BACKGROUND: Morphologic characteristics such as height and body weight determine body inertia, an important factor related to postural stability. However, whilst investigations have classically analysed these parameters separately, global morphology has been poorly researched. Secondly, the influence of gender on postural stability demonstrates opposing trends, some authors observing that men sway less than women, and others noting the contrary. AIM: The aims of this study are to evaluate morphology and gender effects on healthy subjects during postural maintenance. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The studied subjects were categorized through the Livi index. A method associating frequential and Brownian parameters characterized the horizontal displacements of the centre of gravity (CG(h)) and those of the difference between the centre of pressure (CP) and the vertical projection of the centre of gravity (CP-CG(v)) separately. Moreover, the moments of body inertia (MI) and natural body frequency (NBF) were also used to determine the influence of morphology. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results reveal that thinner subjects have larger CG(h) displacements than normal or corpulent subjects. Morphologic characteristics (NBF) can explain these behavioural differences. On the other hand, men have a larger sway amplitude for CG(h) motions than women. This can be explained by both morphologic (MI, NBF) and physiological (architectural properties of the soleus muscle) characteristics.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Double-blind evaluation of collagenase injections for herniated lumbar discs.

A randomized clinical trial of 30 patients with refractory lumbar disc disease with evidence of a herniation at a single intervertebral space on the myelogram is presented. Collagenase or a saline placebo was injected into the affected disc. Lack of pain reduction or lack of functional improvement was considered a therapeutic failure. Patients who failed to respond to the placebo could subsequently receive a collagenase injection. Thirty-three percent (33%) of the 15 patients who received a placebo and 80% of the 15 patients who received collagenase were rated successful 8 weeks after injection. The study demonstrates a statistically significant effectiveness of collagenase in the treatment of herniated lumbar disc disease.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A squamous cell carcinoma and an adenocarcinoma in Australian treefrogs.

We describe the pathology in a captive adult White lipped treefrog (Litoria infrafrenata) with a squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and a free-living adult Common green treefrog (L. caerulea) with an adenocarcinoma of the skin. Although many amphibian neoplasms have been reported world wide, none had been described in Australian species.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The association of hyperglycemia with cerebral edema in stroke.

A retrospective review of stroke patients admitted to our hospital revealed 39 patients diagnosed as suffering an acute completed ischemic stroke who also had had fasting (AC) serum glucose determinations and sequential computer tomography (CT) studies. The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of mean AC serum glucose: Group 1 (n = 12) mean serum AC glucose greater than 150 mg/dl; Group 2 (n = 13) mean serum AC glucose 100-150 mg/dl; and Group 3 (n = 14) mean serum AC glucose less than 100 mg/dl. CT scans performed on each patient were studied for the presence of midline shift and/or ventricular compression, which were interpreted as evidence of cerebral edema. The three groups were comparable with respect to mean age, average mean arterial blood pressure and initial infarct size. Our results show that in Group 1, 42% of the patients died within the first week following their CVA with clinical evidence of transtentorial herniation confirmed by CT or autopsy. In contrast, none of the Group 3 patients died and only one showed radiological evidence for cerebral edema. Group 2 patients showed intermediate mortality and evidence of cerebral edema. These trends were statistically significant at p less than 0.005. In addition, the combined hyperglycemic group (1 and 2) had a significantly higher rate of development of hypodensity on CT (p less than 0.05) than the normoglycemic group. Our findings suggest that patients with hyperglycemia in association with their CVA develop more pronounced cerebral edema and have a worse clinical outcome. Possible pathophysiological mechanisms that may underlie this observation are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical features and serum beta 2-microglobulin levels in HIV-1 positive and negative Tanzanian patients with tuberculosis.

Serum beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) rises in the later stages of HIV disease and has therefore been used to monitor progression to AIDS. However, little work has been done on patients co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis. We studied clinical features and serum beta 2-M in 35 Tanzanian patients treated for pulmonary tuberculosis (9 HIV-positive, 26 HIV-negative). The provisional WHO clinical definition of AIDS for use in Africa was fulfilled by 89% of the HIV-positive and 65% of the HIV-negative patients. Median serum beta 2-M on admission was slightly higher in HIV-positive (3.17 mg/l) than in HIV-negative (2.85 mg/l) patients. Serum beta 2-M fell during treatment in 17/24 (71%) of HIV-negative and 3/7 (43%) HIV-positive patients followed up for 6 months. We conclude that serum beta 2-M is frequently raised in active tuberculosis, and is therefore an unreliable indicator of the stage of HIV disease in co-infected patients. The WHO clinical definition of AIDS also proved unreliable in patients with tuberculosis.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Emerging infectious diseases and amphibian population declines.

We review recent research on the pathology, ecology, and biogeography of two emerging infectious wildlife diseases, chytridiomycosis and ranaviral disease, in the context of host-parasite population biology. We examine the role of these diseases in the global decline of amphibian populations and propose hypotheses for the origins and impact of these panzootics. Finally, we discuss emerging infectious diseases as a global threat to wildlife populations.

Amphibians↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The Criterion Referenced Performance Appraisal System can add to the effectiveness of the hospital and...improve quality of care.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Employee Performance Appraisal↗