Winter pollinosis in Paris.

Pollen is rarely investigated as a cause of winter respiratory symptoms. Infectious coryza and asthma are particularly common during winter, and it has been shown that environmental antigens can cause at least some cases in Paris. Recent experimental data from Calhoun et al.

[Occupational asthma caused by formalin in a hospital milieu. Apropos of 3 cases].

Three cases of formalin-induced occupational asthma observed in 2 hospital nurses and 1 hospital medical secretary are reported. The characteristics of this type of occupational asthma which seems to be infrequent, probably because it is often undiagnosed, are described. The prognosis is often severe, even after discontinuation of exposure to the risk.

[A case of diffuse pulmonary amyloidosis associated with peripheral neurologic signs].

The authors report a case of well-tolerated and prolonged diffuse parenchymal amyloidosis of the lungs associated with signs of peripheral neuropathy. The latest classifications of amyloidosis generally and of bronchopulmonary amyloidosis specifically are reviewed. The problems raised by this particular case, and notably its relation with the neurological signs observed, are discussed.

[A case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a homosexual].

There is increasing number of cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and in France there have been about 100 cases. The authors report one case who died within 10 months. The patient presented a Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, extensive peri-anal herpes, gastro-intestinal candidiasis and, in the final stage, severe diarrhoea.

[Observation of a pulmonary histoplasmosis with Histoplasma capsulatum (author's transl)].

From an observation of pulmonary histoplasmosis with Histoplasma capsulatum in a Haiti woman living in France for 2 years, the authors recall the mycological and epidemiological data of this fungus as well as the main clinical radiological and biological signs of the disease. Because of its tendancy to dissemination, histoplasmosis can have a bad prognosis. It is difficult to diagnose in our countries and facing a chronic pulmonary form, a diagnosis of tuberculosis is often thought of.