twins than controls. After glucose challenge blood glucose, lactate, alamnne, and glycerol concentrations and lactate: pyruvate ratio were increased in the twins. Insulin response was severely impaired, being almost absent in four of the five twins.The non-diabetic members of the discordant noninsulin-dependent diabetic pairs showed noticeable metabolic abnormalities which would later presumably deteriorate to frank diabetes. These findings, taken with the high concordance rate for non-insulin-dependent diabetic twins, suggest that non-insulin-dependent diabetes is predominantly, possibly entirely, inherited.

We report on a patient presenting with a bronchioloalveolar carcinoma fortuitously detected in the wall of a bronchogenic cyst. Evidence suggests that unstable epithelial cells contained within the cyst wall may lead to premalignant proliferation and neoplasia. In the current case, we demonstrated an increased proliferative activity in some areas of the cyst consistent with atypical adenomatous hyperplasia. Hence, we stress the importance of close follow-up of all suspected congenital lung cysts because of their potential malignant degeneration.

Angle sections are widely used in civil engineering applications and especially in lattice towers for telecommunication purposes. The principal and geometrical axes of angle sections do not coincide and exhibit very low rigidity when it comes to uniform and non-uniform torsion. Thus, design expressions, e.g. those included in EN1993-1-1 or EN 1993-3-1, do not apply for cross-sections or members composed of angle sections. In addition, limited experimental investigations of members made from angle sections can be found in the literature, and those are mostly for coldformed ones. This paper presents a test campaign involving members made from equal-leg hot-rolled angle sections which was carried out at the Institute of Steel Structures of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Tests included eight three-point bending tests and 31 buckling tests on columns subjected to concentric and eccentric compression. The aims of the research are to use the experimental data for the calibration of numerical models, to investigate possible inelastic reserves in angles which have been detected in analytical models and to serve as a reference for the development of new design expressions oriented towards angle sections only.

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Disturbances in testicular function develop in uraemic patients, but the effect of haemodialysis on them has not been determined definitively. Because of this, 22 patients with chronic renal failure who were receiving regular dialysis treatment underwent studies of the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis before, during and after a dialysis. On all these occasions, serum testosterone concentrations were lower than the values found in 26 normal men. In contrast, serum concentrations of FSH and LH were higher than normal. 13 of these patients showed a normal response of the hypothalamo-pituitary system to the clomiphene stimulation test and a diminished response of Leydig’s cells to the human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation test. It is concluded that haemodialysis does not affect the impaired gonadal function of male uraemic patients.