Peptidic neurones may be considered as multisignal intergrators and transducers. When formation or release of peptide outstrips genetically determined breakdown capacity, overflow of peptides to the body fluids and urine may be expected. In this paper, pathological urinary chromatographic patterns of peptides are shown for genetic, functional and mixed disorders. Part symptoms of the disorders may be induced with the biologically isolated and purified peptides as well as with chemically synthesized peptides.

Few documented cases of Riley-Day syndrome fulfilling current diagnostic criteria have been recognized in non-Jews. In our case the diagnosis was established in a Norwegian child despite the absence of Jewish origin. It represents a report of this syndrome with bilateral pathological changes in the hypothalamus in addition to extensive abnormal findings in the spinal cord and the autonomic ganglia. These findings may have significance with regard to the pathogenesis of the disease.

Intestinal lymphangiectasia may be more protean in clinical manifestations and less rare than earlier suspected. A recent report points out that there are two types of the disorder, one congenital and the other acquired and transitory. A case is reported which fulfills the current clinical, laboratory, radiological and histological criteria for the diagnosis of the disease, and represents the first report in Scandinavia of transient intestinal lymphangiectasis with rapid and complete recovery within a few months after initiation of MCT diet.

A case of Plasmodium vivax malaria in a 3-week-old infant, born in Norway of a Pakistanian mother, is reported. The child was admitted with a febrile illness of unknown origin, persistent vomiting, reduced body weight, thrombocytopenia, elevated total level of IgM, and a slightly positive specific IgG antibody titer. The mother had malaria during the puerperium, and febrile episodes 6-8 weeks before parturition. This is the first case of congenital malaria reported from Scandinavia.

Summary Neonatal Graves disease, with frank cardiac failure and pronounced bilateral breast enlargement, is described in a premature infant female. Thyrotoxicosis, culminating rapidly in thyroid storm, was successfully treated by administration of Lugol's solution, digitalis and phenobarbital. The case is discussed in reference to the legitimacy of long‐acting thyroid stimulator (LATS) as the originator of neontal thyrotoxicosis. Although LATS could not be detected, the occurrence of gastric parietal cell antibodies in both mother and child yielded presumptive evidence for thyrotoxicosis as an autoimmune disease.