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The lack of trunk muscle strength and endurance has frequently been cited as a suspected factor in the etiology of low-back pain. Several investigators have suggested that asymptomatic patients have stronger trunk muscles than patients with low-back pain. People who are physically fit appear to have a decreased incidence of low-back pain. Increased trunk muscle endurance also have been observed to decrease the incidence of low-back pain. The objective evaluation of the strength and endurance of trunk musculature may, therefore, be significant. Part 1 of this study was designed to develop a reproducible strength-endurance screening procedure and to establish normal isometric-isokinetic trunk muscle strength and endurance parameters for women. This study showed that isometric trunk flexion varied from 19-109 Nm and trunk extension from 38-168 Nm. Peak values for isokinetic trunk flexion at two speeds (30 degrees per second and 60 degrees per second) varied from 17-191 Nm and isokinetic trunk extension from 14-208 Nm. The average endurance time for trunk extensors tested with the Sorensen test was 196 seconds.

Localized exposure of the neonatal rat brain to X-rays produces neuronal hypoplasia specific to the granule cell layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. This brain damage causes locomotor hyperactivity, slowed acquisition of passive avoidance tasks and long bouts of spontaneous turning (without reversals) in a bowl apparatus. Here we report how these behavioral deficits change as a function of subject aging and behavioral test replications. Portions of the neonatal rat cerebral hemispheres were X-irradiated in order to selectively damage the granule cells of the dentate gyrus. The brains of experimental animals received a fractionated dose of X rays (13 Gy total) over postnatal days 1 to 16 and control animals were sham-irradiated. Rats between the ages of 71-462 days were tested 3 separate times on each of the following 3 behavioral tests: 1) spontaneous locomotion, 2) passive avoidance acquisition, and 3) spontaneous circling in a large plastic hemisphere. Rats with radiation-induced damage to the fascia dentata exhibited long bouts of slow turns without reversals. Once they began, irradiated subjects perseverated in turning to an extent significantly greater than sham-irradiated control subjects. This irradiation effect was significant during all test series. Moreover, in time, spontaneous perseverative turning was significantly potentiated in rats with hippocampal damage but increased only slightly in controls. Early radiation exposure produced locomotor hyperactivity in young rats. While activity levels of controls remained fairly stable throughout the course of the experiment, the hyperactivity of the irradiated animals decreased significantly as they matured.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In evaluating these trends in the East-West comparison, one notes that the epidemiologic features connoting high risk are similar in both cultures; while they are more common in the West, they are more strongly associated in the East. Clearly, a prospective interview method of obtaining reproductive data will be more informative for such a crosscultural study with greater numbers lending better support. In summary, there exists a grouping of reproductive phenomena fairly common in Western societies that are related to higher risk for endometrial cancer, and we have noted similar characteristics in Eastern women who have developed this disease, while control groups in Eastern societies where this disease is uncommon have a low profile for such attributes in comparison to the West.

Recent studies have suggested an adverse impact on disease progression and survival in patients with prostatic cancer who undergo transurethral resection (TURP). Four hundred fifteen patients with prostatic carcinoma were reported to a Tumor Registry from 1965 to 1971. Of these, 184 charts had sufficient follow-up data to assess the impact of TURP in each stage of prostatic cancer. In Stage A the five-year survival difference between the TURP group (87.5%) and the open prostatectomy group (88%) was not significant (P = 0.54). In Stage B the five-year survival difference between the TURP group (38.7%) and the needle biopsy group (68%) was significant (P = 0.02). In Stages C and D there was no significant difference in survival between the TURP group and the needle biopsy group (P = 0.44 and P = 0.2, respectively). Our data reinforce the importance of diagnosing Stage B prostatic cancer preoperatively when curative treatment modalities may be utilized and TURP avoided. Finally, in advanced stages TURP may be efficacious in relieving prostatic obstruction while not adversely influencing survival.

Two insulin-dependent diabetic adults were exposed to a blood glucose discrimination training program. Following baseline, during which subjects estimated their blood glucose levels twice daily, subjects received immediate feedback regarding the accuracy of their estimates. The procedure resulted in a large increase in accuracy of blood glucose level estimation. The implications of the findings were discussed.

ALS is the most common of the various MNDs, which also include the clinical entities of PBP, PMA, and PLS. Mean age of onset of ALS is 57 years, and there is a sex predilection for men in a ratio of 1.5:1. Area of first symptom is in the lower extremity is 36 per cent of cases, in the upper extremity in 32 per cent, and 25 per cent of patients have a bulbar onset. Motor cranial nerves in the lower brain stem from cranial nerve nuclei or corticobulbar tract degeneration are affected. This results in symptoms of speech and swallowing difficulty and emotional lability in up to 60 per cent of cases. One hundred per cent of cases have motor weakness, over 90 per cent have muscle atrophy and fasciculations, and 47 per cent have spasticity. There seems to be a pattern of progression of ALS signs and symptoms based on area of onset with LLE involvement tending to follow RLE weakness, LUE weakness following RUE onset, and RUE involvement following next in patients whose onset is bulbar. Significant numbers of ALS patients had sparing of involvement of parts of the body for follow-up times approaching 3 years. Although the majority of patients experience a deterioration that is significantly linear, seven of 28 patients or 25 per cent achieved a plateau lasting a minimum of 9 months. Survival in our series was 4.08 years for all forms of MND.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Several studies have shown positive correlations between muscle strength, flexibility, and the frequency of low-back pain. Weak trunk musculature and decreased endurance have thereby come to be identified as significant risk factors in the development of occupational back problems. Because it is widely accepted that exercise plays an important role in the conservative treatment and prevention of low-back pain, the goals of most rehabilitative programs involves improving the strength and endurance of the low-back pain patient. Whereas electrical stimulation has been shown to increase the muscle strength of the lower extremities, this effect has not been demonstrated for the trunk muscles. Part 2 is a prospective controlled study designed to document and to compare objectively the effects of electrical stimulation and exercise on trunk muscle strength. A total of 117 healthy women were divided randomly into four groups. Two groups received electrical stimulation with different electrical parameters, one group received exercises, and one group acted as a control group. The results showed that low-frequency electrical stimulation and exercises significantly (P less than .05) increased isokinetic back-muscle strength compared to the control and medium-high-frequency electrical stimulation groups. Both types of electrical stimulation, however, significantly increased (P less than .05) the endurance in the back muscles compared with the control and the exercise groups. This study showed that electrical stimulation may be a valuable treatment in the early care of low-back pain patients in maintaining and increasing strength and endurance of back muscles when a more active exercise program is too painful to perform.