[Late extrapyramidal hyperkinesis and neuroleptic withdrawal dyskinesia. Practical problems]

Neuroleptic-induced, late-occurring dyskinesia has gained more and more of importance. Essential causes are: increased continued long-term treatment as well as the advanced age of long-term patients treated with neuroleptics. Problems of daily practice and their treatment find little attention, contrary to the wide-spread literature on theoretical cases and diagnostic criteria of disturbances. Withdrawal- and tardive dyskinesiae are the most important among neuroleptic-induced dyskinesiae. The manifold disturbances of motion are generally found in the orofacial region, the trunk, and the extremities. Errors in differential diagnosis will occur occasionally.

[Heck's focal epithelial hyperplasia]

Three patients with focal epithelial hyperplasia Heck are presented. In two cases biopsies were made and investigated biochemically and by electron microscopy. In one case typical papillomavirus and HPV 1-DNA could be demonstrated, in the other the attempts of isolation failed. Virologic results and epidemiologic considerations suggest a viral etiology of focal epithelial hyperplasia Heck, but they are not sufficient to prove this.

[Behavior therapeutic training for weight reduction]

A behaviour therapeutic program for weight reduction was worked out by a team of psychologists, dieticians and doctors. A 10 week's course for weight reduction was given by 8 dieticians to a group of 5-7 female overweights (N=50). All dieticians based their work on a written handout. 4 of them had an additional training in behaviour and group therapy prior to the course. During the course all participants showed a significant weight loss and a change in their eating behaviour, the patients counselled by an additionally trained dietician (group E1) showing a significantly greater weight loss than the others (group E2). A follow-up after 3 1/2 months revealed similar differences but subsequent controls after 6 and 20 months showed a gradual decrease of the difference between the two groups. However three different patterns of the patient's weight curve could be distinguished. Pattern a): 26.3% of the participants showed a sinking tendency over all 20 months. Pattern b): 21.4% of the participants showed a significant weight loss over the 20 months with a slight upward tendency after the second follow-up (6 months). Pattern c): 52.3% of the participants lost weight only during the course which was regained in the following 3 months period. In pattern a) and c) group E1 and E2 are evenly represented. Pattern b) was only seen with participants of group E1. The results suggest that there are different characteristics of obese persons which influence the success of weight reduction programs. Further studies will have to describe these characteristics and define their therapeutical implications.

Lithium and rubidium: effects on the rhythmic swimming movement of jellyfish (Aurelia aurita)

The effects of adding LiCl, RbCl, KCl or NaCl to sea water at concentrations up to 30 mmoles/1 on the frequency of contraction of jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) suggest that studies on phylogenetically low animals with relatively simple nervous systems may be of use to determine mechanisms of action of lithium and rudidium on movements.

Time of natural exfoliation of deciduous teeth

Over 6000 naturally exfoliated deciduous teeth were sent in to the Department of Preventive Dentistry, University of Sydney over a 10-year period 1964-1974. Adequate histories for 2,828 teeth from 1,558 children were used to determine average ages of children at time of exfoliation of the teeth. Teeth lost at an earlier age were most frequently returned with similar numbers of left and right teeth. There were no differences in exfoliation times for corresponding teeth from left and right sides of arches. Girls had earlier exfoliation times than boys and lower teeth were generally exfoliated prior to upper teeth.

Metabolism and mode of action of androgens in target tissues of male rats. 3. Metabolism of 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione, of 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol and of 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol in target organs and peripheral tissues

Either 1.3 μg [5,6-3H]5α-androstane-3,17-dione (27 Ci/mm), or 12 μg respectively 0.8μg [5,6-3H]5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3 Ci/mm), or 12μg respectively 0.8 μg ([5,6-3H]5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol (3 Ci/mm) were administered intravenously to normal adult rats on days 0, 3 and 12 after castration. 30 min after the injection the animals were sacrificed. Total radioactivity counting was performed on aliquots of extracts of blood, peripheral muscle, prostate and seminal vesicles. In the remaining extracts the steroids were isolated by repeated chromatography with and without derivative formation. The following results should be mentioned: 1. Compared to muscle an accumulation of radioactivity is found especially in the prostate on day 3 after castration. 2. Regarding the unconjugated metabolites in plasma no measurable interconversion of both diols has been observed, whereas androstanedione was efficiently metabolised to both diols and to androsterone. In muscle a substantial oxydation of both diols to the corresponding 17-keto-3-hydroxy derivative occurred. 3. In both target organs the three androgens were converted to 5α-DHT2) though in varying amounts. 4. From a calculation of the data available in both target organs a figure of 200 to 300 pg 5α-DHT/mg DNA has been obtained which is regarded as the receptor protein capacity limit. The influence of castration, of enzyme activities and of the chemical structure of the androgens administered on this figure is discussed.