Tremor in neurodegenerative ataxias, Huntington disease and tic disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Tremor is the most prevalent movement disorder, defined as rhythmic oscillations of a body part, caused by alternating or synchronic contractions of agonistic or antagonistic muscles. The aim of the study was to assess prevalence and to characterize parameters of tremor accompanying de-generative ataxias, Huntington disease (HD) and tic disorders in comparison with a control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with degenerative ataxias, 28 with HD and 26 with tic disorders together with 51 healthy controls were included in the study. For each participant, clinical and instrumental assessment (accelerometer, electromyography [EMG], graphic tablet) of hand tremor was performed. Frequency and severity of tremor were assessed in three positions: at rest (rest tremor), with hands extended (postural tremor), during the 'finger-to-nose' test and during Archimedes spiral drawing (kinetic tremor). Based on the mass load test, the type of tremor was determined as essential tremor type or enhanced physiological tremor type. RESULTS: The incidence of tremor in the accelerometry in patients with degenerative ataxia (50%) significantly differs from controls (10%) (p = 0.001). The dominant tremor was postural, low-intense, with 7-Hz frequency, essential tremor (23%) or other tremor type (23%), while enhanced physiological tremor was the least frequent (2%). Tremor in patients with HD and tic disorders was found in 10% and 20% of patients, respectively, similarly to the control group. Tremor was mild, postural and of essential tremor type, less frequently of enhanced physiological tremor type. No correlation between severity of tremor and severity of disease was found. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tremor is considerably higher among patients with degenerative ataxias compared with HD, tic disorder and the control group. The most common type of tremor accompanying ataxias, HD and tic disorders is essential tremor type.

Evaluation of mandibular bone structure with radio-visiographic method--its usefulness for diagnostic purposes.

The noninvasive assessment of the mandible bone structure can be, beside the indices of mineral density and content of mineral elements, the source of valuable information of diagnostic and prognostic importance. The presented examinations aimed at working out a computer program of radiovisiographic picture analysis of the mandible bone, which, on the basis of radiological trabecula algorithm, would enable finding out parameters determining mean number of trabeculas per 1 mm2 of the analysed area, density expressed in percentage of the area covered with trabeculas, mean width and height of radiological trabeculas, and several calculable derivative indices. On the basis of the above mentioned program there was made an analysis of radiovisiograms of 130 patients with diagnosed osteoporosis and of 110 patients without osteoporosis, treated in the Department and Clinic of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Lublin. Slight differences conditioned by sex and age of the patients as well as significant changes in structural indices in patients with generalized osteoporosis were found. The performed tests show that standardized radiovisiographic examinations of mandibular bones completed with computer structure analysis by Radiograph Workshop program can be helpful in diagnostic of osseous changes in mandibular bones.

The case of the submandibular gland sialolith.

The authors describe a case of a sialolith formation in a submandibular gland over 2 years. A large salivary stone is demonstrated radiologically and surgical treatment is described.

Iron content in rats' teeth in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

On the basis of atomic absorption spectrophotometry rat teeth iron levels in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis were measured. Hydrocortisone caused decreasing of the iron level in rat teeth after both 4 and 8 weeks of the duration of the experiment. The other drugs used in osteoporosis treatment (calcium and calcitonin) administered together with hydrocortisone or separately also influenced the content of this ion in rats' teeth.

Cervicofacial actinomycosis--an issue still present.

On the basis of the literature the authors present the etiopathogenesis, entry of the infection and the course of cervicofacial actinomycosis and they describe treatment possibility of patients with actinomycosis. They also concentrate on the present, atypical clinical picture of the disease, especially in the initial period. They find the sanation of the oral cavity is necessary for a complete recovery.

The case of low symptoms carotid cavernous fistula.

The authors describe the case of a patient with posttraumatic carotid cavernous sinus fistula with a complex of low clinical syndromes. Attention was drawn to oligosymptomatic fistula causing diagnostic difficulties in maxillofacial surgery practice. The study presents diagnostic and treatment methods and their results.

[The evaluation of action of anesthetic drugs: Xylodont and Mepidont]. / Ocena dzialania srodków znieczulajacych Xylodont i Mepidont.

The aim of the study was to establish the quality of the therapeutical action- of two local anaesthetics Xylodont and Mepidont, produced by MOLTENI pharmaceutical firm. The investigation was performed in 199 patients of our clinic undergoing teeth extractions or other small surgical procedures. The following data were specified in a questionnaire: name of a drug, applied doses, range of anaesthetic effect, kind and duration of a surgical procedure. We also paid the very attention to the systemic side effects of the used drugs. The significant number of surgical procedures (96, 5%) were painless. The application of additional drug was necessary only in few cases. The obtained results show that the tested anaesthetics Xylodont and Mepidont are safe and effectively acting drugs suitable for local anaesthesia.

[Odontogenic mandibular cysts]. / Zebopochodne torbiele zuchwy.

In the paper the method is presented of one-step total removal of extensive dentogenous mandibular cysts. The postoperative cavity was covered partly with a flap of regional soft tissue which was fixed with singular sutures and then with an acrylate obturator.