The Medical journal of Australia
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The efficacy and safety of prazosin, a new vasodilator antihypertensive agent, used mainly in combination with other hypotensive medication, was evaluated in 50 hypertensive patients, 28 of whom had left ventricular hypertrophy and 28 of whom had renal impairment. In 44 cases this agent was introduced because of an inadequate response to, or side effects from other agents. In 38 cases (76%) there was a satisfactory response, the diastolic blood pressure being reduced to 100 mm Hg or less. ⋯ The mean duration of therapy was 6-6 months. Side effects necessitating withdrawal of prazosin occurred in only three cases. Plasma renin activity was reduced to 25% of the control value in a group treated with prazosin alone.
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Survival figures and other epidemiological features are described for 29 patients with myelofibrosis living in Western Australia during the period 1959 to 1963. These patients form part of a larger series of 509 patients with leukaemia and allied disorders. The diagnostic incidence rate was found to be 0.5 per 100,000 population, the mortality rate was 0.4 per 100,000 and the prevalence 1.8 per 100,000. ⋯ The sex ratio indicates a small male preponderance and the age distribution is similar to that in other descriptions. Survival times for all patients accord with those reported in the literature, but this series showed a marked female advantage in survival. Findings in other series are described.
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A giant smooth muscle tumour of the stomach was excised in a 58-year-old man. Although small leiomyomas are not rare, the giant gastric leiomyoma is not common, and may present diagnostic and operative difficulties. It is an essentially benign tumour, unlike the "bizarre" leiomyoma or leiomyoblastoma.
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The Fijian Indian is a prolific renal stone former, whereas the native Fijian living in the same climate is not. An excessive intake of curry has previously been suggested as the cause of this extensive stone formation in the Fijian Indian. ⋯ Nearly half of the Fijian Indians who meet violent and sudden deaths have evidence of nephrocalcinosis. These findings add further weight to the theory that an excessive intake of curry is nephrotoxic.