Deep brain stimulation for essential tremor

We examined the effects and safety of deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a treatment for essential tremor (ET). Ten ET patients with disabling medication-refractory tremor underwent stereotactic implantation of a DBS lead in the left Vim thalamic nucleus and completed a 6-month follow-up. The Clinical Tremor Rating Scale and disability assessments were performed at baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. There were significant improvements in dressing, drinking, eating, bathing, and handwriting as reported by the subjects. Tremor severity, writing, pouring, and spiral and line drawing were significantly improved as rated by the examiner. Improvements persisted through the 6-month follow-up period. Although global disability significantly lessened in the group as a whole, one subject with hand-finger tremor accentuated by writing had no change in disability status. In this 6-month open-label study, DBS was effective and safe in reducing tremor and functional disability in ET.     

Inhibition of anthracycline semiquinone formation by ICRF-187 (dexrazoxane) in cells

The formation of semiquinone free radicals of doxorubicin, epirubicin, daunorubicin, and idarubicin was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in hypoxic suspensions of chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The amount of semiquinone produced was in the order idarubicin > doxorubicin > daunorubicin > epirubicin. The idarubicin semiquinone signal was both the fastest to be formed and to decay. Idarubicin, which was the most lipophilic of the anthracyclines studied, also displayed the fastest fluorescence-measured cellular uptake of drug. Thus, it was concluded that semiquinone formation was dependent upon the rate of cellular uptake. Lysed cell suspensions were also shown to be capable of producing the doxorubicin semiquinone in the presence of added NADPH. The cardioprotective agent dexrazoxane (ICRF-187) was observed to decrease the amount of doxorubicin semiquinone observed in cell suspensions. Dexrazoxane also decreased the amount of doxorubicin semiquinone observed in the NADPH-lysed cell suspension mixture. Neither bipyridine nor deferoxamine decreased NADPH-dependent doxorubicin semiquinone formation. These results suggest that dexrazoxane does not decrease doxorubicin semiquinone formation through an iron complex formed from hydrolyzed dexrazoxane. Dexrazoxane may be inhibiting an NADPH-dependent enzyme.     

Participation in continuing professional education in nursing: findings of an interview study

The evidence suggests that enrolled nurses and those working part-time and on night duty consistently attend less continuing professional education than their more senior, full-time and day duty colleagues. This was substantiated in the findings of this study which also highlighted the paucity of opportunities for continuing education among unqualified practitioners. In the light of recent developments within the health services, this inequitable provision of continuing professional education to all nursing practitioners will need to be addressed and resolved. Continuing professional education provided on an arbitrary and random basis will not afford maximum positive outcomes for clients, the service and practitioners and has the potential to increase the levels of frustration among disadvantaged groups of nursing staff.     

Dyspnea resulting from phrenic nerve paralysis after interscalene brachial plexus block in an obese male--a case report

While current psychiatric taxonomies recognise a classification of amphetamine dependence, derived from the notion of an alcohol dependence syndrome, little research has validated that such a condition exists for this drug. Current amphetamine users (N = 331), were interviewed using the World Health Organization operationalisation of DSM-III-R substance dependence criteria, and a measure of the psychological components of dependence. Structural analyses indicated that a unidimensional dependence syndrome as assessed by DSM-III-R and DSM-IV criteria exists for amphetamine, and that physiological, psychological and behavioural indicators were all important in accounting for the variance in responses. It was demonstrated that the concept of a dependence syndrome is applicable to amphetamine, and that the inclusion of the amphetamine dependence syndrome in DSM-III-R and DSM-IV is valid.     

Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy for patients with recurrent pericardial effusion: using a novel double-balloon technique with one long and one short balloon

Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy is effective and less invasive for the treatment of recurrent pericardial effusion. This study suggests that the double-balloon method with 1 longer and 1 shorter balloon is the procedure of choice for percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy.     

The epidemiology of stroke: a focus on Rhode Island

Effects were studied of vincamin and tanakan in 68 patients with stage I, II and III discirculatory encephalopathy (as per WHO classification 1981). In 52% of the patients atherosclerosis of brain vessels was associated with arterial hypertension (group I), in 48 per cent venous discirculatory encephalopathy was diagnosable against the background of arterial hypertension (group IIA-20%) and arterial hypotension (group IIB-26%). Both tanakan and vincamin were found to be effective in group I patients; however, in stage III condition their effectiveness was no better than 42 and 15% respectively, which fact might be due to organic changes in the vascular wall. Tanakan appeared to be more beneficial in group II patients since venous dystonia is considered to be the main pathogenetic link in this context, and tanakan is known to improve the venous outflow from the cranial cavity. Almost in one-third of group IIB patients vincamin worsened general health status, especially so in stage III discirculatory encephalopathy, which fact may be related to peculiar effect of the drug on the arterial link of brain blood supply.     

Application of infrared reflectance spectroscopy to the analysis of milk and dairy products

A method for the rapid, simultaneous determination of protein, fat, carbohydrate, non-protein nitrogen and total solids in milk and liquid dairy products by infrared reflectance spectroscopy is presented. The method is calibrated against known standards obtained by conventional, time-consuming wet chemical methods but, once calibrated, can be operated routinely by non-skilled personnel. The method is sensitive and accurate down to 0·5% w/v and can be applied to most liquid samples without any need for prior preparation.     

Induction of activity and deactivation of Fe, Mn-promoted sulfated zirconia catalysts

The isomerization of n-butane on sulfated zirconia catalysts promoted by the addition of Fe and Mn ions has been studied. The evolution of the catalytic activity of these materials as a function of time on stream exhibits a typical shape containing an induction period during which the activity increases. The induction period is followed by a rapid deactivation and then a slower deactivation. The shape of the conversion—time curves contains important information about the way these catalyst operate. Slight changes in the preparation and pretreatment of the catalysts result in changes in the overall activity and shape of the conversion—time curves. The results of this study suggest that the induction period is due to the formation and accumulation of reaction intermediates on the surface. These intermediates participate in the reaction as part of an inter-molecular mechanism. The n-butane molar fraction, the presence of olefins or hydrogen in the feed, and the reaction temperature strongly affect the induction period.

A simple mathematical model that successfully describes the behavior of the conversion—time curves has been developed. This model is consistent with the existence of two types of sites with different reactivity and stability. One type is responsible for most of the activity observed during the first few minutes on stream, but it is rapidly deactivated. This type of sites is easily deactivated by simple exposure to hydrogen, so it is consistent with an oxidized species recently proposed. The second type of sites is more resistant to deactivation.