Decreased brain tryptophan availability as a partial determinant of post-partum blues.

Background: The post-partum blues is a transient mood alteration affecting most women a few days after delivery. Its stereotypic pattern of symptoms and time course, peaking on post-partum day 3-5, is suggestive of biological determinants superimposed on psycho-social factors. This study was designed to evaluate the possible role of the serotonin system during this period through assessment of brain tryptophan availability.

Prevalence and mechanisms of hyperhomocysteinemia in elderly hospitalized patients.

Background: Plasma homocysteine concentrations increase with age and remain an independent risk factor for vascular disease in the elderly. There are negative correlations between plasma homocysteine and serum folate and vitamin B12 concentrations. Two mechanisms, poor nutritional status, and chronic atrophic gastritis, could explain hyperhomocysteinemia.

[Lower limb occlusive arteriopathy: retrospective analysis of 73 patients with onset before the age of 50 years].

Objectives: Juvenile peripheral obstructive arterial diseases (POAD) have been poorly investigated but account for 1 to 7% of POAD. We analyzed retrospectively a cohort of patients with onset before the age of 50 years.

Patients And Methods: Seventy-three patients (60 males and 13 females) were divided into 4 groups (Buerger's disease: TAO, atheromatous PAOD, auto-immune POAD, arteriopathy of undetermined origin).

[Homocystinuria in adulthood].

Homocystinuria is a genetically determined inborn error of the methionine amino acid pathway characterized by increased plasma homocysteine. In its major form, homocystinuria, is due to cystathionine beta synthase deficiency. Treatment of these adulthood patients lead physicians to call up on the skilled advices of pediatricians.