The actual activity of ionised calcium (Ca2+) in gall bladder bile determined with an ion-selective electrode was significantly higher in patients with gall stone disease (n = 15) than in patients without gall stones (n = 10) (0.43 mmol/kg v 0.31 mmol/kg; p < 0.05). No change in the Ca2+ activity in any of the gall bladder bile samples was observed during equilibration with CO2. During titratio...

The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of calcium supplementation on cholesterol concentrations in patients with hyperlipidaemia and previous viral hepatitis. The study comprised 43 patients, aged 28 to 82 years (21 with type 2 hyperlipidaemia). The control group included 22 healthy subjects. After four weeks of a hypolipaemic diet (wash-out period), the patients with type 2 hyperlipid...

Sir, In 1990 the American College of Rheumatology defined the criteria for primary fibromyalgia (1). Before raising the possibility of this diagnosis, some disorders which may cause diffuse muscle, joint and tendon pain must be excluded. Hypophosphoremia due to moderate phosphate diabetes (MPD) could represent one of these differential diagnoses. We followed 11 patients in whom hypophosphoremia...