[The echocardiographic evaluation of multiply transfused thalassemia patients over the age of 10]. / Valutazione ecocardiografica in talassemici politrasfusi con età superiore a 10 anni.

Today cardiomyopathy is the main cause of death of patients with thalassemia disease since the second decade of their lives. Echocardiography is a useful means to put into evidence cardiac alterations before the appearance of the clinical marks of cardiac failure.

[Glycoprotein changes in acute myocardial infarction (author's transl)]. / Modificazioni dell'assetto glicoproteico durante la fase acuta dell'infarto miocardico.

The changes of 11 plasma glycoproteins have been recorded during the first month in 22 patients with acute myocardial infarction; the quantitations have been performed by radial immunodiffusion on plates. The IgM proteins are significantly augmented and, with lesser degree, the alpha1 acid glycoprotein, the alpha1 antitrypsin and the haptoglobin are significantly augmented too. The peak is noted on the tenth day (the alpha1 acid glycoprotein only has its peak in twentieth day). To explain these changes we can consider: 1) the inflammatory reaction; 2) the repair reaction; 3) the autoimmune response. The complete explanation of these findings needs time: in the mean time we could use the IgM changes as a test in the second stage diagnosis of the acute myocardial infarction as well as the tests used so far.