[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.

[Activity of converting enzyme angiotensin I to angiotensin II (ACE) in patients with diabetes type II]. / Aktywnosc enzymu konwertujacego angiotensyne I w angiotensyne II (ACE) u chorych z cukrzyca typu II.

The aim of the work was evaluation of activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus depending on evidence of hypertonia, duration of diabetes and possibility of fat metabolism disturbances. 20 patients were studied (16 women and 4 men, average age 57.5 years). Average time of duration of diabetes was approximately 9 years (from 1 year to 25 years). The control group included 68 people (34 women and 34 men) in age of 19 to 67 years. Convertase activity was determined by Friedland and Silverstein's spectrofluorometric assay. Average ACE activity values in diabetic patient (44.45 +/- 13.14 mmol/ml/min) were close up to control group values and were not significantly different. Similar significant difference was not ascertain between average ACE activity values in patients with more than and less than 10 years of diabetes, in patients with hypercholesterolemia over and less 300 mg%, in patients with and without hypertonia and in patients with and without LDL hypercholesterolemia over and less 200 mg%. Positive correlation was observed between ACE activity values and triglyceride levels in patients with less than 10 years of diabetes (r = 0.88, p < 0.01) and in patients with hypercholesterolemia over 300 mg% (r = 0.75, p < 0.01). In this last group, in addition, the positive correlation was present between ACE activity values and total cholesterol levels (r = 0.86, p < 0.001). Correlation between ACE activity and total cholesterol level was ascertained in patients with LDL hypercholesterolemia over 200 mg% too (r = 0.81, p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Plasma renin activity in women with hypothyroidism]. / Aktywnosc reninowa osocza u kobiet z niedoczynnoscia tarczycy.

Plasma renin activity was assayed with RIA technique in 13t female patients with hypothyroidism, aged between 23 and 64 years (mean 43.1 years). It was found that mean plasma renin activity in the group under study was statistically significantly lower than that in analogue control group. These results may indicate a relationship between thyroid function and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Therapeutic effect of gevilon in patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia.

Authors examined 46 patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia divided according to hyperlipoproteinaemia type II A, II B, IV. After one month of isocaloric diet the patients were given a single night gevilon dose of 900 mg for a period of 3 months. After therapy we examined lipid metabolism, liver and kidney function, carbohydrate metabolism, hematopoietic system and water--electrolyte balance. In all groups increased levels of cholesterol, beta-lipoproteins and triglycerides were significantly reduced after 3 months of gevilon treatment. In all patients the HDL/LDL ratio increased close to normal values. No impairment of kidney or liver function hematopoietic system and electrolyte balance after 3 months of treatment were noted. Because gevilon is easy to apply and has a limited number of side effects, it is very readily taken by the patients who have lipid balance disorders.

[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.

[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.