A study of posterior column function in familial spastic paraplegia.

A family is described in which affected members have clinical features consistent with the late onset form of Strümpell's Familial Spastic Paraplegia which is of dominant inheritance. Abnormalities in cortical somatosensory to peroneal nerve stimulation were found in all affected members of the family and in several who were clinically unaffected. In some cases responses were better defined at slow rates of stimulation.

Peripheral nerve function in patients with bronchial carcinoma. Comparison with matched controls and effects of treatment.

Clinical examination of 80 patients with bronchial carcinoma showed minor neurological abnormalities but in only a few cases were these considered to be due to neuromyopathy. Spontaneous activity in the EMG was shown in 35%, consistent with a mild degree of partial denervation; when 50 of the patients were matched with 50 controls the patients showed a small but significant impairment of nerve conduction velocity in comparison with the controls. These findings accord with subclinical neuropathy in a high proportion of patients with bronchial carcinoma consistent with primary axonal change.

Muscle fibre excitability and resting membrane potential in hamster muscular dystrophy.

Measurements of resting potential carried out in vivo in the dystrophic hamster and also measurements of muscle excitability showed no difference between dystrophy and healthy animals.