Improvement of Decreased Critical Flicker Frequency (CFF) in Headache Patients With Drug Abuse After Successful Withdrawal

A considerable proportion of headache patients fulfill the criteria of "drug abuse" (definition according to the International Headache Society [IHS] criteria). These patients exhibit markedly reduced vigilance and continuous performance, as shown by the results of critical flicker frequency (CFF) analysis.
The present study deals with the question whether this impairment of vigilance and continuous performance is reversible. Forty-eight headache patients with drug abuse were investigated three times by means of CFF analysis: immediately before (A), immediately after (B), and 3 weeks after having finished (C) inpatient drug withdrawal.
Immediately after withdrawal, a significant decrease of headache intensity was observed. The CFF values, however, remained unchanged at a depressed level, probably due to withdrawal medication and the initial sedative side effects of thymoleptic agents (given as prophylaxis).
Three weeks after withdrawal, however, the CFF values were significantly improved, and were now within a range not far from the normal values known from a healthy general population. Thus, even after many years of drug abuse, headache patients have a good chance to improve their vigilance and continuous performance and to reach normal or close to normal levels.     

Practical guidelines for physicians in the management of febrile seizures

Recent studies have shown that adequate medication can prevent the recurrence of febrile seizures (FS). It has also been clarified that the vast majority of, though not all, FS patients follow a benign course. Then, questions arise as to whether or not FS should be prevented, particularly in light of the risks of side effects from drugs. Which kinds of FS can be prevented, if necessary? The guidelines presented here are aimed primarily at helping general practitioners in considering how to manage FS most appropriately. The guidelines stress that judgements should be individualized, while referring to a few specific ‘warning factors’. The guidelines follow a ‘laissez-faire’ principle for the majority of FS cases, whereas intermittent therapy with diazepam and continuous medication with either phenobarbital or valproate are indicated in other limited cases meeting respective definite criteria.     

Structured treatment and teaching of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired cognitive function--the DICOF trial.

BACKGROUND: Patient education is integral part of any diabetes therapy in Germany, but elderly patients are not able to follow the variety of topics comprising standard treatment and teaching programmes (TTP), primarily due to impaired neuropsychological function. This leads to deficits in diabetes knowledge and hindered ability for diabetes self-management. AIM: To evaluate structured TTP for geriatric patients with impaired cognitive function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A neuropsychological examination was performed on all patients over 54 years [n=102, age 68.6 +/- 8.7 years, diabetes duration 10.3 (0.03-35.4) years, HbA1c 10.3 +/- 1.7% (HPLC, Diamat, NR 4.5-6.3%), cognitive function 87.7 +/- 12.3 IQ points] who took part in TTP for insulin therapy. Patients with impaired cognitive function participated either in the standard TTP of Berger [n = 35, age 67.6 +/- 8.9 years, diabetes duration 9.9 (0.04-35.4) years, HbA1c 10.3 +/- 2.0%] or in the specialized structured geriatric DICOF-TTP [n=33, age 70.4 +/- 8.2 years, diabetes duration 10.4 (0.03-24.9) years, HbA1c 10.7 +/- 1.8%]. RESULTS: After TTP there were no differences in knowledge and ability for diabetes self-management (standard/DICOF: knowledge 11.0 +/- 2.6 vs. 12.2 +/- 2.7 points, P = 0.11; handling 14.9 +/- 3.3 vs. 15.9 +/- 2.5 points, P = 0.18). However, patients who took part in the DICOF programme showed better scores in satisfaction with the education programme [standard/DICOF 44.7 (31-57) vs. 52.5 (45-59) points, P < 0.001]. Six months later the DICOF participants showed better results regarding diabetes self-management (standard/DICOF: handling 12.5 +/- 4.1 vs. 15.9 +/- 3.1 points, P = 0.001). Both groups showed HbA1c decrease (8.3 +/- 1.4 vs. 8.5 +/- 1.3%, P=0.62) and similar incidence of acute complications. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with impaired cognitive function should take part in specialized structured TTP. This leads to both better satisfaction with the education programme and an improved ability for diabetes self-management.     

屈光性调节性内斜视综合治疗的效果

①目的:探讨综合治疗屈光性调节性内斜视的效果及其相关因素。②方法:对随机收集78例屈光性调节性内斜视病儿的综合治疗效果进行回顾性分析。③结果:经5年随访，73例(93．6％)维持正常眼位，149只(97．4％)弱视眼治愈，72例(92．3％)获得立体视功能。④结论:及时对屈光性调节性内斜视病儿进行综合治疗，建立和恢复其双眼单视功能，预后较好。     

经皮肾囊穿刺封闭术治疗难治性肾病综合征临床研究

目的　探讨介入疗法对难治性肾病综合征 (RNS)的疗效。方法　将 6 4例RNS随机分为A ,B两组 ,A组 32例 ,经皮肾囊穿刺向每一肾脂肪囊 (肾囊 )内注入 2 %利多卡因 ,每周 2次 ,同时口服强的松、洛汀新、潘生丁等治疗 ,B组 32例 ,应用强的松、洛汀新、潘生丁等治疗。结果　A组总有效率为 84 .4 % ,B组为 6 5 .6 % ,两组比较 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,A组 1年内复发率低 ,为 2 9.6 % ,B组为 71.4 % ,比较两组 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　利多卡因经皮肾囊内穿刺注射封闭疗法是目前治疗RNS最有效的方法之一 ,值得临床进一步的推广应用。     

咳嗽从肾论治

基于中医有关古代文献和个人的临床经验，作者举例说明咳嗽不仅能从肺治疗，从肾治疗也是行之有效的方法。     

Geste antagonistes in idiopathic lower cranial dystonia.

Geste antagonistes, or sensory tricks, are well described in focal dystonia affecting the neck, hand, and face. Improvement in dystonic movements is typically maintained while the trick is performed, but disappears when the geste ends. We investigated the phenomenological features of geste antagoniste maneuvers in 19 patients with idiopathic lower cranial dystonia who were prospectively evaluated over a period of 6 years. Of the 19, 10 were men, mean age of onset was 49.8 years, and the most commonly involved lower cranial area was the jaw (10 patients). In most patients, dystonia was task-specific. Taking advantage of the improvement with a sensory geste, we manufactured oral appliances that mimicked the geste in 8 patients, and 3 continue to use it.