Margaret Chieffi

Tocopherol administration to patients with Dupuytren's contracture ; effect on plasma tocopherol levels and degree of contracture.

Summary 1. Treatment with 300 mg of alpha-tocopherol acetate daily was given to 19 old patients with Dupuytrens contracture (26 contracted hands) for a period of 300 days. Following discontinuation of the treatment the patients were followed for another 350 days. Before therapy and at various intervals during and after alpha-tocopherol administration determinations were made of the plasma tocopherol concentration and permanent plaster casts prepared of the affected hands in maximal passive dorsal flexion. 2. The alpha-tocopherol administration resulted in a slow but steady rise of the mean plasma tocopherol level from 0.55 to 1.37 mg %; after discontinuation of the treatment the concentration again fell to the original level. A moderate, but statistically certain effect of the therapy was observed on the condition of the hands. Thus, during the treatment the volume of the palmar concavity decreased from 18.2 to 13.2 ml, and the angle between the fifth finger and the palmar surface increased by 14.7°. The improvement continued for some time after discontinuation of the therapy, but some regression had taken place on examination 350 days after the end of the alpha-tocopherol treatment.

Effect of Oral Thiamine Administration on Thiamine Content of the Stool.

Summary The daily oral administration of 5 mg of thiamine hydrochloride in tablet form to 12 young and 21 old individuals was followed by an increase of the fecal thiamine excretion corresponding to one—half to three—fourths of the thiamine dose given. The fecal excretion of thiamine returned to the original level after the thiamine supplementation had been discontinued.