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A family presenting with ichthyosis vulgaris, prominent full cheeks, sparse lateral eyebrows and other craniofacial and musculoskeletal defects is described in detail. This constellation of physical findings represents a new syndrome, transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion. For reasons of simplicity it has been termed the I (ichthyosis), C (cheek), E (eyebrow) syndrome.

Three cases of hypernatremic dehydration in children with severe psychomotor retardation are described. All the children were receiving processed foods that contained extremely high amounts of sodium and were unintentionally deprived of free water. Salt and water intake must be monitored closely in children who can neither communicate thirst nor regulate their diet.

A gas chromatographic method was used to demonstrate that nitrite can counteract the inhibition by azide of nitrous oxide reductase activity in denitrifiers. This effect explains why azide (and cyanide) can inhibit nitrogen production from nitrous oxide in these organisms but have little effect on nitrogen production from nitrite. Although the physiological basis by which nitrite opposes the action of azide remains unknown, extensive destruction of azide by nitrite can be ruled out as an explanation.