Long-term spaceflights induce bone loss as a result of profound modifications of bone remodeling, the modalities of which remain unknown in humans. We measured intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium; for bone formation, serum concentrations of bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), intact osteocalcin (iBGP), and type 1 procollagen propeptide (PICP); for resorption, urinary concentrations (normalized by creatinine) of procollagen C-telopeptide (CTX), free and bound deoxypyridinoline (F and B D-Pyr), and Pyr in a 36-year-old cosmonaut (RTO), before (days −180, −60, and −15), during (from days 10 to 178, n = 12), and after (days +7, +15, +25, and +90) a 180-day spaceflight, in another cosmonaut (ASW) before and after the flight. Flight PTH tended to decrease by 48% and postflight PTH increased by 98%. During the flight, BAP, iBGP, and PICP decreased by 27%, 38%, and 28% respectively in CM1, and increased by 54%, 35%, and 78% after the flight. F D-Pyr and CTX increased by 54% and 78% during the flight and decreased by 29% and 40% after the flight, respectively. We showed for the first time in humans that microgravity induced an uncoupling of bone remodeling between formation and resorption that could account for bone loss.

SUMMARY A case of right atrial myxoma is reported in a 29-year-old man. Though it was a large tumour, the diagnosis remained unsuspected for a long time.Multiple echo recordings strongly contributed to the diagnosis. After surgical removal, the postoperative course was uneventful.Since Banhson and Newman first described surgical removal of a right atrial myxoma, the importance of the recognition of these tumours has been widely emphasised.This report presents a case where echocardiography proved very useful in establishing the diagnosis. Case report A 29-year-old man was referred to the cardiological department in October 1976, for worsening dyspnoea and arthralgia.The past history disclosed that for 18 months he had been complaining of cough, palpitation, and fever (37.5-38°C); on chest x-ray examination, the heart was enlarged and the electrocardiogram showed ST-T changes; he was thus thought to have pericarditis and underwent biopsy of the pericardium which showed only non-specific fibrosis.On admission, his blood pressure was 130/80 mm Hg. Neck veins were not distended. A grade 2/6 protosystolic murmur and a grade 2/6 diastolic murmur were heard at the left sternal border; both were increased by inspiration.The electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm, incomplete right bundle-branch block, and diffuse ST-T changes. The chest film showed cardiomegaly with right ventricular enlargement.The laboratory findings were a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (35 mm in 1 hr, Wintrobe) and a white blood cell count of 13 200 with 80 per cent neutrophils. The other blood chemistry values were within the normal range.Echocardiography was then performed (Echeovideorex-CGR-2-25 MHz.) Fig. 1 shows intracardiac echoes, anterior to a 20] normal aorta, and originating from the right ventricular outflow tract, which are recorded by a beam passing through the aortic root. These echoes were identified only during the second part of diastole. An M mode-scan (Fig. 2) shows the right ventricular diastolic echoes which are identified in the mitral as well as in the aortic recordings. Left heart echograms are normal.Right heart catheterisation was also performed. The shape of the right atrial pressure curve suggested tricuspid regurgitation (giant v wave); the mean pressure was 9 mmHg and increased to 17 mmHg during compression of the liver. The right ventricular pressure was 25/0-5 mmHg.Cineangiographic studies with injection into the inferior vena cava showed a filling defect within the right atrium ( Fig. 3a and b). The mass was seen to prolapse into the right ventricle during ventricular diastole and return into the right atrium near the inferior vena cava during ventricular systole.With a presumptive diagnosis of right atrial myxoma, the patient was submitted to open-heart surgery. Operative findings consisted of a large myxoma attached to the interatrial septum between the inferior vena cava and the coronary sinus orifices by a stalk 2 mm in length. The tumour was removed and an associated dilatation of the tricuspid orifice was cor...

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On the basis of their genetic-counseling experience with 4000 propositi, the authors start by recalling in a first part the fundamental mechanisms of the appearance and heritability of chromosomal aberrations.In a second part, they summarize the correlations between clinical cases and chromosomal abnormalities presently described in the literature. Only the syndromes in which a neurologic and/or an ophthalmologic history exists are reported.In a third part, modalities of genetic counseling, with a summing-up of general risks for chromosomal rearrangements and of their principal circumstances of diagnosis, are related.Genealogic and cytogenetic studies necessary for counseling are briefly recorded.