Yasuhiro Oribe

Extensive arterial calcification of unknown etiology in a 29-year-old male

SummaryA 29-year-old male with generalized arterial calcification is presented. The roentgenogram showed extensive calcification bilaterally in the facial, brachial, renal, external iliac, femoral, and popliteal arteries. There was also calcification around the joints of the fingers, toes, elbows, and shoulders. The uniformity of arterial calcification in the radiograph differentiated this lesion from Mönckebergs arteriosclerosis. The serum concentration levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and calcium regulatory hormones were normal. The patient did not have diabetes mellitus, renal disease, or connective tissue disease, thus the etiology of the calcification was not identified. However, a bone scintigram showed that the uptake of 99 mTc-methylene diphosphate was significantly increased in the calcified arteries. Therefore, increased metabolic activity was associated with the derangement leading to arterial calcification.

Is there any serum apolipoprotein in platelets

Abstract Agarose double-diffusion tests demonstrated that platelets do not contain appreciable amounts of serum apolipoproteins (A-II, B, C, D and E) but contain only a trace amount of A-I. These data suggest that platelet lipid may bind platelet apolipoprotein(s) that are different from serum apolipoproteins. It seems unlikely that serum apolipoproteins play an important role in platelet functions.