Biomedical subjects

Christina Liossi

Publications and source records attributed to Christina Liossi.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

The relationship between general intellectual ability and performance on ecologically valid executive tests in a severe brain injury sample.

Recent studies of brain injured and healthy individuals have provided empirical support for the theoretical proposition that executive function and general intelligence are closely associated by demonstrating that performance on tests of executive function is correlated with general intellectual ability (g). In the present investigation, the relationship between performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III), as a measure of g, and performance on recently developed ecological tests of executive function [i.e., Hayling and Brixton, Zoo Map and Key Search sub-tests from the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) battery], was examined in a sample of 118 severely brain injured individuals. The results indicated that (a) performance on tests of executive function share significant variance, and (b) a proportion of that shared variance is associated with performance on the WAIS-III. Correlations between conventional measures of executive function (i.e. Trails B and Controlled Oral Word Association) and WAIS-III were of comparable magnitude to the correlations between new, ecologically valid executive tests and WAIS-III. The results provide some support to the notion that tests of executive function measure non-specific intellectual functions, reminiscent of g.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

The ecological validity of executive tests in a severely brain injured sample.

It is unclear how well performance on recently developed, specialized executive tests, reflects problems that patients and their relatives complain of in real life. The ecological validity of four specialised tests of executive function: the Hayling and Brixton Tests, and the Zoo Map and Key Search sub-tests from the Behavioural Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) battery, was assessed against the Dysexecutive Questionnaire from the BADS in a sample of 59 severely brain injured individuals. Results indicated that only the Hayling C was significantly negatively correlated (r=-.26, P<.05) with the informant version of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire. An index of insight was not correlated with any of the executive tests. It is concluded that these tests have limited ecological validity when used to assess patients following severe head trauma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Randomized clinical trial of local anesthetic versus a combination of local anesthetic with self-hypnosis in the management of pediatric procedure-related pain.

A prospective controlled trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of an analgesic cream (eutectic mixture of local anesthetics, or EMLA) with a combination of EMLA with hypnosis in the relief of lumbar puncture-induced pain and anxiety in 45 pediatric cancer patients (age 6-16 years). The study also explored whether young patients can be taught and can use hypnosis independently as well as whether the therapeutic benefit depends on hypnotizability. Patients were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: local anesthetic, local anesthetic plus hypnosis, and local anesthetic plus attention. Results confirmed that patients in the local anesthetic plus hypnosis group reported less anticipatory anxiety and less procedure-related pain and anxiety and that they were rated as demonstrating less behavioral distress during the procedure. The level of hypnotizability was significantly associated with the magnitude of treatment benefit, and this benefit was maintained when patients used hypnosis independently.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Neuropsychological and neurobehavioral correlates of aggression following traumatic brain injury.

This study aimed to establish the neuropsychological and neurobehavioral profile of individuals who develop aggression following traumatic brain injury. In a prospective cohort study, 134 brain-injured individuals who exhibited aggression were compared to 153 individuals who had sustained comparable injuries but were not aggressive. In the aggressive group, specific deficits were identified in verbal memory and visuo-perceptual skills. Compared to normative data, this group had impaired executive-attention function. It is tentatively suggested that significant impairment in verbal memory and visuospatial abilities against a background of diminished executive-attention functioning is associated with the development of aggression after brain injury, especially when other risk factors such as low premorbid IQ, low socioeconomic status, and male gender are present.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Maintenance hormone therapy with letrozole after first-line chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Maintenance hormone therapy after first-line chemotherapy is routinely used by many clinicians in advanced breast cancer patients with potentially hormone-sensitive tumors, although there are insufficient evidences in the literature to support this practice. We investigated the effects of the third-generation aromatase inhibitor letrozole as a maintenance therapy in postmenopausal patients who had responded or had stable disease with first-line chemotherapy. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients (median age 62 years, range 31-80) were recruited and received letrozole, 2.5 mg/day starting within 8 weeks since the last cycle of chemotherapy. Estrogen and/or progesterone receptor status was positive in 81% of the patients, unknown in 19%; 57% of the patients had visceral disease. First-line chemotherapy included anthracyclines and/or taxanes in 74% of cases. RESULTS: The median time to progression (TTP) from starting letrozole was 18.5 months. A shorter TTP was found in patients with abnormal CA 15-3 levels at the start of maintenance letrozole (median TTP, 9.9 months: p = 0.01), or with levels increasing >25% from baseline during the first 6 months of letrozole therapy (median TTP, 8.2 months: p < 0.0001). Response status improved during letrozole in 15.5% of patients who had obtained less than a complete response to chemotherapy. Maintenance treatment was well tolerated and had no significant impact on quality of life scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence in support of the common clinical practice of maintenance hormone therapy after chemotherapy in suitably selected patients with advanced breast cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Long-term neuropsychological impact of brief occupational exposure to organic solvents.

This case series describes the cognitive functioning of 10 individuals who were briefly exposed to a mixture of organic solvents as a result of an industrial accident. Data were obtained 10 years after the exposure on measures of intellect, memory, attention, and executive functioning, using standardised neuropsychological measures including WAIS III, WMS III, Hayling and Brixton Tests, The Trail Making Test, Controlled Oral Word Association, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, and The Speed and Capacity of Language-Processing Test. The group performed in the average range across the majority of measures but deficits (z > 1.0 S.D.) were observed on tests that measure speed of information processing, memory, attention, and verbal fluency. Discrepancy scores between the NART and the WAIS suggest subtle but statistically significant decline in performance IQ following solvent exposure.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed2003

Clinical hypnosis in the alleviation of procedure-related pain in pediatric oncology patients.

This prospective controlled trial investigated the efficacy of a manual-based clinical hypnosis intervention in alleviating pain in 80 pediatric cancer patients (6-16 years of age) undergoing regular lumbar punctures. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: direct hypnosis with standard medical treatment, indirect hypnosis with standard medical treatment, attention control with standard medical treatment, and standard medical treatment alone. Patients in the hypnosis groups reported less pain and anxiety and were rated as demonstrating less behavioral distress than those in the control groups. Direct and indirect suggestions were equally effective, and the level of hypnotizability was significantly associated with treatment benefit in the hypnosis groups. Therapeutic benefit degraded when patients were switched to self-hypnosis. The study indicates that hypnosis is effective in preparing pediatric oncology patients for lumbar puncture, but the presence of the therapist may be critical.

Adolescent↗