X. EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY 285 



placed [hvcc pal'uMits with dissciniiiatcd lynipliosarcoina and tlifco cases of 

 leukemia on a \ilaniin Hfi-dcficient scnii-syntlietic, cirH^fly casein diet, to- 

 gether with desoxypyridoxine tor short piM'iods of up to It days. Although 

 there was evidence of malnutrition in the form of weiglit loss antl weakness, 

 no specilic signs of vitamin l^c, deficiency dexeloped. Two |)atieuts had acute 

 toxic manifestations after the administi-ation of lai'ge doses of desoxypyri- 

 doxine. These were characterized l\y transient epileptiform convulsions. 

 There wei'e no sequelae and no reciu'rence of the symptoms when the dose 

 of the (h'ug was reduced. There was no unequixocal evidence of dei)ression 

 of hemopoiesis, no significant atrophy of lymphoid tissue, and no signs of 

 demyelinization of nerves. Tested without a supplementary load of trypto- 

 phan, the excretion of xanthurenic acid was not increased. These observa- 

 tions seem to indicate that the restriction of vitamin Be in the diet together 

 \nth desoxypyridoxine for periods up to 2 weeks had no therapeutic effect 

 in lymphosarcoma and leukemia in human patients. 



.V large number of investigators studied the effect of pyridoxine medica- 

 tion in nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. In thirty-seven cases Willis and 

 his associates"^ have observed very satisfactory results from administra- 

 tion of pyridoxine (50 mg.). Similar beneficial results were observed by other 

 authors. '^''■^^^ On the other hand Hesseltine,^^ on the basis of a controlled 

 study of sixteen cases, concluded that the use of pyridoxine for hyperemesis 

 gravidarum is valueless and without justification. 



It is difficult to assess the results for any medical treatment in a condi- 

 tion such as nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, greatly influenced by purely 

 emotional factors. Such scepticism applies eciually well to positive as well 

 as to negative findings. 



The same reserved attitude may be observed for the similar syndrome of 

 radiation sickness. Bergman'*^ claimed beneficial effect with pyridoxine (in 

 doses of 100 mg. intramuscularly before and after the surgical procedure) 

 in the prevention of nausea and especially that of vomiting following gen- 

 eral anesthesia. However, these results were not confirmed by Kernis and 

 Stodsky.'^^ Greater unanimity is found regarding the treatment of radia- 



'" R. S. Willis, W. W. Winn, A. T. Morris, A. A. Xcwsomo, and W. S. Masscy, Am. J. 



Ohstet. Gijnecul. 44, 265 (1942). 

 "» B. B. Weinstcin, G. J. Mitchell, an<l (!. F. Sustendal, Am. J. Ohstet. Gynecol. 46, 



283 (1943). 

 '8' B. B. Weinsteiii, Z. Wohl, CJ. J. Mitchell, and (i. F. Hustcndal, Am. J. Ohstet. 



Gt/necol. 47, 3S9 (1944). 

 '»2 W. M. Silhernagel and O. P. Burt, Ohio Slate Med. J. 39, 1113 (1943). 

 'S3 C. W. Dorsey, Am. J. Ohstet. Gynecol. 58, 1073 (1949). 

 '^^ IT. C. Hesseltine, .4m. J. Ohstet. Gynecol. 51, S2 (1946). 

 's^ W. Bergman, Can. Med. Assoc. J. 56, 554 (1941). 

 '8« L. Kernis and B. Stodsky, Anesthesiology 11, 212 (1950). 



