[Use of clonidine in the prevention of alcohol withdrawal syndrome]. / L'impiego della clonidina nella prevenzione della sindrome da astinenza alcolica (S.A.A.).

Clonidine, an effective antihypertensive drug acting on central presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoreceptors, is commonly used in opiate withdrawal. There is recent evidence of advantages in using clonidine also in alcohol withdrawal. The results of a randomized study on 44 alcoholics, admitted without withdrawal symptoms, are shown. The alcohol withdrawal syndrome appeared in 50% of the patients in the placebo group and in 9% of the clonidine treated patients. Clonidine is an effective tool in the hospital preventive treatment of alcohol withdrawal.

[Nonketotic hyperosmolar coma. Clinical aspects and treatment in 12 cases]. / Il coma iperosmolare non chetosico. Aspetti clinici e trattamento in 12 casi.

Non-ketotic hyperosmolar diabetic coma is a complication of diabetes characterised by extreme dehydration, plasmatic hyperosmolarity and the absence of ketosis. The mortality rate is very high, especially in elderly subjects with type II diabetes. A personal series of 12 cases is reported with an assessment of general features, triggering factors, biochemical parameters at onset and treatment given. The data confirm reports in the literature and the results show the therapeutic superiority of continuous endovenous infusions of insulin at 3-10 mu/hour over other treatment protocols.

[Pseudohypoparathyroidism. Analysis of a clinical case with late development]. / Pseudoipoparatiroidismo. Analisi di un caso clinico ad evoluzione tardiva.

A case of pseudohypoparathyroidism of characteristic phenotype and metabolism is described. The condition was diagnosed at over 50 years of age following the appearance of hypocalcaemia and calcification of basal ganglia which responded quickly to treatment with vitamin D and orally administered calcium. This case gives the opportunity to describe a rare hereditary disease and discuss which mechanisms triggered off the symptomatology: mechanisms which involve PTH, the action of which is still not fully known.

[The natural history of Still's disease. Description of a clinical case with repeated recurrences and long remission periods]. / La storia naturale della malattia di Still. Descrizione di un caso clinico a decorso policiclico e con lunga remissione.

A case of Still's disease is presented that demonstrates the uncertain prognosis and the duration of the treatment required to prevent recurrences. The importance of frequent check-ups is also emphasised.

[Chromosome analysis performed in 176 cases of pleural effusions of various types]. / Studio sull'analisi cromosomica effettuata in 176 casi di versamenti pleurici di varia natura.

Reference is made to the results of a chromosome analysis conducted on pleural liquid sediments in 71 cases of neoplastic effusion and 105 transudative and inflammatory cases. Numeric and morphological karyotype alterations conclusively indicative of the neoplastic origin of the effusion were observed in 79% cases where a tumour was actually present, and in none of the non-neoplastic cases. The diagnostic sensitivity of the examination was compared with that of the Pap-test, which gave positive results in 63% of cases. When both methods were used, diagnosis was possible in 90% of cases. Some suggestions are made for checking with other studies on the possibilities offered by chromosome as a means of prognosis as well as diagnosis.