Xanthinol nicotinate in peripheral vascular disease

In a double-blind control of xanthinol nicotinate ('Complamin'; 'Complamex') in patients with severe progressive obliterative vascular disease, 25 of 33 patients who completed the trial were helped significantly by the drug, as shown by both clinical and laboratory findings. Placebo helped in 4 of 33 patients. The difference is significant (p less than 0-001). These are the results for the trial period only. The results of follow-up for 6 to 30 months are available in 18 patients: 14 of these still had appreciable help from the drug, which was continued in maintenance doses. It should be noted that 3 of 6 diabetics were no longer helped after 6 months, and that only 3 of a total of 7 patients under the age of 50 were helped; however 3 of the 4 not helped were diabetics under the age of 50. Special caution was indicated in the use of the drug in patients who have ischaemic heart disease in addition to their peripheral arterial disease. Side-effects were common, particularly a severe prolonged flush shortly after taking a dose of the drug; many patients helped by it accepted this side-effect if it occurred. Xanthinol nicotinate reduced whole-blood viscosity and cholesterol and fibrinogen in about half of the patients helped. This is a useful drug for about half the patients in whom surgery is not indicated or is contraindicated.

A familial X-22 translocation with an extra X chromosome

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Specificity of creatine in the control of muscle protein synthesis

This study provides additional evidence that creatine, an end product of contraction unique to muscle, is involved in the control of muscle protein synthesis. Creatine is shown to stimulate selectively the rate of synthesis of two major contractile proteins, actin and myosin heavy chain, in cultures of differentiating skeletal muscle. Creatine affects only the rate of synthesis and not the rate of degradation. Several creatine analogs are as effective as creatine in stimulating muscle protein synthesis, creatinine and amino acids such as arginine and glycine are not. Creatine stimulates myosin heavy chain synthesis twofold in cultures of embryonic muscle grown in either normal or dialyzed media.

A genetic study of rheumatic fever clustering in families

The first-degree relations of 433 rheumatic propositi were examined for evidence of rheumatic fever (RF) or rheumatic heart disease (RHD). The families of 470 control propositi were examined in identical fashion. Of the total propositi, 378 propositi were matched with 378 control propositi for sex, age group, and ethnic community (European or Afro-Asian origin). Of 738 sibs of rheumatic propositi, 19.6% had RF or RHD and of 586 sibs of controls, 3.1% had RF or RHD (P<0.001).

In the matched families 2,985 first-degree relations of the propositi were examined: 142 had RF and 141 had RHD, a total of 9.5%. In the members of the families of the rheumatic propositi 232 rheumatics were found in 1,486 first-degree relations (15.6%), while in the control families 51 rheumatics were found among 1,499 (3.4%).

Comparisons and analyses were made of expected and observed numbers according to sibship size using the method of truncated analyses (Lenz-Hogben method). This analysis supported the hypothesis of a simple mendelian recessive inheritance. Unbiased estimates ofP, the population frequency of affected individuals, were consistent with the valueP= 0.25, expected for a mendelian recessive character. The rheumatic fever clustering in families in this study was compatible with a simple recessive mendelian inheritance.