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Prostaglandin synthetase activity in rectal biopsy specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis has been shown to fall on treatment with sulphasalazine, local steroids, and codeine phosphate. In vitro studies have shown that sulphasalazine is an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthetase, although less potent than indomethacin, whereas prednisolone and codeine phosphate were inactive. It is suggested that the therapeutic action of sulphasalazine may be related in part to its action in inhibiting prostaglandin biosynthesis.

Between 1964 and 1970, twenty-five patients from Indian or Pakistani families presented with osteomalacia at a Birmingham hospital. Not every case could be explained by low dietary levels of vitamin D, and this, together with evidence of resistance to calciferol in six cases, suggests that some Asian immigrants may have a defect at some point in the conversion of vitamin D 2 to its physiologically active metabolite.