PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Goddard

Publications and source records attributed to N Goddard.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Episodic and semantic memory tasks activate different brain regions in Alzheimer disease.

OBJECTIVE: To compare brain activity identified by fMRI in subjects with Alzheimer disease (AD) and older healthy controls (HCs) performing an episodic/working memory (EWM) and semantic memory (SM) task. METHODS: Nine AD (mean age 73.6) and 10 HC (mean age 71.8) subjects underwent an fMRI memory paradigm. Tasks comprised 1) baseline (recognizing a single digit presented for 1 second), 2) SM (addition of two single digits, always producing a single digit answer), and 3) EWM (recall of the previous single digit on the stimulus of the next digit). Each condition was presented in 2-minute blocks with a shorter and longer time interval for the first and second minute within blocks. RESULTS: Comparing AD and HC subjects, there were no activated brain regions in common for EWM > SM, but left anterior cingulate (Brodmann area [BA] 24, 0, 31, 4) and left medial frontal lobe gyrus (BA 25, -6, 23, -15) were activated by both groups for SM > EWM. Key differences were that for EWM > SM, HC subjects activated the right parahippocampal gyrus, whereas subjects with AD activated the right superior frontal gyrus and left uncus. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with Alzheimer disease (AD) recruited brain regions for easier episodic/working memory (EWM) tasks used by healthy controls (HCs) for more difficult EWM tasks. AD subjects recruited brain regions for semantic memory tasks used by HCs for more difficult EWM tasks. The authors propose a functional "memory reserve" model of compensatory recruitment according to task difficulty and underlying neuropathology.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Case studies: orthopaedic surgery in adult patients with haemophilia A with inhibitors.

Whilst orthopaedic surgery in haemophilia patients without inhibitors is now relatively common in specialized centres, until recently there have been only a few sporadic instances of surgery having been undertaken on patients with inhibitors. The availability of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) for haemostatic cover during surgery allows procedures to be performed that previously may not have been considered possible. Complications associated with thrombosis are rare in haemophilia patients with inhibitors, but bleeding complications remain a concern. Globally, experience of performing orthopaedic surgery in these patients is increasing and many successful outcomes have been reported. However, more knowledge relating to the incidence and type of bleeding complications liable to be encountered, together with further information about appropriate rescue treatment, would be valuable. Data relating to long-term follow-up after surgery would be useful, as would a comparison of outcomes between haemophilia patients with and without inhibitors. Optimal dosing regimens for rFVIIa as surgical cover are still to be determined and further information is required relating to the cost effectiveness of rFVIIa in surgery. Further study should address these issues.

Adult↗

Ethnicity and adolescent deliberate self-harm

The characteristics of all adolescents referred to the psychiatric service of a tertiary hospital following an episode of deliberate self-harm (DSH) were studied. Of 100 adolescents selected over a 3-year period, 64 White and 28 Black adolescents were compared to identify factors associated with DSH in Black adolescents. The main findings were: (1) the referral rate for Black adolescents was in proportion to the community composition; (2) the characteristics of Black and White adolescents referred following DSH were similar for background socio-demographic variables, psychiatric symptoms, circumstances of the attempt and outcome. However, more social stress was reported in the Black group.

Journal Article↗

Immunological and feeding studies on antigens derived from the biting fly, Stomoxys calcitrans.

Pairs of rabbits were immunised with three antigenic preparations derived from Stomoxys calcitrans gut, abdominal section and whole flies. Immunoblotting studies demonstrated that a humoral response was mounted against eight antigens from the gut preparation and 12 each from the abdominal and whole fly preparations. In vitro feeding experiments showed higher mortality between Days 4 and 7 in the group of flies which had fed upon blood from rabbits inoculated with the gut derived antigen. This group also produced the lowest percentage of viable eggs (15.5%).

Animals↗

Palmar subluxation of the carpus in rheumatoid disease: a radiological evaluation.

The authors present a radiological assessment of palmar subluxation of the carpus in rheumatoid disease. The radiological measurements have been taken with reference to the long axis of the radius, the radiological centres of the lunate and the capitate and expressing their reciprocal distances as a ratio which we have termed the radio-carpal and inter-carpal indices. Using a control group of a 100 serial radiographs of normal wrists it was possible to determine the normal indices and their normal range. A subsequent analysis of 100 rheumatoid wrists enabled them to accurately determine the degree of anterior carpal subluxation, and allowed this form of radio-carpal malalignment to be differentiated from other forms of carpal instability.

Adult↗

[Repair of cutaneous tissue loss of the arm. Development of the principles and technics].

Few sectors of reconstructive surgery have evolved as quickly over the past few years as the use of skin flaps, especially those used to cover losses of substance in the upper limb. This development is due to the increasing concern of surgeons about: 1) ensuring selective coverage of higher quality (the teguments used for the hand must be supple, thin and sensitive); 2) having reliable techniques; 3) reducing operating times and the duration of treatment.

Arm↗

Colour blind cricketers and snowballs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether colour blindness affects batting in professional cricketers. DESIGN: Comparison of batting averages of colour blind cricketers and those with normal vision. SETTING: Players on 18 first class county cricket teams. SUBJECTS: 280 of 306 players were tested. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of Isihara colour blindness tests. RESULTS: Batting average for the colour blind group (12 players) was slightly lower than for players with normal vision (20.88 v 26.31). There was no difference in the number of batsmen and bowlers affected. Batting averages before and after the introduction of the white ball into Sunday League cricket did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: That batting performance is not significantly impaired by colour blindness suggests that to some extent these players are self selected. Routine testing of cricketers for colour blindness is not recommended.

Color Perception Tests↗

Financial responsibilities and preparation of chief nurse executives.

Chief nurse executives face staggering financial responsibility. Findings indicate a variety of processes are used to administer budgets in excess of $14 million. On-the-job experience, instead of formal education, is the major means of acquiring expertise in financial management.

Adult↗