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At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Comparing tests of tactile sensibility: aspects relevant to testing children with spastic hemiplegia.

Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (OP) commonly exhibit tactile sensory deficiencies in their hands in addition to their motor problems. The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the usefulness of some common tests of tactile sensibility for use with children with hemiplegic CP. Twenty-five children with hemiplegia aged between 5 and 18 years, and 19 control individuals participated. All children were examined with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, two-point discrimination (2PD), stereognosis of familiar objects, stereognosis of forms, and functional sensibility. Dexterity, spasticity, and bimanual task performance were also assessed. Results from the different sensory tests deviated greatly. We found three tests to be useful: 2PD of 3 mm spacing, which was the most sensitive test, stereognosis of familiar objects, and functional sensibility assessed through the Pick-up test (comparing performance with and without the influence of vision). Stereognosis of forms and threshold values of touch (Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments) are seemingly less useful tests for children with CNS impairments. Deficient sensibility was strongly related to dexterity. Aspects concerning the testing methodology are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Neuropsychological evidence of reductions on left frontal tests with hypnosis.

Individuals with high and low susceptibility to hypnosis were compared in a baseline condition and after instructions of hypnosis on tests of anterior left and right hemispheric functions--word fluency to letter categories, word fluency to semantic categories, design fluency and bilateral finger tapping dexterity. With hypnosis high susceptibles showed a reduction in word generation to letter categories, no significant change in word generation to semantic categories, an improvement in design fluency, and bilateral reductions in finger tapping dexterity. Low susceptibles showed the opposite changes except for the improvement in design fluency. These results, together with correlational results, were interpreted as evidence of central inhibitory processes, particularly of the left hemisphere, in response to instructions of hypnosis in high susceptibles.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Standardized finger-nose test validity for coordination assessment in an ataxic disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of coordination with the Finger-Nose Test is an essential part of the neurological examination. This study explored the convergent and discriminant construct validity of the Standardized Finger-Nose Test (SFNT) in a neuromuscular disorder with ataxic features. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 24 participants with recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay. Convergent construct validity was tested by correlating the SFNT with other upper extremity function tests, a functional independence measure and social participation. Upper extremity function tests included gross and fine dexterity (Box and Block Test and Purdue Pegboard), upper extremity strength (dynamometry) and global upper extremity performance (TEMPA). The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Assessment of Life Habits scale (LIFE-H) measured functional independence and social participation respectively. Discriminant construct validity was explored by comparing performance on the SFNT between two age groups (< 40 years and > or = 40 years). RESULTS: Convergent validity of the SFNT was demonstrated by moderate to strong correlations with gross and fine finger dexterity (r = 0.82-0.84), global upper extremity performance (0.74-0.79), functional independence (r = 0.74) and social participation (r = 0.78). Upper extremity coordination of the older group was significantly lower than in the younger group, suggesting the ability of the SFNT to discriminate between different levels of function. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the convergent and discriminant construct validity of the SFNT in a neuromuscular disorder with ataxic features.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2001

Neuropsychological profiles of adults with Klinefelter syndrome.

Children and adolescents with Klinefelter syndrome (XXY) have been reported to show deficits in language processing including VIQ < PIQ and a learning disability in reading and spelling. However, whether this is characteristic of adults with Klinefelter syndrome has not been established. Thirty-five men with Klinefelter syndrome, aged 16 to 61, and 22 controls were evaluated with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. The Klinefelter patients scored significantly below controls in language skills, verbal processing speed, verbal and nonverbal executive abilities, and motor dexterity. Within the Klinefelter sample, three cognitive subgroups were identified: VIQ 7 or more points below PIQ (n = 10), VIQ within 6 points of PIQ (n = 12), and PIQ 7 or more points below VIQ (n = 12). The deficits detected in language, verbal processing speed, and verbal executive skills were found to be isolated to the VIQ < PIQ subgroup, while the abnormalities in motor dexterity and nonverbal executive skills were confined to the PIQ < VIQ subgroup. Older age was significantly correlated with increases in VIQ relative to PIQ in the patient group, which suggests the intriguing possibility that the PIQ < VIQ subgroup primarily emerges in young adulthood, perhaps in response to the reported hormonal abnormalities detected in Klinefelter syndrome patients during puberty.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Neuropsychological aspects of portal-systemic encephalopathy.

An extensive psychometric test program was performed in 96 patients with proven liver cirrhosis and clinical signs of portal hypertension as well as in 20 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis, in 19 patients without cirrhosis but with alcoholic cerebral atrophy and in 163 normal controls. The study population comprised six groups of subjects as follows: Group 1. 27 patients with non-alcoholic cirrhosis and normal EEG pattern. Group 2. 48 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and normal EEG pattern. Group 3. 21 patients with cirrhosis and minimal EEG changes. Group 4. 20 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis. Group 5. 19 patients without cirrhosis but with alcoholic cerebral atrophy. Group 6. 163 normal controls. A one way analysis of variances comparing asymptomatic patients (group 1, 2 and 4) with controls (group 6) revealed no significant differences between patients with alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis, both cirrhotic groups scoring significantly lower than patients with alcoholic pancreatitis and normal controls, who did not differ significantly. Comparing symptomatic patients (group 3 and 5) with normal controls both patient groups scored significantly lower than controls, the cirrhotic group (group 3) scoring significantly lower than patients with alcoholic cerebral atrophy. A two way analysis of variances revealed that in clinically asymptomatic patients cerebral functional defects revealed by psychometry are only due to cirrhosis and that in patients with clinical evidence of cerebral impairment the factors alcohol and cirrhosis are additive - not synergistic. A multiple group stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that tests evaluating psychomotor functions contributed most to the discrimination. Especially "line tracing " proved to be most sensitive and most specific followed by dexterity, steadiness, aiming, digit symbols in sensitivity and by reaction time, steadiness and dexterity in specificity. A test program for clinical use is proposed.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Robonaut: a robot designed to work with humans in space.

The Robotics Technology Branch at the NASA Johnson Space Center is developing robotic systems to assist astronauts in space. One such system, Robonaut, is a humanoid robot with the dexterity approaching that of a suited astronaut. Robonaut currently has two dexterous arms and hands, a three degree-of-freedom articulating waist, and a two degree-of-freedom neck used as a camera and sensor platform. In contrast to other space manipulator systems, Robonaut is designed to work within existing corridors and use the same tools as space walking astronauts. Robonaut is envisioned as working with astronauts, both autonomously and by teleoperation, performing a variety of tasks including, routine maintenance, setting up and breaking down worksites, assisting crew members while outside of spacecraft, and serving in a rapid response capacity.

Artificial Intelligence↗

PubMed1989

Memory deficit caused by compressed air equivalent to 36 meters of seawater.

Twenty-four students from a diving school undertook a hyperbaric chamber dive to a pressure equal to 36 m of seawater. Tests of cognitive function and manual dexterity, performed in the chamber during the 35-min bottom time and before, or after, the dive included immediate and delayed free recall of words presented as 7 lists of 15 each, recognition of previously presented words, number identification, and a forceps pickup of ball bearings. Delayed free recall and immediate free recall (primacy region) were significantly impaired, whereas manual dexterity and recognition memory were not. These are in keeping with previously reported findings but indicate that significant impairment of memory may occur in experienced divers at operational depths for air diving. Lack of effect on recognition memory suggests that cueing strategies might be useful for debriefing divers.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Motor-learning impairment by amantadine in healthy volunteers.

NMDA receptor antagonists impair learning and memory in animal models, presumably by inhibiting long-term potentiation in the motor cortex. Human studies are limited and restricted by the paucity of safe NMDA antagonists. Here, we investigated the contribution of glutamatergic neurotransmission to the capacity of acquiring motor-adaptation learning in humans. In a double-blind design, 200 mg of amantadine (a low-affinity NMDA receptor channel blocker) or a matching placebo were given orally to groups of 14 and 13 human healthy young volunteers, respectively. Blood samples were collected 3 h after treatment to assay plasma concentrations, and the subjects were then tested using a motor-adaptation paradigm consisting of an eight-target-pointing task. To rule out drug-related generalized impairments such sedation, tests measuring motor dexterity and attention were also administered pre- and post-treatment. Comparison of the mean performance levels on the motor-adaptation task revealed that subjects in the amantadine group performed at a lower level than those in the placebo group, but this difference did not reach significance. Interestingly, however, despite plasma amantadine concentrations being relatively low, ranging from 2.09 to 4.74 microM (mean=3.3 microM), they nevertheless correlated negatively with motor learning. Furthermore, when the amantadine group was divided into low-performance and high-performance subgroups, subjects in the former subgroup displayed mean amantadine concentrations 36% higher than the latter subgroup, and performed significantly worser than the placebo group. No change in performance was found on the motor-dexterity and attention tests. Altogether, our results lend support to the hypothesis that normal NMDA receptor function is necessary for the acquisition of motor adaptation.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2001

Human brain activity in the control of fine static precision grip forces: an fMRI study.

Dexterous manipulation of delicate objects requires exquisite control of fingertip forces. We have used functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify brain regions involved in the skillful scaling of these forces when normal human subjects (n = 8) held with precision grip a small object (weight 200 g) in the dominant right hand. In one condition, they used their normal, automatically scaled grip force. The object was held gently in a second condition; the isometric grip force was maintained just above the critical level at which the object would have slipped. In a third condition, the force was increased to hold the object with a more firm grip. The supplementary and cingulate motor areas were significantly more active during the gentle force condition than during either of the other conditions in all subjects, despite weaker contractions of the hand muscles. In addition, the left primary sensorimotor cortex, the ventral premotor cortex and the left posterior parietal cortex were more strongly activated during gentle than during normal grasping. These novel results suggest that these regions are specifically involved in dexterous scaling of fingertip forces during object manipulation.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

The UWCDot colour vision test and low vision.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown that colour vision defects are common in the low vision population even when properly designed tests are used. However, there are very few clinical tests available that are suitable for this group of patients. One of the more common is the Jumbo D-15 (JD15). Although this test uses caps more suitable for the reduced acuity, it requires the patient to have some knowledge of colour order and sufficient dexterity to manipulate the caps. We compared the JD15 with the University of Waterloo Colored Dot test (UWCDot), which has neither of these requirements, to determine whether the UWCDot test could be used as a substitute for the JD15. METHODS: The colour vision of 40 consecutive low vision patients was evaluated with both tests. Acuities ranged from 6/6 to 6/1600 with a median value of 6/30. RESULTS: All subjects could perform both tests. The kappa coefficient of agreement between tests was high at 0.85 when any major crossing was a failure on the JD15 and any mistake was a failure on the UWCDot. Classification of the type of defect was also reasonable when the defect was relatively severe. CONCLUSIONS: The UWCDot can be used as a substitute for the JD15 in the low vision clinic. Both tests identify individuals with moderate-to-severe deficiencies, but the UWCDot does not require any manual dexterity and it does not require knowledge of colour-order.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

[Postoperative rehabilitation of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of mobilisation or splinting on symptoms after surgical Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Only original articles concerning the effect of mobilisation or splinting on symptoms after surgical Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome were included in this investigation. Concerning these topics only seven original articles were found. There was no significant influence of splinting for several weeks found on the symptom "pain" in the literature. Even there was a delay of returning to activities of daily living and the recovery of fist und keypinch strength through splinting. A program of physiotherapy and ergotherapy lead to a significant shorter recovery of dexterity in comparison to an home exercise program. Even the rehabilitated patients showed a shorter return-to-work interval. After carpal tunnel surgery neither physiotherapy nor splinting lead to a significant release of the symptom "pain". But physiotherapy leads to a shorter recovery of dexterity and shorter return-to-work interval. Due to the lack of knowledge about this topic further controlled clinical studies investigating the rehabilitation process after carpal tunnel surgery would be necessary.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome↗

PubMed2003

Micromanipulator: effectiveness in minimally invasive neurosurgery.

Minimally invasive surgeries by innovative approaches are practiced in all fields. The evolution of microneurosurgery has revolutionized the results in neurosurgery. Use of endoscopes and navigation has made microsurgery less invasive. Another development to make minimally invasive microneurosurgery further lesser invasive is the use of micromanipulator. The use and effectiveness of manually controlled micromanipulator system is presented. The manually controlled micromanipulator system consists of three parts, i.e., a basic micromanipulator, manipulator supporting device and the manual control. The micromanipulator fitted in supporting device is arranged before the start of surgery. The supporting device used is pneumatically driven powered endoscopic holding device (Mitaka Kohki Co., Tokyo) In maximum number of times we used the system for endoscopic assisted cerebrovascular microneurosurgery. In a span of two months we used it in thirty aneurysm clipping surgeries. The endoscope fitted in system has three ranges of motions (forward/backward, upside/down and sideways). We use MACHIDA rigid endoscope with internal diameter of 2.7 mm (smallest diameter endoscope available). Special features of this endoscope are accurate visualization at a deeper plane, stable movements and availability of single focus point for long time. All these features are valuable during pre- and postoperative clipping observation. The aim of development of micromanipulator system was to further reduce invasiveness. A significant improvement in manual dexterity is possible when working through the micromanipulator interface, which dampens human physiological tremor. The physiological tremor would render the manual dexterity unsafe at the end of lever arm of long instruments. Thus, the use endoscope becomes practical. The minimally invasive microneurosurgery can be further made lesser invasive by use of micromanipulator and we are convinced that this will facilitate more accurate and promising results in microneurosurgery.

Cerebral Revascularization↗

PubMed1995

Minor neurological and perceptuo-motor deficits in children with congenital muscular dystrophy: correlation with brain MRI changes.

Diffuse white matter changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been a consistent feature in some children with the "pure" form of congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) in which there are no structural changes in the brain or severe mental retardation. The aim of this study was to assess fine motor and perceptuo-motor abilities in children with CMD with and without MRI changes. Twenty-two children with "pure" CMD were investigated with a standard neurological examination and a battery of tests (Manual dexterity from the Movement ABC, test of visual-motor integration, Zurich Neuromotor test) which have already been used to detect minor neurological signs related to white matter changes. The cohort was then divided in two groups for analysis depending on the presence or the absence of diffuse white matter changes. A significant difference was found for all the tests between the group of the CMD children with normal MRI and the group with diffuse white matter changes. The manual dexterity and the Zurich Neuromotor tests showed a greater sensitivity than the test of visual-motor integration, which had some false negatives. It is of interest that in the group with diffuse white matter changes the presence of contractures or weakness did not seem to affect the quality of the performance; all these children scored abnormally on the test, irrespective of the severity or the extent of contractures and weakness. In contrast, in children with normal MRI severe contractures and weakness did affect the performances. Our results demonstrate that perceptuo-motor difficulties and minor neurological soft signs are a consistent feature in CMD children with diffuse MRI changes but not with normal MRI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

In vitro development of B lymphocytes from long-term cultured precursor cells.

An in vitro system for the study of B-lymphocyte differentiation from precursor elements has been established. Two separate sets of culture conditions are utilized to control B-lymphocyte precursor growth versus differentiation. The first, modeled after the bone marrow culture system of Dexter and colleagues [Dexter, T. M. & Testa, N. G. (1976) in Methods in Cell Biology, ed. Prescott, D. M. (Academic, New York), Vol. 14, pp. 387-395], allows precursor replication whereas the second set of culture conditions is permissive for differentiation to more mature members of the B-lymphocyte lineage. The shift from one set of conditions to the other allows us to follow the kinetics of this differentiation from precursor cells to pre-B and B lymphocytes over a 5-week period. The resulting population of B-lineage cells synthesizes heterogeneous immunoglobulin molecules as analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and has a heterogeneous array of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements, suggesting an origin from very early uncommitted precursors. This in vitro system will allow the study of genes that regulate B-lymphocyte differentiation and will aid in the isolation of the cellular intermediates in the B-cell developmental pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Rapid medium perfusion rate significantly increases the productivity and longevity of human bone marrow cultures.

Long-term in vitro human hematopoietic (Dexter) cultures are limited both in their longevity (8-12 weeks) and in their cell production over time. Hematopoiesis in vivo continues unabated throughout life, suggesting that failure to obtain continuous hematopoiesis in vitro is probably due to the failure of culture conditions to accurately reproduce the in vivo state. Since bone marrow cells in vivo exist at high density and are rapidly perfused by plasma components, we examined the effects of the culture medium perfusion rate and inoculum density on longevity and productivity of human bone marrow cultures. Culture efficiency and longevity were relatively independent of the variation in inoculum density from 10(6) to 5 x 10(6) cells per ml but were significantly altered by the medium perfusion rate. Increased culture perfusion was superior to traditional Dexter schedules, with 0.5 medium volume exchange per day (3.5 volume per week) being optimal. The cultures under these conditions demonstrated an increasing rate of cell production from weeks 4 to 10, with the cell production rate doubling approximately every 2 weeks. Following weeks 10-12 in culture, the cell production rate of all cultures decayed. Production of nonadherent progenitor cells was also highest in cultures perfused at 3.5 medium volume exchanges per week, where progenitor cell production was stable from weeks 6 to 18. The nonadherent cells collected were predominantly macrophages by week 19, except for the cultures perfused at a rate of 3.5 volumes per week and seeded at 5 x 10(6) cells per ml, in which production of granulocytes remained high through week 19. Establishment of more optimal perfusion conditions supports the continuous stable generation of progenitor cells over 5 months in culture, suggesting that primitive stem cells are surviving and proliferating in these cultures.

Bone Marrow Cells↗

PubMed2002

Factor structure, normative data and retest-reliability of a test of fine motor functions in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

The purpose of this study was to measure the stability of motor functions in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). A test of fine motor skills was developed that allow objective repeated measures of momentary capability among this group of patients. The study included 114 right-handed IPD-patients (mean age: 67.0+/-9.4 years, mean duration of the disease: 6.1+/-4.9 years). Patients with dementia, pharmacogenic psychiatric side-effects, other neurological diseases and tremor-type IPD were excluded. All patients were tested with an apparative motor performance test ('Motorische Leistungsserie nach Schoppe') and 24 hr later, again with the identical test. The patients (all properly adjusted to medication) were receiving different drug combinations; there was no change in the medication between tests for patients included in the analysis. Seven factors were extracted: 'finger-tapping speed,' 'speeded manual dexterity,' 'speeded finger dexterity,' 'movement planning,' 'complex movement: right,' 'complex movement: left,' and 'steadiness.' The subtests proved to have acceptable test-retest reliability. It is thus possible to produce objective, statistically sound data which enable a confirmation of improvement via medication or of the illness' progression. The presentation of normative data permits intra- and inter-individual interpretations of a single patient's performance. In addition, the patients' performance can also be compared with that of healthy controls in similar age groups (cf. data in the literature).

Cognition↗

PubMed1998

Manual performance in cold conditions while wearing NBC clothing.

Manual performance while wearing a whole body covering NBC garment was studied at -10 degrees C. Hands were protected by thin cotton gloves, which were covered with rubber gloves. The test subjects were exposed for 40 min in one of the four conditions: standing at -10 degrees C, standing for 10 min followed by walking (5 km/h) for 30 min on a treadmill, standing while holding a solid steel bar (see section 2.2), or standing at 20 degrees C. Six different manual tasks were performed after each 40-min exposure. All tests were also performed with bare hands at 20 degrees C. Moreover, the effect of contact cooling on skin temperatures and rewarming thereafter was examined by means of gripping a steel bar (-10 degrees C) during cold exposure. During exposure to -10 degrees C conditions finger skin temperature rapidly decreased to 10.7 +/- 2.2 degrees C (mean +/- SD). Improvement of body heat balance by exercise increased finger temperatures to 19.6 +/- 9.0 degrees C. Hand temperature remained at a higher level both during rest and exercise at -10 degrees C (20.1 +/- 1.7 and 20.6 +/- 6.1 degrees C, respectively). Cold exposure deteriorated manual performance and especially those functions that are related to finger dexterity. Finger skin temperature had high correlation with screwing, peg-board and magazine loading tests (r = -0.90, r = -0.77 and r = -0.72, respectively, p < 0.01) but no relation was found with hand grip strength (r = -0.03). Manual performance was impaired in every test both by gloves and cooling. Contact cooling decreased skin temperatures on the palm side of the hand and fingers around twice as effectively in normothermic subjects and 3.9-6.5 times more effectively in cooled subjects in comparison to cooling by cold air alone. Contact cooling had no significant effect on skin temperatures on the dorsal side of the fingers. The rewarming rate after the release of the steel bar was clearly higher in the dominant hand in comparison to the non-dominant hand. In conclusion, the present results show that the thermal insulation of rubber gloves was clearly insufficient, allowing unacceptably low finger temperatures during work in the cold. However, only those tasks requiring finger dexterity were clearly adversely affected. Heat production by physical exercise was able to increase finger skin temperature and to partly restore manual performance. Handling of cold tools is especially harmful for the palm side temperature of the non-dominant hand.

Acclimatization↗

PubMed2003

Flow-cytometric analysis of T-lymphocyte subsets in sinistral and dextral patients with gingivitis.

The aim of this study was to determine whether there was any change in T-lymphocyte subsets in sinistral and dextral patients with gingivitis. The study was carried out on 36 patients (16 males and 20 females) with gingivitis. The age of the patients ranged from 16 to 25 (mean age = 18.50 +/- 3.85). Patients were divided into two equal groups according to their right or left hand use. Being right- or left-handed was determined with Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Oldfield). At the beginning of the study, gingival index (GI-Löe-Silness) and plaque index (PI-Silness-Löe) scores were recorded in order to assess the gingival tissue health in patients. At the same time, the biopsy samples were taken from the gingival pocket wall tissues at sites of gingivitis. Then, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte and CD4/CD8 ratio values were determined using flow-cytometry in the biopsy samples. The two groups were compared by using Student's t-test. The normal value in peripheral blood of CD4+ lymphocyte and that of CD8+ lymphocyte are 25-29% and 19-48%, respectively. According to flow cytometry findings, in both sinistrality and dexterity with gingivitis, CD+ and CD8+ lymphocyte values were under the normal value while the CD4/CD8 rate was within normal distribution interval. CD4+ lymphocyte values observed in the sinistral patients were found to be lower than those in the dextral patients. The difference between the CD8+ lymphocyte values in left-handed patients and that obtained in right-handed patients was not found to be statistically significant while the difference between the CD4+ lymphocyte values in left-handed patients and that obtained in right-handed patients was found to be statistically significant (p < .05). In addition, the difference between the CD4/CD8 rate obtained in left-handed patients and that obtained in right-handed patients was found to be statistically very significant (p < .001). Consequently, these findings suggested CD4+ lymphocyte value and CD4/CD8 rate was lower in sinistrality. Sinistrality and dexterity may play an important role in local immune response.

Adolescent↗