[Platelet aggregation and various coagulation parameters in liver cirrhosis]. / L'aggregabilità piastrinica ed alcuni parametri coagulativi nella cirrosi epatica.

Twenty eight patients affected by liver cirrhosis were studied in comparison with 44 control subjects, matched for age. The following parameters were carried out: a) platelet aggregation (by Born's method) induced by increasing concentrations of ADP and epinephrine; b) PF3 ( Spaet - Cintron method) and antithrombin III, aPTT, prothrombin ratio, fibrinogen, platelet count. Platelet aggregation and availability of PF3 are lower in cirrhotic patients, suggesting an intrinsic defect of platelets. Moreover prolongation of aPTT and prothrombin ratio, lower levels of antithrombin III, fibrinogen and platelet count were detected.

[Role of markers in the diagnosis and follow-up of thyroid carcinomas]. / Ruolo dei markers nella diagnosi e nel follow-up dei carcinomi tiroidei.

Serum thyroglobulin measurement is specified for, the follow-up of patients with treated differentiated thyroid cancer. The thyroglobulin measurement is not good as a screening test of thyroid carcinoma. Serum calcitonin is considered a specific, reliable, easily measurable and repeatable marker of medullary carcinoma, both sporadic and hereditary. This measurement can be used for the follow-up of already diagnosed and treated patients as well as for the screening of medullary carcinoma in patients with thyroid nodules or at risk of MEN 2A and 2B. As there is also evidence of a role for genetic factors in medullary carcinoma when it seems to be sporadic, some recent studies have found genetic markers with the highest diagnostic accuracy.