[Rhythm of melatonin excretion in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]. / Rytm wydzielania melatoniny w zespole obturacyjnego bezdechu sródsennego.

UNLABELLED: Melatonin is a pineal hormone that regulates sleep and wake status. Melatonin concentrations in blood serum were measured using radioisotope method in 33 males (age 48 +/- 10) with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The following melatonin concentrations were measured: 54 +/- 72 pg/ml (9 p.m.) 424 +/- 838 pg/ml (2 a.m.) and 307 +/- 534 pg/ml (6 a.m.). In patients with high peak melatonin concentration (> 200 pg/ml) as compared with the patients with low peak melatonin concentration (< 200 pg/ml) there were higher index of respiratory disorders during sleep (53 +/- 18 vs 38 +/- 20, p < 0.05) and lower minimal SaO2 during sleep apnea (52 +/- 17% vs 70 +/- 10%, p < 0.05); they were also more tired in the morning and were more sleepy during the day (Epworth sleepiness scale 17 +/- 6 vs 11 +/- 6, p < 0.01). In 66% of patients peak melatonin concentration was observed at 2 a.m. In 24% of patients peak melatonin secretion was prolonged to early morning hours. CONCLUSIONS: In most of patients there is peak melatonin excretion at 2 a.m. Patients with high apnea and hypopnea index and daytime sleepiness have high peak melatonin concentrations.

[Atypical course of histiocytosis X]. / Nietypowy przebieg histiocytozy X.

A 48-year-old female patient was admitted because of increasing in size xanthomas of the eyelids lasting since 9 years (despite surgical treatment) and narrowing considerably the palpebral fissures. Five years earlier the diagnosis of type II b hyperlipoproteinaemia was made. Presently, besides palpebral lesions, a painless plum-sized tumour was found in the right frontoparietal area and two hard tumours of similar size were situated bilaterally in the submandibular area. In the biopsy specimens of all these tumours histological examination demonstrated lymphoid cells with numerous germinative centres. The diagnosis of histiocytosis X was followed by treatment with prednisone which resulted in a decrease in the size of palpebral xanthomas and improvement of the general condition of the patient.

[A case associating primary parathyroid hyperfunction with hyperthyroidism]. / Przypadek skojarzenia pierwotnej nadczynnosci przytarczyc z nadczynnoscia tarczycy.

A case of rare association of hyperparathyroidism with fully developed hyperthyroidism appearing in a woman 23 years old with advanced generalized cystic fibrosis has been presented.

Lipid disturbances in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Small but detectable disturbances concerning blood lipid levels manifested by somewhat higher concentrations of LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides as well as higher values of atherogenic indices expressing the ratio of cholesterol present in atherogenic lipoprotein fractions to that present in atheroprotective HDL fraction have been shown to exist in 36 women with polycystic ovary syndrome. HDL-cholesterol concentration was lower in women with polycystic ovary syndrome than in healthy women. The disturbances described above were more pronounced in obese patients. No correlation was found between the disturbances in lipid levels and hormonal disturbances particularly hyperandrogenemia.