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The effects of using safflower oil and corn oil as supplements to the usual diet were studied in 22 young healthy men. Serum was obtained weekly from each subject by venipuncture, to be analyzed for total cholesterol. Determinations during an initial observation period of five weeks afforded a basis for dividing the subjects into two matched groups with equal mean serum cholesterol levels (221 mg. per 100 cc.). One group thereupon received a supplement of safflower oil for seven weeks followed by corn oil for seven weeks; the other group received corn oil for seven weeks followed by safflower oil for seven weeks. In both groups a consistent decline in the mean cholesterol levels was observed as the experiment progressed, but the changes were not convincing because of the wide individual variations and no differences between safflower and corn oil were revealed under the conditions of this experiment. Significant cholesterol-lowering effect of these two oils can be demonstrated only if they are used as replacements for, rather than additions to, some of the saturated fats in the usual diet.

The long-term effects of anticoagulant therapy have been studied in 100 patients with evidence of cerebral vascular thrombosis or embolism. During 2,842 patient-months without anticoagulant therapy there were 229 thromboembolic episodes (67 being cerebral) as compared with 20 thromboembolic episodes (5 being cerebral) that occurred during 2,291 patient-months on anticoagulant therapy. Similar data permitted comparison of continuous with interrupted anticoagulant therapy, and it was found that 48 thromboembolic episodes occurred during 1,311 patient-months on interrupted therapy as compared with 15 episodes during 957 patient-months on continuous therapy. The dosages of anticoagulant (usually bishydroxycoumarin) were aimed to keep the prothrombin time for the undiluted plasma between 20 and 40 seconds. Hemorrhagic complications occurred in 30 of the 100 patients; there were three fatal cerebral hemorrhages, occurring over a period of 2,532 patient-months of anticoagulant therapy. The results are interpreted to mean that anticoagulant therapy is effective in reducing the danger of recurrent thromboembolic episodes if contraindications are observed and prothrombin times are pains-takingly controlled.

The effect of safflower oil emulsion given as a supplement to the usual diet was studied in 24 young men, weekly samples of blood being taken and analyzed for total cholesterol. After an initial period of five weeks, the subjects were divided into two groups who received either safflower oil emulsion or a placebo for seven weeks. At the end of that time the two groups were reversed, so that those who had received the placebo now received emulsion and vice versa. Neither the subjects nor the supervising physicians knew which preparation a given subject was receiving at a given time. The emulsion, containing 65% safflower oil, was given in 15-cc. doses five times daily to a total of 75 cc. each day. Used as a supplement to the usual diet under these conditions, it had no demonstrable depressant effect on the total serum cholesterol levels.