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PubMed1999

Neuropsychological characteristics of the dementia syndrome of depression: onset, resolution, and three-year follow-up.

In this prospective double-blind study 13 hospitalized older adults with dementia syndrome of depression (DSD) were compared to 14 with Alzheimer's dementia with a concurrent major depression on a battery of neuropsychological tests. On admission to hospital (onset), patients with DSD differed from those with Alzheimer's dementia and depression only in that the former had stronger short-term verbal memory. Resolution of depression in patients with DSD resulted in a return to normal levels in most measures of verbal functioning, but nonverbal abilities remained impaired. Three years later those with DSD continued to cognitively outperform those with Alzheimer's dementia, indicating that treating depression in DSD appears to "buy back" up to 3 years of above-baseline cognitive functioning.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Epidural infusion pressure in degenerative spinal disease before and after epidural steroid therapy.

UNLABELLED: The analgesic mechanism of epidural steroids in reducing pain associated with degenerative spinal disease (DSD) is poorly understood. We report increased inline epidural infusion pressure in patients with DSD and assess whether this phenomenon is affected by administration of an epidural steroid injection. We collected data during epidural placement for routine surgery or epidural steroid therapy. Using a 17-gauge Tuohy needle, with patients in the right lateral decubitus position, loss of resistance to 2 mL of saline identified the epidural space. Two minutes later the needle was attached to saline-filled tubing connected to a pressure transducer (Baxter PX 260 pressure monitoring kit with Truwave TM disposable pressure transducer). In the first part of the study, 4 successive boluses of 3 mL of local anesthetic were administered at a rate of 6 mL/min to 15 patients (age 47 +/- 6 yrs) with radicular back pain and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) evidence of DSD, and to 8 control patients with no history of back pain (age 44 +/- 5 yr) while inline epidural infusion pressure was measured. In the second part of the study 44 patients with low back pain and MRI or CT evidence of DSD presenting to the pain clinic were infused with 8 mL of 0.125% bupivacaine and 40 mg of methylprednisolone (20 mg/mL) at a rate of 6 mL/min while inline epidural infusion pressure was measure and recorded. This was repeated 3 wk later. Initially, DSD patients had significantly increased infusion pressures over normals, which most likely reflects outflow resistance or obstruction. A significant decrease in inline epidural infusion pressure was observed after epidural steroid treatment. This change in pressure may indicate efficacy from epidural steroid injection. IMPLICATIONS: During injection into the epidural space we observed increased resistance in patients with degenerative spinal disease. This resistance was significantly less when measured 3 wk after an epidural steroid injection. This change in pressure may indicate efficacy from epidural steroid injection.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

A pilot study of subjective daytime alertness and mood in primary insomnia participants using ecological momentary assessment.

This pilot study compared daytime symptom ratings in primary insomniacs (n = 7) and age-matched controls (n = 8). Participants completed sleep diaries and rated their daytime symptoms using a Daytime Symptom Diary (DSD) 4 times per day for 1 week. DSD responses were collapsed into 4 domains: mood, subjective alertness, energy, and concentration. The level and variability of DSD domains, and correlations between the domains and sleep diary characteristics, were examined. Significant Group x Time of Day interactions were observed in values for each DSD domain, with the most consistent group differences occurring in the morning. Coefficients of variation for DSD domains were greater in the insomnia group. Frequent measures of daytime symptoms may be useful outcomes in insomnia studies.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Box-Behnken experimental design in the development of a nasal drug delivery system of model drug hydroxyurea: characterization of viscosity, in vitro drug release, droplet size, and dynamic surface tension.

The purpose of the research was to investigate the changes in physicochemical properties and their influence on nasal formulation performance using 5-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken experimental design on the combined responses of viscosity, droplet size distribution (DSD), and drug release. Gel formulations of hydroxyurea (HU) with surface-active polymers (hydroxyethylcellulose [HEC] and polyethylene-oxide [PEO]) and ionic excipients (sodium chloride and calcium chloride) were prepared using Box-Behnken experimental design. The rheology and dynamic surface tension (DST) of the test formulations was investigated using LV-DV-III Brookfield rheometer and T60 SITA tensiometer, respectively. Droplet size analysis of nasal aerosols was determined by laser diffraction using the Malvern Spraytec with the InnovaSystems actuator. In vitro drug release studies were conducted on Franz diffusion cells. With PEO gel, calcium chloride increased the viscosity and DSD and retarded drug release, while sodium chloride decreased the viscosity, DST, and DSD and accelerated the release of HU. With HEC gel, the addition of the above salts resulted in less significant changes in viscosity, DSD, and DST, but both salts significantly increased the release of HU. Droplet size data obtained from a high viscosity nasal pump was dependent on type of polymer, polymer-excipient interactions, and solvent properties. The applications of Box-Behnken experimental design facilitated the prediction and identified major excipient influences on viscosity, DSD, and in vitro drug release.

Administration, Intranasal↗

PubMed1989

[An electromyographic study of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia in neurogenic vesical dysfunction. Part 2. Changes after radical transurethral resection of prostate and response to alpha-adrenergic stimulation].

The relevance of the type of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) and motor unit analysis as examined by simultaneous recordings of electromyography (EMG) of the external urethral sphincter (EUS) and bladder pressure was discussed in the first report. In this report, they were analysed similarly before and after radical transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) to see how it was effective in relieving DSD. Furthermore, the response of the EUS to alpha-adrenergic stimulation was examined by analyzing its motor unit activity. Radical TUR-P was performed in 18 cases. After radical TUR-P, there was an improvement in the type of DSD (3 cases) or in its sub-types (8 cases), associated with decrease in residual urine rate in 16 cases. EUS responded to alpha-adrenergic stimulation with an increase in the frequency of pre-existing motor units and recruitment of new motor units. After radical TUR-P,EUS was similarly activated when stimulated with alpha-adrenergics. These data indicated that radical TUR-P was effective in relieving DSD by suppressing or abolishing abnormal continence reflex. Moreover, alpha-adrenergic activation of EUS also seemed to suggest a possible sympathetic role in the genesis of DSD, although exact mode of its involvement in the somatomotor innervation of the EUS remains to be settled.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

PubMed2003

Three scleractinian coral diseases in Dominica, West Indies: distribution, infection patterns and contribution to coral tissue mortality.

Coral diseases have been documented in many areas of the Caribbean, but studies in the eastern Caribbean region have been lacking. The prevalence, distribution patterns and contribution to the mortality of coral tissue by black band discase (BBD), white plague (WP) and dark spots disease (DSD) were examined at five reef sites along the west coast of Dominica. 185 of the 325 diseased colonies recorded between March and August 2000, in a survey area of 5884 m2, were WP. This disease contributed to 89% of the total 4.08 m2 of tissue mortality caused by diseases during the survey period. WP also affected the largest average tissue surface area (relative to colony size) per colony and exhibited the largest average tissue loss per infection when compared to BBD and DSD. The species most susceptible to WP and BBD in Dominica differed from most other described Caribbean locations with Siderastrea siderea being most susceptible. S. siderea was also the only species noted to be susceptible to DSD. Measurements of colony size revealed that each disease affected the larger colonies of some coral species. Comparisons between disease prevalence at each site and various physical parameters, including temperature, wave height, depth, and current patterns, did not exhibit significant correlations. The lack of a direct correlation between temperature and disease prevalence indicates that there are other seasonal factors contributing to the higher prevalence of diseases recorded during the summer months in Dominica. WP prevalence at each site was positively correlated to the relative species abundances of the species most susceptible to WP. This was the dominant factor in determining site-specific disease densities of this disease and may therefore be a valuable predictive and management tool. There were no correlations between BBD or DSD and the relative abundances of susceptible species. The spatial distribution patterns of WP, BBD and DSD were clustered, which is a distribution pattern that suggests an infectious disease.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

[The use of type A botulin toxin in the treatment of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia].

The detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) is a common and significant problem for patients with spinal cord lesions. If not treated, DSD can lead to severe and potentially lethal complications (urinary tract infections and renal damage). BTX inhibits acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, producing muscle chemical denervation in the site of injection. The aim of this preliminary study was to test the safety and the effects of BTX injection in the spastic urethral rhabdosphincter in patients with DSD. Five patients (3 M, 2 F; mean age 43 years, range 22-56) with DSD entered the study. Videourodynamic parameters were controlled before BTX injection at 10 days, at 3 and 6 months after infiltration. The aim of this preliminary study was to test the safety and the effects of BTX injection in the spastic urethral rhabdosphincter in patients with DSD. The post void residual urine volume, the maximum pressure of emptying and the maximum pressure of urethral closure are reported in Tab. II-III-IV. Patients reported subjective improvement of bladder emptying and improved quality of life. No adverse effects related to pharmacological activity of BTX or to infiltration procedures were observed.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Evaluation of different parameters that affect droplet-size distribution from nasal sprays using the Malvern Spraytec.

The applicability of laser diffraction (Spraytec) for characterizing the droplet-size distribution (DSD) from nasal sprays was examined to understand the relationship between physical properties of nasal formulations and their spray characteristics. The impact of actuation force (3-7 kg), rheological properties from carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and carbopol 934PNF, the influence of surfactant (Tween 80), actuation distance, and different nasal-pump designs on the aerosol DSD of nasal sprays were investigated using Spraytec((R)) with the eNSP actuation station (InnovaSystems, Moorestown, NJ). Spray-pattern analysis was performed by monitoring the emitted nasal spray containing a dye or a fluorescent marker. Parameters for DSD and spray pattern included: Dv(10), Dv(50), Dv(90), polydispersity, minimum and maximum diameters, plume area, and ovality. Increasing actuation distance from 1.5 to 6 cm from the laser beam decreased Dv(50) values by 17-27% for commercial nasal-spray products. Spray-pattern analysis revealed a power law relationship between viscosity and surface area for CMC formulations. However, this relationship could not be obtained for carbopol formulations, which was attributed to differences in their rheological behavior. The addition of surfactant (0.5-5% Tween 80) to a 2% CMC solution decreased the Dv(50) values (16-26%) and altered the rheological properties (e.g., changes in viscosity and appearance of the thixotropic system). Briefly, the characteristic of nasal aerosol generation is dependent on a combination of actuation force, viscosity, rheological properties, surface tension, and pump design. The Spraytec with the eNSP actuation station provides an efficient and reliable way of monitoring the effects of formulation variables on DSD from nasal aerosols.

Administration, Intranasal↗

PubMed2006

The influence of actuation parameters on in vitro testing of nasal spray products.

Nasal spray drug products are normally characterized via measurement of shot weight, spray pattern, plume geometry, and droplet size distribution (DSD). In this project, the actuation parameters, such as stroke length, actuation velocity, and actuation acceleration, were investigated to ascertain how they affect nasal spray characteristics. Pfeiffer nasal spray pump units filled with water were used in the study. Actuation parameters were adjusted using an electronic automated actuation system, SprayVIEW NSx. Spray pattern and plume geometry measurements were carried out using a high speed optical spray characterization system, SprayVIEW NSP, and DSD analysis was performed using a Malvern 2600 laser diffraction system. Our results show that different actuation parameters affect the nasal spray characteristics in different ways and to different degrees. Among all the actuation parameters, stroke length and actuation velocity have significant effects on the nasal spray characteristics, while the other actuation parameters have little, if any, effect. Compared to spray pattern, plume geometry and DSD, shot weight provides very little characterization information. The findings from this work suggest that, for in vitro bioavailability (BA) and bioequivalence (BE) studies of nasal spray products, the actuation parameters, stroke length, and velocity must be carefully selected. Spray pattern, plume geometry, and DSD appear to provide critical data for assessment of nasal pump performance.

Administration, Intranasal↗

PubMed1982

Subtypes of unipolar depression distinguished by the dexamethasone suppression test.

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was administered to 54 primary unipolar depressed patients and 19 non-depressed hospitalized inpatients. Abnormal DST were found in 23 depressed patients (43%) in contrast to 2 (11%) non-depressed patients (P less than 0.05). Within the endogenously depressed group, 69% of patients categorized as familial pure depressive disease (FPDD) in contrast to 13% of depressive spectrum disease (DSD) patients had abnormal DST results (P less than 0.02). The DSD group had significantly fewer abnormal DST results than all other subtypes of unipolar depression (P less than 0.05). The distinction revealed between DSD patients and other endogenously depressed patients may be due to biological factors or due to the heterogeneous nature of the DSD subtype group.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia and botulinum toxin].

OBJECTIVE: Botulinum toxin (BT) injection into the external urethral sphincter is a promising therapy for neurogenic voiding disorders due to detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD). However the optimal treatment protocol remains unclear. METHOD: A PubMed reference search and manual bibliography review were performed, along with a search in the Annales de réadaptation et de médecine physique and in the reports of the International French-language Society of Urodynamics and the International Continence Society, which allowed us to select twelve pertinent articles with PubMed, two articles from the Annales and two conference reports. Our analysis gave special emphasis to assessment criteria, application, dosage and BT injection technique. RESULTS: Used for the first time in 1988 in spinal cord injury patients to reduce outflow obstruction due to DSD, BT injections have been shown to be a valuable alternative management of bladder dysfunction with DSD. They have been proposed in neurological patients unable to perform self-catheterisation, after drug failure and before surgery. Parameters for results assessment are mostly clinical (increased free interval between voiding, decreased post-void residual urine volumes), urodynamic (improvement in bladder emptying, increase in functional bladder capacity and decrease in urethral pressure) and electromyographic (denervation of striated urethral sphincter). The literature data regarding type of BT, dosage and protocol vary widely. Duration of action is from 2 to 12 months. Both transurethral and transperineal injections monitored by EMG are equally effective in improving detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. CONCLUSION: With few side effects and satisfactory medium-term results, BT should be recommended as a component of DSD therapies. We propose a practical method for BT use.

Anti-Dyskinesia Agents↗

PubMed2003

Sphincterotomy and the treatment of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia: current status, future prospects.

STUDY DESIGN: Literature review of current treatment options for detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) in spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVES: To review the outcomes and complications associated with external sphincterotomy and to summarise the results and complications of alternative treatment options for detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in spinal cord injury. In addition, we propose a potential alternative future drug treatment for external sphincter dyssynergia based upon recent research on the neuropharmacology of the external urethral sphincter. SETTING: The National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK. METHODS: Medline search from 1966 to 2002 using the words 'external sphincterotomy', 'detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia' and 'neurogenic bladder combined with surgery'. RESULTS: While external sphincterotomy is an effective treatment for DSD, a significant number of men following this procedure continue to have high intrarenal pressures, recurrent urinary infection or troublesome autonomic dysreflexia and a worryingly high proportion demonstrate persistently raised leak point pressures, putting them at subsequent risk of renal damage. Alternative treatments for external sphincter dyssynergia include urethral stents and balloon dilatation, both of which are effective. However, over the long term stents can undergo encrustation and there remains a definite risk of stent migration necessitating stent removal or replacement. Balloon dilatation of the external sphincter is associated with a risk of subsequent stricture formation. Intraurethral Botulinum A toxin seems to be effective though there have been no large randomised studies comparing it against placebo. However, it is not a durable treatment option and it has not found a common place in the treatment of DSD. There is now a considerable amount of experimental data from both animal and human studies to suggest that nitric oxide (NO) is an important physiological inhibitory neurotransmitter in the urethral sphincter, mediating relaxation of the external urethral sphincter. The potential role of sphincter NO augmentation for treatment of DSD is discussed. CONCLUSION: External sphincterotomy remains the mainstay of treatment for urodynamically significant detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, but in recent years a number of effective, alternative treatment options have become available. While at present there is no effective systemic drug treatment, recent research into external sphincter neuropharmacology suggests that systemic or topical augmentation of external sphincter NO may provide an effective method for lowering sphincter pressure.

Humans↗

PubMed2000

A urethral stent for the treatment of detrusor-striated sphincter dyssynergia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the technique, efficacy and complications of the Ultraflex urethral stent (Boston Scientific Corp., Boston, MA) for the treatment of detrusor-striated sphincter dyssynergia (DSD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty consecutive patients with DSD who had a Ultraflex stent placed in the membranous urethra were evaluated prospectively. DSD was caused by spinal cord injury in 30, multiple sclerosis in six and other neurological diseases in four. All patients were either tetraplegic or paraplegic and unable to use intermittent self-catheterization. Previous bladder management consisted of an indwelling catheter in 15 patients, chronic suprapubic catheters in two, intermittent catheterization in nine, and trigger reflex micturition in 14. The Ultraflex stent was placed under local anaesthesia. The stents were 50 mm long in 36 patients, 45 mm in two and 40 mm in two. The mean (SD) follow-up was 16.9 (13. 8) months. RESULTS: The mean (SD) residual urine decreased from 245. 9 (117) mL before stenting to 65.2 (19.3) mL at 12 months afterward (n = 19). One stent was removed at 13 months for chronic prostatic and urinary tract infection leading to autonomic dysreflexia. There was no stent stenosis and 17 of 18 stents had > 75% epithelial coverage at one year. None of the stents migrated. Seven patients underwent secondary bladder neck incision through the stent. The stent length was increased in four patients using a second overlapping distal stent, twice during the first procedure and twice within 6 months because the sphincter was inadequately covered. CONCLUSIONS: The Ultraflex stent achieved the expected results for a prosthetic sphincterotomy and appears to be an appropriate but less invasive treatment for DSD.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Structural characterization of the epitopes of the monoclonal antibodies 473HD, CS-56, and MO-225 specific for chondroitin sulfate D-type using the oligosaccharide library.

The variation in the sulfation profile of chondroitin sulfate (CS)/dermatan sulfate (DS) chains regulates central nervous system development in vertebrates. Notably, the disulfated disaccharide D-unit, GlcUA(2-O-sulfate)-GalNAc(6-O-sulfate), correlates with the promotion of neurite outgrowth through the DSD-1 epitope that is embedded in the CS moiety of the proteoglycan DSD-1-PG/phosphacan. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) 473HD inhibits the DSD-1-dependent neuritogenesis and also recognizes shark cartilage CS-D, which is characterized by the prominent D-unit and is also recognized by two other mAbs, CS-56 and MO-225. We investigate the oligosaccharide epitope structures of these CS-D-reactive mAbs by ELISA and oligosaccharide microarrays using lipid-derivatized CS oligosaccharides. CS-56 and MO-225 recognized the octa- and larger oligosaccharides, though the latter also bound one unique hexasaccharide D-A-D, where A denotes the disaccharide A-unit GlcUA-GalNAc(4-O-sulfate). The octasaccharides reactive with CS-56 and MO-225 shared a core A-D tetrasaccharide, whereas the neighboring structural elements located on the reducing and/or nonreducing sides of the A-D gave a differential preference additionally to the recognition sequence for each antibody. In contrast, 473HD reacted with multiple hexa- and larger oligosaccharides, which also contained A-D or D-A tetrasaccharide sequences. Consistent with the distinct specificity of 473HD as compared with CS-56 and MO-225, the 473HD epitope displayed a different expression pattern in peripheral mouse organs as revealed by immunohistology, extending the previously reported CNS-restricted expression. The epitope of 473HD, but not of CS-56 or MO-225, was eliminated from DSD-1-PG by digestion with chondroitinase B, suggesting the close association of L-iduronic acid with the 473HD epitope. Despite such supplemental information, the integral epitope remains to be isolated for identification and comprehensive analytical characterisation. Thus novel information on the sugar sequences containing the A-D tetrasaccharide core was obtained for the epitopes of these three useful mAbs.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Suppression of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia by immunoneutralization of nerve growth factor in lumbosacral spinal cord in spinal cord injured rats.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of intrathecal application of nerve growth factor (NGF) antibodies (NGF-Abs) and desensitization of C-fiber afferent pathways by capsaicin treatment on detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) after spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In adult female rats SCI was induced by complete transection of the spinal cord at Th8 to 9. Ten days after spinalization vehicle or NGF-Ab (10 microg daily) was continuously administered at the level of the L6-S1 spinal cord through an implanted intrathecal catheter connected to an osmotic pump for 2 weeks. Another group of spinalized rats was treated with capsaicin (125 mg/kg subcutaneously) 3 weeks after spinalization and 5 days before experiments. Simultaneous recordings of intravesical pressure and urethral perfusion pressure were then performed. NGF levels in the L6 spinal cord were measured in vehicle or NGF-Ab treated spinalized rats using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: DSD was observed in all vehicle treated spinalized rats. The average urethral pressure increase at the peak bladder contraction was significantly lower by 84% and 78% in NGF-Ab and capsaicin treated spinalized rats, respectively, than in vehicle treated rats. After NGF-Ab treatment NGF levels were significantly decreased by 38% in the L6 spinal cord compared with vehicle treated spinalized rats, in which NGF levels in the L6 spinal cord were 7 times higher than in spinal intact rats. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of NGF in the spinal cord could contribute to the emergence of DSD that is at least in part mediated by C-fiber bladder afferents after SCI. Thus suppression of NGF levels in afferent pathways could be useful for treating DSD following SCI.

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMed2004

Urethral stent for the treatment of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia: evaluation of the clinical, urodynamic, endoscopic and radiological efficacy after more than 1 year.

PURPOSE: We studied the intermediate-term clinical, urodynamic, endoscopic and radiological efficacy of the Ultraflex urethral stent (Boston Scientific Co., Boston, Massachusetts) for the treatment of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) in spinal cord injured patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 47 consecutive men presenting with DSD due to spinal cord injury (39) or various spinal cord diseases (9) were treated with the Ultraflex stent. DSD was demonstrated by urodynamic assessment with electromyographic recording of the striated urethral sphincter muscle activity. RESULTS: Postoperatively, all patients voided by reflex. The number of patients with symptomatic postoperative urinary tract infection decreased significantly (p <0.001). Urodynamic assessment (mean followup +/- SD 2.2 +/- 1.3 years) showed reduction of mean peak detrusor pressure from 65.7 +/- 27.8 to 46.4 +/- 28.8 cm H2O (p <0.005) and reduction of mean residual urine from 231.6 +/- 168.1 to 70.3 +/- 85.6 ml (p <0.0005). Mean urethral closing pressure was markedly reduced from 73.9 +/- 40.9 to 23.8 +/- 25.1 cm H2O (p <0.0005). Mean endoscopic followup was 1.7 +/- 1.1 years. Mean percentage of epithelialization was 90.8% +/- 19.7%, and no obstructive granulation tissue or stone encrustation was observed inside the stent. On ultrasound signs of hydronephrosis persisted in only 1 of 8 patients. There were no immediate postoperative complications. Complementary bladder neck incision was performed in 21% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The Ultraflex stent appears to be effective for intermediate-term treatment of DSD on the basis of clinical, urodynamic, endoscopic and radiological parameters.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chest radiographic image quality: comparison of asymmetric screen-film, digital storage phosphor, and digital selenium drum systems--preliminary study.

Conventional screen-film radiography does not display all regions of the thorax satisfactorily. Three chest radiographic techniques display both the lung and the mediastinum with good contrast. These techniques are asymmetric screen-film (ASF), digital storage phosphor (DSP), and digital selenium drum (DSD) imaging. ASF systems use two asymmetric screen-film combinations to produce a wide-latitude image of the thorax with good contrast in the lungs. In DSP systems, image data are acquired digitally with a wide dynamic range by using the optical output of a photostimulable phosphor plate; in DSD systems, the wide-range digital image data are acquired by using the electronic charge generated on a drum coated with a thin layer of amorphous selenium. The appearance of a DSP or DSD radiograph is then determined by user-selected image processing operations: tone scaling, spatial frequency processing, and dynamic range compensation. Digital chest radiographs processed with strong regional equalization provide both excellent contrast in the lungs and effective display of the mediastinum and chest wall. At visual comparison, the high lung contrast and good mediastinal, retrocardiac, and subdiaphragmatic detail provided by the DSD method distinguish it from the other two methods.

Humans↗

PubMed1983

Personality characteristics of depressed patients classified according to family history.

Personality traits were assessed in a series of 148 patients classified according to Winokur into depression pure disease (DPD), depression spectrum disease (DSD) and sporadic depression (SD) with the addition of a fourth group: family history positive-others (FH + .O) comprised of patients with psychiatric disorders among first-degree relatives other than those taken into account by Winokur. Personality was assessed by means of a Swedish inventory, the KSP, comprised of 15 subscales assumed to measure relatively stable traits. DSD patients appeared to be most deviant from the other groups in most variables. Statistically significant differences were obtained for the variable socialization, which measures the internalization of social rules on which the DSD patients scored lowest, and variables of aggression on which the DSD patients scored higher than all the others.

Adult↗