Caloric intake and weight gain according to the shift schedule of shift workers

Survey involved 84 workers matched for age, socio-occupational and families status and divided into 3 groups : A : 27 shift workers on 3 days rotating shift, B : 47 shift workers on 5 days rotating shift, C : 20 days workers. Each subject was submitted to dietary survey by means of 24 hours recall, realised 3 times for shift workers and once for control. All workers were interviewed about caloric intake of the preceding day off caloric intake. Annual weight gain was studied through the use of occupational health service records. There was no significant difference between the 3 groups for working day caloric intake. Day-off intake was lower (p less than 0.05) in group A (day-off any day of the week). Annual weight gain was not different between the 3 groups. Shift workers with faster weight gain had a higher caloric intake on day-off and after evening meal.     

Carnitine deficiency associated with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency

An infant with X-linked recessive ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency is described who also had severe deficiency of plasma and liver carnitine during normoammonemic periods. Treatment with L-carnitine (100 mg/kg/day) for 12 months decreased the frequency of hospitalizations for hyperammonemia, although it did not alter his neurologic status. This report demonstrates that persistent carnitine deficiency may be present in patients with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency even when plasma ammonia is normal. Carnitine evaluation and supplementation may be important in the treatment of patients with this metabolic disorder.     

Paranoid and aggressive behavior in two obsessive-compulsive adolescents treated with clomipramine.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is increasingly recognized in patients of different age groups. Serotonergic agents, such as clomipramine, have been recently found to be useful in the management of this condition. However, unexpected side effects, such as dysphoria, aggressiveness, and paranoid ideation, may occur with therapeutic doses of this compound, as evidenced in the cases of two male adolescents presented here. Possible pathogenetic factors, involving serotonin and serotonin-receptor abnormalities are discussed. Management of these side effects is based on adequate dose reduction and monitorization.