[Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome as the cause of atypical depression]. / Obstruktives Schlaf-Apnoe-Syndrom als Ursache einer atypischen Depression.

Sleep apnoea is a common disorder presenting with somatic comorbidities and psychiatric symptoms. This case report describes a 43-year-old man with an organic depressive disorder due to obstructive sleep apnoea. Initially, an atypical depressive episode or schizophrenic residual syndrome had been considered likely diagnoses; subsequent polysomnography results, however, suggested obstructive sleep apnoea instead. Upon nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP), the respiratory distress symptoms improved. The case report highlights the association between sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms. In patients presenting with symptoms of atypical depression and excess body weight sleep apnoea should be considered.

On the "general acceptance" of eyewitness testimony research. A new survey of the experts.

In light of recent advances, this study updated a prior survey of eyewitness experts (S. M. Kassin, P. C. Ellsworth, & V. L. Smith, 1989). Sixty-four psychologists were asked about their courtroom experiences and opinions on 30 eyewitness phenomena. By an agreement rate of at least 80%, there was a strong consensus that the following phenomena are sufficiently reliable to present in court: the wording of questions, lineup instructions, confidence malleability, mug-shot-induced bias, postevent information, child witness suggestibility, attitudes and expectations, hypnotic suggestibility, alcoholic intoxication, the crossrace bias, weapon focus, the accuracy-confidence correlation, the forgetting curve, exposure time, presentation format, and unconscious transference. Results also indicate that these experts set high standards before agreeing to testify. Despite limitations, these results should help to shape expert testimony so that it more accurately represents opinions in the scientific community.

[Otoacoustic emissions in diabetic patients with normal hearing]. / Otoakustische Emissionen bei normalhörenden Diabetikern.

INTRODUCTION: Transitorily evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) are a recognised clinical tool for neonatal screening. TEOAE also provide evidence of subclinical cochlear damage in diabetic patients. METHOD: TEOAE of 60 patients with well managed diabetes (IDDM) and normal hearing (no value worse than 20 dB (SD 3.943 dB), normal ABR) were compared with TEOAE of 58 normally hearing controls of the same age. RESULTS: IDDM patients had a mean response of 7.13 dB (SD 3.943 dB), while the control group had a response of 11.56 dB (SD 4.402 dB). DISCUSSION: Significantly worse TEOAE scores were demonstrated in the diabetic patients who had normal hearing, as demonstrated on puretone audiometry. This would suggest that hair-cell damage may occur in the diabetic patient even though hearing loss is not demonstrated.

[Frozen section diagnosis using telepathology]. / Schnellschnittuntersuchung mittels Telepathologie.

DEFINITION: Since 1992 we transfer digitalized frozen section images by means of videomicroscope and a personal computer through the public telephone network (ISDN) to the Institut of Pathology at the University Hospital in Basel. The aim of this study is to determine whether the quality of frozen section diagnosis obtained by telepathology is comparable to the conventional one. METHOD: The frozen section diagnoses by telepathology from Oct. 1992 to May 1996 (n = 94) are compared to the paraffin sections performed in each case after the primary examination. The result is then compared to the well documented data of conventional frozen section diagnosis in the literature. RESULTS: From Oct. 1992 to May 1996 we performed 94 frozen sections. In 84 cases the diagnosis was correct compared to the paraffin section (89%). The sensitivity to detect a malignant tumor was 92%, the specifity 100%. Four examinations were not conclusive and one examination had to be canceled because of technical problems. DISCUSSION: In the literature, 92% of malignancy is diagnosed by conventional frozen section [1]. Telepathology gives the same result.

Non-contact applications of Nd:YAG laser in nasal surgery.

Since its introduction into clinical medicine in 1976 the Nd:YAG laser has found its use also in nasal surgery. One hundred and twenty-two patients with different lesions of the nasal mucosa and skin (septal angiectasies, benign and malignant tumors, port wine stains, verrucas, etcetera) were treated with Nd:YAG laser. We employed the non-contact technique using focussing handpiece of the coagulation Nd:YAG laser MediLas 2 from MBB Company with an output power of 100 W. all patients were treated on an out-patient basis. Depending on the size, quality and site of the lesion different power and exposure time of laser application is used. The results show very good functional and cosmetic effect in 95% of cases. The ideal power and exposure settings for every type of lesions in the nasal region are discussed.

Adaptive Behavior Scale: development as a diagnostic tool via discriminant analysis.

The multidimensional nature of behavior often causes a dilemma for the diagnostician who must interpret inconsistent behavior. Three classifications of 6- through 12-year-old children were evaluated on the public school version of the Adaptive Behavior Scale by their teachers. Of the 388 nonretarded, 115 EMR, and 85 TMR children, 86 percent were correctly identified via 12-variable classification functions. The results indicate that further development of an adaptive behavior instrument would be desirable as a cost-efficient and powerful diagnostic tool.