Hepatotoxicity of erythromycin estolate during pregnancy.

Women in the second half of pregnancy, who were infected with genital mycoplasmas and who gave written informed consent, were randomly assigned to receive capsules of identical appearance containing erythromycin estolate, clindamycin hydrochloride, or a placebo for 6 weeks. Levels of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) were determined before and during treatment by a fluorometric method. All pretreatment levels of SGOT were normal (<41 units).

Age-specific correlation analysis of longitudinal blood pressure data.

To evaluate the predictive value of blood pressures for future levels, longitudinal measurements were analyzed among Welsh subjects from age 5 to 74 at entry. The measurements were taken on 863 individuals from the Vale of Glamorgan in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1971 and on 734 individuals from the Rhondda Fach in 1954, 1958, 1964, and 1971. The tracking correlation, defined as the correlation between blood pressure readings on the same person taken at two different times, is used as a descriptive measure of the magnitude of the association.

Beta carotene therapy for erythropoietic protoporphyria and other photosensitivity diseases.

We treated with high doses of oral beta carotene (Solatene) (15 to 180 mg/day) 133 patients suffering from erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), 27 patients with polymorphous light eruption, six patients with solar urticaria, three patients with hydroa aestivale, one patient with porphyria cutanea tarda, and two patients with actinic reticuloid to relieve the photosensitivity associated with these diseases. Eighty-four percent of the patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria increased by a factor of 3 or more their ability to tolerate sunlight. On the other hand, only nine of the patients with polymorphous light eruption, and one fifth of the patients with all of the other forms of photosensitivity treated showed similar improvement.

Visualization of the medullary rays on excretory urography in experimental ureteric obstruction.

Excretory urography occasionally delineates striations of alternating density in the renal parenchyma. Experimental observations on a dog model of ureteric obstruction show that the dense striations have the same dynamic alterations as the obstructive nephrogram. They become progressively more dense to a plateau and then fade with relief of obstruction.

New approach to myelodysplasia.

Data from 60 patients with myelodysplasia are presented. Electromyography of the periurethral striated muscle in conjunction with simultaneous cystometry allows prediction of those patients at risk from urinary tract infection in 100 per cent of the cases. Intermittent self-catheterization is an effective form of therapy for bladder dysfunction in patients with myelodysplasia.

Familial aggregation of blood pressures of newborn infants and their mother.

The blood pressures and pulse rates of 257 normal full-term infants and their mothers were measured two to four days after birth. Birthweight was correlated with systolic (P=.038), but not with diastolic blood pressure.

The urographic findings in acute pyelonephritis: non-obstructive hydronephrosis.

Excretory urography was performed on 4 patients early in the course of acute pyelonephritis. These studies showed dilatation of the involved collecting system without obstruction. The dilatation resolved after therapy in 3 patients and was not present on a previous excretory urogram in the fourth.

Household aggregation of pulmonary function and chronic bronchitis.

Persons from 148 randomly selected households in an urban community were screened in their homes using a modified British Medical Research Council respiratory disease questionnaire and a portable spirometer. Analysis showed a significant tendency for chronic bronchitis to aggregate within households. Significant aggregation was observed for 1-sec forced expiratory volume, when measured as the per cent of the predicted value or as a score calculated from the data.

Familial aggregation of urinary kallikrein concentration in childhood: relation to blood pressure, race and urinary electrolytes.

Biochemical alterations that have been correlated with elevated blood pressure have not received extensive epidemiologic study because of the technical difficulties involved. Because the excretion of urinary kallikrein is reduced significantly in adult hypertensives, we have studied urinary kallikrein in a cohort of children in whom familial aggregation of blood pressure has been demonstrated. Casual specimens of urine were obtained in household surveys, and urinary concentration of kallikrein was determined in 601 children aged 5-18 years.

Serological studies on Mycoplasma hominis: serotypic distribution of recent clinical isolates.

Serotyping of strains of Mycoplasma hominis, freshly isolated from various sources, was conducted using the complement-independent growth agglutination (GA) test, using the 7 reference antisera prepared in our laboratory. Multiple isolates from a common source indicated that only a single serotype tends to be found, making it possible to serotype clinical isolates without further cloning. However, cultures collected at different times from the same individual may contain different serotypes.

The radiological spectrum of acute pyelonephritis in adults and adolescents.

Excretory urograms of 40 patients with a clinical and laboratory diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis were reviewed. Eleven (28%) had abnormal urograms attributable to the acute disease process. Of the 11 abnormal patients, 7 had obvious urographic abnormalities, while in 4 the findings were few and subtle.

Complement-dependent and complement-independent interactions between Mycoplasma hominis and antibodies in vitro.

Several in vitro reactions between a strain of M. hominis (no. 4195) and homologous antiserum have been delineated and compared.

The pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis.

Various factors of possible pathogenetic significance in ankylosing spondylitis are surveyed, with the conclusion that ankylosing spondylitis may be due to more than one cause and have varying symptomatology: It is not a disease but a syndrome. Terms such as spondylarthritis ankylopoietica or ankylosing spondylitis, which have such direct reference to symptoms, are not necessarily applicable. It is difficult to find an adequate name, but Bechterew's sydrome is suggested.

Plasma lipids and lipoproteins in vegetarians and controls.

The possible effect of diet on plasma lipids was investigated in a group of vegetarians. Seventy-three men and 43 women who had adhered to a vegetarian diet for an average of three years were studied in the fasting state and compared with a randomly selected group of controls matched for age and sex. Mean cholesterol levels in milligrams per deciliter for vegetarians and controls, respectively, were 126 and 184; low-density lipoprotein, 73 and 118; very-low-density lipoprotein, 11.

Comparative double-blind trial of intra-articular injections of two long-acting forms of betamethasone.

Two injectable betamethasone preparations, betamethasone dipropionate/betamethasone phosphate and betamethasone acetate/betamethasone phosphate were compared in a controlled trial on 22 "matched patient pairs" with rheumatic diseases. The two preparations were injected intra-articularly in knee joints affected by active synovitis. The time until onset of action and the duration of clinically adequate anti-inflammatory effect were recorded.