[Use of the Purdue Non-verbal Test in a group of candidates for a driving license]. / Primjena Purdue neverbalnog testa u izboru kandidata za vozace.

The Purdue nonverbal test (PNT) was used to analyze intellectual abilities of 500 candidates for a driving license. The candidates were divided in five age groups of 100 subjects in each: 16-19, 20-24, 25-39, 40-54, and over 54. The distribution of result differs greatly from the normal distribution (P < 0.01) for all age groups of candidates. The distribution of the results of the candidates over 54 is positively asymmetric, while the distribution of the results of all other age groups is negatively asymmetric. These results suggest that the PNT is poor in discrimination. The percentage of candidates categorized according to the PNT as "capable for handling a motor vehicle" was higher than expected, while the percentage of candidates categorized as of "limited capability" was below expectations. According to these criteria, no candidate was found "incapable", which is in sharp nonconformity with the expected 5 per cent (5%). The above results indicate that the screening of candidates according to the criteria of intellectual ability is inadequate because of inadequate criteria, especially those which are supposed to determine borderline and lower intellectual ability. The results of the research show that admission of candidates whose intellectual ability borders or is below intellectual insufficiency parameters renders inadequate the prevention of risks in traffic. The risk in traffic is expected to increases with every single driving license issued to a person whose intellectual ability is inadequate for safe driving.

[The obstruction syndrome in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma]. / Opstrukcijski sindrom u bolesnika sa bronhogenim karcinomom.

In the period 1985-1990, 760 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma have been examined and treated at the Clinic of Lung Diseases of the Military Medical Academy. Obstruction syndrome was found in 64% of patients of whom 21% with severe obstruction. Pulmonary insufficiency, most commonly of milder, partial type, was found in 19% of patients. Due to the limited lung function as a consequence of chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) 45 patients with locally demarcated tumours were not operated, surgical resection was not possible. In the operated patients with obstruction syndrome the risk of postoperative complications was increased. COLD and limited lung function most commonly had not been the obstacle for application of radiotherapy of bronchogenic carcinoma.

[Decortication of the lung in the treatment of nonspecific pleural empyema]. / Dekortikacija pluca u lecenju nespecificnih empijema pleure.

In the period 1986-1990 at the Clinic of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery 86 patients with nonspecific pleural empyema were treated. There were 18 men and one woman, mean age of 35.6 years. Causes of empyema have been the following: pleuropneumonia (10 patients), chest trauma (2), iatrogenic pleural infection (2), spontaneous pneumothorax (2), mediastinitis (1) and pleural infection per continuitatem (2). The authors consider that decortication should be performed as early as possible, immediately after stabilization of acute signs of infection. The optimal time for surgery is from to six hours since the onset of the disease.