Subject(s)
Addison Disease/pathology , Adrenoleukodystrophy/pathology , Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis of Schilder/pathology , Neuromuscular Diseases/pathology , Addison Disease/genetics , Adrenal Cortex/pathology , Adrenoleukodystrophy/genetics , Adult , Humans , Male , Peripheral Nerves/pathology , Spinal Cord/pathologySubject(s)
Alcoholism/complications , Arteriosclerosis/etiology , Obesity/etiology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , RiskABSTRACT
An investigation of the staff of a car assembly plant (3,351 persons) revealed a similarity between the change in relative body weight and diastolic blood pressure with age. There is a good temporal correlation between the course of alcohol consumption during life and the change of the relative body weight. German women had significantly less blood pressure for the same relative body weight than German men, and foreign employees had lower blood pressure than Germans. In both cases the main cause is the difference in alcohol consumption. Besides obesity and hereditary factors, alcohol is the main cause of "essential" hypertension today. Epidemiological and experimental data indicate that there are two ways from alcohol to high blood pressure, a more direct one and an indirect one via obesity. Alcohol causes obesity via a change in metabolism (hyperinsulinism) rather than by higher caloric intake. In both ways alcohol is an important cause of stroke. To reduce body weight and blood pressure, a reduction of alcohol consumption should be recommended in addition to reduced caloric intake and increased physical activity as means of preventive neurology.
Subject(s)
Alcohol Drinking , Cerebrovascular Disorders/etiology , Hypertension/etiology , Obesity/etiology , Adult , Age Factors , Blood Pressure , Body Weight , Cerebral Infarction/etiology , Energy Intake , Feeding Behavior , Female , Humans , Hyperinsulinism/etiology , Insulin/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/complications , Risk , SmokingSubject(s)
Hypertension/epidemiology , Transients and Migrants , Adult , Age Factors , Body Weight , Europe/ethnology , Female , Germany, West , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Turkey/ethnologySubject(s)
Brain/abnormalities , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Humans , Infant , Microcephaly/diagnosis , Seizures/complicationsABSTRACT
The employees of a vehicle factory (3351 persons) were examined for high blood pressure, over-weight and stress effects. Blood pressure increased with over-weight and age. However, over-weight increased with age up to 50 years. Furthermore, hypertension could generally be calculated from an increase in over-weight: this effect started already at a young age. The effect of age began at normal body-weight after 50 years and concerned systolic pressure (decreased elasticity of the windkessel arteries). The diastolic pressure increased, age-dependent, earlier, but at normal weight remained below 90 mm Hg. On single blood pressure measurement, 25% of subjects had a blood pressure above 160/95, 51% above 140/90 mm Hg. Among those under 20 years, 25% had a blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg. The higher the initial level of pressure at a young age, the greater the later increase in blood pressure. Since the risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular complications steeply increases from 140/90 mm Hg and treatment of the milder (limit of normal) hypertension maintains patients well for longer, it is recommended that hypertension should be treated if on three measurements the pressure averages above 140/90 mm Hg. Pressure of 150/90 mm Hg is taken as a normal limit only in those above 60 years. Treatment of mild essential hypertension should at first be dietary: reduction of body weight, of salt intake and of alcohol consumption.
Subject(s)
Hypertension/epidemiology , Obesity/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology , Female , Germany, West , Humans , Hypertension/diet therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Risk , Stress, Psychological/complicationsABSTRACT
The staff of a motor works (3351 persons) were investigated for blood pressure, body height, body weight, and noise stress, noise related hearing impairment, piece work, heavy duty work, leadership responsibility and shift work. There were no correlations between these industrial stressors with blood pressure. The main factors for blood pressure increases were overweight, age, ethnic background and gender. Treatment must thus be aimed at preventive care of nutrition. Overweight must be kept off and salt and alcohol consumption must be reduced.
Subject(s)
Hypertension/etiology , Adult , Age Factors , Circadian Rhythm , Ethnicity , Female , Humans , Male , Noise, Occupational , Obesity/complications , Occupational Diseases/etiology , Sex Factors , WorkABSTRACT
Two CT scans have been performed on a child with a biochemically confirmed 3-HMG-CoA-lyase deficiency. Macrocephalus, widespread hypodensity of the white matter with cystic alterations and progressive dilatation of the ventricles were found. The clinical features and CT findings are surprisingly similar to findings in patients with spongy degeneration (Canavan).
Subject(s)
Brain Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Oxo-Acid-Lyases/deficiency , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Acyl Coenzyme A/deficiency , Brain Diseases/enzymology , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Leucine/metabolism , Meglutol/analogs & derivatives , Meglutol/deficiencyABSTRACT
A non-hereditary slowly progressive neuromuscular disease occuring in a 39-year-old male, consisting of an asymmetrical wasting of the muscles of the shanks, is reported. Neither clinical nor electromyographic criteria can safely distinguish whether a primary neurogenic or a primary myogenic process is causally involved. The initial rise in serum CPK-activity indicates a myopathic origin. The lightmicroscopic aspect of the muscle-biopsy shows a muscular atrophy which resembles a primary neurogenic pattern with grouped clusters of atrophic fibers as well as a myopathic or rather myositic tissue-pattern with randomly scattered atrophic fibers. In addition there are numerous vacuoles which are equivalent to concentric lamellae of dense material in electronmicroscopy. Numerous fibrillary inclusions as well in the cytoplasm as in the cell-nucleus correspond to typical alterations in the so-called "inclusion body myositis". The disease is critically discussed as a nosological entity among neuromuscular disorders.
Subject(s)
Inclusion Bodies , Myositis/diagnosis , Adult , Biopsy , Creatine Kinase/blood , Electromyography , Humans , Male , Microscopy, Electron , Muscles/pathology , Muscles/ultrastructure , Myositis/enzymology , Myositis/pathology , Vacuoles/ultrastructureABSTRACT
Reflex, instinct and voluntary movements of the face and the upper limbs, especially those between hand and mouth show a widespread interrelationship. Little is known of the neurophysiological pathways involved. One of these interrelated reflexes which is easily elicited clinically, is the palmomental reflex (PMR). This reflex has proved to be of use as a screening test for cerebral lesions damage: a lateralized, increased, or inexhaustable PMR indicates the presence of a contralateral lesion of the pyramidal or extra-pyramidal system. The aim of the following study was to find a practicable method of stimulation and detection in order to examine and define the normal reflex response. Our investigation shows that one can define the neurographic parameters of the normal reflex response. Hence it should be possible to compare these results with findings in patients with lesions of the nervous system. Our methods are described and the results discussed as are the indications for palmomental electrography (PMEG).
