Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E Tack.
A case is presented of a young woman with a serious addiction to levodopa who over the years developed an extrapyramidal syndrome and chronic paranoid psychotic behaviour. The possible pathophysiological mechanism is discussed.
The files of 556 patients with a history of ischaemic stroke were reviewed. The disability and mortality rates were compared between 277 patients with a steroid treatment in the acute stage and 279 without. Comparison of the whole group showed that the steroid-treated patients had less improvement of their disability and a higher mortality rate than the non-steroid group. However, in the former more patients with a severe stroke were present. Statistical analysis of a subset of 208 patients with completed stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory showed no marked difference in the outcome and the adverse reactions between the steroid- and non-steroid-treated patients.
We have developed a method for measuring true fractional calcium absorption (alpha) in premature infants using two stable isotopes of calcium and tested it in seven studies in seven infants (birth weight 1543 +/- 65 g, gestation 32.8 +/- 7 wk). A total of 7.5 micrograms/kg 46Ca was given as a single intravenous bolus. Immediately thereafter 1.25 mg/kg of 44Ca was given in a single gavage feeding of standard infant formula (Enfamil). A metabolic isolette was used to obtain 4-h collections of urine for 24 h total. 46Ca and 44Ca were measured in urine by thermal ionization mass spectroscopy and expressed as the ratio to naturally occurring 48Ca. The differences in the 46Ca/48Ca and 44Ca/48Ca ratios from natural levels (delta % excess 46Ca and delta % excess 44Ca) were calculated. Percent absorption (alpha) equals a constant times cumulative delta % excess 44Ca/delta % excess 46Ca. The calculation of alpha is independent of urine volume or concentration. The delta % excess 46Ca, showed the expected multiexponential decline as a function of time, and delta % excess 44Ca usually peaked during a 4- to 8-h urine collection. Calculations of alpha using increasingly long sampling times showed that a plateau had been reached by 12 h. alpha values calculated after 16-24 h in the seven infants at 2 wk of age were 41, 48, 45, 46, 25, 55, and 51%. Repeat studies at 3 wk of age were 46, 60, and 54%. These values are somewhat higher than net percent calcium absorption values reported for standard formula and thus appear very appropriate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
In two infants of diabetic mothers, severe respiratory distress developed at birth and the infants died shortly thereafter. Autopsy revealed tracheal stenosis and significant cardiac abnormalities.
Parkinsonism is a well known complication of carbon monoxide poisoning. Pharmacological treatment has been regarded as being not successful, as far as levodopa alone is concerned. Three cases are presented with symptomatic parkinsonism after carbon monoxide exposure, who have been treated with bromocriptine (in one case in combination with levodopa). The results are surprisingly good. A possible explanation is discussed.
The clinico-pathological findings in a 38-year-old man with a progressive cauda equina syndrome and with a dorsal dermal fistula in the lower back are presented. The X-rays of the spine revealed fusion of the vertebrae L4-L5 and L5-S1, and the myelogram showed an intradural tumour, extending upto the level of L2. An enterogenous cyst, adherent to the right third lumbar radix was completely removed. The clinical and pathological data are compared to previous published cases and discussed in relation to the origin of the tumour.
A 64-year-old bilingual lawyer complained of an abrupt loss of comprehension of spoken words and much less severe loss of recognition of various sounds. An isolated partial auditory agnosia, due to a left-sided, temporal dysfunction was confirmed by the clinical neuropsychological and logopedic examination. Only a minimal left cortical, peri-insular hypodensity was suspected on CT-scan of the brain, while the NMR-scan was inconclusive. Arteriography showed a large coiling internal carotid artery on the left side, as a possible source of thrombo-embolism.