Transmembrane passage of trinitrine and isosorbide dinitrate. Study of natural membranes

Nitroglycerin pharmacodynamic efficiency is 3 to 4 times higher than isosorbide dinitrate efficiency. Authors put forward that this difference is at least partially pertained to the transmembrane diffusion potential of the molecules. Data of this first study on red cell membranes are in accordance with this hypothesis.     

Brief report: An open middle-term study of combined vitamin B6-magnesium in a subgroup of autistic children selected on their sensitivity to this treatment

This study was supported by INSERM U316, INSERM 85-90-14, and Fondation Langlois. We thank Mrs. Barre, Mrs. Lardeux, and Mrs. Crespin for their technical work.     

Analysis of the lipid content and the motility of human sperm after follicular fluid treatment*

Summary The effect of human follicular fluid (hFF) on the cholesterol and phospholipid content and the movement characteristics of human spermatozoa were studied. Semen was selected by a discontinuous Percoll gradient and incubated during in vitro capacitating conditions with B2 medium supplemented with hFF 20%. Percoll pelleted spermatozoa were incubated in either B2 (B2-Percoll) or B2 supplemented with hFF (hFF-Percoll). In hFF-Percoll, we observed a time-dependent (24 h) decrease in both the cholesterol and phospholipid contents (cholesterol: 10.1 vs. 8.7 nmol 10^-7 spermatozoa; phospholipids: 17.5 vs. 15.7 nmol 10^-7 spermatozoa, P < 0.05). This decrease in cholesterol and phospholipids in human spermatozoa was concomitant with a high straight line velocity, a high progressive motility percentage and an increased value of lateral head displacement without any significant alteration of the spermatozoal membrane. No modification of the cholesterol: phospholipid ratio after 2 and 24 h of incubation in either B2-Percoll (0.61, 0.54) in hFF-Percoll (0.59, 0.63) was observed when compared with original control semen. It is suggested that the decrease in cholesterol and phospholipids in hFF-Percoll may be taken into account for the changes of membrane modification as part of the capacitation process.     

Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in autistic children

In the present study, plasma DBH activity and urinary HVA levels were measured in 19 autistic and 15 normal children. DBH activity was significantly elevated in the 8 less retarded autistic patients. In this subgroup, a negative correlation was found between plasma DBH and urinary HVA levels. These results support the hypothesis of a possible involvement of brain catecholamine dysfunction in the production of autistic symptoms.This study was supported by C.N.R.S. (UA 596) Biology and Neuropsychiatry, Sécurité Sociale 1982 and Fondation Langlois. We wish to thank Mrs. Barré, Mrs. Lehn, and Miss Lioret for their technical work.     

Reconstruction of the mouth floor with nasolabial flap after cancer resection. Report of 81 cases]

The authors report functional results in a series of 81 patients with carcinoma of the floor of the mouth treated by surgical resection and reconstruction by nasolabial flap. The study confirms the literature concerning advantages and limits of such a flap. With regards to others techniques of reconstruction, nasolabial flap is still perfectly usefull in reconstruction of T2 T3 carcinomas of the floor of the mouth.     

Morphometric epididymal epithelium analysis in obstructive azoospermic men: Predictive values in fertilization rates

Purpose: Our purpose was to determine the obstructed epididymal epithelium morphometric state and to elucidate the influence of morphometric parameters on the fertilizing ability of aspirated spermatozoa. Methods: During MESA with IVF, epididymal tissue samples were carefully dissected, fixed, and prepared for morphometric analysis. The epithelium of the three regions was studied: head, body, and tail (when present). The total area/luminal area ratio, epithelium thickness, and stereocilium length were measured. Results: We have found significant differences in the total area/luminal area ratio, epithelium thickness, and stereocilium length in obstructed epididymal length >4 versus 0.5–2 cm (P0.01). Epithelium thickness and stereocilium length were significantly lower when no fertilization was observed in IVF. Conclusions: These results suggest that morphometric data of obstructed epididymis epithelium can be used as a means of explaining the failure of IVF with epididymal spermatozoa.     

Skin and mucosal manifestations in vitamin deficiency

The skin and mucosal changes in vitamin deficiency are described. Pellagra, which is the oldest known cutaneous manifestation among vitamin deficiencies, is reviewed. Cutaneous alterations caused by deficiency of the water-soluble vitamins B6, C, B1 and biotin, B12, folic acid, and riboflavin result in more mucosal alterations and are discussed. Alterations caused by fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies (vitamins A and K) are also considered.     

Auditory neuropathy with preserved cochlear microphonics and secondary loss of otoacoustic emissions.

Auditory neuropathy is defined as absent or severely distorted auditory brainstem responses with preserved otoacoustic emissions and cochlear microphonics. This entity can be found in various circumstances including pre-lingual children. An almost universal characteristic reported from adult patients is the ineffectiveness of traditional hearing aids. Adequate management of pre-lingual cases therefore remains an open problem. This paper describes two pre-lingual children whose follow-up data demonstrated a selective loss of the otoacoustic emissions, whereas the cochlear microphonics remained preserved. In one of the patients, hearing aid fitting as soon as she lost her otoacoustic emissions proved successful. These findings have important implications for the operational definition of the condition, since one must be prepared to encounter cases with absent otoacoustic emissions. The present data also demonstrate that conventional amplification can benefit pre-lingual auditory neuropathy cases, at least once they have lost their otoacoustic emissions.     

The importance for the MDG4 and MDG5 of addressing reproductive health issues during the second decade of life: review and analysis from times series data of 51 African countries

Addressing adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues are central to efforts for reducing childhood and maternal mortality embedded in MDG4 and MDG5. This paper reviews these issues in Africa and uses statistical methods for measuring changes to analyze recent and comparable time series data from 51 African countries. The contribution of adolescent fertility to total fertility and mortality remains quite high. Delayed marriage is occurring concomitantly with postponement of sexual debut among unmarried adolescents. Six African countries are likely to achieve the MGD4 and five are likely to reach the target for the MDG5; the majority of sub-Saharan African countries will fall short of achieving these goals, not even by 2100 for many at current rates of change in progress indicators. Implementing ground-breaking nationally owned mortality-reduction schemes covering preconceptional and interconceptional periods and well-functioning comprehensive health-care system secured by sustained commitments and financial investments in health and social services are urgently needed, in order to repeal trends of further undoing successes achieved so far or slowing recent progress, thus hastening the pace of child and maternal mortality decline.     

Hypersensitivity to acoustic change in children with autism: electrophysiological evidence of left frontal cortex dysfunctioning

Exaggerated reactions to even small changes in the environment and abnormal behaviors in response to auditory stimuli are frequently observed in children with autism (CWA). Brain mechanisms involved in the automatic detection of auditory frequency change were studied using scalp potential and scalp current density (SCD) mapping of mismatch negativity (MMN) in 15 CWA matched with 15 healthy children. Compared with the response in controls, MMN recorded at the Fz site in CWA showed significantly shorter latency and was followed by a P3a wave. Mapping of potentials indicated significant intergroup differences. Moreover, SCD mapping demonstrated the dynamics of the different MMN generators: Although temporal component was evidenced bilaterally in both groups, it occurred earlier on the left hemisphere in CWA, preceded by an abnormal early left frontal component. The electrophysiological pattern reported here emphasized a left frontal cortex dysfunctioning that might also be implicated in cognitive and behavioral impairment characteristic, of this complex neurodevelopmental disorder.