Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor induced hyperkalaemic paralysis.

Secondary hyperkalaemic paralysis is a rare condition often mimicking the Guillain-Barré syndrome. There have been a few case reports of hyperkalaemia caused by renal failure, trauma, and drugs where the presentation has been with muscle weakness. A case of hyperkalaemic paralysis caused by an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor is reported.

Routine thin slice MRI effectively demonstrates the lumbar pars interarticularis.

Aim: To confirm that routine thin slice sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine effectively demonstrates the lumbar pars interarticularis.

Method: A retrospective review of 100 MRI examinations was carried out and the appearance of the pars interarticularis at L4 and L5 bilaterally was assessed and classified as Type 1 - normal, Type 2 - sclerotic pars, Type 3 - not assessable and Type 4 - pars defect. A total of 400 pars were assessed.

Ochronotic arthritis of knee.

Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version.

The clinical and pathologic constellation of Wegener granulomatosis of the orbit.

Purpose: Wegener granulomatosis (WG) may present as an orbital mass without obvious upper respiratory or systemic features. The authors examined the clinical and pathologic features of a series of cases of orbital WG to define the features of presentation and progression of this disorder.

Methods: Thirteen subjects with orbital presentations of WG were identified from the University of British Columbia Orbit Clinic index of diseases.

Cognitive processes in delusional disorders.

Background: Studies of schizophrenics with persecutory delusions have shown cognitive biases in subjects who are deluded. It has been suggested that their delusions defend against depression. This study challenges the assumption that delusional disorder (DD) patients are covertly depressed.

A lethal case of atlantoaxial dislocation in a 56-year-old woman with Down's syndrome.

A case of fatal atlantoaxial dislocation is reported in a 56-year-old woman with Down's syndrome. The literature indicates such a case to be a rarity; however, this may be a result of the predominance of younger age samples. The implications of this are discussed.

Psychiatric and social aspects of brittle asthma.

Background: Many studies have shown that emotional factors play a part in asthma, but few have compared patients with differing severities of asthma. It was our impression that patients with "brittle" asthma (BA; more than 40% diurnal variation in peak flow on 15 or more days a month over a period of at least six months, and persistent symptoms despite multiple drug treatment) had greater psychosocial morbidity than asthmatic patients with less variable asthma.

Methods: Twenty patients with BA and a control group of less severe asthmatic subjects matched for age, sex, and duration of illness were asked to complete the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), a screening test for psychiatric disorders, the Eysenck Personality Inventory which measures extraversion and neuroticism, and to participate in a life events interview and a structured clinical interview (SCID) to diagnose psychiatric disorder.

A female monozygotic twin pair discordant for transsexualism. Some theoretical implications.

A 13-year-old girl was referred because of sexual identity problems. There was no mental illness or neurological abnormalities. As her twin sister had no sexual identity problems, it appears that transsexualism is not transmitted by a simple genetic mechanism.

The effect of a pre-appointment questionnaire on clinical psychologist attendance rates.

A 12-page, psychodynamically-formulated questionnaire is sent routinely to people referred to a clinical psychology service. This study examines its effect on attendance rates at initial appointments. A group of patients who were sent the questionnaire was compared to two control groups.