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Active Cushing's syndrome during pregnancy is a rare phenomenon which was so far described in the literature only in 85 women. The authors give an account of a patient who developed Cushing's syndrome during pregnancy and who was delivered during the eighth month of a healthy foetus by caesarean section, afterwards the hypercortisolism associated with hyperaldosteronism was treated by dextrolateral adrenalectomy. In the removed adrenal gland was a cortical adenoma made up of clear cells and cells reminding of the zona glomerulosa. Subsequently the authors summarize data from the literature on the prevalence of different pathogenetic forms of Cushing's syndrome in pregnant women, on the influence of hypercortisolism on mother and foetus, on the optimal diagnosis and therapy of this syndrome during pregnancy.

Among 1,499 representative renal biopsies in 278 cases nephrotic syndrome was diagnosed. In the latter only in 201 glomerulonephritis was confirmed by biopsy and in 77 (more than one quarter) the bioptic finding was different. The authors attempt to analyze the essential feature of nephrotic syndrome focused on the glomerular basal membrane and surrounding structures.

In a total of 1499 representative renal biopsies 30 displayed morphological changes suggesting diabetic nephropathy. Six patients had clinically diagnosed diabetes at the time of biopsy, 20 according to the bioptic finding, and in four patients the examination did not confirm diabetes. The authors describe the morphological vascular changes in particular the cumulation of masses resembling the mesangial matrix and basal membranes, as well as hyaline lesions, their development, site and combinations. In the author's opinion the most reliable sign of early diabetic nephropathy is thickening of the glomerular basal membrane. They draw attention to the non-specific character of the morphological finding and the necessity to diagnose diabetes mellitus by clinical and in particular by laboratory methods.

To make a correct diagnosis of tubulointerstitial nephritis and to make it in time calls for knowledge of its clinical symptomatology (it is usually very marked in acute forms and in chronic forms it is frequently inapparent) and it is essential to know the main causes which produce this type of renal damage. In some instances the already developed disease is diagnosed and not infrequently even renal failure. Recognition of the aetiological and pathogenetic multiplicity of the disease, as made possible by the submitted classification of the WHO expert commission, is one of the prerequisites of the diagnosis and treatment in time or of prevention by effective provisions.

The morphological picture of interstitial (tubulointerstitial) nephritis is not rare when renal biopsies or necropsies are evaluated. According to experience assembled during examinations of renal biopsies (a group of 1484 biopsies) in particular biopsies with morphological changes of the character of interstitial nephritis (144 in the group) and according to findings reported in the available literature, the authors submit an account of changes encountered in a large group of interstitial nephrites. The need of such an account ensues in particular from clinical practice where the morphological picture can be decisive for establishing the correct diagnosis in cases where other, in particular clinical and biochemical examination procedures, do not suffice.