[Kinetics of hepatic enzymes in anorexia nervosa]. / Cinetica degli enzimi epatici nell'anoressia nervosa.

Nervous anorexia in advanced stage causes a generalized deterioration of organs' and apparatuses' functions. In particular, well-known are disorders of both CNS and PNS, changes of the haematic crasis and worsening of the metabolic-endocrine axis. Less well-known, however, is the compromission of function. Analysis of the data obtained in this trial points out a statistically significant correlation between the loss of weight and the variation of level of some liver enzymes (SGPT, SGOT, LDH). These indexes of hepatic necrosis in our opinion, can therefore, be regarded as sound markers not only for a more careful evaluation of the clinical evolution of the anorexic patient, but also for a better monitoring of the effectiveness of diet therapy.

[Changes in lipid status during pravastatin treatment]. / Modificazioni del quadro lipidico durante trattamento con pravastatina.

Reduced cholesterolemia lowers the risk of ischemic cardiopathy, especially if LDL cholesterol levels are reduced. Today this effect can be achieved using drugs following the discovery of a new class of molecules: statins are specific inhibitors of HMG-CoA-reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. These molecules act by modifying the intracellular quota of cholesterol, especially at a hepatocytic level, thus enabling an enhanced expression of those genes responsible for forming receptors for membrane LDL with an increased number of receptors. This leads to a modulation of receptor activity which interferes with LDL uptake, promoting more rapid clearance. The aim of this study was to confirm the efficacy and tolerability of pravastatin when used for long periods in patients with high cholesterol levels, and to compare its activity to that of gemfibrozil.