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PubMed1989

[Psychological evaluation of postoperative pain and its significance for treatment].

The results of tests applied to two groups of the patients who underwent elective surgeries are being discussed. The patients were selected with the aid of J.C. Raven's Intelligence Quotient, H.J. Eysenck's Personality Inventory, J. Taylor's Personality Scale, and Spielberg's S.T.A.I. The patients were operated at the Casualty and Orthopaedic Surgery Department of the Surgical Institute, Military Academy of Medicine. Postoperative analgesia was achieved with i.m. pethidine (1 mg/kg b.w.) in the group of 30 patients with low intensity of neurosis and anxiety while the group of 60 patients with high level of neurosis and anxiety required three different techniques: pethidine (dose as above) intravenously, electric stimulation and placebo stimulation. The following tests were applied to all patients before surgery and on the three postoperative days: 1) evaluation of anxiety level, 2) determination and detection of pain points, 3) pain intensity determination, 4) determination of the dose of analgetic agent required for pain abolishment. Other factors determined included: 1) efficiency of both electric and placebo efficacy, 2) analgesic drug dose vs. pain intensity, 3) pain vs. anxiety ratio. The obtained results indicated that considerable oscillations of the emotional tension are observed in both pre- and postoperative periods. Intensity of pain and its compliance to the treatment are closely related to the level of anxiety. Psychological examination performed in patients preoperatively enables to foresee the postoperative pain intensity and to plan the course of therapy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

A chemically intelligent antimicrobial coating for urologic devices.

Contact biocides are a relatively new form of infection-resistant materials. Surfacine is a silver based antimicrobial coating that can be immobilized on the surface of most alloplastic materials used to fabricate devices. It exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity exclusively at the surface without elution and does not induce antimicrobial activity in contacting fluids such as urine regardless of volume. Because it is permanently immobilized on the material surface, the coating is nontoxic to cells and is not anticipated to exhibit immunogenicity, teratogenicity, or carcinogenicity.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

PubMed1977

Stimulus factors effecting peer conversation among institutionalized retarded women.

The effect of a series of stimulus changes, including attendant present or absent and agent of token reinforcement in a sorting task, on peer interaction among retarded women was examined. Conversation was not differentially directed toward the agent of reinforcement when that agent was a peer, nor did a peer agent increase the overall rate of peer interaction. Peer interaction did increase when no attendant was present, and during the final phase of the experiment, the high rate of peer interaction was maintained while the attendant was faded back into the situation in a series of discrete steps. The procedure was found to be efficient in terms of staff time and did not adversely affect task performance.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Perceptions of influence on child's competence among fathers in the military context.

This study compared the beliefs of fathers serving in the military with those of a matched sample of civilian fathers on the time spent with their kindergarten child and their perceptions of their influence as well as their spouse's influence on their child's cognitive and emotional competence. Parents are considered prime agents of change during early childhood. However, fathers who serve in the military face challenges unique to this context and reflective of the frequent and intense demands on their time and attention. Results suggest that, in a time of peace, military and civilian fathers share similar perceptions and time reported spent with their child. Mothers were perceived to be equivalent in their influence to the military father.

Attitude↗

PubMedDate not supplied

New approaches to quantitative neuropathology: multivariate analysis of morphologic and neurochemical measures.

The excellent review by Coleman and Flood on neuropathological changes in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease highlights the need for development and application of computer-assisted image analysis to the study of neurons in these conditions. The morphological and neurochemical changes in normal and pathological aging require quantitation and statistical analysis that can be best performed with the assistance of the image and data processing capabilities of the computer. Advanced image processing systems are being developed to identify and classify neurons according to several intelligently chosen visual features, apply discriminant analysis and population statistics to this data, and correlate this information to other neurochemical measurements as well as the clinical history of the patient. Techniques such as immunocytochemistry, receptor autoradiography and in situ hybridization produce information-rich images of the distribution of proteins and nucleic acids in tissue slices that can be analyzed by this approach.

Aging↗

PubMed1984

Effect of neurointensive care upon outcome following severe head injuries in childhood--a preliminary report.

From March 1978 till August 1981 neurointensive care was applied to 24 children with severe head injuries (Glasgow Coma Scale less than or equal to 7, mean 5 +/- 1) corresponding to 7% of a population with head injuries observed during the same period. The neurointensive care included continuous intracranial and arterial pressure monitoring and normalization of intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressure with intubation, hyperventilation, control of body temperature, dexamethason, barbiturates and osmotic agents. The follow-up time is 1.5 to 4.4 years (mean 2.5 years). The results obtained by check-ups every 3-6 months were analyzed as proposed by Lange-Cosack and Tepfer (1973) and used to group the children according to Jennett and Bond (1975). At the end of the follow-up four children were 1-5, twelve 6-14 years old and 3 older. Five patients (= 21%) died during the acute stage of head injury. Residual neurological signs were present in 42% of the children depending on the specific topics (cranial nerve deficits, hemiparesis, speech disorders, ataxic syndromes) at most in 1/4 of the cases. Minimal to distinct residual psychoorganic signs were found in 58%, an altered personality being somewhat more frequent than intelligence deficit or psychomotor retardation. Eleven of the twelve school children are back in school of whom are eight in regular and three in special schools. At a mean time of 1.5 years after the accident the EEG was normal in nine cases and displayed a slightly altered background activity and/or slow wave foci in eight and epileptiform foci in two cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Evolving agents as a metaphor for the developing child.

The emerging field of Evolutionary Computation (EC), inspired by neo-Darwinian principles (e.g. natural selection, mutation, etc. ), offers developmental psychologists a wide array of mathematical tools for simulating ontogenetic processes. In this brief review; I begin by highlighting three of the approaches that EC researchers employ (Artificial Life, evolutionary robotics and comparative stochastic optimization). I then focus on the advantages of using comparative stochastic optimization as a method for studying development. As a concrete example, I illustrate the design and implementation of an EC model that simulates the development of reaching in young infants.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Bulk and compound-specific isotopic characterisation of illicit heroin and cling film.

Comparative analysis involves various but complementary methods and can be used for forensic intelligence purposes to group seizures of heroin into batches. Much forensic analysis now combines expertise in the traditional area of drugs investigation with a detailed understanding of supply, packaging, distribution, and drugs intelligence. It was the intention of this research to determine whether illicit heroin seizures and packaging material can be grouped according to isotopic compositions, and to explore factors that affect the isotopic compositions. In order to achieve these aims, 14 samples of seized heroin, thirteen provided by Avon and Somerset Constabulary (UK), were analysed by elemental analysis/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS) and gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) for carbon and hydrogen isotopes. These tests elucidated that a combination of the delta13C, delta15N, delta18O and delta2H results from EA/IRMS is able to distinguish between most samples of bulk heroin. We speculate that the delta13C values of the alkaloids, obtained by GC/C/IRMS, give indications of different geographical or temporal origins of some of the heroin samples. GC/C/IRMS of the cutting agent, caffeine, provides a means to link dilution events. Fifteen retail cling film samples and seven cling film samples from heroin seizures were analysed by EA/IRMS. A multivariate comparison of the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios was able to distinguish between most of the samples. This technique enabled the cling films from the heroin to be grouped according to seizure. Three solvents were tested on two samples of cling film of known composition. Methanol and chloroform were both found to extract material from PVC and from non-PVC cling films. Water-treated PVC was indistinguishable from the untreated PVC and thus water was found to be the most suitable solvent when washing cling film prior to IRMS analysis.

Forensic Sciences↗

PubMed2006

Inference in multiply sectioned Bayesian networks: methods and performance comparison.

This paper extends lazy propagation for inference in single-agent Bayesian networks (BNs) to multiagent lazy inference in multiply sectioned BNs (MSBNs). Two methods are proposed using distinct runtime structures. It was proved that the new methods are exact and efficient when the domain structure is sparse. Both improve space and time complexity more than the existing method, which allows multiagent probabilistic reasoning to be performed in much larger domains given the computational resource. The relative performances of the three methods are compared analytically and experimentally.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2026

A review into the recent advances in the world of amoebiasis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Amoebiasis is a parasitic infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica , affecting 10% of the global population. It is a well recognized cause of morbidity and mortality in low-middle-income countries where it is endemic. However, with increased migration and global travel, amoebiasis is now more common in high-income countries, although diagnosis is often delayed or even missed due to lack of awareness of the latest epidemiology and optimal diagnostic testing. This review discusses the evolving prevalence, and the current international guidelines for the investigation and treatment of amoebiasis, focusing on recent advances. RECENT FINDINGS: The recent literature shows that the primary investigations for amoebiasis remain the same, though newer modalities such as artificial intelligence-powered microscopy and metagenomics have been developed recently, which aids the accuracy and speed of diagnosis. Treatment remains the same, though current research has found potential new drugs and drug targets which show promise. SUMMARY: This review reinforces the importance of early clinical suspicion, diagnosis and treatment for amoebiasis. What was once a disease only seen in endemic countries or travel-associated imported cases is now more common and must not be missed.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Adenoviral Vectors in Gene Therapy: A Detailed Overview.

Adenoviral vectors (AdVs) represent one of the most extensively researched platforms in the realm of gene therapy, providing advantages such as high transduction efficiency, large transgene capacity, and broad tropism. This review provides a detailed and structured overview of AdVs, highlighting their biology, gene delivery mechanisms, clinical applications, and challenges limiting their broader therapeutic applicability. The study also explores recent progress in vector engineering, such as rare serotypes, capsid modifications, third-generation vectors, as well as strategies for immune modulation and toxicity reduction. AdVs are used in therapies for genetic disorders, oncology, and vaccinology, alongside innovations such as CRISPR-Cas9, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence design. Nevertheless, persistent hurdles, including vector immunogenicity, hepatotoxicity, scalability, and the lack of durable expression, prevent widespread clinical use. This review consolidates current knowledge and presents a future perspective on how AdVs may evolve as powerful, adaptable, and precise tools in modern gene therapy. By contextualizing strengths and unresolved challenges, this work aims to give researchers and clinicians a balanced foundation for evaluating their future roles in translational medicine.

Humans↗

PubMed2005

Lead toxicity update. A brief review.

Lead is a metal which has been associated with human activities for the last 6000 years. In ancient civilizations, uses of lead included the manufacture of kitchen utensils, trays, and other decorative articles. However, lead is also toxic to humans, with the most deleterious effects on the hemopoietic, nervous, reproductive systems and the urinary tract. The main sources of lead exposure are paints, water, food, dust, soil, kitchen utensils, and leaded gasoline. The majority of cases of lead poisoning are due to oral ingestion and absorption through the gut. Lead poisoning in adults occurs more frequently during exposure in the workplace and primarily involves the central nervous system. Symptoms of hemopoietic system involvement include microcytic, hypochromic anemia with basophilic stippling of the erythrocytes. Hyperactivity, anorexia, decreased play activity, low intelligence quotient, and poor school performance have been observed in children with high lead levels. Lead crosses the placenta during pregnancy and has been associated with intrauterine death, prematurity, and low birth weight. In 1991, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA redefined elevated blood lead levels as those > or = 10 microg/dl and recommended a new set of guidelines for the treatment of lead levels > or =15 microg/dl.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Three-week beta-adrenergic blockade does not impair or improve general intellectual function in young healthy males.

The widespread use of beta blockers in treatment of both cardiovascular and nonvascular conditions has generated interest in changes in functions of the central nervous system during treatment. We studied the effect of 3 weeks of beta blockade on learning and memory ability, concentration, and verbal abstraction in 32 young normotensive healthy men. We chose healthy males to exclude the possible influence of changes related to a hypertensive state. Subjects were randomized into a 3-week treatment protocol with either atenolol 50 mg X 2 (cardioselective, hydrophilic), metoprolol 100 mg X 2 (cardioselective, lipophilic), propranolol 80 mg X 2 (noncardioselective, lipophilic), or placebo X 2. Each subject underwent two neuropsychological testing sessions. We found no significant enhancement or impairment of intellectual or psychomotor performances after the 3-week treatment with beta-adrenergic-blocking agents compared to a placebo-treated control group. Differences in pharmacokinetic profiles of the drugs (e.g., central nervous system penetrability, lipophilicity, or membrane-stabilizing effect) did not influence the test outcome. Antihypertensive treatment with beta blockers over a prolonged period does not affect young peoples' learning and memory abilities or reasoning powers, nor their ability to concentrate and perform psychometric tasks.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mining and visualizing large anticancer drug discovery databases.

In order to find more effective anticancer drugs, the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) screens a large number of compounds in vitro against 60 human cancer cell lines from different organs of origin. About 70,000 compounds have been tested in the program since 1990, and each tested compound can be characterized by a vector (i.e., "fingerprint") of 60 anticancer activity, or -[log(GI50)], values. GI50 is the concentration required to inhibit cell growth by 50% compared with untreated controls. Although cell growth inhibitory activity for a single cell line is not very informative, activity patterns across the 60 cell lines can provide incisive information on the mechanisms of action of screened compounds and also on molecular targets and modulators of activity within the cancer cells. Various statistical and artificial intelligence methods, including principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, stepwise linear regression, multidimensional scaling, neural network modeling, and genetic function approximation, among others, can be used to analyze this large activity database. Mining the database can provide useful information: (a) for the development of anticancer drugs; (b) for a better understanding of the molecular pharmacology of cancer; and (c) for improvement of the drug discovery process.

Algorithms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Fatigue and functional system involvement in multiple sclerosis].

Fatigue is a frequent complaint in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Its pathogenesis is unknown and the question of whether or not there is a specific type of fatigue in MS is controversial. The aim of this work was to determine the link between fatigue in MS and physical and psychological involvement. We studied 50 patients diagnosed of MS category la by Poser's criteria. They were examined using the Kurtzke and Hamilton scales for depression and anxiety. We also applied an original scale for assessing the spontaneity, clinical characteristics, severity and frequency of fatigue. Asthenia, a tendency to feel tired and a worsening of other symptoms were identified as clinical traits. Using statistical tests for non parametric distribution of data (Spearman's R and Kruskal-Wallis's H coefficients), we found a positive correlation between the characteristics of and severity of fatigue and functional system involvement, anxiety and depression. Thirty-one (62%) patients suffered fatigue, 22 of them spontaneously. Fatigue was the main symptom in 3. and was proportional to pyramidal involvement (r = 0.41; p < 0.01) and intelligence quotient (r = 0.30; p < 0.03). Depression and anxiety were not related to fatigue (p > 0.05). Patients in the progressive phase of disease had higher fatigue scores than did patients who were stable or in remission. Disease duration was not proportional to fatigue. Our results point to a high rate of fatigue in MS patients. The severity of fatigue is proportional to pyramidal involvement and mental decline and is linked to phases of disease progression.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

The URO Mentor: development and evaluation of a new computer-based interactive training system for virtual life-like simulation of diagnostic and therapeutic endourological procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To overcome the current disadvantages of traditional training methods for ureterorenoscopy and percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy, using the URO Mentor (Simbionix, Tel Aviv, Israel) computer-assisted simulator. METHODS: The URO Mentor device for training and quality control in ureterorenoscopy was developed using virtual reality, multimedia technology and intelligent tutoring systems. The central software system features a proprietary visualization engine (the SVE) which allows real-time simulation by offering a high-level object-orientated application program interface (written in C++) available for use with either Microsoft, DirectX 7 or OpenGL as platforms. The SVE includes general procedures to allow two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) rendering, collision detection, collision correction, 3D morphing, 2D image manipulation, texture mapping, 'bump' mapping, video texture, X-ray rendering, special effects (blood, smoke, stone fragments and more) and reflections. RESULTS: The system allows a complete training session on a wide range of procedures by offering different types of cases and virtual patients, and features a full representation of the endourological procedures under direct vision and by using interactive fluoroscopy with a contrast agent. The supported tools include: baskets, graspers, intracorporal lithotripters, guidewires, catheters, stents, biopsy and dilatation devices. The endourological procedures that can be performed are lithotripsy, tumour resection, treatment of strictures and obstructions, stent placement and biopsies. CONCLUSION: The URO Mentor introduces a new generation of mannequin equipped with a special haptic device, providing trainees with an unparalleled life-like sensation while training for diagnostic and therapeutic endourological procedures. By bringing key advances into urological simulation (e.g. with the real-time X-ray renderer) and by integrating in a single system both high-quality simulation and learning tools, the URO Mentor provides new perspectives for computer-based urological training systems and methods.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed1973

Applications of artificial intelligence: relationships between mass spectra and pharmacological activity of drugs.

The possibility that the mass spectrum and pharmacological activity of a compound may be directly related has been explored with the help of various computer-based pattern-recognition techniques. The relationship appears to hold at least for tranquilizers and sedatives, and compounds with one or the other of these two pharmacological activities can thus be classified from their mass spectra with a high degree of accuracy.

Computers↗

PubMed1988

Long-term follow-up of children born to mothers with acute leukemia during pregnancy.

Seventeen children born to mothers with acute leukemia who received chemotherapy during pregnancy were examined for physical health, growth, and development. The hematologic and neurologic status and school performance were also evaluated. Chromosomal studies were done in the long-term survivors ranging in age from 4 to 22 years. The children had thorough history and physical examinations to detect any abnormal symptoms or signs. The mothers' previous treatment was documented. In each child growth and development, school performance, intelligence testing, neurologic examination, and hematologic evaluation including bone marrow were normal. Bone marrow cytogenetic studies were also normal. Chemotherapy was given during the pregnancy in each case, including 11 cases during the first trimester. No fetal malformations were found and no late side effects could be demonstrated. The results of this study indicate that pregnancy is not a counterindication for treatment of patients with acute leukemia, and in the cases described here chemotherapy is not associated with excessive risk to the fetus.

Acute Disease↗