Benign pleural effusions in long-standing diabetes mellitus.

We studied intractable pleural effusions in five patients with long-standing diabetes mellitus and an additional 40 patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction to determine whether the frequency of pleural effusions is increased in diabetic patients and, if so, the relation of pleural effusions to left ventricular dysfunction. In our initial observations, effusions were benign, were not always associated with congestive heart failure (CHF), and reaccumulated following thoracentesis. Effusions associated with CHF persisted despite medical treatment and improvement of CHF.

Clinical investigations into the effects of practolol in angina pectoris.

The value of practolol in the treatment of angina pectoris was studied in three groups of patients by means of different methods. In 23 patients the effect of the drug was evaluated during long-term treatment and in 10 patients in a controlled double-blind trial; in 20 patients, the working capacity was determined by an ECG exercise test on a bicycle ergometer. Long-term treatment revealed advantageous effects of practolol on the incidence of anginal attacks and the number of nitroglycerin tablets consumed in daily life.