[The adoption of foreign children]. / L'adoption des enfants étrangers.

Over the last twenty years, adoptions of foreign children have increased considerably, even as the number of French children eligible for adoption has fallen. Most adopted foreign children come from South America, India and the Far East, which are all socioeconomically underprivileged areas. Private Agencies for Adoption in foreign countries and Adoptive Family Organizations play a beneficial role. The adoption process is complex and varies from country to country, raising considerable difficulties for the adoptive parents. The child's foreign origin may compound the relational problems that can arise in any adoption. Considerable efforts have been made to provide adoptive parents with the necessary information and support. The outcome of foreign adoptions depends largely on these efforts, that must therefore be intensified.

[Subacute symmetrical osteomyelitis]. / Ostéomyélite symétrique subaiguë.

An 11 year old girl who developed subacute osteomyelitis in both distal tibial metaphyses is reported. The diagnosis was difficult and the importance of a bone biopsy in the absence of positive findings is emphasised. Recovery followed prolonged antibiotic therapy. This case is compared with seven similar cases in the literature.

The Concorde and cosmic rays.

In 1976, Air France's Concordes operated 2,642 h of flight time during 772 commercial flights to Rio de Janeiro, Caracas, and Washington. The cosmic radiation dose equivalent rate was measured during each of these flights. The average amount recorded was 0.99 mrems/h. A distinction must be made between the high latitudes (Washington route), on which an average dose equivalent rate of 1.49 mrem/h was recorded, and low latitudes (Rio de Janeiro and Caracas routes), on which the average dose equivalent rate was only 0.78 mrems/h. These figures show that 1976 Concorde passengers and crews were exposed to very low quantities of radiation--very much lower than the maximum value recommended for the general public, which is 500 mrems per year.

[Acrodermatitis enteropathica. Anatomo-clinical study of 2 familial cases treated with zinc sulfate]. / Acrodermatitis enteropathica. Etude anatomo-clinique de deux das familiaux traites par le sulfate de zinc.

Two familial cases of acrodermatitis enteropathica began at the time of weaning, with characteristic dermatologic lesions and digestive signs, resulting in lack of weight gain: at 13 months of age growth future was evident in the elder child. The anatomic lesions were those of an exophagitis and, in the duodenal mucosa, a dilation of the capillaries of the chorion in the absence of villous atrophy. The ultrastructural study showed inclusions in Paneth's cells, and changes in keratin cells, with intra-cytoplasmic vacuoles and abnormal melanin pigment in the skin. The administration of zinc sulphate induced a rapid recovery of cutaneous lesions and resumption of growth. The interruption of treatment resulted twice in a quite immediate relapse of cutaneous signs in the first patient, which was rapidly reversible with the reintroduction of zinc sulphate.

[Acrodermatitis enteropathica; zinc sulfate therapy]. / Acrodermatitis enteropathica action thérapeutique du sulfate de zinc.

We present the case of two siblings with acrodermatitis enteropathica. Zinc levels were low. Oral administration of 100 mg of zinc sulfate allowed total regression of all signs. When zinc therapy was interrupted, the manifestations reappeared and disappeared again when treatment was resumed. A defect of genetic origin in digestive zinc absorption is suggested. Mohnahan's advocated zinc treatment of acrodermatitis enteropathica in 1973; it is a non-toxic treatment, which is always active and be considered as a diagnostic test.