Apperceptive agnosia and face recognition

Abstract

Are faces and objects recognized by separate visual recognition systems or might a single system subserve the recognition of both classes of input? Recognition of faces and objects by a single system predicts that prosopagnosics, who selectively lose the ability to recognize faces due to brain damage, should also lose the ability to recognize objects. Contrary to this prediction, case studies of prosopagnosia have reported intact object recognition. Further support for separate visual recognition systems comes from the case of HH reported here. Following a stroke involving the left posterior cortex, HH has a severe apperceptive visual agnosia for visually presented objects and an alexia for words. Yet, he shows relatively spared visual face processing. Such a performance pattern completes a double dissociation between face and object processing when coupled with prosopaganosia. More importantly, HH is the first apperceptive visual object agnosic to demonstrate spared face processing. The severity of his object-processing deficit is such that from the earliest levels in the visual processing hierarchy, distinct neural substrates must be responsible for processing some objects and faces. These results are discussed as support for Farah's model (Visual agnosia: disorders of object recognition and what they tell us about normal vision. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1990) of object, face and word recognition.     

Agenesis of the corpus callosum: symptoms consistent with developmental disability in two siblings

Agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC) is a congenital disorder that disrupts the development of neurological structures connecting the right and left hemispheres of the brain. In addition to neurological symptoms, many individuals with AgCC demonstrate marked deficits in social, communication, and adaptive skills. This paper presents two case studies of congenital AgCC in siblings with socioemotional and behavioral symptoms consistent with developmental disability, but with notably different symptom presentations and clinical needs. Conclusions from these cases suggest that unique symptom profiles of individuals with AgCC warrant careful consideration for referral to appropriate academic and habilitative services.     

Characterization of recovery and neuropsychological consequences of orbitofrontal lesion: A case study

We present a case study of a patient with acquired prefrontal lesion involving mainly ventromedial and orbital structures (VM-PFD). The patient showed behavioral and emotional disturbances one year after the injury. In a follow-up examination seven years later, we evaluated her performance in tasks found theoretically to be sensitive to orbital and medial lesions. In contrast to our hypothesis, her performance was in the normal range. We suggest that a possible explanation for her magnificent recovery may include a high cognitive reserve and the specific characteristics of her injury.     

Effects of antiepileptic treatment on sleep and seizures in nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy

ObjectiveTo study the effects of antiepileptic treatment on sleep parameters and video-polysomnography (VPSG) seizures in nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE).MethodsTwenty patients with a clinical and VPSG diagnosis of NFLE (baseline polysomnography [PSG]) underwent a clinical follow-up and performed a second VPSG after effective antiepileptic treatment lasting for at least 6 months. Conventional sleep measures, cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) parameters, and objective VPSG seizures were assessed in NFLE patients before and after treatment and were compared with the results of 20 age- and gender-matched control subjects.ResultsAntiepileptic treatment determined a partial reduction of objective VPSG seizures of approximately 25% compared to baseline condition. Alterations of most conventional sleep measures recovered normal values, but nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep instability remained pathologically enhanced (CAP rate, +26% compared to controls) and was associated with persistence of daytime sleepiness.ConclusionsResidual epileptic events and high levels of unstable NREM sleep can define a sort of objective resistance of both seizures and disturbed arousal system to the therapeutic purpose of the antiepileptic drugs in NFLE. This finding could determine the need for new therapeutic options in this particular form of epilepsy.     

Differential sensitivity of the Response Bias Scale (RBS) and MMPI-2 validity scales to memory complaints

The MMPI-2 Response Bias Scale (RBS) is designed to detect response bias in forensic neuropsychological and disability assessment settings. Validation studies have demonstrated that the scale is sensitive to cognitive response bias as determined by failure on the Word Memory Test (WMT) and other symptom validity tests. Exaggerated memory complaints are a common feature of cognitive response bias. The present study was undertaken to determine the extent to which the RBS is sensitive to memory complaints and how it compares in this regard to other MMPI-2 validity scales and indices. This archival study used MMPI-2 and Memory Complaints Inventory (MCI) data from 1550 consecutive non-head-injury disability-related referrals to the first author's private practice. ANOVA results indicated significant increases in memory complaints across increasing RBS score ranges with large effect sizes. Regression analyses indicated that the RBS was a better predictor of the mean memory complaints score than the F, F_B, and F_P validity scales and the FBS. There was no correlation between the RBS and the CVLT, an objective measure of verbal memory. These findings suggest that elevated scores on the RBS are associated with over-reporting of memory problems, which provides further external validation of the RBS as a sensitive measure of cognitive response bias. Interpretive guidelines for the RBS are provided.     

Toward patient-centered outcomes for cognitive evaluations: the perspective of those affected by Parkinson’s disease*

Abstract

Objective: Patient-centered outcomes research is predicated on the idea that the opinions, attitudes, and preferences of patients should help inform study design and interpretation. To date, little is known about what defines patient-centered outcomes from cognitive evaluations. The current evaluation sought to explore this issue in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) and their care partners (CP). Method: Focus groups of 22 PwPD/CP dyads were conducted to identify potential consumer oriented endpoints from cognitive evaluations. These endpoints were utilized to create a Patient-Centered Cognitive Assessment Outcomes Scale, which was administered to a different group of 50 PwPD/CP dyads who rated the importance of each outcome and identified their top three priority outcomes. Results: Three themes emerged from the focus groups: improved knowledge, advice, and planning. Both PwPD and CP rated items in all three domains as being very important outcomes. Priorities for outcomes in both groups favored treatment planning information slightly above knowledge based outcomes. Conclusions: The PwPD and CP identified improved knowledge, advice for daily activities, and knowledge they could use to plan for future eventualities as very important. This information can be used as a framework for future studies aimed at demonstrating patient-centered outcomes from neuropsychological evaluations. Implications for future research are discussed.     

医疗设备采购评标中模糊综合评判分析模型的研究

目的 在招标管理中实现医疗设备采购评标的科学性、合理性和客观性.方法 针对目前医疗设备采购评标中存在的问题,运用模糊综合评判分析理论,综合考虑多种因素进行评价.结果 在采购应用和管理中建立了基于层次分析法的评标指标体系和模糊评判分析模型.结论 通过实例的应用,体现了模糊综合评判分析模型在评标中的可行性、科学性和有效性,对于医院的招标采购具有实际的指导意义.     

Evaluation and comparison of in-vitro dissolution profiles for different brands of amoxicillin capsules

Background

Amoxicillin is an oral semi-synthetic, β-lactam antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by susceptible micro organisms. It is usually prepared in capsule, tablet and powder for oral suspension form. Solid dosage forms for oral administration pose bioavailability problems related to the absorption process The World Health Organization (WHO) has promoted the use of generic brands in order to make the cost of medicines affordable. Generic substitution could be considered when a generic copy of a reference drug contains identical amounts of the same active ingredient in the same dose formulation and route of administration. However, the presences of generic products those are not interchangeable with that of the innovator and/or with each others have been reported.

Objectives

To evaluate and compare the in-vitro dissolution profiles of different generic brands of amoxicillin capsules with the innovator that are available in Ethiopian market.

Methods

Dissolution profiles for nine brands of amoxicillin capsules contained amoxicillin 500 mg which are available in Ethiopian market were determined using a method from the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP, 2009). The obtained dissolution profile data of the eight brands were evaluated and compared with the innovator brand (Amoxil™) using two different statistical methods: the fit factors (f1 & f2) and the dissolution efficiency (D.E.) model. Most generic brands of amoxicillin capsules (62.5% of the tested brands) are not interchangeable with the innovator brand.

Results

The calculated f1 factor for Brand A and Brand G are 10.1 and 1.1 respectively. However, for the rest six brands the f1 factors are greater than 15. The f2 factor for Brand G is 74.1 and for Brand A is 48.5 which is near to 50. Similarly, the f2 factors for the six brands are less than 50 which support the result of the f1 factors for the dissimilarity of these brands with the innovator brand. The mean dissolution efficiencies as well as the 95% confidence intervals are within ±10% only for two brands, Brand F and Brand G.

Conclusions

Most generic brands of amoxicillin capsules (62.5%) are not interchangeable with the innovator brand (Amoxil™).