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At least 1,189 records · Page 66Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Neuropsychological function in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.

A neuropsychological test battery was administered to 27 adult patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who had received radiotherapy, 28 adult patients with NPC awaiting radiotherapy, and 35 normal adult controls. The 27 patients with radiotherapy had a conventional dosage, 220 cGy per fraction, or less. The median interval between the completion of radiotherapy and the evaluation of neuropsychological function was 1.7 years. Groups were matched for age and educational level. The results showed that our NPC group with radiotherapy had neuropsychological impairments in the areas of auditory attention/concentration, immediate and delayed verbal recall and immediate visual recall, and recent memory, higher-order visuospatial abilities, and bimanual dexterity. Thus neuropsychological dysfunction may occur in patients with NPC within the first 2 years after radiotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Neuropsychological performance in HIV/AIDS intravenous drug users.

It is known that HIV can directly infect the CNS and, as a result of such infection, neuropsychological alterations with cognitive, behavioural and motor manifestations can be developed. In this study we seek to determine whether seropositivity is associated with a poor neuropsychological performance in patients with a history of intravenous drug consumption (n=90). For this purpose we carried out an extensive neuropsychological evaluation and compared their performance with that of two seronegative control groups, one comprised of subjects with no history of drug abuse (n=22), which allowed us to obtain a reference of normal neuropsychological performance, and the other of seronegative subjects with a history of drug abuse (n=48), which allowed us to differentiate whether the performance of the seropositive subjects derives from their history of drug abuse. The results reveal that HIV infection in drug users is associated with deficits in attention, verbal and visual memory, verbal skills, concept formation and reasoning, visual-constructive skills, manual dexterity, and perceptive-motor speed, which cannot be attributed to a history of drug abuse. However, the seronegative drug users also showed some of these alterations, which suggests that seropositivity is not only associated with a decrease in performance in these tasks, but also adds to the alterations seen in seronegative subjects as a consequence of drug abuse.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2002

Hemispheric modulatory influences on skin resistance response latency: unilateral stimulation, bilateral recording.

In order to evaluate the bilateral asymmetries in evoked electrodermal activity (EDA) and the use of EDA parameters as indices of relative hemispheric activation, skin resistance level (SRL), skin resistance response (SRR), and the SRR latency (L) were examined in 25 right-handed male subjects. We used bilateral recording with a unilateral stimulation (auditory click/patellar tendon tap) to assess the asymmetries of EDA variables related to the side of stimulation and to handedness. Although no significant asymmetry in C = SRRmax/SRL ratio was found, significant differences in latency were observed. Ipsilateral responses were 100 ms faster than contralateral responses for auditory stimulus, a result that can be explained in terms of contralateral delay of neuronal communication on EDA-l pathway. Response latency to reflex-motor activation was 60-100 ms shorter in the dominant hand, regardless of the stimulation site used. This result indicates that the reaction time of the EDA-2 pathway of the left hemisphere was shorter than the right for right-handed subjects. It is concluded that there is hemispheric asymmetry on EDA-2 pathway and that this asymmetry appears to be dependent on the preferred dexterity. These results have implications for the influence of both central and peripheral factors on EDA laterality and principally on laterality of response amplitude. Further, there is no single cortical mechanism modulating the asymmetries in the latency of this response.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1978

The unitary construct variously named overinclusion and cognitive style.

To assess the relationships among field dependence, overinclusion, and retardedness, 87 individuals were administered Epstein's Overinclusion Test, the Embedded Figures Test, and two tests of retardedness--the O'Connor Finger Dexterity Test and a word association test. Ss included both males and females: 21 noninstitutionalized controls solicited via newspaper advertisements, 23 recently admitted and 21 long-term non-paranoid schizophrenics, and 22 recently admitted individuals with affective disorders. Results supported the direct relationship between overinclusion and field dependence. Sex differences appeared on these same two tests. Contradictory to the third hypothesis, the two tests of retardedness were directly related to both overinclusion and field dependence. These two latter concepts may therefore be manifestations of a single more comprehensive construct.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1984

Lateral asymmetry in finger localization for right-handed, kindergarten girls.

Laterality in finger localization (FL) was examined in 49 right-handed, kindergarten girls also administered tasks assessing verbal-receptive ability and manual dexterity. A right-hand advantage was evident overall and varied by FL task. The magnitude of asymmetry in FL was not unequivocally related to task requirement for verbal processing and was otherwise independent of children's verbal-receptive ability and motor laterality. The results were discussed in terms of cortical maturation and emergent cognitive-verbal processes as factors to be considered in the interpretation of asymmetry in FL.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Hydrophilic versus non-coated catheters for intermittent catheterization.

Since Lapides reintroduced clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) in 1972, this procedure has been used routinely in individualized programmes for bladder evacuation in various bladder disorders. It has been suggested that in clinical practice hydrophilic catheters are preferable to non-coated catheters. In reviewing the literature on CIC, many of the reports were found to rely on data from non-randomized retrospective studies. In some recent prospective studies, involving a limited number of patients, hydrophilic and non-coated catheters have been evaluated and compared, especially with regard to bacteriuria and urethral irritation. The available data indicate that using hydrophilic catheters for CIC may induce lower rates of bacteriuria and long-term urethral complications such as urethral strictures. However, to reach a reliable conclusion about the supposed advantage of the hydrophilic catheters, there is a need for a prospective, randomized long-term multicentre study. It is important in such a study to define patient characteristics including age, gender, diagnosis of bladder dysfunction, reason for CIC, physical and mental handicap, manual dexterity and previous treatments. Effect parameters should include number of catheterizations, urinary tract infection, early and long-term urethral complications, patient satisfaction, preferences and dropout rates. It is obligatory to include factors such as cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

A 27-year review of obstetric hysterectomy.

A retrospective case-review of 52 mothers who had a peripartum hysterectomy over the past 27 years was conducted at the Rotunda hospital, Dublin, Ireland. The chief indications were uncontrollable haemorrhage due to rupture of the uterus, placenta praevia and uterine atony. Obstetric hysterectomy is a formidable operation, usually performed as a life-saving measure and requires expert surgical dexterity in order to minimise the significant morbidity. The benefits of the subtotal operation appear to be superior to those of total hysterectomy. Counselling patients having a caesarean section regarding the possibility of hysterectomy is advisable in those who have had previous uterine surgery, multiple caesarean sections or placenta praevia.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Neuropsychological recovery following acute cerebellar ataxia.

Acute Cerebellar Ataxia (ACA) is not infrequent disorder in childhood characterized by sudden onset of such cerebellar signs as truncal ataxia, dysmetria, tremors, nystagmus, and hypotonicity. Despite the suggestion in the literature that children who have suffered from ACA may continue to have neurological deficits, there have not been any attempts to address systematically and quantitatively the nature and frequency of dysfunction in the cognitive and motor domains. To this end, 15 patients with a discharge diagnosis of ACA at Children's Hospital of Michigan were administered a Wechsler Intelligence Scale, visual-spatial tests, achievement tests, and a test of motor speed, targeting, and finger dexterity (the Purdue Pegboard). Results indicated that higher level cognitive functions, including those in the linguistic and visual-perceptual domain, remained intact. In addition, the distribution of academic achievement scores was not markedly atypical. However, Purdue Pegboard performances in the majority of patients were notably impaired. Correlations among cognitive variables and such variables as age at onset and length of hospitalization were nonsignificant: no adequate prognostic indicators were ascertained. The implications of the results for theories of cerebellar plasticity or lack thereof are commented upon.

Achievement↗
PubMed1993

Persistent neuropsychological deficits and vigilance impairment in sleep apnea syndrome after treatment with continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP).

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is characterized by nocturnal sleep disturbance, excessive daytime sleepiness and neuropsychological deficits in the areas of memory, attention, and executive tasks. In the present study, these clinical manifestations were assessed in apneic patients before and 6 months after treatment with nasally applied continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP treatment was found to restore normal respiration during sleep and to normalize sleep organization. Daytime vigilance greatly improved with treatment but some degree of somnolence as compared to normal controls persisted. Similarly, most neuropsychological deficits normalized with treatment. The exception was for planning abilities and manual dexterity, two neuropsychological deficits that have been found to be highly correlated with the severity of nocturnal hypoxemia. These results raise the possibility that anoxic brain damage is a pathogenic factor in severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Assessment of hand preference in two language-trained chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): a multimethod analysis.

The nonhuman primate literature concludes that monkeys and apes do not exhibit handedness preferences at the population level. This discrepancy between human and nonhuman primate findings may be due to differences in the methods of assessment of handedness, lack of reliability between various measures of handedness, and a paucity of studies involving great apes. This paper presents the results of extensive hand preference studies with two language-trained chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Both naturalistic and experimental paradigms are described. In particular, various methodologic factors involved in handedness assessment, including the use of a hand preference measure previously used with human subjects were examined. Both chimpanzees exhibited a right-hand preference for fine motor tasks requiring manual dexterity.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Picture and motor sequencing in multiple sclerosis.

Previous studies consistently report that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) perform poorly on the Picture Arrangement subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence test. Although this finding implies that MS causes difficulties in cognitive sequencing, the Picture Arrangement test taps many cognitive abilities in addition to sequencing, and the reported deficits by MS patients could reflect difficulties in other skills such as information processing speed or visual acuity and scanning. To circumvent some of these interpretive problems, we used an untimed test of sequencing that required arranging relatively large drawings of familiar scenarios. The MS patients were impaired on this picture sequencing test, but they performed normally on the Luria three-step test of motor sequencing. Correlational analyses showed that picture and motor sequencing were highly correlated, and that performance on both sequencing tests was related to performance on a global mental status exam, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Benton's Facial Recognition Test, but not to upper limb speed and dexterity. These findings demonstrate a relatively specific deficit in cognitive sequencing by MS patients, that can be partially dissociated from impairment in performing simple motor acts.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

High false alarm rates on a vigilance task may indicate recreational drug use.

Neuropsychologists need more sensitive methods to detect and measure recreational drug use in both research and clinical settings. In a study comparing the sensitivity of information processing tasks and neuropsychological instruments to detect early HIV-related cognitive decrements, 18 of 129 subjects tested positive for recreational drugs. Sixteen of these 18 subjects had elevated false alarm rates on one of the information processing tasks, the vigilance task. Another 45 subjects who tested negative for recreational drugs also had elevated false alarm rates. Neuropsychological measures of premorbid functioning, attention, speed of information processing, and manual dexterity were lower in the high false alarm subjects than in the remaining 66 drug-negative, low false alarm subjects. These results suggest that a high false alarm rate may reflect long-standing cognitive disturbances and the effects of drug use. The vigilance task may be a sensitive and efficient screening tool for recreational drug use.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1995

Shooting performance is related to forearm temperature and hand tremor size.

The changes in postural tremor of the hand and the subsequent effect on shooting performance produced by moderate cooling and heating of the forearm were studied in six subjects. Cooling produced a large decrease in tremor size of the ipsilateral hand, whereas warming the limb produced an increase in tremor size. Cooling or warming the forearm did not change the peak frequency of tremor significantly, which was quite stable for each subject. The improvement in shooting performance after cooling the forearm, as measured by grouping pattern of the shots, reached statistical significance and warming caused a significant worsening. This measure of performance was shown to correlate (r = 0.776) inversely with tremor size. The causes and implications of these changes are discussed. It is suggested that local cooling may be useful for people who wish temporarily to reduce tremor in order to improve dexterity for shooting and for other purposes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Behaviour of heat-treated bone marrow cells in long-term bone marrow cultures.

The effect of prior heat treatment on the ability of bone marrow cells to form long-term bone marrow culture has been studied. Bone marrow cells were heated for various times in the temperature range of 39-43 degrees C and then cultured in the modified Dexter type suspension culture. At weekly intervals, the behaviour of the cultures in terms of stroma formation and confluency, cellular viability, and myelopoiesis were evaluated. The results show that there was a dose-dependent decrease in the number of viable cells in the non-adherent fraction of the cultures. Cytological analysis of these cells showed a strong shift towards macrophage population in the successive weeks of the cultures and also as a function of heat dose delivered to these cultures. The stroma formation was delayed or inhibited as a function of the heat dose. The number of granulocyte-macrophage colony forming cells (CFU-GM) in both adherent and non-adherent fraction of the cultures were decreased substantially after hyperthermia treatment. At 41 degrees C and higher temperatures, the CFU-GM were severely diminished in both fractions. The dose response experiments showed that the decrease in the number of CFU-GM was dependent on the heat dose. The results suggest that CFU-GM is an extremely sensitive target in the hyperthermia treatment of bone marrow cells and heat-treated bone marrow cells lose their ability to maintain long-term cultures.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The malingering of multiple sclerosis and mild traumatic brain injury.

In this investigation, neuropsychological testing was conducted with 69 college students that were instructed to malinger either multiple sclerosis (MS) or traumatic brain injury (TIB) or were non-malingering controls. The two malingering groups were divided into informed and non-informed groups. The informed groups received information concerning their respective condition, and the non-informed groups were asked simply to malinger. Generally, all malingering groups performed considerably below the levels of non-malingering controls on measures of attention, learning and memory, word fluency, abstract reasoning, visuoconstruction and manual dexterity. There appeared to be no difference in the manner in which subjects attempted to malinger MS as opposed to TBI. However, the severity of the portrayed deficit suggested by the test scores was disproportionate to the severity of the injury being requested. The pattern of deficit presented was quite global, with well below average performance demonstrated by all malingering groups across all domains.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

When two limbs are weaker than one: sensorimotor syncopation with alternating hands.

This study addresses the demands of alternating bimanual syncopation, a coordination mode in which the two hands move in alternation while tapping in antiphase with a metronomic tone sequence. Musically trained participants were required to engage in alternating bimanual syncopation and five other coordination modes: unimanual syncopation where taps are made (with the left or right hand) after every tone; unimanual syncopation where taps are made after every other tone; bimanual synchronization with alternating hands; unimanual synchronized tapping with every tone; and unimanual tapping with every other tone. Variability in tap timing was greatest overall for alternating bimanual syncopation, indicating that it is the most difficult. This appears to be due to instability arising from the simultaneous presence of two levels of antiphase coordination (one between the pacing sequence and the hands, the other between the two hands) rather than factors relating to movement frequency or dexterity limits of the nonpreferred hand.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Reduced muscle strength in abduction of the index finger: an important clinical sign in hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Muscle strength in extrinsic and intrinsic hand muscle was assessed in 21 patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome. Twenty-one age-matched healthy workers served as controls. Grip and pinch strength was significantly reduced in the vibration-exposed group (18%; p = 0.006 and 18% p = 0.007, respectively) as well as strength of palmar abduction of the thumb (28%; p < 0.0001) and radial abduction of the index finger (37%; p < 0.0001) while abduction strength in the little finger was not significantly reduced (7%). We postulate that the reduced manipulative skill and impaired dexterity of the hand, which often is associated with vibration syndrome, is not only of sensorineural origin but may also be an effect of reduced intrinsic muscle strength. Reduced strength in abduction of the index finger is an important indicator of intrinsic muscular dysfunction in subjects who use hand-held vibrating tools.

Analysis of Variance↗