Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activity in premature and full-term asphyxiated newborns

The serum activity of SGOT and SGPT is one of the more specific parameters of liver cell injury both in adults and in the pediatric age-group. The determination of serum transaminase activity could offer a routine and rapid laboratory test for establishing the presence of hepatic cellular damage following intrauterine or perinatal asphyxia. In fact, it appears that there is a correlation between hypoxia and the increase in serum activity of transaminases in full-term and premature asphyxiated newborns. However, this increase is reversible up to the 30th day of life. The behavior of transaminase enzymatic activity in premature asphyxiated newborns compared to full-term asphyxiated newborns suggests a higher resistance of membranes to hypoxic-ischemic injuries and a lower enzymatic pool of cellular metabolism in premature newborns. Therefore, knowledge of the behavior of SGOT and SGPT activity may have important implications in the diagnosis and early treatment of perinatal asphyxia.

Depression and anxiety in complex partial seizures

In order to evaluate the effect of lateralization of epileptogenic lesions on mood changes (depression-mania) and anxiety (state and trait), twenty patients with complex partial seizures and nineteen controls were assessed with depression scales (Beck, Columbia M-D) and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory. Nine patients had left temporal foci, eight had right foci, as assessed by the side of seizure onset during closed-circuit television-EEG telemetry recording. Left patients scored significantly higher than both right and control groups on depression and trait anxiety. Our results are consistent with those of previous reports on patients with localized epileptogenic and nonepileptogenic lesions. Patients with left side involvement seem more prone to experience dysphoric changes and depressive symptoms than those with right involvement.

Glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) in newborns in relation to the gestational age

The transaminase enzymatic activity (SGOT-SGPT) was measured in the first 72h. of life, within the 7th day and on the 30th day of life in two groups of new borns i.e. full-term and premature ones with a gestational age less than or equal to 37 weeks. The premature babies were divided into two sub-groups: babies with a gestational ager less than or equal to 32 and greater than 32 weeks. Our results on the SGOT and SGPT activity in healthy full-term newborns agree with literature data, but indicate a lowering of the SGOT mean values at the 30th day of life. A similar lowering occurs at the 7th day of life; in premature newborns; these have lower SGOT values during the first 72h. of life than full-term newborns. Newborns with a gestational age of less than or equal to 32 weeks have higher SGOT values than newborns with a gestational age of greater than 32 weeks. The mean values of SGPT during the first days of life are higher in full-term than in premature newborns; there are no significant differences in the sub groups with different gestational age.

Atypical echocardiographic pattern of the posterior leaflet motion in mitral stenosis

In 10% of cases of mitral stenosis the echocardiogram shows a normal backward movement of the posterior mitral leaflet. On the basis of a personal observation the authors suggest that this atypical pattern is related to the type (commissural) and degree (slight) of the valvular involvement.

[Ultrasonics in diagnosis of the upper abdomen]

On the basis of seven cases of suspected liver pathology, an albeit modest contribution has been made to the significance and diagnostic possibilities of ultrasonographic investigation of the upper abdomen. In four cases, ultrasound findings were confirmed by scintigraphy and in three cases by necropsy and histological reports.