Health risk factors and mortality in Pécs City, Hungary in the 1990s.

In the period of 1990-1994 an increase of all causes mortality for 35-74 years old males was observed both in Pécs and in all Hungary. From 1994 to 1997 the mortality decreased. Similar changes, but of smaller dimension, were observed in the female population. The increasing mortality of the early 1990s is attributed primarily to the extra psycho-social stress of this period. The data of the population survey at Pécs in 1995-96 were compared to the data of earlier surveys. The mean blood total cholesterol levels and the prevalence of smoking decreased from 1990 to 1996. The prevalence of hypertension and male obesity increased. Physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and lack of improvement of diet still represent significant health problems. High prevalence of increased gamma-glutamyl transferase indicate high prevalence of excess alcohol consumption. The risk factor profile of 18-25 year old males is very unfavourable. Smoking prevalence in females aged 26-35 years exceeds that of males of the same age group. Preventive efforts should be focused to young males and females.

Carpal tunnel syndrome in Mucopolysaccharidoses. A report of four cases in child.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is very uncommon in childhood. Sixty-five cases are reported in the literature, principally due to metabolic diseases. In Mucopolysaccharidoses, prospective studies (Wraith and Alani, 1990) found a bilateral CTS in about 90%. We report four cases of Mucopolysaccharidoses, diagnosed on clinical and biological data (two cases of Hurler disease, and two cases of Hunter disease), in children aged less than five years. Each child had claw hands, without thenar atrophy. Median nerve conduction studies and electromyography confirm the CTS. Motor and sensory nerve conductions are normal in other nerves. Concentric needle studies show in two cases, on abductor pollicis brevis, spontaneous activities as repetitive discharges, fasciculations and multiplets. Median nerve stimulations reveal responses with late potentials during 70 ms due to reinnervation. The physiopathology of those carpal tunnel syndromes is discussed.

[Treatment of Wilson's disease with zinc. 5 cases]. / Traitement de la maladie de Wilson par le zinc. Cinq cas.

Zinc treatment of Wilson's disease was introduced by Schouwink en 1961 and is still uncommon in France. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of zinc in 5 patients with Wilson's disease aged from 19 to 40 years. There were three neurological, one hepatic and one asymptomatic cases. Zinc was administered in doses of 120 to 272 mg/day, alone in 3 cases and combined with D-penicillamine in 2 cases. After 1 to 7 years of zinc therapy, our experience is consistent with data from recent literature and provides further evidence of zinc effectiveness. Zinc may be prescribed as first treatment in most patients, including asymptomatic cases. The only exception concerns patients with severe symptoms in whom it is recommended to combine zinc with D-penicillamine during the early phase of treatment for more rapid effectiveness. Because of its safety, zinc is particularly indicated in cases of intolerance to D-penicillamine and trien.