Interventional neuropediatrics: treatment of dystonic and spastic muscular hyperactivity with botulinum toxin A

Therapeutic effect of botulinum toxin A was studied in a group of pediatric patients (n = 28) aged between 6 months and 18 years. The patients were diagnosed with cervical dystonia (n = 6), adductor spasm of the hip (n = 8), spastic drop foot (n = 7) and various other focal motor problems associated with spastic muscular hyperactivity (n = 7). The mean dose of botulinum toxin A (Dysport) used to inject into the affected muscle was 22 U/kg body weight. Reduced muscular hyperactivity with a significant increase in joint mobility was achieved for dystonic (p < 0.0001) as well as for spastic conditions in patients with adductor spasm (p < 0.0002). For these patients the improved joint mobility represented a significant benefit for both daily activities and nursing care. Local paresis and local hematoma were observed in 1/28 and 1/28 patients, respectively; 1/28 patients developed a secondary non-response. However, apart from these side effects, no other adverse reactions to botulinum toxin A treatment were recorded during the treatment and observation period (12-64 months). Our results suggest that botulinum toxin A represents an effective and safe therapeutic substance for the treatment of pediatric patients suffering of focal motor problems due to dystonic or spastic muscular hyperactivity.     

Flow cytometric assay of modulation of P-glycoprotein function in whole blood by the multidrug resistance inhibitor GG918

Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT) deficiency causes classical galactosemia in humans. Mice deficient in this enzyme were created by gene targeting. GALT-deficient mice develop biochemical features similar to those seen in humans with GALT deficiency, but fail to develop the pattern of acute toxicity seen in newborns with classical galactosemia. This study suggests that alternative routes of galactose metabolism are important in the pathogenesis of galactosemia.     

Intraoperative monitoring of the function of the peroneal nerve in knee joint operations

Operations on the knee are known to be associated with postoperative neurological complications. There is no consensus opinion on the causes of these complications. The aim of the present study was to develop a method for the intraoperative monitoring of the function of the common peroneal nerve. This was done as to identify intraoperative factors that might be responsible for reversible and irreversible neurological deficits. Computer-aided neuromonitoring is based on online digitizing of the surface EMG of the anterior tibial muscle. An algorithm continuously modifies the amplitude to determine the motor threshold. The method described has been used in 18 patients undergoing high tibial osteotomy. In 10 of the 18 patients, the nerve is rendered completely non-excitable after an average tourniquet application time of 59 min. This non-excitability was reversed on release of the tourniquet. In the remaining 8 patients, excitability was maintained throughout the ischaemic period, which did not exceed 60 minutes in any of the cases. Our method enables accurate quantification of the neural function throughout the entire operation, and convincingly documents the influence of ischaemia on peripheral nerve block.     

Human engineering research—who should do it and why.

"The in-service laboratory groups, the universities, and private consultants and consulting organizations most certainly should be conducting the major research programs, but the human engineering staff that is part of an engineering manufacturing organization cannot and should not undertake a major human engineering research program for every need of the design engineer." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fast Approximation of the Discrete Gauss Transform in Higher Dimensions

We present a novel approach for the fast approximation of the discrete Gauss transform in higher dimensions. The algorithm is based on the dual-tree technique and introduces a new Taylor series expansion. It compares favorably to existing methods especially when it comes to higher dimensions and a broad range of bandwidths. Numerical results with different datasets in up to 62 dimensions demonstrate its performance.     

Review of Human engineering guide for equipment designers.

Reviews the book "Human engineering guide for equipment designers," by W. E. Woodson (see record 1955-01705-000). The purpose of the book, as expressed in the Introduction, is "to aid the designer in making optimum decisions whenever human factors are involved in man-operated equipment." The author states that the book will provide a central source for information about the human operator, will point up the relative importance of variables which make a difference, and will indicate solutions for typical design problems. The book represents a commendable effort to fulfill this purpose. An outstanding feature of this guide is the application of basic psychological and physiological data to specific problem areas. The Human Engineering Guide for Equipment Designers represents a major step in the effort of human engineers to make their information meaningful to equipment designers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intraoperative computer-assisted measurement of stimulation threshold of the common peroneal nerve in osteotomy of the head of the tibia

Using a computer-assisted threshold hunting paradigm the motoric threshold of the common peroneal nerve was monitored in 18 patients during a high tibial osteotomy (HTO). The exposed nerve (lateral approach) was stimulated proximal to the osteotomy area and the surface EMG of the M. tibialis anterior was used to guide a threshold hunting device. Motoric threshold as a sensitive indicator of nerve function was found to be almost unaffected by several surgical steps of HTO. Only forceful rotation of a subperiostal Hohmann device during high peroneal osteotomy evoked a slight threshold shift that was fully reversible with device repositioning. The tourniquet, however, affected the threshold significantly. In 10 of the 18 patients the nerve became completely inexcitable after an average time of 59 min. The inexcitability was reversible after opening of the tourniquet. On the other hand, the eight patients maintaining an excitability throughout the entire ischemic period had tourniquet times that did not exceed 60 min. There are several factors that may be responsible for the observed inexcitability after long ischemic periods and we conclude that tourniquet time minimization appears appropriate to avoid neurological deficits during a high tibial osteotomy.     

Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in Asphalt and in Corresponding Leachate Water

The environmental impact of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in asphalt (bitumen) materials is related to their availability for environmental transport and biouptake, rather than their total concentrations. This study examines six Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) paving asphalts and four commercial roofing asphalts. Three cleanup procedures for the neat asphalt samples are evaluated. This study reports on analyses for 29 PACs, including the EPA 16 priority pollutant PAHs and additional Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins. These require reporting by the U.S. EPA under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) section 313. The analytical protocol for analysis of the higher molecular weight PACs by GC/MS is reported, with inclusion of GC/MS/MS verification of some of the detectable compounds. Additionally, each asphalt was taken through a toxicity characteristic leaching procedure following U.S. EPA method SW846-1311. Results of the paving and roofing asphalts and their corresponding leachate waters are presented in this study.     

The track imaging Cherenkov experiment

We describe a dedicated cosmic-ray telescope that explores a new method for detecting Cherenkov radiation from high-energy primary cosmic rays and the large particle air shower they induce upon entering the atmosphere. Using a camera comprising 16 multi-anode photomultiplier tubes for a total of 256 pixels, the Track Imaging Cherenkov Experiment (TrICE) resolves substructures in particle air showers with 0.086° resolution. Cherenkov radiation is imaged using a novel two-part optical system in which a Fresnel lens provides a wide-field optical trigger and a mirror system collects delayed light with four times the magnification. TrICE records well-resolved cosmic-ray air showers at rates ranging between 0.01 Hz and 0.1 Hz.     

Chance and risk of controlling rabies in large-scale and long-term immunized fox populations

The large-scale immunization of European fox populations against rabies is currently under the microscope for reducing the considerable expenditure without putting public health at risk. Empirical knowledge is inadequate to interpret the lasting sporadic incidences and, therefore, to verify the final success of the immunization campaigns. By using a proven simulation model we show that rabies can persist on a very low level in the form of spatio-temporal moving infection clusters within a highly immunized fox population. We found further: (i) the existence of a threshold after which the chance of eradicating the disease by vaccination increases clearly, and (ii) that at least six years of 70% mean immunization rate are required to guarantee a likely success.