Early neurologic manifestations of minimal brain dysfunction in children]

The authors studied 207 children with minimal cerebral dysfunctions. Among this contingent 132 were followed-up from the moment of birth and subsequently during 8-10 years. It was demonstrated that already at the early stages of development certain neurological signs can be detected: somato-vegetative disorders, changes of the muscular tone, a hypertensive syndrome. In some of the children there was a retardation of psychomotor functions and prespeech development. One of the important goals at the present time is the elaboration of preventive measures of minimal cerebral dysfunctions in children with perinatal brain lesions.     

A quantitative technical quality assay method for electrocardiograms

A method is presented for quantitative assessment of ECG technical quality to permit sensitive detection of performance trends of individual technicians or entire ECG laboratories. The common flaws in ECG recording technic are those which introduce ultra-low frequency artifact or baseline shift, powerline artifact, myographic and intermediate frequency artifact, clipping of waveforms, disconnection or reversal of electrodes and general faults of protocol adherence. Procedures for quantitating these attributes are presented and explained in order to arrive at a mean figure of merit for each ECG recording. Use of such a method can aid ECG technicians' understanding of the important features of tracing quality and provide an objective basis for the recognition of outstanding performance, on one hand, or the need for remedial training, on the other.     

GLC assay of belladonna extracts

Samples of belladonna pilular and powdered extract and tincture from two suppliers were analyzed by GLC as a cooperative effort between two laboratories to develop methodology with substantial improvements in sensitivity, specificity, precision, and working time over the present official method. This goal was achieved, but marked differences in response of the individual extracts to different isolation schemes were noted.     

A relatively simple differential screening test for GABA or glycine antagonists using rat electroretinography

Intravitreal injection of GABA- and glycine-antagonists had specific and reversible effects on the ERG of rats. For example, picrotoxin induced characteristic rhythmic potentials. The effect was common to other GABA-antagonists, such as bicuculline, N-methylbicuculline and penicillin G. Strychnine caused the appearance of a- and c-like waves in response to low intensity flash stimuli in addition to the suppression of the b-wave commonly seen with agents such as asparate following higher intensity flash stimuli. The strychnine-like effect was common to other glycine-antagonist tested, such as brucine, morphine and laudanosine. The quanternization of the glycine-antagonists abolished the strychnine-like activity and endowed the ability to induce the rhythmic potentials characteristic of GABA-antagonists. This relatively simple method of observing either rhythmic potentials or a negative deflection (a-like wave) to a low intensity stimulus (about 1.0 log unit above dark threshold) in the ERG should be useful for the rapid screening of the predicted and new GABA--and glycine-antagonists.     

Clinical evaluation of etidocaine in continuous caudal analgesia for pelvic floor repair and post-operative pain relief

A randomized double-blind trial compared 1-0% etidocaine and 1-5% lignocaine (both with 1/200,000 adrenaline), for caudal anaesthesia for pelvic floor repair. Etidocaine was highly effective for the surgical procedure, with rapid onset of action, adequate muscle relaxation and longer duration of action. Its use for post-operative analgesia may be hindered by the concomitant immobilization of the legs. The problem of tachyphylaxis with etidocaine needs further investigation.     

Rapid formation of a staghorn calculus in the canine kidney. A surgical model

A model for immediate production of staghorn calculi in dogs is described. A paste made of gray investment is injected into the renal pelvis and allowed to solidify for 30 min. Calculi thus formed have a striking similarity to naturally occurring staghorn calculi and can be utilized by urology teaching programs to initiate residents in the technique of anatrophic nephrolithotomy.