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PubMed2002

Neurocognitive sequelae of exposure to organic solvents and (meth)acrylates among nail-studio technicians.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate neuropsychologic performance among women occupationally exposed to products commonly used in nail studios. BACKGROUND: Organic solvents and (meth)acrylates commonly used in nail studios have known neurotoxic properties. Few studies have examined the potential for cognitive and neurosensory effects of occupational exposure to these substances, and none has addressed exposure occurring in the cosmetics industry. METHODS: Participants in this study included nail-salon technicians (n = 33) and demographically similar controls who had no known history of exposure to toxic chemicals (n = 35). The groups were administered psychologic, neuropsychologic, and neurosensory tests. Aspects of the workplace environment (e.g., square footage of the salon, adequacy of ventilation, and hours worked) also were assessed. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that the nail technicians performed more poorly than did controls on tests of attention and processing speed (p = 0.015; eta(2) = 0.20). Olfaction among the nail technicians was below expected performance based on normative data (p < 0.001). A trend toward poorer performance by the nail technicians was observed on the MANOVA investigating executive functioning; individual tests within that domain may be worthy of future investigation (ps = 0.03-0.10). No significant group differences were observed in the domains of learning and memory, visuospatial ability, or fine motor coordination, or on measures of depression and anxiety. Multiple regression indicated that level of occupational exposure as measured by time worked in the industry, adequacy of ventilation, and workplace size predicted 29% of the variance of performance on attentional tasks (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Exposure to low-level neurotoxicants common to nail studios may result in mild cognitive and neurosensory changes similar to those observed among solvent-exposed workers in other settings.

Acrylates↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Neuropsychiatric and cognitive aspectos of multiple sclerosis].

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease that can affect cognitive and emotional functioning. About 50% of MS patients present some degree of neuropsychological impairment. Due to its onset in young adulthood (a period of life in which the individual is professionally and socially very active) the presence of cognitive impairment may greatly alter the patient's daily living activities and future life plans. Memory, attention, executive function and information processing speed are the most commonly reported impaired aspects of cognition. Depression, euphoria, and pathological laughing and crying are frequent psychiatric findings. In this paper we describe the distinctive features of cognitive and psychopathological impairments and their relationship to certain disease variables such as illness duration, lesion sites, physical impairment and clinical course. We also deal with aspects of the neuropsychological and psychiatric assessment, emphasizing its importance when psychological counseling or an eventual cognitive training are needed.

Cognition Disorders↗

PubMed1975

An electron microscopic study of the vascular factor in hemorrhagic diathesis.

Experimental diapedetic hemorrhage (oozing) was produced by streptokinase in rabbits and the fine structures of mesenterial microvessels were observed. Diapedesis of erythrocytes was seen in the venular side of microcirculation. On the contrary, no diapedesis was seen in true capillary on the arteriolar side. Sticking of erythrocytes to venular wall prior to diapedesis was proved, electron microscopically, to be the state in which red blood cells were trapped in the gaps on the endothelial junction. It was considered to be the morphological findings of the prediapedetic state. Erythrocytes passed through gaps on the endothelial junctions with high plasticities under any diapedetic conditions mentioned above. Furthermore, in author's experiments by ruthenium red staining, erythrocytes were observed just passing through the basement membrane under electron microscopy, in spite of its high speed process. It was found that the basement membrane is a very important barrier in erythrocyte diapedesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

[Neuropsychological and neurophysiological features of Fahr's disease].

BACKGROUND: Fahr's disease (basal ganglia calcification) is characterized by bi hemispherical calcium deposition in basal ganglia, dentate nucleus and semioval center. Its clinical manifestations are a rigid hypokinetic syndrome, mood disorders and cognitive impairment. AIM: To report to the results of a neurological assessment of three siblings with Fahr disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three sisters, aged 55, 56 and 58 years, were studied. All had a rigid hypokinetic clinical picture associated with cerebellar involvement and a cognitive impairment that progressed in 8, 6 and 10 years respectively. Brain CAT scans showed symmetric and extensive calcifications of cerebellar white matter and dentate nuclei, pons, mesencephalon, lenticular nuclei, thalami and semioval centers. Hypoparathyroidism was ruled out. Cognition was assessed with WAIS and Benton tests and Weschler memory scale. The time of reaction to visual stimuli was studied. The processing speed of visual information and the interhemispheric conduction time of such information, were calculated. Cognitive evoked potentials (P 300) were also studied. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment involved verbal and visual-spatial memory, planning, attention and concentration capacities and visual constructive skills. There was a prolongation of reaction time latencies and loss of the normal asymmetry of interhemispheric transmission (without right to left facilitation). P 300 evoked potentials were absent. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that the pathogenesis of cognitive and motor changes in Fahr's disease is based in a dysfunction of cortico basal connections and their interhemispheric relations. This defines a subcortical dementia secondary to mineral deposits in subcortical structures.

Basal Ganglia Diseases↗

PubMed2002

Impact of psychological stress, gender and colour on visual response latency.

The measure of visual reaction time has been used to evaluate the processing speed of Central Nervous System and the co-ordination between the sensory and motor systems. As the reaction time is influenced by different factors, the impact of psychological stress, gender effect and the colour of objects in modulating the reaction time have been investigated in this study. 32 male and 38 female medical students in the age group of 18-21 yrs participated as subjects. It was observed that a) the males had a visual reaction time lesser than their female counterparts b) response latency for green colour was lesser than that for red in both the males and the female subjects and c) psychological stress resulted in a significant decline in the reaction time to green colour in males. The longer reaction time in females could be due to the effect of female sex hormones, which reduced the velocity of nerve impulse and increased the synaptic delay. Green colour evoked a faster response due to its stronger stimulation on the visual receptors.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Mammographic computer-aided detection systems.

While mammography is regarded as the best means available to screen for breast cancer, reading mammograms is a tedious, error-prone task. Given the repetitiveness of the process and the fact that less than 1% of mammograms in the average screening population contain cancer, it's no wonder that a significant number of breast cancers--about 28%--are missed by radiologists. The fact that human error is such a significant obstacle makes mammography screening an ideal application for computer-aided detection (CAD) systems. CAD systems serve as a "second pair of eyes" to ensure that radiologists don't miss a suspect area on an image. They analyze patterns on a digitized mammographic image, identify regions that may contain an abnormality indicating cancer, and mark these regions. The marks are then inspected and classified by a radiologist. But CAD systems provide no diagnosis of any kind--it's up to the radiologist to analyze the marked area and decide if it shows cancer. In this Evaluation, we describe the challenges posed by screening mammography, the operating principles and overall efficacy of CAD systems, and the characteristics to consider when purchasing a system. We also compare the performance of two commercially available systems, iCAD's MammoReader and R2's ImageChecker. Because the two systems offer comparable sensitivity, our judgments are based on other performance characteristics, including their ease of use, the number of false marks they produce, the degree to which they can integrate with hospital information systems, and their processing speed.

Adult↗

PubMed1976

A system for rapid analysis of long-term recordings of heart rate and other physiological parameters.

Using miniature cassette tape recorders, measurement of ECG and other physiological measures is possible in industrial or working situations. The development of a semi-automatic high speed processing system for analysis of the tape recorded data is described. This system decodes the signals on the tape, converts ECG to heart rate and presents a listing of the heart rate variation over the recording period, which may be up to 24 hours. A punched paper tape copy of the listing is used for input into a mainframe computer for subsequent analysis. The recorders and processing system have been used extensively for three years on a study of industrial work stress, and have proved reliable, accurate, and of sufficient sensitivity for in-depth analysis. They allow considerable data to be collected, permitting the thorough statistical analysis necessary for the interpretation of complex physiological responses.

Computers↗

PubMed1992

[Paced addition. A neuropsychological test for assessment of divided attention].

The Pasat (Paced auditory serial addition task) is a test requiring addition of simple digits presented auditorily in several series of a successively higher pace of presentation. The task reflects the capacity for divided attention, is a measure of information processing speed and has appeared to be sensitive to minor attention deficits. We made a Dutch version characterized by longer time intervals between digits, for use in a study among (altogether 130) middle-aged and elderly persons. This modified version was evaluated with respect to feasibility. It appeared to be fairly feasible, provided sufficient opportunity for practice is given. Two series with inter-stimulus intervals of 4 and 3 seconds respectively were then evaluated with respect to validity and reliability in subjects of 48 to 74 years. Both Pasat series correlated well with two tests of attention: Digit Symbol (WAIS) and d2-test (r = 0.53-0.67), the relation with reaction decision speed being generally weak (r = 0.29-0.33) and weak to absent with a number of memory tests (r = -0.04-0.29). The Pasat performance shows a positive relationship with educational level and intelligence (inter-stimulus interval 4 seconds: r = 0.28 and 0.33 resp.; inter-stimulus interval 3 seconds: r = 0.40, 0.57 resp.). The stability of test performance over a period of about two months is moderate (r = 0.54, 0.61 resp.). In view of the excellent inter-observer reliability (r = 0.99) and the good parallel-test reliability (r = 0.79, 0.68 resp.), this might be explained by fluctuations in the capacity measured, rather than measurement error.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

PubMed2002

A confirmatory factor analysis of the WAIS-III in a clinical sample with crossvalidation in the standardization sample.

A maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) was performed by applying LISREL 8 to a clinical sample (n=328). Analyses were designed to determine which of the nine hypothesized oblique factor solutions could best explain intelligence as measured by the WAIS-III in the general clinical sample. Competing latent variable models were identified in previous studies and a priori model modifications were made to test derivations of the nine base models. Results in the clinical sample were crossvalidated by testing all models in the normative sample used in the standardization of the scale. Findings in both the clinical and standardization samples supported a six-factor model including Semantic Memory, Verbal Reasoning, Constructional Praxis, Visual Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed factors. Our analysis differed from that presented in the WAIS-III manual as we tested more complex models of intelligence in addition to the ones evaluated by the test publishers. As a result, a six-factor model that corresponded to an expanded version of a model based on Horn's Gf-Gc theory was empirically supported as having the best fit to the data. More complex derivations of this model failed to achieve sufficient goodness of fit.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Exploratory factor analysis of the WAIS-III in a mixed patient sample.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) was administered to 152 patients at a VA Medical Center. Means for age, education, and Full Scale IQ were 51.49 years (SD = 13.00), 12.43 years (SD = 2.00), and 92.61 (SD = 14.06), respectively. Of the 152 patients, 69 had substance abuse disorders, 39 had medical/neurological conditions, 27 had both substance abuse and psychiatric disorders, and 17 had psychiatric conditions. The 13 WAIS-III subtests were subjected to a principal-axis factor analysis with oblimin rotation. Four factors were specified to be retained. The Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organization, and Processing Speed factors were identical to those in the standardization sample. However, Arithmetic could not be allocated to any factor within the patient sample. The Working Memory factor consisted only of the Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing subtests. &copy 2000 National Academy of Neuropsychology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd

Journal Article↗

PubMed1999

Neuropsychological correlates of methylphenidate treatment in adult ADHD with and without depression.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the neuropsychological profiles of adult patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) alone and ADHD with active comorbid depression, and to evaluate changes in the neuropsychological profile in these two groups following a trial of methylphenidate. Forty patients with ADHD were classified into two groups based on their affective status resulting in a group of 21 patients with ADHD alone and 19 patients with ADHD and active comorbid symptoms of depression (ADHD-D). All subjects received a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation including measures of cognitive, motor and affective functioning before and after treatment. Fifteen normal controls were also assessed at a yoked time interval. At baseline, both patient groups showed impairment in verbal memory, motor and processing speed, visual scanning, and auditory and visual distractibility. Following treatment, both patient groups showed improvement across all neuropsychological measures while controls remained relatively stable over time. Improvement in neuropsychological test performance was not related to gender, affective status or referral source. Patients with active comorbid symptoms of depression show a similar neuropsychological profile and appear equally likely to benefit from methylphenidate intervention as patients with ADHD alone.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Factor analysis of four measures of prefrontal lobe functioning.

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop Test, Verbal Fluency (FAS), and Auditory Consonant Trigrams are commonly used measures of prefrontal lobe dysfunction. However, insufficient data are available regarding the specific functions assessed by these tests and the relationship of the tests to each other. These four tests, as well as measures of IQ, memory, attention, and processing speed, were administered to 250 subjects (138 patients and 112 controls). Factor analysis yielded three factors, and a higher order frontal lobe factor, using a dimensional factor analytic methodology. Present findings revealed modest correlations among the prefrontal tests, suggesting that the tests tap somewhat different abilities and are not redundant. Adequate assessment of prefrontal lobe abilities appears to require use of more than one test.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Neuropsychological functioning of inmates referred for psychiatric treatment.

This article describes the Neuropsychological (NP) functioning of 71 psychiatrically hospitalized male prisoners. Demographic description, patterns of drug use, patterns of violence, psychiatric diagnosis, and performance on the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery (HRNB) are described. Using age and education adjusted norms (Heaton, Grant, & Matthews, 1991), 84% of this sample demonstrated impairment on the Halstead Impairment Index. Sensory Exam-Left, Tapping Dominant and Non-Dominant, Speech Perception, Tactual Performance Test Times/Memory/and Location, Trailmaking A and B, and Category Test were all impaired. Multivariate Analyses (MANOVAS) demonstrated significantly impaired performance on tasks of Motor, Psychomotor, and Reasoning, with FTT-Dominant, TPT-Total, and Category Test contributing the most meaningful contribution to the multivariate effect. Varimax Rotated Principle Components Analysis revealed a five-factor model (Motor, Learning, Attention, Abstraction, and Processing Speed), which accounted for 69.9% of the total variance. Need for further research, and implications for the use of this information in developing treatment programs for psychiatrically disturbed prisoners are discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1997

Determining neuropsychological impairment using estimates of premorbid intelligence: comparing methods based on level of education versus reading scores.

When inferring brain dysfunction, test scores are typically compared to normative data based on estimates of premorbid intelligence (e.g., by educational level or reading scores). However, these methods are likely to lead to differing results, with important diagnostic and forensic implications. The current study compared estimates of impairment (reported in z-scores) based on educational level versus reading scores in a population with traumatic brain injury. The study included 174 patients (M age = 27.3; M education = 12.3) evaluated as outpatients at a university hospital rehabilitation department. Wilcoxen ranked sign tests indicated that the two methods yielded estimates that were statistically different (p <.0001) for all variables. The education based method yielded greater estimates of impairment than the reading score method for WAIS-R FIQ. Grip Strength, and Finger Tapping, with a pattern of generally consistent impairment across cognitive/motor areas (z-score range = -0.59 to -.97). In contrast, the reading score based method yielded greater estimates of impairment in processing speed (Trails A) and flexibility (Trails B), with a wider range of impairment noted between cognitive and motor domains (z-score range = +0.21 to -2.95). Clinical implications are discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Neuropsychological testing of high school athletes. Preliminary norms and test-retest indices.

This study provides preliminary norms and test-retest indices on a brief battery of neuropsychological tests administered to a sample of 60 male and 40 female high school athletes. Forty-eight subjects completed retesting 8 weeks later. Analyses of baseline scores indicate that girls outperform boys on selected measures of processing speed and executive functions [Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) Digit Symbol, Trails B, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)]. Test-retest reliability was low and varied widely among the tests. There were no gender differences in test-retest reliability. Reliable Change Indices (RCIs) were computed on the test-retest data for use in clinical interpretation. These preliminary results indicate that caution should be used in interpreting neuropsychological test data from high school athletes. The current findings indicate that separate norms for boys and girls are warranted. Caution should be used in interpreting discrepancies from baseline scores as a result of what may turn out to be poor test-retest reliability in this population.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

[Cognitive function as the factor determining higher-level competence in community-dwelling elderly: comprehensive health examination for the community elderly for the prevention of the geriatric syndrome and a bed-ridden state ("otasha-kenshin")].

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine age-related differences in cognitive function, and their relation to higher-level competence of elderly living in an urban community. METHOD: Participants were 438 individuals (males 168, females 270) aged 70 to 84 years living in an urban community in Tokyo. Three cognitive performance tests, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) Digit Symbol, Word Fluency Test, and the WAIS-R Digit Span, were employed for estimating cognitive function, and the TMIG Index of Competence for measuring higher-level competence. In the Index, three constructions: "Instrumental Self-Maintenance", "Intellectual Activity", and "Social Role" were involved. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Age-related differences in the cognitive tests were analyzed using ANCOVA controlling for educational year. Age-related differences between younger elderly (70-79 years old) and older elderly (80-84 years old) were observed with the WAIS-R Digit Symbol, Word Fluency Test and the WAIS-R Digit Span. The results indicate that information processing speed, executive function and primary memory in community-dwelling elderly continue to decline in old age, and this trend is salient in the old-old. We carried out partial correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis for exploring the relationships between cognitive function and the sub-scales in the TMIG Index of Competence, controlling for age and educational year. Cognitive function was significantly and positively related with the sub-scales in the Index, this being especially robust for "Intellectual Activity". The results suggest that higher-level competence can be modestly determined with reference to cognitive function, and "Intellectual Activity" may have a stronger relation with cognitive function than the other two sub-scales in the Index.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1992

Antiepileptic drugs and memory.

Assessing the effects of medication on cognitive functions including memory is fraught with methodological problems. This article illustrates the range of approaches that have been employed. Medication effects have been more readily demonstrated in patients with intractable epilepsy, in whom drug dosages are higher and the risk of polytherapy is greater. Newly diagnosed cases and individuals treated with monotherapy show fewer effects. Evaluation of memory functions in most studies has been very limited, and where effects have been recorded these may well be secondary to changes in attentional level or mental processing speed.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

[Prospective follow-up of neuropsychological deficits after cervicocephalic acceleration trauma].

30 patients with acute cervico-cephalic syndrome following whiplash injury (neck and head pain, vegetative symptoms and subjective complaints of impaired mental functions) without neurological deficits were investigated in a prospective follow-up of 3 months with neuropsychological examination in the acute phase (x = 5.7 days) and again 6 and 12 weeks after the accident. Attention, concentration, cognition and verbal and visual memory functions were quantified by neuropsychological tests, and changes over the observation period were analysed. In the acute phase all neuropsychological functions were below the individual's normal level. Deficits in attention and concentration recovered within the first 6 weeks. Further recovery within the following 6 weeks were observed in visual memory, imagination and analytic capacity. The capability of verbal memory and abstraction, cognitive selectivity and information processing speed was impaired for a longer time and first recovered after 12 weeks. In conclusion, intraindividual neuropsychological deficits following whiplash injury can be quantified and monitored to show the time course of recovery. Thus in clinical and forensic practice the diagnosis of a pseudoneurasthenic or even "neurotic" syndrome in acute whiplash injury should be made with caution.

Accidents, Traffic↗