Evaluation of nitrendipine--a new calcium channel blocker.

Nitrendipine (Baypress; Bayer-Miles), a new calcium channel blocker, was administered to 38 hypertensive patients in an oral dose of 20 mg once or twice daily. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were reduced to a clinically relevant extent within 2 hours of taking the medication. There was no loss of effect during the 57 days of the trial. No significant changes in heart rate were noted. On the whole, side-effects were mild and transient and consisted mainly of dizziness, headache, joint pains and oedema.

Systemic lupus erythematosus in black South Africans.

The clinical features, laboratory findings, course of disease and response(s) to therapy of 30 black South Africans with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are described. This is the largest collection of such cases yet assembled in a single study and was noteworthy also for the development in 1 patient of bilateral central retinal artery occlusion and in 5 patients of pulmonary tuberculosis; for the sensitivity of serum gammaglobulin levels as an indicator of disease activity; and for the ineffectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in 9 of 17 patients with arthritis. It is concluded that SLE is not as uncommon in black South Africans as was believed hitherto.

[Dilated cardiomyopathy in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis. A case report]. / Gedilateerde kardiomiopatie in 'n pasiënt met ankiloserende spondilitis. 'n Gevalbespreking.

A patient presented with typical features of ankylosing spondylitis, as well as some of the biochemical abnormalities expected in this disease. In addition the patient had symptoms and signs of biventricular heart failure (dilated cardiomyopathy) with conduction defect. No valve lesions were demonstrated. A non-reducible head tilt, seldom described in ankylosing spondylitis, was also present. A short review of the possible mechanisms in the development of dilated cardiomyopathy in ankylosing spondylitis is given.

Ventricular septal defect due to blunt chest trauma. A case report.

Blunt chest trauma may cause cardiac trauma, this possibility often being overlooked. Various anatomical structures may be affected. A case of ventricular septal defect due to blunt chest trauma is described and the relevant literature is reviewed.

Iodoform toxicity following the use of B.I.P.P.: a potential hazard.

1. A case of severe iodoform toxicity is presented in a patient after a total maxillectomy whose cavity was packed with B.I.P.P. The patient subsequently recovered after removal of the B.I.P.P. pack. 2. A simple spectrophotometric method for measuring plasma iodine concentration is described. Plasma iodine determinations were carried out on the toxic patient and three others with iodoform containing packs. The concentrations found correspond well with the presence or absence of iodoform toxicity. 3. From the clinical and biochemical evidence presented we suggest that B.I.P.P. gauze is a satisfactory packing for small operative cavities, but that caution should be exercised if large cavities, such as those following maxillectomies, are to be packed with the material. Another iodoform containing mixture, Whitehead's varnish, is a safer alternative to B.I.P.P. gauze.