Zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium metabolism in patients with human growth hormone deficiency or acromegaly

This study was designed to evaluate trace metal metabolism in patients with known abnormalities of human growth hormone (hGH). The mean concentration of zinc in plasma and urine decreased in patients with hGH deficiency after hGH injection, whereas, after adenomectomy, in patients with acromegaly, zinc increased in plasma, remained the same in erythrocytes, and decreased in urine. There was a negative correlation between plasma zinc and serum hGH levels and a positive correlation between urinary zinc excretion and serum hGH levels in acromegaly. In hGH deficiency, the copper content remained unchanged in plasma and erythrocytes and rose in urine after treatment; however, in acromegaly, the copper content increased in plasma and remained unchanged in erythrocytes and urine after surgery. The mean concentration of erythrocyte manganese did not change significantly after treatment in patients with hGH deficiency or acromegaly, but the pre-hGH treatment level of erythrocyte manganese in hGH deficiency was lower than in the controls. Plasma selenium concentrations were decreased in hGH deficiency and increased in acromegaly patients after therapy. These results suggest that hGH affects the metabolism of zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium.     

The metabolic syndrome and schizophrenia: a review

The clinical phenomenon described as the metabolic syndrome has received considerable attention both in the recent medical literature and popular press. Many of the sequelae of events attributable to newer atypical antipsychotics are consistent with the metabolic syndrome definition. This article describes and summarizes the information available on metabolic syndrome in the mental illness disease area and the proposed mechanisms for the increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in this population.     

The "pulvinar sign" in a case of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

This paper reports a 59 year old woman with paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis associated with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Her brain magnetic resonance imaging scan showed bilateral posterior thalamic hyperintensities, similar to the "pulvinar sign". Her symptoms included progressive psychiatric disturbance and resembled the initial symptoms of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). Clinicians should consider this treatable disorder in the differential diagnosis of vCJD.     

Sleep disturbances in Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease--comparing with patients in the UK

Sleep disorders are common in the general population and occur more frequently with advancing age. However, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have been known to have various sleep disturbances beyond those to be expected from the effect of aging alone. We tried to quantify the various aspects of nocturnal sleep problems in PD using the PD sleep scale (PDSS). 64 patients with PD and 60 age- and sex-matched controls completed the PDSS. After neurological examinations, we assessed the degree of sleep disorder by the PDSS. We evaluated the severity of PD by the Hoehn and Yahr Scale and the unified PD rating scale (UPDRS). To compare the various aspects of nocturnal sleep problems in PD between in Japan and in the United Kingdom (UK), we referenced and compared our results with those by Chaudhui et al. The PDSS scores in PD group were significantly different from those in controls. Individual items of the scale showed good discriminatory power between PD and controls. Overall tendencies were the same in Japan and in the UK, but there were some different points, especially absence of refreshing quality of sleep in Japan. We believe that the PDSS provides an objective method for targeted therapeutic approaches for the treatment of disturbed sleep in PD even among countries with different cultures, such as Japan and the UK.     

Thrombocytic dysfunctions and potentialities of their differential correction in chronic viral hepatitis

The paper presents the results of examination in 88 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH), the parameters of spontaneous and induced platelet aggregation (IPA), cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cHMP) in the platelets, and the plasma levels of thrombocyte-specific peptides--beta-thromboglobulin and thrombocytic factor IV in dynamics of the first administration of alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) and 24-week interferon therapy. According to the values of IPA, the patients with CVH are a heterogeneous group with a predominance of cases of diminished aggregation. The first administration of alpha-IFN causes heterodirectional changes in the functional activity of platelets with a general tendency for their normalization. Supplementation of curantyl in case of increased IPA leads to a more rapid and profound normalization of platelet activity, which is of value in cases at risk for thrombotic complications.     

Effects of interferonotherapy on functional activity of platelets in chronic viral hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver

AIM: To characterize effects of interferon alpha (If-a) on functional activity of platelets in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) and viral hepatic cirrhosis (VHC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Induced platelet aggregation (PA), spontaneous PA, levels of cAMP, cGMP and glycogen in platelets, plasm beta-thromboglobulin (bTG) and activity of thrombocytic factor 4 (TF4) were measured in 95 patients before, 4.5 h after the first If-a introduction, after 12 and 24 weeks of If-a treatment. RESULTS: The patients demonstrated low induced PA, intracellular glycogen and high cAMP, b-TG and TF4. The initial administration of If-a led to normalization of most of functional platelet indices. A 24-h course of If-a therapy normalized platelet functions irrespective of stability of the virusological response. CONCLUSION: If-a preparations in single and multiple administrations normalize platelet function.