Myxedema masking primary hyperparathyroidism.

This article describes a case of primary hyperparathyroidism that was unmasked in a 63-year-old female after the initiation of replacement therapy with L-thyroxine for myxedema.

Elevated serum thyrotropin [TSH] levels in critically ill patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Study Objective: To determine thyrotropin (TSH) reserve in critically ill patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Design: Prospective longitudinal.

Setting: Six hundred (600) bed municipal hospital serving a poor neighborhood in New York City with a high incidence of AIDS mainly from intravenous drug abuse.

Diffuse hyperpigmentation associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

This article reports a case of diffuse hyperpigmentation in a 56-year-old Latino male after he was diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The possible causes of this hyperpigmentation are discussed.

Painful subacute thyroiditis (de Quervain's thyroiditis).

Painful subacute thyroiditis (de Quervain's thyroiditis) usually occurs in association with systemic viral illnesses. This disorder may be manifested in various clinical forms. Primary care physicians must be aware of the clinical features of this disorder to make the correct diagnosis and treat appropriately.

Disorders of serum calcium in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

This study assessed the incidence of abnormal serum calcium levels in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A retrospective review of 66 patients with AIDS in an inner-city hospital was done. Fifty-four patients were intravenous drug abusers, and two patients were male homosexuals.

Multiple drug resistance gene expression in human renal cell cancer is associated with the histologic subtype.

Overexpression of p170 glycoprotein, the product of the multiple drug resistance (mdr) gene, has been associated with resistance to various cytotoxic drugs used in the treatment of human neoplasms. Normal renal epithelial cells express p170 as a function of their secretory capacity. Because renal cell carcinomas (RCC) respond poorly to chemotherapeutic regimens, p170 expression was studied in primary RCC.

Mutations in the ras protooncogenes are rare events in renal cell cancer.

Mutations in codon 12, 13 or 61 of one of the three ras genes, Ha-ras, Ki-ras, and N-ras, convert these genes into active oncogenes. To determine the role mutated ras genes play in the carcinogenesis of renal cell carcinoma, we analysed tumour DNA and unaffected renal tissue derived from 55 patients. The polymerase chain reaction technique was used to amplify DNA fragments containing Ki-, Ha-, and N-ras codons 12, 13, and 61.

[Significance of oncogenes and growth factors in hypernephroma].

In all cells there are a number of genes that regulate cell division and growth. In an "activated" form they are called oncogenes and play a role in the carcinogenesis. The activation results from such alterations as point mutation and translocation or alterations with increased synthesis of genes and gene product.

Electrolyte disorders and renal dysfunction in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.

A total of 81 Latino and African American patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in an innercity hospital were studied retrospectively to determine the frequency of electrolyte disorders and renal dysfunction in this syndrome. Of these 81 patients, 28.4% had hyponatremia, 17.

Myxedema mimicking myocardial ischemia in a young black male.

High elevations of creatine kinase secondary to myxedema in a 29-year-old black male resulted in an erroneous diagnosis of mycardial infarction.

Expression of the hst-1 and c-kit protooncogenes in human testicular germ cell tumors.

Seventy testicular germ cell tumors were analyzed at the DNA and RNA levels for the c-kit, hst-1, and int-2 oncogenes using Northern and Southern blot analyses, respectively. There were significant differences in oncogene expression between seminomas and nonseminomas with c-kit being expressed in 24 of 30 (80%) seminomas but in only 3 of 40 (7%) nonseminomatous tumors (P = 0.0001, chi 2 test) and hst-1 being expressed in 24 of 38 (63%) nonseminomas but only 1 of 24 (4%) of seminomas (P = 0.

Remission of Graves' disease with hyperthyroidism by a combination of glucocorticoids and antithyroid drugs.

The possibility of inducing long-term or permanent remission of Graves disease with hyperthyroidism from combination therapy with glucocorticoids and antithyroid drugs is considered. A case report is presented in support of this hypothesis.

Propylthiouracil-associated hepatitis.

The case of a 43-year-old female with propylthiouracil-induced hepatitis is reported. The case is unique because the patient's liver function deteriorated 2 weeks after medication was discontinued.

Oncogenes and growth factors in renal cell carcinoma.

Oncogenes and growth factors play a role in normal cellular processes such as growth and differentiation. In addition, considerable circumstantial evidence indicates that these genes may be responsible for the induction and/or maintenance of human malignancies. There are different oncogene families; up to now only a small number has been tested in renal cancer cells.

Decreased expression of the glutathione S-transferases alpha and pi genes in human renal cell carcinoma.

Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a human kidney glutathione S-transferase (GST) alpha cDNA clone (GST alpha 12 K) was synthesized; it is identical to a known liver GST alpha cDNA clone except for one base change (G----A), indicating that an alpha class gene expressed in human kidney is similar to one expressed in human liver. Comparisons were made in the expression of GST alpha and GST pi between renal cell carcinoma and adjacent non-neoplastic tissue. Messenger RNA expression in 30 cases was determined by Northern blotting, and GST protein from nine of these cases was analyzed by HPLC.

Inverse relationship of epidermal growth factor receptor and HER2/neu gene expression in human renal cell carcinoma.

Expression of the oncogenes, epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, HER2/neu, c-myc, and c-fos, in renal cell carcinoma and corresponding nonneoplastic kidney tissue of 30 patients has been analyzed by Northern blot analysis. In renal cell carcinoma an inverse relationship of EGF receptor and HER2/neu gene expression was detected, with high expression of the EGF receptor gene in 22 of 30 (73%) cases and low expression of the HER2/neu gene in 28 of 30 (93%) cases. Furthermore, altered expression of the oncogenes c-myc and c-fos was detected in renal cell carcinoma, which appears to be related to the tumor grade of malignancy.

[The role of autotransfusion in vascular surgery].

Use of autotransfusion has recently come into the limelight of clinical practice especially because of the AIDS-risk and financial considerations. Authors have analysed data of 20 patients with peripheral arterial disease at whom hemodilution were carried out before the operation with the aim of using autotransfusion. Attention is called to the importance of autotransfusion and its applicability in the practice of other sorts of surgery.

The causes and frequency of acute hospitalization of patients with dementia in a long-term care facility.

A retrospective study of 81 patients with dementia in a long-term care facility was conducted to determine the causes and frequency of acute hospitalization and the cause of death in the patients who succumbed during the acute hospital admission. Pneumonia and urinary tract infections were the most frequent causes of acute hospitalization; septicemia and respiratory failure were the most frequent causes of death. These results suggest that patients with dementia are prone to acquire life-threatening infections.

[Curing ability of polymerization lights for composite materials].

An in-vivo study has been conducted with four different brands of activator light sources. 38 light units in service by different dental practitioners were compared with new light sources. Curing depth profiles were obtained using Knoop microhardness measurements.

Transient hypoglycemic paraparetic syndrome in an elderly patient.

An elderly diabetic patient sustained a transient hypoglycemic paraparetic episode that was attributed to inappropriate administration of glyburide. There were no other predisposing causes to account for the transient hypoglycemia. The predominant clinical signs were paraparesis of the lower extremities, with the right side more affected than the left.