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Biomedical subjects

E Barantani

Publications and source records attributed to E Barantani.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Isochromosome 15q of maternal origin in a Prader-Willi patient with pituitary adenoma.

We report on a Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) patient carrier of a balanced 15q15q translocation and affected by a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma. Evidence provided by molecular studies indicates that the structural rearrangement is an isochromosome of maternal origin. According to the identification of isodisomy as the basis of the association of rare disorders and the recent report on chromosome 15 monosomy and nullisomy in pituitary adenoma, we suggest that in our case PWS and pituitary adenoma might be related.

Adenoma↗

Relative potency of the atropine-like effects of a new parasympatholytic drug, scopolamine-N-(cyclopropyl methyl) bromide and those of hyoscine-N-butyl bromide.

A double-blind crossover trial with a 4-point bioassay was carried out in 8 convalescent in-patients to study the relative potency of scopolamine-N-(cyclopropyl methyl) bromide (DA 3177), a new parasympatholytic drug, administered at doses of 2.5 mg and 5 mg i.v., and hyoscine-N-butyl bromide, administered at doses of 10 mg and 20 mg i.v., in producing atropine-like effects. The results showed that the effects on heart rate and near point of accommodation were slightly less with DA 3177, while its effects on salivary secretion were a little greater than those of hyoscine-N-butyl bromide. It is suggested that study of the pharmacodynamic effects of parasympatholytic drugs is a relatively simple way of predicting which doses should be effective spasmolytically.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

Chronic autoimmune thyroid disease.

A total of 67 patients with chronic autoimmune thyroid disease were followed, mainly as outpatients, for a period of a few months to over 15 years. The diagnosis was euthyroidism (n = 16, 23.8%), subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 20, 29.8%), primary hypothyroidism (n = 28, 41.7%) or hashitoxicosis (n = 3, 4.47%). Patients with goiters fit Hashimoto's original description of "struma lymphomatosa". The diagnosis was made on clinical grounds and the usual laboratory hormonal tests. Histological examination was carried out at surgery or by fine needle aspiration in 35 patients (52.2%), and a clinical diagnosis was made in 32 (47.7%). Three patients had juvenile Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Most patients were in the fourth, fifth or sixth decade (64.8%), and of these 12 (18%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, which should be suspected when thyrotropin (TSH) is twice the upper normal limit. In these cases thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) testing and evaluation of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) and anti-microsomal antigen antibodies (MsAb) are mandatory. Hypothyroidism with few symptoms develops insidiously in young or elderly patients; the most sensitive test is TSH assay in conjunction with tests for TgAb and MsAb. L-thyroxine administration may be harmful in older patients with late diagnosed primary hypothyroidism. Thyroid supplementation is suggested for patients with subclinical hypothyroidism if TSH values are above 10 mU/L; otherwise they should be followed up annually, as should patients with positive thyroid autoantibodies who are still euthyroid.

Age Factors↗