Lumbar intervertebral disk herniation in children

A consecutive series of 16 children from 9 to 18 years old, with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation who were treated surgically in Department of Neurosurgery Medical Academy in Poznań, between 1978-1992, was analysed. The clinical symptoms, X-ray assessment, type of operation and outcome are reviewed. In our analysis characteristic features of disc herniation in children are: the onset of pain due to violent injury in relation to lifting, bilateral neurological symptoms and radiculography imaging central intervertebral disc herniation.     

Diffuse intervertebral disk calcification in primary amyloidosis

Circulating lymphocytes were incubated for 72 hours in either pure culture medium or a medium-urine mixture in the presence of phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A or pokeweed mitogen, and assayed for blastogenesis and viability. The amount and osmolality of the urine were varied. Between 80 and 90 per cent of the cells remained viable during the entire study despite the culture mixture. If 50 percent of the culture was replaced by urine at an osmolality of 150, 300 or 500 mOsm, a severe but uniform depression of lymphocyte activity was seen. However, if only 25 percent or less of the medium was replaced by urine at 300 mOsm, the cells stimulated as well as they did in pure medium.     

Intraoperative ultrasound in lumbar intervertebral disk displacement

Intraoperative ultrasound of the spine has been used in neurosurgery (tumours) and traumatology (reposition of fractured vertebral bodies fragments). AIM: To describe initial experiences with this method and to document the opportunities and problems. METHOD: 24 nucleotomies were documented and evaluated. Sonography was performed using a 7.5 MHz sector probe and a typical surgical approach. RESULTS: In 21 of 24 cases, imaging of intraspinal structures was possible. The complete extraction of the herniated disk could be documented. In 3 cases the examination failed because the probe was too large to be pushed down between the spinous processes and the wound retractor to the operative site. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative sonography can be used easily as a routine method for exploration of the spinal canal. Technical innovations in the probes would make the method even more feasible.     

Trends in non-epithelial cancer incidence in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, 1961-1990

Trends in the incidence of non-epithelial cancers are particularly likely to reflect environmental carcinogens, since these malignancies are not commonly the targets of screening efforts, and have generally not been closely associated with life style factors such as cigarette smoking and diet. We used data from nation-wide cancer registries in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden to examine trends in non-epithelial cancers over the period 1961-1990. Linear regression analysis of age-standardized rates, and age-period-cohort models were fit to assess the temporal patterns within each country. Within each of the 3 countries, there was a similarly increasing incidence of both hematological malignancies and nervous system/bone/soft-tissue neoplasms. The increases were smallest in children and adolescents (ages 0-14), moderate among young and middle aged adults (ages 15-64), and most pronounced among the elderly (ages 65+). Age-period-cohort modeling suggested that the dominant factor in the increases were birth cohort effects. It is not clear what factors underlie this increase in incidence; it seems most likely that increases both in diagnostic efficiency and in exposure to environmental carcinogens play a role.     

Study of primary resistance to antitubercular agents in the Sousse region, 1981-1990

Spatone Iron-Plus is a naturally occurring mineral water from Trefriw Wells Spa in Gwynedd, Wales, UK which contains approximately 0.3 mg of iron per ml as ferrous sulphate. The water has been taken as a tonic since Victorian times. Iron absorption from Spatone Iron-Plus was measured in a whole body counter after labelling the water with [59Fe] ferrous sulphate. Absorption studies were carried out in 13 subjects. Mean absorption for 10 ml of Spatone Iron-Plus taken on an empty stomach was 23 percent. Absorption was related to body iron stores as assessed by serum ferritin. In subjects with a serum ferritin concentration of <10 mu g/I, absorption was approximately 40 percent but was <10 percent in subjects with ferritin concentrations of approximately 200 mu g/I. This study indicates that Spatone Iron-Plus provides iron in a highly bio-available form.     

Early gastric cancer at a third-level hospital in Barcelona in 1981-1990. Clinical considerations

The records from seventy cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) diagnosed at the Hospital de la Santa Cruz y San Pablo in Barcelona during 1981-1990 were reviewed in order to analyze their clinical features and their influence on survival. There was a male predominance (47/23). The disease was seen mostly in patients who were 60-70 years old, although women were younger than men. The most frequent symptom was epigastric pain, more commonly referred in ulcerated forms of EGC. Protruded forms resulted in digestive haemorrhage. Barium meal examination of the upper digestive tract and gastroscopic examination (without histologic study) only revealed about half of the lesions. So it is very important to get some material for histological studies even in apparently benign lesions. EGC was mostly located at the antrum (68.1%). These antral tumours used to have lymph node metastases more frequently than the rest. Tumours were larger in women than in men. EGC with greater size showed deeper infiltration, more lymph node involvement and higher recurrence risk. Another malignancy--besides EGC--was seen in 8.2% of the patients. This event implied a 40% of mortality. Development of recurrence also meant a high mortality risk. Patients with big, multifocal tumours and with lymph node metastases were prone to recurrence of the disease. In this study, development of recurrence and detection of another malignancy have become the clinical features with more influence over survival.     

Incidence and clinical epidemiology of necrobacillosis, including Lemierre's syndrome, in Denmark 1990-1995

To establish the incidence and describe the clinical epidemiology of necrobacillosis and Lemierre's syndrome in Denmark, the clinical records of all laboratory-recorded cases of septicaemia due to Fusobacterium necrophorum biovar A, B, and C were reviewed retrospectively during a 6-year period. The incidence of necrobacillosis and Lemierre's syndrome was 1.5 and 0.8 per million persons per year, respectively, showing a tendency to increase during the period. Fusobacterium necrophorum was grown after three days' incubation, but the characteristic pleomorphic fusiform morphology was often disregarded as an important help in diagnosing necrobacillosis. The 24 patients with Lemierre's syndrome were all young and previously healthy, and none died, but pre-hospital delay was associated with a significantly higher morbidity and risk of metastatic infections. The remaining 25 patients with necrobacillosis had a high mortality, 24%, which was correlated with age and predisposing diseases, especially cancers. These findings stress the importance of a quicker clinical and microbiological diagnosis in cases of Lemierre's syndrome, and of screening for cancer in the remaining cases of necrobacillosis.     

Incidence, survival and mortality in cervical cancer in Norway, 1956-1990

Long-term trends in incidence, survival and mortality were examined in women with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix, diagnosed in Norway in the 35-year period 1956-1990. During the 1970s the number of cervical smears increased substantially in Norway, although no organised screening programme was introduced. Special attention was paid to the time period 1971-1990 to evaluate the effect of the extensive spontaneous screening. In addition, the prognostic importance of clinical stage and age was explored. In the squamous cell carcinoma patients the incidence rate peaked in the time period 1971-1975, since when there has been a decrease. In the adenocarcinoma patients the incidence rate rose through the years 1976-1990. Also, the proportion of adenocarcinomas increased in this time period. The mortality rates in both histological types declined modestly through the years 1966-1990. A more favourable stage distribution was noted among the squamous cell carcinomas (P = 0.00), but not among the adenocarcinomas, when comparing the two diagnostic periods 1971-1975 and 1981-1985. The multivariate analysis (GLIM) revealed that stage was the most important prognostic factor in both histological types (P = 0.00). In the squamous cell carcinoma patients the relative rate increased (P = 0.04) in the last period. There was a tendency towards a poorer prognosis in younger women in this group, but age did not prove to be an important prognostic factor (P = 0.08).     

Risk factors associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in northern Jutland, Denmark 1990-1993

This population-based, historical, follow-up study analysed possible risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and resulting visual impairment in newborns over a period of 3 1/2 years in the County of Northern Jutland, Denmark. The study subjects were 141 infants with birth weight < or = 1500 grams and gestational age < 35 completed weeks who survived to a first eye examination at 5 weeks. The incidence of ROP (all stages) was 18%, and the frequency of severe visual impairment from ROP was 14/100,000 live births. A logistic regression analysis identified low gestational age, multiple births, continuous oxygen treatment, and male sex as risk factors for ROP. The main factor in the prevention of ROP is to prevent preterm births.     

APA-accredited doctoral programs in professional psychology: 1990.

Lists American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited doctoral training programs in clinical, counseling, school, and combined professional-scientific psychology in 3 categories of accreditation: full, provisional, and probation. The category of combined professional-scientific psychology lists programs that meet at least the minimal criteria in 2 or more of the specialties of clinical, counseling, and school psychology. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multiple pregnancies in Denmark 1980-1994

The objective was to study trends in national rates of multiple pregnancies that were not explained by changes in maternal age and parity. Information on childbirths to Danish-born women were obtained from national registers. The national incidence of multiple pregnancies increased 1.7-fold during 1980-1994, the increase primarily in 1989-1994 and almost exclusively in primiparous women > or = 30 years, for whom the adjusted population-based twinning rate increased 2.7-fold and the triplet rate 9.1-fold. The proportion of multiple births among infant deaths in primiparous women > or = 30 years increased from 11.5% to 26.9%. In conclusion, the marked increase in the rate of multiple pregnancies, which in particular was observed during the 1990s and in primiparous women > or = 30 years, could not be explained by changes in maternal age or parity. Fertility-enhancing treatments are believed to have caused this increase.     

Bottle injuries in Denmark 1991-1995

In the period from 1991-95, 1843 injuries caused by bottles were reported to the Danish EHLASS register, the latter representing 14.2% of the total number of patients seen in the Emergency Room in Denmark. The reports were classified as sharp or blunt injuries; age, sex, and body localisation were registered, and the injuries were grouped into eight body localisations. Hand injuries made up largest group (62%), and of these 92% were sharp injuries. The rest of the injuries (38%) were spread over the other zones, each representing 3-11%. Among the injuries there was a significant overrepresentation of males and young people between 10-24 years of age. Nearly 30% of the injuries were associated with a fall. We estimate that the total number of injuries caused by bottles was 2596/year, and that the incidence rate was 4.98/10,000 person years.     

Multiresistant tuberculosis in Denmark 1993-1996

Infections with multiresistant tubercle bacilli have also become a problem in the rich part of the world. The reasons are lack of compliance in patients with life style problems and ineffectiveness of the health system due to lack of fundings. During a four year period, 1993-1996 ten patients were seen in Denmark with tuberculosis due to multiresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Nine were infected abroad, one developed MDR-TB during treatment in Denmark. It is possible to cure these patients, but it is expensive and takes a long time. In the future more cases created within Denmark are likely to be seen due to lack of funding for the tuberculosis programme and, depending on immigration, further cases created abroad are expected.     

An examination of the occurrence of surgical wound infection following equine orthopaedic surgery (1981-1990)

First-void urine specimens, collected from 309 military recruits, 246 male adolescent gymnasium students and 194 patients consulting venereal disease clinics, were studied for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis with the use of antigen detection tests--two enzyme immunoassays (EIA) and a direct immunofluorescence test (DIF; Syva MicroTrak). Urethral swabs were collected when discrepancies between the EIA and DIF tests were detected. The patient was regarded as positive when the culture result was positive or when two antigen detection tests corraborated one another. The Syva MicroTrak EIA and DIF tests were more sensitive than the Orion EIA, i.e. 98.5%, 99.2% and 74%, respectively. This was true when testing both low- and high-risk groups, with a prevalence of chlamydial infection ranging from 0.4% to 58.6%. All three tests were highly specific. The positive predictive values for the Syva MicroTrak EIA, the DIF and the Orion EIA were 99.2%, 100% and 100%, respectively and the negative predictive values 99.8%, 99.8% and 94.8%, respectively.     

Organization of obstetric ultrasonography in Denmark 1995--description of the development since 1990

With the aim to provide an overview of the current organisational status of obstetric ultrasound in Denmark and to describe the development since 1990, a questionnaire was sent in spring 1995 to all 49 departments responsible for the hospital antenatal care program. In addition a questionnaire was sent to the 14 imaging diagnostic departments providing ultrasound services for those of the 49 departments that had either insufficient or no ultrasound facilities. The response rate was 100. Since 1986 the National Board of Health in Denmark has recommended not to screen. At the time of the study the issue was under consideration as part of a general revision of the antenatal care program. Obstetric ultrasound was performed in 30 obstetric, 11 surgical, 12 radiological, 1 image diagnostic and 1 ultrasound department. In total approx. 140,000 obstetric ultrasound examinations were performed in 1994 in contrast to approx. 120,000 in 1989. Fifty-one point four percent of the pregnant population was routinely offered an ultrasound scan in the 10-20th week of gestation (1990: 39.9%). For 19.5% the offer included screening for foetal malformations (1990: 16.5%). In total 34 departments, responsible for the antenatal care of 86.3% of the pregnant population, wanted to continue or start giving an offer of ultrasound screening. The study documents a significant technology diffusion process of ultrasound into the specialty of obstetrics and gynaecology.