Characteristics of responders and nonresponders to brief-pulse right unilateral ECT in a controlled clinical trial.

In a double-blind, randomized controlled study of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with major depression, 7 of the 17 patients allocated to the right unilateral group failed to respond to treatment. The nonresponders were subsequently openly treated with bitemporal treatment, which produced an acceptable outcome in these cases of right unilateral treatment failure. This paper describes the clinical outcome, electrophysiological characteristics (impedence, estimated seizure threshold, and change in threshold), and the degree to which stimuli exceeded threshold in the responder and nonresponder groups.

Electrical dose and seizure threshold: relations to clinical outcome and cognitive effects in bifrontal, bitemporal, and right unilateral ECT.

In patients allocated blindly and randomly to receive bitemporal, right unilateral, or bifrontal electroconvulsive therapy, seizure length, electrophysiologic characteristics (dynamic impedance, seizure threshold, and changes in threshold), and the degree of suprathreshold stimulation were recorded. The relations of these variables to clinical outcome and cognitive effects were determined. There were no differences in seizure length between groups, and there were no significant correlations between seizure length and any measure of clinical response.

Therapeutic advantage of bifrontal electrode placement in ECT.

Fifty-nine patients suffering from a major depressive episode, for whom electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was clinically indicated, were randomly assigned to one of three electrode placement groups for treatment with brief pulse, threshold-level ECT: bitemporal (BT), right unilateral (RU) or bifrontal (BF). Comparison of these groups in terms of number of treatments, duration of treatment, or incidence of treatment failure, showed that the bilateral placements were superior to the unilateral; comparison of Hamilton, Montgomery-Asberg, and visual analogue scale scores showed that the bifrontal placement was superior to both bitemporal and unilateral treatment. Bitemporal treatment showed therapeutic results intermediate between BF and RU.

A system for the analysis of posture and stance in quadrupeds.

This paper describes a system for the quantitative analysis of posture and stance in the freely standing quadruped. The focal point of the system is a moving force platform operated by hydraulic servos under computer control. Cats are trained to stand on a support consisting of 4 force plates.

Environmental control systems in chronic care hospitals and nursing homes.

Fifteen severely disabled people residing in institutions were provided with a simple environmental control system which performed five different functions. The disabled people used the equipment an average of ten times a day. Two hours of nursing care by nursing staff would have been required to perform these functions.

Alternatives in the handling, processing and storage of electrocardiograms.

Physicians and administrators are becoming aware that computer technology can play a significant role in the electrocardiology department. Problems related to the large number of requests for electrocardiograms, the production and communication of electrocardiographic tracings and reports, the access to stored tracings and the overall cost of providing effective services have led administrators to look for assistance through automation. Before expensive equipment and new procedures are introduced, a survey of the electrocardiology department's functions and procedures can lead to important insights.

Pars intermedia ACTH and MSH content: effect of adrenalectomy, gonadectomy and a neurotropic (noise) stress.

Pars intermedia (PI) ACTH and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) content and pars distalis (PD) ACTH concentration were measured following 3 experimentally induced 'perturbations'. The feedback-induced increase in ACTH release following adrenalectomy is not accompanied by a change in PI ACTH and MSH contents, while the feedback-induced increase in gonadotropin secretion following gonadectomy is associated with significant changes in PI ACTH and MSH contents. A well-defined neurotropic (noise) stressor resulted in significant increases in PI ACTH and MSH.

Sympathetic activity in the proximal urethra in patients with urinary obstruction.

The effect of 10 mg. phentolamine intravenously on the urethral pressure profile was studied in male and female patients with lower urinary tract obstruction. A significant decrease of pressure occurred along the whole length of the urethra in both sexes, including the peak pressure zone in the male patient.

Effect of sympathomimetic drugs on canine bladder: surgical model for assessment of regional differences.

A surgical procedure is described in which the canine bladder was divided into body and base. The two-chambered bladder thus formed was used to assess the effect of sympathomimetic drugs in situ. Stimulation of either alpha- or beta-receptors produced a change in pressure in both chambers.

Validity of computer interpretation of the electrocardiogram.

Evaluation of the accuracy of computer interpretation of 2019 standard 12-lead ECG's has been carried out. In 762 records defined as normal by the cardiologist the computer agreed in 41%, found 49% with minor "abnormalities" and read 10% as having gross abnormalities.There were 1257 abnormal records.