[Diagnosis of Lepore hemoglobinopathy with DNA analysis].

We illustrate the application of recombinant DNA methods (namely Southern blotting) for the genotype diagnosis of haemoglobin Lepore Boston: the use of the restriction endonucleases PstI and XbaI along with a beta globin gene specific probe make it possible to detect a deletion of approximately 7kb which typically characterizes the delta beta Boston gene. The impact of using such methods in the prenatal diagnosis of major haemoglobinopathies is discussed.

Antihypertensive treatment and regression of atherosclerosis.

Reduction of high blood pressure has an effect on coronary mortality and morbidity lower than expected. One of the possible explanations is the different anti-atherogenic capacity of anti-hypertensive drugs. Reduction of high blood pressure has, by itself, an anti-atherogenic effect, but, for some anti-hypertensive drugs, there is experimental and clinical evidence of anti-atherogenic properties.

[Therapy with antiarrhythmic agents in cardiac insufficiency].

The antiarrhythmic drugs characteristics are generally inadequate for the treatment of arrhythmics in heart failure. The pharmacokinetics and pharmaco dynamics of these drugs on heart failure are also altered conditioning its clinical use with a need for tayloring of therapeutics doses. Drug interaction and pro arrhythmic effects are also possible cause of difficulties.

[Therapy of cardiac insufficiency with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. New concepts-new strategies].

The treatment of heart failure has two main objectives: the improvement of the quality of life and the decrease of cardiac mortality. The first has been proved on several open studies and placebo controlled studies, using converting enzyme inhibitors. Mortality of these patients is very high and half is by sudden death.

[Prospective study of duodenal ulcer. Analysis of prognostic factors].

We conducted a prospective clinical trial of 154 patients with duodenal ulcer disease, which was divided in two different steps: healing phase and post-healing phase. In the first phase, the patients were randomly assigned to treatment with H2 blockers (Ranitidine 300 mg or Famotidine 40 mg), in a single bedtime dose. Endoscopy was performed after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment and the healing rate was 70% and 90%.

[Bronchiolo-alveolar pulmonary carcinoma].

The authors present a clinical case of a patient with a bronchiolo alveolar lung carcinoma with an unusual form of presentation: secretory pattern with large amounts of bronchial secretion--1000 cc per day--. At the same time, a theoretical approach of lung adenocarcinoma is made, in particular the bronchiolo alveolar carcinoma, in which it concerns clinical, radiological, diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutical aspects.