Returning to work with aphasia: A case study

Background: For some people with aphasia, returning to work will be their eventual goal. While there are reports in the literature of incidence of return to work, and general discussion of success, there are few documented in depth studies of what this might entail for the individual with aphasia.

Aims: This paper explores returning to work with aphasia, and examines the complex relationship between the person, the aphasia and the demands of employment.

Methods & Procedures: This is a detailed case report, describing and reflecting on the experiences of GD, who returned to work following his stroke and aphasia. Therapy focused specifically on work requirements is described and the factors affecting GD's return to work explored. An interview was used to elicit GD's reflections on his experiences.

Outcome & Results: GD's language skills improved over time and with therapy, and he developed several strategies that facilitated his communication. He was able to return to work (part-time) in a modified role and this was successful initially. After an extended period (～19 months) his employment was terminated and GD explored other options. He moved on to a volunteering and charity trustee role.

Conclusions: The success (or not) of returning to work with aphasia is multi-faceted and does not rest solely with the person with aphasia. The nature of the work may have a strong bearing on success, as will the ability and willingness of the employer to engage in the process. Partnership with the person and constant review of goals and management is of overwhelming importance. We need to consider what “success” may mean in this context and the need to consider therapeutic and rehabilitation needs over a longer time frame.     

Correlation between pelvic congestion syndrome and body mass index

Objective

Previous studies of men suggested that patients with varicocele may be leaner than the normal population. No such work exists in women with pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). This study evaluated the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and PCS.

Evaluation of encephalic ventricular volume from the magnetic resonance imaging scans of thirty-eight human subjects

Summary Accurate volume determination of the encephalic ventricles is of importance in several clinical conditions, including Alzheimer's presenile dementia, schizophrenia, and benign intracranial hypertension. Previous studies have investigated the accuracy with which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used in clinical practice to evaluate the encephalic ventricles. However, adequate evaluation of pathological conditions depends on a sufficient amount of morphometric data from normal subjects. To begin establishing this data base for normal subjects, we evaluated the MRI scans of 38 subjects found to have no apparent pathology and calculated the ventricular volume in each case by using methods previously developed in our laboratory. The results were then compared with published volumes determined from studies that used either ventricular casts or computerized tomographic scans. The average total ventricular volume for all 38 subjects was 17.4 cm³, while that for males was 16.3 cm³ and that for females was 18.0 cm³. A small but significant correlation was found between age of subject and ventricular volume, with ventricular size increasing with age.

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Evaluation du volume des ventricules cérébraux à partir des images obtenues en résonance magnétique nucléaire chez 38 sujets humains

Résumé La détermination exacte du volume des ventricules cérébraux est importante en clinique comme par exemple dans la démence présénile d'Alzheimer, la schizophrénie et l'hypertension intracrânienne bénigne. Des études antérieures ont étudié la fiabilité de la résonance magnétique nucléaire en pratique clinique pour évaluer le volume des ventricules cérébraux. Toutefois une évaluation correcte dans les conditions pathologiques implique une bonne connaissance des données morphométriques du sujet normal. Pour établir ces données sur « le sujet normal », nous avons étudié les coupes obtenues en IRM chez 38 sujets apparemment indemnes de toute pathologie; nous avons calculé le volume ventriculaire dans chaque cas en utilisant des méthodes mises au point auparavant dans notre laboratoire. Les résultats ont été ensuite comparés avec ceux obtenus par d'autres études utilisant soit des moules ventriculaires, soit des coupes tomographiques computérisées. Le volume ventriculaire total moyen chez 38 sujets est de 17,4 cm³, mais il est chez les sujets masculins de 16,3 cm³ et chez les sujets de sexe féminin de 18 cm³. Une corrélation faible mais significative a été trouvée entre l'âge du sujet et le volume ventriculaire, étant entendu que la taille du ventricule augmente avec l'âge.

     

Biomarkers of periodontal inflammation in the Australian adult population

Background:  Several inflammatory biomarkers are implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and C-reactive protein (CRP). This study investigated the presence of these factors in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and their relationship to clinical and social determinants of periodontitis in the Australian population.
Methods:  Equal numbers of periodontitis cases and non-cases were sampled during oral epidemiologic examination in the National Survey of Adult Oral Health. GCF was sampled from four sites where probing pocket depth (PPD) and recession were recorded. From these, IL-1β and CRP were quantified by ELISA and the log amount of GCF IL-1β (pg) per person and the proportion of adults with detectable CRP was computed.
Results:  Periodontitis cases (n = 511) had significantly higher levels of IL-1β and CRP than non-cases (n = 562). PPD, clinical attachment loss, plaque and gingivitis indices were positively associated with elevated levels of both biomarkers. Levels of both were positively associated with age, low socio-economic position and non-Australian birth.
Conclusions:  The presence of IL-1β and CRP in GCF are associated with periodontal disease parameters within the Australian population. The levels of both biomarkers are influenced by age, education and eligibility for public dental care.     

无支架异种生物瓣膜主动脉瓣替换术后左室功能变化

评价无支架异种生物瓣膜主动脉瓣替换术后２年左室功能的变化。将８０例同期施行主动脉瓣替换病人分为２组，５０例（年龄６９．３±９．３岁）应用ＴｏｒｏｎｔｏＳＰＶＴＭ瓣；３０例（年龄７１．６±７．７岁）作为对照组接受支架人工瓣膜替换。术前、术后１、６、１２及２４个月间记录Ｍ型及Ｄｏｐｐｌｅｒ超声心动图，采用计算机图像数字分析，定量测定左室功能的变化。随访期间，Ｔｏｒｏｎｔｏ组主动脉瓣跨瓣压差为０．８±０．６ｋＰａ（６．０±４．５ｍｍＨｇ），明显低于对照组２．３±０．９ｋＰａ（１７．３±６．８ｍｍＨｇ）；术后１个月，左室心肌质量下降２５％，左室＋Ｖｃｆ及－Ｖｃｆ明显增加（２．０±０．８／１．４±０．３ｓ－１，Ｐ＜０．０１；２．８±１．２／１．８±０．７ｓ－１，Ｐ＜０．０１）。术后６个月，左室功能进一步改善，心室肥厚的消退更趋完全，该变化在其后的随访期间保持稳定。结论：与支架瓣膜相比，无支架异种生物瓣膜具有较大瓣口开放面积及低跨瓣压差，这促进了术后左室功能的恢复及病理性肥厚的逆转