Postal questionnaires have the potential to detect OA in the community. The clinical diagnosis can be confirmed by a trained metrologist. Further evaluation of this instrument is warranted in other populations.

survivors ofthis second cohort were re-examined at the ages of 75 and 79 (220 men, 318 women; participation rate 82%). Our study deals with a subsample of the 79 year olds from cohort II and a subsample of 85 year olds, including survivors of the original first cohort and 85 year olds invited and examined for the first time. SAMPLINGThe design and sampling have previously been described"2"4 in detail. In summary, the sample of 70 year olds (cohort I) in 1971-72 was consecutively assigned numbers from 1 to 5 in order to permit subsampling. These 'proband figures' were unchanged throughout the longitudinal study. The last invited 85 year olds were assigned numbers 11 to 13. All 85 year olds were interviewed about joint complaints. Probands numbered 3, 5, and 13 were selected for clinical joint examination and radiographic examination of the wrists, hands, and knee joints. In this report only the interviews on the probands selected for joint exination are referred to.

The aim of this study was to estimate and compare the costs of open right hemicolectomy (ORHC) versus laparoscopically assisted right hemicolectomy (LARHC) performed for cancer. A retrospective cost analysis of 61 consecutive patients operated on between January 1992 and August 1994 for right-sided colonic cancer by either LARHC (n = 28) or ORHC (n = 33) was performed. The analysis focused on the cost (in Australian dollars) incurred from the date of operation to the date of discharge. LARHC was significantly more expensive than ORHC (total cost LARHC $9064, ORHC $7881; p < 0.001). LARHC was associated with a significantly longer operating room utilization time (LARHC 261 minutes, ORHC 203 minutes; p < 0.001) and a greater cost of disposables (LARHC $854, ORHC $189; p < 0.001). This study demonstrates no cost benefit for LARHC compared to ORHC when performed for cancer.

The values obtained for plasma holotranscobalamin showed a better correlation with possible malabsorption than the values obtained for plasma cobalamins. The specificity of the test, however, needs to be elucidated further.