Landing from an unexpected fall and a voluntary step.

The electromyographic (EMG) response of soleus to a sudden fall has previously been shown to consist of two peaks of activity, the first a response to release, and the second in relation to landing (Greenwood and Hopkins, 1976). We have now examined activity in soleus during falls at various reduced accelerations. The amplitude of the first peak is proportional to acceleration and is not present during falls at accelerations of less than about 2-0 ms-2.

Slipping of the upper femoral epiphyses in patients with intracranial tumours causing hypopituitarism and chiasmal compression.

Four cases of slipped upper femoral epiphyses in patients with intracranial tumours causing hypopituitarism and chiasmal compression are presented. Detailed endocrine studies in three cases showed severe deficiencies of growth hormone as well as of gonadotrophin and sex hormones. The literature is reviewed and the aetiology is discussed with special reference to Harris's hypothesis that an increase in growth hormone relative to oestrogen predisposes to slipping of the upper femoral epiphysis in humans, which these cases do not seem to support.

Improvement in insulin secretion in diabetes after diazoxide.

Diazoxide 5 mg/kg/day was administered to four normal subjects for five days and, together with insulin, to ten diabetic subjects for seven days. In every case there was a substantial increase in the insulin response to combined stimulation of the pancreatic beta cells with 1 mg of glucagon and 2 g of tolbutamide given intravenously. Similar increases were not seen in four diabetics who received placebo with insulin.

Muscle responses during sudden falls in man.

1. E.m.

Cardiovascular abnormalities associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Cardiovascular abnormalities were present in 11 of 48 (23%) patients with congeital diaphragmatic hernia. Cardiac abnormalities included congenital heart disease, compression of a major vascular structure, cardiac malposition, and abnormalities in pulmonary circulation. The differential diagnosis between isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia and coexisting cardiac abnormality may be difficult and may require echocardiographic or invasive studies.

Cardiovascular malformations associated with tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia.

Cardiovascular malformations were present in 48 of 326 (14.7%) patients with tracheoesophageal fistula. The most common cardiac lesion was ventricular septal defect.

Clinical observations on treatment of alkylmercury poisoning in hospital patients.

Twenty-six patients suffering from methylmercury poisoning were treated by different therapeutic regimes. Seven received penicillamine or N-acetyl-d-L-penicillamine, 10 were treated with dimercaprol sulfonate and 9, who could not be treated, were given a placebo and were used as controls. Penicillamine, N-acetyl-d-L-penicillamine, and dimercaprol sulfonate reduced the blood level of mercury and increased its urinary excretion.