis with a fatal issue: is it a MODY3 (maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 3)?]. / Acidocétose diabétique d'évolution fatale: serait-ce un MODY3 (maturity-onset diabetes of the young de type 3)?

Ketoacidotic coma is one of the possible diabetes mellitus first symptoms. It results from complete or relative lack of insuline and is often associated with type 1 diabetes. The authors report a case of a 45-years old woman with inaugural diabetes of which atypical features have motivated the study of MODY gene (maturity-onset diabetes of the young). Gly574ser polymorphism in the HNF-1alpha gene was found, in homozygous state, and the question of the responsibility of this polymorphism in this diabete is asked.

[Ectopic ACTH syndrome and severe hypokalaemia]. / Hypokaliémie sévère au cours d'un syndrome de Cushing paranéoplasique.

Cushing's syndrome is rare and remains a challenge to diagnose. Particularly difficult are the differentiation between Cushing's syndrome and Pseudo-Cushing's states and between the two forms of ACTH dependent Cushing's: Cushing's disease and ectopic ACTH syndrome. We report the case of a patient diagnosed with a metastatic small cells lung carcinoma associated with ectopic ACTH-syndrome. Hypokalaemia was a clue to diagnosis. We focus on critical questions addressing diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome and we explain the mechanism of hypokalaemia.

[Variations of plasma concentrations of h-FABP during a muscular exercise]. / Variations des concentrations plasmatiques en h-FABP au cours d'un exercice musculaire intense.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether heart-Fatty Acid Binding Protein (h-FABP) is a useful plasma marker for the detection of acute coronary syndrome during muscular exercise. METHODS: Plasma concentrations of h-FABP were measured in 42 volunteers before and after muscular exercise (military aptitude test). Myoglobin and troponin Ic were measured for comparison. RESULTS: Significant increase were found in plasma myoglobin (mean = 195,9 microg/L) and h-FABP (mean = 5,71 microg/L). Myoglobin and h-FABP concentrations were already significantly elevated (p < 10(-6)) at 60 minutes after exercise and h-FABP concentrations were superior to baseline values in 15 volunteers. Whereas h-FABP decreased to normal levels within 24 hours, myoglobin remained elevated in 12 volunteers. The myoglobin to h-FABP ratio in plasma is between 8,0 and 57,0 which is different from the reported plasma ratio after myocardial injury (<6). CONCLUSION: h-FABP can be used to exclude an acute coronary syndrome during exercise. The myoglobin to h-FABP ratio seems to be useful to identify the type of muscle injured. New studies are necessary to evaluate its diagnostic accuracy.

[Heart fatty-acid binding protein (h-FABP): a new cardiac marker]. / Un nouveau marqueur cardiaque: la heart fatty-acid binding protein (h-FABP).

Heart Fatty-Acid Binding Protein (h-FABP) is a small cytosolic protein that is abundant in the heart and found at lower concentrations in muscle or in the brain. h-FABP is released into the circulation shortly after the onset of ischemia. Several studies indicate its usefulness in cardiology: exclusion of acute myocardial infarction, detection of reperfusion, prognostic value... A rapid immuno-chromatographic assay (Cardiodetect) was recently commercialized in France with a result obtainable within 15 minutes. We review the strengths and weakness of h-FABP for detecting myocardial injury.

[Acute methanol poisoning: about one case]. / Intoxication aiguë au méthanol: réflexion à partir d'un cas.

In this article, we report a case of metabolic coma with acidosis and elevated anion gap. The etiological investigation requires laboratory findings because clinical features are not enough specific in the early stage of intoxication. Measurement of methanol and formic acid, its toxic metabolite, is useful in confirming the diagnosis. The major differential diagnosis to discuss is ethylene glycol poisoning. Methanol poisoning is rare but potentially fatal; the toxicity of methanol is clearly correlated to the degree of metabolic acidosis. Formic acid accumulation is also associated with an increased risk for ocular and neurologic dysfunction. For preventing permanent visual damage, the acidosis should be corrected by antidotal treatment or haemodialysis in severe poisoning.

[Is mild hyperhomocysteinemia an additional risk factor of the metabolic syndrome?]. / L'hyperhomocystéinémie est-elle un facteur de risque supplémentaire du syndrome métabolique?

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome is a cardiovascular risk factors cluster and hyperhomocysteinemia an obvious independant risk factor. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain if hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with the metabolic syndrome. METHODS: "Epimil" is a prospective epidemiologic survey, which began by a cross-sectionnal study of cardiovascular risk factors in a French population, which then will be followed for ten years for supervision and intervention. Initial data collection, blood pressure measurement, ECG and blood samples (biology and DNA) have been performed. For the metabolic syndrome, we used the criterias of the third report of the national cholesterol education program expert panel on detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults (NCEP ATP III). RESULTS: Out of 2045 men aged from 20 to 58 years (37.7+/-8.7 years), 185 (9%) have metabolic syndrome (at least three criterias), 587 (29%) a blood homocysteine>or=12 micromol/L and 202 (10%)>or=15 micromol/L. Homocysteinemia is 10.97+/-5.01 micromol/L for the whole population and doesn't differ with (11.4+/-6 micromol/L) or without (10.9+/-5 micromol/L) the metabolic syndrome, as does its values distribution. It's not correlate with the body mass index, waist and hip measurements, nor with glycemia, HbA1c, insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk markers (CRPus, microalbuminuria). It weakly correlates with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, creatinine clearance, tobacco use, cholesterolemia, triglycerides and free fatty acids but not with HDL and LDL fractions, nor lipoprotein (a). Among this population, it slightly contributes to the ten years vascular risk evaluated according to Framingham equations or Score system. CONCLUSIONS: Homocysteinemia and the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia don't differ with or without the metabolic syndrome and doesn't correlate its main criterias.

[Value of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibodies in comparison with rheumatoid factor for rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis]. / Intérêt des anticorps antipeptides cycliques citrullinés par rapport aux facteurs rhumatoïdes pour le diagnostic de la polyarthrite rhumatoïde.

The detection of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) antibodies is a new marker for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. We screened 100 patients suffering from rheumatic pathologies or from other affections where rheumatoid factor is frequently detected. The screening was assessed by a second generation ELISA (Immunoscan RA) in comparison with agglutination assay (Latex and Waaler-Rose) and specific ELISA (IgM, IgG and IgA). The sensitivity of the anti-CCP is good (>70%) with an excellent specificity (98%). In our study the predictive value of the Immunoscan RA reached 71% and more among patients with joints symptoms. Anti-CCP antibody test could serve as a better diagnosis marker than rheumatoid factor.

[Invasive infections by Streptococcus pyogenes]. / Infection fulminante à Streptococcus pyogenes chez l'adulte.

Invasive infections by Streptococcus pyogenes continually increase both in France and in others industrialized countries. Because of the seriousness, the rapidity of the evolution and the epidemic potentialities, guidelines for managing these infections are requested by the Superior Council of Public Hygiene of France. The authors report herein a case of an adult stricken down by a violent evolution due to Streptococcus pyogenes. They point up how diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis for family circle are difficult.

Lessons from an unpleasant surprise: a biochemical strategy for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

OBJECTIVE: To audit the performances of the analytes used in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and to present a graphical guideline to help the diagnosis. DESIGN: A 5 year retrospective study. SETTINGS: Laboratory and departments of a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: In-patients, suspected of bearing a pheochromocytoma, were investigated for urinary metanephrines and catecholamines (photometric method) and vanillylmandelic acid, fractionated catecholamines and metanephrines [high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrochemical detection (ED)] urinary excretion. MAIN OUTCOME: Patients with a pheochromocytoma (24 out of 2003 patients) were diagnosed by the combination of normetanephrine and metanephrine determination. RESULTS: All analytes but dopamine were significantly elevated in patients with a pheochromocytoma. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were the highest for total metanephrines, normetanephrine and metanephrine determinations. Because of analytical interferences in the metanephrines determination, the normetanephrine and metanephrine performed better. It is noteworthy that all pheochromocytomas had either normetanephrine or metanephrine levels above their respective optimal threshold (sensitivity 100%). The best optimal threshold performance was reached by the mean of three daily samples. Total or fractionated catecholamines or vanillylmandelic acid were less accurate tools. CONCLUSION: Amongst urinary tests, the combined use of HPLC/ED determination of normetanephrine and metanephrine seems the most effective screening strategy for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The older total metanephrine photometric assay is grieved by analytical interferences.

[ORL drugs and doping]. / Médicament ORL et dopage.

Every doctor is an essential actor in the struggle against doping. The outbidding in the search for more effective new doping technics or drugs that allow to fool controls show the actuality of doping question.