Should we continue using questionnaires on breathlessness in epidemiologic surveys?

The construct validity and ability to predict mortality on the basis of 4 British Medical Research Council (BMRC) questions on breathlessness were examined and compared to that of spirometric measurements, in particular FEV1, in a cohort of 1,045 men. Of these, 1,030 answered questions on breathlessness and 994 performed acceptable spirometry. Using 2 levels of dyspnea, white collar workers had significantly fewer symptoms of breathlessness than both cement workers and other blue collar workers, and this effect was present even after controlling for FEV1 as well as other spirometric measurements.

Flutamide versus stilboestrol in the management of advanced prostatic cancer. A controlled prospective study.

In a prospective randomised study the effect of flutamide 750 mg daily was compared with that of stilboestrol 3 mg daily in the treatment of 40 previously untreated patients with advanced prostatic cancer. There was a good subjective response to both treatments. After 12 months, a response was demonstrated in 13 of 20 patients treated with flutamide and 8 of 20 patients treated with stilboestrol.

Pneumomediastinum associated with orbital fracture. Case report.

A case report of pneumomediastinum secondary to a fracture of the orbital floor without injury to the chest is presented. The clinical entity is reviewed, and its clinical and anaesthesiological implications are discussed.

Cisplatin as a first-line treatment in T2 and T3 bladder carcinoma.

Twenty-two patients with bladder cancer stage T2 or T3NxM0 received preirradiation treatment with cisplatin. Three complete and seven partial remissions were achieved. Responders received additional cisplatin concomitantly with radiotherapy, for a total of eight complete remissions.

Physician visits and prescribed drugs among young children and their mothers.

The extent to which use of medical services by young children could be predicted by mothers' use of medical services and by certain family characteristics has been studied. The study population comprised 591 children two to four years of age in a Swedish rural municipality. Register data on physician visits and prescription drug purchases during 1979 constituted main sources of information.

A comparative study of hysterosalpingography and endoscopy/laparotomy in infertile patients.

A comparison of hysterosalpingography (HSG), using Lipiodol ultrafluid as contrast medium, with endoscopy/laparotomy in the evaluation of the tubal function in 124 infertile women is presented. There was agreement between the results of both methods in 73.4% of the patients.

Calcaneus fracture in the child.

We reviewed 80 fractures of the calcaneus in 78 children through a 30-year period. The fractures were more equally distributed between the sexes than in adults. In contrast to adults, intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus in children constitute less than half, probably because a lower proportion of children sustain the fracture as a result of a fall.

Radiologic aspects of lunatomalacia.

A radiological classification of lunatomalacia, based upon the chronological radiologic manifestations in 93 patients is presented. Compression fractures were not seen as the initial event. Fifty-seven per cent of the patients had a short ulna (ulna minus variant).

Hypotensive shock associated with bradycardia after intravenous injection of contrast medium.

A case of hypotensive shock associated with bradycardia that occurred after injection of nonionic monomeric contrast medium is described. Whether the pathogenesis of this type of reaction is solely vasovagal or is directly caused by the contrast medium is not known. The number of occurrences after administration of nonionic monomeric versus conventional contrast agents should be compared to solve this problem.

Therapeutic value of hysterosalpingography with lipiodol ultra fluid.

Hysterosalpingography (HSG) with lipiodol ultra fluid was performed in 294 infertile women with a normal ovulatory temperature curve and at least two years of infertility and a partner with normal sperm. In 21 per cent, pregnancy occurred within 6 months after the examination, and about one third of the women with a normal finding or with intraperitoneal adhesions at HSG conceived. The pregnancy rate was especially high in the first two cycles after HSG.

Lunatomalacia in a child.

A case of advanced lunatomalacia in an 8-year-old girl treated by immobilization is described. After 2 years of treatment, the girl had a normal wrist, and radiographically the condition had improved, albeit with some collapse of the radial part of the lunate. Our case suggests that the natural course of lunatomalacia is favorable in children as compared with adults.

Unique etiology of tubal ectopic pregnancy.

We report a case of hysterosalpingography inadvertently performed during early intra-uterine pregnancy. The radiologic procedure seems to have displaced the amniotic sac from the uterine cavity into the Fallopian tube, and thus has been the etiologic factor underlying a tubal ectopic pregnancy.

Influence of treatment with diethylstilbestrol for carcinoma of prostate on platelet aggregation and plasma lipoproteins.

Treatment of prostatic carcinoma with estrogens is accompanied by an increased risk for thromboembolic and cardiovascular complications. The underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Patients treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES) were compared with patients given no estrogen treatment regarding factors (platelet aggregation in vitro and plasma lipoproteins) that have been suggested to contribute to increased thrombogenesis and cardiovascular risk.

Inadvertently performed hysterosalpingography during early pregnancy.

A review of 6,225 hysterosalpingographies disclosed four cases of inadvertently performed examinations during early pregnancy. These radiologic misadventures were in three cases performed because of oligomenorrhoea and in one case because of a misjudged decidual bleeding. The radiologic findings and the outcome of these pregnancies are presented.

Radiologic aspects of calcaneal fractures in childhood and adolescence.

One hundred and forty-three calcaneal fractures in 140 patients under the age of 19 years were reviewed. Of the total number, 75 per cent were in males. Eighty fractures were seen in females under 13 years of age and in males under 16 years of age.

Metabolism of sulfadiazine in neonatal and young pigs. Comparative in vivo and in vitro studies.

Metabolism of sulfadiazine (SDZ) was studied in vivo and in vitro during postnatal development of piglets in order to examine whether in vitro metabolism approaches the in vivo situation. Experiments were performed in 1-day-, 8-day- and 60-day-old piglets. In vivo: 14C-SDZ was injected intravenously and urine and tissue samples collected after 3 hr.