RESEARCH.
Final phase of development of chemical means for restraint of cancer is in the offing, according to C P. Rhoads, SloanKettering Institute for Cancer Research globulin and i t s distribution problems. Rheumatic Diseases. Dibenzyl penicillin, a repository type of penicillin, shows great promise for treatment and prevention of rheumatic fever, Joseph J. Bunim, of trie Mational Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, says. Rheumatic ferver î s a preventable disease, and it hacl been demonstrated in 1939 that recurrences of t h e disease could be prevented by the continual administration o f sulfanilamide. Sulfonamides are effective bacteriostatic agents and sup-press growth of hemolytic streptococci which precede and perhaps may incite an attack of rheumatic fever. Omce a streptococcal throat infection developed, sulfonamides were ineffective in preventing sequel of rheumatic fever. Penicillin wa_s found to b e effective even when administered after the onset of throat irmfectdon, and it is common practice today to keep all rheumatic subjects o n daily sulfonamide or penicillin prophylaxis for five years after an attack of rheumatic fever. If a hemolytic streptococcal throat infection develops, Large doses of penicillin are administered within t h e first 24 hours. Intramuscular injections of dibenzyl penicillin (1.2 million units once a month) will sustain e n o u g h concentration of penicillin in serum and tissues to prevent infections and even eliminate the carrier state. A steroid with improved antirheumatic potency, o r "whose chemical degradation could be inhibited to such a degree as to satisfactorily suppress inflammation of the articular structures and yet produce n o undesirable side effects" is the present goal. Increased concentration o f steroids in tissues of a pregnant worxian can cause a striking remission of arthritis, w i t h o u t unpleas5282
ant side effects, proving steroid chemistry holds the answer to rheumatic arthritis, most dreaded of all types. Phenylbutazone and gold compounds have both been used, with varying degrees of success, in the treatment of rheumatic arthritis. Phenyl butazone suppresses inflammation by a different mechanism than the adrenal steroids, and also has analgesic properties. Several derivatives of this compound are being synthesized and will be studied in hope of finding a drug free from serious toxic effects but with its desirable antirheumatic properties. Mode of action of gold compounds is unknown and toxicity may be severe, but many physicians believe they are the best available drugs. Canadian Market. Canadians spend only 35 to 40% as much as residents of t h e U. S. on medicines and medical
services, declares John B. Frosst of Charles E. Frosst & Co. This may be due not only to a louver average income but also to extra expenses for heating, warm clothing, and higher prices for some commodities. "Any company planning to introduce products into Canada should b e prepared to offer a minimum profit of 40c/c to the retailer." Canadian druggists are not as dependent o n presold drug items and they demand a. higher percentage of profit for their efforts on store promotions, such as counter display and personal recommendation. Canadian market is more like U. S. market than any other, but this very sameness can b e misleading. Methods of doing business a r e very similar, and the standard of living is second only to the U. S. Population is growing at the rate of 3 % annually, compared with half that in the U . S .
Of Metals and Coenzymes Metals have been found to be associated with riboflavin coenzymes in some cases of flavo-protein catalysis; work may also shed light on respiratory enzymes AUSTIN, TEX.—Riboflavin-containing proteins h a v e long been known to b e key enzymatic catalysts for oxidation of a wide variety of nutrients and other organic compounds, H. R. Mahler, University of Wisconsin, told a symposium on B-vitamins sponsored here by Biochemical Institute of University of Texas a n d Clayton Foundation for Research. Work of several labs, among
them Institute for Enzyme Research, suggests very strongly that metals are associated with riboflavin coenzymes in certain instances of flavo-protein catalysis. T w o enzymes studied in this connection are those concerned with first oxidative step in fatty acid oxidation, conversion of saturated acyl coenzyme A derivative to the saturated analog.
L.. J. Reed (left), University of Texas, told Biochemical Institute's symposium on B-vitamins that evidence is accumulating which indicates lipoic acid is needed for oxidative decarboxylation of α-keto acids by animal, vegetable, bacterial cells. At right is William Shive, also of the university, who coauthored a paper on cancer
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