[Auricular chondritis, malignant glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage].

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by inflammation of cartilagenous structures such as ears, nose, joints, trachea and larynx. Renal disease is unusual. A 41 years old man presented with auricular chondritis, subacute renal failure and lung hemorrhage.

Steroid glucuronides: human circulatory levels and formation by LNCaP cells.

We studied the relationship between circulating androsterone glucuronide, androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol glucuronide and androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol glucuronide concentrations and adrenal as well as testicular C-19 steroids in men. Among the three 5 alpha-reduced steroid glucuronides, androsterone glucuronide is the predominant C-19 steroid glucuronide measured in plasma and its levels are markedly elevated compared to those of the non-conjugated steroid. The marked rise in testosterone during puberty was strongly correlated with the increase in both androsterone glucuronide and androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol glucuronide, thus suggesting that testicular C-19 steroids are the main precursors of the steroid glucuronides.

The effect of molecular structure in a series of merocyanines on the in vitro cytotoxicity for adenocarcinoma cells.

Preliminary results have shown that merocyanines were cytotoxic for human adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. We report the synthesis of a series of new merocyanines and the structure-effect relationship as cytotoxic agents on human adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. Some of these new derivatives were found very cytotoxic for tumor cells in vitro, whereas their systemic toxicity in vivo was very low.

Acrolein depletes the neuropeptides CGRP and substance P in sensory nerves in rat respiratory tract.

The mammalian respiratory tract is densely innervated by autonomic and sensory nerves around airways and blood vessels. Subsets of these nerves contain a number of putative neurotransmitter peptides, such as substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in sensory nerves and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), possibly serving autonomic functions. CGRP is also found in endocrine cells in rat airway epithelium.

Coupling a preactivated daunorubicin derivative to antibody. A new approach.

Many procedures have been reported for coupling anthracycline drugs to antibody for drug targeting. But they either yield conjugates with lower pharmacological activity or antibodies which have lost much of their immunological specificity. The use of glutaraldehyde for coupling saves both pharmacological and immunological activities but it causes a considerable polymerization of the antibody which is undesirable for in vivo use.

[Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in pneumoconiotic coal miners].

We review a series of 11 silicotic coal miners demonstrating a progressive renal failure with a syndrome of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Renal biopsies reveal crescentic glomerulonephritides associated three times with angeitis. These cases confirm that silica induced glomerulonephritides can be an occupational hazard and warrant further clinical and epidemiological research.

Influence of diet on plasma steroids and sex hormone-binding globulin levels in adult men.

Several experimental studies have suggested that diet can alter the production and metabolism of steroids in men. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of unconjugated steroids and steroid glucuronides as well as sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) among normal adult men who were either omnivorous or vegetarians. The participants were white volunteers ranging from 25-35 years of age and the blood samples were taken between 0900 h and 1000 h and between 1600 h and 1700 h for two consecutive days.

Indirect clinical evidence that 1 alpha OH vitamin D3 increases the intestinal absorption of aluminum.

In a previous study we showed that 1 alpha OH vitamin D3 [1 alpha (OH)3] given to 16 hemodialyzed patients taking Al(OH)3 at a constant dose increased their plasma concentrations of aluminum [Demontis et al. 1986]. In order to choose between 2 possible mechanisms explaining this increase (increased intestinal absorption or decreased tissue storage of aluminum), we gave, in the present study, 1 alpha (OH)3 the same dose (6 micrograms per week) for the same period (4 weeks) to 15 stable hemodialyzed patients after their Al(OH)3 had been discontinued for 6 weeks.

[Indirect evaluation of the effect of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 on intestinal absorption of aluminum].

In a former study we have shown that 1 alpha OH vitamin D3 given to hemodialyzed patients taking A1(OH)3 at a constant dose increased their plasma concentrations of aluminium. Two mechanisms can explain this increase: increased intestinal absorption or decreased tissue storage of aluminium. We have, in the present study, given 1 alpha(OH)3 at the same dose (6 micrograms per week) and during the same duration (4 weeks) to 15 stable hemodialyzed patients after aluminium hydroxide has been discontinued 6 weeks before.

Merocyanines: potential new anticancer agents.

We report the synthesis of a series of merocyanines and the structure-effect relationship as cytotoxic agents for human adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. The cytotoxicity of these compounds in vitro makes them potential anticancer agents. One of these compounds was found active on human and mouse tumor models.

The use of nonradiolabelled steroid infusions to investigate the origin of oestrone sulphate in postmenopausal women.

Infusion of nonradiolabelled dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHA-S) has been used to investigate the possible formation of oestrone sulphate via a sulphated conjugate of androstenedione. The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of DHA-S also was measured and the mean value (25 1/24h) was similar to values reported using isotopic techniques. Although conversion of DHA-S to 5-androstenediol, a steroid with oestrogenic properties, was detected during infusion of DHA-S, there were no significant increases in plasma levels of conjugated androstenedione or oestrone sulphate.

[Acute interstitial nephritis and uveitis in the adult: apropos of 3 cases].

Acute renal failure due to tubulo-interstitial nephritis accompanied by uveitis has been observed in 3 young women (TINU syndrome). In these 3 cases, the nephropathy was preceded (1-3 months) by asthenia, anorexia, weight loss and a major inflammatory syndrome. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) administration was noted.

[Clinical value of assays of parathyroid hormone and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in internal medicine].

Over a 3 years period, PTH, 25 OHD, calcium and phosphate levels were measured in all patients admitted to a department of Internal Medicine with abnormal phospho-calcic metabolism or bone disease. The diagnostic value of iPTH was analysed, especially in cases of hyper- and hypocalcaemia. In hypercalcaemia, the iPTH did not differentiate between the two main differential diagnoses: hyperparathyroidism and cancer.

In vitro synthesis and assembly of a 68 kDa outer mitochondrial membrane protein from rat liver.

Outer mitochondrial membrane was purified from rat liver. Its constituent proteins were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by electrophoretic immunoblotting employing antibodies raised against total outer mitochondrial membrane. Anti-outer mitochondrial membrane antiserum reacted with only one polypeptide (15 kDa) in rough microsomes, whereas no immunological cross-reactivity was observed with other mitochondrial compartments (intermembrane space, inner membrane, or matrix) or with lysosomes or total cytosol.

[Risk of bone disease as a result of fluoride intake in chronic renal insufficiency].

Four cases of osteosclerosis were observed in patients with renal failure. All subjects presented with moderate reduction in renal function which had been stabilized for several years. Osteosclerosis appeared progressively but was clinically symptomatic in only one patient.

[Phospho-calcium metabolism and bone histomorphometry in chronic alcoholism. Apropos of 25 cases].

Twenty five subjects, chronic alcoholics for more than five years, without any past history or clinical signs of portal hypertension or oedemato-ictero-ascitic decompensation, were examined by laboratory tests reflecting phosphoro-calcium metabolism and by transiliac bone biopsy with histomorphometric examination of nondecalcified bone. The subjects were fairly homogeneous in terms of liver function and liver disease, when present, was only minimal. The phosphoro-calcium parameters were generally normal, but hypomagnesaemia was observed.

[Acute interstitial nephritis and Meckel's diverticulum].

A case of acute haematogenous interstitial nephritis secondary to bacterial infection of a Meckel's diverticulum is reported. The incidence of acute infectious interstitial nephritis with a gastro-intestinal portal of entry is discussed.

Effects of glucagon on biosynthesis of the mitochondrial enzyme, carbamoyl-phosphate synthase I, in primary hepatocytes and Morris hepatoma 5123D.

When freshly-dispersed rat hepatocytes are maintained in primary monolayer cultures, they quickly lose their capacity to synthesize the urea cycle enzyme, carbamoyl-phosphate synthase. The ability to synthesize many other proteins, e.g.