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Plasma renin activity was assayed with RIA technique in 13t female patients with hypothyroidism, aged between 23 and 64 years (mean 43.1 years). It was found that mean plasma renin activity in the group under study was statistically significantly lower than that in analogue control group. These results may indicate a relationship between thyroid function and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme in the blood serum was assayed with Friedland's and Silverstein's Technique in 24 female patients with untreated hyperthyroidism accompanying Graves-Basedow disease. Mean ACE activity was significantly higher in patients than that in the group of healthy individuals of the same age. Increased ACE activity noted in patients with Graves-Basedow disease may, therefore, indicated a significant role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the etiopathogenesis of hypertension in this disease.

The study involved 274 patients, including 240 women, divided into various subgroups, according to the age, body weight, and a phase of menstruation cycle in women, and a subgroup of 34 men. According to the design of the studies, blood serum ACE activity was determined spectrophotometrically with a technique described by Friedland and Silverstein in all patients. The obtained results suggest that blood serum ACE activity does not depend on the sex, age, body weight, and phase of the menstruation cycle in women.

Authors discuss current hypotheses related to the causes of osteoporosis and its possible therapy. One of the frequent menopausal disorders is osteoporosis, i.e. decrease in bone density, which may eventually lead to the pathological fractures and marked deformities of the skeleton. Etiology of the postmenopausal osteoporosis is not clearly explained. However, one may assume that hormonal disturbances, especially estrogen deficit, plays an important causative role. The treatment is difficult. It is usually aimed at preventing of bone loss.

A case of a 32-year female patient with the systemic lupus erythematosus is presented. The patient was treated with prednisone in a daily dose of 40-60 mg. Due to the exacerbations of the symptoms and advanced renal disorders, the patient was given TFX together with corticotherapy. Thymus factor X is an extract of real thymus of immunorecorrective properties. It specifically acts on the lymphatic system, especially disordered mechanisms of both cellular and humoral immunity. Thymus factor X was given in the dose of 10 mg (one ampoule) i.m. for the three first months followed by one ampoule every three days for the next three months. The patient is given one ampoule of TFX once a week since the 6th months of therapy. Diminishment of the symptoms was observed. The patient is in remission since a one-year follow-up period. It was also possible to reduce the dose of prednisone to 15 mg a day. The patient is controlled every 3 months. Partial normalization of renal functioning and immunological mechanisms are seen. A decrease in antinuclear antibodies and immunoglobulins, normalization in complement components, an increase in T-cells percentage and conversion of the delayed skin reaction are noted. The authors conclude that TFX may be helpful in the treatment of the autoimmunological diseases, including the systemic lupus erythematosus.

The activity of converting enzyme was determined in 19 patients with Cushing's disease using Friedland and Silverstein technique. Statistically significant increase in the activity of this enzyme was noted in the majority of the examined patients in comparison with healthy subjects. Therefore, inhibitors of the converting enzyme (Captopril) are justified in the treatment of the arterial blood hypertension in Cushing's disease.