Peritoneal reaction resulting from iodinated contrast material: comparative study

A consensus does not exist as to the optimal contrast agent for hysterosalpingography. This study was undertaken to evaluate the early and delayed inflammatory responses of the peritoneal surfaces to various types of iodinated contrast media. Guinea pigs received intraperitoneal injections of lactated Ringer solution, iothalamate meglumine, diatrizoate sodium, ioxilan, or ethiodized oil. The inflammatory response of the peritoneal surfaces was assessed at 1,7, and 30 days. Five animals were studied at each time point for each agent. No animals that received Ringer lactate or iothalamate meglumine had inflammation at any time. Ioxilan produced inflammation in two of five animals at 7 days and no inflammation at 1 or 30 days. Ethiodized oil produced no inflammation at 1 day; however, three animals had inflammation at 7 days, and all five had inflammation at 30 days. The 30-day group showed striking inflammatory response with granulomatous features. The authors recommend the continued use of meglumine-based water-soluble ionic contrast material for hysterosalpingography.     

Human leg neuromuscular diseases: P-31 MR spectroscopy

Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectra of leg muscles in patients with the neuromuscular diseases Duchenne dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, postpoliomyelitis, Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, and pedal dystonia were recorded. Ratios of beta-adenosine triphosphate (ATP), inorganic phosphate (Pi), alpha-glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC), and phosphomonoesters to phosphocreatine (PCr) were calculated from peak integrals and compared with normal muscle ratios. In all diseases studied, beta-ATP/PCr and Pi/PCr values showed an increase from normal values. The extent of increase in beta-ATP/PCr was related to the clinical severity of the disease, suggesting that this could be a useful noninvasive means of monitoring effectiveness of therapy for neuromuscular disorders. In myotonic dystrophy and Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, GPC/PCr values increased greatly. The intracellular pH in Duchenne and postpoliomyelitis muscles was slightly elevated compared with that in normal muscles. Hydrogen-1 MR images of muscles showed fat infiltration in all patients, more in weaker muscles and less in stronger muscles.     

Hyperthyroïdie et hypersécrétion de gonadotrophine chorionique au cours d'un adénocarcinome gastrique

We report a case of hyperthyroidism complicating and revealing a metastatized adenocarcinoma of the stomach with high circulating levels of human chorionic gonadotropin and its beta component. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a non-trophoblastic tumor with hyperthyroidism and secreting quantities of these hormones. High circulating levels of beta component in such patients have been considered to be a sign of malignancy. The mechanisms of thyroid stimulation could be related to the biological activity of certain forms of the human chorionic gonadotropin.