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Biomedical subjects

T A Hurwitz

Publications and source records attributed to T A Hurwitz.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Tract identification by novel MRI signal changes following stereotactic anterior capsulotomy.

BACKGROUND: Five patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following MRI-guided stereotactic bilateral anterior capsulotomy to detect lesion-related anatomic changes. METHODS: Five disabled and treatment-resistant patients with major depression (n = 4) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (n = 1) underwent stereotactic bilateral anterior capsulotomy. All patients had postoperative MRI at 2 months and at 1-4 years after surgery. An additional patient who had a pure motor deficit following a spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhagic stroke was imaged as a comparator. RESULTS: The 2-month postcapsulotomy MRI showed a previously undescribed increase in T1-weighted signal within similar neural pathways for each patient. These pathways showed no changes in T2-weighted or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences. The signal changes are different from the expected changes associated with anterograde Wallerian degeneration and identify retrograde changes in the proximal segment of the interrupted axon. CONCLUSION: Previously undescribed T1-weighted signal alterations following stereotactic surgery identify retrograde non-Wallerian changes in interrupted axons and provide a new method in identifying and tracing lesioned pathways.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Classroom dialogues and deaf identities.

Despite increasing diversity in the classroom, many teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students are unprepared to teach in a way that benefits all their students. Our course for future teachers focuses on understanding these multiple identities, and on practical approaches to using diversity as an opportunity for class growth. Proceeding from the assumption that everyone in the classroom has something to teach and to learn, we describes our approach to teaching teachers in which we make use of the teachers' own diversity and expertise in a continuous dialogue across various methods. Samples of classroom dialogues are included.

Deafness↗
PubMed1992

Cumulative trauma disorders among educational interpreters. Contributing factors and intervention.

Upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders became a potentially significant occupational hazard among sign language interpreters at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in the 1988-89 academic year. The following case control study was conducted to identify factors that might play a role in developing, exacerbating, and maintaining upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders among interpreters. Investigations were conducted to determine whether medical status, physical capacities, interpreting styles, pain, fatigue, and job stress differed among NTID's sign language interpreters. This report provides a general summary of selected findings as well as a conceptual framework that should help clarify the factors associated with upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders in sign language interpreters. The results indicated that the upper extremity cumulative trauma disorder diagnosed most often is tendinitis rather than a nerve entrapment syndrome (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome). Analysis of the frequency of potential biomechanical risk factors indicated that those reporting pain demonstrated higher frequency of hand and wrist deviations from the neutral position, higher frequency of the upper extremities leaving a predefined work space, fewer rest breaks during interpreting sessions, and higher evaluator ratings of pace of finger and hand movements. Specific features of interpreting styles were associated with increased pain and fatigue.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Single photon emission computed tomography using 99mTc-HM-PAO in the routine evaluation of Alzheimer's disease.

Regional cerebral blood flow was studied in 7 patients with clinically suspected Alzheimer's disease and 10 normal controls by single photon computed emission tomography (SPECT) using HM-PAO. All patients with Alzheimer's disease and no controls had parietal lobe hypoperfusion which was usually bilateral. In patients with more severe dementia hypoperfusion extended into the frontal lobes. Parietal lobe hypoperfusion corresponds to parietal lobe degeneration which is the one of the first neocortical regions to show the typical degenerative changes of Alzheimer's disease. SPECT with HM-PAO is a non-invasive investigation available in most nuclear medicine departments and complements existing tests in the routine evaluation of patients presenting with dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Regional cerebral glucose metabolism in major depressive disorder.

Six subjects with DSM-III defined unipolar major depressive disorder had positron emission tomography scans using 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2FDG) before and after treatment with imipramine. Their 12 scans were compared to the scans of six controls matched for age. Significant reductions in metabolism for subjects in the depressed group were found on scans for both the anterior and right frontal regions. significant reductions in metabolism occurred more often in the right hemisphere than the left. No significant changes in metabolism could be attributed to imipramine. In addition, absolute metabolic rates were not related to the degree of depression pre- and post-treatment. The findings suggest that hypometabolism in the frontal cortex and right hemisphere may occur in major depressive disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Clozapine in the treatment of parkinsonian patients with dopaminomimetic psychosis.

In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, we evaluated the effects of clozapine (75 to 250 mg/day, mean 170.8) on dopaminomimetic psychosis and parkinsonian disability. Clozapine prevented deterioration of psychosis during the increase of dopaminomimetics in the 3 patients who completed the study. Worsening of parkinsonism occurred in 3 of the 6 patients. In the dosage used, clozapine's usefulness was limited by its propensity to produce sedation, confusion, and increased parkinsonism.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Sex differences in olfactory function in schizophrenia.

Olfactory identification and olfactory acuity were measured in 41 schizophrenic patients receiving neuroleptic medication and in 43 normal control subjects. The performance of the male schizophrenic patients was significantly lower than that of the female patients and the male and female normal control subjects. The last three subgroups performed at equivalent levels. These findings are discussed with respect to other reported sex differences in schizophrenia, including frequency of specific neurological signs and structural brain abnormalities, response to neuroleptic medication, and long-term outcome. The findings suggest that the sex of the patient may be a critical variable in understanding the processes of schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The clinical use of EEG in a general psychiatric setting.

In a university teaching hospital, the charts of 150 psychiatric inpatients consecutively referred for EEG were reviewed to survey the clinical use of the EEG by psychiatrists. Individual psychiatrists referred between 18 and 31 percent of their caseloads, and 11.3 percent of the EEGs were abnormal. The only clinical indications significantly associated with an abnormal EEG were a history of epilepsy and suspicion of a recent seizure. The presence of an organic factor, which was previously identified in the history, mental status examination, or physical examination of 58 percent of the patients, was significantly associated with an abnormal EEG. However, none of the abnormal EEGs helped identify an organic etiology that was not already diagnosed, and in three cases clinicians appeared to ignore abnormal EEG results. Based on these data, the authors discourage the routine use of the EEG for psychiatric patients, recommending that an EEG be considered only when the clinical history and findings suggest an underlying organic disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Narcosuggestion in chronic conversion symptoms using combined intravenous amobarbital and methylphenidate.

Five patients with chronic conversion symptoms were treated with narcoanalysis and narcosuggestion using combined methylphenidate and amobarbital. The combination of methylphenidate and amobarbital proved useful because methylphenidate antagonized sedation and allowed optimal patient cooperation. In four cases recovery of neurological function was obtained in the first or second interview and subsequently improved with practice and positive feedback. In each instance recovery of neurological function during a narcoanalytic interview confirmed the diagnosis of a conversion reaction. The narcoanalytic interview also confirmed or uncovered important psychopathology and psychodynamics which permitted more accurate treatment of the underlying psychiatric disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Impaired interns and residents.

In 1981 a study was undertaken to determine intern and resident psychological well-being and identify those house staff who were psychologically impaired. Fourteen percent of house staff were found to be impaired. Single females and house staff who were chronically fatigued or socially isolated were at highest risk for impairment. Impairment arose out of the interaction between sleep and social deprivation and individual vulnerability. Minor tranquilizers, but not alcohol, were used as a coping response to impairment.

British Columbia↗
PubMed1985

Cerebral organization of affect suggested by temporal lobe seizures.

A right-handed woman with independent left- and right-sided temporal lobe discharges was studied by continuous EEG and videotape monitoring for 3 weeks. Changes in affect were noted in the immediate and extended postictal periods and varied with the side of discharge. After a left-sided discharge, she became globally aphasic and depressed. Right-sided discharges evoked laughing and postictal hypomania. These manifestations were attributed to contralateral hemispheric disinhibition after ipsilateral seizure inactivation. This case provides evidence that the speech-dominant hemisphere subserves positive feelings and the nondominant hemisphere negative ones.

Adult↗