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Biomedical subjects

A Bruner

Publications and source records attributed to A Bruner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy: misdiagnosis in patients with dysfunctional postures of the upper extremity.

The purpose of this case-control study was to assess the frequency of the inappropriate diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) in patients who presented with dysfunctional postures of the upper extremity (n = 43). This group of patients with a dysfunctional posture was compared with a randomly selected control group of patients who presented with pain but no dysfunctional posture (n = 88). The patients underwent radiographic evaluation after review of previous medical records and history and physical examination. Patients with dysfunctional postures had a significantly higher frequency (63%) of a previous inappropriate diagnosis of RSD compared with the control group (6%). None of the patients in either group had objective findings consistent with a diagnosis of RSD. Patients presenting with dysfunctional postures of the upper extremity may be misdiagnosed as having RSD and rarely meet the criteria for this diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

The nocebo effect: do no harm.

The nocebo effect creates negative expectations about symptoms and can have devastating influence on patient recovery. Just as the placebo effect works by making patients believe they will get better, the nocebo effect can serve to make patients worse. Two case histories are presented in which patients were assigned diagnoses without objective physical findings. This resulted in poor outcomes. Physicians should avoid assigning a diagnosis without objective physical evidence and thus avoid creating the nocebo effect in patients.

Adult↗

Comparison of midazolam and diazepam for conscious sedation in the emergency department.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of diazepam and midazolam when used for conscious sedation in emergency department patients. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial. SETTING: Three university EDs. TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: Patients requiring one of the following procedures: abscess drainage, joint reduction, extensive suturing, chest tube insertion, or lumbar puncture. INTERVENTIONS: Diazepam (2.5 mg/mL) or midazolam (1 mg/mL) was administered until the desired level of sedation was achieved to a maximum of 5 mL. Fentanyl citrate was administered if needed for pain. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-three patients received diazepam and 36 received midazolam. Patients receiving midazolam had a greater degree of early sedation (P < .05), a higher 90-minute alertness scale score (P < .05), more patients ready for discharge at 90 minutes (P = .05), significantly less recall for the procedure (P < .02), and less pain on injection (P < .01) than patients who were given diazepam. CONCLUSIONS: Diazepam and midazolam are both effective for conscious sedation in ED patients. Midazolam causes less pain on injection, a significantly greater degree of early sedation, and a more rapid return to baseline function.

Adolescent↗

Picture memory (pseudomatching) in rhesus monkeys.

Pseudomatching, the selection of the correct comparison stimulus without dependence on presentation of a sample stimulus, was demonstrated in monkeys being trained ostensibly on a matching-to-sample, shock-avoidance tast. Pseudomatiching occurred whenever the problem sets were not fully counterbalanced for key position and correct symbol and seemed to represent memorization of specific stimulus configurations. Some animals showed the capacity to memorize hundreds of different 4-choice problems as indicated by test trials on which the samples were omitted. To prevent pseudomatching contamination of matching-to-sample behavior one must arrange full counterbalancing and randomization of stimuli and reinforcements. Pseudomatiching test trials are also recommended.

Animals↗