Essential data set for computer management of distributed primary care services.

Reported here is a personal computer-based registration program of medical consultations in general practice that has been implemented in six communities ('primary health care districts'; total population 112623) in the county of Jönköping, southern Sweden. The program enabled decentralized monitoring and management of the primary health care organization in the communities. The objective of the present paper is to give, from one year's experience of about 137000 recorded visits, a broad overview of the program structure, briefly considering the questions associated with routine registration of medical consultations, to discuss how the system is used for decision and steering support as well as to summarize its overall performance, results and costs in relation to the general utility of accurate information on health service delivery and consumption in the population.

Pafenolol in hypertension: a double-blind randomized trial of a new beta 1-selective adrenoceptor blocker.

The antihypertensive effect of pafenolol, a new beta 1-selective adrenoceptor blocker without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity and three times more selective than metoprolol, was evaluated. Twenty-three patients with essential hypertension, mean age 49 years (range 21-62), were randomized after a 4-week placebo run-in period (double-blind) to 4 weeks of either placebo, pafenolol 50 mg or 100 mg once daily. A submaximal exercise test was performed before and at the end of the treatment period.

Gammahydroxy butyric acid: cardiovascular effects in the rat.

Gammahydroxybutyric acid (GHBA) 1 g/kg i.p. induced a marked and sustained increase in heart frequency and blood pressure in the rats.