Disability in a medieval village community: A unique case of facial dysmorphism.

Objective: To identify the pathology causing the severe facial dysmorphia of a medieval individual from the site of Rigny (Indre-et-Loire, France) and to evaluate its functional repercussions on the subject's hearing and social life.

Materials: An individual from Rigny for the osteological study, 69 individuals from the region for the Ct-Scan study and 48 individuals from the site for the isotopic analysis.

Methods: Macroscopic analysis was performed using standard osteological methods.

3D reappraisal of trepanations at St. Cosme priory between the 12th and the 15th centuries, France.

Objective: This study aims to place trepanation in a medieval therapeutic context by addressing its medical use in neurological disorders and by testing the existence of particular dietary care for the sick.

Materials: Six cases of trepanation found at the St. Cosme priory (La Riche, France) dated from the 12th-15th centuries.

Molecular analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated in Lebanon using four different typing methods.

This study analyzed 42 Acinetobacter baumannii strains collected between 2009-2012 from different hospitals in Beyrouth and North Lebanon to better understand the epidemiology and carbapenem resistance mechanisms in our collection and to compare the robustness of pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) and blaOXA-51 sequence-based typing (SBT). Among 31 carbapenem resistant strains, we have detected three carbapenem resistance genes: 28 carried the blaOXA-23 gene, 1 the blaOXA-24 gene and 2 strains the blaOXA-58 gene. This is the first detection of blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-24 in Lebanon.

High prevalence of closely-related Acinetobacter baumannii in pets according to a multicentre study in veterinary clinics, Reunion Island.

Our objective was to study the carriage of Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) in pets in Reunion Island (RI), a French territory in Indian Ocean. Overall, 138 pets were sampled (rectum, mouth, wounds if applicable) in 9 veterinary clinics (VC). The prevalence of AB carriage was 6.

[Paraquat poisoning. Prognostic and therapeutic evaluation in 28 cases].

Since a mouthfull of the herbicidal compound Paraquat usually results in death from caustic burns, renal tubular necrosis, circulatory failure of pulmonary fibrosis, the fact that 11 out of 28 people poisoned in the period 1972-1980 survived deserves consideration. The most significant prognostic factors appear to be: (1) the mode of penetration: all 4 patients poisoned through the skin and/or the respiratory tract survived; (2) the volume of Paraquat absorbed: death from circulatory failure occurs within less than 72 hours with more than 50 mg/kg, while 35 to 50 mg/kg produce progressive pulmonary fibrosis; (3) the content of the stomach at the time of ingestion: food can neutralize the compound; (4) the finding of gastric lesions on early endoscopy; (5) evidence of acute renal failure; finally and mostly (6) Paraquat blood levels during the first 24 hours, as measured by radioimmune assays; lethal levels are 2.0, 0.

[Environmental etiological factors in atshma in adults (author's transl)].

Clinical, immunological, and functional investigations were conducted to study possible specific factors involved in the etiology of asthma in adults. The authors emphasize the frequency of positive skin, radio-immunologic and bronchial provocation tests for domestic pneumallergens in patients with common asthma, even those over 40 years of age. These cases improve in a protected environment and may benefit from immunotherapy.

[Periarteritis nodosa in an addict with a hepatitis B injection (author's transl)].

The authors describe a case of a drug addict with a hepatitis B who was found to have periarteritis nodosa and a nephrotic syndrome. The course was rapidly fatal and autopsy confirmed the diagnosis. This new case questions the hypothesis suggested of possible toxicity of hard drugs (especially the amphetamines) as being an etiological factor for periarteritis nodosa observed in addicts.

[Acute poisoning by Gyromitra esculenta (author's transl)].

This kind of poisoning is scarce in France, on the contrary it is most frequent in Eastern Europe. Clinical picture associating cytolytic hepatitis, seizures, and hemolysis reminds us intoxication by hydrazine. In fact there is some evidence that the toxin of this mushroom--called gyromitrin--is transformed in the stomach in methylhydrazine.

Blood cadmium level and hypertension in humans.

Blood cadmium level was determined in 29 nontreated hypertensive male subjects and 29 controls. All were individually matched for sex, age, and smoking habits. No differences were found between hypertensives (3.

[Multi-focal tuberculosis].

The authors present 16 cases of multifocal tuberculosis observed over a period of five years on a general medical unit. These cases almost all occurred in immigrants. (14 out of 16) with at least 2 localisations in 9 of them and sometimes 3 or more.

[Hypoglycemia in 2 patients treated with perhexiline maleate].

Hypoglycaemia occurred in two patients treated with perhexiline maleate. The responsibility of the medication is discussed in each case. Blood insulin levels were increased.

[Medullary aplasia after acute colchicine poisoning. 20 cases].

Out of 84 patients with colchicine poisoning hospitalised between 1966 and 1976, 11 died during the first 72 hours. Amongst the 73 survivors, 20 showed signs of marrow aplasia between the 3rd and 6th days, lasting on average 4 days. The average amount of colchicine ingested by these patients was 0.