Spectrotemporal dynamics of the EEG during working memory encoding and maintenance predicts individual behavioral capacity

We investigated the effect of memory load on encoding and maintenance of information in working memory. Electroencephalography (EEG) signals were recorded while participants performed a modified Sternberg visual memory task. Independent component analysis (ICA) was used to factorise the EEG signals into distinct temporal activations to perform spectrotemporal analysis and localisation of source activities. We found ‘encoding’ and ‘maintenance’ operations were correlated with negative and positive changes in α‐band power, respectively. Transient activities were observed during encoding of information in the bilateral cuneus, precuneus, inferior parietal gyrus and fusiform gyrus, and a sustained activity in the inferior frontal gyrus. Strong correlations were also observed between changes in α‐power and behavioral performance during both encoding and maintenance. Furthermore, it was also found that individuals with higher working memory capacity experienced stronger neural oscillatory responses during the encoding of visual objects into working memory. Our results suggest an interplay between two distinct neural pathways and different spatiotemporal operations during the encoding and maintenance of information which predict individual differences in working memory capacity observed at the behavioral level.     

Total hip arthroplasty with the MS-30 polished surface cemented stem: a single surgeon consecutive series study at 10 year follow-up

The Morscher-Sportorno femoral stem is a stainless steel, straight, three-dimensionally tapered, collarless implant for cemented fixation in total hip replacement. The clinical and radiographic results of this implant at a minimum of 5-year follow-up have been extremely encouraging. However, the results at 10 years have yet to be reported. Therefore, we wished to establish the clinical performance and survival of the polished surface MS-30 femoral stem at a minimum of 10-year follow-up. We report the results at a minimum follow-up of 10 years of a single surgeon series of 55 total hip replacements with the polished surface MS-30 cemented femoral component in 48 consecutive patients aged between 50 and 64. The median period of observation was 12 years (inter-quartile range, 10–13). Six patients died with their implant in situ, and one patient was unable to attend for follow-up. All the remaining 41 patients with 47 total hip replacements were reviewed. All patients were assessed clinically with the use of the Oxford hip score, and radiographs taken at the latest follow-up were evaluated by an independent specialist hip surgeon. To date, none of the implants have been revised. The median Oxford hip score was 13 (inter-quartile range, 12–14). Radiologically, no stems had evidence of loosening on assessment by the Harris criteria, and only 4 hips (8.5 %) had osteolysis adjacent to the stem, mostly in Gruen zone 7. The results of the polished surface MS-30 femoral stem were satisfactory with survivorship at a minimum of 10 years of 100 %. These findings support the continued use of this femoral component.     

Increased rate of ptosis following glaucoma drainage device placement and other anterior segment surgery: a prospective analysis

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology - To determine the degree and rate of ptosis in patients undergoing glaucoma and cataract surgery. Patients undergoing...     

The effectiveness of a twice‐daily skin‐moisturising regimen for reducing the incidence of skin tears

A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a twice‐daily moisturising regimen as compared to ‘usual’ skin care for reducing skin tear incidence. Aged care residents from 14 Western Australian facilities (980 beds) were invited to participate. The facilities were sorted into pairs and matched in terms of bed numbers and whether they provided high or low care. One facility from each matched pair was randomised to the intervention group. Consenting residents in an intervention facility received a twice‐daily application of a commercially available, standardised pH neutral, perfume‐free moisturiser on their extremities. Residents in the control facilities received ad hoc or no standardised skin‐moisturising regimen. Participant numbers were sufficient to detect a 5% difference in incidence rate between the two groups with 80% power and a significance level of P = 0·05, and the inter‐cluster correlation coefficient was 0·034. Data were collected over 6 months. A total of 1396 skin tears on 424 residents were recorded during the study. In the intervention group, the average monthly incidence rate was 5·76 per 1000 occupied bed days as compared to 10·57 in the control group. The application of moisturiser twice daily reduced the incidence of skin tears by almost 50% in residents living in aged care facilities.