Doppler echocardiographic assessment of time to peak velocity in the aorta and pulmonary artery of small for gestational age fetuses

Summary. The time to peak velocity was measured at the level of the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery by Doppler echocardiography in 38 small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses before and during maternal hyperoxygenation. The values were compared to a reference range derived from the study of 142 appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) fetuses. In the SGA fetuses the time to peak velocity at the level of pulmonary artery was significantly lower and at the level of the aorta significantly higher than in AGA fetuses. During maternal hyperoxygenation the aortic time to peak velocity decreased towards normal range but there was no significant change at the level of the pulmonary artery. These results may indicate variations of aortic and pulmonary pressures in SGA fetuses that can be partially modified by maternal hyperoxygenation and which may be associated with changes in the peripheral resistance of the cerebral circulation.     

Coexpression of CD69 and HLADR activation markers on synovial fluid T lymphocytes of patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis: a three-colour cytometric analysis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the coexpression of very early (CD69), early (CD25) and late (HLADR) antigens and to analyse the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of such activation markers on synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes of patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other types of chronic synovitis (OCS). A three colour cytometric analysis was performed using a peridinin chlorophyll protein conjugated anti-CD3 antibody in combination with fluorescein isothiocyanate or phycoerythrin labelled anti-CD69, anti-HLADR, anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). A T cell gating method was utilized, so that three sets of bivariant dot plot quadrant displays were obtained (CD69/HLADR, CD69/CD25, CD25/HLADR). A large percentage of SF T lymphocytes in RA showed the coexpression of very early and late activation antigens (CD3 + CD69 + HLADR +), whereas CD3 + CD69 + CD25 + bearing cells and CD3 + CD25 + HLADR + lymphocytes were only a small percentage. Similar results were obtained in patients with OCS, although to a lesser extent. No statistically significant differences in MFI of CD69 and HLADR positive SF T cells between RA and OCS were observed. The CD69 + CD25-HLADR + T cell subset is the most commonly represented in the synovial environment, among those we have evaluated; this phenotype may be characteristic of chronic inflammatory arthritis.     

Use of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator in Inherited Arrhythmogenic Diseases: Data from Italian ICD Registry for the Years 2001–6

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the lifesaving role of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in high-risk patients with genetic arrhythmogenic diseases.
Aim: To evaluate the clinical data of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C), idiopathic ventricular arrhythmia (IDIO-VA) including Brugada syndrome, short QT syndrome, and long QT syndrome (LQT) enrolled in the Italian ICD Registry in the years 2001–6.
Methods: The survey collected prospectively clinical data and technical characteristics of ICD implants on the basis of EURID form.
Results: The number of patients was 1,274 in the HCM group, 520 in the ARVD/C group, 460 in the IDIO-VA group, and 245 in the LQT group. Primary prevention involved 29.5% of patients in the HCM group, 15.9% in the ARVD/C group, 16.9% in the IDIO-VA group, and 16.6% in the LQT group, respectively. Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation were reported in 49.0% and 24.8% in the HCM group, 72.9% and 20.0% in the ARVD/C group, 48.2% and 42.9% in the IDIO-VA group, and 21.2% and 61.6% in the LQT group, respectively. Single-, dual-, and triple-chamber ICDs were implanted in 41.5%, 47.6%, and 10.9% in the HCM group; 57.9%, 36.7%, and 5.4% in the ARVD/C group; 55.0%, 45.0%, and 0% in the IDIO-VA group; and 57.4%, 42.6%, and 0% in LQT group, respectively.
Conclusion: ICD therapies in the years 2001–6 for patients with inherited arrhythmia syndromes were utilized in Italy in a still-limited number of patients. Secondary prevention represented the major indication for ICD implant and the majority of patients were treated by single-chamber ICDs.     

ALBRIGHT'S HEREDITARY OSTEODYSTROPHY

Abstract. Boscherini, B., Coen, G., Bianchini, G., Gallucci, G., Ballanti, P., Pasquino, A. M., Piccolo, F., Manca Bitti, M. L. and Spadoni, G. L. (First Paediatric Clinic and Second Medical Clinic, University of Rome, Italy). Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69:305, 1980. The authors observed different clinical forms of Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy in 4 members of a family (two sisters, their mother and the maternal grandfather). The sisters were affected by pseudohypoparathyroidism type I, the older manifested the hypocalcemic variety, the younger the normocalcemic variety; the mother and the grandfather presented only with short stature and subcutaneous calcifications. The variety of clinical and biochemical alterations observed in these 3 generations supports evidence that Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy has a broad spectrum and that distinctions between the various forms of pseudohypoparathyroidism should not be rigidly considered.     

The Effect of Ellagic Acid on Coagulation in Vivo

Ellagic acid shortens the silicone and glass clotting times of the blood ofdogs, cats, rabbits and rats. The silicone clotting time is reduced so as tomake it almost equal to the normal glass clotting time for 5 to 30 minutesafter the injection of the agent. There is occasional acceleration of thromboplastin generation in dogs. No other clotting factors were altered significantlyin our experiments.

There were no obvious toxic effects of ellagic acid, and it appears to decrease bleeding in normal animals.

Submitted on February 15, 1965 Accepted on May 8, 1965     

REDUCED [3H]SCH 23390 BINDING AND DA-SENSITIVE ADENYLYL CYCLASE IN THE LIMBIC SYSTEM OF ETHANOL-PREFERRING RATS

Dopamine (DA) D₁ receptors and the response of adenylyl cyclase(AC) to dopamine stimulation were studied in the limbic areasand the caudate-putamen of Sardinian ethanol-preferring (SP),Sardinian ethanol-non-preferring (SNP) and Wistar unselected(UW) rats. SP rats exhibited a significantly lower number ofD₁ receptors, measured using [³H]SCH 23390 binding, and a decreasedresponse to DA stimulation than SNP and UW animals. Since SPrats have also a low number of D2 receptors, the results suggestthat an altered dopaminergic transmission may underlie theirinnate alcohol preference     

CONGENITAL LACTOSE INTOLERANCE OF GASTROGEN ORIGIN ASSOCIATED WITH CATARACTS

Abstract. Russo, G., Mollica, F., Mazzone, D. and Santonacito, B. (Paediatric Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy). Congenital lactose intolerance of gastrogen origin associated with cataracts. Acta Paediatr Scand, 63: 457, 1974.–A case of congenital lactose intolerance with lactosuria associated with bilateral cataracts in a male infant is described. Lactosuria and cataracts were also present in four members of the two preceding generations.
According to per oral lactose tolerance tests evidence of transient intestinal lactose deficiency was found in the proband, and it was shown that lactosuria was related to the gastric passage of the lactose, since it disappeared when lactose was given intraduodenally.