Reactive angioendotheliomatosis

Angioendotheliomatosis is a rare disorder with both cutaneous and systemic clinical presentations. We agree that there is evidence in the existing medical literature for the separation of reactive and malignant (neoplastic) variants of angioendotheliomatosis. These variants share similar histologic and ultrastructural features but seem clinically distinct. The reactive variant has been associated (four of seven cases, including our patient) with existing or preexisting subacute bacterial endocarditis.

[Genetic analysis of interspecific crosses Mus musculus L. x Mus spretus Lataste: linkage of Adh-1 with Amy-1 on chromosome 3 and Es-14 with Mod-1 on chromosome 9]

192 offsprings from interspecific back-crosses (male M. spretus x female BALB/c) F1 x male BALB/c or (male M. spretus x female C57BL6) F1 x male C57BL6 were analysed at thirteen structural loci. Linkage of ES-14 with Mod-1 on chromosome 9 and that of Adh-1 with Amy-1 on chromosome 3 are shown. The following order centromere/Car-2/Amy-1 is tentatively proposed for these loci on chromosome 3.

Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lip. Occurrence in blacks with discoid lupus erythematosus

In two black patients, squamous cell carcinoma of the lip developed within lesions of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). The association of DLE and squamous cell carcinoma is unusual in blacks, as is the anatomical site involved in these cases. Enhanced metastatic potential may be present when squamous cell carcinoma arises in DLE of the lips.

Effect of anti-HLA antisera on macrophage-T-cell interactions

Human T lymphocytes were shown to proliferate in response to tetanus toxoid antigen only in the presence of macrophages. This response was inhibited by anti-DRw but not by anti-HLA (A and B loci) antisera added to the cultures and by pretreatment of macrophages but not of T cells with anti-DRw antisera and complement. Macrophages pulsed for 18 hr with antigen and then washed were capable of triggering T-cell proliferation. Addition of anti-DRw but not anti-HLA (A and B loci) antisera during the pulse period inhibited the macrophages' ability to trigger T-cell proliferation. The data obtained indicate that human T cells recognize and proliferate in response to antigen presented by the macrophages in association with Ia-like antigens.

Radionuclide scanning in pseudo-Kaposi's sarcoma

Sodium pertechnetate Tc 99m radionuclide scanning is considered to be a sensitive indicator in detecting lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma, including occult infiltrations. This report describes a "false-positive" scan in a patient with acroanglodermatitis (pseudo-Kaposi's sarcoma); therefore, this technique may not be useful in the differential diagnosis of these two clinically and histologically similar diseases. We suggest, instead that the technetium scan may be helpful in deciding on the course of therapy in acroangiodermatitis by demonstrating the nature of the underlying vascular anomalies.

Multiple birth risk factors and the distribution of handedness

In this study, we attempted to maximize the likelihood of replicating Bakan's (1971, 1977a) observations that left-handedness was more probable in college students who were the progeny of "high-risk" births. To do this, the relationships between handedness and a combination of factors known to be associated with birth risk were computed. The observed relationships proved to be trivial and thus the validity of Bakan's hypothesis was questionned.

Cryofibrinogenemia, monoclonal gammopathy, and purpura. Report of a case and review of the literature

A patient with purpura, acral blisters, and ulcerations was evaluated and found to have cryofibrinogenemia and an IgG K light chain monoclonal gammopathy. No other systemic illness was found. The overall incidence of significant cryofibrinogenemia include neoplastic, thrombotic, infectious, and miscellaneous disorders. The patient described was not easily classified. This case is probably best considered primary or idiopathic cryofibrinogenemia.

Microbicidal function of the neutrophils in hairy-cell leukaemia

The ability of neutrophils from patients with hairy-cell leukaemia to kill Candida guilliermondii and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro was investigated. Of 10 patients, 8 showed defective candida killing, 5 defective bacteria killing, in comparison with normal controls. Study of those patients who underwent splenectomy suggests that neutrophil function can be improved by splenectomy. The possible causes of defective function in this disease are discussed.

Increased frequency of HLA-DRW4 in chronic active hepatitis

HLA-A, B, C and DRw typing was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes of 17 adults with the diagnosis of chronic active hepatitis made by liver biopsy as the only criterion for study. An increase in the frequency of HLA-DRw4 (71 vs. 24%, p less than 0.005) was observed, but there was no increased frequency of HLA-A1, B8 or any other HLA locus specificity.

The relationship of deep and surface skin temperatures to the ventilatory responses elicited during cold water immersion

Subjects were immersed for 10 min in water at 14.5 degrees C, after exposure either to ambient temperature or sauna heating. During the immersions, total ventilation, end-tidal PCO2, the mean of three surface skin temperatures, and deep skin temperatures were measured. There was a statistically significant correlation between the rate of change of deep skin temperature and the initial ventilatory responses evoked during both cold water immersions. After the sauna heating and cold water exposure, the temperature gradient through the skin appeared to be related to the ventilatory response. There was no significant correlation between the rate of change of mean surface skin temperature and the ventilatory response. The results suggest that the primary drive to increased ventilation during cold water immersion is the rate of change of deep skin temperature.

The effect of clothing on the initial ventilatory responses during cold-water immersion

The effect of clothing on ventilatory responses during cold-water immersion was studied. Subjects were immersed in water at 13.9 degrees C on two occasions wearing either a bathing suit only or clothed with jacket, shirt, pants, and sports shoes. It was found that the initial gasp and subsequent minutes of expired ventilation were significantly attenuated, whereas the changes in end-tidal PCO2 were only significantly different for the 2nd and 3rd min of the immersion. It would appear that the use of clothing may prove beneficial during the first few minutes of a cold-water immersion by decreasing the powerful drive to increased respiration.

[Hybridization between Mus musculus L. and Mus spretus Lataste under laboratory conditions (author's transl)]

2 species of mice Mus musculus brevirostris and Mus spretus are sympatric in Southern France and reproductively isolated. However, under laboratory conditions, they breed and give fully viable F 1 hybrids. This indicates that premating isolating mechanisms probably occur in nature and have yet to be investigated. Moreover, it now enables us to introduce new genetical markers in laboratory strains.

Basal cell nevus syndrome in a black patient: report of a case and review of the literature

An 80-year-old black man had multiple basal cell epitheliomas (BCEs), palmar pits, and mandibular cysts. This patient is unusual, not only because of multiple BCEs, but also becuase they developed when the patient was at age 77. Only three other black patients with multiple BCEs in association with basal cell nevus syndrome have been reported previously.

Defective microbicidal function of neutrophils in haematological malignancies and lymphomas: correction by levamisole in vitro

The ability of neutrophils to kill Candida guilliermondii was investigated in patients with various haematological malignancies and lymphomas. Twelve of 24 patients showed significant depression of Candida killing in vitro in comparison with normal controls. The addition of levamisole to the test system, in a concentration of 1 X 10(-7)M, resulted in the correction of the Candida killing defect in 7 of 8 patients.

The distribution of Feulgen stained nuclei in the periphery of human head and neck tumours--cytophotometric investigations

With single cell cytophotometry we investigated the distribution of Feulgen stained cell nuclei of ENT tumours. In the periphery of exophytically growing tumours these cells seem to be distributed homogeneously. Because of the difficulties in determination of the DNA synthesizing cells Feulgen cytophotometry should be completed by other cell kinetic methods e.g. pulse cytophotometry and autoradiography.

Alcohol and respiratory and body temperature changes during tepid water immersion

Resting subjects were immersed for 30 min in water at 22 and 30 degrees C after drinking alcohol. Total ventilation, end-tidal PCO2, rectal temperature, aural temperature, mean skin temperature, heart rate, and oxygen consumption were recorded during the experiments. Blood samples taken before the immersion period were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The mean blood alcohol levels were 82.50 +/- 9.93 mg.(100 ml)-1 and 100.6 +/- 12.64 mg (100 ml)-1 for the immersions at 22 and 30 degrees C, respectively. There was no significant change in body temperature measured aurally or rectally, mean surface skin temperature, or heart rate at either water temperature tested. Total expired ventilation was significantly attenuated for the last 15 min of the immersion at 22 degrees C, after alcohol consumption as compared to the ventilation change in water at 22 degrees C without ethanol. This response was not consistently significantly altered during immersion in water at 30 degrees C. It is evident that during a 30-min immersion in tepid water with a high blood alcohol level, body heat loss is not affected but some changes in ventilation do occur.

Early detection of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in office workers

Symptoms of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in three employees in an office building led to an investigation of their work environment. An open spray water air cooling system was implicated when inhalation challenge with the spray water caused acute illness in one of them. A questionnaire survey of the 4,023 co-workers identified 48 other suspect cases, and laboaratory studies confirmed hypersensitivity pneumonitis in three additional workers of this group. A significant change in pulmonary function, occurring only after exposure to the work environment, was the most useful laboratory finding and was found in five workers with no other pulmonary abnormalities, but not is asymptomatic workers or controls, since five of the six patients with hypersensitivy pneumonitis worked in offices cooled by the spray water system and since three had positive responses to inhalation challenge, use of the spray water system was discontinued. The affected workers improved after they were removed from the office complex.

Alcohol, respiration, skin and body temperature during cold water immersion

Subjects who had not been exercising, were immersed for 20 min in water at 13 degrees C after ingestion of alcohol. During the immersion period, total ventilation, end-tidal PCO2, rectal temperature, aural temperature, and mean skin temperature were recorded. Control experiments were carried out at the same water temperature. Blood samples (3 ml), taken immediately before the immersion period, were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography. The mean blood alcohol level was 90+/-11.2 mg-(100 ml)-1. There was no significant difference in ventilatory responses, rectal temperatures, aural temperatures, or mean skin temperatures achieved during the two cold water immersions. It would appear that for a 20-min immersion at 13 degrees C, relatively high blood alcohol levels do not affect ventilatory responses or increase body heat losses.