[Acute systemic lupus erythematosus after thymectomy for myasthenia. Sequential study of lymphocyte subpopulations]. / Lupus érythémateux aigu disséminé survenu après thymectomie pour myasthénie. Etude séquentielle des sous-populations lymphocytaires.

A 35 year-old woman developed severe systemic lupus erythematosus 9 years after thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. "Seric Thymic Factor" (STF) was low; T helpers subset, T helpers/T suppressors ratio and to a lesser extent T suppressors subset were decreased. Suppressor cell function investigated by Concanavaline A lymphocyte reactivity was low. Under cyclophosphamide, plasmapheresis and steroids all clinical and biological symptoms improved but STF remained low; T helpers, T suppressors subsets and T helpers/T suppressors ratio increased but did not reach the normal range. Statistical and immunological arguments suggest that the association between systemic lupus erythematosus and myasthenia gravis did not occur only by chance. Moreover, thymectomy might have played a role by decreasing the number and function of some subpopulations of lymphocytes.

[Infectious spondylodiscitis after a cure for genital prolapse. 5 cases]. / Spondylodiscites infectieuses après cure de prolapsus génital. A propos de 5 cas.

Bacterial osteitis of the discs and the vertebrae is rare after fixing the uterus to the promontary of the sacrum. Only 30 cases have been reported in the literature. Twelve cases were found in a Rheumatology Unit over a period of 12 years from 1975-1987. The initial symptoms of septic osteitis were low back pain or sciatica, and fever. They were confirmed by radiological evidence. Bacteriological diagnosis was obtained in every case by fine needle aspiration of the disco-vertebral space retrieving staphylococci or gram-negative bacilli. The same agent was found in blood cultures in four or five cases. Potentiating pathogenic factors include urinary tract infections, prosthetic material, and surgical errors.

[Osteoarticular manifestations of pustulosis palmaris et plantaris]. / Les manifestations ostéo-articulaires de la pustulose palmo-plantaire.

In 6 patients with clinically and histologically proven pustulosis palmaris et plantaris the disease was complicated by osteo-articular manifestations. Five patients presented with articular symptoms and one with aseptic subacute osteomyelitis. The distribution of these bone and joint disorders was different from that of Sonozaki's "pustulotic arthro-osteitis": in contrast with the latter, the anterior chest was inconstantly involved whereas the spine, sacro-iliac joints and peripheral articulations were more frequently affected. Although the B27 antigen is usually absent, it seems possible to classify the rheumatic disorders of pustulosis palmaris et plantaris among seronegative spondylo-arthropathies.

[Osteoarticular manifestations of palmoplantaris pustulosis. A prospective study of 15 cases]. / Manifestations ostéo-articulaires de la pustulose palmo-plantaire. Etude prospective de 15 cas.

Between 1986 and 1989, we conducted a clinical, biochemical, radiological and scintigraphic prospective study of 15 patients (8 men, 7 women) with histologically proven palmoplantar pustulosis. In 70 percent of the cases the time interval between the first cutaneous and the first osteoarticular signs was 2 years. Anterior thoracic clinical manifestations were frequent. The joints and the numbers of patients involved were: sternoclavicular (12), manubriosternal (6), sternocostal (5), intervertebral (11), sacroiliac (6) and peripheral (10). Two patients had osteitis. The clinical, radiological and scintigraphic findings, as well as the distribution of these arthropathies over the anterior thorax (i.e. over a sternocostoclavicular complex with numerous ligaments), suggest a preference for entheses. Despite the absence of link with the HLA B27 antigen, the frequent association with pelvic and spinal lesions indicate that the articular disease of palmoplantar pustulosis is a spondyloarthropathy.

[Mandibular condyle tumors (author's transl)]. / Les tumeurs du condyle mandibulaire.

The must frequently observed mandibular condyle tumors are benign in nature, followed by metastases; primary malignant tumors are very rarely encountered, following a review of the clinical and radiographic characteristics of all types of tumors that occur, three cases of condylar metastases are described. Treatment of primary tumors is exclusively surgical, that of secondary lesions being palliative because of the often poor prognosis related to the primary tumor.

[Narrow lumbar canal]. / Le canal lombaire étroit.

The diagnosis of spinal stenosis can be strongly suspected when the following symptoms are present: limbs neuralgias with a poorly defined location, paresthesias in several dermatomas neurogenic intermittent claudication. Myelography coupled with scan yields the best information about morphology, levels of stenosis and narrowing factors, bone bridges ligaments and discal structures. If surgery is decided after failure of medical treatment to improve the patient's condition, the choice will be best guided by the myeloscan analysis.

[Erosive arthropathies in Crohn disease. Apropos of 3 cases]. / Arthropathies érosives au cours de la maladie de Crohn. A propos de 3 observations.

Three unusual cases of destructive joint lesions in patients with Crohn's disease are reported. One patient with chronic enteropathic polyarthritis developed erosions of the wrists. The other two patients had spondyloarthropathic disease; erosions developed in the right hip in one and in the hips, knees and tibiotarsal joints in the other. The few similar cases reported in the literature are reviewed.

[Intradural metastasis. Value of magnetic resonance imaging]. / Métastases intradurales: intérêt de l'imagerie par résonance magnétique.

Imaging a 70 year old man with lymph node metastases from an adenocarcinoma developed cauda equina syndrome. The diagnosis of intradural metastatic disease was established on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium injection which visualized diffuse nodules in contact with the nerve roots.

Interest of corrective makeup in the management of patients in dermatology.

BACKGROUND: Disfiguring dermatoses may have a significant impact on patients' quality of life, namely on their relationship with others, self image, and self esteem. Some previous studies have suggested that corrective foundation can improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients with facial dermatoses; in particular, in patients with acne vulgaris or pigmentary disorders. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the impact of the skin conditions of patients with various skin diseases affecting their face (scars, acne, rosacea, melasma, vitiligo, hypo or hyperpigmentation, lentigines, etc) on their QOL and the improvement afforded by the use of corrective makeup for 1 month after being instructed on how to use it by a medical cosmetician during an initial medical consultation. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-nine patients with various skin diseases affecting the patients' face were investigated. The patients were instructed by a cosmetician on how to use corrective makeup (complexion, eyes, and lips) and applied it for 1 month. The safety of the makeup application was evaluated and the QOL was assessed via a questionnaire (DLQI) and using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) completed before the first application and at the final visit. The amelioration of their appearance was documented by standardized photography. RESULTS: No side effects occurred during the course of the study. A comparison of the standardized photographs taken at each visit showed the patients' significant improvement in appearance due to the application of corrective makeup. The mean DLQI score dropped significantly from 9.90 ± 0.73 to 3.49 ± 0.40 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that dermatologists should encourage patients with disfiguring dermatoses to utilize appropriate and safe makeup to improve their appearance and their QOL. Corrective makeup can also complement the treatment of face dermatological diseases in order to improve patient's adherence.