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M L Bleecker

Publications and source records attributed to M L Bleecker.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Validation of self-administered questionnaire for study of peripheral neuropathy.

An eight-item, self-administered questionnaire for the ascertainment of peripheral neuropathies was validated with 19 persons who had neuropathy confirmed by neurologists' examinations and electrodiagnostic studies, and with 37 persons without known neuropathy. The results from cases and neurology clinic controls suggested a two-stage screening definition for cases of peripheral neuropathy: the classification as cases of all persons who required help getting out of a chair one or more days/week and, among those not requiring help, who had a symptom score of zero or more based on the formula Si = -2.6 + 0.8 (frequency of cramps in arms or legs) + 0.5 (frequency of paresthesias in arms, hands, legs, or feet). This case definition resulted in a sensitivity of 76.5% and a specificity of 93.3% when applied to the original data from which it was developed. The statistical technique of cross-validation suggested an upward bias in these estimates of sensitivity and specificity of 12% and 20%, respectively. The model had a specificity of 100% when tested independently with medical office controls. The authors discuss the use of the questionnaire in cross-sectional epidemiologic studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Carpal tunnel syndrome: role of carpal canal size.

Carpal canal size was examined as a risk factor associated with carpal tunnel syndrome in the workplace. Seven of 14 electricians had symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome. On measuring cross-sectional areas by CT, affected workers had a cross-sectional area of 1.75 +/- 0.21 cm2; control values were 2.53 +/- 0.15 cm2 (p less than 0.05). Individuals with a subclinical syndrome had an area of 1.83 +/- 0.22 cm2, similar to the symptomatic group. Wrist circumference was not a predictor of smallest carpal canal area. Unusual bony and soft tissue structures within the carpal canal were easily identified with CT.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Parkinsonism: a clinical marker of exposure to neurotoxins.

Parkinson must be viewed as a final common pathway resulting from a variety of neuropathological lesions which interfere with the integrity of the nigrostriatal system or its output. Exposure to a wide variety of neurotoxic compounds, namely, carbon monoxide, carbon disulfide, manganese and MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine), are associated with parkinsonism that has a varying neuropathology, which will be discussed.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Current perception threshold screening for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Screening for the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which is associated with excess ergonomic stresses of the wrist and hand, is a major concern in occupational medicine. CTS questionnaires, physical examinations, and quantitative sensory function determination through neuroselective current perception threshold (CPT) measurements were obtained from the median digital nerves of 16 assembly line workers who were symptomatic with hand pain. Median nerve evaluations by CPT detected sensory abnormalities in 75% of the workers, and abnormalities in 50% of the workers were detected by clinical evaluations (p less than .05, df = 22). CPT abnormalities were characterized as "hypoesthetic" in 25% and hyperesthesic in 42% of the workers. The noninvasive, nonaversive CPT technique provided sensitive and easily obtained quantitative measures. Regular use of this procedure in the occupational setting may assist in preventing the development of advanced CTS for it provides early detection of median nerve abnormalities.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quantifying sensory loss in peripheral neuropathies.

Alterations in cutaneous sensation is the most common presentation of toxic neuropathies. The clinical assessment of cutaneous sensation can be graded only very roughly, and frequently there are wide fluctuations in findings from one examiner to another and from one examination to another in the same patients. Screening populations for sensory impairment has relied mainly upon nerve conduction studies. Limitations in this technique resulted in the development of portable instruments which can quantitate sensory thresholds. Instruments for measuring vibration, thermal and current perception thresholds will be described. These tools are able to quantitate nerve impairment at its most distal extension and also examine axon populations not reflected in nerve conduction studies.

Electric Stimulation↗