Modified Medical Research Council Grade Research Articles

Prevalence of and factors associated with cognitive frailty in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A cross-sectional study.

The status of cognitive frailty in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its influencing factors in China remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with cognitive frailty in elderly patients with COPD. This cross-sectional study enrolled elderly patients with stable COPD between May and November 2022 from the Respiratory Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Convenience sampling method was adopted. Frailty Phenotype scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Clinical Dementia Rating scale were used to assess the prevalence of cognitive frailty in elderly patients with COPD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore the associated factors. A total of 406 valid questionnaires were collected, and 173 patients (35.6%) had cognitive frailty. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that sex (odds ratio [OR] = 0.009; 95%CI: 0.001-0.770; P = .038), depression (OR = 17.780; 95%CI: 1.092-289.478; P = .043), modified Medical Research Council grade 1-3 (OR = 28.394-4095.683; 95%CI: 1.086-4,592,652.211; P < .05), global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease grade 2 and 3 (OR = 32.508-282.072; 95%CI: 1.101-12,516.874; P < .05), and frequencies of acute exacerbations of COPD and hospitalizations within 1 year of 2 times (OR = 21.907; 95%CI: 4.587-104.622; P < .001) were independently associated with cognitive frailty. The prevalence of cognitive frailty in elderly patients with stable COPD was high. Female, depression, modified Medical Research Council grade, global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease grade, and frequencies of acute exacerbations of COPD and hospitalizations within 1 year might be the factors independently associated with cognitive frailty, educational level might be a protective associated factor for cognitive frailty.

A study to assess the relationship between vitamin D3 levels and the risk of acute exacerbation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the top three causes of mortality worldwide. Vitamin D deficiency in COPD has been associated with poor lung function and decreased muscle power, which further increases the risk of exacerbations. The role of vitamin D in preventing acute exacerbations of COPD has conflicting results in the literature. Hence, we planned this study to assess the relationship between vitamin D3 levels and the risk of acute exacerbations among COPD patients in a tertiary care center in north India. This was a prospective randomized control trial that was performed on 100 consecutive stable COPD patients attending the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital, Solan, India. The patients with subnormal vitamin D3 levels (i.e., less than 30 ng/mL) were divided into the intervention and control groups. Baseline demographic profiles, lung function, COPD assessment test (CAT) score, modified Medical Research Council grade and chest radiology were performed and repeated after 12 months in all these patients. All these parameters were recorded and compared with the baseline values obtained at the beginning of the study. Out of 100 subjects, 96 had vitamin D deficiency, of which 48 were assigned to the intervention group and 48 to the control group. Among the 100 subjects, 74 (74%) were males and 26 (26%) were females, with a mean age of 66.9±9.4 years. The mean vitamin D level was 14.71±6.69 in these 96 patients. The vitamin D level improved after 3 months of supplementation to the mean level of 45.56±16.18 in the intervention group. Vitamin D supplementation was positively correlated with a decrease in the rate of acute exacerbations in the intervention group in terms of reduction in mean CAT score (4.17 in intervention and 1.43 in non-interventional group, p<0.001), number of acute exacerbations (1.7 in intervention and -1.05 in non-interventional group, p<0.001), and number of emergency visits (p=0.0121) during the 9-month period after attainment of a normal vitamin D level. Vitamin D supplementation plays a key role in COPD patients with D3 hypovitaminosis in decreasing COPD acute exacerbations, improving the CAT score, and reducing the number of emergency visits.

Prospective study comparing outcomes of primary intraplexal repair versus distal nerve transfers in Narakas grade I birth brachial plexus palsy.

To compare the results of intraplexal repair and distal nerve transfer in babies with birth brachial plexus palsy (BBPP), children with Narakas group I obstetric palsy were assigned to two groups of 16 each. Children in group A were treated with classical intraplexal repair and those in group B were treated by distal nerve transfers. At 6 months, all the children in group B had achieved Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) grade 3 elbow flexion along with 8 of the 16 children in group A, which was a statistically significant difference. At 6 months, all the children in group B achieved MMRC grade 3 or higher shoulder abduction and 8 of the 16 children in group A had done so, which was also statistically significant. At the final follow-up, the distal transfer surgical treatment group had a significantly higher Mallet score. Distal nerve transfers have a significant advantage in early recovery in elbow flexion and shoulder abduction, but the outcomes became similar after 9 months.Level of evidence: III.

Bilateral Cerebral Infarctions Secondary to Unilateral ICA Stenosis

A 76-year-old diabetic man presented to us with complaints of sudden-onset right-sided weakness for the last 4 days. On evaluation, he was found to have right hemiparesis (Modified Medical Research Council grade 4-/5) along with left leg weakness (4+/5). Neuroimaging revealed acute infarcts in the right anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territory and left cerebral external watershed territory. Magnetic resonance (MR) angiogram of the brain showed a hypoplastic right A1-ACA with bilateral A2-ACA arising from the left A1-ACA (bi-hemispheric A1-ACA). MR angiogram of the neck revealed significant left internal carotid artery (ICA) origin stenosis. It was concluded that the origin of right A2-ACA from left ACA was the probable because of right ACA infarcts, along with left cerebral watershed infarcts (embolic phenomenon). This represents a very important variation, as in these cases, even a unilateral ICA stenosis can lead to bilateral ACA stroke and thus necessitates urgent revascularization.

A study on the safety profile and clinical outcomes in patients using tulobuterol transdermal patch as an add on therapy in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Tulobuterol Transdermal Drug Delivery (TTD) may be beneficial in COPD management. We aimed to study the effect of adding TTD to Triple Inhalation therapy (TI). Participants on TTD and TI (TTD-TI cohort) and, TI only (TI cohort) were identified at the out-patient pharmacy counter. There was no loss to follow-up from 35 participants each enrolled in the cohorts. They were assessed with Modified British Medical Research Council questionnaire (modified Medical Research Council), COPD Control Questionnaire (CCQ) and COPD Assessment Test (CAT). The latter two were repeated at the end of six months. The change in score were compared with Mann-Whitney-U test. Mean age of participants in years was 63.4 and 65.7; 31% and 20% were females and rest were males in TTD-TI and TI cohorts respectively. All of them had modified Medical Research Council grade 2 or above. CCQ and CAT scores were comparable at baseline. Change in both CCQ and CAT scores were statistically significant between the cohorts (p&amp;#60;0.001). Median (minimum, maximum) change in CCQ score were -0.6(-2.8, 0) in TTD-TI cohort and 0.3(-2 to 1.2) in TI cohort. Median (minimum, maximum) change in CAT score were -4(-16, -2) in TTD-TI cohort and 2(-7 to 7) in TI cohort. All of the participants in TTD-TI cohort and, 5(14.3%) and 7(20%) participants improved in TI cohort by CCQ and CAT score respectively. There would be a subjective improvement with addition of tulobuterol transdermal patch on to triple inhalation therapy for older persons with COPD.

Respiratory Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Respiratory Disability: Concepts, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

The condition of muscle fiber atrophy and weakness that occurs in respiratory muscles along with systemic skeletal muscle with age is known as respiratory sarcopenia. The Japanese Working Group of Respiratory Sarcopenia of the Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Nutrition narratively reviews these areas, and proposes the concept and diagnostic criteria. We have defined respiratory sarcopenia as “whole-body sarcopenia and low respiratory muscle mass followed by low respiratory muscle strength and/or low respiratory function.” Respiratory sarcopenia can be caused by various factors such as aging, decreased activity, undernutrition, disease, cachexia, and iatrogenic causes. We have also created an algorithm for diagnosing respiratory sarcopenia. Respiratory function decreases with age in healthy older people, along with low respiratory muscle mass and strength. We have created a new term, “Presbypnea,” meaning a decline in respiratory function with aging. Minor functional respiratory disability due to aging, such as that indicated by a modified Medical Research Council level 1 (troubled by shortness of breath when hurrying or walking straight up hill), is an indicator of presbypnea. We also define sarcopenic respiratory disability as “a disability with deteriorated respiratory function that results from respiratory sarcopenia.” Sarcopenic respiratory disability is diagnosed if respiratory sarcopenia is present with functional disability. Cases of respiratory sarcopenia without functional disability are diagnosed as “at risk of sarcopenic respiratory disability.” Functional disability is defined as a modified Medical Research Council grade of 2 or more. Rehabilitation nutrition, treatment that combines rehabilitation and nutritional management, may be adequate to prevent and treat respiratory sarcopenia and sarcopenic respiratory disability.

Split phenomenon of antagonistic muscle groups in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: relative preservation of flexor muscles

ABSTRACT Objective: In addition to the split hand sign, other split phenomena of different muscles also exist in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We analyzed the incidence of split phenomena in multiple antagonistic muscle groups in ALS patients and explored whether clinical factors affected their occurrence. Methods: 618 ALS patients were included from a single ALS center. Muscle strength in upper and lower limbs was evaluated using the modified Medical Research Council (MRC) scoring system (range from 1 to 13). Split phenomena between different antagonistic muscle groups were summarized, and the correlations with clinical factors were analyzed. Results: Split phenomena were detected in 22.3% antagonistic muscles for flexion and extension of the elbow, 11.9% for the wrist, 23.9% for fingers, 18.2% for the ankle, and 14.7% for toes. These manifestations were characterized by preferential wasting of the elbow, wrist, and finger extensor muscles compared with the flexor muscles, and the ankle and toe dorsiflexor muscles compared with the plantar flexor muscles. The presence of muscle wasting was more common when the muscle strength was stronger than a modified MRC grade 6. No definite correlation was found between split phenomena and clinical factors, including age-at-onset, gender, disease duration, the region of onset, and pyramidal tract damage. Discussion: Split phenomena of antagonistic muscle groups widely exist in ALS patients. No definitive and consistent clinical factors were observed that affected the occurrence of these phenomena.

Abatacept in interstitial lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis: national multicenter study of 263 patients.

To assess the efficacy of abatacept (ABA) in RA patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) (RA-ILD). This was an observational, multicentre study of RA-ILD patients treated with at least one dose of ABA. ILD was diagnosed by high-resolution CT (HRCT). We analysed the following variables at baseline (ABA initiation), 12 months and at the end of the follow-up: Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) scale (1-point change), forced vital capacity (FVC) or diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) (improvement or worsening ≥10%), HRCT, DAS on 28 joints evaluated using the ESR (DAS28ESR) and CS-sparing effect. We studied 263 RA-ILD patients [150 women/113 men; mean (s.d.) age 64.6 (10) years]. At baseline, they had a median duration of ILD of 1 (interquartile range 0.25-3.44) years, moderate or severe degree of dyspnoea (MMRC grade 2, 3 or 4) (40.3%), FVC (% of the predicted) mean (s.d.) 85.9 (21.8)%, DLCO (% of the predicted) 65.7 (18.3) and DAS28ESR 4.5 (1.5). The ILD patterns were: usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (40.3%), non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) (31.9%) and others (27.8%). ABA was prescribed at standard dose, i.v. (25.5%) or s.c. (74.5%). After a median follow-up of 12 (6-36) months the following variables did not show worsening: dyspnoea (MMRC) (91.9%); FVC (87.7%); DLCO (90.6%); and chest HRCT (76.6%). A significant improvement of DAS28ESR from 4.5 (1.5) to 3.1 (1.3) at the end of follow-up (P < 0.001) and a CS-sparing effect from a median 7.5 (5-10) to 5 (2.5-7.5) mg/day at the end of follow-up (P < 0.001) was also observed. ABA was withdrawn in 62 (23.6%) patients due to adverse events (n = 30), articular inefficacy (n = 27), ILD worsening (n = 3) and other causes (n = 2). ABA may be an effective and safe treatment for patients with RA-ILD.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Anemia as Comorbidity in North Indian Population

Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Anemia is seen as a common comorbidity in COPD patients associated with reduced functional capacity, impaired quality of life, greater likelihood of hospitalization, and early mortality. The aim is to study the prevalence of anemia in patients with COPD and to study its association with different parameters.Materials and Methods:In the present case–control study, 150 stable COPD patients were enrolled from the Outpatient Department of Respiratory Medicine, King George Medical University, Lucknow, from October 2015 to January 2017. GraphPad PRISM version 6.01 was used for the analysis of data. Chi-square test was used to compare between the groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The present study showed the prevalence of anemia in COPD patients to be 31.6%. The mean hemoglobin level in anemic group was 11.04 ± 1.1 g/dl, whereas in nonanemic group, it was 13.9 ± 0.8 g/dl. Anemia was significantly associated with increased dyspnea in our study which was assessed by modified Medical Research Council grade (P = 0.04).Conclusion:The prevalence of anemia in COPD patients was 31.6%. Anemia is present as comorbidity in COPD patients and is associated with poor quality of life and increased morbidity in the form of number of exacerbation and hospital admission. Identification and correction of anemia in COPD patients may improve their clinical outcome.

Physiological Profile and Limitations in Exercise in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

This study aimed to describe the physiological profile and limiting factors during exercise among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A descriptive study involving 34 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (22 men) aged 68 ± 8 years was conducted. All patients completed a pulmonary function test, cardiopulmonary exercise test, Doppler echocardiography, 6-minute walk test, and modified Medical Research Council dyspnea evaluation. Approximately 38% of patients (range, 15%-71%) presented with coexisting comorbidities including pulmonary hypertension and emphysema. Modified Medical Research Council grades 0-2 and 3-4 were assigned to 68% and 32% of patients, respectively. Median values for forced vital capacity and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide percent (%) predicted were 68 (95% CI, 63-76) and 51 (95% CI, 46-55), respectively. Left ventricular systolic function was normal. Aerobic capacity ((Equation is included in full-text article.)O2peak = 13.4 mL/kg/min [95% CI, 12.6-14.9]; 62% predicted [95% CI, 56-67]) was moderately reduced with the presence of abnormalities in pulmonary gas exchange and desaturation, circulatory impairments, inefficient ventilation, and skeletal muscle dysfunction. Functional capacity was normal (6-minute walk test distance = 505 m [95% CI, 435-522]; 99% predicted [95% CI, 91-108]). The physiological profile demonstrated the presence of comorbidities in approximately 38% of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and a moderate level of dyspnea. Resting cardiopulmonary function showed moderate pulmonary restriction and severe impairments in diffusion capacity with normal left ventricular systolic function. Multifactorial limitations for a moderately diminished aerobic capacity were revealed during the cardiopulmonary exercise test, although functional capacity was normal. These results emphasize the significance of a meticulous evaluation, including the cardiopulmonary exercise test for an accurate exercise tolerance evaluation, to aid in the diagnosis and prognosis and for developing effective targeted treatments.

Wheezing, a significant clinical phenotype of COPD: experience from the Taiwan Obstructive Lung Disease Study.

BackgroundCOPD is an important public health challenge with significant heterogeneity of clinical presentation and disease progression. Clinicians have been trying to find phenotypes that may be linked to distinct prognoses and different therapeutic choices. Not all patients with COPD present with wheezing, a possible clinical phenotype that can help differentiate patient subgroups.MethodsThe Taiwan Obstructive Lung Disease study was a retrospective, multicenter research study to investigate the treatment patterns of COPD after the implementation of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2011 guidelines. Between November 2012 and August 2013, medical records were retrieved from patients with COPD aged ≥40 years; patients diagnosed with asthma were excluded. Demographic data, lung function, symptom scores, and acute exacerbation were recorded and analyzed, and the differences between patients with and without wheezing were evaluated.ResultsOf the 1,096 patients with COPD, 424 (38.7%) had the wheezing phenotype. The wheezing group had significantly higher COPD Assessment Test scores (12.4±7.8 versus 10.5±6.7, P<0.001), higher modified Medical Research Council grade (2.0±1.0 versus 1.7±0.9, P<0.001), and more acute exacerbations within the past year (0.9±1.3 versus 0.4±0.9, P<0.001) than the nonwheezing group. The postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second was lower in wheezing patients (1.2±0.5 L versus 1.5±0.6 L, P<0.001). Even in patients with maintenance treatment fitting the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2011 guidelines, the wheezing group still had worse symptom scores and more exacerbations.ConclusionWheezing is an important phenotype in patients with COPD. Patients with COPD having the wheezing phenotype are associated with worse symptoms, more exacerbations, and worse lung function.

Glycopyrronium Improves Health Status, Lung Function in COPD

Glycopyrronium Improves Health Status, Lung Function in COPD

Questionnaires in Multidimensional Assessment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Two Sides of the Same Coin

In recent decades, the diagnosis of chronic obstructive ulmonary disease (COPD) has been veering from simple oneimensional schemes to more complex strategies based on ultidimensional approaches or on phenotypes. The latest update f the GOLD1 strategy recommends the use of three questionnaires or the assessment of the patient’s situation: the COPD Assessment est (CAT),2 the modified Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea cale,3 and the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ).4 The inclusion of hese three different questionnaires in the GOLD strategy to assess he impact of the disease in patients has provoked an interesting ebate on the multidimensional assessment of the disease. In order to verify the equivalence of these questionnaires, sevral authors have conducted observational studies, describing a eality that was intuitively perceived by the clinician: the results f these questionnaires, while individually valid in assessing the mpact of the disease, are not superimposable. In this respect, some tudies have highlighted a lack of agreement between CAT and RC,5 while others report the discrepancies between the MRC nd the St. George’s respiratory questionnaire.6 The differences are educed by changing the cutoff for the MRC questionnaire in the OLD classification. Thus, Jones et al.7 suggest that if patients with nd without dyspnea (MRC grade 0) are separated, the distribuion of patients over the various GOLD types is very similar to that btained using CAT with the current cutoff values. The idea behind these studies is that if the classification perentages with both scales in a given patient cohort agree, then they ould all be used interchangeably for categorizing COPD patients. owever, as Jones et al.7 point out, concordance in the distribuion of GOLD types does not necessarily mean that patients who btain the same scores on the different questionnaires using these ew cutoff values will be exactly the same. In this respect, it should

Peripheral nerve injuries due to osteochondromas: analysis of 20 cases and review of the literature

Nerve compressions due to osteochondromas are extremely rare. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the mechanisms, diagnostic evaluations, and treatment of nerve lesions due to osteochondromas, and to review the literature. The authors retrospectively reviewed their clinic data archive from 1998 through 2008, and 20 patients who were operated on due to peripheral nerve injuries caused by osseous growth were enrolled in the study. Patients' age, duration of symptoms, localizations, intraoperative findings, and modified British Medical Research Council (MRC) and electromyography data obtained from hospital records were evaluated. The literature on this topic available in PubMed was also reviewed. All 20 patients underwent surgery, which consisted of tumor excision performed by orthopedic surgeons and nerve decompression performed by neurosurgeons. There were 17 men and 3 women included in the study, with a mean age of 21 years (range 18-25 years). Three patients had multiple hereditary exostoses, and 17 had a solitary exostosis. All of the patients underwent en bloc resection. The most common lesion site was the distal femur (45%). The peroneal and posterior tibial nerves were the structures that were affected the most frequently. The mean follow-up was 3.9 years (range 2-7 years). After the surgery, all patients (100%) experienced good sensory recovery (modified MRC Grade S4 or S5). To the authors' knowledge, no large series have reported peripheral nerve compression due to exostoses. The authors have several recommendations as a result of their findings. First, all patients with peripheral nerve compression due to an osteochondroma should undergo surgery. Second, preoperative electromyographic examinations and radiographic evaluation, consisting of MRI and CT to provide optimal information about the lesion, are crucially important. Third, immediate treatment is mandatory to regain the best possible recovery. And fourth, performing nerve decompression first and en bloc resection of osteochondroma consecutively in a multidisciplinary fashion is strongly recommended to avoid peripheral nerve injury.

Effects of vertebroplasty for delayed-onset paraplegia caused by vertebral pseudarthrosis

BackgroundThe effectiveness of percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral pseudarthrosis with delayed-onset paraplegia has not been reported. We performed vertebroplasty for such patients and tried to investigate the effectiveness of this surgery. MethodsWe studied 11 patients (2001–2007) treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral pseudarthrosis with delayed-onset paraplegia. The mean age of the patients was 71.9 ± 5.2 years and the affected vertebrae were located in the thoracolumbar junction. The mean period between the onset of motor weakness and the day of the surgery was 9.5 ± 5.7 weeks. Vertebroplasty was performed by filling the intravertebral cleft with polymethylmethacrylate. The clinical course was estimated using the Denis pain scale, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scale and the modified Medical Research Council grade before the surgery, 0, 1, 3, 6 months and 1 year following the surgery, and at the latest follow-up visit. The instability angle and local kyphotic angle were evaluated with X-rays. ResultsSignificant improvements were observed in the pain scale in all patients, as they did not experience severe pain, and the performance status following the surgery. These conditions continued until the final clinical examination. Most patients had motor weakness, with a preoperative manual motor test score of 0–3, which gradually improved to 4–5 over the examination period. The stabilities of the affected vertebrae were confirmed on imaging at the final examination. Kyphotic changes were initially realigned, but a correction loss occurred in 7 of the 11 patients as a result of adjacent vertebral fractures. Increase in kyphosis following the surgery did not affect the muscle strength recovery. Bridging callus formations were observed around the affected vertebrae within 6 months in all cases. ConclusionPercutaneous vertebroplasty for vertebral pseudarthrosis with delayed-onset paraplegia is effective for recovering muscle strength, improving performance status and relief from pain, despite local kyphosis.

Evaluation of three scales of dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND:The Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) scale, baseline dyspnea index (BDI) and the oxygen cost diagram (OCD) are widely used tools for evaluation of limitation of activities due to dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is, however, limited information on how these relate with each other and with multiple parameters of physiological impairment.OBJECTIVES:To study the interrelationships between MMRC, BDI and OCD scales of dyspnea and their correlation with multiple measures of physiological impairment.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A retrospective analysis of pooled data of 88 male patients with COPD (GOLD stages II, III and IV) was carried out. Dyspnea was evaluated using the MMRC, BDI and OCD scales. Physiological impairment was assessed by spirometry (FVC % predicted and FEV1 % predicted), arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis and measurement of the 6-min walk distance (6MWD).RESULTS:The interrelationships between MMRC, BDI and OCD scales were moderately strong. The BDI and OCD scores had strong correlations with ABG abnormalities, weak correlations with spirometric parameters but none with 6MWD. MMRC grades were significantly associated with BDI and OCD scores but did not show clear associations with spirometric parameters, ABG abnormalities and 6MWD.CONCLUSIONS:The MMRC grades of dyspnea and the BDI and OCD scales are moderately interrelated. While the BDI and OCD scales have significant associations with parameters of physiological impairment, the MMRC scale does not.

TENDON TRANSFER TO RECONSTRUCT WRIST EXTENSION IN CHILDREN WITH OBSTETRIC BRACHIAL PLEXUS PALSY

This study reports on 20 children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy who underwent a tendon transfer to reconstruct wrist extension. The mean age at the time of tendon transfer was 8 years. There were seven patients with Erb's palsy and the remaining 13 had total palsy. The flexor carpi ulnaris was utilized 15 times and the flexor carpi radialis five times. The transferred tendon was sutured to the tendon of the extensor carpi radialis brevis. The result of the transfer was assessed according to a modified Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle grading system. A good result was obtained in 18 patients (modified MRC grade of 4) and a fair result (modified MRC grade of 3) in two. The choice of tendon transfer to reconstruct the wrist drop deformity in various conditions including adult traumatic brachial plexus injuries is discussed.

Dyspnoea and quality of life in older people at home.

To determine the prevalence of dyspnoea in older people at home, measure its impact on function and quality of life, and identify associated cardio-respiratory diseases. Cross-sectional population-based study. We sent a modified Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea questionnaire to identify breathlessness in 1404 randomly selected subjects from general practitioner lists of 5002 subjects aged 70 years and over living at home. We visited a further random sample of 500 of these subjects at home and at a study centre. Community-based study in South Wales. Prevalence of dyspnoea (MRC grades 3-5) and its effect on psychological and functional status, and quality of life as measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression, Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living and SF-36 questionnaires. The prevalence of dyspnoea as defined was 32.3% (95% confidence intervals: 30.3, 34.3). Breathless subjects had poorer functional status than non-breathless subjects. They also had poorer physical and mental health and were more likely to be anxious and depressed. The prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, reversible airways disease and obesity were all higher in those with dyspnoea. Dyspnoea is common in older people. Given its profound adverse effect on people's lives, dyspnoea is an important public health issue.