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Comments on several medical issues in Great Britain. Disadvantages on the privatization of the National Health Service; Relation of chemotherapy on risk factor of leukemia; Association of convulsions with cyclosporin A in renal transplant recipients.

Presents several correspondence related to medicine. Effects of insulin resistance; Treatment of acromegaly and changes in glucose tolerance; Manifestations of epilepsy in women of childbearing age.

Presents a case report on electrolyte disturbances and cardiac failure with hypomagnesemia in anorexia nervosa. Increase in plasma calcium concentration after magnesium replacement; Occurrence of impaired secretion of parathyroid hormone in response to hypocalcemia; Difficulty in implicating hypomagnesemia as the cause of proximal myopathy.

Presents a case study of patients with hypoalbuminemia hyponatremia in Great Britain. Consideration of severe hypoalbuminemia as a causative factor of hyponatremia; Consequences of plasma and albumin infusions on the biochemical and clinical features of the disease; Association between low sodium and albumin concentrations.

Plasma histamine concentrations were measured using a commercially available monoclonal antibody radioimmunoassay in 38 patients with nephrotic syndrome, end stage renal failure, those receiving haemodialysis, and those receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis to determine whether histamine may mediate damage to glomerular capillaries and arterial endothelium. Plasma histamine concentrations were significantly increased in all four patient groups when compared with those of controls and were the highest in two patients with pruritus. Raised plasma histamine concentrations in such patients are consistent with the hypothesis that histamine may contribute to the damage to glomerular capillaries and to arterial endothelium. These effects may be relevant to the pathogenesis of glomerular disease and atherosclerosis. Histamine may also contribute to the pathogenesis of pruritus in patients with chronic renal failure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The calcium, vitamin D, and osteocalcin concentrations were investigated in 17 patients with anorexia nervosa. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 OHD) concentrations below normal were observed in 15 (88%); only two patients has serum 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D) concentrations below normal. Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration was also normal in all except these two patients. Serum osteocalcin concentration was below normal in seven of 14 patients. Although a low concentration of serum 25 OHD is common in patients with anorexia nervosa in the United Kingdom, 1,25(OH)2D concentrations are usually normal. Hypovitaminosis D with secondary hyperparathyroidism is relatively uncommon. The subnormal osteocalcin concentrations observed in these patients probably reflect diminished osteoblastic activity, which may contribute to their osteopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Immunoreactive trypsin concentration and pancreatic lipase activity were measured in the sera of 33 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Immunoreactive trypsin was increased (above the normal range) in 16 (48%) and pancreatic lipase activity in 18 (55%) patients. Both enzymes were increased in 10 (30%) patients. Twenty four patients (73%) had an increase of either one or both enzymes. There was a significant correlation between immunoreactive trypsin and pancreatic lipase activity. This abnormality was not related to treatment with D-penicillamine, the age of the patients, the stage of the disease, or the severity of cholestasis. Thus most patients with primary biliary cirrhosis have increased pancreatic enzyme activity and immunoreactive trypsin concentration in their sera. These data are indicative of damage to the exocrine pancreas. The cause of this damage is as yet unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Examines the precipitation of an acute adrenal crisis during thyroxine replacement in patients with primary hypothyroidism. Effects of continuation of thyroxine to a classical adrenal crisis; Response of cortisol to stress; Prevention of the development of a fatal acute adrenal crisis.

Examines the pancreatic size in patients with diabetes mellitus using ultrasound technique in Great Britain. Prevalence of pancreatic deficit in diabetes; Comparison of pancreatic size between insulin dependent diabetes patients and normal people; Conditions for the occurrence of exocrine damage.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article by Dr. A. J. Chapman and colleagues which described a case of pituitary apoplexy.

Examines the effect of thyroid disease on the body weight. Diagnosis of patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia; Treatment and management of eating disorder; Measurement of serum free thyroxine concentration.

Examines the use of thymectomy, corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents in the treatment of myasthenia gravis in Great Britain. Reduction of morbidity; Requirement of long duration of treatment; Beneficial effects of the drugs.

Few studies have evaluated the long term growth of preterm infants associated with iron deficiency. This study aimed to address the role of anaemia at birth on the growth pattern of preterm infants. The association of cord blood haemoglobin level with growth of 96 premature babies was evaluated, followed during 6 months of corrected age. For longitudinal data analysis, random regression models were used to determine the association of growth, expressed by length, with haemoglobin concentration at birth. The term of interest was the haemoglobin by time interaction, which estimates the change rate of the outcomes.

Examines patients with vitamin D deficiency after undergoing vagotomy. Collection of fasting venous blood samples; Assessment of patients characteristics and values of plasma variables; Measurement of serum vitamin D concentrations.

Investigates the effect of insulin receptor antibodies in a patient with myositis. Treatment with steroids improving glucose tolerance; Factors important in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus; Cause of severe insulin resistance.

Reports on increased serum pancreatic enzymes after treatment with methylprednisolone. Association of steroids with acute pancreatic in jury; Presence of progressive endocrine exophthalmos in ten patients; Collection of blood samples before administration of methylprednisolone.