A daily process design study of attentional pain control strategies in the self-management of cancer pain.

This study investigated the use of attentional control strategies in the self-management of pain using daily process design methodology. Twenty six cancer patients with pain completed diaries 3 times daily for 10 days. Diaries incorporated measures of pain intensity, affect, coping, coping efficacy, and the novelty and predictability of pain, and participants completed a cross-sectional measure of catastrophizing. At the across-person level, focusing on pain was associated with increased negative affect, and the use of pain focusing strategies was positively correlated with experiencing pain that was novel in its location or quality. Distractions that were interesting, important and pleasant were positively correlated with positive affect, perceptions of control over pain and ability to decrease pain. Over-prediction of pain was positively correlated with catastrophizing, and negatively correlated with perceptions of control over and ability to decrease pain. The within-person analysis (ARIMA modelling) showed that catastrophizing moderated the effects of pain focusing strategies, novel pain and over-predictions of pain. Meta-analysis of the ARIMA models revealed that the within-person effects of using attentional strategies did not generalize across the sample. These findings indicated that the effects of distraction strategies are influenced by their motivational-affective significance rather than the frequency with which they are used, and provided further evidence that the threat value of pain influences the way in which people cope with their pain. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.     

唇腭裂患者上颌骨牵引成骨术后发音方式的变化

目的:通过对行颅外支架式上颌骨牵引成骨术(rigidexternaldistraction,RED)唇腭裂患者治疗前后的错误发音数量变化、不同发音部位、不同发音方法以及不同类型错误发音发生特点及其变化评价,分析上颌骨RED对患者发音方式的影响。方法:1999年至2001年行上颌骨RED的唇腭裂术后上颌发育不足患者21例,其中男性13例,女性8例,平均年龄15.05岁。所有患者RED前后进行语音测听并分类。治疗前后错误发音的差异性用非参数检验。结果:RED术后42.9%患者错误发音数较RED前增加,19.0%减少,38.1%无变化。从发音部位,舌尖前音错误发音发生率最高,其次为舌面音。从发音方法,错误发音多发于塞擦音。错误发音类型以咽喉摩擦/爆破音为主,其次为腭化构音和声门爆破音。上颌骨RED后腭化构音累及音节数减少,但咽喉摩擦/爆破音和声门爆破音反而增加,尤其是咽喉摩擦/爆破音。结论:唇腭裂患者经RED前移上颌骨后,会对患者发音方式产生影响,在行语音治疗前需考虑全面。     

Correction of camptodactyly with an external fixator

Camptodactyly is a flexion deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint. Because of unsatisfactory results, treatment is not recommended for mild deformities, and in severe deformities surgery has been disappointing. A specially designed external fixator providing gradual distraction was used in a severe case. With this mildly aggressive method, an acceptable result was obtained. Received: 5 June 1997/Accepted: 2 February 1998     

Distraction vs remodeling surgery for craniosynostosis

Objects We designed several distraction devices and applied these instruments in 14 patients with varying types of craniosynostosis. The aim of this report is to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of these surgical methods and to discuss current concepts for the surgical strategy in the treatment of craniosynostosis. Methods From January 2000 to July 2005, 28 patients with craniosynostosis were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical treatment was performed on 14 patients using the distraction method with internal distraction devices that we designed, in which 5 patients had plagiocephaly, 3 brachycephaly, and 6 scaphocephaly. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative evaluations, which included the patient’s neurological state, and three-dimensional CT. Results With distraction devices, the time required for the surgery could be shortened almost 3 1/3 h; the bleeding during the surgery was decreased with reduced requirement of more than 200 ml of blood transfusion as compared with remodeling surgery. Postoperatively achieved distraction distances varied from 30.0 to 47.5 mm (mean, 42.99 mm). The average increased volume percent of cranium in distraction surgery group was 20.9% (range, −11.5 to 58.9%) after full distraction. Conclusion With distraction surgery, satisfactory cranial volume expansion and aesthetically pleasing morphological states were achieved in all cases, and the efficacy was statistically significantly high as compared with remodeling method.     

Passive Pneumatic Stabilization Device for Assisting in Reduction of Femoral Shaft Fractures

Abstract During treatment of femoral shaft fractures, not only the actual fracture reduction but also the retention of the achieved reduction is essential. Substantial forces may apply to the bone fragments, due to multidirectional muscular contraction. Furthermore, forces from manipulation of one bone fragment may be transferred over the soft tissues onto the other fragments, thus hindering accurate fracture reduction. Once a sufficient reduction has been achieved, this position must be retained whilst definitive internal fixation is performed. Conventional methods comprise mounting patients on a traction table and applying manual distraction or employing special distraction devices, such as the AO distractor device. These approaches, however, only insufficiently stabilize both main fragments. For example, on the traction table the proximal femoral fragment can pivot around the hip joint thus complicating precise reduction. A novel pneumatic stabilization device to assist surgeons during operative procedures is described. This passive holding device “Passhold” connects to one main fragment through a minimally invasive bone interface and statically locks the fragment’s position. Thereafter, only the other main fragment is manipulated to achieve reduction. Mutual interference of the reciprocal fragment positions, due to soft-tissue force transfer during manipulation, is avoided. The authors examined the stability of the novel retention device on a test rig and proved its functionality under sterile settings using cadaver tests. It is concluded that this device largely facilitates the operative procedure in femoral shaft fractures, is sufficiently stable and ergonomically suitable for intraoperative deployment.     

The Distribution of Attention Across Auditory Input Channels: An Assessment Using the Human Evoked Potential

In order to determine the extent to which distraction disrupts performance when attention is divided, the distribution of attention across five auditory input channels was assessed using the N1 component of the human auditory evoked potential. In addition, the possibility that methylphenidate (Ritalin) affects the distribution of attention across input channels was tested. Sixteen subjects performed a tone discrimination task under conditions of focused attention and divided attention, both with and without the presence of stimuli interposed between the points to be attended. The subjects performed in two sessions during which they received either methylphenidate (10 mg) or a placebo in a double-blind design. The results showed that the interposed stimuli were receiving some attention resulting in a disruption of performance. Methylphenidate did not affect the distribution of attention as reflected in the N1 wave. The data are interpreted as showing that: 1) distraction plays a major role in producing performance deficits observed with divided attention; and 2) methylphenidate does not appreciably affect the distribution of attention across input channels.     

Distributed cortical networks for focused auditory attention and distraction

We used behavioral measures and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the effects of parametrically varied task-irrelevant pitch changes in attended sounds on loudness-discrimination performance and brain activity in cortical surface maps. Ten subjects discriminated tone loudness in sequences that also included infrequent task-irrelevant pitch changes. Consistent with results of previous studies, the task-irrelevant pitch changes impaired performance in the loudness discrimination task. Auditory stimulation, attention-enhanced processing of sounds and motor responding during the loudness discrimination task activated supratemporal (auditory cortex) and inferior parietal areas bilaterally and left-hemisphere (contralateral to the hand used for responding) motor areas. Large pitch changes were associated with right hemisphere supratemporal activations as well as widespread bilateral activations in the frontal lobe and along the intraparietal sulcus. Loudness discrimination and distracting pitch changes activated common areas in the right supratemporal gyrus, left medial frontal cortex, left precentral gyrus, and left inferior parietal cortex.