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The occurrence of arterial thrombosis reported in other breast cancer series has largely been confined to the upper extremities, ipsilateral to a previous mastectomy site and clinically manifest as cerebral vascular accidents. This case report describes 2 patients who experienced iliac artery thrombosis temporally related to receiving granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and dose-intensive chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. A review of the literature concerning arterial thrombosis as relevant to breast cancer treatment and GM-CSF is included.

We studied the changes in cellular immunity in patients in replacement dialysis therapy (RDT) and examined the relationship between T-lymphocyte function and plasma levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). In a preliminary study we found that increased plasma levels of PTH were associated with a decrease of T-lymphocytes and CD4, an increase in CD8 and a reduction in the ratio of CD4 to CD8. In the present study we examined the relationship between plasma levels of PTH, interleukin 2 receptors (IL-2R) and soluble human CD8 (S-CD8). We studied 54 patients divided into two groups: 26 patients with normal levels of PTH and 28 patients with increased levels of PTH. We found a significant reduction in total T-lymphocytes in both groups as compared to controls, with an inverse correlation between total T-lymphocytes and plasma PTH in the second group (R = -0.52). There was an increase in IL-2R in the group II as compared to the controls and also in the total population of uremic patients with a linear correlation between levels of IL-2R and PTH (R = 0.6). The levels of S-CD8 showed a significant increase in both groups with a linear correlation between levels of SC-D8 and PTH (R = 0.63). No specific differences were seen between patients treated with and without 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The elevated levels of PTH affect the lymphocyte function and are associated with change in cellular immunity with reduction in total number of T cells, and increases in levels of CD8, S-CD8 and IL-2R.

We studied 54 patients in replacement dialytic therapy divided into two groups: Group 1, 26 patients with normal parathyroid hormone (PTH) (10-80 pg/ml): and Group 2, 28 patients with elevated PTH (80-400 pg/ml). Total T lymphocytes, CD4, CD8, and CD4/CD8 ratio were evaluated. We found a reduction of total T lymphocytes in both groups compared with controls. A decrease of CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio with a rise of CD8 occurred in Group 2 but not in Group 1. In Group 2, PTH presented a linear correlation with CD8 and a reverse correlation with total T cells. CD4, and CD4/CD8 ratio. PTH might act on T-cellular immunity with an immunosuppressive effect from the earlier phases of hyperparathyroidism.

In the last years the use of alimentary fibres in dietetic management of diabetic patients increased. The aim of this work was to evaluate, in type 2 diabetic subjects, the glycaemic and insulinemic increments after a standard breakfast with glucomannanos enriched biscuits and with common slices of toast containing the same amounts of carbohydrates and calories. The basal serum values of glucose and C-peptide were similar in the two days of the test. The mean increments of glucose and C-peptide were significantly higher (p < 0.001) after slices of toast than after glucomannanos enriched biscuits. In conclusion our results show a reduction in glycaemic increments after breakfast with glucomannanos-biscuits. The decreased insulin secretion and the reduction of insulin need can longer preserve the functional reserve of beta-cells.

The clinical efficacy and the safety of ciprofloxacin was studied in 92 patients (aged 26 to 83 years; mean 57.5 years) affected by urinary tract infections (UTI) and respiratory tract infections (RTI) suffering also with various liver diseases. Ciprofloxacin was given orally at different dose regimens: 500 mg b.i.d. (22 cases), 250 mg b.i.d. (20 cases), 500 mg s.i.d. (20 cases) for the treatment of UTIs; 500 mg b.i.d. (ten cases) and 250 mg b.i.d. (20 cases) for the treatment of RTIs. The doses were not correlated to the severity of the infections. Patients were treated for five to 15 days. All the bacteria isolated from sputum or urine before treatment were sensitive to ciprofloxacin (MIC range less than or equal to 0.015 mg/l to 8 mg/l). The clinical and bacteriological responses were favourable in a high percentage of patients both for RTIs and UTIs, irrespective of the dose. Side effects were infrequent (7%) and mild (nausea, gastralgia, oral candidosis), never requiring the interruption of the treatment. No change in the blood chemistry tests was observed at any dose.

Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) has been used infrequently in the treatment of infants and children with acute renal failure. In this report we describe the use of CAVH in a critically ill neonate who was unable to be managed with either peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis. The procedure was safe and effective in the management of fluid overload and multiple electrolyte disturbances including life-threatening hyperkalemia. The technical aspects of this procedure are described, and its potential benefits and complications are assessed with reference to the ten previously reported cases.