[Modes of administration of beta agonists in asthma].

Short-acting beta 2 agonists have a rapid and potent bronchodilating effect and represent the basis of treatment of acute asthma. Whatever the level of severity, the inhaled route is preferred because of its high efficacy/tolerance ratio. The doses and modes of administration depend on the severity of the airway obstruction, the site of management and the available devices.

Gadolinium-enhanced MRI in cerebral Whipple's disease.

Confusion developed in a 44-year-old man, who had diarrhoea and weight loss for three months. Jejunal biopsy showed infiltration by PAS-positive macrophages, indicating Whipple's disease. Cranial MRI disclosed multiple lesions mainly in the white matter and grey-white matter junction better demonstrated after gadolinium injection.

Multifocal central nervous system lesions in three patients with trichinosis.

Three patients with trichinosis developed central nervous system complications. Cerebral computed tomography showed multifocal hypodense lesions in two patients. The lesions were associated with contrast enhancement and cortical gyral enhancement in the first case, suggesting hypoxia and infarction.

[Chronic osteitis and arthritis of palmoplantar pustulosis. A familial form of B-27 negative spondylarthropathy].

A 35-year old woman presented with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris evolving in acute episodes parallel to those of a rheumatic disease consisting of bilateral sacro-iliac arthritis, manubriosternal fusion and sterno-clavicular arthritis. Her brother had spondylitis compatible with the diagnosis of pustular osteo-arthritis though without pustulosis. He presented with bilateral sacro-iliac arthritis, manubriosternal fusion, sterno-clavicular arthritis and an ossified fragment detached from the antero-inferior angle of C6.

[Characteristics of benzodiazepine consumption in patients hospitalized in an internal medicine department].

We have studied benzodiazepines (BZD) intake among 129 patients admitted in an internal medicine unit. In this population, we have differentiated long term (over 4 months) users (n = 25), occasional users (n = 24), and non users (n = 80). Analysis of the results favoured the fact that BZD users were, more than non users, alike to have a history of cardiovascular and/or rheumatic diseases, to have had multiple surgical procedures and that these patients often took several other psychotropic and non psychotropic drugs.

Isolation of human T-lymphotropic retrovirus (LAV) from Zairian married couple, one with AIDS, one with prodromes.

A Zairian married couple had been living in France since 1981. The man had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and his wife had prodromes of the disorder. Infection with a human T-lymphotropic retrovirus (lymphadenopathy-associated virus) was demonstrated in both by isolation of the virus from their cultured lymphocytes and the detection of specific antibodies in serum samples.

[Sterno-chondro-costal joint arthritis in heroin addicts. Value of computed x-ray tomography. 4 cases].

Four cases of sterno-articular arthritis in young heroin addicts are reported. The diagnosis, much facilitated by the knowledge of drug addiction, is confirmed by biopsy which excludes a tumour, usually malignant in that region. Computerized tomography is essential to explore for retrosternal extension.

[Echocardiographic measurement of true left ventricular inotropism in patients under haemodialysis (author's transl)].

M-mode echocardiography was performed 18 to 22 hours after a haemodialysis session in 16 patients under chronic dialysis. The patients (12 men and 4 women, mean age 21 years, haematocrit 24 +/- 5%) were normotensive and had no clinical or radiological sign of heart failure. Patients with renal hypertension, diabetes or amyloidosis had been excluded from the study.

[X short arm deletion and Turner syndrome. A new case 46, X, del (X) (p11) (author's transl)].

From a new case of a young woman with a rare X short arm deletion on band 11 and review of literature, it is suggested that loss of short arm by juxta-centromeric break does not involve complete somatic Turner syndrome. Short stature depends on distal deletion (p21 or p22). The p11 - p21 segment of X chromosome carries a gene essential for gonadal development.

[Does echocardiography Tm permit to determine the true contractile state of the left ventricle of hemodialysis patients? (author's transl)].

M. mode echocardiography was performed on 16 chronic hemodialysis patients (12 men, 4 women, average use of 21, hematocrit around 24 +/- 5%) with a normal blood pressure and no clinical or roentgenographic signs of heart failure, 18 to 22 hours after the end of a dialysis. Renal diseases due to hypertension, diabetes or amyloidosis were excluded from the study.