Hyaluronic acid promotes chick embryo fibroblast and chondroblast expression.

15-day-chick-embryo fibroblasts and chondroblasts were cultured in the presence of high and low molecular weight exogenous hyaluronic acid (HA). Growth range and incorporation of radiolabelled sulphate and proline were determined. HA reduced cell proliferation to about 75% of controls, while incorporation of radiolabelled sulphate and proline was higher in HA-treated cultures of both chondroblasts and fibroblasts.

[Dipyridamole echocardiography test during the acute phase of lower myocardial infarction].

Two-dimensional echocardiography with intravenous injection of dipyridamole (0.56 mg/kg) was performed in 33 consecutive patients with acute (2 +/- 2 days) postero-inferior myocardial infarction for semiquantitative segmental wall motion analysis. The results were compared with those of coronary angiography which was carried out during the hospital period.

[Polymyalgia induced by topical minoxidil].

Topical minoxidil, used in the treatment of baldness, has been commercially available since 1987. Its systemic side effects are rare. We observed an as yet unreported "polymyalgia syndrome" in four otherwise healthy males whose sole medication was topically applied minoxidil.

[Bronchospasm disclosing pulmonary embolism].

We report the case of an 82-year old male patient without history of chronic obstructive lung disease in whom a sudden respiratory distress syndrome with sibilant rales in both lungs revealed a moderately severe pulmonary embolism, later confirmed by angiography. Bronchospasm occurring in the acute phase of pulmonary embolism may be expressed as acute asthma refractory to bronchodilators. This bronchoconstriction, seldom detectable clinically, seems to be related to regional alveolar hypocapnia in the territories embolized and to platelet-produced mediators, through a vagus nerve-mediated reflex.

Automated extraction of serial myocardial borders from M-mode echocardiograms.

A method is presented for the automated extraction of myocardial borders in M-mode echocardiograms. The successive steps of processing are: preprocessing for noise reduction, enhancement of border characteristics using a set of suitably chosen matched filters, and final extraction of border points by searching for optimal paths along the time axis. During the last step of processing, the contribution of each elementary border element is characterised by a normalized correlation coefficient.

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein gene expression in the rat duodenum by 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.

Regulation of the expression of vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein (Mr 9000 CaBP) gene by 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3) was studied in the rat duodenum. In vivo stimulation of Mr 9000 CaBP synthesis was analyzed using a complementary DNA probe and by measuring the rate of Mr 9000 CaBP gene transcription in isolated nuclei (run-on assay). A single 1,25-(OH)2D3 injection (650 pmol/100 g of body weight) induced a 2-fold increase in Mr 9000 CaBP gene transcription within 15 min in the duodenum of vitamin D-deficient rats.

Pulmonary oedema during pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary oedema during angiographically proved massive pulmonary embolism without left ventricular failure is unusual. A few previous reports have used haemodynamic data obtained during the acute phase to rule out left ventricular failure. The following case, which we were able to observe for a period of 4 years has given further evidence of uninvolved left ventricular function.

Pulmonary disposition of roxithromycin (RU 28965), a new macrolide antibiotic.

The penetration of roxithromycin (RU 28965), an ether oxime derivative of erythromycin, into the cells and fluid lining the epithelial surface of the lower respiratory tract was studied by performing fiber-optic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage on eight patients who had received roxithromycin at 300 mg perorally every 12 h for 5 days. The apparent volume of epithelial lining fluid recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage was determined by using urea as an endogenous marker. There was a significant relationship (r = 0.

Epidemiological survey of a major outbreak of nosocomial legionellosis.

Forty-seven nosocomial cases of legionellosis due to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 were diagnosed in one major outbreak from November 1982 to March 1983 in a 960-bed teaching hospital. Contaminated water was considered to be a possible source of infection because, during that period, monthly samples were found to be positive with averages of 10(4) CFU/l. After chlorination of hot water associated with flushing of outlets, nearly all samples taken in the next two years were found to be negative.

Vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) in human fetuses: comparative distribution of 9K CaBP mRNA and 28K CaBP during development.

The vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein (CaBP) cholecalcin or calbindin, has been used as a molecular marker of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 action. Mammals possess two CaBPs: a 9,000 mol wt (9K CaBP) and a 28,000 mol wt (28K CaBP). The distinct localization of each protein in the rat has been previously described with the aid of specific radioimmunoassays developed for each CaBP.

Acute and latent pneumonitis after subcutaneous injections of silicone in transsexual men.

We evaluated 13 transsexual men who were hospitalized for symptoms resulting from illicit subcutaneous injections of silicone. Patients with acute silicone pneumonitis were admitted because of fever, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, and hypoxemia (mean PaO2, 58 +/- 14 mm Hg). Most patients in this group had received new silicone injections within hours of admission, but one presented with the same clinical syndrome a few hours after a brawl.

Pulmonary fibrosis following pneumonia due to acute Legionnaires' disease. Clinical, ultrastructural, and immunofluorescent study.

During a recent nosocomial outbreak, 20 critically ill patients with acute Legionnaires' disease were admitted to the intensive care unit of Hopital Bichat, Paris. Pulmonary specimens were obtained at surgery or immediately after death in 12 patients and were examined by light, immunofluorescent, and electron microscopy. Five of these 12 patients showed evidence of pulmonary fibrosis.

In vivo effects of transcriptional and translational inhibitors on duodenal vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein messenger ribonucleic acid stimulation by 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.

The in vivo stimulation of vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein (9 K CaBP) synthesis by 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D3] in the rat duodenum has been analyzed using a specific [32P]complementary DNA probe for rat 9 K CaBP and inhibitors of RNA transcription (actinomycin D, alpha-amanitin) or protein synthesis (cycloheximide). The relative amounts of 9 K CaBP messenger RNA (mRNA) were assayed by dot-blot hybridization and the relative amounts of 9 K CaBP by RIA. Both inhibitors were injected at doses which significantly inhibited by 80-95% [35S]methionine or [3H]uridine incorporation into protein and RNA, respectively.

[Usefulness of self-assessment scales for anxiety and depression in internal medicine].

The rating scales and questionnaires of quantitative psychopathology constitute an aid for the resident physician in the recognition of depressive and anxiety disorders in medical wards. The specific interest of these scales is more in the symptomatic intensity than in the diagnosis. A structured questionnaire leading to a DSM-III diagnosis of mood disorders shows the differences of these two approaches.

[The Leafhopper Neoaliturus haematoceps (Mulsant & Rey) is a vector of Spiroplasma citri in the Mediterranean].

Among the many leafhoppers which we have collected and identified in Morocco, Turkey, Syria and France (Corsica), only the species Neoaliturus haematoceps was found to be infected with Spiroplasma citri. In Syria, this leafhopper was encountered on ornamental stock plants (Matthiola incana L.) in the Oronte valley, and on Salsola kali L.

Photoonycholysis induced by the fluoroquinolones pefloxacine and ofloxacine. Report on 2 cases.

Pefloxacine and ofloxacine are 2 new synthetic fluoroquinolones which should be added to the list of drugs inducing photoonycholysis. Two cases are reported.

[Normalization of the dimensions of the left ventricle as measured by echocardiography].

An M mode echocardiographic study was performed, of left ventricular dimensions and wall thickness in two series of normal (N1, N2) and pathological (P1, P2) subjects. In the more recent series (N2 = 40, P2 = 17) data acquisition was facilitated by tests deduced from the technique of ultrasound transit time. The parameters compared were based on: 1) the proportionality between fractional shortening and fractional thickening (N1: not significant; N2: p less than 0.