Local field potential oscillations in primate cerebellar cortex during voluntary movement.

Sustained oscillations of 13-18 Hz were observed in local field potentials (LFPs) in the cerebellar cortex of a behaving monkey. These oscillations, which appeared to be generated in the granular cell layer, were particularly prominent in the paramedian lobule. The oscillatory activity decreased during drowsiness or extreme arousal and occurred most often when the animal was immobile but alert. In a task requiring the animal to move the arm approximately 1 s after an auditory cue, the oscillations stopped some 150-200 ms after the cue, resumed 200-300 ms later, and stopped again 50-100 ms before movement onset. This modulation pattern was observed with consistency only when the animal responded reliably to the auditory cue. The results suggest that the cerebellum could be involved in some higher level of integration particularly during complex sensorimotor behavior.

Initial human clinical experience with diode laser interstitial treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: To report the initial results of treatment of outlet obstruction induced by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using interstitial laser coagulation performed with the Indigo 830 nm diode laser system. METHODS: A group of 112 men with lower urinary tract symptoms caused by BPH underwent treatment with the Indigo 830 nm laser system between October 1994 and November 1995. Patients were assessed prior to treatment and at specified post-treatment intervals for symptom score, uroflow, postvoid residual, and prostate volume. Adverse events and changes in laboratory parameters were monitored at each post-treatment visit to investigate safety of the procedure. RESULTS: Symptom score decreased from 20.9 at initial measurement to 9.6 at 3 months after procedure and 7.9 at 6 months. Uroflow rate increased from 8.0 mL/s initially to 15.2 and 14.2 mL/s at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Residual bladder volumes decreased from 105 mL initially to 59 and 38 mL at 3 and 6 months, respectively. There were no major complications (impotence, sustained incontinence, significant blood loss). Minor complications occurred in a small number of patients but were generally associated with urinary tract infection in patients with catheters. Three patients (2.7%) required retreatment and underwent transurethral resection of the prostate. CONCLUSIONS: Interstitial laser coagulation using an 830-nm diode laser system appears to be a promising new treatment, with substantial improvements in objective and subjective parameters of obstruction and a favorable side-effect profile.

[Transurethral resection of the prostate. Our experience in a series of 244 cases. Mid-term results]. / La résection trans-urétrale de la prostate. Notre expérience sur une série de deux cent quarante-quatre cas. Résultats à moyen terme.

Two hundred and forty four patients were treated by transurethral resection of the prostate (68% for adenomas and 32% for epitheliomas) between June 1980 and August 1982. The indications for surgery are based on obstruction of the urinary outflow tract, and the weight of prostatic tissue, which can best be assessed by ultrasound. TURP is the technique of choice for small and medium-size prostates. Hemorrhage is the most frequent complication at operation. Resorption TURP syndrome is extremely rare if an isotonic liquid is used. Urinary tract infections are best treated preoperatively. 2.6% of the patients suffered from urethral stricture despite the use of a 24 French resectoscope and early removal of the catheter. The greater the surgeon's experience, the lower the incidence of definitive urinary incontinence.

[Our experience with the treatment of urethral stenosis in a series of 90 cases at the Strasbourg Hospital Center]. / Notre expérience du traitement de la sténose de l'urètre sur une série de quatre-vingt-dix cas au Centre Hospitalier de Strasbourg.

Ninety patients presenting with urethral stenosis were treated surgically at the Strasbourg Hospital, involving 100 internal urethrotomies and sixteen urethroplasties. The authors consider that short bulbous stenosis, with no previous treatment, should be treated endoscopically; that, if the stenosis recurs after two internal urethrotomies, or if the stenosis is infected or located in the pendulous or membranous urethra, a urethroplasty is indicated, as in cases of long bulbous stenosis; and that, even though the rate of complications is high following Johansson's urethroplasty, this procedure is indicated in cases of infection. The use of free full-thickness grafts led to a 100% success rate.

[Late urological complications of abdominopelvic radiotherapy. A personal series of 39 cases (author's transl)]. / Les complications urologiques tardives de l'irradiation abdomino-pelvienne. A propos d'une série personnelle de 39 cas.

The authors study 39 cases of late genitourinary sequelae following abdominopelvic radiotherapy. Several points appear to be of interest: - the mean latent period was 3.5 years for bladder sequelae and 4 years for ureteric complications. Fistulae could develop on average 14 years after radiotherapy; - the possibility of ureteric complications in the form of stenosis after radiotherapy, exclusive of associated surgery; - all lesions were purely due to radiation, excluding recurrences of neoplasm; - bladder complications had striking symptoms with dysuria and haematuria. Ureteric stenosis was sometimes found by chance, being latent; - associated digestive tract radiation lesions were seen in 1 case in 4; - the frequent need for surgery, since this was required in 30 patients out of 39. The operations performed were often extensive; - the grave nature of surgical operations including a digestive phase in these patients who had received large doses of radiation. Peritonitis due to the breakdown of sutures was a notable source of mortality; - one of the great difficulties in investigating such patients is to be able to confirm the purely radiation aetiology of these complications, bearing in mind that amongst urological complications following the treatment of pelvic carcinomas, the majority are related not only to radiation but also to recurrence of neoplasm.