Relapsing polychondritis with severe aortic insufficiency.

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare disease characterized by auricular, nasal and respiratory tract chondritis, ocular inflammation, inflammatory polyarthritis and cardiovascular abnormalities. Here we describe a patient with a five-year history of mild nasal and auricular chondritis, which suddenly developed into a severe aortic insufficiency with rest dyspnea. The pathogenesis and the management of this rare connective tissue disease are discussed.

[Acute adult respiratory distress in a gram-negative infection. Clinical contribution]. / Stress respiratorio acuto dell'adulto in corso di sepsi da gram-negativi. Contributo clinico.

The adult respiratory distress syndrome in major complication of hospitalized patients. The therapeutic role of intravenous albumin, diuretics, corticosteroids and oxygen administration is yet doubtful. The Authors, after a description of pathogenetic, histological and clinical aspects of the syndrome, report a case occurred at their observation; it is showed the important role of intravascular coagulopathy and reversible ECG alterations, and the therapeutic valve of positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP).

[Ehler-Danlos syndrome (type V) with urethra bifida and polydactyly: an unusual combination]. / Ehlers-Danlos (tipo V) con uretra bifida e polidattilia: una rara associazione.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is currently regarded as a connective tissue dysplasia. Its genetic, biochemical, histological and clinical features are described, together with a personal case in a patient who presented the fundamental symptoms, plus polydactyly and bifid urethra. This association had not been hitherto reported in the literature. The case itself is classed as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type V.

[Lactic acidosis associated with fenformin therapy]. / Acidosi lattica associata a terapia con fenformina.

Irreversible lactic acidosis occurred in two phenformin-treated diabetics. In the first case, blood creatinine was 3 mg % ml, arterial blood pH was 7,12 and ketostix was negative; in the second case, blood creatinine was 1,3 mg% ml, arterial blood pH was 7,22 and ketostix was negative. Diabetic patients to be treated with phenformin must always be carefully selected and this treatment should be reserved for cases where there is a precise indication. Lactic acidosis may occur even in the presence of almost normal serum creatinine concentrations.

[Bile lipid composition in subjects with blood lipid disorders (types II and IV). Effect of a new hypolipemic drug (Etofibrate)]. / Composizione lipidca biliare in soggetti dislipidemici (II e IV tipo). Effetto di un nuovo farmaco ipolipemizzante: l'Etofibrato.

The biliary lithogenous index before and after treatment with Etofibrate, a new hypolipaemizing substance, has been assessed in dyslipidaemic subjects (ypes II and IV). Etofibrate is the result of the association of a molecule of clofibrate and one of nicotinic acid. An analysis of relative molar concentrations of biliary lipides showed that subjects with type IV and IIb dyslipidaemia produced lithogenous bile in base condition, unlike subjects with type IIa dyslipidaemia. After 28 days of treatment with Etofibrate (900 mg/die) a clear-cut increase was observed in the biliary lithogenous index in all types of dyslipidaemia examined.