Blur adaptation: clinical and refractive considerations

The human visual system is amenable to a number of adaptive processes; one such process, or collection of processes, is the adaptation to blur. Blur adaptation can be observed as an improvement in vision under degraded conditions, and these changes occur relatively rapidly following exposure to blur. The potential important future directions of this research area and the clinical implications of blur adaptation are discussed.     

The interaction between pain and movement

Study DesignClinical commentary.Introduction/PurposePain and movement are universally relevant phenomena that influence human experiences in readily observable ways. Improved understanding of pain-movement relationships can guide medical and rehabilitative approaches to recovery and decrease risk of dysfunctional long-term consequences of otherwise normal neuromuscular responses. Therefore, the overall intent of this article is to elucidate the relationships between pain and movement as they relate to clinical decision making.ConclusionsMotor output is highly adaptable, can be influenced by multiple mechanisms at various levels along the nervous system, and may vary between individuals despite similar diagnoses. Therefore, interventions need to be individualized and consider both the types of motor response observed (ie, whether the response is protective or maladaptive), and the patient's acute physical activity tolerance when prescribing exercise/movement.     

Brazilian versions of the Measure of Processes of Care-20 and Measure of Processes of Care-Service Providers: translation,cross-cultural adaptation and reliability

BackgroundThe Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC) questionnaires evaluate Family-Centered Practice (FCP) in services for children with developmental disorders. The MPOC-20 and MPOC-SP are completed by parents and by rehabilitation professionals, respectively, and are widely used in several countries.ObjectivesTo translate and cross-culturally adapt the MPOC-20 and MPOC-SP to Brazilian Portuguese and evaluate their reliability and internal consistency.Methodsthis study included translation, back-translation, cognitive interviews, testing of the pre-final versions, analysis of reliability and of internal consistency of the final versions. Respondents included parents and rehabilitation professionals from rehabilitation centers in four capital cities in Brazil.ResultsTranslation and cultural-adaptation procedures ensured the Brazilian versions were understandable and semantically equivalent to the original MPOC-20 and MPOC-SP. Pre-final and final versions were analyzed and vetted by the original authors. The MPOC-20 internal consistency Cronbach's alpha varied between 0.61 and 0.91 (n = 107), the test-retest reliability ICC varied between 0.44 and 0.83 and the standard error of measurement varied between 0.66 and 0.85 (n = 50). The MPOC-SP internal consistency Cronbach's alpha varied between 0.52 and 0.83 (n = 92), the test-retest reliability ICC between 0.83 and 0.90, and the standard error of measure between 0.34 and 0.46 (n = 62).ConclusionThe Brazilian versions of the MPOC-20 and the MPOC-SP are in general stable and sufficiently reliable. They are relevant to the evaluation of FCP and provide information that can improve health services and ensure better care.     

Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

PROBLEM: To compare depressive symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to those in healthy children, and to explore the influence of individual and family factors on level of depression. METHODS: Individual interviews with 68 children, ages 7 to 12 years, in order to complete the Children's Depression Inventory. FINDINGS: Children with ADHD reported significantly more depressive symptoms than did children without ADHD; 14.7% of children with ADHD reached the threshold of a 19 point score, which suggests clinical depression. No significant effects of individual and family factors on level of depression were found. CONCLUSIONS: Children with ADHD are more inclined to experience depressive symptoms than are healthy children. To plan appropriate interventions, nurses evaluating and working with children with ADHD should always consider a possible coexistence of depressive symptoms.     

长期居住海平面后藏族经受急性减压低氧时的体力活动能力

本研究从急性低氧对移居海平面后藏族的体力活动能力的影响来探索藏族的高原低氧适应机制。结果揭示藏族的最大体力负荷强度没有显著下降，最大氧耗和氧脉搏也没有明显变化，动脉血氧饱和度明显高于汉族，这更显示藏族对高原低氧适应机制有独特之处。推测可能是藏族在氧的摄取、传递和释放过程比汉族更有利于对高原低氧环境的适应。     

Resiliency and Adult Adaptation in Women with and Without Self-Reported Histories of Childhood Sexual Abuse

This study investigated the relationship of protective factors (PF) to adult adaptation in a nonclinical sample consisting of 264 undergraduate women: two groups without childhood sexual abuse (CSA), high (n = 109) and low (n = 99) on PF; and two groups with CSA, high (n = 17) and low (n = 27) on PF. The first hypothesis that higher levels of PF would be significantly associated with higher levels of functioning for all individuals was supported by the data. The second hypothesis that the women with CSA and higher levels of PF would appear similar in adaptation to those without CSA was also supported. The findings further suggest that though the protective factors were beneficial for most individuals, they were significantly more helpful for those with CSA.     

Functional adaptation to full‐arch fixed prosthesis supported by osseointegrated implants in the edentulous mandible

The objective of the present study was to assess possible adaptive functional changes in the masticatory system after insertion of fixed prostheses supported by osseointegrated implants in the edentulous mandible. Registrations of mandibular movement characteristics and maximal biteforce were performed at insertion and after 1 week, 3 months and 1 year after connection. The duration of the opening and closing phase decreased and maximal biteforce increased significantly (p < or = 0.05-0.001) from connection of the prostheses to the annual check-up. However, the process of functional adaptation implied 2 identified stages. An immediate phase that occurred within the 1st week, probably due to altered impact from mechano-sensitive receptors and a later more time-dependent phase, based on learning and new cortical engrams. Accordingly, the process of adaptation will continue over a long period of time.