No abstract

No abstract

SUMMARY A clinical trial of 1‐>4‐glucosaccharolactone (saccharolactone) and sodium citrate as compared with a placebo (lactose) has been made in an attempt to prevent the development of bladder tumours in 105 patients, who had previously had bladder cancer. The trial failed to show any clear beneficial effects. Statistical examination of the results shows that only a reduction in the incidence of recurrent tumours of 30 per cent, or more would have been significant in a trial of this size. Reasons for the failure of the treatment to effect the development of the disease are discussed.

A mono‐amine oxidase inhibitor (Nialamide) has been shown to reduce the extent of induced thrombosis in experimental animals, and to enhance the anticoagulant effects of both phenindione and warfarin (Shimamoto, Yamazaki, Tsuchihashi and Sunaga, 1961; Shimamoto, Ishioka and Jujita, 1962), but these effects were apparent for only a few hours after administration of the drug. Maschouf, Robinson and LeBeau (1964) were able to demonstrate a rapid reduction in platelet adhesiveness in human subjects following a single dose of 75–100 mg., but long‐term treatment of patients with Nialamide alone in doses of 75–200 mg. daily, or in doses of 75 mg. daily in combination with phenindione, had no obvious effect on the total platelet count, or on the adhesive or non‐adhesive platelet count (Eastham, 1964b; Maschouf et al., 1964). Control platelet counts taken from male patients on long‐term anticoagulant therapy with phenindione alone appeared to show some seasonal fluctuation. These results have therefore been examined in detail over a 14‐month period.