Abstract. Six parkinsonian patients have been treated with increasing oral doses of L‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (L‐dopa) up to 8.25 g/d. Previous anticholinergic therapy had been discontinued. Four of the patients were remarkably improved; the best effect was observed on the akinesia. The L‐dopa treatment was discontinued in two of the patients as they were not markedly improved but displayed considerable side‐effects. Nausea and occasionally vomiting were observed in most patients. Hyperkinesia occurred at the high dose levels. Their mood was elevated but mental disturbance developed in four of the patients. In two of these patients the disturbance disappeared after reduction of the dose. Most of the L‐dopa was metabolized to dopamine outside the brain. Large diurnal variations of the dopa level in blood were observed in agreement with similar variations in the therapeutic effect.

Abstract. Pulmonary fat emboli were isolated in 7 post‐absorptive dogs after bone fracture. The emboli consisted mainly of triglycerides. The fatty acid composition of these triglycerides was compared with that of plasma and bone marrow triglycerides. The triglycerides in the emboli were similar to those from bone marrow but differed from those in plasma. These observations indicated that the bone marrow fat is the source of the embolised fat in the lungs in the case of trauma. It was also concluded from the literature that fat emboli occur in other non‐traumatic conditions and that there must exist other possibilities for the formation of fat emboli.

No abstract

A comparison has been made of the effects of three different combined oral contraceptives (Ovulen, Anovlar, and Volidan) on the plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and total and individual phospholipids. The results indicate a difference in action between Anovlar on the one hand and of Ovulen and Volidan on the other. In three oophorectomized women the effects of one of the estrogenic and two of the progestogenic components of the combined preparations were studied separately. The drugs were given singly or in combinations and it was found that the two progestogens produced different effects as judged from the parameters studied. Norethisterone acetate influenced the plasma lipids in a direction opposite to that induced by the estrogen. These findings suggest that the overall effects on the plasma lipids induced by the various combined oral contraceptives reflect the competitional effects of the estrogenic and progestogenic components.

DHEA sulphste was administered orally in doses of 20 to 80 mg to 13 subjects with hypercholesterolaemia or hyperlipaemia. Plasma lipid and neutral steroid eulphate levels aa well as the excretion of individual ll-deoxy-17-ketosteroids and estrogens in urine were investigated before and during the treatment. No effect was observed on plasma free or esterified cholesterol, on total or individual phospholipid values. or on routine blood haematological or chemical analyses. However, the plasma CIp steroid sulphate levels increased considerably as well aa the urinary excretion of the 11-deox 17-ketosteroids, indicating good absorption of the compoun$edminia-July 1,1971 tered. No significant changes in estrogen excretion following DHEA sulphate treatment could be noted.-When 13malesubjects with hypercholesterolaemia and hyperlipmia were compared with 42 normal controk of the same mean age, a sipficlmtly lower urinary excretion of dehydroepiandroeterone and estrone as well aa of eatronef eatradiol waa observed in the pathological series.