SummaryA relationship has been reported between trace elements and diabetes mellitus. This study evaluated the role of such a relationship in 83 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (40 men and 43 women), with a mean duration of diabetes of 3.9 ± 3.6 years. Patients with nephropathy were excluded. Thirty healthy nondiabetic subjects were studied for comparative analysis. Subjects were subdivided into obese and non-obese. Diabetic subjects were also subdivided into controlied and uncontrolled groups; control was based on fasting blood glucose and serum fructosamine levels. Plasma copper, zinc and magnesium levels were analysed using a GBC 902 double beam atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Plasma zinc and magnesium levels were comparable between diabetic and nondiabetic subjects, while copper levels were significantly elevated (p<0.01) in diabetic patients. Age, sex, duration and control of diabetes did not influence copper, zinc, or magnesium concentrations. We conclude that zinc and magnesium levels are not altered in diabetes mellitus, but the increased copper levels found in diabetics in our study may merit further investigation of the relationship between copper and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Association of shorter CAG repeats with PCOS is consistent with in vitro functional studies demonstrating higher activity of androgen receptors expressed from alleles with fewer CAG repeats, suggesting inherited alteration in androgen sensitivity may contribute to PCOS. In some women, such heightened sensitivity may also result from preferential expression of androgen receptors with shorter alleles. Thus, genetic and epigenetic changes may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

This study presents genetic evidence suggesting an important role of both isoforms of 5alpha-reductase in the pathogenesis of PCOS. That only SRD5A1 haplotypes were associated with hirsutism suggests that only this isoform is important in the hair follicle.

A novel mixed-mode multifunction filter configuration containing three FTFNs and only five passive components with a single input and three different outputs is presented. The configuration can be driven by a voltage or current source while as outputs are always voltages and currents. The circuit can thus realize filtering functions in normal-mode as well as in mixed-mode. Besides having small active and passive sensitivities, the parameters resonance frequency (ω 0 ) and bandwidth (ω 0 /Q) enjoy orthogonal tuning. The theoretical results are verified by PSPICE simulations.

C A S E R E P O R T S 629uterine wall. A meticulous ultrasound examination with a full bladder should be performed measuring the distance between the gestational sac and the urinary bladder accurately. We believe that termination of pregnancy with intramuscular methotrexate is the treatment of choice for this rare condition. Since the placenta is implanted on mainly fibrous tissue absorption of the gestational sac is extremely slow and fine needle aspiration of the remaining fluid in the sac may be required. preservation of the uterus, it may be possible to repair the scar surgically before the next conception. In this case we chose an alternative approach in which we aim to deliver the infant by caesarean section and then repair the defective scar. ReferencesPregnancy within a uterine scar should be considered following any caesarean section, especially if the women presents with vaginal bleeding and the gestational sac is located in the lower part of the anterior Isolated prolactin deficiency is a rare disorder of which only few cases have been reported. In this study we report a woman and her mother who during their eight pregnancies had puerperal alactogenesis. Hormone evaluation revealed isolated prolactin deficiency in both of them. This report demonstrates the dominant role played by prolactin in puerperal lactation. We postulate the possibility of a genetically transmitted isolated prolactin deficiency.Prolactin is important for development and growth of breasts, lactogenesis during pregnancy, and the initiation and maintenance of lactation after delivery'. The physiological and clinical significance of hypoprolactinaemia has not been studied extensively. Hypoprolactinaemia from hypophysectomy Or from PhamacologiCal suppression of the pituitary has been reported to adversely affect the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle'.