SummaryA case of respiratory paralysis secondary to severe potassium depletion resulting from overuse of laxatives is reported. The magnitude of potassium deficiency is illustrated by the low value of total exchangeable potassium (750 mEq) and the balance studies during potassium repletion (retention of 520 mEq in 18 hours). New losses of potassium were then induced by diarrhea associated with salmonellosis and by polyuria with kaliuria; this further loss of potassium needed the administration of 2,760 mEq within 20 days.
SummaryIn the first part of this study, doses of 50 mgr/day of hydrochlorothiazide were administered per os to 8 hypertensive patients without edema. The metabolic studies realized show, after 4 days of treatment, a negative sodium balance, an augmentation of the urinary elimination of potassium and chloride, a reduction of weight and extracellular spaces, and finally a negative water balance, without necessarily an increase in diuresis. The sodium loss corresponds to a diminution of the extracellular reserve of sodium; in contrast the reduction of the extracellular reserve of potassium only explains 20 to 30 % of the potassium lost by the urinary pathway. In all the cases there is a definite modification of the blood electrolytes with tendency towards hypochloremic alkalosis and hypokalemia from the 4th day.In the second part of the work, the effect of hydrochlorothiazide was studied in subjects presenting very important cardiac or cirrhotic edema. The edema regressed in many cases (sometimes after a lat...
The cause of atherosclerosis and reason for its high incidence in diabetes are not known. In this study proteins and lipoids of serums of patients with diabetes or atherosclerosis are examined by paper electrophoresis to determine whether such changes may be a common factor for both of these conditions.
In a previous paper (Bastenie, Macrae, Smart, and Yudkin, 1945) the diet of the families of a group of employees at a works in Brussels was described in detail.In order to determine whether Ihe theoretical deficiencies which were found to exist had caused any marked deterioration the effects of the addition of a known supplement to the diet of these men have been investigated.This paper gives an account of the work.