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Summary Immunostimulation in the central nervous system (CNS) measured as abnormal intrathecal immunoglobulin production or activated lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), was found in 22 of 25 HIV seropositive patients. All of 11 patients with symptomatic HIV infection and nine of 14 asymptomatic patients had an increased IgG index or a Tourtellotte's production number indicating CNS infection. The amount of intrathecal immunoglobulin was not correlated to the severity of disease since five of six AIDS patients hat only slightly elevated values, while some patients without AIDS had a high intrathecal immunoglobulin production. Activated lymphocytes and plasma cells in CSF were frequently found in symptomatic HIV patients without AIDS as well as in asymptomatic HIV seropositive patients. Macrophages and activated monocytes were observed in CSF from AIDS patients. The results indicate that HIV has a high neurotropicity and is spread to CNS in all stages of the infection.

A longitudinal population study of 1,462 women, aged 38-60 years at entry, was begun in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1968-1969. This paper deals with the first 12-year follow-up period. In univariate analysis, peak expiratory flow showed a significant negative correlation with the 12-year incidences of myocardial infarction, electrocardiographic changes suggesting ischemic heart disease, stroke, and death. The association with incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and death remained in multivariate analysis, and was independent of age, body height, body mass index, adipose tissue distribution, chest deformity, history of pulmonary disease, smoking habit, serum cholesterol concentration, serum triglyceride concentration, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and physical activity. The findings indicate that measuring peak expiratory flow is a simple procedure to identify women with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease or death. It seems urgent to find out what preventive measures might be taken as a consequence of these observations.