Plasma glucose and pancreatic-glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) were measured in normal subjects and in patients with chronic pancreatitis after an intravenous insulin injection. Both groups showed a fall of about 40 mg/100 ml in plasma glucose at from 0 to 30 minutes. In the normal group, the pancreatic GLI increased significantly above the 0-value at 30 and 60 minutes. No increase was observed in the pancreatitis patients. In all cases a decrease in gut GLI was observed during the test.

After a two week washout period 25 patients with moderate to severe essential hypertension were treated with pindolol. In 12 patients the reduction in blood pressure was excellent and treatment with pindolol was continued. In 13 patients treatment was supplemented subsequently with clopamide and 12 patients had a satisfactory result. Side-effects were few and mild.

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Thirty patients suffering from essential hypertension were treated successively with placebo, hydralazine alone, and pindolol (Visken) combined with hydralazine. Hydralazine caused a statistically significant reduction in blood pressure and an increase in pulse rate as compared with the placebo: palpitations were an irritating side-effect. The combination of hydralazine and pindolol resulted in an additional fall in blood pressure (p less than 0.001) and the pulse rate decreased (2 p less than 0.001). The combined treatment also had a favourable effect on palpitations and angina pectoris.

After a 2-week washout period, 30 elderly hypertensive patients were treated with pindolol (a beta-adrenergic blocker) for 3 weeks. In 13 patients the reduction in blood pressure was satisfactory and treatment with pindolol was continued for another 4 weeks. In 17 patients the subsequent treatment was supplemented with clopamide (a diuretic) for 4 weeks; in 6 the results were satisfactory. Side effects were few and mild.

Wilkins (1959), Finnerty (1959), and Freis (1959) were the first to report that treatment with thiazide preparations may affect the carbohydrate metabolism, and perhaps also provoke diabetes mellitus in patients who had not previously suffered from this disorder. In consideration of the widespread use of modern diuretics it is of importance to know how often such a diabetogenic effect may occur.Chlorthalidone (Hygroton) has proved to be suitable for use in the treatment of hypertension and oedema. However, there have been reports of the occurrence of diabetes mellitus, even of fatal cases, when this compound has been used (Moret, 1965).The effect of ethacrynic acid (Edecrin) on carbohydrate metabolism during long-term therapy has not previously been fully investigated. Because of the extent to which this diuretic is now used it would seem that a closer investigation of this problem should be made.In order to assess the effect of the two drugs on carbohydrate metabolism patients with hypertension were investigated, before and after treatment with these preparations, by means of a number of tests for estimating such metabolism.Material and Methods The effect of ethacrynic acid on carbohydrate metabolism was investigated in 15 patients (9 women and 6 men), while that of chlorthalidone was investigated in 16 patients (11 women and 5 men). The first three patients (Cases 1-3) were treated first with chlorthalidone and then with ethacrynic acid; the next nine were treated with the diuretics in the reverse order, while the remainder received only one or other of the drugs.All the patients suffered from mild to moderately severe essential hypertension; none had experienced cerebral vascular attacks, cerebral apoplexy, or head injury. Ten were adiposethat is, their weight exceeded the normal by more than 10%. All had normal renal function, as assessed by investigation of the urine for protein, microscopy of urine, serum creatinine level, and creatinine clearance. Three had a familial disposition to diabetes mellitus, but otherwise none showed evidence of endocrine disorders or of diseases of the liver or pancreas.The patients who were treated with chlorthalidone were aged 45 to 70 years, average 59 years. The total dosages ranged from 6.7 to 43 g., with an average of 14.9 g., over courses of treatment lasting between 62 and 288 days, average 114 days. Those who were treated with ethacrynic acid were aged from 45 to 66 years, average 59 years. The total dosage varied from 1.9 to 13.1 g, average 5.8 g., and the duration of treatment ranged from 42 (Hoffman, 1937). The oral glucose tolerance test was carried out with 1 g. of dehydrated glucose per kilogram of body weight, maximum 70 g. It was considered to be normal if the blood sugar concentration was less than 130 mg./100 ml. two hours after administration of the glucose (limits given by Andersen and Friis, 1967 Friis, 1967).

Ten Gm factors and the Inv system have been investigated in samples from different groups of Eskimos in Greenland.Significant differences for some of the Gm factors have been demonstrated. As in Mongoloids in Asia, a high frequency of the phenotype Gm(1,–2, –4, –5, –10, –11, –14, 17, 21) is observed in all Eskimos of Greenland. No significant differences were found betweenthe Eskimo groups with regard to the Inv phenotypes.