[Contraction of skeletal muscles: regulation of calcium intracellular movements].

The different membrane systems and proteins involved in the control of intracellular calcium movements in the skeletal muscle cell are described. These include the sarcoplasmic reticulum, that Ca(++)-ATPase sarcoplasmic reticular calcium pump, transverse tubules, calcium channels, and the ryanodine receptor protein. The significance of these systems is shown clearly in the myopathies, where the main errors involved do not concern the contractile system, but the command and control mechanisms.

G-protein dependent potentiation of calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle.

Skinned fibre experiments were conducted to determine if guanine nucleotide-binding proteins play a role in excitation-contraction coupling of skeletal muscle. By itself, the GTP-gamma S, a non hydrolysable GTP analogue was unable to induce calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, even at concentrations as high as 500 microM. However, calcium- or caffeine-induced calcium releases were enhanced by GTP-gamma S in micromolar concentrations.

Spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak demonstrated by radioisotopic cisternography.

Many conditions are known to cause a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula; one of them is lumbar puncture for contrast myelography. Reported here is the case of a man who underwent contrast myelography at the L2-L3 level and who presented with postural headaches and lumbalgia with radiation to the legs three weeks after the procedure. Tc-99m albumin isotopic cisternography at the L5-S1 level was performed and clearly depicted a functional CSF leak through the dura at the L2-L3 level and CSF suffusion along several rachidian roots.

Premenopausal bone mineral content relates to height, weight and calcium intake during early adulthood.

The influence of dietary and anthropometric factors on bone mineral content was studied in 183 healthy premenopausal French-Canadian women aged between 40 and 50 years and living in the same area. Dietary evaluation of their calcium (Ca), caffeine and alcohol intake since the age of 20 was performed in all cases. Age, height, weight, exercise level, cigarette smoking, parity and estrogen were also recorded.

Gallium-67 pulmonary uptake in eosinophilic pneumonia.

Eosinophilic pneumonia is usually diagnosed based on the findings on chest x-ray, white blood count, and transbronchial biopsy. After reporting a case of Ga-67 lung uptake in eosinophilic pneumonia, its histopathology is discussed and the mechanisms of Ga-67 uptake by inflammatory lesions are reviewed.

Scintigraphic study of duodenal-gastric reflux in cases of primary gastropathy, chronic ulcer of the duodenal bulb, and Moynihan's disease.

There are several methods for detection of bile in the stomach, but none has proven satisfactory. It appears that the scintigraphic study with quantitation of duodenal-gastric reflux after corrections for the overlap of the stomach by the liver and bowel is more reliable, noninvasive, and physiologic. Fifty-four patients were divided into groups according to their clinical presentation; seven asymptomatic volunteers, 20 patients with duodenal-gastric reflux gastropathy (DRG), 16 patients with recurrent ulcers of the duodenal bulb (RUD), and 11 patients with Moynihan's disease.

Indium-111 leukocyte scanning of the abdomen. Analysis of its value for diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease.

Indium-111 leukocyte scanning of the abdomen (IAS) was performed in 10 patients with ulcerative colitis and in 39 patients with Crohn's disease involving the small intestine (in 25 occasions) and/or the colon (17 cases). Radionuclide uptake by the gut was seen in 84% of the patients with active inflammation. We compared the extent of the disease displayed by IAS with the findings obtained by either radiological or endoscopic studies or at surgery.

Budd-Chiari syndrome: typical and atypical scintigraphic aspects.

Budd-Chiari syndrome, a well known entity, is often difficult to diagnose, mostly due to the nonspecificity of its symptomatology. Radiocolloid liver scans were evaluated in eight cases of this disease, proven by surgical biopsy. Five cases showed the "classic" scintigraphic pattern of caudate lobe hypertrophy (62.

Localization of abnormal parathyroid gland(s) using thallium-201/iodine-123 subtraction scintigraphy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Tl-201/I-123 subtraction scintigraphy was performed in 17 patients with clinical symptoms and biochemical measurements suggestive of primary hyperparathyroidism. Nineteen abnormal sites were identified. These results were correlated with PTH measurements and surgical findings.

Abdominal patterns of indium-111 labeled leukocyte imaging.

In-111 oxine WBC abdominal scanning is now a widely accepted technique for the detection of abdominal infectious processes. High sensitivity and specificity are achieved. In-111 labeled leukocyte accumulation, however, does not always suggest the diagnosis of abscess.

Asynchronous washout of the liver as a sign of partial biliary obstruction.

This case is another example of the usefulness of hepatobiliary scan for the evaluation of biliary-enteric anastomoses and stresses the point that performing late scan could help reveal pathologic process in an obvious way.

Cystic hypernephroma mimicking an hepatic mass.

A renal mass was correctly identified with Tc-99m sulfur colloid liver-spleen scan and Tc-99m glucoheptonate scintigraphy while CT scan was misinterpreted as showing a hepatic lesion.

The backscattering and extinction of visible and infrared radiation by selected major cloud models.

Volume backscattering functions and optical extinction coefficients are computed for eight suggested major cloud models using the Mie theory for optical wavelengths of 0.488 micro, 0.694 micro, 1.