Long-term follow-up by video of cervical dystonia treated with botulinum toxin

We have analysed video recordings of 21 patients with cervical dystonia treated with botulinum toxin. Fourteen patients have a record both of their response shortly after injections were commenced and between four years five months and six years seven months later. Our analysis shows that the long term outcome is often better than the initial response. We suggest that chronic treatment with botulinum toxin allows different muscles to those initially injected to be identified as contributors to the dystonia. Subsequent injection of these muscles leads to further improvement. It implies that cervical dystonia is a more widespread disorder of motor control, rather than simply limited to a few muscles.     

Bone mineral density in patients with prostatic cancer treated with orchidectomy and with estrogens

Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured in the femoral neck area, trochanteric area and Wards triangle, and in the distal radius of the left forearm before and after 1 year of endocrine treatment in 27 patients with prostatic cancer. Eleven of the patients were treated with orchidectomy and 16 with combined oral and intramuscular estrogens. The patients were free from metastases during the entire observation period. In the orchidectomized patients, BMD and BMC of the distal radius decreased significantly following treatment, whereas no changes were observed in the estrogen-treated patients. These preliminary results demonstrate that estrogens may protect bone in male subjects also and may merit further investigations on larger groups of patients.     

Cyclosporine A alleviates severe anaemia associated with refractory large granular lymphocytic leukaemia and chronic natural killer cell lymphocytosis

Large granular lymphocytic (LGL) leukaemia and chronic natural killer cell lymphocytosis (CNKL) are chronic indolent disorders often associated with neutropenia and constitutional symptoms. Severe anaemia occurs in about 20% of patients and is currently treated with corticosteroids followed by oral cyclophosphamide in non-responders. 30% of patients fail initial measures, and salvage therapy is inadequate. We describe three transfusion-dependent patients (two with T-LGL leukaemia, one with CNKL) refractory to corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and in one case fludarabine. Cyclosporine A (CSA) initiation resulted in prompt transfusion-independence and was well tolerated in all patients, making it an attractive alternative therapy for this disorder.     

Plastic surgical treatment of a chronic thoracic duct fistula using a sternocleidomastoid muscle flap — a case report

Thoracic duct fistula is a rare but potentially serious complication of head and neck surgery. Such fistulae may be difficult to treat, and several techniques, both operative and non-operative, have been advocated. A case of successful surgical treatment of a chronic thoracic duct fistula is presented. The fistula occurred in a 51-year-old female following treatment of a solitary supraclavicular breast metastasis by local excision and radiotherapy. The divided duct was ligated and the area was covered with the clavicular head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.     

Disturbed behaviour in dementia sufferers: A comparison of three nursing home settings

In order to determine whether a specialist psychogeriatric nursing home was fulfilling its intended role of caring for the most behaviourally disturbed dementia sufferers, 24 of its demented residents were compared with 28 demented individuals discharged from a psychiatric unit to ordinary nursing homes and 30 mobile dementia sufferers in nursing home wards of a geriatric centre. Those in the psychogeriatric nursing home showed more disturbed behaviours than those in the other two settings. Scores on the Rating Scale for Aggressive Behaviour in the Elderly were compared with degree of cognitive impairment for the first time in the literature and showed no correlation with degree of cognitive impairment for the first time in the literature and showed no correlation with congnitive performance.     

无张力疝修补术后顽固性疼痛原因和对策

目的 探讨无张力疝修补术后的顽固性疼痛病因及预防治疗。方法 将同期无张力疝修补术与传统的腹股沟疝修补方法进行比较。结果 无张力疝修补术后的顽固性疼痛率为9．02％(12／133)，传统的腹股沟疝修补方法疼痛率为8．61％(18／209)。无张力疝修补与传统的腹股沟疝修补相比，术后顽固性疼痛的发生率差异无显著性(P＞0．05)。结论 无张力疝修补并不一定减少传统的腹股沟疝修补术后顽固性疼痛，手术规范操作是预防的关键，治疗应先保守治疗，无效再考虑手术治疗。     

矽肺动物模型全肺灌洗治疗的病理观察

通过对动物模型实验治疗的病理观察，评价全肺大容量灌洗治疗矽肺的效果，并优选灌洗液。对４０只家兔和１０只幼猪经ＳｉＯ２染尘处理后，各随机分为药物组、盐水组和对照组。４～５周后施行全肺大容量灌洗。治疗后３～５个月处死各组动物，进行病理双盲检查。经统计学秩和检验，兔与猪各组肺矽结节纤维化级别分布的差异有非常显著意义（Ｐ＜０．００５）。经卡方检验，各灌洗组的纤维化程度与对照组相比，差异亦有非常显著意义（Ｐ＜０．０１）。灌洗液中药与盐水比，Ｐ＜０．０５；盐水与西药比，Ｐ＜０．０５。兔和猪矽肺各灌洗组的效果明显优于对照组。灌洗液中药优于盐水，盐水又优于西药     

Neue Entwicklungen in der systemischen Psoriasistherapie

The current standard systemic therapeutic modalities for psoriasis have many potential side effects. Progress made in the understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis as a T‐cell‐mediated dermatosis provide options for new more precise therapeutic approaches. These immunological therapeutic strategies involve the inhibition/depletion of activated T‐lymphocytes, the inhibition of antigen presentation and thus the regulation of T‐cell activation, the inhibition of adhesion of inflammatory cells, the inhibition of effects of proinflammatory mediators and the administration of antiinflammatory cytokines. This article summarizes these new systemic therapeutic approaches. Clinical results in the early studies have been mixed. In the next years further results of phase II‐ and phase III‐studies may be expected, which should allow better assessment of the potential of those particular approaches. Some of these approaches could lead to the approval of new drugs to treat psoriasis and to enhance or replace already existing therapeutic options. Furthermore results of therapeutic experiments should contribute to a better understanding of the disease. As we learn which mechanisms are more or less important for the disease, we will be better able to plan intervention strategies.     

One month maximal electrostimulation for genuine stress incontinence in women

While awaiting surgery for genuine urinary stress incontinence, 51 women with were treated at home for 1 month with vaginal maximal electrostimulation. They were evaluated subjectively, urodynamically, and with two different pad tests. Six patients (12%) were cured and 17 (33%) were much improved, subjectively and objectively. Statistically significant improvement was observed for both pad tests. Successful treatment was significantly more likely in women with milder degrees of incontinence but was unrelated to age or urethral pressure. Patient acceptance was excellent and apart from some vaginal soreness no complications were seen. Sixteen patients (31%) elected not to be operated on. These 16 patients were reevaluated after 1 year and 13 (81%) had maintained their improvement. Three had disimproved but were still better than before treatment; 2 again refused surgery and 1 opted for surgery. Therefore, 15 of 51 (29%) operations were saved after 1 year. This conservative treatment for stress incontinence is safe, simple, inexpensive, and reasonably successful. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.