Effect of Bendazac Lysine on lens and retina in diabetics

The possible beneficial effects on the lens and retina which Bendazac Lysine may have in the treatment of adult diabetic patients were investigated. Twenty patients, ranging in age from 54.80 ± 5.86 years old, were studied. The average duration of the diabetes was 11.32 ± 4.10 years. Thirteen patients had background retinopathy. The metabolic controls carried out during the study were satisfactory (HbA1<11%). Bendazac Lysine (500 mg three times a day) was administered for 6 months. Blood-retinal barrier permeability (VPR and VPRt) and lens transmittance (t) were evaluated prior to and 6 months after treatment by fluorophotometry. No statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-treatment values of the retina permeability were observed, however, there was a statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) (initial value: t= 0.813 ± 0.040 and final value: t=0.823 ± 0.037) in the lens transmittance. The authors conclude that Bendazac Lysine has a beneficial effect on the lens in the diabetic adult although no improvement in the permeability of the blood-retinal barrier has been observed.     

Serum DU-PAN-2 in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: influence of jaundice and liver dysfunction

The usefulness of serum DU-PAN-2 in diagnosing pancreatic cancer and in distinguishing between this cancer and other benign and malignant diseases, and to assess the role of liver dysfunction in altering the serum levels of this marker were investigated. DU-PAN-2 was measured in the sera of 31 patients with pancreatic cancer, 32 with chronic pancreatitis, 20 with benign and 21 with malignant extra-pancreatic diseases. DU-PAN-2 was found to be above 300 U ml-1 in 21/31 patients with pancreatic cancer (sensitivity 68%). Only 3/32 patients with chronic pancreatitis had abnormal values. A substantial number of patients with both benign and malignant extra-pancreatic diseases had an elevated serum DU-PAN-2 (9/20 and 15/21, respectively). Correlations were found between DU-PAN-2 and (1) total bilirubin, (2) alanine-amino-transferase and (3) alkaline phosphatase. Of the patients with high DU-PAN-2 values, jaundice was found in: 2/3 with chronic pancreatitis, 9/10 with benign and 12/14 with malignant extra-pancreatic diseases. In conclusion, the serum DU-PAN-2 test for pancreatic malignancy is not completely satisfactory, because it is not sensitive enough. While the test for chronic pancreatitis has an acceptable specificity, the assay cannot distinguish between pancreatic cancer and other extra-pancreatic diseases, mainly of the liver and biliary tract. Liver dysfunction as well as jaundice seem to considerable affect the levels of this marker, as reported elsewhere for CA 19-9.     

The unusual association of three autoimmune diseases in a patient with Noonan syndrome.

We report on a 26-year-old female affected by Noonan syndrome (NS), a congenital disorder characterized by various phenotypic features and congenital anomalies) associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, celiac disease, and Hashimoto thyroiditis. Autoimmunity is seldom described in NS and the association between this congenital disease and three autoimmune disorders has not been previously reported. Should the occurrence of autoimmune disorders in NS be confirmed, a relevant clinical and laboratory evaluation of NS patients should be performed in order to clarify whether the immune system involvement represents only an occasional event or is a feature of the disease.     

High affinity neurotrophin receptors in the human pre-term newborn, infant, and adult cerebellum

The immunohistochemical occurrence of the high affinity neurotrophin (NT) receptors trkA, trkB, and trkC is shown in the pre-term newborn, infant, and adult human post-mortem cerebellum. Immunoreactive neuronal perikarya and processes were observed in all specimens examined, where they appeared unevenly distributed in the cerebellar cortical layers and deep nuclei, and showed regional differences among cerebellar lobules and folia. The trk receptor-antibodies, tested by Western blot on human cerebellum homogenates, revealed multiple immunoreactive bands for trkA and single bands for trkB and trkC. The results obtained show the tissue localization of the trk receptor-like immunoreactivity in the human cerebellum from prenatal to adult age. The analysis for codistribution of the receptors with the relevant ligand and among the receptors in discrete cortical and deep nuclei tissue fields shows a wide variety of conditions, from a good similarity in terms of type and density of labeled structures, to a lack of correspondence, and suggests the possibility of colocalization of trk receptors with the relevant neurotrophin and among them in the cerebellar cortex. These results sustain the concept that the neurotrophin trophic system participates in the development, differentiation, and maintenance of the human cerebellar connectivity and support the possibility of a multifactorial trophic support for the neurotrophins through target-derived and local mechanisms.     

Legionellosis associated with artesian well excavation

In October 1990 pneumonia due toLegionella pneumophila was diagnosed in two employees working in the area of Apulia, southern Italy, where artesian wells were in construction. Although the exposure to excavation has been associated with Legionnaires' disease, in our investigation the illness occurred only in those employees who were present when the water emerged from the ground under high pressure. On the basis of this report, water appears as the most likely reservoir of the organism and the main route of infection.Corresponding author.     

Association between the occurrence of antibodies to simian vacuolating virus 40 and bladder cancer in male smokers

An association between the occurrence of antibodies to simian vacuolating virus 40 and bladder cancer in male smokers was found in a case-control study conducted in 200 male patients with bladder cancer and 400 control men. The risk of bladder cancer increases with the years of cigarette smoking.