Monitoring of daily gliadin intake in patients on gluten-free diets.

The aim of the study was to show patients suffering from the coeliac disease, their real gliadin daily intake, offer them very useful information concerning their diet and to find random possible mistakes. The monitoring was carried out within the context of their routine everyday diet regimen. The daily intake of gliadin in the diet was quantified on the basis of gliadin determination in their current daily food. The gluten-free diet was followed for 30 days. The patients were taking regular daily meals, drinks, and sometimes medicines or food supplements. The patients were provided with instructions, survey forms, digital scales, polyethylen bottles and sacks. The patients took out the stipulated amount, which served as a sample of each of their daily meals. The samples included both homemade meals as well as commercial products. The content of gliadin in daily meal was determined by the sandwich ELISA method. The daily gliadin intake was calculated on the base of the reported amount of meals ingested. 1,900 food samples were analyzed within the framework of this study. Several contaminated commercial foods were found; nevertheless this fact did not influence the otherwise satisfactory overall picture of the daily gliadin intake by the patients followed. The results in 14 patients revealed a satisfactory adherence to the gluten-free diet. It was proved that conscientiousness and awareness on the part of coeliac patients, or those taking care of them, is of paramount importance in determining the choice of foods comprising a gluten-free diet.

[Incidence of cerebrovascular lesions in users of oral contraceptives]. / Incidence cévních lezícerebrálních pri uzívání perorálních antikonceptiv.

PIP: The authors assessed the % incidence of cerebrovascular attacks in patients hospitalized between 1964 and 1978 at the Neurological Clinic. The group of 138 patients under 40 years included 56 women and 82 men. 4 women suffered from a cerebrovascular attack while taking (OCs) oral contraceptives. In another 9 women it was proven that they used other hormone preparations for gynecological reasons. It is thus probable that OC preparations may be implicated in the development of a cerebrovascular attack. (author's)^ieng

[Peripheral nerve damage in upper extremities in glass cutters]. / Uszkodzenie nerwów obwodowych konczyn górnych u szlifierzy szkla

A group of glass cutters working with flint-glass was analysed in view of their susceptibility to ulnar nerve crush injury. The group comprised 429 cutters from Eastern Bohemia working in the Bohemia manufacture. The type of work done by cutters is described with particular reference to the way in which they rest their upper extremities during work and to the duration of work. Subjective symptoms were present in 44.7% of workers. The following neurological abnormalities were found during examination: hypaesthesia in 36.8%, motor activity impairment in 21.9%, muscular atrophy in 8.1%. Autonomic abnormalities involved hands in 29.1% of workers. Slight electromyographic abnormalities were demonstrated not only in the innervation area of the ulnar nerve but also in that of the median nerve. The authors discuss their views on the aetiology of the disease and criteria used in medical evaluation of ability to work in these workers.