Deviant Strategy on the Modified Six Elements Test in Patients with Schizophrenia

Impaired executive functioning is found in a considerable proportion of schizophrenia patients. Neuropsychological tests are originally designed to measure the behavior of neurological patients and may therefore miss psychiatry-related cognitive deficits. Qualitative information on tests for executive functioning is important in psychiatric populations. The Modified Six Elements Test (MSET) is a planning test that consists of 6 tasks, for which subjects have limited time and have to obey to switching rules. This study concerns a qualitatively different approach schizophrenia patients use on the MSET, and its relationship with cognitive measures. MSET scores and strategies of schizophrenia patients were compared to those of healthy controls, closed-head-injury patients, and peripheral injury patients. Also, schizophrenia patients and healthy controls were compared on verbal memory and vigilance. Schizophrenia patients finish fewer assignments on the MSET, receive a lower profile score compared to healthy controls, and use a different strategy on the test compared to the other groups. They also perform below healthy controls on the tests for verbal memory and vigilance. Use of the different strategy in schizophrenia patients was related to impaired cognitive functioning. An interesting strategy used by schizophrenia patients on the MSET appears to be indicative of impaired cognitive functioning. This strategy may be a compensatory strategy to spare cognitive resources. It could also be the result of a concrete interpretation of the test instructions.     

Indications for and results of arthroscopy in the arthritic knee: a European survey

Purpose

The place of arthroscopic treatment in osteoarthritis of the knee has generated much controversy. A survey was initiated to collect the opinion of experienced surgeons.

Methods

Of the 211 surgeons interviewed, 170 (80.6 %) replied to the electronic questionnaire. Respondents had at least ten years of experience in arthroscopy and currently perform more than 100 arthroscopies per year. Various indications and treatment modalities for arthroscopy in osteoarthritis of the knee had to be evaluated on a scale from “excellent” to “no indication”.

Results

The respondents generally believe that an improvement is more likely in low-grade osteoarthritis (p < 0.001) and in neutral leg axis (p < 0.001). The outcome was rated better if symptoms had persisted for less than six months (p < 0.001) and for patients that were younger than 60 years (p < 0.001). Partial meniscectomy and notchplasty in cases of extension deficit were considered as successful treatment options. Debridement was an accepted indication, with an outcome mainly rated as fair. A majority saw no indication for joint lavage, arthroscopic treatment of arthrofibrosis and removal of osteophytes. The outcome appears to be poor if a bone edema is diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging prior to arthroscopy. Only 55.9 % of respondents were comfortable with the current definition of osteoarthritis.

Conclusions

Experienced arthroscopic surgeons all over Europe believe arthroscopy in osteoarthritis is appropriate, under certain conditions. The major task for surgeons is to select the right patients who are likely to benefit from this intervention.     

Cytoreduction and HIPEC in The Netherlands: Nationwide Long-term Outcome Following the Dutch Protocol

Purpose

This nationwide study evaluated results of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal metastasis of colorectal origin in the Netherlands following a national protocol.

Methods

In a multi-institutional study prospective databases of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal cancer and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) treated according to the Dutch HIPEC protocol, a uniform approach for the CRS and HIPEC treatment, were reviewed. Primary end point was overall survival and secondary end points were surgical outcome and progression-free survival.

Results

Nine-hundred sixty patients were included; 660 patients (69 %) were affected by PC of colorectal carcinoma and the remaining suffered from PMP (31 %). In 767 procedures (80 %), macroscopic complete cytoreduction was achieved. Three-hundred and thirty one patients had grade III–V complications (34 %). Thirty-two patients died perioperatively (3 %). Median length of hospital stay was 16 days (range 0–166 days). Median follow-up period was 41 months (95 % confidence interval (CI), 36–46 months). Median progression-free survival was 15 months (95 % CI 13–17 months) for CRC patients and 53 months (95 % CI 40–66 months) for PMP patients. Overall median survival was 33 (95 % CI 28–38 months) months for CRC patients and 130 months (95 % CI 98–162 months) for PMP patients. Three- and five-year survival rates were 46 and 31 % respectively in case of CRC patients and 77 and 65 % respectively in case of PMP patients.

Conclusions

The results underline the safety and efficacy of cytoreduction and HIPEC for PC from CRC and PMP. It is assumed the uniform Dutch HIPEC protocol was beneficial.     

Validation of cephalic index measurements in scaphocephaly

Introduction

The cephalic index (CI) of the head can be measured manually using a caliper, the original technique, but it is also possible to determine it using skull X-ray, 2DCT and 3DCT images, 3D photo and with help of plagiocephalometry (PCM).

Patients and methods

In this study, the manual caliper determination is statistically compared with other measuring methods for scaphocephaly patients (n?=?39).

Results

The CI mean differences for the most representative data are sequentially 3.74, 2.16, 1.09 and 0.97 for the 2DCT, PCM, 3D photo and 3DCT techniques. The CI 2DCT values show a significant difference (p?<?0.01) in reference to CI manually, while the other techniques show a p?>?0.05.

Conclusion

The conclusions are that significantly different results are achieved when using 2DCT relative to the manual caliper determination. No significant difference is observed between the 3D techniques and the manual method.     

The use of liquid latex for detecting traces of blood following thermal exposure

International Journal of Legal Medicine - In cases of crimes involving blood, the perpetrators often attempt to remove the traces they have left behind. Setting fire to the crime scene, aside from...     

Intrusive memories in perpetrators of violent crime: emotions and cognitions

The authors investigated factors that may determine whether perpetrators of violent crime develop intrusive memories of their offense. Of 105 young offenders who were convicted of killing or seriously harming others, 46% reported distressing intrusive memories, and 6% had posttraumatic stress disorder. Intrusions were associated with lower antisocial beliefs before the assault, greater helplessness, fear, dissociation, data-driven processing and lack of self-referent processing during the assault, more disorganized assault narratives, and greater negative view of the self, negative interpretations of intrusive memories, perceived permanent change, and self-blame. In a logistic regression analysis, the cognitive and emotional variables explained substantial variance over and above demographic factors. The results suggest that cognitive factors that predict reexperiencing symptoms in victims of crime generalize to perpetrators.