Subjects with anorexia nervosa (AN) present a number of changes in autonomic system functions, such as thermoregulation, vascular motility, heart rate and rhythm, and blood pressure. We evaluated the changes in the autonomic control of heart rate and blood pressure after postural variation by means of the spectral analysis of R-R interval variability (HRV in 13 female subjects with AN diagnosed on the basis of diagnostic statistical manual (DSM-IV) criteria, a mean age of 25 +/- 5.8 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 16.9 +/- 2.6. The controls were 16 healthy female subjects with a mean age of 25 +/- 2.3 years and a normal BMI. The data were statistically evaluated by means of one-way analysis of variance or Student's t test. The high frequency (HF) components of the spectral analysis did not significantly change when passing from clino- to orthostatism in the AN subjects, but there were significant changes in the controls. The changes in the low frequency (LF) components were similar in both groups, but smaller in the AN subjects. However, the difference between the two series was not statistically significant. The variance in the orthostatic R-R intervals recorded in the AN subjects was significantly less than the clinostatic intervals, the intervals recorded in the controls. These results indicate that AN subjects show signs of autonomic dysfunction. The increase in the HF component of the spectral analysis suggests that parasympathetic modulation is abnormally persistent during orthostatism, furthermore, the variability of the R-R intervals indicates that orthosympathetic regulation is also altered in AN.

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Post-SARS-CoV-2 telogen effluvium has been described in case reports of COVID-19 patients. We evaluated the prevalence of post-SARS-CoV-2 telogen effluvium in patients from a single medical center, exploring any causal links with the infection. Our hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with patient participants discharged with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia from 1 March to 4 April 2020. All patients were evaluated by the same senior dermatologist; a clinical/dermatoscopic evaluation was performed. Alopecia was assessed in 31.3% of patients, with a significant difference in sex (females 73%, males 26.7%). The average time detected from the onset of the first symptoms to alopecia was 68.43 days. Overall, there were no significant associations between alopecia and COVID-19-related features (length of hospitalization, virologic positivity, or duration of fever), treatment characteristics, or laboratory findings. In this paper, we report that post-infection acute telogen effluvium occurs in a significant number of COVID-19 patients. The burden of this condition may impair the quality of life, with a significant impact on individuals.

SUMMARYIn nine young normotensive subjects with no family history of hypertension and nine age-matched normotensive subjects with one parent with essential hypertension, effective renal plasma Sow (p-aminohippuric acid clearance), gtomerular filtration rate (inuHn clearance), and excretion of sodium and exogenously administered lithium were measured for 90 minutes before and after administration of a single 20-mg oral dose of the calcium entry blocker nifedipine. Segments! tubular handling of fluid and sodium was estimated using lithium clearance as a marker of proximal tubular reabsorption. Nifedipine did not cause any change in subjects with no family history of hypertension, but in those with one hypertensive parent there was a marked increase hi effective renal plasma flow (from 644 ± 39 to 847 ± 42 [SEM] ml/min x 1.73 m J ; p < 0.001) and a decrease In filtration fraction (from 17.6 ± 1.0 to 12.6 ± 0.4%; p < 0.001), while the glomerular filtration rate was unchanged, thus suggesting a prevailing efferent vasodilation. Sodium excretion rate (p < 0.02) and fractional sodium excretion (p < 0.025) increased slightly but significantly in subjects with one hypertensive parent, but not in normotensive subjects with no family history of hypertension. Lithium clearance also rose (from 29.0 ± 2.0 to 32.8 ± 1 . 9 ml/min, p < 0.001), and the derived value of fractional proximal reabsorption diminished (from 75.8 ± 1.0 to 71.3 ± 1.2%, p < 0.001). Estimated distal delivery of sodium and absolute distal sodium reabsorption both increased significantly (p < 0.005), while fractional distal sodium reabsorption was unchanged. Our data show an exaggerated'renal vasodilator response to calcium entry blockade in young normotensive subjects with one hypertensive parent that may be related to an abnormality in the efferent arteriolar tone sensitive to calcium entry blockade. 1 A number of studies in prehypertensive subjects, such as young normotensive members of hypertensive families, have been conducted to investigate functional disturbances preceding the onset of high blood pressure (BP) that may be involved in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension. Indeed, several abnormalities have been

Treatment with exenatide, but not with liraglutide, was able to increase the number of circulating EPCs, possibly through an antioxidative/antiinflammatory effect.