[Significance of flicker VEP and pattern VEP in the diagnosis of optic nerve and pathway diseases]

Both flicker VEP and pattern VEP of 23 patients (34 eyes) were recorded for their objective evaluation as visual function tests in diseases of the optic nerve or optic pathway. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. The flicker VEP is independent of poor visual acuity or opacities in the refractive media; however, the combined use of both methods is useful for accurate diagnosis of certain visual morbidities.

[Planned multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the tongue]

16 patients with advanced lingual carcinoma treated by planned multidisciplinary treatment and postoperative reconstruction in our hospital from 1970 to 1984 are reported. The treatment included: preoperative chemotherapy of high dose MTX; extensive resection of the tongue with radical neck dissection and postoperative radiation. The immediate reconstruction was performed by using pedicled major pectoralis myocutaneous flap in 12 patients and free tensor fascia lata myocutaneous flap in 4. The 5 and 3 year survival rates of stage IV lesions were 50% and 100%. The advantages of the planned multidisciplinary treatment of advanced lingual cancer are discussed.

Evaluation of the central retina and optic nerve function in media opacities

Conventional electroretinogram (ERG) and pattern VECP (or visual evoked cortical potential) are of limited value in estimating visual function in eyes with media opacities. We used a method consisting of flicker ERG and flicker VECP to successfully overcome this limitation. Three of 25 eyes with cataract had a reduced flicker VECP. These 3 patients also had a history of glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Normal flicker VECP was found in some patients with reduced flicker ERG or reduced scotopic and photopic a-wave. Analysis of the results showed that the flicker VECP is independent of the ERG and flicker ERG. Utilizing this method we could rule out maculopathy and optic nerve damage in patients with media opacities as well as recognize optic nerve damage in patients with coexisting maculopathy.

On analysis of sphygmogram

In this paper, under the linear assumption, the analytical expressions describing the pressure sphygmogram of the radial artery are obtained in regard to the effect of the blood viscosity. Then the variations of the pulse wave form with some physiological parameters such as arterial elasticity, blood viscosity and resistance are discussed in detail too. We observed that venous injection of demethyladrenalin made a dog's vessels contract and increase in resistance while that of parasitic loranthus made the vessels relax and decrease in resistance, and variations of the pressure sphygmogram of the dog's radial artery conformed to theoretical results. Besides, taking the pressure sphygmogram of radial artery corresponding to smooth, normal and wiry pulses of the pulse conditions in traditional Chinese medicine as examples, we discussed the effect of related physiological parameters on these sphygmogram, which also conformed to the classical statement of the wiry, normal and smooth pulses in traditional Chinese medicine.