[Frequency and causes of premature termination (drop-out) during in-patient opiate detoxification].

A typical problem concerning in-patient detoxification is the high drop-out rate. This phenomenon represents a significant problem for both the patient and the therapeutic team, as it is a factor which reduces motivation. While several studies confirm a positive shift of early drop-out behavior with the aid of methadone-supported detoxification, the overall drop-out rate still saw no improvement.

[The effects of methadone maintenance in clinical opiate dependence].

Comparatively few studies have examined the effects of methadone given during a clinical detoxification programme. Furthermore, their results are different especially because of changing drop-out rates. This study was carried out on a drug-detoxification ward and investigated the effects of methadone given to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

[Kleptomania before and after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage--a neuropsychodynamic case report].

Kleptomania is not supposed to be a nosologic entity, but represents a psychopathological symptom of variant neurological and psychiatric diseases. A 47-year-old woman had shown a kleptomanic impulse disorder on the basis of a phobic personality organisation, until she suffered a spontaneous subarachnoidal haemorrhage with a consecutive basal forebrain lesion five years ago. After this event the kleptomanic symptom worsened dramatically.

Treatment of ununited tibial fractures: a comparison of surgery and pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF).

The use of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) is gaining acceptance for the treatment of ununited fractures. The results of 44 articles published in the English language literature have been compiled to assess the effectiveness of PEMF vs surgical therapy. For ununited tibial fractures, 81% of reported cases healed with PEMF vs 82% with surgery.

Cobalt, chromium, and nickel concentrations in body fluids of patients with porous-coated knee or hip prostheses.

Co, Cr, and Ni concentrations were determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry in serum and urine specimens collected from a group of 28 patients at intervals of from 1 day to 2.5 years after total knee or hip arthroplasty with porous-coated prostheses fabricated of Co-Cr alloy (ASTM F-75-82). Two control groups were also tested: (a) 42 healthy adults and (b) 16 orthopaedic patients after total knee or hip arthroplasty with porous-coated prostheses fabricated predominantly of Ti-Al-V alloy (ASTM F-136-84).