Lower prolactin bioactivity in unmedicated schizophrenic patients.

In previous work, prolactin (PRL) abnormalities of a lower bioassay (BA) to radioimmunoassay (RIA) ratio were found in schizophrenic patients. This line of research was extended in seven male patients with schizophrenia who were neuroleptic-free; seven male control subjects were also studied. PRL values were assessed by RIA and Nb(2) BA techniques. The schizophrenic group had a significantly lower PRL BA as compared to normal controls and a lower PRL ratio of BA/RIA. The lower ratio is consistent with an earlier finding and suggests that schizophrenic patients have different molecular forms of PRL than control subjects. This difference could be due to a disordered tuberoinfundibular dopamine system or the long-term effects of neuroleptic medications.

Experience with 141 tibial lengthenings in poliomyelitis and comparison of 3 different methods.

Three different distraction devices were investigated for the treatment of leg-length discrepancy caused by poliomyelitis in 144 patients. The average leg-length discrepancy was 5.2 cm and lengthening obtained 4.8 cm. For tibial leg-lengthening. Anderson's apparatus was used in 50 patients; an external fixator device (developed in Shafa Rehabilitation Hospital) was used in 40 patients; and the Wagner apparatus was used in 51 patients. The incidence of major complications was low in all 3 groups. The overall failure rate was 4%. There were no significant differences in the final results among the 3 groups. However, preference is given to the Wagner device because of its practical advantages.

An improved technique for allogeneic hip joint implantations.

A new technique which has been developed for the allogeneic hip-joint transplantation to enable minutely accurate processing of donor and recipient femoral head, neck, and hip-joints is dependent upon the manual skill of the surgeon. The donor and recipient parts had to be made congruent by free hand fitting. Even the most experienced surgeon cannot produce perfect form congruity of the whole contact surface between donor and recipient parts. The foregoing article presents new instruments and the techniques for 0.5 mm precision fit. An ideal fit of donor and recipient parts represents an important prerequisite for successful allogeneic joint implantations and accounts for improvement in previous results from such operations. Obviously, the cell-devitalized cold-conserved joints cannot produce optimum or permanent results, but can be implanted as an alternative to arthrosis in patients in vary young age groups. Further research on viable cartilage and bone in joint implantations await new advances in immunology and tissue typing.