Serum pseudocholinesterase and ceruloplasmin in various types of hyperlipoproteinemia.

Starting from previous observations emphasizing an increased pseudocholinesterase (PCE) activity in obese and hyperlipemic subjects, the behaviour of this enzyme and of ceruloplasmin was studied in connection with changes of serum lipids and lipoproteins in various types of hyperlipoproteinemia. When compared to values detected in 67 middle-aged normal weight normolipemic subjects, PCE activity was found to be significantly greater (smaller than 0.001) in the 49 overweight subjects without obvious hyperlipemia but presenting a moderate increase of the prebeta electrophoretic fraction. PCE activity was much higher in lean or overweight subjects with endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (68 patients with type IV and 86 patients with mixed hyperlipemia). The slight increase of mean values of PCE activity in the 53 subjects with type II-a was due mainly to overweight subjects, while this enzyme's activity was not significantly changed in lean subjects with pure hypercholesterolemia. PCE activity was positively correlated with serum triglyceride (r equals 0.540; p smaller than 0.001) and the prebeta electrophoretic fraction (r equals 610; p smaller than 0.001). The correlation with beta-lipoproteins was not significant. Ceruloplasmin levels were not significantly changed. It is suggested that elevation of PCE activity could be connected to mechanisms leading to an increased secretion rate of lipoproteins.

[Growth disorders in children]. / Consideratii asupra tulburarilor de crestere la copil.

The paper presents several remarks on the diagnosis of the growth disturbances in the child, with emphasis on the dwarfism entity by emotional deprivation. The study was performed on two comparative groups. The age of the children ranged between 1 and 3 years. 22 cases (49%) were of deficiency dwarfism, 5 cases of primordial dwarfism (12%), 6 cases (14%) of dwarfism secondary to organic lesions (meningitis, blue asphyxia at birth), 4 cases (8%) of constitutional dwarfism, 8 cases (16%) of idiopathic dwarfism, possible by emotional deprivation. The paper classifies the main causes of dwarfism, reports the diagnosis criteria and emphasizes the importance of detecting, as early as possible, the dwarfism by emotional deprivation, since these disturbances reverse when the child enters a corresponding affective medium.

Guancydine, a new hypotensive agent with complex action.

Guancydine (1-cyano-3-tert-amylguanidine) lowered within normal limits the tensional values in an interval of four hours after its administration in eight out of nine hypertensive patients under experiment. The hypotensive effect of a single oral dose of 500-750 mg persists for about 6-7 hours after its administration. Guancydine does not impair the vasopressor response to angiotensin II but reduces the action of this peptide on the excretion of water, Na, K and Ca through urine. The hypotensive effect of Guancydine is associated with a decrease of platelet adhesiveness and an activation of fibrinolysis. In view of this fact, Guancydine might play a role in the prophylaxis of complications of arterial hypertension - atherosclerosis and trombosis. The increase of venous blood oxygenation after Guancydine could be attributed to the opening of arterio-venous shunts or to the reduction of tissular extraction of oxygen. Guancydine does not seem to be toxic. It produced, in some patients, slight headache and orthostatic hypotension, especially during the first hours after administration.