Bone homeostasis in type II diabetes mellitus

This study was conducted on 80 cases of adult onset diabetes mellitus [type II DM]. There was significant increase in serum calcium, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, urea and creatinine. This was associated with high serum insulin level and low T3 levels which were measured by radioimmunoassay. The study showed that DM causes changes in mineral and calcium homeostasis but these changes were not related to serum glucose level, serum insulin level or the duration of DM. The decreased serum T3 and elevated serum reverse T3 [r T3] were found to progress towards normalization upon achievement of good metabolic control

Pleural ascites in ascitic liver cirrhosis

The present study was conducted on forty patients with documented liver cirrhosis and gross ascites and without other diseases which could produce ascites or pleural effusion. Five cases were found to have pleural effusion as well. A full work up was done and the diagnosis of hepatic hydrothorax in these patients was confined by exclusion. Four cases had right massive pleural effusion, and one case had bilateral moderate accumulation. Comparison of ascitic and pleural fluids of these patients showed similar character of both fluids. However, one case showed a bloody effusion, yet had a clear yellow ascitic fluid. Also pleural fluid in all cases had higher protein concentration and specific gravity than the corresponding ascitic fluid. Other easily diffusible substances as sodium, potassium, glucose urea and creatinine were similar in pleural and ascitic fluids. Ascitic fluid had more lymphocytes than pleural fluids. No correlation was found with the advances of liver cell failure

Effect of antiprostaglandins on the hypotensive effect of betaadrenergic blockade

Twenty patients with essential hypertension were the subject of this study. Indomethacin was given alone for 10 days, then oxprenolol was given alone for another 10 days and in the third trial combined oxprenolol and indomethacin was given for 10 days. Non-significant changes were recorded in blood pressure measurement after indomethacin alone, whereas a statistically significant drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure occurred after oxprenolol alone and after 10 days of combined oxprenolol and indomethacin therapy a statistically significant rise of systolic and diastolic blood pressure occurred. This nullifying effect of indomethacin was suggested to be due to abolishing the vasodilator prostaglandin stimulating effect of beta-receptor blockers, added to the possible sodium retaining and direct vasoconstrictor effect of indomethacin in hypertensives. It was concluded that due to this drug interaction, it is advised not to combine indomethacin therapy with beta-blockers in hypertensives

Drepanocytose de l'enfant marocain a propos de 76 cas colliges a l'hopital d'enfant de Rabat en 5 ans

76 cases of sickle cell disease [SCD] of all forms are collected in children's hospital in Rabat in 5 years. We find that SCD constitutes 1,2% of all pediatric admissions and 46% of hemolytic anemia. SCD is more frequent in its homozygous form. Whereas the diagnosis is of 3 years late after the disease first manifestations. The pallor and the spleen are very frequent, even in the old child. Hemoglobin electrophoresis' patient and other members of his family are both enough to relate the diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies. The radiology allows to call up non diagnosis SCD before. 30% of patients have never necessitated the transfusion. Only one patient received a vasodilator. The evolution is simple in 80% of cases. In 20% a lot of complications occur some of them are serious [thrombosis and infection]. Let's notice that from 76 patients of the survey, two are dead. The favourable influence of the Hb F in the homozygous is confirmed in this study

Serum phosphate and magnesium levels as parameters of diabetes control

Twenty diabetic patients under insulin therapy were studied for serum and urinary magnesium and inorganic phosphorus, fasting and second hour postprandial blood glucose level simultaneously before insulin administration and on the 4th, 6th and 8th day after diabetes control. A significant drop of serum and urinary levels of magnesium as well as phosphorus levels occurred more evidently on the 2nd postprandial hour in the early days after control of diabetes, followed by a gradual increase in serum and urinary levels on the 6th and 8th days. These changes suggested replenishment of body stores of phosphorus and magnesium indicating that mere control of hyperglycemia is not enough and correction of phosphorus and magnesium is a necessary parameter to achieve a proper state of diabetic control

Stress and catecholamine excretion in normotensive and hypertensive drivers

2 hours urinary catecholamines and VMA were measured in ten hypertensive and ten normotensive drivers on 2 separate days. [a] Working day with 8 hours driving. [b] Leave day with normal daily life activity but without driving. The results showed increased 24 hours urinary catecholamines and VMA in hypertensive more than in normotensive drivers whether on working or leave days. Also, the same work showed an increased 24 hours urinary catecholamines on the working day more than on leave day whether in hypertensive or in normotensive drivers. This denotes that driving is a state of stress which leads to increased catecholamines and VMA secretion and urinary excretion denotes that hypertensive patients secrete and excrete catecholamines and VMA more than normotensive persons. So, hypertensive drivers must not work more than one shift per day and must undergo careful periodic clinical and psychological assessment, and much more better, should not be employed in bus driving in the Capitals