Synesthesia for manual alphabet letters and numeral signs in second-language users of signed languages

ABSTRACT

Many synesthetes experience colors when viewing letters or digits. We document, for the first time, an analogous phenomenon among users of signed languages who showed color synesthesia for fingerspelled letters and signed numerals. Four synesthetes experienced colors when they viewed manual letters and numerals (in two cases, colors were subjectively projected on to the hands). There was a correspondence between the colors experienced for written graphemes and their manual counterparts, suggesting that the development of these two types of synesthesia is interdependent despite the fact that these systems are superficially distinct and rely on different perceptual recognition mechanisms in the brain.     

Repeat percutaneous coronary revascularization: Indications and outcomes in a “Real World” cohort

Objectives : To investigate rates of and reasons for second and subsequent stent procedures in an unselected, “real‐world” population. Background : Repeat stenting is the primary difference reported in clinical trials of alternative revascularization strategies. The incidence, indication, and outcome for repeat stenting in contemporary practice outside the more selective populations of trials and registries has not been described. Method : All patients undergoing a first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure with stenting from January 2001 to August 2009 (10,509) from a large UK tertiary referral and district general hospital were identified. Mortality and the incidence, timing, and indication for repeat revascularization in this population were investigated from patient records. Results : Of 10,509 patients undergoing a first PCI and stent implant 23.5% underwent repeat angiography of which 11.2% required repeat PCI and 2% coronary artery bypass grafting (median follow‐up of 3.8 years). A total of 1.3% went on to a third PCI. The commonest indication for repeat stenting was disease progression remote from the original stent (46%) and planned staged PCI (23%); 21% had a stent‐related indication. Functional assessment before repeat stenting was used in one‐third of stable patients. Mortality was 2.5% per annum. Conclusions : In contemporary practice, patients undergoing a first stenting procedure have a low subsequent mortality, and the substantial majority (86.4%) requires no further revascularization over a median 3.8 year follow‐up. For those who do require repeat stenting, this is most commonly at a site remote from the first stent. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Following up the follow up—Long-term complications in paediatric burns

Paediatric burn follow-up optimally follows a balance between complication detection and avoiding unnecessary hospital visits. In a long-term review, we assessed complication patterns in children with burns requiring surgery. Using the Welsh Burns Centre database, a retrospective note review of paediatric burns over 3 years from 1995 was performed, identifying all children undergoing surgery for their burns. 94 patients were identified with a median follow-up since injury of 13.6 years. Mean age was 5.27 (SD = 4.9) years. TBSA ranged from <1 to 70%. 94% underwent split-skin grafting. 18% (n = 17) developed contractures and 33% (n = 31) developed hypertrophic scarring. Those developing contractures were younger, and suffered significantly greater TBSA burns (p < 0.05) than those developing hypertrophic scarring or those without complications. All contractures developed within 1–13 months, and hypertrophic scarring within 1–17 months. All patients sustaining axillary burns developed contractures, whilst 75% of contractures developed around the upper limb.     

Diffusion tensor imaging in brainstem tuberculoma

Integrity of descending white matter tracts can be evaluated by diffusion tensor imaging. In rim-enhancing intraparenchymal lesions, this technique can assist in the differentiation of demyelinating disease from tumor or abscess. Diffusion tensor imaging characteristics of tuberculoma have not been previously reported to our knowledge. A patient with headaches, dizziness, and mild left-sided weakness underwent MRI with diffusion tensor imaging. A large, rim-enhancing lesion within the pons was discovered, which subsequently was diagnosed as tuberculoma. Tractography maps prepared from diffusion tensor imaging data revealed predominantly displaced descending fiber tracts in the region of the rim-enhancing lesion. A few tracts adjacent to the lesion appeared truncated, and this abnormal finding correlated to the patient’s clinical deficit. The tractography characteristics of diffusion tensor imaging in this patient potentially are distinct from those seen with demyelinating lesions, which may show more extensive tract truncation. Together with the consonance of exam findings and tract truncation seen in this patient, tractography may prove useful in the diagnosis of suspected tuberculoma.     

The relationship between negative trauma-related cognitions and psychosocial functioning in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder

Abstract

Background: The comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent and associated with especially poor psychosocial functioning. Negative trauma-related cognitions are theoretically proposed to be associated with poor psychosocial functioning in PTSD, but few studies have examined the association between negative trauma-related cognitions and psychosocial functioning in PTSD/AUD. Evaluating this association may provide evidence of a potential treatment target for improving psychosocial functioning in PTSD/AUD. We hypothesized that negative trauma-related cognitions, including cognitions about the self, world, and self-blame, would be independently associated with poor psychosocial functioning in the following domains: vitality, psychosocial well-being, role limitations due to emotional distress, and social functioning. Methods: We examined the relationship between negative trauma-related cognitions and psychosocial functioning in 145 treatment-seeking veterans with PTSD/AUD using multiple linear regression analyses while controlling for PTSD and alcohol abuse and dependence severity. Results: Our hypotheses were partially supported. We found that negative trauma-related cognitions were uniquely associated with greater psychosocial functional impairment, independent of PTSD and alcohol abuse and dependence severity. Specifically, negative trauma-related cognitions about the self were associated with greater psychosocial functional impairment across all domains, cognitions about the world were associated with worse social functioning and psychological well-being, and self-blame was associated with impaired psychological well-being. Conclusions: Given that improvements in negative trauma-related cognitions are a mechanism of trauma-focused treatment, future studies should examine whether changes in negative trauma-related cognitions through trauma-focused treatment are associated with improved psychosocial functioning.