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The effect of upright posture on radioimmunologically measured venous plasma angiotensin II was studied in healthy volunteers, using active (continuous walking) and passive (head-up tilting) types of upright posture. Blood samples were drawn 1, 3, 10, 30 and 90 minutes after assumption of an upright posture. Significantly increased concentrations of angiotensin II were found 10 minutes after the change of posture. In the active test the initial rise was more marked, whereas at 90 minutes significantly more angiotensin II was found in the passive test. The initial rise in the active test was slightly slower in subjects over 60 years of age. During the conditions used the diurnal variation of angiotensin II was not found to affect markedly the response of angiotensin II to upright posture. The present data suggest that angiotensin II does not play any significant role in the maintenance of blood pressure right after the change of posture from supine to upright. Later, angiotensin II is obviously linked to the maintenance of adequate circulating blood volume, but its significance in the maintenance of blood pressure remains obscure.

Cardiac rhythm during sleep was analysed in 168 healthy men aged 19 to 30 (mean 21.8) years using continuous nocturnal ECG recordings. Thirty five of the subjects were endurance athletes; 99 were recorded at home and 69 at a garrison during military service. The number of short term (< one min) accelerations of heart rate of more than ten beats per minute ranged from 1.3 to 14.3 per hour; the number or accelerations (> one min) of more than 25 beats per minute typical of nocturnal restlessness ranged from zero to 6.1 per hour. The accelerations indicating nocturnal restlessness were more common during recordings done at the garrison than at home (2.2 per hour vs 1.3 per hour, P < 0.01), whereas the short term accelerations were not (5.8 per hour vs 5.1 per hour, NS). Sinus pauses exceeding 2.00 sec occurred in 17 men (13 in athletes), occasional second degree atrioventricular block in 19 (eight in athletes) and ventricular premature beats in 37. Eighty-two per cent of sinus pauses, 83% of second degree atrioventricular blocks, and 81% of ventricular premature beats (when < ten in the same subject) were associated with short term changes in heart rate. In conclusion, rapid changes in heart rate, presumably as a results of autonomic activation, are closely associated with most arrhythmias in healthy men during sleep, whereas changes in heart rate typical of nocturnal restlessness have little arrhythmogenic effect.

Following administration of 0.15 mg of 17α-ethynyl-oestra-1, 3, 5 (10)-triene-3, 17β-diol 3-methyl ether (=Mestranol) +5 mg of 17α-ethynyl-oestr-4-ene-17β-ol (=Lynestrenol=Orgametril, Organon) (both components=1 tablet of Lyndiol, Organon) daily to 16 postmenopausal women for 2 weeks significant increases in serum transaminases, copper, non-coeruloplasmin copper, coeruloplasmin, γ-glutamyl peptidase and α1-globulins were noted. When treatment with 0.15 mg of the oestrogen was continued for another two weeks a significant decrease of serum albumin was noted as compared with the pretreatment level and the total copper, coeruloplasmin, and α1-globulin values continued to increase. When, in another group of subjects, the Mestranol+Lynestrenol treatment was followed by treatment with 5 mg of the progestogen for two weeks, the albumin value did not decrease and the copper, coeruloplasmin, α1-globulins, and γ-glutamyl peptidase values remained unchanged. However, in the group treated with Mestranol + Lynestrenol and then with Mestranol the γ-glutamyl peptidase values decreased. Experiments were also carried out in which Mestranol and Lynestrenol were administered separately. It is concluded that the decrease in serum albumin and increases in α1-globulins, total copper, non-coeruloplasmin copper, and coeruloplasmin are due to the oestrogen component of the contraceptive pill and that the progestogen is the primary cause for the increase in the serum enzymes estimated. Copper estimation seems to be a good tool for the in vivo evaluation of oestrogenicity of steroids.

The effect of experimental renal hypertension on the hypothalamo-hypophysial neurosecretory system was studied histologically. The amount of neurosecretory material decreased, especially in the neurohypophysis. A marked reduction in the nuclear volume of the neurosecretory ganglion cells occurred, while that of the cells of the other hypothalamic nuclei investigated remained unchanged. The results suggest that the activity of the neurosecretory system is diminished in the experimental conditions used.

The effect of Su-4885 on the hypothalamo-hypophyseal neurosecretory system of the rat was studied by histological means. No changes in the amount of the neurosecretory material or in the activity of the neurosecretory ganglion cells could be observed. It was concluded that the release of ACTH and the activity of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system do not go in parallel. Die Wirkung von Su-4885 auf das hypothalamo-hypophysäre neurosekretorische System der Ratte wurde mit histologischen Methoden untersucht. Die Neurosekretfärbbarkeit des ganzen Systems blieb erhalten und Änderungen in der Aktivität der neurosekretorischen Ganglienzellen konnten nicht beobachtet werden. Hierbei wurde festgestellt, daß die Absonderung von ACTH nicht parallel zur Aktivität des hypothalamo-hypophysären neurosekretorischen Systems auftritt. L'effet du Su-4885 sur le système neurosécrétoire au niveau du complexe hypothalamo-hypophysaire chez le rat fut étudié par méthodes histologiques. Aucun changement de la quantité de substances neurosécrétées et de l'activité des cellules ganglionnaires neurosécrétoires fut observée. On peut donc conclure que le drainage de l'ACTH n'est pas paralléle à l'activité du système neurosécrétoire au niveau du complexe hypothalamo-hypophysaire.

Two cases of cholesterol pericarditis have been described. The cholesterol content of the pericardial fluid was in one case 798 and in the other 138 mg/100 ml, but the triglyceride content was very low. Lipid electrophoresis of the pericardial fluid, although it differed from that of the serum, gave inconsistent results. Protein electrophoresis gave similar results in the serum and the pericardial fluid, and the electrolytes were similar in pericardial fluid and serum. Of the enzymes studied, only the lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) showed elevated values in the pericardial fluid, with a preponderance of LDH5isoenzyme.

Summary The effect of Su-4885 on the hypothalamo-hypophyseal neurosecretory system of the rat was studied by histological means. No changes in the amount of the neurosecretory material or in the activity of the neurosecretory ganglion cells could be observed. It was concluded that the release of ACTH and the activity of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system do not go in parallel.

A coagulation factor analysis was performed in 50 thyrotoxic and 22 control patients. The results showed a distinct fall in 4 different coagulation factors, viz., prothrombin and factors VII, IX and X in the thyrotoxic group. No changes were observed in the other coagulation factors and no correlation was found between the coagulation disturbances and the severity or duration of the disease.

In order to analyse the essential parameters of the ocular pulse wave, oculosphygmography (OSG) combined with electrocardiography was performed on 45 healthy volunteers. The method was applied on 23 patients with symptoms of ischaemic cerebrovascular disease or ischaemia of one upper limb. All these 23 patients were examined with aortic arch angiography. A statistical analysis of the results obtained from the healthy volunteers showed that the time from the R of the QRS complex of ECG to the onset of the pulse wave t (R-f), and to the peak of the ocular pulse wave t (R-p) were the most constant parameters. The amplitude (h), and the ascending (a) and descending slopes (ß) of the pulse wave showed considerable interand intraindividual variation.

Two cases of hepatitis induced by sulfonamides are described. The causative relationship was verified by the administration of a test dose. The administration caused in both cases a prompt appearance of clinical reaction followed by a rise of serum bilirubin and enzyme activities, which subsided within 10 days.

Venous plasma angiotensin II, measured at 4-hour intervals in healthy subjects, has a diurnal rhythm. The highest values are detected early in the morning and the lowest in the evening.

<$O_ST_ABS>AUTHORS SYNOPSIS<$C_ST_ABS>Transfer of sodium and rubidium tracer ions in lignocaine-treated primary culture of contracting heart cells was studied. In suitable concentrations lignocaine reduced the rate of these ion flows. Connection of the present results with membrane stabilization and previous reports about the electrophysiological mode of action of lignocaine is briefly discussed.