Effect of ischaemia on somatosensory evoked potentials in diabetic patients.

The nerve action potential at the elbow and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) at the scalp were recorded over 30 minutes of tourniquet-induced limb ischaemia in 10 diabetic patients and 10 controls. According to the SEP changes, an increased resistance to nerve ischaemia in diabetic patients was observed. The pathways involved in SEP conduction are discussed.     

Late results in patients with Schatzki ring treated by endoscopic electrosurgical incision of the ring

In 17 ambulatory patients with severe intermittent dysphagia an endoscopic electrosurgical radial incision of a Schatzki ring was made with a modified straight retractable sphincterotome. The incision was successfully accomplished with immediate relief of dysphagia in all patients. Fourteen patients remain asymptomatic with a mean follow-up of 46 months after the first treatment. Three patients required a second incision and they have been asymptomatic for more than 24 months. There was one mild bleeding episode. Endoscopic electrosurgical incision of the Schatzki ring is an effective therapeutic modality in selected patients.     

Smoking patterns in the coloured population of the Cape Peninsula (CRISIC study)

A cross-sectional study of tobacco-smoking habits in a random sample of 976 coloured subjects aged 15-64 years revealed that smoking was common, 57% of men and 41% of women being current smokers and 10.4% of men and 9.6% of women having stopped smoking. Heavy smoking prevailed, indicating by mean daily consumption of 14.2 and 13.1 cigarettes among male and female smokers respectively; only 33.5% of male and 39.6% of female smokers used less than 10 cigarettes per day. Coloured smokers smoked more heavily during the weekend. Both men and women smoked mostly filter cigarettes. Forty-four per cent of male and 49.5% of female smokers stated that they had attempted to stop smoking, mainly for health reasons. More than one-third of the participants had a positive attitude to combating smoking, particularly those with an educational level higher than Standard 7. Former smokers and heavy smokers had a significantly higher prevalence of ischaemic heart disease than the other participants. Smoking was associated with a low body mass index, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, low socio-economic standing, high alcohol consumption and type A coronary-prone behaviour in men. In 1982 the economically active coloured population of the Cape Peninsula spent an estimated R36.2 million on cigarettes.     

Sonography in congenital dislocation of the hip

A new technique for ultrasonic examination of the hip joint was evaluated in neonatals and infants. An anterior approach was used with the sound sector centered over the femoral head and parallel to the femoral neck. The ultrasonograms corresponded to lateral radiographs of the joint with the leg in Lorenz' first position. It was possible to evaluate the size and depth of the acetabulum and the size and position of the femoral head. The projection also permitted a dynamic examination for determination of hip instability. Thus, the technique provided a method for an objective diagnosis in congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH). In 216 hips, the results of clinical evaluation for CDH were correlated with the degree of instability demonstrated by ultrasound. The comparison showed the clinical diagnosis to be highly inaccurate.     

Correlation of perinatal brain growth with age, body size, sex, and race

This study compares the weight of the human brain to gestational age and body dimensions. A new formula for calculating the rate of growth is proposed. It consists of a second order polynomial function: Y = A0 + A1X + A2X2, in which Y is brain weight, body weight, height, or body surface area; X is gestational age in weeks and A0, A1, and A2 are statistically estimated coefficients. In utero, the growth rate is most rapid for body weight, followed in decreasing order by brain weight, body surface area, and height. Brain growth is the same for both sexes in black and white races; it accelerates between the 20th and 45th weeks of gestation. The size of the newborn infant brain is directly related to gestational age and body size and is not determined by sex or race.