Thermographic localization of incompetent perforating veins in the leg

Incompetent perforating veins in the leg were localized separately by clinical and thermographic methods. Clinically, the methods used were a multiple tourniquet test and palpation for fascial defects. Thermographically, the diagnosis of an incompetent perforator was made by finding rapid and localized heat flow to the skin in a cooled limb with occlusion of circulation in the superficial veins distally and proximally. Exploration of all the sites marked clinically or thermographically showed that the clinical method detected 60%, missed 40%, and gave false-positive results in 40%, while thermography detected 94.5%, missed 5.5%, and contributed 13% false-positive results. All these findings show a highly significant difference (P<0.0005) in favour of the thermographic technique as against the clinical method.

Tracheal mucus flow rates in experimental bronchitis in rats

The flow of mucus in the trachea of rats previously exposed to an atmosphere of SO₂ in air was measured and correlated with the histological changes in the trachea, bronchi and lungs.

Reduction in the speed of mucus flow in the exposed trachea was found with increasing severity of bronchopulmonary changes.

The tropane alkaloids from three Western Australian Anthocercis species

The major alkaloid of both Anthocercis viscosa R. Br. and A. fasciculata F. Muell. has been identified as (-)-hyoscyamine (I). A trace of the same partly racemic base has been isolated from A. littorea Labill., together with meteloidine (II), but the major alkaloid present in this species is littorine (III) which has been shown to be R(-)-3α-(2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionyloxy)tropane. ��� Rutin and ursolic acid have also been isolated from A. viscosa.