Impaired motor imagery in patients with essential tremor: a case control study.

Motor imagery (MI), which refers to the process of mental representation of movements, has not been studied in patients with essential tremor (ET). We investigated the presence of impaired MI in ET patients compared with healthy controls. A group of drug-naive and nondemented ET patients and age-matched controls were studied using transcranial magnetic stimulation, while they were specifically instructed to try and imagine themselves performing two motor tasks. The various clinical and electrophysiological variables were evaluated and compared. Repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated a significant difference between ET patients and controls with respect to mean motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes (F(1,38) = 31.92, P < 0.005) during MI. The process of MI effectively facilitated MEP amplitude in controls but not in ET patients, regardless of side of stimulation or motor tasks. We provide evidence to demonstrate impairment of MI in a group of ET patients compared with healthy controls. The basis for this novel finding is unclear, and further studies are warranted to determine whether it is related to cerebellar or motor cortical dysfunction.     

Cholesterol screening: observed cholesterol reduction in a prospective study in Norway

The general public of the City of Bergen, Norway was Invitedto participate in a cholesterol screening programme in October1988. Participants received the results of the cholesterol screeningand nutritional information from trained health personnel. Ashort questionnaire was mailed to all 354 participants 1–2weeks after the initial cholesterol screening. In March 1990,all participants were invited to have their cholesterol levelsre-examined. Psychosocial factors believed to be predictiveof future serum cholesterol changes were assessed at baselinealong with demographic variables. The majority of participants(61%) reduced their cholesterol level from October 1988 to March1990, and the average reduction in cholesterol level for thetotal population was 4.0%. Baseline cholesterol levels, beingconfident of one's own ability to change one's diet (self-efficacy),seeing heart disease risk reduction as very important, and maritalstatus were factors that significantly predicted successfulcholesterol reduction 18 months later.     

A follow-up study of respiratory function in workers exposed to acid aerosols in a food-processing industry

A follow-up investigation was performed on 49 female workers studied 2 years earlier in a vegetable-pickling plant. Acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity measurements were recorded during the original and the follow-up studies. Maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves were recorded during the Monday morning work shift. The forced vital capacity (FVC), 1-s forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and flow rates at 50% and the last 25% of the FVC (FEF50, FEF25) were measured. There were small increases in the prevalence of chronic symptoms between the two studies for both smokers and nonsmokers, but these did not reach statistical significance. Five workers at the time of the initial study had a diagnosis of occupational asthma; only one of these was still working at the time of follow-up. Workers lost to the follow-up had lower lung function than those seen at follow-up. In workers who were followed, larger than expected mean annual declines were noted for all ventilatory capacity parameters in both smokers (FVC 0.070 l, FEV1 0.070 l; FEF50 0.355 l/s, FEF25 0.270 l/s) and nonsmokers (FVC 0.045 l, FEV1 0.045 l, FEF50 0.285 l/s; FEF25 0.130 l/s). The decrease was particularly pronounced for FEF50 and FEF25. The accelerated decline in ventilatory capacity tests noted in the female nonsmokers suggests an independent effect on lung function of work exposure in this environment. Our data confirm that work in the pickling industry, particularly in small, poorly regulated plants, has deleterious effects on respiratory function. Received: 24 September 1996 / Accepted: 19 June 1997     

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy: a variant of incomplete Kawasaki disease

A 14-month-old girl presented with a 4-d history of fever and generalized exanthema. Four characteristic symptoms of incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD) were present on admission (fever, rash, non-purulent conjunctival injection, oropharyngeal changes) and then followed by oedema of the hands and feet and mild plantar desquamation. The typical laboratory features of KD, such as elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, and positive C-reactive protein were also seen. Ultrasound examination of the mediastinum revealed the presence of a lymph node, 30 mm in diameter, below the tracheal carina. Thoracic CT scan confirmed the mediastinal lymph node. The patient was treated with aspirin and intravenous γ -globulin. Ultrasound study of the mediastinum, which was carried out 6 weeks after hospital discharge, showed that the lymph node had disappeared. This case illustrates that lymph nodes other than cervical lymphadenopathy should be sought when the diagnosis of classical or atypical KD is suspected.     

CT对眼球异物的诊断及定位

本文比较了11例眼球异物CT与X线影像，并经手术摘出异物证实，CT眼球异物检出及定位准确性均优于X线，尤其对球壁异物的定位，而且能显示断层眼球壁轮廓，具有直观效果，CT异物影像比异物明显扩大，应警惕CT伪影可能使球壁异物定位发生误差，CT目前尚不能完全取代眼球异物常规X线检查。     

Effects of Spascupreel versus hyoscine butylbromide for gastrointestinal cramps in children

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal spasms and cramps are common in children as well as in adults. Alternative medical practices such as chiropractice and homeopathy are becoming increasingly popular in Europe and the USA. The effectiveness and tolerability of the homeopathic preparation Spascupreel was compared with that of hyoscine butylbromide treatment in children <12 years of age. METHODS: An observational cohort study in 204 children <12 years was conducted over a 1 week treatment period. The efficacy of the respective therapies were evaluated on the effect on severity of spasms and clinical symptoms (pain/cramps, sleep disturbances, distress, eating or drinking difficulties and frequent crying). Compliance was evaluated on a four-point scale from 'very good' to 'low'. Evaluation was done by the practitioner based on information given by the patient or minder. RESULTS: The analysis showed comparative improvements with the homeopathic preparation and hyoscine butylbromide therapy on severity of spasms, pain/cramps, sleep disturbances, eating or drinking difficulties, and frequent crying, all as evaluated by the practitioner. Both treatments were very well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: For patients opting for a homeopathic therapy, Spascupreel seems to be an effective and well tolerated alternative to conventional therapies in children suffering from gastrointestinal spasms.     

Does ageing have an effect on midbrain premotor nuclei for vertical eye movements?

Currently, there is debate in the clinical literature as to whether defects in vertical gaze are a consequence of normal ageing or a component of an underlying neurodegenerative disorder. Although pathological changes have been demonstrated in diseased subjects, no study to date has addressed the question of normal ageing effects. In this retrospective study, we examined 23 neurologically and pathologically normal subjects (age 18-91). Using an unbiased, frame-based sampling method, we quantified neuronal and glial cell densities in 10 young (<50) and 13 aged (>65) subjects in the rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (riMLF), the key premotor substrate in the vertical gaze pathway. We found no statistically significant difference in neuronal density, glial cell density, or neuron-to-glial cell ratios between the young and the aged. We conclude, therefore, that neuronal loss, neuronal atrophy, or gliosis in the riMLF are not consequences of normal ageing.     

The St. George's dementia bed investigation study: a comparison of clinical and pathological diagnosis.

Sixty-four elderly patients who had been admitted to the St. George's Hospital Alzheimer's disease evaluation project during 1981-1989 were followed up to postmortem examination. Comparison between clinical diagnoses and neuropathological diagnoses indicated positive predictive values for the antemortem diagnoses of 50-67%. Existing clinical criteria may not be accurate enough to permit firm antemortem diagnosis of older people for either research or clinical purposes.     

稳定增殖神经干细胞的实验研究

目的探讨稳定、可靠建立神经干细胞体外增殖的方法,并对增殖培养的细胞进行鉴定。方法获取胚胎大鼠的脑组织,通过加入神经生长因子和采用保留细胞联系技术操作,使脑组织中的神经干细胞在体外克隆增殖并稳定传代。以免疫荧光方法对增殖克隆的神经干细胞球进行鉴定。结果神经干细胞不断增殖形成神经干细胞球且神经干细胞能快速稳定传代增殖。培养的细胞为神经干细胞特异性巢蛋白(nestin)染色阳性细胞。结论在神经生长因子的作用下,利用保留细胞联系技术操作,神经干细胞可以在体外快速、稳定克隆增殖并传代。     

A prospective study of allergy development in 158 children and 128 adults with new extensive exposure to furred animals

BACKGROUND: There is still controversy over whether exposure to furred animals increases or decreases the risk of developing sensitization and allergic symptoms to such animals, and there is a need for further knowledge on this subject. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to follow allergy development in relation to new extensive exposure to furred animals in adults and children. METHODS: A total of 286 individuals, 128 parents and 158 children, were recruited from 68 families who intended to buy a dog or a cat, or where one child of the family intended to start riding a horse. Subjects were examined before the new allergen exposure and once a year thereafter for 5 years, in all at six occasions, and they also completed questionnaires covering allergy symptoms. Serum IgE antibodies to cat, dog and horse were determined each year, and fur allergens from beds and living rooms were analysed. RESULTS: Two-hundred and fifty-six study subjects remained for evaluation, 37 of whom showed signs of allergic sensitization at the start of the study. Four children (11%) in this pre-sensitized group developed IgE antibodies to their new animal and six (16%) to another animal. Among the 219 participants who were not sensitized when entering the study, one male adult (0.4%) developed a sensitization to his new animal, and nobody developed sensitization to other animals. Pre-sensitized individuals had significantly more allergic symptoms at the study start, but the symptom scores did not change over time. CONCLUSIONS: When the first year of a human's life has passed, we have no strong evidence to recommend avoidance of a domestic animal in order to prevent new allergy development, even if there are known allergies in the family or if the individual is sensitized and has allergic symptoms to another allergen. Five years exposure to new fur allergens does not seem to influence sensitization to these animals in either sensitized or non-sensitized children and adults.