Comparison of serum growth hormone levels after Bovril and insulin stimulation

Serum growth hormone (HGH) levels were estimated in 60 children during Bovril and intravenous insulin tests. The results of the two tests correlated well. 37 subjects had HGH levels over 10 μIU/ml. during both tests, and 18 subjects failed to respond to either test. 4 subjects showed minor discrepancies between the results of the two tests, and one child with the emotional deprivation syndrome had a good response to insulin but no significant rise in serum HGH during her first Bovril test. It was concluded that the two tests were of comparable value in the assessment of children with suspected growth hormone deficiency, and that the Bovril test had the advantages of being safe and avoiding intravenous administration.

The antiviral activity of the isoquinolines famotine and memotine in respiratory infections in man

A period of direct contact with a concentration of 20 mug/ml or less of either famotine (1-(p-chlorophenoxymethyl)-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline hydrochloride) or memotine (1-(p-methoxyphenoxymethyl)-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline hydrochloride) inactivates myxoviruses and paramyxoviruses. This activity has been confirmed in organ culture prepared from dog trachea and infected with an influenza A2 virus.Consistent protection of mice infected intranasally with influenza A/PR/8 has not been obtained. Other viruses causing respiratory disease in man, in particular some rhinoviruses, are susceptible during replication to the action of these compounds. Both compounds are of low toxicity and well tolerated by man.Trials in man have embraced challenge, prophylactic and therapeutic studies with both oral and local administration. Challenge studies with influenza A2 and B viruses have demonstrated that with some strains there is in the drug-treated groups a reduction in the incidence of evidence of infection, sometimes significantly, and also a reduction of clinical symptoms, the effect towards influenza B virus being the greater. Nasal instillation of famotine reduced the incidence of clinical symptoms only following challenge with influenza B virus and rhinovirus type 2. Oral prophylactic trials have been inconclusive, although the nasal instillation of famotine did reduce somewhat the incidence of symptoms in a small outbreak of influenza A2/Hong Kong/68. The number of therapeutic trials has been too few and too small to evaluate conclusively the role of these agents in therapy of acute respiratory illness.

Antiplasmin activity of electrophoretically separated human serum fractions

The antiplasmin which migrates electrophoretically with the alpha(2) globulins preponderates in effect over that of the alpha(1) migrating antiplasmin. This preponderance persists at physiological pH value in vitro and the significance of this finding is discussed. No evidence has been obtained of the existence of anti-urokinase activity in antiplasmin-free serum fractions.

Alaskan Earthquake, 27 March 1964: Vertical Extent of Faulting and Elastic Strain Energy Release

The residual displacement field indicates that the primary fault responsible for the great Alaskan earthquake extended to depths of 100 to 200 kilometers and came to within 15 kilometers of the surface. The vertical extent is an order of magnitude greater than reported for all other earthquakes. Approximately 10(25) ergs of elastic strain energy was released. About 12,000 aftershocks (M(L) >/= 3.5) probably occurred in a 69-day period after the main shock. One-half the strain rebound occurred the first day with the main shock contributing one-fourth of the total.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE REFERRING PHYSICIAN TO THE PSYCHIATRIST

The relationship of the referring physician to the psychiatrist is believed to be of a different order than that of most physicians to one another. Certain facts are postulated as playing a role in this somewhat difficult relationship and examples from actual practice are offered as evidence. Among possible points of discord are mentioned: The length and cost of psychotherapy and relative youth of the specialty, the referring physician's hostile feelings toward it, and the unhelpful attitude of certain psychiatrists.