The action of detergents upon microbes (author's transl)

The effect of sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate in the concentration range of 0.125%-1.0% upon gas formation by Klebsiella and Escherichia was studied. The experiments were performed in Szántha's gas tubes on synthetic culture media containing glycerol; gas formation was measured volumetrically. Concentrations below 1.0% were found to promote gas formation when compared with the control tubes. In accordance with previous papers published, enteric and chromogenic bacteria also multiplied well in the presence of 1.0% DBS-Na. It is shown by the results at hand that additional studies of the influence of detergents upon processes of self-purification in surface waters should be performed.     

Pseudolupus induced by a vasculotropic drug (author's transl)

The authors report eight cases of women suffering from pseudolupus erythematosus, with positive antimitochondrial antibodies. In six in the past history, a vasculotropic drug, Venocuran or Venopyridum, had been taken. All the patients had had episodes of fever, a pericarditis and/or myocarditis. A pleural effusion was present in six and pulmonary infiltrates in four. The course of the disease was for a limited period (1 to 3 months) in four cases and was chronic in the other four. One patient developed severe mitral incompetence and a cardiomyopathy.     

On the mechanism of action of acupuncture analgesia (author's transl)

The correlation between the effects of acupuncture (A) and hypnosuggestion (H) on subjective pain perception was studied in normal volunteers using somatosensory evoked potentials technique. Both methods influenced identically the subjective pain perception and affected the evoked cortical responses similarly. In those subjects in whom analgesia was achieved, location of the A needles proved unimportant and the suppression of the cortical response elicited by A or H was identical. This could be explained by cortically induced inhibitory activity in descending control systems for both methods. A. analgesia thus appears to be a suggestive modality which depends on individual susceptibility. A specific cultural background also seems to be of importance.     

Proceedings: On the central action of nomifensine (author's transl)

The central action of nomifensine (NF), a new antidepressive drug, was studied in rats and mice. NF stimulates locomotor activity in normal animals as well as in animals whose motor activity has been depressed by reserpine, alpha-methyltyrosine (alpha-MT), bis-(4-methyl-1-homopiperazinyl-thiocarbonyl)-disulfide (Fla-63) or phenoxybenzamine. The sedation produced by alpha-MT plus reserpine or by spiroperidol is not affected by NF. NF induces stereotypy in the rat and antagonizes the catalepsy induced in the rat by neuroleptics, pilocarpine and arecoline. The catalepsy induced by alpha-MT plus reserpine is not influenced. NF elevates the brain levels of serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in the rat. These and previous results indicate that the profile of action of NF differs both from that of known tricyclic antidepressive drugs and that of dopaminergic stimulants.     

How alcohol and drug consumers see themselves: a personal and social self-assessment (author's transl)]

In a representative inquiry we found significant differences in the self-assessment of 4082 20-year-old Swiss men, as to whether their consumption of alcohol and drugs is high, low, or zero. The heavy users of alcohol and drugs describe themselves as men with frequent personal difficulties and psychosomatic disturbances. They tend to separate earlier from their family and prefer a less conventional, more consume-orientated, and passive way of life than the remainder.     

Dumping-prophylaxis (author's transl)

The dumping syndrome is due to a vigorous reflex distension of the jejunum, caused by the stomach violently evacuating its contents. The aim of treatment is to overcome the drastic evacuation by restoring the rhythmic peristalsis of the stomach (eukinetics). This can be achieved by a special diet. Every meal should begin with well chewed solids (pulp) and avoid all fluids. With a well organised medical staff a complete success can be achieved. Surgical measures in Dumping can be avoided.     

The problem of tobacco, alcohol and drugs in boarding schools (author's transl)

The problem of tobacco, alcohol and drugs was investigated in various boarding schools in Switzerland. The number of smokers among 297 pupils in the Canton of Obwalden rose from 53% in the 12-14 year old children to 58% (15-17 years) and to 60% (18-20). In the St. Galler Oberland, 39% of the 12-13 year old children smoked and 48% of those aged 14-15 years; 75% of the younger and 64% of the older pupils preferred a glass of milk to a glass of alcohol. In the Canton of Neuchatel, 53% of 174 pupils aged from 15-17 were smokers; 10% had already tried drugs once. In the Canton of Graubunden, 33% of the 13-15 year old pupils and 34% of those aged 17-19 from a total of 166 smoked regularly or occasionally; none of the younger, but 8% of the older pupils had already tried drugs once. Of 412 Swiss pupils in boarding schools, 35% were smokers at the age of about 15-16, 52% at 17-18 and 68% at 19-20 years of age.