Five organically impaired and depressed head and neck cancer patients had a marked therapeutic response to methylphenidate (MPD). There was a rapid remission of depressive and cognitive dysfunctions without adverse side effects. The relationship of cognitive, behavioral, and affective symptoms to brain function is discussed. To rule out treatable cognitive and affective disorders, neurobehavioral assessment of the depressed head and neck cancer patient is stressed, and diagnostic and treatment guidelines are given. The results suggest that further evaluation is warranted of the use of MPD in treating seriously ill cancer patients who have either compromised brain function or depression.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A study of spirometry in children from Mexico City.

A study was conducted in two elementary schools in Mexico City to determine values for pulmonary function tests in school-aged residents of Mexico City. The schools were located in Xalostoc, a highly industrialized area of Mexico City, and San Lorenzo, a suburban area of the city. Although data regarding atmospheric pollution were not available, there is an acknowledged higher level of macroenvironmental air pollution in Xalostoc. Pulmonary function tests were performed on 468 children in San Lorenzo and 405 children in Xalostoc. No differences between residents of the two communities for acute or chronic respiratory conditions were detected by questionnaire. The pulmonary function data demonstrate that boys have larger forced vital capacities (FVC) and forced expiratory flows over the middle half of the FVC (FEF25-75) than girls. Slopes of regression lines for FVC but not for FEF25-75 are greater in boys and girls from Xalostoc than in boys and girls from San Lorenzo. This suggests that young children from Xalostoc may experience ill effects of air pollution but develop catch-up growth later. There were no important community or gender effects on slopes of regression lines for height and weight on age. In general, the regression lines for FVC and FEF25-75 were below regression lines reported for children of Mexican ancestry living at sea level.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pseudomonas vesicularis bacteraemia.

A case of repeated episodes of Pseudomonas vesicularis bacteraemia, in a 54-year-old woman with a past history including systemic lupus erythematosus and chronic active autoimmune hepatitis is reported. She was treated with tobramycin and ceftazidime but bacteraemia persisted until surgical resection of the infected tissue was performed.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels in term infants with perinatal hypoxia.

The prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate concentration after an hypoxic-ischemic brain insult was evaluated. Three groups of neonates were studied and followed. Group 1A included 19 asphyxiated neonates who subsequently developed normally, Group 1B included 6 asphyxiated neonates who died or developed neurologic sequelae, and Group 2 consisted of 20 control (comparison) infants. A CSF sample was obtained within the first day of life for cytochemical analysis, culture, and lactate determination with simultaneous determination of serum lactate. The mean CSF lactate level in Group 1B (4.5 mmol/L) was significantly higher than in Group 1A (2.5 mmol/L) (p less than .001). In comparison to the highest CSF lactate concentrations in the normal range in Group 2 (2.7 mmol/L), all Group 1B neonates had elevated CSF lactate levels, and eight neonates (34%) of Group 1A had increased levels. A correlation was found between blood and CSF lactate levels in asphyxiated infants (r = .42, p less than .05), but its meaning is uncertain. We conclude that CSF lactate determinations may be helpful in the evaluation of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

PubMedDate not supplied