Immunoglobulin Levels and CD4 / CD8 Counts in β – Thalassemia Major.

Objective: This cross-sectional study determined the CD4, CD8 counts and serum immunoglobulins in transfusion dependent β - thalassemic patients, and correlated them with anti-HIV, anti-HCV and HBsAg status, number of transfusions, iron overload and splenectomy. Methods: Patients with acute or chronic diseases (except HIV, Hepatitis B and C), on immunosuppressive drugs or vaccinated within one month prior to study were excluded. CD4, CD8 counts and serum Immunoglobulins were documented. Results: Increasing transfusions led to higher IgA and IgM as well as a decline in CD4 and CD8 levels. Higher ferritin correlated with high IgM. CD4, CD8 and IgA were significantly higher in splenectomized subjects. HCV correlated significantly with lower IgA values. Conclusion: Higher transfusion requirement, iron overload, splenectomy and HCV infection correlated with alterations in different immunological parameters.

Amlodipine monotherapy in chronic stable angina.

The efficacy and safety of amlodipine was evaluated in 20 patients with stable exertional angina. Patients with > or = 3 anginal attacks per week in the placebo run-in phase were admitted into a 4 weeks active treatment phase. Amlodipine was administered at a starting dose of 5 mg once daily at bed time, which could be adjusted after 2 weeks to 10 mg once daily if the patient continued to have even a single anginal attack/week. Four weeks of treatment with amlodipine produced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction from baseline in both the mean (+/- SE) number of anginal attacks/week (from 13.3 +/- 1.5 to 1.6 +/- 0.5) and the mean (+/- SE) number of isosorbide dinitrate tablets consumed per week (12.1 +/- 1.5 to 2.6 +/- 0.8). Eighty three percent of patients required an increase in dose to 10 mg daily. No significant change in heart rate, blood pressure, ECG and laboratory results were observed. One patient was withdrawn because of deteriorating angina and sinus tachycardia secondary to beta blocker withdrawal. Worsening of ankle odema was reported in 2 (10%) patients, which was tolerated and disappeared on completing therapy. Thus amlodipine is safe and effective when used as monotherapy in the treatment of chronic stable angina.

A parallel group randomised comparative study of felodipine and nifedipine in hypertension.

We compared the antihypertensive effects and tolerability of a new calcium channel antagonist felodipine with nifedipine in an open randomised parallel group study in 49 patients with moderate hypertension (diastolic blood pressure 105-120 mm Hg). After two weeks run in period felodipine 5 mg and 10 mg once daily was compared with nifedipine 10 mg tid for an active treatment period of 4 weeks. Twenty three patients (mean age 42 +/- 10 years) received felodipine 5 mg once daily for first 2 weeks and 10 mg once daily for subsequent 2 weeks. Twenty six patients (mean age 45 +/- 9 years) received nifedipine 10 mg tid for 4 weeks. The mean reduction in supine diastolic blood pressure in two groups was 17 +/- 6 mm Hg (nifedipine) and 19 +/- 8 mm Hg (felodipine) (p = NS). The goal diastolic blood pressure of less than or equal to 90 mm Hg was achieved in 31 percent (nifedipine group) and 43.5 percent (felodipine group) of patients (p = NS). Side effects were common with both drugs; however, the tolerability was better with felodipine than with nifedipine. In conclusion felodipine was as effective as nifedipine and had the advantage of once a day dosage.

TSH receptors in human thyroid tumours.

To evaluate the binding of human TSH (h-TSH) to various human thyroid tumours using radio receptor assay technique, 26 thyroid tumour specimens were examined. Five specimens did not show displacement by stable h-TSH. A wide variation was observed in B0, non specific binding, affinity and capacity of TSH in all the tumours examined. The Scatchard analysis of the binding of h-TSH to thyroid membranes suggested the presence of the receptors in 57.7 per cent (15 of 26, Ka much greater than 10(9)) and more than one component in 46 per cent (12 of 26) of the tumours studied. There was no consistent pattern of the binding of TSH for thyroid tissue with respect to its pathology. However, with 35 pairs of observations log affinity appeared to be linearly related to log capacity with a slope -0.95, intercept 9.96 and r value -0.93.