Meal frequency and nutritional intake during Ramadan: a pilot study

A study was carried out to compare the nutritional intake and meal pattern during and after Ramadan. It was found that in a sample group of 15 young Saudis there was a significant increase in caloric, fat, carbohydrate and protein intake. Although there was a significant reduction in meal frequency and the number of meals taken outside the family, a significant increase in body weight was noted during Ramadan.

Congenital hypothyroidism and HLA

HLA-A, B and C antigens tested in 97 patients treated for congenital hypothyroidism, and in members of their families, are compared with normal frequencies from 635 controls. After adjustment for the number of tests, there remains in the patients only a negative association with A11, with a relative risk of .190, and no significant association in the relatives. Patients show no excess homozygosity and no deviations in haplotype frequency. Congenital hypothyroidism thus appears to show a different relationship with HLA from other thyroid disorders.

Management of hypertension newly detected by health screening

An attempt was made, through a hospital-based health screening service, to ensure proper longterm care of clients with hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors. Of 8755 subjects screened on one occasion, 1274 (14.6%) had a blood pressure reading above defined limits; of these, 1058 were not receiving antihypertensive drugs. Apparently hypertensive subjects were rescreened within one week or were referred to their local doctors. At their second visits, over half of the 716 rescreened subjects had reading consistently below the defined limits. Those with intermittent blood pressure elevation (89 patients) were designated as having labile hypertension, and were reviewed regularly. The remainder, with persisting hypertension, were sent to their local doctors or to the hospital's hypertension clinic. After six months, the group ith labile hypertension showed no change in mean left cardiac ventricular voltage, and more than 50% the group had normal blood pressure; 14 patients were receiving antihypertensive drugs. Subjects referred to the hypertension clinic had a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and a low prevalence of clinically evident organ damage. Only half of this group were deemed to require drug therapy. In a postal survey of clients referred to private doctors, 35% of respondents reported that they had started taking anti-hypertensive drugs. Thorough rescreening of blood pressure is essential in preventing the unnecessary use of antihypertensive drugs, and this can be facilitated by providing management streams appropriate to the needs of the individual subject.

Clinical dose-response studies with guanfacine (BS 100-141), a new antihypertensive agent

1. Blood pressure, pulse rate, salivary flow and the degree of sedation were recorded at intervals following oral administration of single doses of guanfacine, a clonidine-like agent, to hypertensive patients. 2. Between 2 and 10 h after administration of guanfacine (3 mg or 5 mg), there were dose-related decrease in lying and standing blood pressure, together with significant reductions in pulse rate and salivary flow. 3. It is concluded that guanfacine lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients and is probably suitable for twice daily administration, but produces xerostomia and sedation.