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Glucose intolerance in uremic patients is often reported in literature. This condition is characterized by an unbalance between production and utilization of glucose as for a trouble of the mechanism of gluco-metabolic regulation. Insulin radioimmunoassay (IRI) is measured to know the amount of hormone incretion and to verify its efficacy in the glucose utilization. The glucagon load and the double glucagon load are tests employed to study IRI response and glucose metabolism in uremia. With the double administration of glucagon is possible to assess the degree of glycogenolysis, but also the neo-glycogenesis stimulated by the first glucagon injection. This aspect is important because it reflects the sensitivity for the agent of counter-regulation hormonal (especially glucagon). The test performed by double glucagon load produces in uremic subjects IRI curves characterized by two peaks and unbalance amount between the 1st and the 2nd area correspondent to glucagon loads. Both the phases are higher than phases of normal subjects and the ratio 2nd/1st is 1.5. The behaviour of all the responsive IRI curves is similar and sufficiently homogeneous to permit its representation by medium values observed step by step in the group. The plasma glucose responses are dishomogeneous and it is possible to emphasize different types of involvement in the glucose intolerance.

Ca 125 is a good test for ovarian cancer, but pregnancy can elevate serum levels above the usual reference range of 35 U/ml. Ca 125 levels were determined in sera obtained from normal, pregnant women at various weeks of pregnancy and in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Ca 125 levels in pregnancy women during the first trimester were significantly higher than normal, but lower than ovarian cancer patients. The rise in serum Ca 125 during the first trimester of pregnancy probably reflects the release into maternal circulation of this molecular glycoprotein than is expressed by coelomic epithelium during embryonic development.

Tritiated imipramine binding to whole platelets was measured in 16 chronic pain patients not suffering from major depression and in a control group. Maximum binding was significantly lower in chronic pain patients than in the control group, whereas the binding affinity was not significantly different.

The Authors have examined the coagulase activity, mannitol fermentation, DNase and phosphatase activity, and production of haemolisins and pigment on 200 strains of Staphylococcus isolated from hospitalized patients affected by various diseases. On the basis of results obtained, they conclude that the evaluation of the pathogenic power of Stah. aureus should be always founded upon a "pattern" of biochemical, enzymatic, cultural and toxinogenetic tests.

Two infants presented with acquired infantile nystagmus. On examination, they manifested peculiar facies, growth and developmental delay, failure to thrive, and a Wernicke's type of nystagmus. Suspicion of a B vitamin deficiency resulted in correct diagnosis of dietary deficiency and/or enzymatic defect. In both instances, dietary treatment with B vitamins resulted in resolution of the nystagmus and improved growth and development of both individuals. Physicians, especially pediatricians and ophthalmologists, should be alert to the possibility of a Wernicke's type nystagmus in such infants, since the diagnosis may be critical to accurate diagnosis and treatment.

In this study, 1,650 liver aspirates and laparoscopic brushings, representing a wide range of neoplastic and nonneoplastic conditions were examined cytologically. Of the 470 cytologic malignancies, only one was a false-positive. The most frequently diagnosed malignant neoplasms were carcinomas of the colon, breast, pancreas, lung, and liver. The overall accuracy rate of cytologic examination was 96%, with a sensitivity of 94%, and a specificity of 100%. Predictive values for both positive and negative results, were high: 100% and 95%, respectively. Reviewing the literature on aspiration cytology of the liver, we found that our results confirmed the findings of others: that cytologic examination of liver aspirates and brushings is a safe, useful, and accurate technique and may obviate tissue biopsy in cases of tumors metastatic to the liver.

Two cases of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma are reported. The patients presented with metastasis to the lung, 10 years and 2 years, respectively, prior to discovery of the primary neoplasms in the soft tissues of the lower extremities.

In a group of 22 patients affected by chronic obstructive bronchopathies (COBP) with respiratory insufficiency and at the same time in a group of 12 controls, were determined plasma Antithrombin (AT) III concentrations. The mean of AT III level in patients with COBP was 40.5% and was 96.8% in the controls. On the basis of these data, the authors think that in patients with COBP decrease AT III can cause the rising of bleeding complications.

In this study, the authors evaluate the inhalant substances of the house, emphasizing the importance of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus to cause perennial allergic rhinitis. They report the incidence of this and other allergens in 140 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and the pertinent precautionary measures.

Tritiated imipramine binding to whole platelets was measured in 16 chronic pain patients who were free from major depression, and in a control group. The maximum binding was significantly lower in chronic pain patients than in the control group, whereas the binding affinity was not significantly different. Twelve patients were treated with mianserin for 21 days; this produced a significant improvement in the mean scores for pain (evaluated with the McGill Questionnaire) and depressive symptoms (assessed with the Zung Self-Rating Scale). The improvement in both types of symptom was accompanied by a significant mean increase in the density of the [3H]imipramine binding sites without modifications in the values of the constant of affinity. All the patients who responded well to treatment (N = 8) had a family history of depressive spectrum disorders (DSD), while none of those who failed to respond had a first degree relative with DSD.

In 31 patients affected by epithelial ovary carcinomas we considered the connection between the levels of Ca 125 and the clinical evolution of disease, and examined the predicted value of Ca 125 for tumoral progression. Ca 125 was calculated at least twice, from one to seven days before the operation and, later on, every two months for an accurate follow-up. The samples of plasma (with EDTA) frozen at -20 degrees C, until the dosage moment, were collected for the analytical determination of Ca 125. The determination was carried out by IRMA technique, at sandwich, using a reference standard with arbitrary units (U/ml). In 23 of the 31 patients the levels of Ca 125 were higher than the reference value. No correlation was evident between positiveness of Ca 125 and histologic standard, whereas antigenic positiveness was higher when the stages were more advanced. With regard to the same stages, the incidence of levels greater than 35 U/ml, in the case Ic (100%), was higher (p less than 0.05), compared to the ones Ia and Ib (14.3%). Sensitivity, specificity, predicted positive value and diagnostic accuracy showed a positive correlation between clinical study and the levels of Ca 125. Only one woman, belonging to a group of relapsed patients revealed the levels of Ca 125 less than 35 U/ml. Considering a minimum increase of 50% in the levels of Ca 125, a significant prognosis in patients before the relapse diagnosis could be made by clinical or paraclinical methods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)