Preattentive detection of nonsalient contingencies between auditory features

Extraction of contingencies between features of successive auditory stimuli was studied by exploiting the mismatch negativity component of the event-related potential. According to the rules hidden in the stimulus sequences, one stimulus feature (duration) predicted another feature (pitch) of the next stimulus. Occasional deviant stimuli, violating the rules, elicited a mismatch negativity although the participants were ignoring the stimuli. Mismatch negativity was also elicited when the participants tried to detect the deviant stimuli. Their detection performance, however, was poor and on the basis of subsequent interviews, they were not consciously aware of the rules. The results suggest that contingencies across-features of successive stimuli are extracted already at the early preattentive level in the auditory sensory memory.     

Cognitive/behavioral teratogenetic effects of antiepileptic drugs

The majority of children of mothers with epilepsy are normal, but they are at increased risk for developmental delay. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) appear to play a role. Our current knowledge is reviewed, including research design issues and recommendations for future research. In animals, exposure of the immature brain to some AEDs can produce widespread neuronal apoptosis and behavioral deficits. The risks of AEDs in humans are less clear, but recent studies raise concerns, especially for valproate. There is a critical need for well-designed systematic research to improve our understanding of AED effects on the fetal brain.     

Speed and quality in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery: is there a connection?

In this paper we study the connection between coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operation time and quality. Our quality metric was the improvement in health related quality of life (HRQoL) survey score in a sample of 432 patients admitted to Kuopio University Hospital. Patients were interviewed with a structured questionnaire a day before the procedure and the follow-up questionnaires were mailed 6 and 12 months after the surgery. However, the HRQoL metric used did not have high retest reliability. Subsequently, we did not find any connection between CAGB operation times and HRQoL. Likewise, we did not find the speed of the surgeon to have any connection to HRQoL improvement.     

Amitriptyline in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic symptoms

Neuropathy is common in patients receiving vinca alkaloids, platinum derivatives, or taxanes. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study assessed the efficacy of low-dose amitriptyline to relieve chemotherapy-induced symptoms in 44 patients (age 20-65 years) who had neuropathic symptoms (numbness, tingling, pain) with a severity of > or =3/10. They were treated with amitriptyline for eight weeks (10mg/day to start, then dose elevation of 10mg/week up to 50mg/day if tolerated, followed by a stable dose > or =4 weeks). The patients completed a diary twice weekly, noting the intensity of pain, numbness and tingling, global improvement, and adverse effects. Neurological examination was performed at each visit (baseline, four, and eight weeks). The patients assessed both intensity and relief of pain, and overall discomfort. They also completed the Neuropathic Pain Scale and validated measures of anxiety and depression, and quality of life (QoL). The results demonstrated that amitriptyline did not improve sensory neuropathic symptoms, although there was a trend toward global improvement and improved QoL in favor of the amitriptyline group. No statistical significance was reached, probably due to the small number of patients and too low dose of amitriptyline. Amitriptyline was well tolerated.     

Arthrography for the diagnosis of abductor avulsion after total hip arthroplasty: a comparison of arthrographic and surgical findings in 33 patients

Background Weakness of the abductor muscles—or even their avulsion—is a potential risk when total hip arthroplasty (THA) is performed using the anterolateral approach. Avulsion of the re-attached gluteus medius leads to a limp, but can also provide an open canal for joint fluid to escape to the trochanteric region. Thus, our hypothesis was that arthrography can be used to diagnose such detachment.

Methods We compared THA arthrographies with peroperative findings retrospectively in 33 patients who had undergone surgical exploration for a muscle reattachment because of a strong suspicion of abductor avulsion at physical examination.

Results After a mean follow-up time of 22 (2-57) months after THA, 14/33 patients had a positive (pathological) arthrogram whereas 19 had a negative (normal) result. All 14 patients with a positive arthrogram were verified to have an avulsion of the abductor muscle at the operation. 10 of the 19 patients with a negative arthrogram had an intact abductor insertion, but 9 had an avulsion. All of these 9 patients with the peroperatively disclosed avulsion had a fibrous capsule, which obstructed the fistula leading from the joint cavity to the trochanteric bursa region.

Interpretation Arthrography is a valuable diagnostic aid in the evaluation of patients with abductor weakness and with Trendelenburg's gait appearing after a THA performed using the anterolateral approach. A positive finding helps in the operative decision making, but a negative arthrogram is not a reliable predictor.     

Nuclear β-catenin expression as a prognostic factor in advanced colorectal carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the changing pattern of β-catenin expression and its prognostic value in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC).METHODS.Archival tumor samples were analyzed for β-catenin using immunohistochemisry (IHC) in 95 patients with advanced CRC.RESULTS: Membranous β-catenin expression was found in the normal colorectal epithelium.Almost 100% of CRCcases showed membranous and cytoplasmic expression,and 55 (58%) cases showed nuclear expression.In univariate (Kaplan-Meier)survival analysis,only the nuclear index (NI) was a significant predictor of disease free survival (DFS) (P=0.023; n = 35),with a NI above the median associated with longer DFS (34.2 mo) than those with a NI below the median (15.5 mo) (P = 0.045,ANOVA).The other indices were not significant predictors of DFS,and none of the three tested indices (for membranous,cytoplasmic,or nuclear expression) predicted diseasespecific survival (DSS).However,when dichotomized as positive or negative nuclear expression,the former was a significant predictor of more favorable DFS (P =0.041) and DSS (P = 0.046).CONCLUSION: Nuclear β-catenin expression provides additional information in predicting patient outcome in advanced CRC.     

Methodological issues in interviewing families in family nursing research

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to discuss what methodological problems can be met in family research with one family member as an interviewee speaking on behalf of the whole family and, vice versa, what is the meaning of having multiple family members or the whole family unit as informants. BACKGROUND: Family nursing research is part of multidisciplinary research with families. It is a basis for family nursing and contributes to research, especially from the perspective of family welfare and its promotion. Family nursing research generates knowledge concerning families' and family members' wellbeing and experiences and expectations of nursing and health care. METHODS: The examination of methodological problems while pursuing family research is based on two studies conducted in Finland. FINDINGS: Quantitative methods add to the general knowledge of families. Qualitative methods are well suited to the study of family experiences. Family interviews performed for research purposes differ from interviews aiming at caring for families. They aim at obtaining knowledge of families on a general level so as to improve family nursing. Family research has to be looked at as a whole. It faces many challenges such as the definition of the family, gaining access, methods of data collection and data management. CONCLUSIONS: A family is a complex system and research with families need flexible, sensitive and practical methods. Family research should also aim at developing new methods for data collection and analysis.     

Methodology for restoring functional leg length in revision total hip arthroplasty

Functional leg length was measured in 30 patients before and after revision total hip arthroplasty. The authors emphasize the importance of preoperative planning, and determination of adjustment of the leg length should be aimed at a balanced attitude of the entire pelvis and lower back. In order to correct the length inequality, the leg was lengthened in the revision in 25 cases, left unchanged in 2 cases, and shortened in 3 cases. The mean functional leg-length inequality was 13 mm before operation and 4 mm after operation. The mean radiographic inequality between the upper surfaces of the iliac crest was 13 mm before operation and 9 mm after operation. The side operated was more often functionally shorter than the other side before operation, and longer than the other side after operation. The authors emphasize the importance of functional leg length in revision hip arthroplasty. The functional length discrepancy can be corrected in revision, but there appears to be a risk of overlengthening.