Acute alkalosis, but not acute hypocalcemia, increases panic behavior in an animal model.

Non-pretrained, randomized adult rats were tested in a panic-inducing model of passive avoidance. Intravenous treatment with alkalinizing agents (sodium lactate 0.5 M, 0.5 ml/100 g b.wt., or NaHCO3, 0.5 mEq/100 g b.wt.), but not with a hypocalcemic dose of EDTA (75 mg/kg) 3 min before testing, significantly increased panic behavior. These data may support the hypothesis that panic attacks are due to alkalosis and not to lactate-induced hypocalcemia.

[Hemorheological changes in retinal vein occlusions]. / Alterazioni emoreologiche nelle occlusioni venose retiniche.

Some hemorheological factors were studied in 34 patients affected by retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and in 25 healthy control subjects. Whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen and hematocrit were increased in RVO patients compared with controls. Erythrocyte filterability was reduced in RVO patients compared with controls. However, when evaluating the type of capillaropathy at fluorescein angiography, blood viscosity and plasma viscosity were altered both in patients with and without evidence of capillary non-perfusion. Reduction of red cell filterability showed statistical significance only in patients with capillary non-perfusion. This finding suggests that reduced erythrocyte filterability might be a causal factor in the development of capillary non-perfusion in RVO patients.

Clinical research into the hypolipemic and platelet antiaggregant activity of plafibride, Carried out in double-blind conditions and in comparison with clofibrate.

The effects of N-2-(p-chlorophenoxy)-isobutyryl-N'-morpholinomethylurea (plafibride, ITA 104) were studied in a trial under double which an increase in thromboembolic risk is suspected, either associated with, or secondary to, the actual atherosclerotic disease.