Pseudohemiparesis and Tourette syndrome

Three patients with Tourette syndrome and transient recurrent hemiparetic posturing (pseudohemiparesis) are presented. The transient nature of this posturing is not consistent with a static central nervous system deficit. It is felt that the Tourette syndrome symptomatology and pseudohemiparesis share a common pathophysiology. The inclusion of pseudohemiparesis in the differential diagnosis for cerebral palsy is suggested.

Random prospective study of vindesine versus vindesine plus high-dose cisplatin versus vindesine plus cisplatin plus mitomycin C in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

In this phase III randomized study, 124 evaluable patients with unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomized to vindesine v cisplatin (120 mg/m2) plus vindesine v cisplatin (60 mg/m2) plus vindesine plus mitomycin C. The objective response rate for cisplatin and vindesine was 27% v 20% for cisplatin, vindesine, and mitomycin C, and 14% for vindesine alone (P = .25 for cisplatin and vindesine v vindesine). The percentage of patients having stable disease (no progression for a minimum of 3 months) was 20% (cisplatin and vindesine), 27% (cisplatin, vindesine, and mitomycin C), and 26% (vindesine alone), respectively. The median survival time for vindesine was 18 weeks, compared with 26 weeks for cisplatin and vindesine and 17 weeks for cisplatin, vindesine, and mitomycin C. Overall survival was not statistically different for cisplatin plus vindesine v vindesine (P = .65). There was no evidence for improved duration of remission or survival of responders with the cisplatin (120 mg/m2) and vindesine arm. This study failed to demonstrate sufficient therapeutic benefit for cisplatin and vindesine (+/- mitomycin C) compared with single-agent vindesine to justify the increased cost and toxicity of these combination regimens.

Anticonvulsant medications: an iatrogenic cause of tic disorders

A review of the relationship between anticonvulsant medications and tics is presented. Data on 5 patients in whom anticonvulsants, either caused tics or exacerbated existing tic disorders is discussed. Discontinuation of the medication resulted in a decrease in the frequency of tickings in all patients. The effects of anticonvulsants on the reticular system are discussed. It is felt that it may be important for clinicians to consider carefully the use of barbiturate anticonvulsants, especially phenobarbital, in children with tics or a family history of tics. Tic disorders caused or exacerbated by exposure to anticonvulsant medications appear to be more common than previously reported, and in some patients the tics may not remit with discontinuation of the medication.

Prevalence of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome in North Dakota adults

The authors estimate the prevalence of Tourette's disorder in North Dakota to be .22 per 10,000 for women and .77 per 10,000 for men. Comparison with figures for North Dakota children suggests that the disorder is relatively uncommon in adults.

A treatable language disorder: pharmacological treatment of pervasive developmental disorder

Results of treatment of four patients are described. All of the patients had pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), a tic disorder, and a characteristic pattern of speech and language impairment. The patients were treated with haloperidol for their tic disorders, and concomitant with the reduction of the frequency and severity of tics was marked improvement in language. The patients averaged 3 months of language gain for each week of speech therapy directly after the initiation of haloperidol treatment for tics. Progress in speech and language therapy was extremely slow during the years prior to treatment with haloperidol. To the authors' knowledge, no language disorder has been described in the literature which shows such a predictable and marked response to pharmacological treatment. The authors hypothesize that tic disorders in individuals with PDD may be a marker for a more positive response to dopamine antagonists like haloperidol.

Inquiry into the incidence of hyperlexia in a statewide population of children with pervasive developmental disorder

Hyperlexia is a condition occurring in a group of children who traditionally have been described as having word-recognition reading skills which far exceed their other language and cognitive abilities. The incidence of this particular skill in a group of children with pervasive developmental disorders had not previously been documented. In the state of North Dakota 68 children who meet DSM-III criteria for pervasive developmental disorders (including autism) have been identified. Four of these children show hyperlexia. This computes to a prevalence rate of 6.6% of school-aged children with pervasive developmental disorders.

The elderly sick role: an experimental analysis

This experiment sought to determine whether young people ascribe different sick-role expectations to the elderly than to the middle-aged. The study also examined whether such expectations are a function of age per se or of work status. The experiment was a two X two factorial design employing two levels of age and two levels of work status. Sick-role expectations were elicited by the use of vignettes in which illness characteristics and background information were identical, but age and work status were varied. Results partially support the contention that the young ascribe an elderly sick role. Respondents were more likely to expect an old, rather than a middle-aged man, not to recover. However, respondents were also more likely to expect reduction in role obligations when the man was retired than when he was employed, regardless of age.

Family planning and female sterilization in the United States

This report critically examines the issue of sterilization in the United States based on data from the National Survey of Family Growth, Cycles I and II, spanning the years 1973 to 1976. Of particular concern is analysis of sterilization rates as they vary across categories of race, socioeconomic status, welfare status, number of children and desire for the service. The development of a framework containing competing theories and philosophies, based upon previous literature in the area, provides a useful paradigm for an understanding of the significance of sterilization rates. The methodology includes bivariate techniques involving tabular analysis as well as multivariate techniques through the use of logistic regression analysis. Findings support hypotheses related to class factors and parity, while the racial and altruistic interpretations are not supported. Policy implications and areas requiring further research are specified.

Response Stereotypes for Rotary Controls Involving the Application of Force

This study examined the response stereotype for turning a key to unlock a door. Biomechanical research suggests that, when force has to be applied with the right hand to rotary control, then a clockwise response is likely. 108 right-handed subjects (55 male, 53 female) were asked to turn a key to unlock a box. 56 subjects were asked to use the left hand and 52 the right hand. Each subject unlocked the box only in one of four key-to-door configurations: top-centre, bottom-centre, left-centre, right-centre. Regardless of sex, hand, or configuration, approximately 80% of responses were clockwise. When using the left hand, all subjects employing a clockwise movement changed the initial grip from pronation to supination. All subjects used a combined wrist and forearm turning movement rather than a finger and thumb movement.

Drugs, alcohol and violence in 604 male offenders referred for inpatient psychiatric assessment

Of 604 White and Coloured male offenders in the Cape referred for inpatient psychiatric observation, 52% habitually indulged heavily in alcohol, drugs (mostly dagga (cannabis)) or both. Indulpence in alcohol alone was frequently associated with violence and sexual assaults, alcohol and drugs together less, and drugs alone least. Those who indulged in drug-taking (i.e. dagga, LSD and hard drugs) were less frequently associated with violence, rape and other sex crimes than were those who did not; 60% of sex offenders were non-abusers. Out of 101 severely psychopathic patients in the sample, only 1 who indulged in drugs but not alcohol was charged with a crime of violence or sex. There was no evidence of a potentiating action between alcohol and dagga towards violent behaviour. Dagga appeared to diminish the action of alcohol, and may inhibit urges toward violence and rape in aggressive persons and psychopaths. Drugs did not release or set off violent reactions, and drug indulgence was associated with stealing without violence. Some implications for forensic psychiatry and arguments about drug indulgence as an extenuating factor in serius crime are discussed.

The PADL-1.0/2 system for defining and displaying solid objects

PADL (Part and Assembly Description Language) is a language for defining solid objects via constructive solid geometry, i.e. as (regularized) set-theoretical compositions of primitive solid “building blocks”. The current processor for Version 1.0 of the language accepts PADL statements either in batch or in keyboard-interactive mode and produces line drawings of objects on CRT's and plotting devices. A variety of drawing styles is available: dimensioned orthographics, perspectives, section views, interference drawings, etc.

Novel characteristics of the PADL-1.0/2 system include 1) general combinational operators that may be applied to any part defined in PADL, 2) correct handling of “pathologies” that occur when (for example) two objects have partially coincident boundaries, 3) maintenance of consistent multiple representations of the same object, and 4) automatic posting on drawings of dimensions to reflect user-defined geometric relations between features of objects.

This paper provides an overview of both the language and the current processor's capabilities and organization. Detailed discussions of the underlying mathematics, algorithms, and implementation are presented elsewhere.