[Relation between the clinical manifestations and electromyographic findings in motor neurone disease]

343 cases of motor neurone disease (MND) were examined with electromyography. The result showed EMG examination was of much vale in helping to ascertain an accurate diagnosis which clinically could be made in only about 1/4 of the series of cases. The ages of onset ranged from 4 months to 10 years with an average of 36.8 years. 56.8% under 40 years. There was a higher male preponderance, the male/female ratio being 3.2:1. It was 1.6:1 in a report from a western country. 123 cases showed only one limb involvement clinically while the EMG findings were also abnormal in the other three limbs. Fibrillation potentials were found to be at more than two sites in one muscle in 84.5% in this series, where as they occurred in 95-100% of the infantile and juvenile cases. Abundant fibrillation potentials were found in 37.1% of the cases within 3 years after the onset and in 13.6% in those with a longer duration. The increment of the mean duration of motor unit potential was 94.5% and that of the mean amplitude 91%. It seemed not necessary to emphasize giant potentials. The motor nerve conduction velocities (NCV) were normal in 95% while the sensory NCV were almost always normal (98%). All of the 3 cases tested with single fiber EMG showed an increment of jitter of 95-100% and a muscle fiber density of 2.95-3.65.

[Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase in vitro by extracts of Chinese medicinal herbs]

Thirty-three chinese medicinal herbs reputed by ancient chinese folklore to have anti-infective properties were extracted. The extracts and their compounds were tested for inhibitory activity against the human immunodeficiency virus RT in vitro. 8 of the 33 extracts were found to be active. Of these, MBAA9045 was studied in greater depth. We found that it was a noncompetitive inhibitor against HIV-RT. The concentration of MBAA9045 reducing HIV-RT activity by 50% (IC50) was 22 mumol/L. Chinese medicinal herbs appear to be a rich source of potentially useful materials for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

[Observation of efficacy of different dialytic therapies in renal transplantation preparation]

Fifty-seven cadaveric renal transplantations in fifty-five cases were analysed of them, thirty cases were prepared by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD group); twenty-seven transplantations in twenty-five cases were prepared by hemodialysis (HD group). Our data show that there is no significant difference in the survival duration between CAPD group and HD group; that there is also no significant difference in the survival duration between the two groups treated with the same immunosuppressive drugs, and that patients prepared by CAPD have a low risk of peritonitis after transplantation. It is better not to remove the Tenckhoff catheter until the graft function is stable so that it can be used for the transient peritoneal dialysis in the case of the insult of graft function or for the sampling of the peritoneal effusion for diagnosis of suspectable peritonitis after renal transplantation.