Non Absorption of Finely Emulsified Paraffinum Liquidum in the Intestine of the Rat.

.On injection into rat duodenum of emulsions of paraffinum liquidum tenue, prepared a. m. FRAZEE, AND with an average globular diameter of 0.3–0.5 μ, no absorption was found over a period of 6 hours. It has thus been impossible to confirm this important support of the “Partition Hypothesis”.     

An Electrolytical Method for the Determination of Cations.

The method is based on the solubility in mercury of the amalgams of the cations formed by electrolysis. The amalgams are extracted by rocking movements (Widmark ) AND titrated. The extraction velocity for some cations is determined. Sodium (100 per cent) and potassium (98–99 per cent) are recovered after one hours rocking. After the same time 90 per cent of calcium are extracted, some of the calcium amalgam being precipitated on the glass wall. Ammonium and guanidine are also extracted, but only slowly, magnesium and ferric ion can not be extracted. Direct determinations can be made on serum and erythrocytes, it is important that the proteins are precipitated during the electrolysis. There is good agreement with the values found after ashing of serum; direct determination on the erythrocytes give a somewhat higher value than after ashing. The analyses are carried out with 0.05 ml. serum. The applicability of the method is discussed.     

Displaced proximal humeral fractures: operative versus non-operative treatment—a 2-year extension of a randomized controlled trial

Background

Surgical treatment for displaced proximal humeral fractures is widely used. However, there are very few randomized controlled studies comparing surgical treatment to conservative treatment, and the evidence is debated. The aim of this study was to describe patients with displaced proximal humeral fractures in a 2-years extension of a randomized controlled trial, their functional outcome and quality of life.

Materials and methods

Patients from a single-center randomized controlled study of fifty patients aged 60 or above with displaced proximal humeral fracture (AO/OTA group B2 or C2) were randomized to surgical or conservative treatment. Surgery was performed with an angular stable implant. The main outcome was Constant score at 2-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes were an ASES self-assessment form, the 15D quality of life assessment and radiographs at 2 years.

Results

A marked improvement of shoulder function and health-related quality of life for both surgically and conservatively treated patients occurs between 6 and 12 months. Almost no change was observed between 1 and 2 year. There were no significant differences between the two treatments at 2-year follow-up.

Conclusions

In this randomized controlled trial, surgical treatment proved no better results than conservative treatment for patients with displaced proximal humeral fracture at 2-year follow-up.     

Transition rates from schizotypal disorder to psychotic disorder for first-contact patients included in the OPUS trial. A randomized clinical trial of integrated treatment and standard treatment

BACKGROUND: Only a few randomized clinical trials have tested the effect on transition rates of intervention programs for patients with sub-threshold psychosis-like symptoms. AIM: To examine whether integrated treatment reduced transition to psychosis for first-contact patients diagnosed with schizotypal disorder. METHODS: Seventy-nine patients were randomized to integrated treatment or standard treatment. Survival analysis with multivariate Cox-regression was used to identify factors determinant for transition to psychotic disorder. RESULTS: In the multivariate model, male gender increased risk for transition to psychotic disorder (relative risk=4.47, (confidence interval 1.30-15.33)), while integrated treatment reduced the risk (relative risk=0.36 (confidence interval 0.16-0.85)). At two-year follow-up, the proportion diagnosed with a psychotic disorder was 25.0% for patients randomized to integrated treatment compared to 48.3% for patients randomized to standard treatment. CONCLUSION: Integrated treatment postponed or inhibited onset of psychosis in significantly more cases than standard treatment.