Pocket Lexicon of endocrinology, with theoretical and practical data concerning the preparations of N.V. Organon [antikvár]

When the last edition of this pocket lexicon was published in 1957 we pointed out that since the publication of the previous edition a virtual revolution had taken place in endocrinology by the introduction into therapy of ACTH and cortisone, particularly in non-endocrine diseases. In the three years which have passed since the last edition came out, this development has not been so spectacular as in the previous years. This recent period is particularly characterized by the successful attempts of the chemists by means of changes in the steroid molecules to produce new substances which quantitatively and qualitatively differ in action from the natural steroids and as a result have certain advantages over these natural substances. In the field of the corticosteroids the cortisone derivatives, such as predniso(lo)ne, have already been commonly accepted and meanwhile newer and more potent steroids like dexamethasone have been discovered. Important alsó is the development of cortisone derivatives for specific purposes, such as application to the skin, in which connection we should mention chloroprednisone, and water-soluble corticoids for intravenous administration, such as prednisolone hemisuccinate. A new preparation which proved very useful in generál practice too became available in the compound norandrostenolone phenylpropionate (Durabolin), a highly anabolic but only slightly virilizing steroid which is being used in an increasing number of indications. New synthetic progestational substances, such as methyloestrenolone and the pregnancy-maintaining allylestrenol, have become available. Long-acting esters have been prepared both from the