Abstract: Combinations of diuretics and vasopressin antagonists are useful to slow and reverse the symptoms and process of congestive heart failure, to increase the excretion of water in the urine, and to decrease the excretion of sodium and potassium ions in urine. Preferred vasopressin antagonists have the formula wherein R and R5 are hydrogen or lower alkyl; R1, R2, and R3 are hydrogen, halo, alkyl, alkoxy, and amino; and R4 is hydrogen or phenyl, and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: The administration of chromic picolinate, preferably in the form of chromic tripicolinate, as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for controlling various blood serum parameters. In particular, the administration is for controlling blood serum lipid levels, including the lowering of undesirably high blood serum LDL-cholesterol levels and the raising of blood serum HDL-cholesterol levels. Additionally, the administration is for controlling undesirable high blood serum glucose levels, this being particularly applicable for the treatment of maturity-onset diabetes. Additionally, chromic picolinate, preferably in the form of chromic tripicolinate, is administered to facilitate uptake of amino acids by skeletal muscle. Thus chromic picolinate can act as an effective anabolic agent.

Abstract: A vitamin B.sub.12 composition wherein vitamin B.sub.12 exists as dispersed in a mixture of starch and dextrin can keep vitamin B.sub.12 stable for a long time and can be easily manufactured by the ordinary convenient method without employing any special equipment.

Abstract: An aqueous solution containing fat-soluble vitamin K is prepared by adding vegetable oil(s), gycerol fatty acid ester(s) or sorbitan fatty acid ester(s) in an amount of 0.004 to 5% by weight, based on the whole aqueous solution, to an aqueous solution containing menatetrenone (vitamin K.sub.2) or phytonadione (vitamin K.sub.1) and hydrogenated lecithin.

Abstract: Tertiary amines are converted to amine oxides in high conversion and at a faster rate by including dialkylcarbonate in the reaction of the tert-amine with aqueous hydrogen peroxide. Ascorbic acid can be used as a co-catalyst.

Abstract: Blood coagulation can be normalized in persons consuming high saturated fatty acids of omega-3 type, such as eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexanoic acid, by administration of vitamin E in an amount between about 40% to 100% by weight of the fatty acid(s). An article of manufacture is thus provided comprising such fatty acids and vitamin E.