摘要:

ABSTRACTThe prevalence of ALS and its distribution in Finland was investigated on the basis of prevalence numbers by counties. On the prevalence day, 1 January 1973, 168 ALS patients were found alive. They were collected from hospital records and the registers of the National Pension Institute. The prevalence was 3.56 cases per 100,000 population, 4.25/100,000 for men and 1.92/100,000 for women, which gave a male to female prevalence ratio 1.5 to 1. The distribution of the disease was uneven in the country being more frequent in the southeastern counties. The disease was contracted earlier (at 51.9 years of age) and its course was slower (3.7 years up to the prevalence day) in the prevalence material than in cases derived from the mortality statistics (58.0 years at the onset and duration of 2.6 years, respectively). This is explained by the dropping out of some of the younger and/or more benign cases from the mortality statistics. This seems to be true also in other countries.

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01424.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThe clinical characteristics of ALS in Finland were investigated. The study was based on the hospital records of 255 patients. No correlation was found between the disease and other previous illnesses. Muscular weakness was the most frequent complaint of the patients as their first symptom (149/255, i.e. 58 per cent). The duration of the disease was shortest (1.9 years) in male cases with the first symptoms in the bulbar area, and it was longest (3.4 years) in females with a spinal onset of the symptoms. The duration of the disease was in inverse relation to the age when it was contracted. Progressive muscular atrophy with fasciculations was considered the most important clinical sign of ALS. It was most frequently observed in the upper extremities including shoulders. Sensory disturbances were absent, sphincter abnormalities were reported in only three cases, bed sores did not exist, and there were no reports of impotence in the male patients. Two families with two familial cases in each were found, altogether two men and two women. Their disease did not differ from that of the rest of the series. The ALS patients soon became too disabled to work; 56 per cent became permanently disabled in less than 1 year's time, and only 9 per cent retained their working capacity for more than 2 years. The average length of stay at hospital was 32 days for ALS and 37 days for MS patients, but the later group was hospitalized 2–3 times more frequently than the former. Gastrostomy or tracheostomy and artificial respiration did not lengthen the lives of the patient

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01425.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThyroid deficiency at birth caused a temporal decrease of the DNA content in rat cerebellum during the periods from 7 to 21 days of life as compared with the normal. At 2 h following the subcutaneous injection of [3H]‐thymidine, the specific radioactivity of cellular dTTP in thyroid deficient rats was apparently increased on the 14th and 21st days, although the endogenous pool sizes of dTTP did not significantly differ between the normal and thyroidectomized rats throughout the entire ages studied. The ratio of incorporation of thymidine into cerebellar DNA was initially determined by the specific radioactivity and then expressed as the ratio of [3H]‐DNA to [3H]‐dTTP, the relative specific radioactivity of DNA. The age peak of incorporation occurred at 7 days in the normal; on the other hand, the specific activity of DNA in thyroid deficiency attained a maximum at 14 days and the relative specific activity appeared to be prolonged up to 14 days. The corresponding changes were observed in the formation of dTTP, suggesting that a transient retardation of cerebellar DNA synthesis taking place by neonatal thyroidectomy may be in part attributable to the variance of phosphorylation of thymidine. Indeed, thymidine kinase activity that regulated salvage pathway for DNA synthesis displayed a parallel variation in thyroid deficiency to characteristic age dependence of DNA synt

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01426.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThe clinical findings in four cases of radiation injury to the lumbosacral spinal cord and cauda equina, occurring after radiotherapy of malignant testicular tumours with radiation doses of 1597–1670 ret, are reported. The main feature in each case was a flaccid paraparesis, without sensory loss in three cases, while one patient presented a doubtful sensory deficit. Symptoms of sphincter dysfunction were absent. In all cases the symptoms caused a marked and persistent incapacity. It is suggested that the principal site of radiation injury is the proximal parts of the lower motor neuro

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01427.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTHerpes simplex virus (HSV) has been associated with a variety of inflammatory neurologic disorders. Recently we studied a patient with Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) following acute herpes vaginalis infection. Since IgM virus‐specific antibody is thought to be a reliable indicator of acute viral infection, we employed a 2‐h serologic assay for serum IgM antibodies to HSV using an indirect immunofluorescent technique. This patient demonstrated high serum IgM titers to HSV type 2 during the acute phase of her neurologic syndrome. The titer dropped substantially as convalescence progressed. A search for similar elevations in HSV‐IgM specific antibody was made on sera from more than 70 other GBS patients. No other significant IgM antibody titers to either HSV type 1 or type 2 were found in this GBS series and a large number of neurologic controls. However, sera from two patients with a presumptive diagnosis of acute herpes encephalitis based on clinical and cerebrospinal fluid findings were positive, showing high titers in our test. The results of this study suggest that associated acute HSV infection is uncommon in GBS and an immunofluorescent seroassay of the type reported here may be a valuable noninvasive technique enabling the clinical laboratory to rapid confirm a diagnosis of herpes ence

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01428.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThe present study, based on a neurological and electroencephalographic examination, provides information on frequency of encephalopathy at the age of 30 years. Presence of encephalopathy is viewed in relation to school background at the age of 14 years, and intellectual ability at the age of 30 years. The study is based on a cohort of 1570 persons consisting of all live births in 1940 of mothers then residing in Bergen. A sample was taken of the cohort and consisted of 262 persons of whom 179 (68.3 per cent) were examined. Criteria for the diagnosis of encephalopathy include signs of organic cerebral lesion by neurological status, pathological electroencephalogram and presence of epilepsy. According to these criteria, frequency of definite encephalopathy in the cohort could be estimated to be 3.3 per cent. Encephalopathy with specific neurological functional limitations contributes to this estimate with 1.9 per cent, mental retardation alone with 0.2 per cent and encephalopathy without symptoms and demonstrable functional limitations with 1.2 per cent. The frequency of encephalopathy was found to increase with lower educational level and with decreasing IQ points. It was especially high among former pupils of special schools for the educable mentally retarded and for members of services for the mentally retarded, namely 28.1 per cent and 37.9 per cent respectively. The figures refer to definite encephalopathy. If cases of definite and possible encephalopathy in the cohort are combined, the frequency of encephalopathy could be estimated to be 7.9 per cent ± 5.0 per cent. However, nearly 2/3 of those with definite and possible encephalopathy, according to the criteria mentioned above, are found to have no functional limitations and no demonstrable symptoms at all. Viewed in the light of this relatively high proportion, it is evident that it may be difficult or impossible to decide if neuro‐psychiatric conditions with vague and indistinct symptoms have their origin in diagnosed encephalopat

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01429.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTThirty‐eight patients with vitamin B12deficiency after gastric surgery for a benign peptic ulcer were examined electrophysiologically. Thirteen (34 per cent) had electromyographical signs of peripheral nerve involvement and the amplitude of the sensory potentials of the median nerve at wrist (16 patients) was diminished, whereas sensory and motor conduction velocities were normal. Six patients had clinical signs of polyneuropathy. The electrophysiological findings are compatible with slight loss of myelinated nerve fibres. None of the patients had clinical or electromyographical signs of myopath

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01430.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTBuccolinguofacial dyskinesia consists of repetitive, non‐rhythmic abnormal movements which occur at the speed of normal voluntary movement. To the observer they do not suggests a normal activity of mastication or phonation. This type of dyskinesia was evidenced in 88 patients out of a total of 240 elderly examined. It is more frequent in females than in males. Incidence does not increase with age. Frequency is highly variable individually. Every subject seems to have a comparatively stable frequency of his own. Dyskinesia is reduced or suppressed by neuroleptics, whereas stereotyped movements of the limbs are not affected. Individualization of buccolinguofacial dyskinesia from other abnormal movements should consequently rest on both its clinical features and its pharmacological sensitivit

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01431.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTTwo cases of increased intracranial pressure associated with lumbar intraspinal tumours are reported. On the basis of protein investigations and constant flow infusion manometric tests, the pathophysiology of the increased intracranial pressure is discussed. It is demonstrated that protein macromolecules leak from the tumour into the cerebrospinal fluid and suggested that these are responsible for mechanical obstruction of the outflow channels for the cerebrospinal fluid.

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01432.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

ABSTRACTTwenty patients with idiopathic parkinsonism who had been on optimal levodopa therapy for at least 3 months prior to the investigation and where effect of the treatment was decreasing or side effects were increasing, were treated with bromocriptine in a double‐blind cross‐over trial during a 12 + 12 weeks period. Reduction in disability scores was found significant. Hyperkinesia was more frequent in the bromocriptine period than in the placebo period, but reduction of dose in six patients for this reason was not followed by deterioration. Both hyperkinesia and other side effects disappeared after dose reduction. Doses were 2.5 mg‐40 mg. Bromocriptine seems a valuable supplement to previous therapy in these pat

ISSN:0001-6314    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01433.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1977

数据来源: WILEY