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In buffered water:methanol media, the pKa values of acid-base equilibria involved in the protonation of substituted quinolines are determined by UV-visible absorption spectrometry. The observed behavior depends on the nature of R2: the N-CH3 derivatives exist as quinoline, the N-H derivatives as 4-iminoquinoline tautomers. The iminoquinoline zwitterionic species present at physiological pH may have high receptor affinity. A linear relationship between pKa of the endocyclic nitrogen and log IC50 is discussed.

Between January 1981 and April 1988, histologically proven renal cholesterol embolism was diagnosed in 13 men over 60 years of age with a previous history of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Six patients developed acute renal failure, usually induced by a triggering factor such as angiographic procedure or anticoagulation, and associated with peripheral and visceral cholesterol embolism, eosinophilia and a high sedimentation rate. In this group of patients, whose protean clinical manifestations and laboratory data mimicked necrotizing angiitis despite the absence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, skin lesion biopsy established the diagnosis and made renal biopsy unnecessary. Six patients had chronic renal failure and elevated sedimentation rate, and the last patient had isolated microhematuria. In these 7 patients, percutaneous renal biopsy was an adequate procedure for the diagnosis of cholesterol embolism. As medical management of cholesterol embolism is essentially preventive, these unusual presentations must be emphasized.

Most severe scoliosis and kyphoscoliosis are not unfrequent in European countries. The purpose of their treatment is not only cosmetic but, often, vital. Patients are hypotrophic and their vital capacities usually very poor. Since 1952, the authors have treated (partial, reduction and fusion) 183 patients: with curves above 100 degrees (101 degrees-203 degrees). Reduction was obtained by distraction cast or halo-traction. Surgical treatment (one or two stages) used Harrington rods and fusion with a large amount of iliac bone. These procedures are dangerous for the medullary function. Controls must be performed during the operative distraction. Follow up studies demonstrated the stability of the obtained reductions.

The authors report 27 new cases of osteomatous chronic otitis, with (15) or without (12) cholesteatomas, with perforated (13) or intact (14) drum, the latter sometimes having a very atypical appearance (2), frankly purulent or simply inflammatory. This results in a wide range of clinical appearances. There are two macroscopic forms: the diffuse attico-antral form and localized forms (drum - C.S.C.L.). The authors emphasize: the primordial interest of tomography (or CT scan), the keystone of their discovery, as well as the dangers of their surgical treatment. In addition to review of these known concepts, two forms have been identified: 1) Osteomatous attico-chain monoblock, where the ossicles of the ear are adherent in their entirety, either to the external attical wall or, much more rarely, to the medial attical wall. They describe 13 cases, the pattern of which is very different, according to whether the diagnosis is one of cholesteatomatous chronic otitis or not. In the absence of cholesteatoma (8 cases), the clinical picture is suggestive of otospongiosis or of chronic otitis with intact drum. The surgical procedure is related to these findings: 1 completion of myringoplasty, 7 piston-malleus. In cases of cholesteatomatous chronic otitis (5 cases), the picture is completely different, the cholesteatoma developing at leisure, behind the impenetrable osteomatous shield. Once again, the surgical procedure is modified: 4 vast evacuation cavities and one mastoatticotomy for giant cholesteatoma with intact drum. 2) Diffuse and "progressive" osteomatous stenosis of the walls of the E.A.M. The authors describe 6 cases occurring either during cholesteatomatous chronic otitis, or within a few weeks, simulating chronic otitis with intact drum.

Two patients treated with alprazolam for panic disorder and agoraphobia developed a manic episode. Two biological markers--shortened REM latency and nonsuppression on the dexamethasone suppression test--suggested that both patients may have had an underlying affective disorder.

In 2 patients with malignant hypertension and acute renal failure due to renal artery stenosis in a solitary functioning kidney, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was used to dilate the stenotic renal artery. In both cases, hypertension resolved and renal function significantly improved. Follow-up angiographies revealed the continued patency of the dilated vascular segments.

This report concerns a patient with sarcoidosis who developed acute renal failure due to rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Renal biopsy revealed severe endo and extracapillary proliferation with diffuse mesangial deposits of IgA, C3 and beta 1-H on immunofluorescence. The possibility of a common immunopathogenic pathway between sarcoidosis and IgA nephritis is briefly discussed.