Paper-Based Assessment of the Effects of Aging on Response Time: A Diffusion Model Analysis.

The effects of aging on response time were examined in a paper-based lexical-decision experiment with younger (age 18-36) and older (age 64-75) adults, applying Ratcliff's diffusion model. Using digital pens allowed the paper-based assessment of response times for single items. Age differences previously reported by Ratcliff and colleagues in computer-based experiments were partly replicated: older adults responded more conservatively than younger adults and showed a slowing of their nondecision components of RT by 53 ms.

Hemodynamic effects of double bolus reteplase versus alteplase infusion in massive pulmonary embolism.

Background: Thrombolytic agents are given in massive pulmonary embolism to dissolve or reduce the clot and normalize hemodynamics. Comparative clinical studies have shown that administration of a 2-hour infusion of alteplase is more effective than urokinase over a 12-hour period. Reteplase is a new generation thrombolytic with a longer half-life that can be administered more conveniently as a double bolus.

Neurological and neuropsychiatric dysfunction in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

In a prospective clinical investigation of 20 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), neurological complications, not attributable to other diseases were detected in 14 patients (= 70%). Dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) was nearly twice as frequent as central nervous system (CNS) complications. PNS involvement was dominated by symmetric sensory neuropathies, carpal tunnel syndromes, cranial nerve palsies (above all trigeminal sensory neuropathy) and pupillary dysfunction.

[Intra-arterial DSA of the hand arteries in the diagnosis of inflammatory connective tissue diseases].

Seventy-five patients with suspected rheumatic diseases underwent intraarterial DSA of the hand arteries. In 81% of the patients we were able to establish the diagnosis of vasculitis according to angiographic criteria. Neither clinical nor chemical or immunological features allowed the diagnosis of an inflammatory disease of joint and perivascular tissue at this time.

Immunoglobulin substitution therapy in a patient with primary hypogammaglobulinaemia and anti-IgA antibodies.

Permanent immunoglobulin substitution therapy was performed in a 44-year-old patient with common variable immunodeficiency, recurrent respiratory tract infections, total absence of serum IgA and a high titre of class-specific anti-IgA antibodies. An IgA-depleted i.v.