Sexual dysfunction as a side effect of hyperprolactinemia in methadone maintenance therapy.

Unlabelled: Although endocrine abnormalities are recognized in opiate users, very little is known about the range of hormones affected, their pathophysiology and their clinical relevance. various endocrine abnormalities have been reported in these patients including, increased prolactin levels and abnormalities in sexual hormone. Path physiological mechanism postulated does explain these findings including direct action of heroin or methadone at the hypothalamic pituitary level.

Plasma apo/lipoproteins disturbances as a precondition for metabolic syndrome in HCV seronegative heroin addicts.

Background: Dyslipidemia in heroin addicts is considered to be a precondition for developing metabolic syndrome.

Objectives: The aim was to evaluate the frequency in serum lipid disturbances of hepatitis C virus (HCV) seronegative heroin addicts; the capacity of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C and apolipoprotein B (apoB)/apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) for predicting hypertriglyceridemia/low HDL-C profile; correlation of HDL-C with the apoB/apoA-I and their correlation to plasma apo/lipoproteins.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-six heroin addicts, seronegative for HCV and HIV, without liver morphological changes were divided into two groups according to their decreased/normal HDL-C concentrations.

Epidemiology of severe poisonings caused by ingestion of caustic substances.

Acute poisoning with corrosive substances can cause severe chemical injuries of the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. They are most frequently localized in the oesophagus and stomach. If the patient survives the acute phase of poisoning, the regenerative response can result in oesophageal and/or gastric stenosis and a higher risk of oesophageal and stomach cancer.