[Long-term treatment of cerebrovascular changes in the elderly (author's transl)]. / Langzeittherapie altersbedingter Insuffizienzerscheinungen des Gehirns.

A prospective study over 15 months in 100 elderly patients with signs of cerebro-vascular impairment demonstrated by psychometric testing that Hydergine (an ergot alkaloid preparation: 4.5 mg daily) compensated the signs of dementia, present in the placebo group, and in some patients actually brought about a significant improvement in mental activity. Similar compensatory effect was also demonstrable in cerebral haemodynamics: in the placebo group there was a progressive increase in cerebral circulation time, an expression of decreased cerebral blood flow, while with Hydergine cerebral circulation time was shortened and stabilized. Serial EEGs, obtained in parallel with psychometric and circulation time tests, demonstrated a marked increase in the 8-10 Hz pattern which corresponds to the physiological alpha activity in this age group. Furthermore, there was a diminished variability in performance in the tested frequency bands with Hydergine, the opposite tendency being obtained in the placebo group.

[Enteral absorption of high calcium doses determined by means of stable isotopes (author's transl)]. / Bestimmung der enteralen Resorption hoher Calciumdosen mittels stabiler Isotope.

The calcium absorption was determined in 8 healthy test persons (average age 25.6 years) after oral administration of 500 mg and 1000 mg of this element. A double isotope method with enriched stable calcium isotopes was used which can be applied without any restriction as, unlike in radiotracer techniques, any exposure to ionizing radiation is avoided. The calcium administered orally was labelled with 48Ca, the CaCl2 injected intravenously with 46Ca. The determination of both isotopes in serum and urine samples was carried out by means of neutron activation analysis. Independent of the calcium dose given, an absorption of 30% was found. From the 46Ca content in the serum samples a mean value of 6.4 +/- 1.0 g calcium or 98.8 +/- 15.4 mg Ca/kg body weight was calculated for the 24 hr-exchangeable calcium body pool.

[Iron absorption after oral application of a combination of Fe2+-succinate and multivitamins (author's transl)]. / Die Eisenresorption nach oraler Applikation einer Kombination von Fe++-Succinat und einem Multivitamin-Präparat.

The rate of iron absorption of Fe2+-succinate orally applied with multivitamins, was measured by means of whole-body counter in 45 subjects. The dosage was 330 mg ferrous succinate (115 mg Fe2+). Absorption was generally 4.5% (5.2 mg) in normal subjects, 8.6% (9.9 mg) in subjects with latent iron deficiency, and 29.6% (34 mg) in subjects with manifest iron deficiency. In women taking oral contraceptives and not suffering from iron deficiency, no significant increase in the iron absorption rate was measured.

[Postoperative prevention of thrombosis through the tonicizing of the caudal venous system. A new principle of drug therapy]. / Postoperative Thromboseprophylaxe durch Tonisierung des kaudalen Venensystems. Ein neues medikamentöses Behandlungsprinzip

Haemostasis of the lower extremities is among the constituent factors of postoperative thrombosis risks ("Virchow's Trias"). Therapeutical efforts have, therefore, ever since focused on the idea of accelerating vein circulation. An equivalent effect is produced by Dihydergot which is thus qualified for postoperative thrombo-prophylaxis. This investigation proves the efficiency ofDihydergot. Results are based on 148 patients subject to longitudinal section tests along the 125-J-fibrinogen-test lines, from the 1st through to the 6th day after operation. In comparison with a control group, the results with the members of the therapy group gave evidence of a highly significant reduction of thrombosis frequency in the leg veins. Side-effects have not been noted. Tonus of the vessels and acceleration of the vein backflow by Dihydergot form a new therapeutical principle within the scope of postoperative thrombo-prophylaxis. The method is advantageous because it is highly efficient, practicable without complications, and is riskfree.