Impairment of simultaneous-spatial working memory in nonverbal (visuospatial) learning disability: A treatment case study

We report the case of B.A., an 11-year-old child with a nonverbal (visuospatial) learning disability (NLD). Detailed psychometric and neuropsychological assessment on visuospatial working memory (VSWM) revealed specific simultaneous-spatial working memory impairment. A treatment targeting simultaneous-spatial working memory was given to B.A. for seven sessions (over one month); this resulted in improvement of simultaneous-spatial working memory, with the benefit that the training was maintained after six months.

Discussion of clinical and theoretical implications is given, taking account of the distinctions that can be made between the different components of visuospatial working memory and different subtypes of NLD, thus allowing the tailoring of specific training to target the impaired VSWM component.     

Co‐variation of tests commonly used in stroke rehabilitation

Background and Purpose . The aim of the present study was to analyse the co‐variation of different tests commonly used in stroke rehabilitation, and specifically used in a recent randomized, controlled study of two different physiotherapy models in stroke rehabilitation. Method . Correlations of the performed tests and recordings from previous work were studied. The test results from three‐month, one‐year and four‐year follow‐up were analysed in an SPSS Version 11 statistical package with Pearson and Spearman correlations. Results . There was an expected high correlation between the motor function tests, both based on partial and total scores. The correlations between Nottingham Health Profile Part 1 and Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), Sødring Motor Eevaluation Scale (SMES), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Barthel Activities of Daily Living (ADL) index were low for all items except physical condition. The correlations between registered living conditions, assistive devices, recurrent stroke, motor function (MAS, SMES), ADL (Barthel ADL index) and balance (BBS) were high. The same variables showed weak or poor correlation to the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Conclusions . The co‐variations of motor function tests and functional tests were high, but the co‐variations of motor, functional and self‐reported life‐quality tests were poor. The patients rated themselves on a higher functional level in the self‐reported tests than was observed objectively in the performance‐based tests. A possible reason for this is that the patients may have been unaware they modified their performance to adjust for physical decline, and consequently overestimate their physical condition. This result underlines the importance of both performance‐based and self‐reported tests as complementary tools in a rehabilitation process. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Suicidal Ideation among Canadian Youth: A Multivariate Analysis

A majority of case control studies of suicide risks in psychiatric patients reveal an excess of risk factors in cases. None of the case control studies has been conducted blind to case identity. The present study examined the possibility that skilled clinicians could identify suicides blind from case records of last episode of care. Records of 39 suicides of psychiatric patients and their matched controls (N = 78) were abstracted blind and dichotomously rated for suicide by seven raters. Success in identification of cases approximated to chance expectation. Pending replication, these disappointing findings call in question the clinical utility of risk factor findings to date, their validity as a basis for significant change in service provision and the medico-legal significance of records in suicide-related civil law suits.     

Primary renal glomus tumor with concurrent papillary renal cell carcinoma and multiple papillary adenomas in a patient with end stage renal disease: a case report and clinicopathologic analysis

Glomus tumors are mesenchymal tumors commonly seen in the extremities, and rarely seen in deep visceral organs. This is due to the lack of glomus bodies in visceral organs. Here, we describe an unusual association between glomus tumor and co-existing papillary renal cell carcinoma, multiple papillary adenomas, and end stage renal disease. We discuss our diagnostic approach and differential diagnoses, along with an extensive review of all reported benign and malignant primary glomus tumors. A 63-year-old male with a known history of a kidney transplant, end-stage renal disease, and previous nephrectomy of his right kidney due to a renal mass (papillary renal cell carcinoma) presented with a renal mass. Microscopic examination showed papillary carcinoma, multiple papillary adenomas, and a small nodule with uniform, round to oval cells. Immunohistochemical work-up revealed the small nodule to be a glomus tumor. Only 28 cases of primary renal glomus tumors have been reported in the literature. Most were discovered incidentally. None of the reported cases have occurred along with other renal tumors. This is the first case of the unusual combination of primary renal glomus tumor arising in the native kidney of a renal transplant patient with concurrent papillary renal cell carcinoma and multiple papillary adenomas (renal adenomatosis). We also explore the possible genetic basis behind this association.