To study taste in type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, 57 consecutive diabetic outpatients (mean +/- SE duration of diabetes 11.4 +/- 0.4 yr) and 38 control subjects were screened for taste disorders with electrogustometry and chemical gustometry. Both groups were comparable for all subject characteristics except body mass index, which was higher in the diabetic group (P less than .05). A taste impairment was found in the diabetic group relative to the control group with electrogustometry (mean threshold 184.3 +/- 15.8 vs. 58.7 +/- 9.2 microA; P less than .001) and chemical gustometry (mean score 13.2 +/- 0.7 vs. 17.1 +/- 0.8; P less than .001). Hypogeusia was found among 73% of the diabetic patients versus 16% of the control subjects (P less than .001). The four primary tastes were involved in taste impairment. With multivariate analysis, taste disorders were related to diabetic status and tobacco and alcohol consumption. In the diabetic group, taste impairment was significantly associated with complications and duration of disease. With multivariate analysis, peripheral neuropathy had the strongest association with taste disorders. These results suggest that taste is impaired during the course of type I diabetes mellitus and that taste impairment could be a complication of the disease. A mechanism of the neuropathic type could be involved.

No abstract

Abstract. Plasma catecholamines assayed by a double isotope radio enzymatic method were studied in the basal state and during a thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH)-test in 7 acromegalics, divided into 2 groups: active and non-active acromegalics, according to clinical and biological criteria. Basal plasma norepinephrine levels were significantly increased in the active group 648 ± 22 pg/ml (P < 0.001) and were in the normal range in the non-active group 439 ± 26 pg/ml. Basal plasma epinephrine values were not significantly different in the 2 groups 59 ± 15 pg/ml vs 34 ± 7 pg/ml. During a TRH-test, norepinephrine levels remained elevated (P < 0.001) in the active group, and the difference between the 2 groups was enhanced during the test. On the other hand the 2 patients who responded to TRH demonstrated an increase of norepinephrine levels. Our results suggest that TRH may stimulate norepinephrine release in acromegalics with an active response to TRH.

A 25 year old man presented hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with complete anosmia (Kallman's syndrome). His chromosomic type was 47 XXY (Klinefelter's syndrome). Clinical findings were: height 183 cm, weight 62 kg, increased length of lower limbs, P2\p=n-\A2pilosity and micropenis. Only a left testis was present (1.5\p=n-\1.5cm). Bone age was 15. Testicular biopsy showed that the signs were more related to the gonadotropic deficit than to the gonadal dysgenesis; tubular hyalinization was not observed. Plasma levels of testosterone and oestradiol were very low. Plasma gonadotropin levels were below normal ranges and did not respond to an infusion test of GnRH. GnRH was administrated iv every 90 min for 3 weeks by an auto syringe infusion pump and induced a pulsatile response of FSH and LH. Plasma levels of testosterone and oestradiol were unaffected. It may be concluded that the results of pulsatile injection of GnRH confirmed in this patient a unique association of Kallmann's syndrome with complete 47 XXY Klinefelter's syndrome.Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism re¬ sult in absent or incomplete puberal development. The disease is characterized by low plasma gona¬ dotropin and sexual steroid levels; it appears to be due to a deficiency in GnRH. This type of hypo¬ gonadism may be associated with other inherited abnormalities such as hypo-or complete anosmia, cleft palate or cranio-facial deformities and in rare cases gonadal dysgenesis.In the present study we observed the effects of pulsatile low doses GnRH administration in a male with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and complete anosmia (Kallmann's syndrome) asso¬ ciated with a 47 XXY gonadal dysgenesis (Klinefelter's syndrome). Material and MethodsHormones assays FSH and LH were determined in vitro in human serum by the principle of competitive protein-binding analysis (RIA-gnost hFSH and RIA-gnost hLH Tachisorb kits from Hoechst-Behring Laboratories) normal male adult range: 0.3-2.3 ng/ml for FSH; 1 ng of hFSH was equivalent to 4 mU hFSH MRC 69/104; normal male adult range 1.1 -3.1 ng/ml for LH; 1 ng of hLH was equivalent to 3.5 mU hLH MRC 68/40. Plasma testosterone was measured by radio-immunoassay as previously described (Abraham et al. 1972) normal male adult range 12 to 41 nmol/1. Plasma oestradiol was measured by a radioimmunoassay; nor¬ mal male adult range 36 to 183 pmol/1.

nal web or of the fungous mass as it comes from the ear, 'leaving there oils and fats of various kinds and pieces of will, if placed in a glass box, continue to gr�w and. t? re• ve!\'eta bl� matter, These. becomi � g rancid or putrescent, a tain the microscopic appearance of Aspergillus ntgnc ws. fittmg SOIl tor the aspe�glllus IS gIven.. From the fact of this retention of form it would seem I Next to these causes IS the neglect to wash the ear after It that this is a specific fungus, and not ordi�ary mould modii has been �he �eat of boils. or any inflammation, which may fied by growing in the ear. I �eave behmd It small partIcles of pus, serum, blood, �tc. It It may be said, then, that in general there are found' IS needless to.say that all of the latter,. when putrId, may with the aid of the mic.roscope, four distinct elements in become the mdus of a colony of aspergIllus. a fungous mass of aspergillus taken from the hu man ear, If the patient should be living in damp apartments, of viz.: , course t�is m.ust be e?ded, if possible, either b .y cleansiug 1 The mycelial web composed of the so-oalled tubules,. and drymg hIS dwelhng, or by removal from tIllS probable rootlets, or filaments. ' source of disease. If any other excitant can be. sllOwn to be 2. The fruit stalk or hyphen, and the pro)Jable cause of the g:owth ? f the fungus m the ear, of centrated solution of calcium chloride. It is possibl!' that not merely the ferric salts, but also the compounds of chrome and alnminum, may exist in these two modifications. If the two ferric chlorides are treated with silver nitrate, the one precipitates all its chlorine, whilst the other gives up four atoms at first and the two others afterwards. In a similar manner the blue chromium chloride gives up all its chlorine at once, whilst the green chloride gives up two thirds at first and the remainder afterwards. There ought to exist two ferric sulphates corresponding to the two chromic sul phates. The two latter are distinguished not merely by their color, but by the fact that the blue sulphate gives up all its acid to baryta, while the green sulphate retains a part. 3 Its head or the sporangium. course It must be removed If pOSSIble. 4: The free spore�. . I must repea! here wh!1t I have written elsewhe�e concer �-ACTIVE MA't'TER OF MALT, OR MALTIN AND The first, the filaments or tubular rootlets, are composed mg the protectIve fun. ctlOn of cerumen. There IS no. eVI-DIASTASE. of sections, and are hence described as septate. The dence.that the asper tl' lllus grows on lite natural. cerummous component cellules are from 0'020 mm. to 0'09;) mm. in , secretIOn of the audItory canal. It �ppears, mdeed, that By M. DUBRUNFAUT. length. b � t for th� presence of the cel'Umen In the can � l, the. ear : TH E aut hor ascribes the following properties to the dias-T he fertile hyphens or fruit stalks vary in diameter from! mIght be I n vaded m o re frequently by t � e aspe r gIllus, sl l;IC e , tase of Payen .