The influence of oral contraceptives on activated factor X inhibitor (XaI)-activity: a prospective study.

A prospective study of activated factor X inhibitor (XaI)-activity has been performed in women randomly allocated to contraceptive pills containing 30 micrograms + 150 micrograms (63 women) or 50 micrograms + 250 micrograms (44 women) ethinyl oestradiol and levonorgestrel, and a reference group of 35 women using other contraceptive methods. The XaI-activity was measured six times during 1 year of observation. There was a significant reduction of XaI-activity after 1 month of oestrogen consumption but there was no significant difference between 30 and 50 micrograms users.

Effects of gliclazide--a new antidiabetic agent--on blood platelet function in vitro and in vivo.

Unlabelled: The effect of gliclazide on platelet activity was investigated and compared to that of tolbutamide and glipizide.

In Vitro Studies: adenosine diphosphate induced human platelet aggregation was inhibited by gliclazide in high concentrations (0.5--2.

Medical ethics and child abuse.

The practice of good medical ethics is of particular importance in cases of juvenile maltreatment. In a number of court cases concerning battered children doctors' statements have been presented to the effect that maltreatment has not taken place. In twelve cases reported during the period 1971-75 the doctors' statement was misleading.

Examination of cocksfoot pollen (Dactylis glomerata) extracts by skin prick test in man, RAST-based allergen assay and protein content.

Three commercial preparations of cocksfoot pollen (Dactylis glomerata) from different manufacturers were compared by skin prick tests in man, allergen activity as measured by the RAST test and protein nitrogen unit (PNU) and total nitrogen (N) content. The skin prick tests were made on the forearm with the undiluted preparations and also with solutions of 1/5 and 1/25 dilutions. Three groups each of 9 subjects were tested and the sites for the 9 tests were determined by 3 different latin squares.

Grass allergens : a preliminary characterization by means of RAST-based allergen assay methods.

A preliminary study of a grass pollen allergens by means of radioallergosorbent test (RAST)-based assay methods has been made. A combination of gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography has been used to separate allergens, mainly from Festuca elatior, Lolium perenne, and Phleum pratense, into groups dependent on their molecular weight and net electric charges. A RAST-based titration method was used to detect and quantitate the different allergens.

Platelet reactivity ex vivo and in vivo after acute and chronic treatment with sodium caprylate.

The effect of sodium caprylate on platelet function and other hematological parameters was studied, using rabbits as experimental animals. Intravenous administration of caprylate resulted in a pronounced, although transient, inhibition of platelet reactivity as measured by the laser technique. A single oral dose of caprylate had no effect on platelet adhesiveness.

The effect of platelet function inhibitors on experimental venous thrombosis formation in rabbits.

Inhibitors of the platelet functions, collagen-induced aggregation and release reaction (ASA and sulfinpyrazone) and ADP-induced aggregation (dipyridamole and VK 744), were investigated as potential preventive agents against venous thrombosis formation in rabbits. An experimental model combining endothelial damage (sodium morrhuate) and controlled stasis of the femoral venous flow was used. None of the agents showed any significant protective effect against venous thrombosis, a finding which is in keeping with the results of recent clinical investigation.