[Comparative crossover double-blind study of profenid and indomethacin patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Vergleichende Crossover-Doppelblindstudie mit Profenid und Indometazin bei Patienten mit Rheumatoid-Arthritis.

38 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, randomly divided into two groups, underwent a three weeks treatment with profenid (3 capsules + 1 suppositorium) alternatively with indomethacin (3 capsules + 1 suppositorium), which head lasted six weeks in case of each patient. The study was double-blind using a crossover technique. The results show that the efficacy of the applied doses of profenid is similar to that of indomethacin. Profenid is superior to indomethacin with regard to drug tolerance.

The influence of noise and vibration upon creatine kinase activity in blood serum.

The investigations comprised part of the workers employed in a factory of prefabricated concrete elements. The creatine kinase (CK) activity was determined before and after a day's work in the following groups of workers: I-exposed to noise and vibration exceeding the allowed norm, II- exposed to noise, performing the same hard physical work as group I and exposed to vibration not exceeding 79dB in particular octave bands, III- practising physical work a group I and II but in environment free from noise and vibration, and a control group of persons (C) not exposed to any of the tested factors (vibration, noise, work). The obtained results indicate that the determination of the CK activity may serve as a test of exposure to vibration and noise.

[Endocrinological aspects of long-term lithium therapy]. / Einige endokrinologische Aspekte der Lithium-Langzeittherapie.

Investigations were carried out on two groups of patients suffering from cyclophrenia, atypical psychosis and schizophrenia. Both groups as well as a control group consisted of 30 persons each. The first of the psychiatric groups was treated with lithium carbonate and neuroleptics during a period of time ranging from 6 months to 8 years. The second psychiatric group was treated only with neuroleptics. The following parameters were being specified: The level of cortisol, insulin, somatotropin (GH) and lithium in the blood serum and also the glucose level in blood. Furthermore, the influence of lithium carbonate upon cortisol secretion and GH after insulin stimulation was also examined. The results of our work prove that the long-lasting treatment with lithium, when proper doses are carefully chosen, does not cause any significant changes of all the examined parameters.

[The use of 99mTc-pyrophosphate indices in the quantitative evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis activity]. / Anwendung der 99mTc-Pyrophosphat-Indices in der quantitativen Bewertung der Aktivität der Rheumatoiden Arthritis.

The authors have presented their own method of defining "joint to bone" and "joint to joint" radioactivity indicators with the application of 99mTc-pyrophosphate. Investigations of the degree of 99mTc-pyrophosphate accumulation in the 4 chosen points have shown that the lowest coefficient of changeability points out at half of crus length. The authors have employed radioactivity measurement of this place as a constant reference point while defining all the indicators "joint to bone". On the basis of the investigations carried out in 45 patients with varied degrees of rheumatoid arthritis activity and in the control group of twenty individuals it was established that the applied method makes possible the quantitative evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis activity in a simple way and in a short time.