Hinged cast after knee ligament surgery.

One hundred thirteen patients scheduled for repair of knee ligament injuries were randomized to postoperative immobilization in either a hinged or a long leg cast. The time of disability (i.e.

Stability of haematological constituents during simulated mail transport as measured by Coulter Counter S plus II or Technicon H 6000.

Stability of blood constituents after mail transport was examined using two different automated haematology instruments, that is, Coulter Counter S plus II and Technicon H 6000. The results were analysed by two different statistical methods. In all but four cases these methods yielded similar results.

Phototoxicity of tetracyclines as related to singlet oxygen production and uptake by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The photo-induced singlet oxygen production of six tetracyclines was measured as tryptophan degradation. Demethylchlortetracycline was the most efficient singlet oxygen producer followed by doxycycline. The least efficient producer was minocycline.

Agreement between teachers' ratings and observations of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and defiance.

The relationship of directly observed classroom behavior and teacher ratings on questionnaires with a judgemental (Conners Teacher Rating Scale) or operational format was examined for 33 boys aged 6 years 5 months to 7 years 7 months. Results showed a high degree of association between observed and rated behavior. This association did not vary with the format of the rating scales but did vary with the nature of the behavior being rated.

Factors important for the measurement of chemiluminescence production by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Chemiluminescence (CL) production by phagocytosing polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) was measured by an automatic photoluminometer with built-in mixing and temperature controls. Agitation of the vials with PMNLs and opsonized zymosan particles influenced both the lag time and the CL production. Maximal production was obtained by continuous mixing of the samples, the reaction peak occurring within 6 min.

Influence of tetracyclines and light on the release of lysozyme from human granulocytes and monocytes.

Doxycycline inhibited the release of lysozyme from human granulocytes and monocytes exposed to non-opsonized zymosan particles. This effect was more marked for granulocytes than for monocytes. Oxytetracycline, however, did not influence the release.

In vivo and in vitro effects of doxycycline on leucocyte membrane receptors.

Tetracyclines, particularly doxycycline, have adverse effects on granulocyte function in vitro. We have examined the effects of doxycycline on membrane receptors for IgG (Fc gamma-R) and C3b (C3b-R) on granulocytes and lymphocytes, as well as on the sheep erythrocyte receptor (E-R) on T lymphocytes. Acne patients given doxycycline orally had a lower percentage of Fc gamma-R positive granulocytes (57%) than before treatment (80%) or compared to healthy controls (81%).

Elective hysterectomy. Benefits, risks, and costs.

This study evaluated the effect of hysterectomy or hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (hysterectomy and oophorectomy) versus alternative medical management on life expectancy, quality of life, and direct medical costs. Using techniques of decision analysis and available data on sequelae, it was found that gains in life expectancy and quality of life can be expected when women ages 30-60 undergo hysterectomy for benign neoplasm, disorders of menstruation, acquired abnormal anatomy, cervical disease, or endometriosis, owing primarily to prevention of reproductive tract cancers, which outweighs the impact of operative mortality. However, women who have relatively high operative risk or low expected cancer risks, beyond thresholds estimated in sensitivity analyses, suffer losses in life expectancy.

Hyperactive disorder of childhood. Some clinical implications of recent research.

In many European countries hyperkinesis is a relatively rare clinical diagnosis compared with the United States. Though systematic international studies comparing the diagnostic process with regard to this disorder are still lacking, it is likely that the reasons for the vast differences in the rates of the disorder do not lie in the differences of the children's behaviour but in diagnostic practice. Individual components of hyperactivity, namely overactivity, restlessness and poor concentration are common among children attending clinics as well as in randomly selected samples in the general population.

Further psychodrama with delinquent adolescents.

It was postulated that an integration of behavioral-cognitive techniques within a psychodramatic group therapy framework would reduce delinquents' acting-out tendencies and improve ego strength. The population consisted of a control and an experimental group of adolescents aged 14 to 16 of both sexes that were adjudicated delinquent. There were ten adolescents in the control group and initially eleven adolescents in the experimental group (only seven completed the twelve ninety-minute sessions).

Effect of tetracyclines and UV light on oxygen consumption by human leukocytes.

When polymorphonuclear leukocytes were stimulated with zymosan, a sharp rise in oxygen consumption was observed. In the presence of doxycycline, we observed a further increase in oxygen consumption when the phagocytosing cells were exposed to UV light. When the light was turned off, oxygen consumption of the cells almost ceased, indicating photodamage to polymorphonuclear leukocytes during irradiation.

Influence of tetracyclines on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte function.

Low concentrations of oxytetracycline, doxycycline, or minocycline (less than 10 micrograms/ml) did not influence in vitro polymorphonuclear leukocyte random migration, chemiluminescence, or glucose oxidation. At high concentrations of doxycycline or minocycline (greater than 10 micrograms/ml), chemiluminescence and glucose oxidation were impaired. High concentrations of doxycycline also reduced random migration.

Hyperactive behavior in English schoolchildren: a questionnaire survey.

The differences in apparent prevalence of childhood hyperactivity between England and North America are more than 20-fold. This paper seeks to illuminate the reasons for the difference by applying a standard measure [Conners Teacher Rating Scale] to 437 English schoolchildren, aged 6 to 9 years, and comparing them with published surveys from the United States and Australasia. The rating scale had moderate interrater reliability and stability over time; it distinguished between children referred for psychiatric treatment and normal schoolchildren.

Influence of pH on porphyrin production in Propionibacterium acnes.

Propionibacterium acnes was grown on Eagle's medium for 4-15 days at pH 5.3-7.2 The porphyrin production was measured both by direct fluorometry and by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Light-induced release of protoporphyrin, but not of zinc protoporphyrin, from erythrocytes in a patient with greatly elevated erythrocyte protoporphyrin.

A patient with greatly increased erythrocyte protoporphyrin, but normal porphyrins in urine and feces, is described. The patient later developed a malignant lymphoma, and the reason why she accumulated protoporphyrin in her erythrocytes is not known. The protoporphyrin in the erythrocytes consisted of two types of protoporphyrin, free protoporphyrin (30%) and zinc protoporphyrin (70%).

Light-induced protoporphyrin release from erythrocytes in erythropoietic protoporphyria.

The photohemolysis of normal erythrocytes incubated with protoporphyrin is reduced in the presence of albumin. When globin is added to normal erythrocytes loaded with protoporphyrin, protoporphyrin is bound to globin. During irradiation protoporphyrin moves from globin to the erythrocyte membrane and photohemolysis is initiated.