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A man with Parkinson's disease (PD) suddenly developed a left hemiballismus, and the CT showed a hematoma of the right subthalamic nucleus. After the ballistic movements had disappeared, akinesia and the other parkinsonian signs did not reappear on the left. This clinical case confirms the involvement of the subthalamic nucleus in the akinesia of PD, as suggested by recent experimental data.

A general scheme of analysis for the investigation of minute calcification is presented. After low temperature ashing, the samples are subjected to chemical, structural and morphological study, using atomic absorption spectrometry, infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Details about the calcification of the human pineal gland are given. The content of trace elements is very high, but within the limits found in other biological apatites. It is concluded that calcification of the pineal is a more general occurence than has been realized.

Human choroid plexus was submitted to low temperature ashing (LTA) in order to isolate the calcification. The ashing residue was then subjected to morphological, chemical and structural studies using technics such as scanning electron microscopy, flame and flameless atomic absorption spectrometry, infrared spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. Morphologically, the calcification consisted of wound-up fibers forming granules with a diameter of 0.05 to 0.15 mm. The concretions were identified as cristalline Ca3(PO4)2 and hydroxylapatite. The content of trace elements was high, but within the limits found in other biological apatites. In some cases, however, the Fe content exceeded these limit values.

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