Movement-related potential measures of different modes of movement selection in Parkinson's disease

Movement-related potentials were recorded preceding self-paced voluntary movements in patients with Parkinson's disease and in healthy subjects of the same age group. We compared the Readiness Potential preceding joystick movements in a fixed direction and preceding joystick movements in freely selected directions. In normal subjects the Readiness Potential amplitude was higher preceding freely selected movements than preceding movements in a fixed direction. The Readiness Potential in Parkinson patients failed to be modified by the different modes of movement selection. The modulation of the Readiness Potential by different ways of preparing for movement might be due to the supplementary motor area (SMA) being more strongly engaged by tasks requiring internal control of movements than by tasks that are externally structured. The results suggest that this task-dependent variation of SMA activity is reduced in Parkinson's disease. A failing capacity to adapt SMA activity to different task demands has previously been suggested by evidence from positron emission tomography studies using similar tasks.     

Randomised controlled trial of anti-smoking advice in pregnancy. 1977.

In a randomised controlled trial intensive individual anti-smoking advice given in parallel with hospital antenatal care did not influence the outcome of pregnancy. The belief that retardation of fetal growth caused by maternal smoking occurs in late pregnancy is not well based, and the advice may not have been given in time to be effective. Other possible interpretations of the results, that maternal smoking is merely an index of some other factor that retards growth or that those counselled did not reduce their smoking sufficiently to influence outcome, cannot be excluded.     

Die abdominale Fixatio Sacrospinalis mittels PDS-Band bei Rezidiv-Descensus bzw. Prolaps des Vaginalstumpfes

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Schultz metacarpophalangeal arthroplasty: a long-term follow-up study

We describe a prospective, long-term evaluation of the Schultz metacarpophalangeal joint implant. The prosthesis is a semiconstrained, cemented implant with a ball-in-socket articulation. Thirty-six implants were followed for an average of 10.9 years. There was a progressive decrease in range of motion and strength and a recurrence of ulnar deviation. The neck of the proximal phalangeal component fractured in 39% of the joints. Periarticular heterotopic bone formed in all joints, but was extensive in only 22%. Although some lucency of the bone-cement interface was seen in 80% of the joints, no prosthetic loosening occurred in this series. Our results indicate that long-term, intramedullary cement fixation of relatively long-stemmed components can be satisfactory. However, the articulated portion of this implant does not consistently withstand the stresses transmitted across the joint and does not provide long-term joint stability.     

Gunshot wound of the lumbar spine]

A case of 20 years old patient with the gunshot injury of the spine was presented. The bullet has stuck in the spinal canal at L3-L4 level causing no neurological disturbances. It was removed in our department gunshot wounds to do this in district hospital. No complication occurred in the postoperative course.     

Late results of surgical treatment of infantile idiopathic scoliosis by Harrington's method]

The late results of surgical treatment of infantile scoliosis by the Harrington method have been presented in 43 patients. The patients age at surgical treatment ranged from 11 to 21 years (14.1 years in the average). The patients age at final follow up examination ranged from 18 to 34 years (25.4 years on the average). The curvature angle at operation was 102.1 degrees according to Cobb on the average. 43.7 per cent of curvature was corrected. Although an improvement of posture was present in all the patients, only 51 per cent of the patients, had good posture. After the treatment 81 per cent of the patients worked.     

SINGLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF AN EDUCATIONAL BOOKLET FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ARTHRITIS

Consecutive new attendees at a rheumatology clinic were randomlyallocated to one of three groups. All groups received routinecare, but one received no other intervention, one an educationalbooklet on arthritis and one the booklet plus instruction froma health professional. Prior to intervention, all groups hadsimilar knowledge, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and HealthAssessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score. After 6 weeks, the knowledgescore was significantly increased in both groups given the booklet,but not in the control group. The group instructed by a healthprofessional showed no greater increase than the group giventhe booklet alone. Increased knowledge was not associated withimproved clinical status and no group showed a significant'change in NHP or HAQ scores. Nearly all patients said they foundthe booklet useful. KEY WORDS: Randomized controlled trial, Evaluation, Patient education, Booklet, Knowledge, Arthritis