Raynaud's phenomenon of the lung. A reality both in primary and secondary Raynaud syndrome.

Vasospasm of RP is thought to occur in the lungs. To assess pulmonary vasospasm, we analyzed the early and late Dsb variations after a digital CPT. Sixteen normal volunteers and 20 patients (7 with primary, 13 with secondary RP) were included. A clinical RP was conducted on ten patients, nine with secondary and one with primary RP. The Dsb analysis showed: no significant variations in control subjects, a quick and short fall in primary RP significant after 15 min and a delayed fall in secondary RP significant after 45 min. A Dsb decrease was noticed even if no clinical RP occurred. The pallor phase of RP was associated with a concomitant decrease in the DCO and the hyperemic phase, with a Dsb increase. These results agree with those of previous studies with a few differences.     

Effects of a one-year administration of phosphate and intermittent calcitonin on bone-forming and bone-resorbing cells in involutional osteoporosis: A histomorphometric study

Summary The bone histomorphometric effects of intermittent phosphate and calcitonin therapy during 1 year were analyzed in 15 involutional osteoporotic patients. Phosphate was administered continuously (1.5 g/day) and calcitonin was injected during 5 days every third week (50 IU/day). The bone cell response was analyzed in two separate groups, according to the amount of trabecular bone present in the iliac bone biopsy: patients with trabecular bone volume (TBV) beyond the histomorphometric spontaneous fracture threshold (0.16 mm3/mm3) (group 1; 11 patients) and patients with TBV above this threshold (group 2; 4 patients). In group 1, the treatment significantly increased TBV from 0.113±0.025 to 0.156±0.046 mm3/mm3 by thickening the existing trabeculae rather than by creating new trabeculae; stimulation of bone formation rate (+50%) and significant reduction in active trabecular resorption surfaces (from 0.021±0.013 to 0.010±0.006 mm2/mm2;P<.05) may have led to positive bone balance. In group 2, TBV was not changed because of the treatment's relative inefficiency for reducing the bone-resorbing cell activity, leading to likely persistent negative bone balance. Cortical thickness did not change in either group. This study confirms the positive effectiveness of continuous treatment with phosphate and intermittent calcitonin during 1 year on bone balance in involutional osteoporosis with low amount of bone. The lack of response in patients with normal amount of bone must be verified before raising the hypothesis of different bone cell activity and before anticipating the therapeutic response according to local bone mass besides bone remodeling status in osteoporosis.     

An unusual case of benign hibernoma in the paediatric age group

An unusual case of congenital benign hibernoma, in the submandibular region, in a 2.5 years old girl, is reported, who presented with a progressively increasing neck swelling. A CAT scan of neck revealed a superficial and deep low density mass. Surgical excision revealed a benign hibernoma. A 3-year follow-up shows no recurrence.     

Dose-related effects of clozapine and risperidone on the pattern of brain regional serotonin and dopamine metabolism and on tests related to extrapyramidal functions in rats

The present study was designed to evaluate the behavioral and neurochemical profiles of clozapine and risperidone in rats in a dose-dependent manner. Animals injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with clozapine (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg kg-1) or risperidone (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg kg-1) were sacrificed 1 h later to collect brain samples. Hypolocomotive effects (home cage activity and catalepsy) were successively monitored in each animal after the drug or saline administration. Both drugs significantly (p < 0.01) decreased locomotor activity at high doses and in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum (100%) cataleptic potential was achieved at a high dose (5.0 mg kg-1) of risperidone. Neurochemical estimations were carried out by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Both drugs, at all doses, significantly (p < 0.01) increased the concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA), a metabolite of dopamine (DA), in the striatum. Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels increased in the striatum and decreased in the rest of the brain, particularly in clozapine-injected rats. 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the predominant metabolite of serotonin, significantly (p < 0.01) decreased in the striatum. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was significantly (p < 0.01) increased by risperidone and decreased by clozapine in the rest of the brain. Striatal tryptophan (TRP) was significantly (p < 0.01) decreased by risperidone and increased in the rest of the brain. The striatal HVA/DA ratio increased and the 5-HT turnover rate remained unchanged in the rest of the brain. Results suggest that the affinity of the two drugs towards D2/5-HT1A receptors interaction is involved in lower incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. Role of 5-HT1A receptors in the treatment of schizophrenia is discussed.