Procedural memory stimulation in Alzheimer's disease: impact of a training programme

The study evaluates the efficacy of a procedural memory stimulation programme in mild and mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). Twenty basic and instrumental activities of daily living have been selected, and divided into two groups, comparable for difficulty. Ten normal elderly subjects (age 68.0±4.8 years; MMSE score: 28.7±0.9; education: 7.6±3.5 years) were asked to perform the two groups of daily activities and the time required to perform the tasks of each group was recorded and used as a reference. Ten mild and mild-moderate AD patients (age 77.2±5.3 years; MMSE score: 19.8±3.5; education: 7.3±4.7 years) without major behavioural disturbances constituted the experimental group. Patients were evaluated in all 20 daily activities and the time employed was recorded at baseline and after a 3-week training (1 h/d, 5 d/week) period. Five patients were trained during the 3 weeks on half of the 20 daily activities and the other five patients were trained on the remainder. This procedure was adopted in order to detect separately the improvement in "trained" and "not trained" activities, allowing to control better the effects of the intervention. The assessment of the functional impact of the training was directly measured, through the variation of time employed to perform tasks before and after training. After 3 weeks of training a significant improvement was observed for the trained activities, from 3.6 to 1.9 standard deviations below the performance of the normal elderly controls ( P <0.05). AD patients improved also in not-trained activities from 3.5 to 2.7 standard deviations below the controls'performance ( P <0.05). The rehabilitation of activities of daily living through developing procedural memory strategies may be effective in mild and mild-moderate AD patients.     

The efficacy of sports vision practice and its role in clinical optometry*

For years it has been recognised that many sports place demands on vision and particular visual skills. There is much evidence to show that the correction of visual dysfunction such as ametropia and binocular and accommodative anomalies results in improved sporting performance for those sports. More controversial and of special interest is the suggestion that it is possible to train visual abilities of subjects who do not present with traditionally recognised functional disorders of vision. It has been proposed that sporting performance can be improved as a result of this training. However, this review found the evidence to be inconclusive. In addition, there are studies that suggest athletes have better visual abilities than non-athletes and good athletes have better abilities than less skilled athletes. However, it has not been determined whether these superior abilities are innate to the athlete or have developed through practice. A review of the available literature was unable to prove (or disprove) either of these proposals. However, there appears to be enough evidence to warrant further investigation of these questions, in order that the area of sports vision and vision training can be more fully understood. This will enable clinicians to take full advantage of the potential of sports vision practice to assist athletes. (Clin Exp Optom 1995; 78: 3: 98–105)     

扩散管配制甲醛标准气体的研究

介绍了扩散法配制标准气体的方法。以三聚甲醛为原料，通过加热催化分解三聚甲醛蒸气，来配制甲醛标准气体。讨论了配制甲醛标准气体的准确性、稳定性、重复使用性，以及温度、扩散管几何尺寸、载气气流、配气源物质的量等因素对三聚甲醛扩散率的影响。本方法制备的甲醛标准气体，扩散率（２～５０μｇ／ｍｉｎ）测定总不确定度小于５％。     

七种常见MBL基因单倍型标准质粒的构建

目的 构建7种常见的MBL基因单倍型标准质粒。方法以已确认MBL基因单倍型及基因型的DNA样本为模板．利用SSP-PCR技术扩增出包含MBL基因启动子区及第一外显子的单倍型片段并将其克隆人T载体；用定点突变技术分别将其第一外显子52和57位密码相应的碱基突变；采用PCR和测序进行鉴定。结果以单倍型及基因型已确认的DNA样本为模板，采用SSP-PCR和分子克隆技术获得单倍型HYPA、LXPA、LYOA、LYPA和LYPB重组质粒；以单倍型HYPA及LYOA重组质粒为模板，采用定点突变技术获得单倍型HYPD及LYOC标准质粒。结论构建成功常见的7种MBL基因单倍型标准质粒，为采用SSP-PCR、Real-time PCR等技术分析MBL基因相应的SNP及其单倍型与基因型提供了标准对照。     

The Effect of Acute and Chronic Exercise on Thyroid Hormones in Obesity

Abstract Thyroid hormones were measured before, during and after acute exercise (60 min) or physical training (3 months) in obese women. Thyroid stimulating hormone concentration increased during acute work and decreased immediately after. No changes were seen during the two following days. An increase was seen after ten days as well as after three months of physical training. Thyroxine concentrations showed no changes. 3,5,3′-Triiodothyronine decreased slightly immediately after acute exercise, and after three months of physical training, 3,3′,5′-triiodothyronine (reverse triiodothyronine) increased slowly during and after acute exercise. A negative correlation was found between changes in fasting insulin and thyroxine and a positive correlation between changes in blood pressure and triiodothyronine after training. Lack of agreement in previous reports is probably due to methodological differences such as methods more or less susceptible to fatty acid interference, and thyroid hormones changing differently during acute work and before and after physical training. The duration of the study may also be of importance, even 3 months possibly being too short for attaining equilibrium in thyroid homeostasis.     

Early neuromuscular customized training after surgery for lumbar disc herniation: a prospective controlled study

A prospective and controlled study of training after surgery for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The objective was to determine the effect of early neuromuscular customized training after LDH surgery. No consensus exists on the type and timing of physical rehabilitation after LDH surgery. Patients aged 15–50 years, disc prolapse at L4–L5 or L5–S1. Before surgery, at 6 weeks, 4, and 12 months postoperatively, the following evaluations were performed: low back pain and leg pain estimated on a visual analog scale, disability according to the Roland–Morris questionnaire (RMQ) and disability rating index (DRI). Clinical examination, including the SLR test, was performed using a single blind method. Consumption of analgesics was registered. Twenty-five patients started neuromuscular customized training 2 weeks after surgery (early training group=ETG). Thirty-one patients formed a control group (CG) and started traditional training after 6 weeks. There was no significant difference in pain and disability between the two training groups before surgery. Median preoperative leg pain was 63 mm in ETG and 70 mm in the CG. Preoperative median disability according to RMQ was 14 in the ETG and 14.5 in the CG. Disability according to DRI (33/56 patients) was 5.3 in the ETG vs. 4.6 in the CG. At 6 weeks, 4 months, and 12 months, pain was significantly reduced in both groups, to the same extent. Disability scores were lower in the ETG at all follow-ups, and after 12 months, the difference was significant (RMQ P=.034, DRI P=.015). The results of the present study show early neuromuscular customized training to have a superior effect on disability, with a significant difference compared to traditional training at a follow-up 12 months after surgery. No adverse effects of the early training were seen. A prospective, randomized study with a larger patient sample is warranted to ultimately demonstrate that early training as described is beneficial for patients undergoing LDH surgery.     

Aktuelle Indikationen zur pyloruserhaltenden Duodenopankreaskopfresektion beim Malignom

Zusammenfassung Die Pankreaskopfresektion in der Modifikation nach Traverso-Longmire, mit Erhaltung eines funktionierenden Pylorus, hat gegenüber der Kausch-Whipple-Operation die Vorteile, daß Anastomosenulzera vermieden werden und daß die Patienten postoperativ eine bessere und schnellere Gewichtszunahme haben. Indikationen waren bisher die Papillenkarzinome und periampulare Tumoren. Bei den Adenokarzinomen lassen sich mit der Pyloruserhaltung gleich gute Überlebensraten erzielen. Unsere Ergebnisse von 56 Pyloruserhaltungen, davon 32 beim duktalen Karzinom und 28 Kausch-Whipple-Operationen in den Jahren von 1985–1993, belegen gleiche Überlebensraten, wie dies bereits für das Papillenkarzinom gezeigt werden konnte. Die Überlebenskurven zeigen, daß die Radikalität nicht von der Magenteilentfernung, sondern von der Resektion an den posterioren und retroperitonealen Resektionsrändern abhängt.

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Current indications for pylorus preservation in duodenopancreatic head resection in malignancies

The Whipple procedure has been improved by preservation of a functioning pylorus. A functioning pylorus is important because marginal ulceration is avoided and, compared to the standard Whipple procedure with gastric resection, more patients can gain weight postoperatively. The most common indications are carcinomas of ampulla of Vater and periampullary tumors. In patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma the pylorus-preserving variety results in equal or better survival rates. In 56 patients with pylorus preservation, 32 with ductal carcinoma, and 28 with Kausch-Whipple between 1985 and 1993, our results showed slightly better survival rates and better post-operative nutrition. The weakest aspect of the radical resection addresses the retroperitoneal margin of the pancreas head and not the gastric resection.

     

慢性肺心病心电图诊断标准探讨

通过对慢性肺心病缓解期患者、ＣＯＰＤ高危人群及正常人群心电图的对比观察，结合全国肺心病心电图诊断标准（以下简称“标准”）、Ｄｏｌ－Ｂｉｌｇｅｒ指数和Ｂｕｔｌｅｒ心电图标准进行分析，发现“标准”中的一些指标敏感性很低，正确性较差。而Ｄｏｌ－Ｂｉｌｇｅｒ指数和Ｂｕｔｌｅｒ心电图标准中的ＲⅠ≤０．２ｍＶ的敏感性、特异性及正确性较高。若在“标准”中去除敏感性低的Ｖ１Ｒ／Ｓ≥１、Ｖ１－Ｖ３呈ＱＳ、Ｑｒ、ｑｒ型和低电压时ＰⅡ＞Ｒ／２，Ｐ电轴≥＋８０°，其总敏感性无差异，加上Ｖ５ａ／ｂ＜１和ＲⅠ≤０．２ｍＶ这两项指标，则敏感性显著提高，特异性和正确性有所提高。     

Changing helplessness to coping: an exploratory study of social skills training with individuals with long-term mental illness

The primary purpose of this study was to apply an occupational therapy programme for social skills training based on a cognitive-behavioural frame of reference to individuals with long-term mental illness. The goal of the social skills training group was to enable patients to develop verbal and non-verbal communication skills that could be generalised to everyday interpersonal encounters. A case example of the application of social skills training with a 38-year-old single male with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia is described. The Group-Interaction Skills Survey developed by the author served as an outcome measure. Qualitative data confirmed the researcher's hypothesis that individuals with long-term mental illness can benefit from social skills training using a combination of role-playing, sociodrama, videotape recordings and creative media. Copyright © 1996 Whurr Publishers Ltd.     

Short and long term effects of exercise training on the tonic autonomic modulation of heart rate variability after myocardial infarction

We studied the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on the sympathovagalcontrol of heart rate variability in 30 patients after a first,uncomplicated myocardial infarction. Twenty-two patients completed8 weeks of endurance training (trained), while eight decidednot to engage in the rehabilitation programme for logisticalreasons, and were taken as untrained controls. Age, site ofinfarction, ejection fraction, ventricular diameter and stresstest duration were similar in the two groups at baseline. Heartrate variability was evaluated 4 weeks after infarction beforestarting rehabilitation, and repeated 8 weeks and one year laterin both trained and untrained patients. Measures of heart ratevariability, obtained from both time- and frequency- domainanalysis of a 15 min ECG recording in resting conditions, wereas follows: mean RR interval and its standard deviation (RRSD),the mean square successive differences (MSSD), the percent ofRR intervals differing >50 ms from the preceding RR (pNTN50),the low and high frequency components of the autoregressivepower spectrum of the RR intervals and their ratio (LF/HF).At baseline, heart rate variability was similar in trained anduntrained patients. In the short term (8 weeks after infarction),training increased RRSD by 25% (P<0·01), MSSD by 69%(P<0·01), pNN50 by 120% (P<0·01), and reducedLF/HF ratio by 30% (P<0·01). The effects persistedafter one year in trained patients. In untrained patients, theautonomic control of heart rate variability did not change 8weeks after myocardial infarction and was only slightly modifiedby time. Thus, exercise training, performed for 8 weeks aftera myocardial infarction, modifies the sympathovagal controlof heart rate variability toward a persistent increase in parasympathetictone, known to be associated with a better prognosis. This maypartly account for the favourable outcome of patients who undergorehabilitation.