As initial intravenous treatment for overt generalized convulsive status epilepticus, lorazepam is more effective than phenytoin. Although lorazepam is no more efficacious than phenobarbital or diazepam plus phenytoin, it is easier to use.

The inhibitory action of botulinum toxin is not limited to the neuromuscular junction. The toxin also blocks the autonomic cholinergic fibres, including the sympathetic fibres to sweat glands. We have previously demonstrated that the toxin produces localized anhidrosis. To determine the dosage, pattern and duration of the anhidrotic effect of botulinum toxin and to test the efficacy of axillary injections, we further studied seven healthy volunteers. Two individuals had subcutaneous injections of botulinum toxin (20 mouse units, Dysport-Porton Products) in the dorsum of the hand. Five healthy volunteers had 15-50U of botulinum toxin A (Botox) injected in one axilla. A circular area of complete anhidrosis on the dorsum of the hand was evident on day 2 and persisted for 11 months. By day 3, two of the axillae (injected with 50 U each) were totally dry and in one (injected with 30 U) the sweating was substantially reduced. The effect persisted for 6-8 months before wearing off. No effect was appreciated in two axillae (injected with 15 and 20 U). No significant side-effects were encountered. Subcutaneous injections of botulinum toxin causes chemodenervation of the sweat glands. In normal individuals axillary sweating can be abolished by 50 U of botulinum toxin A (Botox). The results offer a possible novel treatment for severe cases of axillary hyperhidrosis.

The work deduces orientational order parameters in the nematic and twist-bend nematic phases. An homologous series of dimers is studied using Polarized Raman Spectroscopy.

The optical behaviour of surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal samples cannot be described using a uniform director profile. The simplest model based on the chevron layer structure and the surface alignment is a triangular director profile. Analytical expressions for the resulting transmitted light were calculated using the Jones matrix formalism and fitted to experimental data results of a smectic-C host made using an optical multichannel analyser (OMA). This simple model gives an excellent fit, with results that are consistent with X-ray measurements of the chevron structure.

Lipid coated liquid crystal droplets have been trapped in a novel trap structure for the on-chip detection of a model antimicrobial peptide – Smp43, an α-helical peptide from Scorpion Venom.

In the Intraoperative Hypothermia for Aneurysm Surgery Trial, neither systemic hypothermia nor supplemental protective drug affected short- or long-term neurologic outcomes of patients undergoing temporary clipping.

Abstract:Presbyopia is an age-related disorder where the lens of the eye hardens so that focusing on near objects becomes increasingly difficult. This complaint affects everyone over the age of 50. It is becoming progressively more relevant, as the average age of the global population continues to rise. Bifocal or varifocal spectacles are currently the best solution for those that require near and far vision correction. However, many people prefer not to wear spectacles and while multifocal contact lenses are available, they are not widely prescribed and can require significant adaptation by wearers. One possible solution is to use liquid crystal contact lenses that can change focal power by applying a small electric field across the device. However, the design of these contact lenses must be carefully considered as they must be comfortable for the user to wear and able to provide the required change in focal power (usually about +2D). Progress towards different lens designs, which includes lens geometry, liquid crystal choices and suitable alignment modes, are reviewed. Furthermore, we also discuss suitable electrode materials, possible power sources and suggest some methods for switching the lenses between near and far vision correction.

Background and Purpose: We sought to determine whether the recently reported decreased incidence of stroke and atherosclerotic disease in a university hospital-based Parkinson's disease patient population would be demonstrated in our patient population.Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control review of the last 119 Parkinson's disease patients discharged from the Middleton Veterans Affairs Hospital Neurology Service to study the incidence of ischemic stroke, myocardial ischemia, tobacco use, and other stroke risk factors. Controls were age and sex matched and were randomly taken from 238 non-Parkinson's disease discharges in which stroke or myocardial infarction was not the reason for hospitalization.Results: The cumulative incidences of ischemic stroke, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were not significantly different between groups. Myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, tobacco use, atrial fibrillation, cancer, and ethanol abuse were significantly more prevalent in the controls, whereas dementia and congestive heart failure were the only variables studied that were more prevalent in the Parkinson's disease patients.Conclusions: Our study failed to demonstrate that Parkinson's disease patients from a Veteran population were protected from ischemic stroke. (Stroke 1992^3:839-842) KEY WORDS • cerebral ischemia • Parkinson disease • risk factors