[Psychometric evaluation of the effects of an almitrine-raubasine combination in the intellectual deterioration of aged subjects. A double-blind controlled trial versus placebo]. / Evaluation psychométrique des effets de l'association almitrine-raubasine dans l'affaiblissement intellectuel du sujet âgé. Essai contrôlé à double insu contre placebo.

The clinical and psychometric evaluation of a drug to be used against the intellectual deterioration associated with cerebral aging is of obvious interest when carried out on ambulatory subjects, since the symptoms likely to be reduced are found in elderly people usually living at home. Thirty-six patients (18 male, 18 female; mean age 65.5 +/- 1.7 years) were selected and allocated at random to two treatment groups. They received during 2 months 80 drops per day in two doses of either an almitrine-raubasine combination or a placebo. Patients definitely entered the trial when Hachinski's score for ischaemia was equal or inferior to 7. They were evaluated at zero, 1 and 2 months by means of 3 performance tests (Toulouse-Pieron test, Tapping test, numbers memorization test) and 2 mood tests (Hamilton's scale, Zung's questionnaire). All mean scores of recognition tests were statistically improved in the almitrine-raubasine group after 2 months of treatment. Compared with the placebo group, the improvement in the almitrine-raubasine group was significant at 1 month for 3 medium scores (symbols omitted, taping, numbers in normal order) and for all scores at 2 months. The psycho-behavioural symptoms evaluated by the two mood scores were significantly improved in the almitrine-raubasine group (P less than 0.001) and in comparison to the placebo group after 1 and 2 months (P less than 0.001). These results concerning intellectual performance and mood demonstrate that the almitrine-raubasine combination is useful in the treatment of intellectual deterioration in elderly people living at home.

The influence of extra load on the mechanical behavior of skeletal muscle.

Eleven international jumpers and throwers engaged in year round training were divided into experimental (n = 6) and control (n = 5) groups. The experimental group was tested before and after a 3 weeks simulated hypergravity period, and again 4 weeks after the hypergravity period. The high gravity condition was created by wearing a vest weighing about 13% of the subjects body weight. The vest was worn from morning to evening including the training sessions, and only removed during sleep. The daily training of all subjects consisted of classical weight training and jumping drills. No changes in the ordinary training program were allowed in the experimental group, except for the use of the vest. Vertical jumps, drop jumps and a 15 s continuous jumping test were used to measure the explosive power characteristics of the subjects. After the hypergravity period the experimental subjects demonstrated significant (5-10%, P less than 0.05-0.01) improvements in most of the variables studied: however, 4 weeks after cessation of the high gravity period they tended to return towards the starting values. No changes were observed in the results of the control group. The improvement observed in the experimental subjects was explained as fast adaptation to the simulated high gravity field. It is suggested that adaptation had occurred both in neuromuscular functions and in metabolic processes.