[Acute cytomegalovirus infection and venous thromboembolism].

Acute cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) may be responsible of venous thromboembolism, especially in immunocompromised patients. In addition, an association between CMV infection and thrombotic events in immunocompetent hosts has been sporadically reported. We present a case of a previously healthy woman with venous thromboembolic event during acute CMV infection and the presence of anti-cardiolipin IgM antibodies.

[Rhabdomyolysis and arterial hypertension caused by apparent excess of mineralocorticoids: a case report].

We report the case of a 61-year-old man who was referred to our Institution because of severe hypokalemia, rhabdomyolysis and high blood pressure. Severe hypokalemia may lead to rhabdomyolysis. The plasma aldosterone concentrations were low and the plasma renin activity was suppressed.

[Hyperthyroidism and cholestasis: a case report].

Intrahepatic cholestasis has rarely been observed in patients with thyrotoxicosis and generally occurs in association with coexistent congestive heart failure. We report the case of a 63-year-old man who was referred to our Institution because of jaundice and hyperthyroidism. During his hospital stay, his plasma bilirubin level reached 27.

Appearance of severe jaundice after radiometabolical treatment of thyrotoxicosis.

The appearance of moderate jaundice with mildly raised levels of plasma bilirubin is an uncommon complication of thyrotoxicosis and is usually accompanied by signs of right heart failure. Some described cases were actually related, at least in part, to autoimmune chronic hepatitis. In this paper we describe a case of thyrotoxicosis accompanied by deep jaundice with very high levels of bilirubin occuring in the absence of cardiac failure and with no signs of hepatitis.

Plasma endothelin in NIDDM patients with and without complications.

Objective: To measure plasma endothelin 1 (ET-1) levels in uncomplicated non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and investigate whether ET levels may be related to angiopathy, blood pressure, metabolic control, or duration of illness.

Research Design And Methods: Plasma levels of ET-1 were measured in 44 NIDDM patients, of whom 24 had uncomplicated diabetes, 20 had angiopathy, and 10 had hypertension. In 21 patients, the duration of illness was > 10 years, and in 23 the duration of illness was < 10 years.

Plasma endothelin in essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

This study was designed to determine plasma endothelin-1 levels in patients with essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Endothelin immunoreactivity was measured in normal controls (n = 30), mild-moderate essential hypertensives (n = 25), Type II diabetic normotensives (n = 25) and hypertensive patients (n = 20). In addition, in ten patients of each group we investigated the relationships of endothelin with other vasoactive hormones.

Functional properties of Hb-J Calabria, beta 64 (E8) Gly-Asp.

A young male from Apulia region (Southern Italy), heterozygous carrier of Hb-J Calabria (beta 64(E8) Gly-Asp), was described here. He showed mild polycythemia, and his whole blood dissociation curve for oxygen was clearly left-shifted, with a decreased p50. But these characteristics were not only due to the hyperaffinity of the abnormal pigment, accounting for about one third of the total Hb; in fact, also Hb-A, the main pigment present, had relative hyperaffinity.

[Effect of chronic alcohol consumption on blood lipid levels and angiopathy in diabetics].

It is known that chronic alcoholics and type II diabetics show hyperlipidemia, characterized by hypertriglyceridemia and in a minor degree by hypercholesterolemia. The mechanisms underlying the effect of ethanol and carbohydrates on plasma lipids seem to be different; therefore in diabetic subjects chronic alcohol consumption could produce a more severe hyperlipidemia and so accelerate atherosclerotic events. In order to verify it we have measured plasma cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides and investigated the presence of micro- and macroangiopathy in two groups of non-insulin-dependent diabetics, differing each other for daily alcohol intake (18 chronic male alcoholics and 30 male subjects consuming respectively more than 150 g and less than 50 g of alcohol daily).

Short term ethanol ingestion can affect the testicular response to single-dose human chorionic gonadotropin in normal subjects.

Ten sober adult male subjects, with normal sexual development and function, were examined under basal conditions and after a short-term period (7 days) of alcohol ingestion (200 g/daily). Plasma concentrations of testosterone (T), 17 beta estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH P) were measured on blood samples drawn before and then every 24 h until the 96th h following a single dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 2,000 IU im). Basal plasma T was significantly decreased after short-term ethanol ingestion (p less than 0.

[Obesity and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Considerations on an epidemiological study].

We have investigated the age of onset of diabetes mellitus and the body weight in an ethnically homogeneous population of type II diabetics (737 subjects, of whom 248 newly diagnosed). In newly diagnosed diabetics the mean age of onset of diabetes was significantly (p less than 0.001) lower in males than in females.

Plasma testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and 17-hydroxy-progesterone responses to single-dose stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin in chronic male alcoholics.

Ten chronic male alcoholics presenting with hypogonadism but without overt liver failure were examined under basal conditions and after stimulation of the testicular steroidogenesis with a single dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 2,000 IU im). Plasma concentrations of testosterone (T), 17 beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP) were measured between 08:00-09:00 prior to injection and then every 24 h at the same time in the morning until the 96th hour following the injection. Controls were 10 male adult volunteers, examined under the same conditions.

Functional properties of the whole blood in a carrier of Hb-Atlanta: beta 75 (E-19) Leu-Pro.

The Authors illustrate the main functional parameters of the whole blood in a heterozygous carrier of the unstable Hb-Atlanta. The most important results are represented by a right-shifted P50, by a lowered value of n and by an almost normal pH-depending Bohr effect. It is very likely that the first report depends on the relative Hb-A deficiency, whereas the second one could be due to the presence of the unstable Hb.

Effect of ethanol infusion on the pituitary-testicular responsiveness to gonadotropin releasing hormone and thyrotropin releasing hormone in normal males and in chronic alcoholics presenting with hypogonadism.

Nine chronic male alcoholics presenting with hypogonadism but without overt liver failure were examined under baseline conditions and after acute injection of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH, 100 micrograms iv) and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH, 200 micrograms iv), performed at 60 min of a 3-h infusion of saline and 0.4 g/kg ethanol, respectively. Controls were 10 male adult volunteers examined under the same conditions.

Circadian patterns of plasma cortisol and testosterone in chronic male alcoholics.

Twelve alcoholic men (28-55 yr) presenting hypogonadal features but without overt liver failure were hospitalized and examined still consuming alcohol regularly. Sleep was approximately from 2200 to 0600; three equicaloric meals were served at 0700, 1200, and 1800. Blood samples were drawn at 4-hr intervals throughout a 24-hr span starting from 0800.

[Preliminary study on P50 and on other parameters correlated with hemoglobin function in normal subjects chosen at random].

In a wide survey on normal non-selected healthy adults, the Authors have found normal pHs in venous blood, a P50 slightly shifted to the left, in comparison with the mean values reported in other series for males and females, normal Hb amounts, normal 2,3-DPG levels, normal met-hemoglobin values and increased rates of Hb-CO. All these data and the possible relationship among them are discussed, with particular reference towards P50 and Hb-CO, which appears to be mainly raised, even if not only, in smokers people. At this regard the Authors hypothetize that if the four hemes of hemoglobin are fully saturated with CO, a right shifted oxy-hemoglobin dissociation curve of variable extent will be observed, whereas, if the hemes are not fully saturated, the curve could be shifted, more or less, towards the left.

[A case of melanoderma erroneously considered to be addisonian].

A case characterized by a dark pigmentation of the skin with an initial hypotension and a lung tuberculosis in the remote anamnesis is described. The skin pigment was formed by lipofuscin and emosiderin, but only the former was found in the liver biopsy. Anyway, the pigment was not melanine and the surrenalic function of the patient was completely normal; therefore, an Addisonism syndrome is excluded.

[Non-endocarditic mitral insufficiency].

A case of non endocarditic mitral insufficiency in a 76 years old woman is described. After an extensive pathogenetical introduction, a comparison is made between clinical features of this case an its pathogenetical possibilities. The conclusion is drawn that there are most probabilities for an atherosclerosis of the antero-medial limbus of the mitral valve, arising from a coexisting atherosclerotic mild stenosis of the aortic valves.

Circadian rhythm of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids during metyrapone-induced ACTH release in normal subjects.

The circadian rhythm of urinary 17-OHCS was studied in nine normal subjects before and after oral metyrapone administration (750 mg every 4 hrs over a period of 24 hrs). The test was carried out twice in each subject with a shift of 12 hrs in the time of first administration (0800-test and 2000-test). For data from serial measurements of steroid metabolites on urine collected at 2-h intervals, the least squares fit of a 24-h cosine curve allowed the demonstration of a rhythm both in control conditions and during the 48-h span following metyrapone administration.