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A method to investigate the origin of EPSPs has been introduced and its application to recordings from spinal motoneurons allows an estimate to be made of the proportion of spontaneous EPSPs being of monosynaptic muscle afferent origin. Furthermore its application to the largest muscle stretch evoked EPSPs indicates that they can be of either monosynaptic muscle spindle Ia action or can be interneuronally mediated.

Information regarding in vitro characteristics and in vivo behaviour of microspherical drug delivery systems in animal models has accumulated and many have been developed to the stage of clinical assessment. A vital requirement for clinical trial is a stable product with a long shelf-life and reproducible properties. Thus, we have investigated whether adriamycin-loaded albumin microspheres can be freeze-dried without deterioration of important characteristics. The following properties of this delivery system were compared in the freeze-dried and freshly prepared state: particle size and state of aggregation (by Coulter Counter); drug content (by HPLC) and drug release rate (in a flow-through system). It was observed that freeze-drying and subsequent storage of adriamycin-loaded albumin microspheres resulted in no substantial difference in these properties compared to freshly prepared product. Thus, the freeze-dried product, with its considerable advantages as regards prolonged storage, appears suitable for clinical use.

Messrs. Harrison and S.F. Pearce present, in this contribution, a comprehensive account of trend- extrapolation techniques, as practised in Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. The authors deal explicitly with six basic trend curves, available in the current ICI Central Management Services computer forecasting programme: which are: straightline; parabola; exponential; log parabola; modified exponential; and Gompertz curves. In their presentation the authors far surpass the customary exposition of mathematical detail by presenting practical examples, liberally supported with historical and technical detail, which cover: U.K. Alkali Consumption U.K. Sulphuric Acid Production U.S. Chloride Production U.S. Titanium Dioxide Consumption U.K. Man-Made Fibres Consumption U.S. Polythene Consumption U.K. Polyolefines Consumption