Three different pathogenic mechanisms for paraparesis in association with bacterial infections

Three different pathogenic mechanisms are apparent for paraparesis in association with a bacterial infection: a spinal cord compression caused by either an epidural abscess or a vertebral collapse due to spondylitis, an ischaemic spinal cord lesion as a result of septic thromboembolus in abdominal aorta, and a nonspecific, probably immunological, cause in association with reactive polyarthritis. An example of each of these mechanisms is described by means of case histories.     

Liability for infectious diseases in day care: legal and practical considerations

A lawsuit directed by parents at a day care program following an outbreak of infectious disease would most likely be based on the legal theory of negligence--the failure to exercise due care as required by circumstances. In the determination of liability for infectious diseases in child day care, the element of causation is most critical. Did the day care facility's actions or failure to act cause the harm? Another important question is whether an infectious disease can be occupational and under what circumstances. Although worker's compensation laws initially had no provisions for occupational disease, now all states recognize responsibility for them. Awareness of potential problems with legal liability and establishment of procedures to minimize risk are important for day care providers, public health officials, clinicians, and parents.     

Effect of acupuncture on respiratory mechanisms in patients with bronchial asthma

Simultaneous recording of the spirogram, pneumotachogram and transpulmonary pressure as well as total plethysmography were applied in 30 patients with bronchial asthma to study the respiratory ventilation and mechanism before and after single procedures of acupuncture. The bronchodilatory action of acupuncture has been proved, related, in particular, with a significant decrease of non-elastic resistance of the lungs. At the same time pronounced changes in the elastic resistance were noted. However, they appeared to be of different directions. The improvement of ventilatory function was determined not only by a decrease in the intrapulmonary resistance but also by shifts in respiratory regulation and in the activity of the respiratory musculature, confirmed by an analysis of the curves of the respiratory work obtained before and after acupuncture. The curative action of acupuncture in bronchial asthma cannot be adequately explained by the placebo effect.     

Chromosomal Rearrangements in Three Infertile Men

Summary:  Three chromosomal rearrangements: a balanced reciprocal translocation, t(14;10) (q22;q13), a Y-autosome translocation, t(Y;16) (q11;p13) and a deleted Y chromosome, Yq- were detected among 100 infertile men. The autosomal translocation, associated with oligozoospermia was found to be familial with various effects on the female carriers and the proband's father. The patients with the chromosome Y abberations were found to be azoospermic and might have lost the genes necessary for normal sperma-togenesis.
Zusammenfassung:  Unter 100 infertilen Männern wurden drei Chromosomenneuan-ordnungen entdeckt: eine balancierte reziproke Translokation, t(14;10) (q22;q13), eine Y-autosome Translokation, t(Y;16) (q11;p13) und eine Deletion des Y-Chromosoms, Yq-. Die autosomale Translokation bei Oligozoospermie zeigte sich familiär mit verschiedenen Auswirkungen bei den weiblichen Überträgern und dem Vater des Probanden. Die Patien-ten mit chromosomalen Y-Aberrational wiesen eine Azoospermie auf und scheinen die zur normalen Spermatogenese notwendigen Gene verloren zu haben.     

Controlled study of haloperidol, pimozide and placebo for the treatment of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome

The results of this controlled study of the treatment of 57 patients with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome suggested that both haloperidol and pimozide were more effective than placebo, but that haloperidol was slightly more effective than pimozide. Adverse effects occurred more frequently with haloperidol vs placebo than with pimozide vs placebo, but the frequency was not significantly different for haloperidol compared with pimozide. Clinically significant cardiac effects did not occur at a maximum dosage of 0.3 mg/kg or 20 mg/d for pimozide and 10 mg/d for haloperidol. However, the QTc interval was prolonged during pimozide treatment compared with that during haloperidol treatment, although the values for both medications were not in an abnormal range.     

The physiology of aging of light-protected and light-exposed skin

We discuss the senescence of the skin considering both intrinsic aging and photoaging; special regard is paid to the various layers, the microcirculation, and the adnexa of the skin. In particular, the barrier function and microcirculation of the skin has been pointed out.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this articles: Essential Paediatric Dermatology . By J, Verbov Skin Disorders in the Elderly . Edited by B. E. Monk , R. A. C. Graham