[Experience with e new water soluble contrast medium for lumbar myelography (author's transl)]

Meglumin-Iodrinat has been synthesized as the contrasting part of Myelografin by Schering AG. and tested for lumbar Myelography in animal experiments. The excellent neural and general compatibility justified a first clinical trial. 200 patients were examined, 100 each with following upright or lying down positions. There were no local symptoms, no signs of spinal or cerebral irritation. This is seen to be the main advantage compared with drugs used so far. Intensity of contrast corresponded with that of Conray 60 and Dimer X. The most common complaints like headache and nausea were interpreted as CSF hypotension and can be clearly reduced by lying down. Also the concentration of the contrastmedium diminishes more rapidly with the patient lying down.

Preparing chronic patients for community placement: a four-stage treatment program

Norristown (Pa.) State Hospital has a four-stage treatment program that prepares chronic patients for returning to the community. the program, which began in 1970, includes three token economy wards that are segregated by sex, and a coed activities ward, socialization ward, and exit ward. Over the past five years, 258 chronic patients have been discharged to the community after completing the treatment program. During the three months to five years since their discharge, 227 patients, or 88 per cent, have made a successful adjustment to the community. The unit's 12-per-cent recidivism rate is well below the national average for such programs.