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This study was performed to compare the effect of one month's treatment with hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg) in combination with either amiloride (2.5 mg) or triamterene (50 mg) on plasma sodium levels in elderly people in institutional care. Fifty residents of NHS nursing or social service residential care established on diuretics for congestive cardiac failure and aged 64 years or over were recruited. Forty-one patients were included in the final data analysis. Patients on hydrochlorothiazide/amiloride had a significantly lower plasma sodium (137 vs 139 mmol/l, 95% confidence interval for difference between medians 0-2 mmol/l) than those on hydrochlorthiazide/triamterene (P = 0.01). In equivalent potassium-retaining doses, amiloride is associated with significantly lower plasma sodium levels than triamterene, when given in combination with hydrochlorothiazide in elderly patients with congestive cardiac failure. This finding adds weight to uncontrolled observations implicating thiazide/amiloride diuretic combinations in causing serious hyponatraemia. This danger, although uncommon, should perhaps influence prescribing habits in an at-risk population.

Twenty-eight patients (11 Caucasian, 17 black) whose blood pressure was more than 160/96 mmHg after 4 weeks on placebo added to atenolol 100 mg/day were randomly given, in addition, nisoldipine 10 mg or nifedipine 20 mg each twice a day for 8 weeks in a double-blind cross-over study. There was a statistically significant (P < 0.001) fall in blood pressure with no change in heart rate, both supine and erect, on both drugs. There were no significant differences between nisoldipine and nifedipine. Adverse effects were recorded in 15%, 17% and 35% of the patients available for safety comparison for placebo, nisoldipine and nifedipine, respectively. There were no significant differences between the black and Caucasian patients in blood pressure responses, although the study had only a low power to detect these. However, the fasting serum triglyceride levels at the end of both calcium antagonist treatment periods were highly significantly lower in the black patients compared with the Caucasian patients. Nisoldipine, which has a higher coronary vascular selectivity and less negative inotropism than nifedipine, is as effective and as well tolerated as nifedipine in patients whose hypertension is inadequately controlled on atenolol. It may have a special role in hypertensive patients with impaired left ventricular function.

Our experience has suggested that not only do nurses on hospital wards waste time making too many unnecessary clinical observations, but that it is very difficult to persuade them to modify the pattern of their practice. We therefore conducted a survey by questionnaire among trained nurses in one health district of their everyday ward practice and attitudes to clinical observations. This showed that whilst a majority of nurses questioned believe in the importance of routine observations for patient care, there is a lack of consistency in the criteria and communication procedures used that must seriously limit the value of the information obtained by the individual nurse. We believe that uncritical faith in routine observations is a barrier to rationalizing procedures to optimize efficient use of the professional skills of ward nurses in this regard. There is need for more thought to be given to the problem and in particular it is important that doctors play a more active role in decision making.

Two patients with long-standing chronic bronchial suppuration developed antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positive Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyarteritis respectively. There is published evidence of an association between previous suppurative respiratory disease and Wegener's granulomatosis. We believe that our cases provide further evidence that chronic lung infection may play an aetiological role in the development of ANCA-positive systemic necrotizing vasculitis in some individuals.

Very few cases of acquired severe copper deficiency have been described. The principal effects are haematological, but the precise abnormalities are uncertain due to the possible association of other deficiencies. A case of isolated severe copper deficiency associated with late onset hypogammaglobulinaemia is reported in which the chief findings were macrocytic anaemia, neutropenia and a decrease in mean platelet volume. All these abnormalities resolved when copper therapy was instituted and recurred when the medication was stopped.

A case of pituitary coma with continuing menstruation is presented. This association is extremely rare, but a history of recent menstrual periods does not exclude advanced hypopituitarism from the differential diagnosis of severe hyponatraemia.

The aim was to study the renal and hormonal effects of intravenous 99-126 atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) infusion in a mixed group of patients who had moderate to severe chronic renal failure (CRF) and who were not treated with dialysis. The peak mean plasma level of ANF achieved during the experiment was at the upper limit of an absolute range of basal values previously recorded in a larger group of patients with similar degrees of renal impairment. A significant tissue effect was confirmed by rises in plasma and urinary cyclic guanosine monophosphate, the 'second-messenger' of ANF. ANF infusion increased sodium excretion rate by a mean of 68% compared with a fall of 40% in a placebo group, and significant increases in urinary albumin excretion occurred during the peptide infusion. Thus, the high levels of plasma ANF found in CRF may have a role in the maintenance of sodium balance. In addition, the proteinuric effect may be detrimental to long-term renal function.

Serum concentrations of LH, FSH, testosterone and prolactin were measured in patients with hypertension treated with propranolol (34 cases), methyldopa (13 cases), and methyldopa + propranolol (11 cases). The results were compared with those obtained in 18 controls (hospital out-patients). There were no differences in these hormone concentrations in the various groups, and no difference between those complaining of impotence (13 cases) and those with normal sexual function. Impotence in hypertensive men on treatment with methyldopa cannot be explained by abnormalities in secretion of the reproductive hormones.