Impaired modulation of motor cortex excitability by homonymous and heteronymous muscle afferents in focal hand dystonia.

A decrease of heteronymous median nerve-evoked inhibition of corticospinal projections to forearm extensor muscles was reported in a group of 10 dystonic patients by Bertolasi and colleagues in 2003. Here we tested the excitability of corticomotoneuronal connections to both wrist extensor (ECR) and flexor (FCR) muscles after conditioning stimulation of median and also radial nerve at rest in a group of 25 patients with focal hand dystonia compared to 20 healthy subjects. We also investigated the effect of the wrist dystonic posture, either in flexion or in extension, on the afferent modulation of ECR and FCR motor evolved potentials (MEPs). The heteronymous (median-induced) but also homonymous (radial-induced) inhibitions (interstimuli intervals 13-21 ms) of ECR MEP size observed in healthy subjects were decreased in patients. In addition, homonymous (median-induced) facilitation of FCR MEP size was also decreased in patients while heteronymous inhibition (radial-induced) was not. Neither the involvement of the target muscle in the dystonic posture nor the origin of the afferent volley (from a dystonic muscle) influenced the degree of impairment of afferent modulation of the MEP. These findings support the view that a global abnormal somatosensory coupling in focal hand dystonia may contribute to an inadequate motor command to wrist muscles.     

Effects of oral continuous 17beta-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate replacement therapy on abdominal subcutaneous fat, serum leptin levels and body composition.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of oral continuous 17beta-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate (E2/NETA) replacement therapy on abdominal subcutaneous fat, serum leptin level (SLL) and body composition in postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 6-month, prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study was conducted. Forty-three healthy naturally postmenopausal women aged 43-65 years were randomly assigned to receive E2/NETA (2 mg E2 plus 1 mg NETA, n = 22) or placebo (n = 21). Fasting SLL by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, subcutaneous abdominal fat thickness (STh) by ultrasound and the anthropometric indices of body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference (WC, HC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were recorded at the beginning and the end of the study. RESULTS: After 6 months of therapy, BW and SLL increased in the placebo group (p = 0.043 and 0.033, respectively). WC, HC and STh decreased significantly in the E2/NETA group (p = 0.002, 0.006 and 0.000, respectively) and they were also significantly lower in women receiving E2/NETA than in women taking placebo (p = 0.000, 0.034 and 0.000, respectively). At baseline, SLL and STh were positively correlated with all anthropometric indices except WHR. CONCLUSION: Oral continuous combined regimen of E2/NETA significantly reduced central fat accumulation as assessed by WC and STh, and attenuated the increase in SLL. The observed changes in SLL were highly and positively related to changes in STh. The oral continuous combined E2/NETA regimen appears to have protective effects on cardiovascular function and probably on metabolic diseases by its slimming effect upon WC in postmenopausal women.     

Synovial chondromatosis of four compartments of the knee: medial and lateral tibiofemoral spaces,patellofemoral joint and proximal tibiofibular joint

A case of synovial chondromatosis of the proximal tibiofibular joint in addition to lateral and medial tibiofemoral spaces and patellofemoral joint has been presented.     

福参的苷类成分

目的 从福参Angelica morii提取分离活性成分。方法 采用乙醇提取，溶剂萃取，大孔树脂、聚酰胺、硅胶柱层析，LH-20、重结晶等纯化，对福参饮片进行系统提取分离；运用波谱学方法及理化常数对照进行结构鉴定。结果 从正丁醇和水部分分离到6个苷类化合物，分别为升麻索苷(prim-O-glucosylcimifugin，Ⅰ)、紫花前胡苷(marmesinin，Ⅱ)、芹菜素7-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷(apigenin 7-O0-β-D-glucoside，Ⅲ)、木犀草素7-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷(1ute—olin 7-O-β-D-glucoside，Ⅳ)，umbeliferone 7-apiosylglucoside(V)和胡萝卜苷(daucosterol，Ⅵ)。结论 6个化合物均为首次该植物中分得；化合物Ⅲ首次从当归属中分得。     

下肢深静脉瓣功能不全的二维及彩色多普勒超声诊断

目的 探讨下肢深静脉瓣功能不全的二维及彩色多普勒超声声像图改变。方法 应用二维及彩色多普勒超声检查下肢深静脉瓣功能不全36例，47条腿，观察下肢静脉血管及瓣膜的解剖结构和血流动力学改变。结果 有静脉瓣功能不全的患肢静脉管腔内径均有不同程度增宽，瓣膜均有不同程度的改变，脉冲多普勒显示返流频谱返流时间大于0.5s。结论 该检查对诊断下肢深静脉瓣功能不全有较高的实用价值。     

A nationwide survey of excessive daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease in France

To determine the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and that of dozing and sudden onset of sleep episodes (SOS) while driving in ambulatory patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in France, a national sample of private and public neurologists was asked to recruit the first 10 consecutive nondemented PD patients. Each patient completed a questionnaire including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the likelihood of dozing off and experiencing SOS episodes behind the wheel. Clinical and demographic data were collected. One thousand six hundred and twenty‐five patients with PD were included in the survey. Twenty‐nine percent of the patients suffered from EDS (ESS score ≥10) but only 0.8% declared a high chance of dozing while driving and 0.5% reported totally unpredictable SOS episodes while driving. Risk factors for EDS were male gender, reduced activity of daily living, and a high daily levodopa equivalent dosage. Risk factors for SOS episodes while driving were an ESS score ≥10, male gender, and low Hoehn and Yahr staging. EDS is common in ambulatory patients with PD and is a major risk factor for dozing and for SOS episodes behind the wheel in patients who drive. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society     

Correction of camptodactyly with an external fixator

Camptodactyly is a flexion deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint. Because of unsatisfactory results, treatment is not recommended for mild deformities, and in severe deformities surgery has been disappointing. A specially designed external fixator providing gradual distraction was used in a severe case. With this mildly aggressive method, an acceptable result was obtained. Received: 5 June 1997/Accepted: 2 February 1998