Scottish Medical Journal

Erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) has been measured in 17 normal subjects and in 70 patients with anaemia of various causes; the red cells of most of the anaemic patients contained abnormally high levels of GSH. In the group of cases of untreated megaloblastic anaemia in which the haemoglobin concentration was less than 8.0 g. per 100 ml., there was an inverse relationship between the erythrocyte GSH level and the haemoglobin concentration. During initial therapy in megaloblastic anaemia, as the haemoglobin concentration increased, the GSH level decreased towards normal; the time taken for the GSH level to reach a value 2 standard deviations above the normal mean was inversely related to the initial haemoglobin concentration. In the red cells of patients with anaemia there was no correlation between the GSH level and the activity of glutathione peroxidase. The significance of these findings is discussed.

In a study of 31 children with Down's syndrome and their families in the Glasgow area, medico-social help was found to be adequate in dealing with the major physical problems (especially congenital heart disease) of the child, and in providing genetic advice to those families in whom recurrence was a major anxiety.

Help was deficient in catering for the emotional and social needs of many of the families of these children.

It is suggested that these findings reflect the narrow medical concept of Down's syndrome as an isolated pathological entity, and that a major shift of emphasis of medical attention from the child on to the family unit is required to effect changes in the standards of care of such children and their families.

The case histories of 2 patients with macroamylasaemia are presented together with biochemical findings. Members of each patient's immediate family have been screened and no further cases found.

The majority of oral infections with Candida albicans have a local cause. However some Candida infections, such as chronic muco-cutaneous candidosis, which may be widespread over skin and mucous membranes are associated with systemic disorders. Indeed, antibiotic or corticosteroid therapy and severe debilitating disease are proven causes of Candida infection while the association of various endocrinopathies with candidosis has now become well established. More recently, other systemic factors such as impaired cellular immunity and nutritional deficiency have been recognised as influencing Candida infections, and this knowledge is now being successfully applied to the treatment of the disease.