[Activity of street drugs]. / A propos de l'activité des drogues de rue ("street drugs").

In the seized samples, the concentrations of diamorphine (heroin) varied from zero to more than seventy percent and the concentrations of cocaine from zero to more than ninety percent. Such variations in concentrations of active constituents constitute a major risk for those who use and abuse street drugs.

Del(14)(q22) in diffuse B-cell lymphocytic lymphoma.

Some recurrent chromosomal abnormalities have recently been found to be associated with distinctive histologic subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). In a study of 62 patients with NHL whose karyotypes was determined at diagnosis, 3 patients were found to have a deletion of the long arm of chromosomes 14 at band 22 (del[14][q22]). All had a diffuse lymphoma with generalized lymphadenopathy and bone marrow involvement. All three lymphomas were of B-cell origin, as shown by the presence of surface immunoglobulin and monoclonal antibody phenotyping. For each patient, a trisomy 12 was associated with del(14)(q22) in a clone. These data suggest that del(14)(q22), perhaps in association with trisomy 12, could identify a subtype of NHL and that band 22 of chromosome 14 may be implicated in the B-cell ontogeny.

[Experimental colonic cancers]. / Cancers coliques expérimentaux.

An experimental model of colonic cancer can be obtained in rodents by administration of 1-2 Dimethylhydrazine. It produces constant, reproducible lesions, ranging from simple anomalies of secretion to invasive cancers, which are identical to those observed in man. It should be noted that the rats and mice used in these experiments do not present spontaneous colonic tumours. This model has contributed to the substitution of the polyp-cancer sequence by the dysplasia-cancer sequence. All of steps of malignant transformation of the mucosa can be followed by histochemistry of the mucins, by ultrastructural examination of the basement membrane and by labeling of the sub-epithelial connective tissue with hyaluronectin. In man, it is possible to define high risk lesions prior to the appearance of polyps.

[Benign mammographic stellar images. Apropos of 15 cases]. / Les images stellaires mammographiques bénignes. A propos de 15 cas.

15 stellar types breast lesions were reviewed and classified according their etiology (fibrosing adenosis, dysplasia, dystrophy, radial scar of Aschoff, fat necrosis). Radio-anatomical confrontation allowed to understand the images given by the varying appearances of the connective skeleton surrounded by adipose lobules. The authors study the diagnosis of the stellar breast lesions and recall the determinant role of connective tissue in the genesis of mammographic stellar images.

[Diagnosis of tumor recurrence within the breast after tumor removal for cancer, followed or not by radiotherapy. Apropos of 23 cases]. / Diagnostic des récidives tumorales intra-mammaires après tumorectomie pour cancer suivie ou non de radiothérapie. A propos de vingt-trois cas.

The diagnostic value of mammography was evaluated retrospectively in 23 recurrent carcinomas in patients previously treated by partial mastectomy with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. Mammography established accurate diagnosis in 11 of the 23 patients. Mammography should always be performed in addition to clinical and cytological examinations and results must be evaluated jointly. Confrontation of these three investigations may be inconclusive as a result of changes produced by radiotherapy or surgery. The authors recall the necessity of surgical control of any nodular lesion developed in the area of the initial operation, particularly during the first three years.

[Fibrosing adenosis (eleven cases reported) (author's transl)]. / L'adénose fibrosante du sein. A propos de onze cas.

The authors studied eleven cases of Fibrosing Adenosis of the breast. If the clinical findings and radiologic examination evoke this diagnosis only a histological proof is sure. The difficulties in histological diagnosis, the problems of the histogenesis of fibrosing adenosis are emphasized. The authors recall the excellent prognosis of fibrosing adenosis.

Preneoplastic changes in epithelium and mesenchyme in colon of rats treated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine.

Twenty-eight rats were given weekly injections of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) for periods of 1-10 weeks. The preneoplastic changes occurring in the descending colon were monitored by transmission electron microscopy. Marked uniformity was observed in the time period of lesion development in the colon induced by the carcinogen especially at the epithelialstromal junction in preneoplastic lesions. Little changes were observed after 3 weeks treatment with the DMH. The greatest changes occurred after 6 weeks treatment, resulting in epithelium and mesenchyme. It has been confirmed that 3 weeks treatment with DMH is subcarcinogenic, whereas 10 weeks treatment results in a high incidence of tumors. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that a carcinogen may act by inducing alterations in a small number of enterocytes and that colonic tumors arise through stepwise evolutional changes in these cells.

[Unusual tumours of the digestive tract (author's transl)]. / Les tumeurs inhabituelles du tube digestif.

The authors summarize the difficulties in diagnosis some tumour-like lesions or digestive tumours. They rely upon thirty years experience in digestive pathology and upon a survey of relevant literature. They recall the difficulties arising from the inflammatory tumour-like lesions (infiltrating sclerosis or granulomas, colitis cystica profunda, inflammatory polyps). They mention the circumstances which bring about errors or incomplete diagnosis among these very tumours. Some difficulties are due to the circumstances in which these tumours appear : the digestive cancers of the child, the assocations of some family cancers (the ill-forming tumours and the dysembryoplasic cancers, and lastly the connections that exist between some inflammatory or dystrophic diseases and tumours. Other difficulties depend upon the topography or the tumorous structure. Paneth-cell carcinomas, goblet cell carcinoid are chosen as instances among epithelial tumours. In the group of non-epithelial tumours, digestive localizations of angiomatosis and of lymphomatosis may cause errors. Likewise this can be applied to some secondary digestive tumours. Regarding these difficulties, the authors stress the necessity of a close cooperation between gastro-enterologists, surgeons and pathologists. They also stress the strict observance of techniques in fixation and preparation of specimens and biopsies, and also the necessity of completing, if need be, the habitual microscopy through more elaborate explorations (histochemistry, electron microscopy...).