ABSTRACT
It is confirmed by several studies that in normal subjects a substance recognized by antibodies anti digoxin exists. Such a substance can be found at increased concentration in pregnant women, neonates, in liver or kidney diseases. A limited increase in concentration has been also registered in patients with essential hypertension and in normotensive patients with a family history of hypertension. Serum or urines rich in such a substance show an increased capacity of inhibiting in vitro the sodium-potassium pump and therefore in reducing also in vivo the capacity of reabsorption of sodium and with it, of water. The investigators interest for this substance has two main reasons: 1) the interference that such a substance has in dosages of digitalis in therapeutic monitorizing; 2) the possibility that such a substance has an important physiological role in hydroelectrolytic metabolism.
Subject(s)
Digoxin/immunology , Enzyme Inhibitors/immunology , Hypertension/genetics , Saponins/immunology , Adult , Cardenolides , Female , Humans , Hypertension/immunology , Infant, Newborn , Kidney Diseases/immunology , Liver Diseases/immunology , Male , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
There are approximately 400 reported cases of lingual thyroid (LT) with a clear cut prevalence in paediatric age. These glands are probably quantitatively deficient and function at marginal levels. Thyro-stimulating hormone (TSH) causes hypertrophy producing local symptoms and in younger patients may induce dangerous obstruction. The presumptive diagnosis is usually made by indirect laryngoscopy and thyroscintigraphy. The authors describe a case of LT in a middle aged patient in whom the anomaly remained undiscovered, being without local symptoms, and permitting a normal life. The discovery was made possible by the development in the last four years of a progressive, frank hypothyroidism, probably induced by silent thyroiditis into the ectopic gland.
Subject(s)
Choristoma/complications , Hypothyroidism/complications , Thyroid Gland , Tongue Diseases/complications , Adult , Choristoma/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Hypothyroidism/diagnosis , Tongue Diseases/diagnosisABSTRACT
The acetylhomocysteine thiolactone, a free radical scavenger drug able to activate the superoxide dismutase, shows a lytic effect on neuronal lipofuscin. The study was performed in a nervous tissue particularly rich in lipofuscin, the electric lobe of Torpedo marmorata. It is shown that the drug induces the migration of pigment towards the blood vessels and glial cells which remove them.
Subject(s)
Lipofuscin/metabolism , Neurons/metabolism , Pigments, Biological/metabolism , Thiophenes/pharmacology , Animals , Biological Transport , Female , Male , MarmotaABSTRACT
The administration of acetyl-homocysteine-thiolactone (cythiolone) to Torpedo marmorata inhibits the production of neuronal lipofuscin. The possible mechanism of this action has been investigated. A free radical scavenger effect of the drug has been demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro. Cythiolone is able to activate the enzyme superoxide dismutase, while no effect has been detected on catalase activity.
