Hair analysis for detection of phencyclidine in newly admitted psychiatric patients.

The authors implemented a new procedure for analyzing phencyclidine (PCP) content in hair. They compare the results of analyses of hair with results of analyses of blood and urine in 47 patients newly hospitalized with acute psychiatric illness. Hair analysis identified 11 patients who had used PCP, and blood and urine analyses did not identify any among the sample population.

Daily requirement for pyridoxine supplements in chronic renal failure.

Vitamin B6 deficiency was evaluated in 37 patients with chronic renal failure and in 71 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) or intermittent peritoneal dialysis (PD). Vitamin B6 deficiency was assessed by the in vitro activity of erythrocyte glutamic pyruvic transaminase (EGPT), without (basal) and with (stimulated) the addition of pyridoxal-5-phosphate to the assay, and the EGPT index (stimulated activity ./.