In order to assess M-mode echocardiographic recordings in a normal Norwegian population, 190 apparently healthy subjects (95 women and 95 men) aged 21-69 years were examined with an Irex Meridian system. Measurements were performed according to criteria recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography. Absolute values for all parameters except for left ventricular (LV) shortening fraction (SF) were greater in men (P less than 0.001). When corrected for body surface area (BSA), the differences between the two genders were far less pronounced. Women had greater left atrium (LA) (P less than 0.01) and LV end-diastolic diameter (EDD) (P less than 0.001), whereas the interventricular septum in end-diastole (IVS-ED) (P less than 0.05) and LV posterior wall (PW) in ED (P less than 0.001) were thicker in men. Only weak correlations between age and the various echocardiographic parameters with r-values less than or equal to 0.30 were observed. It is recommended that BSA corrected values should be preferred since the differences between men and women are negligible. When absolute values are used, different normal ranges for both sexes should be applied.

1 A prospective multicentre study of all acute poisonings among adults admitted to hospital (n = 1145) or dying outside hospital (n = 67) in Oslo was performed during 1980. 2 Of the 1212 episodes, 98.3% were self-poisonings, giving an annual incidence of 2.8 per 1000 inhabitants (%o), 3.1‰ in males and 2.6‰ in females. 3 The main toxic agents among the self-poisoned patients were ethanol (19.7%), benzodiazepines (17.8%), opiates (14.9%), neuroleptics (10.4%) and antidepressants (9.3%). In 58.9% of the episodes more than one toxic agent was taken. 4 Abuse among the self-poisoned patients was significantly ( p < 0.005) more common among males than females (64.2 v. 34.5%). 5 The rate of suicide attempts was significantly ( p < 0.005) higher among females than males (20.2 v. 12.9%), females showing increasing rate with age. However, when excluding abusers the rate of suicide attempts was similar in both sexes (27.6 v. 25.0%). 6 Compared to a reference population self-poisonings were most common in the lower middle and the lowest social classes. Patients in these social classes, however, showed a lower rate of suicide attempts than those in the two highest social classes. 7 Overall mortality was 6.0% ( n = 73), but 91.8% of all deaths occurred outside hospital indicating the importance of including these figures when self-poisonings are studied.

1 The clinical course in an unselected group of 1125 consecutively hospitalised self-poisonings was studied during 1 year in Oslo. 2 Mortality was 0.5%, but only 0.3% in those admitted without cardiac and respiratory arrest. Mortality among those in grade IV coma was 4.2%. 3 The deepest comas (grade III or IV) occurred in 25.1% of the admissions with a mean duration of the coma of 5.8 h (range 1-80). 4 Complications occurred in 21.7% of the admissions and 6.9% suffered more than one complication of which the most frequent were respiratory depression (13.5%), hypotension (5.3%), pneumonia (4.4%), and hypothermia (1.6%). The complication rate was highest in poisonings with opiates (60.7%), meprobamate (37.5%) and antihistamines (30.0%). 5 Arrhythmias and respiratory depression were closely associated with poisonings with antidepressants and opiates, respectively. Owing to frequent polydrug overdoses it was difficult to associate other complications with other main toxic agents. 6 Administration of antidotes (20.6%), cuffed intubation (4.4%) and forced alkaline diuresis (3.4%) were the most frequent special therapeutic measures taken. 7 The change in pattern of self-poisonings in Oslo focuses on antidote therapy and intensive care, especially outside hospital, but limits the need for haemodialysis and haemoperfusion which were performed in only 1.0% of the admissions.

In order to obtain reference values related to age, the cardiac output (CO) was measured by pulsed Doppler in 92 apparently healthy, non-obese, non-athletic men aged 21-69 (mean 43) years with an Irex Meridian system. The aortic flow was recorded from the apical window with the sampling volume in the left ventricular outflow tract. The integral of maximum velocity was calculated by planimetry. The aortic diameter was taken as the distance between insertion of anterior and posterior cusps on the cross-sectional echocardiogram using the leading edge principle. The mean (± 1 SD) CO was 5.46 ± 1.12 litres/min and the cardiac index 2.81 ± 0.57 litres/min/m2. No significant age-related correlations were observed for heart rate, integral of maximum velocity, stroke volume, CO, or cardiac index, whereas the aortic diameter showed a weak positive correlation with age (r = 0.21 ; p < 0.05). In the subgroup aged 30-70 years, significant positive correlations between age and aortic diameter (r = 0.43; p < 0.001), stroke volume (r = 0.28; p < 0.01), and CO (r = 0.21; p < 0.05) were noted. In 7 male patients with coronary heart disease evaluated by right-sided heart catheterization prior to peripheral artery surgery, CO measured by Doppler correlated well with CO obtained by thermodilution (r = 0.90; p < 0.001).

1 During 1980 the relation between the moon phases and 1187 cases of self-poisonings in Oslo was studied. 2 In contrast to a previous report from India no significant correlation was found between the full moon and self-poisoning. 3 The aetiology of self-poisonings in western countries is rather more complex than to be explained by speculative 'human tidal waves'.