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Significant potential exists for enhancing physical rehabilitation following neurologic injury through the use of robotic and mechatronic devices (or "rehabilitators"). We review the development of a rehabilitator (the "ARM Guide") to diagnose and treat arm movement impairment following stroke and other brain injuries. As a diagnostic tool, the ARM Guide provides a basis for evaluation of several key motor impairments, including abnormal tone, incoordination, and weakness. As a therapeutic tool, the device provides a means to implement and evaluate active assist therapy for the arm. Initial results with three stroke subjects demonstrate that such therapy can produce quantifiable benefits in the chronic hemiparetic arm. Directions for future research regarding the efficacy and practicality of rehabilitators are discussed.

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus was first diagnosed after she had developed the Budd-Chiari syndrome. We believe that the Budd-Chiari syndrome was part of her tendency for thrombosis, induced by the presence of a lupus anticoagulant. The association between enhanced thrombosis and the lupus anticoagulant is discussed, and the need for prompt recognition and administration of anticoagulant therapy is emphasised. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Significant potential exists for enhancing physical rehabilitation following neurologic injury through the use of robotic and mechatronic devices (or 'rehabilitators'). We review the development of a rehabilitator (the 'ARM Guide') to diagnose and treat arm movement impairment following stroke and other brain injuries. As a diagnostic tool, the ARM Guide provides a basis for evaluation of several key motor impairments, including abnormal tone, incoordination, and weakness. As a therapeutic tool, the device provides a means to implement and evaluate active assist therapy for the arm. Initial results with three stroke subjects demonstrate that such therapy can produce quantifiable benefits in the chronic hemiparetic arm. Directions for future research regarding the efficacy and practicality of rehabilitators are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to determine whether different levels of pain would respond similarly to analgesia. We compared the analgesic response to ibuprofen in subjects with moderate versus severe baseline pain in clinical trials using the third molar post-extraction dental pain model. We performed a pooled raw data analysis of 517 subjects included in the ibuprofen treatment arm of 11 similar studies submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were similar in all studies. All studies used the same metrics and recorded pain at the same times. As expected, the well established analgesic effect of ibuprofen was confirmed. More intense baseline pain was initially associated with a larger decrease and greater fractional decreasing in pain intensity after medication. A larger percentage of those with milder baseline pain obtained relief compared with those with severe baseline pain. Reduction in pain intensity occurred mainly in the first 2 h. At later time points, the association of baseline conditions with a reduction in pain level diminished. We conclude that the intensity of initial pain is not correlated with the need for larger doses of analgesic., Implications: A person taking an analgesic wants to know when and how well it will work. People with moderate pain are more likely to get relief, whereas those with severe pain who get relief will get relatively more relief. Most relief of acute pain occurs within less than 2 h. These data indicate that most people with intense initial pain do not require larger doses of analgesics.

The preparation and crystal structure of the title compound, C(20)H(25)NO(2), are described. The N atom substituent of the nitrone function adopts a conformation which minimizes the 1,3-allylic strain.

Background: Cigarette smoking has long been regarded as an important factor in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease., Objective: To investigate whether cigarette smoking has an additive effect on the clinical presentation and course of disease in Helicobacter pylori-positive dyspeptic patients., Patients and Methods: The study group comprised 596 consecutive H. pylori-positive dyspeptic patients (334 males and 262 females, mean age 50.6, range 12-81 years). Following upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, patients were subdivided by diagnosis as follows: Non-ulcer patient group (n = 312: gastritis 193, duodenitis 119), gastric ulcer (n = 19), and duodenal ulcer (n = 265). H. pylori infection was confirmed by histology and/or rapid urease test. In addition, 244 patients had a positive 14C-urea breath test prior to antimicrobial treatment. The patients' medical history and smoking habits were obtained using a detailed questionnaire completed by the patients and their referring physicians., Results: There were 337 non-smoking patients, 148 current smokers and 111 past smokers. Gastric and duodenal ulcers were significantly less prevalent in non-smokers than in current or past smokers (gastric 1.8%, 4.1%, 6.3%; duodenal 39.8%, 50%, 51.4%, respectively) (P < 0.05). The incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding was significantly lower in non-smokers than in current or past smokers (7.1%, 8.1% and 20.7%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Bacterial density, as assessed by the UBT value in 244 patients, was higher in non-smokers (mean 352.3 +/- 273 units) than in past smokers (mean 320.8 +/- 199) or current-smokers (mean 229.9 +/- 162) (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that male gender, current smoking, and immigration from developing countries were all significant independent risks for developing duodenal ulcer, while only past smoking was associated with a higher rate of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the past., Conclusions: In H. pylori-positive dyspeptic patients, current smoking as well as male gender and immigration from developing countries are associated with an increased risk for duodenal ulcer. This effect does not seem to be related to the bacterial density or increased urease activity of H. pylori organisms.

Nephrotic syndrome is an uncommon complication of lung cancer. We present a case in which adenocarcinoma was complicated by the nephrotic syndrome, which resolved after resection of the cancer.