INSULIN AND GROWTH HORMONE SECRETION IN A LEUKAEMIC GIRL WITH HYPOTHALAMIC SYNDROME

Abstract Schilirò, G., Russo, A., Sciotto, A. and Vigo, R. (Paediatric Clinics I and II, University of Catania, Catania, Italy). Insulin and growth hormone secretion in a leukaemic girl with hypothalamic syndrome. Acta Paediatr Scand, 66:261, 1977.—The authors report a girl with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia presenting hypothalamic syndrome characterized by meningeal leukaemia, hyperphagia and obesity. Insulin and growth hormone secretion, studied with arginine and insulin stimulation tests, showed a high peak of serum insulin and no response of growth hormone. Insulin and growth hormone responses to these tests reverted to normal after intrathecal methotrexate.     

IGF-1和FGF-2对神经母细胞瘤细胞分化及SOCS表达的影响

目的 研究胰岛素样生长因子-1（IGF-1）与碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（FGF-2）对神经细胞增殖与分化的共同作用，并探讨SOCS基因表达与二者作用的关系。方法 选用人类神经母细胞瘤SK-N-MC细胞系作为神经细胞的体外模型，分别用IGF-1，FGF-2及联合应用IGF-1和FGF-2处理细胞，于处理后24、48和72h分别观察细胞数量、形态学变化；收获培养48h的细胞，提取总RNA，用RT-PCR法检测SOCS1、2、3 mRNA的表达。结果 处理后24h各组细胞数量及形态无明显变化；处理后48、72h IGF-1组细胞数量较对照组增多，形态上无明显变化，SOCS2 mRNA表达显著下调；FGF-2组细胞数量减少，形态呈明显分化，SOCS2 mRNA表达高于对照组：而IGF-1和FGF-2联合组细胞数量、形态及SOCS2 mRNA表达变化与FGF-2组相似，但程度上更加显著。结论 FGF-2可以削减IGF-1所诱导的人类神经母细胞瘤细胞的增殖作用，而SOCS2 mRNA表达上调可能为其作用机制之一。     

Distribution of three major hepatitis C virus genotypes in Italy. A multicentre study of 49 5 patients with chronic hepatitis C

SUMMARY. Different genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been shown to have distinct geographical distribution and to associate with variable clinical features. To evaluate their role in chronic hepatitis in Italian patients, we studied 495 consecutive cases with chronic hepatitis C seen in nine sentinel centres homo geneously distributed over Italy. HCV genotyping was carried out using a dot-blot hybridization assay with genotype-specific probes. Four hundred and eleven patients were viraemic and could be evaluated: 57% were found to be infected with HCV-1,31% with HCV-2, 8% with HCV-3. 1% showed mixed infection and 3% were ascribed to HCV-2b or HCV-4 by direct sequencing. Geographical distribution showed discrete territorial variations. A history of drug addiction was commoner in patients infected with HCV-3. There were no signifi cant differences in activity of liver disease among different HCV genotypes but the response to interferon therapy was reduced in patients infected with HCV-1 compared to HCV-2 or HCV-3.     

Two False-negative Responses to the Ajmaline Test in the Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Anterograde block in the accessory pathway with a short effective refractory period was observed after intravenous (IV) injection of 1 mg/kg of ajmaline in two patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The possibility of a false-negative response to this test is discussed. Ajmaline is proposed as an emergency drug in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in the setting of atrial fibrillation with a very high ventricular rate.