We present a simple technique utilising a broomstick plaster with a removable abduction bar. This facilitates early postoperative physical therapy and handling after surgery for lower limb problems in patients with cerebral palsy.

Casts, Surgical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of childhood encopresis--a review.

Children with encopresis may present to a number of different professionals. The literature on different treatment methods is reviewed. The roles of verbal psychotherapy, physical treatment, behaviour therapy and mixed treatment programmes are discussed.

Administration, Rectal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Outcomes of add-on treatment with lamotrigine in partial epilepsy.

The need for new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and more sensitive methods of assessing their efficacy is well recognized. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lamotrigine (LTG), a potential new AED and to develop and test new outcome measures. A health-related quality of life (HRQL) model was developed which contains previously validated measures of anxiety, depression, happiness, overall mood, self-esteem, and mastery and a specifically designed seizure severity scale with patient- and caregiver-based components. This HRQL model was used in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study of LTG in 81 patients with refractory partial seizures. Seizure frequency was the primary measure and seizure severity and the HRQL were secondary measures of efficacy. The reduction in seizure frequency with LTG, relative to placebo, was 29.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 17.8%, 39.9%] for total seizure count, 33.4% (95% CI 14.8%, 47.9%) for complex partial seizures (CPS) and 20.3% (95% CI 0.3%, 36.2%) for secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS). However, although 41 patients elected to continue with LTG, only 11 experienced at least 50% reduction in total seizures, indicating that other factors influenced their decision. The score with LTG, relative to placebo, was significantly lower for the ictal (p = 0.017) and caregivers (p = 0.035) subscales of the seizure severity scale and significantly higher for happiness (p = 0.003) and mastery (p = 0.003). Simple correlation and multiple-regression analyses indicate that the effects on seizure frequency, seizure severity, and psychological variables appear to be independent of each other. This study indicates that LTG is effective in reducing seizure frequency and has additional favorable effects on seizure severity, mood, and perceived internal control. Some of the scales used indicate the potential of secondary measures of efficacy to enhance the sensitivity of trials of new AEDs.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Homocysteine and cognitive decline in healthy elderly.

Serum homocysteine is increased, and correlates inversely with cognitive scores, in Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia and "age-associated memory impairment". Elevated levels might signal accelerated cognitive decline, although this remains to be established. We therefore repeated Mini-Mental State Examinations, together with additional ADAS-Cog assessments, in 32 healthy elderly individuals to determine whether prior homocysteine levels predicted cognitive changes over a 5-year period. Homocysteine predicted follow-up cognitive scores and rate of decline in cognitive performance independently of age, sex, education, renal function, vitamin B status, smoking and hypertension (p < 0.001). Homocysteine predicted word recall (p = 0.01), orientation (p = 0.02) and constructional praxis scores (p < 0.0001). One subject, with the second highest initial homocysteine, had developed probable AD at follow-up. Fasting total serum homocysteine appears to be an independent predictor of cognitive decline in healthy elderly and exerts a maximal effect on spatial copying skills.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chemical evaluation of inner ear fluid as a diagnostic aid.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Ear Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

E-cadherin and associated molecules in the invasion and progression of prostate cancer.

Prostatic carcinoma is the most common type of male cancer found in the Western world and its distant metastasis becomes a life threatening event in tumour bearing patients. However, the biology of prostate cancer and metastasis is poorly understood. We review the progress made in the last decade on the molecular and cellular biology of cell-cell adhesion molecules in the invasion and progression of prostate cancer, with emphasis being placed on E-cadherin and its associated molecules.

Cadherins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The 1994 eruption of the Rabaul volcano, Papua New Guinea: injuries sustained and medical response.

On 19 September 1994, with little warning, two volcanoes erupted at the Rabaul caldera, affecting the heavily populated Gazelle Peninsula, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. Local health services were able to deal with the disaster without additional external resources. The preparedness of the population and their knowledge of safe areas gained from a disaster plan widely publicized a decade earlier contributed to the low number of casualties.

Adult↗