Three-dimensional kinematic analysis of upper and lower limb motion during gait of post-stroke patients

The aim of this study was to analyze the alterations of arm and leg movements of patients during stroke gait. Joint angles of upper and lower limbs and spatiotemporal variables were evaluated in two groups: hemiparetic group (HG, 14 hemiparetic men, 53 ± 10 years) and control group (CG, 7 able-bodied men, 50 ± 4 years). The statistical analysis was based on the following comparisons (P ≤ 0.05): 1) right versus left sides of CG; 2) affected (AF) versus unaffected (UF) sides of HG; 3) CG versus both the affected and unaffected sides of HG, and 4) an intracycle comparison of the kinematic continuous angular variables between HG and CG. This study showed that the affected upper limb motion in stroke gait was characterized by a decreased range of motion of the glenohumeral (HG: 6.3 ± 4.5, CG: 20.1 ± 8.2) and elbow joints (AF: 8.4 ± 4.4, UF: 15.6 ± 7.6) on the sagittal plane and elbow joint flexion throughout the cycle (AF: 68.2 ± 0.4, CG: 46.8 ± 2.7). The glenohumeral joint presented a higher abduction angle (AF: 14.2 ± 1.6, CG: 11.5 ± 4.0) and a lower external rotation throughout the cycle (AF: 4.6 ± 1.2, CG: 22.0 ± 3.0). The lower limbs showed typical alterations of the stroke gait patterns. Thus, the changes in upper and lower limb motion of stroke gait were identified. The description of upper limb motion in stroke gait is new and complements gait analysis.

Metabolic risk factors and skin cancer in the Metabolic Syndrome and Cancer Project (Me-Can).

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the associations of metabolic aberrations with malignant melanoma (MM) and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). OBJECTIVES: To assess the associations between metabolic factors (both individually and combined) and the risk of skin cancer in the large prospective Metabolic Syndrome and Cancer Project (Me-Can). METHODS: During a mean follow-up of 12 years of the Me-Can cohort, 1728 (41% women) incident MM, 230 (23% women) fatal MM and 1145 (33% women) NMSC were identified. Most NMSC cases (76%) were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (873, 33% women). Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression for quintiles and standardized z-scores (with a mean of 0 and SD of 1) of body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and for a combined metabolic syndrome score. Risk estimates were corrected for random error in the measurements. RESULTS: Blood pressure per unit increase of z-score was associated with an increased risk of incident MM cases in men and women [HR 1·17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·04-1·31 and HR 1·18, 95% CI 1·03-1·36, respectively] and fatal MM cases among women (HR 2·39, 95% CI 1·58-3·64). In men, all quintiles for BMI above the reference were associated with a higher risk of incident MM. In women, SCC NMSC risk increased across quintiles for glucose levels (P-trend 0·02) and there was a trend with triglyceride concentration (P-trend 0·09). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that mechanisms linked to blood pressure may be involved in the pathogenesis of MM. SCC NMSC in women could be related to glucose and lipid metabolism.

[Aicardi syndrome and acquired retinal detachment]. / Aicardi-Syndrom und erworbene Ablatio retinae.

BACKGROUND: The Aicardi syndrome is a complex of congenital anomalies consisting of agenesis of the corpus callosum, infantile spasms and pathognomonic chorioretinal lacunar lesions. An acquired detachment of the retina was reported only in one patient. HISTORY AND SIGNS: We report about a nine-month-old girl with Aicardi syndrome. She presented the typical signs of this syndrome and an acquired detachment in both eyes. THERAPY AND OUTCOME: We performed a translimbal vitrectomy with silicon-oil instillation on the right eye. CONCLUSION: On the basis of histological findings reported in the literature we suggest a combined pathogenesis of the ablatio retinae in our patient with Aicardi syndrome: traction and foramina.

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare cause of focal neurological damage in patients with SLE. We describe a patient with SLE who presented with a focal neurological deficit and subsequently developed increased intracranial pressure. A superior sagittal sinus thrombosis was diagnosed by MRI. The association between SLE and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis is discussed. Early diagnosis is essential because treatment leads to a positive clinical outcome.

[A long-term prospective observation of the course of dust-induced bronchitis in mechanical engineering workers]. / Dlitel'noe prospektivnoe nabliudenie za techeniem pylevogo bronkhita u rabochikh mashinostroeniia.

A study of 206 machine builders in dynamics (up to 15 years) with dust-induced bronchitis showed that the disease has a tendency to advancing within the first three years, especially in those with a combination of noxious professional factors (dust, heat, hard physical work). Negative risk factors: working conditions, preceding unspecific respiratory infections, smoking.

Isolamento de mutantes auxotróficos de Candida tsukubaensis / Isolation of auxotrophic mutants of candida tsukubaensis

Mutantes auxotróficos de Candida tsukubaensis foram obtidos após tratamento com luz ultravioleta. Dois métodos foram utilizados para a seleçäo destes mutantes: o de enriquecimento com nistatin e o de isolamento total. O primeiro método mostrou rendimento quatro vezes maior em relaçäo ao de isolamento total. Os dois métodos seletivos deram uma frequência de mutantes para adenina, bastantesuperior aquela obtida para outras marcas, os resul;tados sugeriram que a linhagem estudada é um heterozigoto ade+/ade- que, sob a açäo de luz ultravioleta, segrega após permuta mitótica, dando origem a colônias auxotróficas e prototróficas.

[The prevalence of chronic bronchitis among workers in the dust-exposed occupations of machinery building]. / Rasprostranennost' khronicheskogo bronkhita sredi rabochikh pylevykh professii mashinostroeniia.

Mass screenings (2455 persons) evidence high incidence of chronic bronchitis among workers of dust-related professions in the machine-building industry (foundry workers, electric welders, etc.) as compared with workers not subjected to effects of the dust factor. The frequency of chronic bronchitis was effected by length of work, character of dust profession, age, smoking.

Observaçöes citológicas em conídios e células miceliais de humicola sp / Cytological observations in conidial and mycelial cells of humicola sp

Resumo: O objetivo desse estudo foi descrever aspectos do comportamento nuclear durante a divisäo miótica em conídios e células miceliais do fungo celulolítico Humicola so. A sequência dos eventos mitóticos foi similar aquela observada em outros fungos filamentosos. O número de cromossomos observados no final da metáfase näo pode ser determinado com segurança, mas pareceu estar entre 6 e 8. As culturas de Humicola sp frequentemente mostraram anastomose de hifas e a presença de núcleos na ponte hifal, o que permitiria a ocorrência de heterocariose,e indica que o ciclo parasexual pode ocorrer nessa espécie (au)

[Laser therapy in dust bronchitis]. / Lazeroterapiia pri pylevom bronkhite.

Laser therapies of 43 dust bronchitis patients (4 cases in 1st stage and 39 cases in 2nd stage) were performed in comparison with routine therapeutic procedures of 28 patients (6 cases in 1st stage and 22 cases in 2nd stage). 14 acupuncture points were selected. A good therapeutic effect was attained in 16.3% sample group and 7.1% control group patients, satisfactory results--in respectively 58% and 42.9% cases, insignificant results--in 25.6% and 50% cases. Along with the favourable therapeutic effect, a positive influence of laser therapy on the immune system was established, particularly on the immunity T-system, in dust bronchitis cases. Laser therapy was recommended as part of complex treatment procedures for dust bronchitis patients.

[Distribution of the tempo-dichlorotriazine spin label in the immunoglobulin molecule]. / Raspredelenie spinovoi metki tempo-dikhlorotriazina po molekule immunoglobulina.

Spin-label 14C-TEMPO-dichlorotriazine distribution in Fab- and Fc-fragments of monoclonal myeloma immunoglobulin IgG (lambda) 1 Bel, in their heavy and light chains, and tryptic fragments of chains was investigated. Radio-active spin label in proteolytic Fab- and Fc-fragments, in heavy and light chains, and in separate peptides was detected. 3 cm and 2 mm band ESR spectra of spin-labeled IgG in water solutions was studied. It was shown that the models of highly anisotropic motion, isotropic motion and slow isotropic motion of spin label around globule or the description of experimental ESR spectra of TEMPO-dichlorotriazine spin-labeled immunoglobulins do not work.

A description of the Kurzweil reading machine and a status report on its testing and dissemination.

This paper presents a technical overview of the different subsystems of the Kurzweil Reading Machine--the nature of the information processed by each subsystem and the type of transformations performed. A description of how the user directs the machine is provided. The Veterans Administration's testing program, as well as those of the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the National Federation of the Blind, are outlined. Preliminary tests of the machine with blind secondary school students have focused on the intelligibility of the synthetic speech output, and the results of these tests are presented.