Renal stone analysis: LITHOS, an expert system for evaluation of X-ray diffractograms of urinary calculi

An expert system for evaluation of X-ray diffraction patterns of urinary calculi is described and evaluated. The software was developed using the PERSONAL CONSULTANT expert system shell from Texas Instruments.     

Treatment of Raynaud's syndrome with calcium entry blockers

The authors have presented the results of a 14-day open randomized trial of the efficacy of 3 calcium inlet blocking agents: nifedipine, verapamil and phendilin in 61 patients with Raynaud's syndrome. In the group of patients receiving 30-80 mg of nifedipine (20) there was a significant decrease in the frequency and expression of Raynaud's syndrome attacks, a positive effect of varying degree was noted in 19 patients. The drug raised slightly the skin and muscular blood flow and skin temperature. The use of 120-360 mg of verapamil in 21 patients caused no significant inhibition of Raynaud's syndrome and rise of hemocirculation. Phendilin (150-300 mg) though being comparable with nifedipine in efficacy, often produced side-effects resulting in the drug cancellation (8 out of 20). The efficacy of the calcium inlet blocking agents, especially nifedipine, for therapy of Raynaud's syndrome was emphasized.     

Prophylactic long-term oral tocolysis of multiple pregnancies

After admission to hospital for bed rest, 200 women with multiple pregnancies were randomly allocated to receive either 4 mg of salbutamol orally five times daily, or to receive no drug. After an average of 6 weeks treatment, no difference between the experimental groups could be detected with respect to duration of gestation, birthweight or any other of the outcomes of pregnancy observed.