Xylene poisoning: a report on one fatal case and two cases of recovery after prolonged unconsciousness

Three cases of xylene poisoning occurred after prolonged inhalation of paint fumes. Analysis showed that xylene comprised more than 90% of the solvent in the paint, the total solvent comprising 34% of the paint by weight. One patient was dead on admission, while the other two recovered after at least 15 hours' loss of consciousness. Both patients had transient liver cell damage, and one temporary impairment of renal function.

Clinical and metabolic study in diabetic patients treated with glibenclamide

A clinical and metabolic study of 32 patients treated with glibenclamide for a period of about one year confirmed that the drug is a potent stimulator of insulin release in maturity onset diabetes, and glibenclamide continued to have this action after a period of eight months. The drug is effective in doses as low as 2.5 mg., and the maximum effective dose is about 15 mg. No significant side-effects were found during the period of the study, in particular there was no alcohol flushing. The metabolic investigations have shown that the drug has some actions which are as yet unexplained.

Marine phytoplankton vary in their response to chlorinated hydrocarbons

Photosynthesis and growth in cultures of four marine phytoplankton species, isolated from different oceanic environments, were affected by three chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT, dieldrin, and endrin) to varying extents. This ranged from complete insensitivity in Dunaliella to toxicity at concentrations of 0.1 to 1.0 part per billion of the pesticides in Cyclotella. Other forms were intermediate in their response.

Critical study of 5 per cent guanethidine in ocular manifestations of Graves's disease

Assessment was made of 5% local guanethidine in treating eye manifestations in euthyroid patients with either treated thyrotoxicosis or ophthalmic Graves's disease. In a double-blind crossover study guanethidine caused greater improvement in lid retraction than a control solution. A long-term study showed that this improvement was maintained. A much lower incidence of side-effects was noted with 5% guanethidine than with 10% solution.

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis

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Clinical trial of lincomycin hydrochloride in Reiter's disease

A double-blind trial comparing lincomycin hydrochloride (Mycivin) and placebo in 22 patients with Reiter's disease showed no significant difference in clinical or laboratory findings between the two groups. It is concluded that lincomycin hydrochloride is no more effective than placebo in the treatment of Reiter's disease.