Renal Doppler ultrasound in patients with hypertension and metabolic syndrom.

Evaluation of the renal changes by conventional and Doppler ultrasound (US) was performed in patients with hypertension and obesity. 67 persons were examined and divided in 3 groups. Group I includes 27 patients--15 M and 12 F, average age 52+/-4.

Clinical significance of antinuclear antibodies, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and anticardiolipin antibodies in heroin abusers.

Background: Different autoantibodies and immunologic abnormalities have been described in heroin abusers positive for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B surface antigen, or hepatitis C virus, as well as in addicts with negative viral markers.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of different autoantibodies in heroin addicts.

Methods: We studied 10 heroin addicts (8 males and 2 females aged 18-30 years) with a mean duration of heroin abuse of 46.