Search

The authors report their experience with 11 patients, surgically treated since 1990, affected with superior vena cava syndrome. A peculiar case of neoplastic thrombosis in hepatocarcinoma is stressed. In fact a similar case hadn't been reported in the last ten-year literature, although hepatocarcinoma may spread in different organs. A subject review and a discussion are presented.

Exposure to traffic noise for ten minutes increased diastolic pressure without affecting systolic pressure and heart rate. Plasma catecholamine levels were enhanced only five minutes after noise stimulation. Noradrenaline increased more significantly than dopamine and adrenaline. No changes in plasma cAMP levels and hematochemical parameters ( cholesterol , glucose, triglycerides , uric acids) were observed. Data suggest that traffic noise can be considered a stress-full stimulus and its effect on diastolic pressure can be correlated to alpha-receptor stimulation.

The effect of road noise on blood catecholamines, cAMP and certain cardiovascular and metabolic parameters was studied in a group of young untreated essential hypertensives. It was found that the 10' stimulus increased both systolic and diastolic pressure values. Blood catecholamines rose only after 5'. The most significant increase was in adrenaline as opposed to noradrenaline and dopamine. Significant changes were noted in cAMP and triacylglycerols (10' and 15' after commencement of the stimulus respectively). Comparison with previous results in normotensives suggested that the catecholamine response to stress is primarily alpha-receptorial when blood pressure is normal and beta-adrenergic in hypertension.