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Normalization of hemoglobin does not lead to regression of established concentric LV hypertrophy or LV dilation. It may, however, prevent the development of LV dilation, and it leads to improved quality of life.

The transient increase in norepinephrine levels observed with NPA and the sustained increases in norepinephrine levels observed after chronic treatment with amlodipine suggest that sympathetic activation occurs with those two drugs. The lack of increase in norepinephrine levels after administration of NGITS suggests that this formulation does not activate the sympathetic system. The lowering of epinephrine levels after administrations of NGITS and amlodipine suggests that inhibition of release of epinephrine by the adrenal medulla occurs with longer-acting dihydropyridine formulations.

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Partial replantation allows significant prolongation of catheter survival without major complications or interruption of CAPD. This novel procedure appears to be an appropriate alternative to catheter removal for the management of persistent ESTI. However, further studies are needed to prospectively compare partial replantation with catheter removal.

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A very sensitive and specific method of 2-ketoacid determination in various biological fluids using gas chromatography chemical ionization mass spectrometry of O-trimethylsilyl-quinoxalinol derivatives is described. After derivatization with o-phenylenediamine in acidic medium and extraction, the 2-ketoacids, and the 2-ketovaleric acid used as internal standard, are silylated and resolved on a capillary column and their concentrations automatically determined by monitoring the m/z values corresponding to their respective protonated molecular ions, using ammonia as reactant gas. The detection limit is below 50 ng ml-1 of each 2-ketoacid. The recoveries of 2-ketoacids from urine and plasma were between 97 and 104%. Problems encountered with interfering substances were tested for and discussed. This method has been applied successfully to various metabolic disorders characterized by an accumulation of aliphatic 2-ketoacids. The metabolic interrelationship of branched chain 2-ketoacids and other compounds, especially pyruvate, is discussed.

No abstract