Vertebral mineral content in diet-dependent and diet-independent hypercalciuria

The vertebral mineral content was measured using dual photon absorptiometry in 41 calcium stone patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria. These patients had been previously divided into 2 groups (diet-dependent and diet-independent hypercalciuria) during a low sodium and low calcium diet. In some of the patients (11 with diet-dependent and 11 with diet-independent hypercalciuria) the vertebral mineral content was evaluated in relation to serum ionized calcium, intact parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin determined after a low sodium and low calcium diet. The vertebral mineral content, expressed as Z-VMD, was normal in diet-dependent and lower in diet-independent hypercalciuric stone patients (-0.30 +/- 1.19 versus -0.26 +/- 1.18, p less than 0.02). In 7 of 21 patients (33.3%) the vertebral mineral content was less than 2 standard deviations of the normal value, indicating a true involvement in bone metabolism. Serum intact parathyroid hormone and osteocalcin levels were not different from the controls in both groups, while alkaline phosphatase activity and ionized calcium were higher in diet-independent hypercalciuric patients. Serum ionized calcium was negatively correlated with bone vertebral density. The results suggest that an increased bone turnover may be a primary event in causing hypercalciuria in calcium stone patients unable to decrease urinary calcium to less than the calcium intake.     

Muscle tissue electrolytes in burned subjects

In a group of patients with burns covering at least 20 per cent of their body surface area (BSA), extracellular electrolytes and acid-base status and intracellular electrolytes and nitrogen (muscle needle biopsy) were measured both in the early phase (12–24 hours) and 7–14 days after burn injury.In the acute burn phase, extracellular electrolyte and acid-base disturbances are uncommon, while intracellular data shows increase of muscle sodium, decrease of muscle potassium and magnesium and normal muscle cell nitrogen.In the later burn phase, despite an adequate fluid, electrolyte and protein-calorie supply, the changes of electrolytes appear to be uncorrected; no decrease of muscle cell nitrogen is found. Our data could suggest that defects of the sodium-potassium pump in the cell membrane, which are thought to be the cause of intracellular electrolyte disturbances during the acute phase of burns, do not ameliorate with adequate fluid and protein-calorie intake; however, a persistent muscle potassium depletion is also consistent with a reduction of cell ‘capacity’ for potassium, possibly due to muscle protein catabolism, although muscle cell protein values do not show a significant reduction.     

Pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazines from 2-diazopyrroles: synthesis and antiproliferative activity

Pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazines 4a-g were directly obtained from the reaction of 2-diazopyrroles 1a and b with the sodium salts of beta-diketones, beta-carbonitriles, and beta-dinitriles. Only when the 2-diazopyrroles were coupled with ethyl cyanoacetate, it was possible to isolate, together with the pyrrolotriazines, the intermediate hydrazones 3 which, in turn, cyclised to the title ring system. Pyrrolotriazines 4a-e were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against a panel of 60 human cancer cell lines by the National Cancer Institute and some of them demonstrated inhibitory effects in the growth of a wide range of cancer cell lines generally at 10(-5) M level and in some cases at micromolar concentrations.     

The effect of fruits and vegetables on urinary stone risk factors

BACKGROUND: The overall effect of fruit and vegetable intake on urinary stone risk profile is not yet known. METHODS: We studied the effect of a two-week period of fruit and vegetable elimination on urinary stone risk profile in 12 normal adults, and of supplementing the diet with a fair quantity of low-oxalate fruits and vegetables in 26 idiopathic calcium stone formers characterized by hypocitraturia and a very low fruit and vegetable intake in their usual diet. RESULTS: In the normal subjects, the elimination of fruits and vegetables from the diet decreased the urinary excretion of potassium (-62%), magnesium (-26%), citrate (-44%) and oxalate (-31%), and increased that of calcium (+49%) and ammonium (+12%) (P < 0.05 for all). The relative saturation for calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate increased from 6.33 to 8.24 (P = 0.028), and from 0.68 to 1.58 (P = 0.050), respectively. In the hypocitraturic stone formers, the introduction of these foods in the diet increased urinary volume (+64%), pH (from 5.84 to 6.19), excretion of potassium (+68%), magnesium (+23%), and citrate (+68%), while it decreased the excretion of ammonium (-18%) (P < 0.05 for all). The relative saturation for calcium oxalate and uric acid fell from 10.17 to 4.96 (P < 0.001), and from 2.78 to 1.12 (P = 0.003), respectively. CONCLUSION: The total elimination of fruits and vegetables in normal subjects brings about adverse changes in the urinary stone risk profile that are only partially counterbalanced by a reduction in oxalate. In contrast, the addition of these foods to the diet of hypocitraturic stone formers not used to eating them not only significantly increases citrate excretion without affecting oxalate excretion, but also decreases calcium oxalate and uric acid relative saturation.     

Bleomycin-induced upper lobe fibrosis: a case report

We report a case of late-onset pulmonary fibrosis involving the upper lobes that occurred in a young man treated with bleomycin for mediastinal germ-cell carcinoma. The parenchymal lesions became clinically apparent about two years after chemotherapy had been completed, with a slowly progressive course and sparing the lower lung fields during follow-up. Other possible diagnoses could be excluded on the basis of the patient's clinical history, laboratory tests and pathological findings.     

Pyrrolo[2,1-d][1,2,3,5]tetrazinones deaza analogues of temozolomide with potent antitumor activity

The title compounds, that hold the deaza skeleton of temozolomide, exhibited potent in vitro antiproliferative activity. An evaluation of such a biological activity indicates that the mode of action of these compounds differs from that of temozolomide and is also mechanistically unrelated to that of any known antitumor drug.     

Epidemiological study of urinary tract stones in a northern Italian city

An epidemiological study of stone disease in a Northern Italian city was carried out by means of a postal questionnaire mailed to 6000 individuals (2.5% of the entire population). It was found that the incidence of stone disease was comparable to that of industrialised Western Europe. There was a relationship between stone disease and gout and stone disease and a positive family history. The frequency of uric acid stones was high (26.5%). Stone-formers showed no alimentary differences from non-stone formers apart from the use of spices and herbs. Stone-formers used less water from public aqueducts and more uncarbonated mineral water, but only 19% of these drank at least 2 litres a day.     

Neuropsychological deficits in arterial hypertension

ABSTRACT Sixty subjects with uncomplicated essential hypertension and 60 matched normal subjects were submitted to neuropsychological tests in order to establish whether some impairment of cognitive functions can be evidenced even in those hypertensive subjects that are in this respect asymptomatic on standard examination and interview. The hypertensive subjects obtained significantly poorer results than normotensive subjects on memory, visuo-motor and performance tests. In the control group, the classic negative correlation pattern between age and scores was observed, while in the patient group this correlation could be confirmed only in a few tests. Subgrouping of patients according to hypertension duration and treatment showed that the impairment of cognitive functions manifested itself very early and did not tend to progress within 6–10 years of hypertension duration.