The presence of myoglobin in urine is a symptom of rhabdomyolysis occurring in many muscular affections. Muscle tissue from seven patients who had presented one or more episodes of myoglobinuria has been studied by histological, histochemical, and biochemical methods. Three cases belonging to the same family and an additional one revealed a muscular CPT deficiency. Two of those cases were females. In two other cases a toxic etiology was suggested, one due to heroin and the other to associated fenfluramine and phenformin. In the last case the origin of rhabdomyolysis was not clearly defined and viral infection, drug intolerance or electrolytic imbalance were proposed.

A case of centronuclear myopathy is presented. The presence of central nuclei in almost all fibres, the existence of type I fibres only, the histochemical pattern of a negative central zone with a perinuclear halo and a hyperactive rim with oxidative enzymes and the ultrastructural data are discussed in the light of the previous literature. The possible relationships with other myopathies are taken into consideration as well as the fact that central nuclei may be a non-specific change in several conditions. Consequently centronuclear myopathy could turn out to be a syndrome from which different entities can be isolated.

The results of 38 cases of laparotomy with splenectomy in Hodgkin's disease are presented. After describing the results obtained, and modifications due to preoperative classification of Hodgkin's disease, the diagnosis and surgical treatment are shortly discussed.