[The problem of radiation exposure during radiography of the entire spine]. / Zur Frage der Strahlenexposition bei Ganzaufnahmen der Wirbelsäule.

The stimulus for this investigation concerning radiation exposure during radiography of the spine, particularly in children with scoliosis, is the fact that there are no data in the literature. In 16 series of measurements we studied the effect of grids, kilovoltage, focus-film distance and film-screen systems using dosimeters. The use of grids led to a 5-7 times increase in radiation dose compared with exposures without grids. For this reason grids are not recommended for serial examinations in cases of scoliosis. It is easier to evaluate the spine on a single large film than on several small films and radiation dose is also halved. Therefore, the use of large single films is recommended, particularly for children and adolescents.

[Functional hemispheric arousal and egocentric reference. An experimental study in 20 normal subjects]. / Activation fonctionnelle hémisphérique et référence égocentrique. Etude expérimentale chez 20 sujets normaux.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of each hemispheric functional arousal (right or left) on the designation of a subjective egocentric reference. The subjective designation of a egocentric reference was measured and compared in 20 right-handers healthy volunteers in cognitive tasks concerning either the right or the left hemisphere. The location of the egocentric reference was different during right or left hemispheric arousal. The hemispheric arousal induce a displacement of the egocentric reference to the contralateral space. These results are compared with clinical and neurophysiological studies and suggest new explorations to the mechanisms of heminegligence.

Effects of vasopressin and desmopressin on memory. A double-blind study in 40 healthy volunteers.

In a study involving 40 healthy student volunteers, 10 subjects were given lysine vasopressin at a dose of 0.4 ml (23 IU) per day in 3 divided doses for 15 days by the nasal route. Ten subjects were given desmopressin at a dose of 0.2 ml (20 micrograms) per day in a single dose for 15 days by the nasal route. Twenty subjects were given placebo by the nasal route. Memory tests were conducted under the same conditions before and after treatment (verbal span, verbal retention, visual retention, visual learning, verbal learning). Only the contents of the tests were varied, so as to avoid familiarity. Statistical analysis did not show any significant change in the scores between the first and the second series of tests, between the two treated groups, or between them studied separately and the control subjects.

[Interhemispheric disconnection syndrome in glioma of the posterior part of the corpus callosum]. / Le syndrome de disconnexion interhémisphérique au cours des gliomes de la partie postérieure du corps calleux.

The syndrome of interhemispheric disconnexion has been systematically researched in 10 cases of medial and posterior callosal tumours. The cases have been documented with CT Scann and two of them were anatomically verified. Two had a complete disconnexion syndrome; another, whose lesion was situated on the forceps major, had no sign of disconnexion. In the others, the semiology was proportional to the extent of the tumour, sometimes minimal and in this case, only corresponding to an extinction of the left ear in the dichotic test, which therefore appeared in our series as the most constant sign of a transfer-trouble. Among the other signs, left tactile anomia was found in two patients, left ideomotor apraxia in three, left visual anomia in five. Seven patients had a right constructional apraxia, which was bilateral in five of them. Left agraphia was noted in five patients, among which three had also a right hand dysgraphia, whose physiopathology is discussed. Tactile alexia was noted in three patients, two had a trouble of somesthesic information's transfer, one had a pure alexia (left occipital lesion plus splenium). Signs of hemispheric independence were uncommon: one patient presented a "foreign-hand sign".

[Confabulatory anomia from visual and tactile agnosia in a case of multi-infarct dementia. Neuropsychological study (author's transl)]. / Anomie fabulante par agnosie visuelle et tactile au cours d'une démence artériopathique. Etude neuropsychologique.

Observation of a patient suffering from a double softening of the brain (inner side of right temporal lobe, left occipital lobe). Clinically, Korsakoff's syndrome, right quadranopsia, pure alexia, tactile and visual agnosia concerning objects, colors and faces. Relative integrity of elementary perceptions (matching tests), impairments of stimulus identification (Lissauer's associative agnosia). Phenomena of sensoriphasic interactions are reported: normal speech in conversation, contrasting with confabulant anomia when naming or describing visual or tactile stimuli: then, escaping the control of sight, a relative "autonomy" of speech appears, with word perseverations and semantic "slipping" and filiations. Discussion of optical aphasia.