Effects of L-carnitine on adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy in rabbit.

The authors conducted an investigation in order to ascertain whether or not L-carnitine, by promoting the utilization of FFA for energy and neutralizing FFA toxicity occurring after ischaemia, could prevent or confine adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in rabbits. The results show that L-carnitine determines a higher survival rate and reduced onset of cardiomyopathy. Histopathological examination of myocardial tissue under light and electron microscopy revealed a marked decrease in mitochondrial lesions.

[Changes in serum immunoglobulins in subjects with acute myocardial infarct and essential hypertension]. / Comportamento delle immunoglobuline sieriche in soggetti con IMA e con ipertensione essenziale.

20 (12 men and 8 women) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and 17 (14 men and 3 women) patients with arterial hypertension (II degrees stage according to OMS) in comparison to controls age and sex matched, were studied, serum IgA, IgG, IgM were evaluated with radial immunodiffusion and serum IgE with RIA. Ho significant changes ef immunoglobulins were observed between hypertensive patients and controls; whereas a significant increase of IgM, IgG and IgE, with out changes of IgA, were shown in AMI patients. Serum Ig and IgM were significantly augmented in AMI patients in comparison to hypertensive patients.

[Cardiovascular involvement and complications in Mediterranean boutonneuse fever]. / Compromissione e complicanze cardiovascolari nella febbre bottonosa mediterranea.

After a review of the literature on heart damage in rickettsiosis, the data from a clinical and ecgraphic investigation of 17 patients suffering from boutonneuse fever are reported. There was little cardiovascular involvement and inconstant hypotension but two heart complications are described, one myocardial ischaemia which cleared up a few days after the end of the diseases, and an atrial fibrillation that lasted two days. Stress is laid on the need for constant ecgraphic monitoring, even in this minor rickettsiosis.

[Complications of boutonneuse fever]. / Le complicanze della febre bottonosa.

Complications are rare in boutonneuse fever. This is clear from the brief review offered of the relevant literature. Reference is made to the clinical records of a personal series collected in Sicily during the current endemo-epidemic expansion of the disease through some regions of Italy. Primary complications appear in the form of cutaneous vesicles, a pyramidally located psychosensorial syndrome, transient atrial fibrillation and myocardial ischaemia, anuria with hyperazotaemia and another severe renal impairment. Careful clinical investigation of cases with unusual symptoms is recommended, coupled with systematic pathogenetic examination along modern lines.

[Correlation of some instrumental, metabolic and clinical parameters in cerebral atherosclerosis]. / Correlazione di alcuni parametri strumentali, metabolici e clinici nell'aterosclerosi cerebrale

The epidemiological, clinical and instrumental features of cerebral circulatory insufficiency are examined in an assessment of the criteria required for correct diagnosis. The need to refer to both direct and indirect criteria is illustrated in the light of a series of cases. From the 4th decade of life onwards, males are more prone to cerebral arteriosclerosis. Hypertension, diabetes and obesity are significant risk factors. The findings obtained by various methods of examination are critically discussed. Their correct interpretation naturally demands correlation with the clinical data.

[The efficacy of pyridonolcarbamate in diabetic angiopathy]. / L'efficacia del piridinolcarbamato nell'angiopatia diabetica

A group of atherosclerotic patients, some of whom were diabetics with clinical and instrumental signs of angiopathy, was treated with pyridinolcarbamate which was found to be elective for diabetic angiopathy. This was seen in the improvement in haemocoagulative alterations (platelet adhesiveness and clumping), that in certain lipidico-plasmatic alterations (normalization or reduction of glycoproteins) and in anatomofunctional modifications at wall level (rheographic modifications and changes in the diffusion curves with Alb labelled with I 131). These improvements were not observed in atherosclerotic subjects.