Disulfiram implantation in alcoholism treatment. A review

The literature pertaining to the use of implanted disulfiram as a therapeutic modality in the treatment of alcoholism is reviewed.

Sensorimotor and physiological effects of various alcoholic beverages

Effects of a standard dose of alcohol (1.3 g/kg) in the form of Canadian rye whisky, Canadian beer and a sparkling table wine were compared with those of a nonalcoholic carbonated control beverage. Sixteen young male and eight female subjects, all moderate drinkers, were tested in a Latin square design. Measurements were made on the pursuit rotor and quantitative Romberg tests, and of skin temperature, heart rate, malar flush and blood alcohol concentration during the prealcohol baseline period and at regular intervals over the 4-hour drinking period. The three alcoholic beverages produced blood alcohol curves that did not differ significantly. All three alcoholic beverages produced increasing sensorimotor impairment over time, which corresponded in degree to the increasing blood alcohol concentration. There were no significant differences between the three beverages on either the sensorimotor or physiological measures at any blood alcohol value. The results of this study indicate that the degree of impairment after alcohol ingestion in a socially relevant manner is not dependent on the type of beverage consumed, but only on the resulting blood alcohol concentration.

The vitamin B 12 content of meals and items of diet

1. The vitamin B12 content of items of diet and of meals was measured after they had been prepared for consumption.

2. There was poor agreement between the vitamin B12 contents of meals estimated by measurements on meal homogenates and the contents estimated by calculations involving the weights and vitamin B12 contents of items.

3. The average amount of vitamin B12 absorbed per d from a hospital diet was found to be 1.7 μg.

Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis

Between 1951 and 1971 thymectomy was performed on 41 patients with myasthenia gravis. They were selected from a total group of 95 myasthenic patients receiving anticholinesterase therapy. The criteria for selecting patients for thymectomy and the assessment of their progress after operation are described. All the patients have been examined by us at intervals and the results of this follow-up are presented. The survey has shown that substantial improvement after thymectomy occurred in 21 patients (group A), seven of whom had complete remissions without medication for periods of up to 12 years after operation. Considerable benefit from the operation was also observed in seven patients (group B); although their response was less spectacular, in that their daily requirement of anticholinesterase drugs was not changed, their functional activities were significantly enhanced. The most favourable results were seen in female patients aged 15 to 40 years, six of whom had one or more successful pregnancies. Thymectomy did not improve the general condition or progress of six patients (group C). There were three deaths within 16 days of operation, and two patients died within one year. Eight patients survived for periods of 3 to 16 years; six of these died from causes other than directly from myasthenia, and two died at home without established cause.