Comparison of optokinetic scene effects on the somatogyral illusion.

The objective of this study was to determine during rotation the relative importance of a scene in achieving "visual dominance" over non-visual vestibular orientation inputs, e.g., otolith and semicircular canals. Five visual scenes were presented, while rotating the subject (at three angular acceleration rates), to obtain the vestibular and optokinetic nystagmus and perception of rotation. The onset time and direction of rotation, as well as EOG and chair velocity were recorded. Adaptation times during rotation at constant angular velocity and during post-rotation were also recorded. Analysis of perceived times (onset, adaptation, and post-rotatory adaptation) with the EOG slow-phase velocity at respectively perceived times were analyzed using the SAS procedures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and General Linear Models (GLM). Basic hypotheses for the study were: "There are no differences in latencies for either onset time (L1), adaptation to rotation (L2), or adaptation to post rotatory motion (L4), between treatment conditions, or between Groups of subjects, or between acceleration rates, between constant rotation velocities, or between direction of rotation." From the results, it was concluded that pilots are highly visually dependent; additionally, if there is a sensory conflict, a larger percentage of individuals (pilots) will follow visual perceptions even if the demands of the aerial environment and our perception is incorrect. However, in sensory conflict conditions, with degraded visual scene individuals including pilots will revert to vestibular perception rather than visual perception (less visually coupled), approaching percentages as noted with a dark environment.

Cytological diagnosis of bronchopneumonia at post mortem.

We assessed the value of cytology in the rapid diagnosis of bronchopneumonia at post mortem. Cytology scrapes were taken from 249 lung lobes during 50 autopsies. Slides were stained with a modified Giemsa technique and a neutrophil polymorph score recorded on a scale of 0-3. Histology blocks from the same area were then scored for the degree of bronchopneumonia present. Bronchopneumonia was found histologically in 22 patients, but macroscopic examination had identified only eight of these. A cytological neutrophil polymorph score of 2 or more to indicate bronchopneumonia yielded a sensitivity of 52% and a specificity of 98% in terms of lobes. This gave a positive predictive value of 92% and a negative predictive value of 86% for the presence of bronchopneumonia. All eight patients with a cytology score of 3 had histological evidence of bronchopneumonia. Conversely, all patients with a definitive diagnosis of bronchopneumonia exhibited cytology scores of at least 1. Post mortem cytology scrapes reliably predict bronchopneumonia and are superior to gross examination. This is a rapid, reliable and cheap method that can be readily performed in all necropsy practices.

Captopril for refractory hypertension in patients with chronic renal failure and renal transplantation.

The converting-enzyme inhibitor, captopril, was given to ten patients with refractory severe hypertension of renal origin: 6 patients had chronic renal failure, 3 patients had hypertension following renal transplantation, and one patient had hypertension and congestive cardiac failure. Control of blood pressure was achieved with doses from 78 to 400 mg/day. Severe hyperkalaemia occurred in one patients, ageusia (dose dependent) in another, and one patients withdrew from treatment because of nausea.