Effect of fenfluramine on serum T3, T4 and TSH levels in obesity

A prospective, randomised case-control trial of an anorectic drug, fenfluramine was conducted on 30 patients of simple obesity. The study revealed that the drug was well tolerated, non-toxic and effective in reducing the body weight and normalising the thyroid profile. Reduction in body weight, rise in serum thyroxine (T4) and fall in serum triiodothyronine (T3) was highly significant (p less than 0.01) in drug treated group as compared to controls (p less than 0.05) after 12 weeks of therapy. There was also fall in serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels but without any statistical significance.

Thyroid function in leprosy

Thyroid function tests were carried out in 43 cases of leprosy. The study subjects included cases of tuberculoid, borderline and lepromatous leprosy and those with lepra reaction. The parameters studied included serum cholesterol, protein bound Iodine, serum T3 level and serum T4 levels. The levels of serum cholesterol and protein bound Iodine were normal in all the four groups of leprosy patients. However, the mean serum T3 and T4 were low in all the four groups. The difference in the levels of serum T3 was statistically significant only in the lepra reaction group. The levels of T4 were statistically significantly decreased in borderline leprosy, lepromatous leprosy and in lepra reaction.

Glucose tolerance test in leprosy

Glucose tolerance test was carried out in 43 cases of leprosy. They included cases of tuberculoid, borderline, lepromatous leprosy and those with lepra reaction. It was observed that normal curve was common in tuberculoid leprosy. Flat glucose tolerance curve was observed in borderline and lepromatous leprosy. However, the diabetic curve was common in Lepra reaction. Fasting blood sugar was low in lepromatous leprosy and it tended to be marginally high in lepra reaction. Normal GTT response was observed in those with duration of disease between 0-6 months, flat curves in those with duration of disease between 7-12 months while diabetic curve was more common in those with disease duration of more than 2 years.

Association of hypomagnesemia with diabetic retinopathy

Serum magnesium was measured in 100 patients of type II diabetes mellitus (40 without retinopathy, 40 with non-proliferative and 20 with proliferative retinopathy) without malnutrition, hepatic or renal disease or albuminuria and in 100 age and sex matched controls. The serum magnesium levels were lower in diabetics than in controls (P less than 0.001), and the levels in diabetics with non-proliferative and proliferative retinopathy were significantly lower than in those without retinopathy (P less than 0.001). These data seem to point towards an association between hypomagnesemia and diabetic retinopathy.

Oral clonidine: an effective growth hormone provocative test

Twenty normal statured healthy children (8 M; 12 F) aged 9-16 years were subjected to growth hormone (GH) provocative tests. The mean basal GH level was 2.0 +/- 0.42 ng/ml (+/- SEM). The mean peak levels of GH were 11.9 +/- 2.19 ng/ml (+/- SEM) after exercise, 9.82 +/- 2.81 ng/ml (+/- SEM) after insulin and 15.2 +/- 2.54 ng/ml (+/- SEM) after oral clonidine. A significant rise (peak level greater than 7 ng/ml) of serum GH was found in 70, 80 and 85% of children after exercise, insulin and oral clonidine tests, respectively. The observation in the present study indicates that oral clonidine test, a safer, easier and more economical test than insulin hypoglycemia, is equally potent and can be done in out patients.

Hormone profile in leprosy

Hormone profile were carried out in 35 male cases of leprosy. They were divided into tuberculoid leprosy, borderline leprosy, lepromatous leprosy and lepra reaction. Serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, Luteinizing hormone, and Oestradiol level were measured in these cases of leprosy. It was observed that serum testosterone were significantly low in lepromatous leprosy (P less than 0.001) and lepra reaction (P less than 0.01). The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were significantly high in lepromatous leprosy (P less than 0.02) and lepra reaction (P less than 0.05). Serum Oestradiol was raised in approx. 60% cases in borderline leprosy, lepromatous leprosy and lepra reaction.

Case report : grave's disease presenting as paranoid schizophrenia

The case of a 37 year old male is described who initially presented as paranoid schizophrenia unresponsive to anti-psychotic drug treatment and subsequently developed features of Grave's disease. Treatment with carbimazole alone improved his psychiatric symptoms.

Adreno-cortical function in leprosy

Adreno cortical function was carried out in 43 cases of leprosy. These cases were further divided into tuberculoid, borderline, lepromatous and Lepra reaction. Serum and urinary electrolyte, urinary 17-Ketosteroid and 17-Ketogenic steroid and plasma cortisol levels were measured to assess the adrenocortical status in these different forms of leprosy. It was observed that these parameters were within normal limit in tuberculoid leprosy except low value of urinary 17-Ketogenic steroid. The borderline and Lepromatous leprosy cases revealed low values of urinary sodium, potassium and 17-Ketogenic steroid and high level of serum potassium. However, the cases of lepra reaction revealed low value of serum and urinary sodium and potassium, urinary 17-Ketogenic steroid. The basal plasma cortisol level was high in this group but it was statistically insignificant.