[A study in immunofluorescence of the plasma cells in allergic conjunctivitis, in particular of the cells forming immunoglobulin E (IgE) (author's transl)].

The relatively simple and precise technique of direct immunofluorescence on a tissue section enables the study and enumeration of all types of plasma cells including mastocytes (stained with acridine orange) in normal conjunctiva (5 cases), chronic non-allergic conjunctivitis (5 cases), allergic conjunctivitis of the educt (11 cases) and vernal conjunctivitis (11 cases). There is evidence of elevation of IgE plasma cells in type I allergic conjunctivitis where they are twice as raised as in non-allergic cases in adult forms, and three times more elevated in vernal conjunctivitis. There was no correlation between the number of IgE plasma cells in the tissues and IgE level in sera.

[Changes in Achilles tendon reflex under influence of non endocrine factors].

Numerous physiopathological processes such as diurnal variations sex, age, pregnancy, muscular effort, diseases and drugs modify the Achilles reflexogram. Their multiplicity explains the difficulty of general interpretation of changes in the reflexogram which bring into play the energy reserves of the muscle cell and its potassium content.

[Refsum's disease].

Refsum's disease although rare is of great interest for it may benefit at least partially from treatment. Its clinical diagnosis depends on the association of pigmented retinitis, polyneuritis and cerebellar syndrome. It is confirmed beyond doubt by the increased C.

[2 new cases of Refsum's disease. Course during diet].

The authors report two cases of Refsum's disease treated with a low phytanic acid and low phytol diet for more than 5 years. The clinical, neurological improvement was undoubted in both cases but it was very gradual, appearing after 10 1/2 and 6 months treatment respectively. During these 5 years, no neurological aggravation occurred in the first patient ; but her sister presented in september 1972, 18 months after she started the diet, a mild attack from which she recovered.

[Endocrine polyadenomatosis with carcinoid tumor].

The authors review 26 cases of multiple endocrine tumours with presence of a carcinoid tumour. In 44% the carcinoid was localised to the bronchus, in 20% of cases to the small intestine or duodenum. In 76% of cases during multiple endocrine tumours, the carcinoid appeared in embryological derivatives of the anterior part of the intestine.

[Pseudo-anaphylactic reaction to procaine-penicillin G. 3 cases of Hoigne's syndrome].

On the basis of three cases, the authors review the clinical picture of Hoigne's syndrome, characterised by the development of acute manifestations, essentially psycho-sensorial, immediately following the injection of procaine penicillin G (PPG). The syndrome is due to the passage into the circulation of micro-aggregates of PPG and has no immuno-allergic basis. Subsequent treatment with penicillin is not contraindicated.

Determination of DNA antibodies in normal and pathological sera by a new counterimmunoelectrophoresis method.

A quantitative counter-immunoelectrophoresis technique has been applied to the evaluation of antibodies against native and single-stranded DNA. Anti-DNA antibodies have been found at high dilutions in patients with systematic lupus erythematosus, without correlation with the existence of renal lesions or with the degree of DNA binding assessed by Farr assay. Significant precipitates were also observed at significantly lower dilutions in other pathological situations and in normal subjects, posing the problem of the nature of the precipitates in these cases.

[Anaphylactic shock in anesthesia].

The notion of anaphylactic shock under anaesthesia implies sensitization, with a minimum delay of 1 week, on the occasion either of a previous anaesthesia with the responsible product, or with taking a drug with common antigenic determinants. Clinically this is reflected by the rapid and explosive appearance of symptoms which are always comparable: tendency to vascular collapse, respiratory bronchospastic distress, erythematous rash and Quincke's edema, gastrointestinal disorders, etc. These signs and symptoms of anaphylactic shock are closely related to the pharmacological actions of substances liberated during the reaction, of reaginic orgin (histamine, S.