Ocular autonomic function in progressive autonomic failure

Ocular autonomic function was assessed in 4 patients with progressive autonomic failure (PAF) and age-matched control subjects, by measurement of the pupil cycle time, and determination of autonomic denervation hypersensitivity of the iris. Pupil cycle time was abnormal in all patients with PAF; sustained pupil cycling was absent in 5 of the 8 eyes tested of the PAF patients, compared with only 16 eyes from 70 control subjects. Pupil constriction in response to 2.5% methacholine, indicative of parasympathetic denervation hypersensitivity, was significantly increased in patients with PAF (p < 0.001), whilst pupil dilation in response to 0.5% phenylephrine, indicative of sympathetic denervation hypersensitivity, was also significantly higher in the PAF patients (p < 0.001). The results suggest that ocular autonomic function may provide a sensitive early indicator of generalised autonomic dysfunction.     

On the Limitations of Therapy Manuals

While the benefits of training manuals can hardly be questioned, they are exceedingly limited in reducing variability attributed to the "therapist factor." We propose that manuals provide a useful outline of the general principles of a therapeutic approach, but can only reduce therapist variability at the expense of other essential therapeutic phenomena. Manuals cannot adequately convey, for example, how the effective therapist functions as a model of adult living and as a person who provides guidance. We suggest that such an experience cannot readily be packaged in manualized form, though manuals may serve as a useful beginning. Recommendations for therapist manualized training include greater attention to the subtleties of human relationships and adequately conveying that any technique is effective only when catalysed by a living, relational process.     

Saccadic reaction times in acute and remitted schizophrenics

Summary Schizophrenics are known to have various disturbances of the visuomotor system. Whereas smooth pursuit eye movement disorders have been repeatedly confirmed, there are relatively few reports regarding possible disturbances of the saccadic system. In this study, the saccadic reaction times of 47 schizophrenic inpatients were investigated upon admission and later in the remitted state; 28 age- and sex-matched normal volunteers were tested as controls. Psychopathology and outcome were evaluated according to the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Prognostic Scale. Light stimuli were presented at random direction, location (ranging from 0° to 20°) and duration (800, 1000, and 1200 ms). The eye movements were recorded by electro-oculography. Compared with the control group, schizophrenics revealed prolonged saccadic reaction times, which correlated with pronounced negative symptoms and an unfavourable course of the illness. The saccadic reaction times remained prolonged in schizophrenic patients. These findings suggest attentional deficits in schizophrenics.This article was presented in part at the Symposium on Eye Movements and Psychopathology, Berlin, 23–24 June 1988     

Prognostic importance of the time interval from surgery to chemotherapy in treatment of ovarian carcinoma

In a large study on 1,220 patients with ovarian carcinoma in FIGO stages I-IV, the prognostic importance of the time factor for start of postoperative chemotherapy was studied together with other important factors for long-term survival. The patient series was a total geographic material of ovarian carcinoma patients treated during the years 1975-1993. All patients were followed up for 10 years or until death. The 5-year cancer-specific survival rate of the complete series was 50%. Significant and independent prognostic factors with regard to long-term cancer-specific survival were FIGO stage, histology, tumor grade, and completeness of the primary surgery. Special attention was paid to the prognostic importance of the time interval between primary surgery and the first course of chemotherapy. Patient groups with intervals shorter or longer than the median value were compared. In early-stage disease, no significant difference was noted. In advanced and bulky disease, an interval longer than the median value seemed to be beneficial compared with a shorter interval. However, after correction for other prognostic factors, the interval was not a significant factor (P = 0.647) with regard to the cancer-specific survival rate. Therefore, the time factor should not be an important argument for how to best organize the gynecologic oncology service.     

采用DSA设备评价吞咽功能的初步探讨

目的:探讨运用DSA设备作吞咽功能检查的价值。材料和方法:用DSA设备对正常组24例,咽异感症患者32例,做上至颅底、下达第七颈椎平面的正侧位动态采集,了解吞咽状况,并行咽传输时间测定,进行对照研究。结果:正常对照组咽传输时间为1.441±0.302s,咽异感症患者咽传输时间为1.367±0.409s,两组结果相比统计学上无显著差异,但后者较易发生咽部钡剂滞留等改变。结论:DSA机由于采集速度快,不但在心血管检查及介入治疗方面有重要意义,而且在非血管性脏器的动力学检查中也起着一定的作用。由于能完整记录钡剂通过咽部的全过程,故此方法是吞咽功能检查的良好方法之一。     

Blood velocity assessment using 3D bright-blood time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography.

Blood velocity is a functional parameter that is not easily assessed noninvasively, especially in small animals. A new noninvasive method that uses magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to measure blood flows is proposed. This method is based on the time-of-flight (TOF) phenomenon. By initially suppressing the signal from the stationary spins in the area of interest, it is possible to sequentially visualize only the signal from the moving spins entering a given volume. With this method, 3D cine images of the blood flow can be generated by positive contrast, with unparalleled spatial (<200 microm) and temporal resolutions (<10 ms/image). As a result, it is possible to measure flow in sinuous paths. The present method was applied in vivo to measure the blood velocity in mouse carotid arteries. Because of its robustness and simplicity of implementation, this method has numerous potential applications for fundamental studies in small animal models.     

When work strain transcends psychological boundaries: an inquiry into the relationship between time pressure,irritation, work–family conflict and psychosomatic complaints

Against the theoretical background of the effort–recovery model and the action regulation theory, the author presents a cross‐sectional questionnaire study testing hypotheses about the relationship between work‐related time pressure, cognitive and emotional irritation, work–family conflict and psychosomatic complaints. Subjects were 576 female home care nurses. Results of a path analysis show that the relation of time pressure and psychosomatic complaints is partially mediated by experiencing a work–family conflict; also the relation of time pressure and work–family conflict is partially mediated by cognitive and emotional irritation. It is argued that cognitive and emotional irritation are fruitful concepts for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between work stressors and the development of strain‐based work–family conflict. Implications for the prevention of work–family conflict are outlined. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

英语阅读障碍儿童词汇命名加工特征的研究

目的研究英语阅读障碍儿童操作英语词汇的相关能力 ,探索英语阅读障碍的表现特点与矫治的手段。方法英语真、假词命名实验 ,观察 3 4名阅读障碍儿童和 3 4名对照组儿童的实验结果。结果 ( 1)障碍组右视野在真、假词的命名时间上与对照组存在显著差异 ;( 2 )障碍组在真词和假词上的命名错误率均大于正常组 ,假词命名的错误率大幅增加。 ( 3 )障碍组右视野的真词命名时间明显长于左视野 ,假词命名的错误率也明显大于左视野。结论英语阅读障碍的儿童显示出了操作英语语音能力的欠缺以及左测大脑半球活动水平不足的倾向。     

基于广义逆的无谱逆反卷积算法

在时域循环卷积运算实现反卷积方法的基础上，基于广义逆的概念提出了一种改进算法，该算法不仅可以有效地避开无谱逆问题，而且运算量增加较少，易于编程实现。