Carcinoma arising in cyclosporin-induced gingival hyperplasia

A patient with intra-oral squamous cell carcinoma arising in an area of cyclosporin-induced gingival hyperplasia associated with a renal transplant is presented. This appears to be the first reported case of its kind. Subsequently, the patient developed a carcinoma of the lateral margin of the tongue, with metastasis to the deep cervical lymph nodes. The incidence and types of malignancy following conventional immunosuppressive and cyclosporin therapy are briefly reviewed. Long-term frequent follow-up of cyclosporin-treated patients is recommended to facilitate early diagnosis of such lesions.     

A suicidal death by explosives

Summary A 23-year-old man committed suicide by detonating an explosive substance clutched to his abdomen. The face was singed, the hands were lacerated and the chest and the upper part of abdomen were badly mutilated. The death was due to the destruction of several vital organs. The injuries had a directional nature. Only the consideration of all the facts of the case in relation to the situation, nature, distribution and extent of wounds and the preceding medical and social history allowed a reconstruction of the circumstances.     

Hypoglycemia due to antiinsulin receptor antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus

An elderly woman with unexplained episodic fasting hypoglycemia was hospitalized for ascites. Evaluation revealed polyserositis, arthritis and immunologic abnormalities that suggested the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antibodies to insulin receptor with insulin binding inhibitory activity were detected in her serum. Treatment with prednisone was accompanied by resolution of hypoglycemic episodes and disappearance of the antireceptor antibodies. Autoantibody mediated alterations in serum glucose may be included in the growing list of autoimmune phenomena in SLE. Antiinsulin receptor antibodies should be sought in patients with SLE and idiopathic hypoglycemia.     

Giardia lamblia infestation at child day care centers. Nutritional impact in infested children

Seventy-five children attending a day care center (42 girls and 33 boys, aged from 6 to 65 months) were surveyed for excretion of Giardia lamblia cysts. Cyst excretion was found in 17 (23%) of the children, 9 of whom were still positive 6 months later. Weight, height and arm skinfold thickness of each subject were obtained and compared to normal values in the Québec population; a questionnaire concerning gastrointestinal symptoms was filled out for each child. No difference in weight, height, skinfold thickness or in frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms was found when comparing cyst excretors to children with a negative stool examination. This study suggests that G. lamblia infestation has little or no nutritional impact. This should be confirmed by a larger study.     

The Positive Exerciser Stereotype: The Role of Gender Stereotype of the Activity

The purpose of this study was to examine if the positive exerciser stereotype exists when participating in opposite‐gender stereotyped activities. Participants (N = 313) were randomly assigned to read a paragraph about one of eight targets (female or male, participating in a masculine‐stereotyped activity, feminine‐stereotyped activity, gender‐neutral activity, or control). They then rated the target on personality and physical dimensions. A multivariate analysis of variance for personality attributes showed only one difference: The male target was rated as more masculine than the female target. For physical attributes, significant differences were found for target gender and activity type. In general, exercisers were rated more positively than controls regardless of exercise type. This study found that the positive exerciser stereotype occurred regardless of gender stereotype of the activity.     

Ethanol inhibition of baroreflex bradycardia: role of brainstem GABA receptors.

Ethanol administered i.v. or into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of rats anaesthetized with urethane inhibits baroreflex bradycardia elicited by phenylephrine. This effect is prevented or reduced by pretreatment of rats with 3-mercaptopropionic acid, bicuculline, or RO 15-4513. Intra-NTS injection of muscimol also inhibits baroreflex bradycardia and causes a pressor response which is potentiated by intra-NTS ethanol. It is proposed that ethanol inhibits baroreflex bradycardia, at least in part, by potentiating the action of endogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at GABAA receptors in the NTS or its vicinity.     

Tardive dyskinesia and psychotropic drug history

The adult population of a large mental hospital was screened for tardive dyskinesia (TD). Approximately 11% of the hospital population showed signs of TD; females and the elderly were over-represented in the TD group. A representative sample of those with TD was selected and a control (non-TD) patient was chosen to match each of the TD subjects in age, sex, length of hospitalization, diagnosis, and race. The charts of these subjects were searched for any indices of brain damage and the complete psychotropic medication history was recorded. There was no difference between the TD and controls in the amount of psychotropics ingested, in the duration of administration, in the kinds of drugs, or in the organicity history. Women as a group, however, tended to have more polypharmacy than men. The role of neuroleptics in TD is discussed as well as other possible etiological factors.