Acute effects of acetylsalicylic acid on blood glucose and insulin in non-insulin dependent diabetes.

Two groups of diabetic patients--one treated with diet and glipizide and the other with diet alone--volunteered in the study. After a standard meal blood glucose and insulin were followed for four hours during two separate days. On the first day the patients received their ordinary treatment, whereas on the second 1 g of acetylsalicylic acid was added before the test meal. In both groups an enhanced insulin mobilization was observed, when acetylsalicylic acid has been added. A decrease of the blood sugar level was recorded as well. The latter was however less pronounced in the group of subjects receiving only diet.

Massive embolization of cardiac myxoma. A case report.

A case of left atrial myxoma with massive embolization in a 20-year-old woman is described. The initial clinical picture was confusing, but repeated examinations, including enzyme determinations and arteriographies, disclosed the presence of multiple arterial emboli. At embolectomy, histological investigation of embolic masses showed a picture indicating cardiac myxoma. This diagnosis was confirmed by pulmonary angiography and the tumour was removed. Postischaemic oedema of the legs necessitated decompression operations. The peripheral circulation was restored and the final result was excellent. Some aspects of the clinical presentation of this uncommon disease are discussed.

[X-ray negative pulmonary carcinoma with positive sputum cytology (author's transl)]. / Primär röntgennegativer Lungenkrebs bei positiver Sputumzytologie.

The repeated finding of malignant or suspicious cells in the sputum of an apparently normal person must not be ignored. Immediate and intensive attempts should be made to localize the carcinoma. Sometimes, in the presence of a central tumour an early diagnosis can be made radiologically. With peripheral tumours and early diagnosis is more likely. The most successful method for the early localisation of an occult bronchial carcinoma is fibre optic bronchoscopy, with selective bronchial aspiration. Consistent finding of malignant cells in the secretions from a lobar bronchus, provided contamination can be excluded, justifies surgery such as a lobectomy. Delay in instituting treatment while waiting for radiological or bronchoscopic confirmation reduces the chance of successful surgery because of the possibility of metastases or the development of cardiological or respiratory complications.

Clinically occult lung cancer with positive sputum cytology and primarily negative radiological findings.

Five patients with early clinically occult squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus were reviewed with respect to previous sputum cytological examinations and clinical investigations. In one patient, selective bronchial washings demonstrated the site of the tumour and the patient was successfully operated. In the remaining four patients the interval between cytological diagnosis and radiological, bronchoscopical and/or histological demonstration of the tumour varied between 2 months and 9 years. It seems possible that the duration of bronchogenic carcinoma in situ may be of similar magnitude as that of carcinoma in situ of the cervix (10-15 years). The considerably higher frequency of early stromal invasion after semi-serial sectioning of carcinoma in situ of the bronchus compared with carcinoma in situ of the cervix is emphasized. The results stress that a diagnostic delay of several years is not acceptable, as the possibility of successful treatment will be greatly diminished in such cases.

Bacterial contamination of urine, collected in fractions from different phases of micturition. A study in healthy women.

With a special technique 4-13 consecutive fractions of urine were collected during micturition from 4 female volunteers at together 12 occasions. Quantitative bacterial cultures were performed in 78 urine fractions. Most fractions contained one or several different bacterial strains-generally in small amounts, wheras only 14% were sterile. Fractions from the end of micturition showed on average less bacterial contamination than the earlier portions. No difference was observed between the bacterial counts after cleaning the area around the urethra as compared with the counts without preparation before sampling.