Reduced alcohol use in pregnancy and changed attitudes in the population

The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) changes in consumption of alcohol among pregnant women over a period of 5 years (1984/85–1990), (2) changes of attitudes towards drinking during pregnancy in the general population over the same period of time, and (3) possible connections between (1) and (2). The investigation was designed as a cross-sectional study. Our subjects were two representative samples of pregnant women in Oslo, n = 577 and 425, and two representative samples of the Norwegian population, n = 1004 and 1204. The main outcome measures were a self-completed questionnaire for the pregnant women and a personal interview for the general population sample. There was a significant reduction (50% decrease) in alcohol consumption among the second cohort of pregnant women compared with the first. Furthermore, we found an increase during the 5-year period in the number of persons with a restrictive attitude towards alcohol use during pregnancy. There seems to be a connection between these two phenomena, but with our present state of knowledge it is hard to say anything about the causal relationship between them.     

Location and geometric description of carpal bones in CT images

The carpal regions of ten cadaver extremities were imaged by CT. The images were combined into a 3-dimensional model of the carpus using a technique based on a dynamic programming algorithm to find an optimal estimate of the location of the bone boundaries in the CT images. The resulting set of surface points on each bone was used to compute volumes and principal and antipodal axes for the bones. A spatial coordinate system was established based on the positions of the centroids of three bones in the distal carpal row. The angular orientations of all carpal bones were determined with respect to this system. The principal axes for the same bone among ten wrist specimens proved to be more widely dispersed than the antipodal axes for the same bones. The antipodal axes also correspond more closely to an intuitive notion of the “longest axis” of the bones. We conclude that the antipodal axis is a more reliable and useful measure of bone orientation than the principal axis.     

Results of arthroscopic acromioplasty related to rotator cuff lesions

Summary Seventy-nine patients with a history of the subacromial impingement syndrome were treated by arthroscopic acromioplasty. The results were evaluated with a new scoring system designed to assess subjective symptoms before and after operation. The outcome was related to the pathological lesions of the rotator cuff seen at arthroscopy and graded by our modification of the Neer classification. The overall results were satisfactory in 67%, with men having better results than women. Those with a history of injury did better than those without, and the results in those with partial or total cuff tears were better than those with intact cuffs. Since the state of the cuff affects the result, arthroscopy should precede acromioplasty.

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Résumé Soixante dix-neuf patients, présentant depuis 3.5 ans (±1.8) un syndrome de conflit sousacromial, ont été traités par acromioplastie arthroscopique. Les résultats ont été évalués au moyen d'une nouvelle cotation, mesurant la symptomatologie subjective avant et 17 mois en moyenne après l'intervention chirurgicale. On a étudié le rapport entre ces résultats et la morphologie pathologique de la coiffe des rotateurs, constatée lors de l'arthroscopie et classée conformément à notre version modifiée, décrite précédemment, de la classification de Neer. Les résultats globaux étaient satisfaisants dans 67% des cas. Les résultats étaient nettement meilleurs chez les hommes que chez les femmes. Ils étaient significativement meilleurs chez les patients pour qui la symptomatologie était apparue après un traumatisme violent, de même lorsqu'il existait une rupture totale ou partielle de la coiffe des rotateurs. L'état de la coiffe influence les résultats de l'acromioplastie, pour pouvoir le déterminer il faut pratiquer une arthroscopie préalable.

     

Synopsis of neurological bladder sphincter dysfunctions

The synopsis of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunctions aims to be practical and tries to give some simple algorithms to the physician to help his understanding of the pathophysiology and to guide him towards an easy, functional, preventive and chronological exploration and treatment.     

Electro-encephalographic disturbances due to chronic toxin abuse in young people, with special reference to glue-sniffing

A study was carried out in order to document any abnormalities in the electro-encephalogram (EEG) that might appear in young adolescents who have deliberately inhaled the range of volatile substances loosely referred to as 'glue'. The EEGs of a group of 'street children' being assisted in a Johannesburg shelter were examined. The records were analysed for any clinical abnormalities and also subjected to spectral analysis in order to examine the overall characteristics of frequency, power and spatial distribution. The EEGs clearly revealed that, although at the time of the examination the subjects were ostensibly abstinent, both clinical and normative evidence of continuing brain disturbance was present. It was concluded that glue sniffing is likely to have long term electrocerebral sequelae.     

The in vitro fertilisation programme at Tygerberg Hospital and the University of Stellenbosch. Five years' experience, April 1983-January 1988

The results of the in vitro fertilisation programme at Tygerberg Hospital for the period April 1983 to January 1988 are presented. Of the 1117 laparoscopies performed, 825 patients reached the transfer stage. A live-birth rate of 9.3% was achieved. The pregnancy rate after transfer of 4 embryos was 25.9% compared with 15.4% after 2 embryos and 10.8% after 3 embryos (P = less than 0.0001). The multiple pregnancy rate was 2.8% in the group receiving 2 embryos and 11.7% and 10.4% in those receiving 3 and 4 embryos, respectively. Of the 77 successful pregnancies (90 babies), 1 baby died at 34 weeks' gestation as the result of abruptio placentae due to preeclampsia and 1 cot death occurred. The only congenital abnormality encountered was a cleft palate.     

The nature and extent of aggressive behaviour amongst people with learning difficulties (mental handicap) in a single health district

ABSTRACT. This paper describes the method and results of a survey of aggressive behaviour amongst people with learning difficulties. The study was confined to a single health district in the South Western Region of the UK with a general population of about 370000. At the time of the survey, the Handicap Register for the district recorded 1362 people as having a learning difFiculty. The overall prevalence of aggressive behaviour amongst people with learning difficulties for whom base population data was available was 17.6%. The lowest rate was identified amongst day facilities (9.7 %) and the highest in hospitals within the district (38.2%). The prevalence rate amongst those attending schools for children with severe learning difSculties was 12.6%. Proportionately more males than females were reported to present problems of aggressive behaviour. The gender difference appeared to be largely accounted for by the disproportionate number of men identified within day facilities. There was no significant evidence of an association between the person's gender and the presence aggressive behaviour within schools or hospitals. The results indicated that, although physical and verbal aggression were the most frequently reponed behaviours, many of the sample were also said to engage in other forms of challenging behaviour, particularly self-injurious, ritualistic, stereotypical and withdrawn behaviour. The risk of a serious or very serious injury to another person was very low; 0.7% or six people with learning difiSculties firom the district were reponed to be currently presenting such a risk. Similarly, only 2% of the base population (n=18) were reponed to be extremely difficult to manage. The implications of the findings are discussed.     

A reassessment of the peritoneal lavage leukocyte count in blunt abdominal trauma

Nine hundred and three patients undergoing diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) over a 6-year period were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the utility of the white blood cell (WBC) count in the lavage fluid. Eleven patients (1.2%) had dialysate WBC counts greater than 500/mm3, with erythrocyte counts less than 10(5)/mm3. Nine of these patients who were lavaged within 4 hours of injury had no intra-abdominal pathology. Two patients, lavaged after 4 hours, demonstrated intra-abdominal injury. Two hundred twenty-three patients (24.7%) had grossly clear dialysate which was not sent for laboratory analysis. None of these patients required laparotomy. We conclude that the WBC count in DPL fluid is of no diagnostic value in victims of blunt abdominal trauma who are lavaged within 4 hours of injury. In addition, laboratory analysis of clear dialysate is not required in these patients.     

The mechanisms of continence in the Indiana pouch: a video-urodynamic study

The ileocecal reservoir (Indiana pouch) is a large volume, low pressure continent reservoir well suited for urinary diversion. The mechanism of continence is believed to be the result of several factors, including the natural ileocecal valve resistance, resistance produced by the plication of the ileal segment and normal peristalsis of the ileum. We report the results of a video-urodynamic study in patients with an Indiana pouch, aimed at establishing the factors that contribute to continence and their relative significance. Video-urodynamic studies clearly demonstrate that continence in this type of urinary reservoir is dependent upon a synergism of the aforementioned factors in combination with the low intraluminal pressure of the detubularized bowel. Video-urodynamic studies offer an objective demonstration of the reservoir dynamics and its continence mechanisms, and provide an insight into the possible etiology of incontinence. Such studies also offer an objective means for critical comparison of the different continent urinary reservoirs.