Preservation of episodic musical memory in a pianist with Alzheimer disease.
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Activities of Daily Living↗
Biomedical subjects
F Phillips
Publications and source records attributed to F Phillips.
Effect of changing to a self-selected vegetarian diet on anthropometric measurements in UK adults.
BACKGROUND: Vegetarians are often a little leaner compared with nonvegetarians and suffer less from obesity and its associated complications than nonvegetarians. Whether this is because of not eating meat specifically is unclear. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether changing to a self-selected vegetarian diet resulted in changes to anthropometric measurements. Design Subjects (n = 33; seven males and 26 females) who were in the earliest stages of becoming vegetarian were observed for 6 months. Data on dietary intake, using a 3-day estimated dietary diary, and body composition were obtained at baseline and after 6 months of following a self-selected vegetarian diet. RESULTS: Dietary calculations showed that on changing to a self-selected vegetarian diet, there was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in energy intake (8.9 MJ day(-1) versus 8.1 MJ day(-1)), and in the proportion of energy from saturated fatty acids (12.9% versus 11.3%) and a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the proportion of energy from carbohydrates (44.9% versus 47.5%) and in intake of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) (1.6 g MJ(-1) versus 2.0 g MJ(-1)). Significant reductions in mid-upper arm circumference, calculated body fat, biceps and triceps skinfolds and waist and hip circumferences were observed. No reduction in body weight was observed. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study suggest that significant dietary changes, helping people to conform more closely to current dietary recommendations, occurred when people became vegetarian. In this study we did not find any significant change in body weight, but significant reductions were observed in skinfold thickness and waist : height ratio which imply that on changing to a self-selected vegetarian diet, the subjects became leaner.
Adipose Tissue↗
Information concentration along the boundary contours of naturally shaped solid objects.
In this study of the informativeness of boundary contours for the perception of natural object shape, observers viewed shadows/silhouettes cast by natural solid objects and were required to adjust the positions of a set of 10 points so that the resulting dotted shape resembled the shape of the original silhouette as closely as possible. For each object, the observers were then asked to indicate the corresponding positions of the 10 points on the original boundary contour. The results showed that there was a close correspondence between the chosen positions of the points and the locations along the boundary contour that were local curvature maxima (convexities or concavities). This finding differs from that of Kennedy and Domander (1985 Perception 14 367-370), and shows that, at least for natural objects, the original hypothesis of Attneave (1954 Psychological Review 61 183-193) is valid--local curvature maxima are indeed important for the perception of shape.
Algorithms↗
Cross-sectional and prospective studies of nutritional indices after percutaneous gastrostomy.
OBJECTIVE: Formal monitoring of nutritional status may be lacking in many patients after gastrostomy. We aimed to study nutritional assessment and its problems in patients after gastrostomy in a cross-sectional study, assess prospectively the changes in nutritional status of patients at 1 month and 6 months after gastrostomy placement, and determine the prognostic value of nutritional indices assessed at the time of gastrostomy placement. DESIGN: We used cross-sectional and prospective cohorts. The subjects were institutional and community patients receiving percutaneous gastrostomy in a teaching hospital. METHOD: We studied patients living in the community and in long-term care institutions after gastrostomy. In the cross-sectional study, we observed all individuals who received a percutaneous gastrostomy from the Gastrointestinal Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh from January 1994 to December 1996. In the prospective study, we observed consecutive referrals of patients to the Gastrointestinal Unit for percutaneous gastrostomy from March 1997 to June 1998. Nutritional status was assessed using: weight (kg), height or stature estimated from knee-height (m), mid-upper arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness. Body mass index, arm-muscle circumference and corrected arm-muscle area were calculated. A blood sample was taken to assess micronutrient status. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional study, 215 patients were identified who had received a percutaneous gastrostomy during the 3-year period 1994-1996. The weight and height measurements obtained in patients after gastrostomy were not as successful as upper-arm anthropometry. Of the 55 who were alive, traceable and agreed to take part in the study, 8% were under-nourished by corrected arm-muscle area at a median of 16 months after gastrostomy placement, whilst 57% had biochemical evidence of macro- or micronutrient deficiency. In the prospective study, 54 out of 87 patients referred for percutaneous gastrostomy agreed to participate. Using corrected arm-muscle area, 14% of patients were under-nourished at the time of gastrostomy placement. Changes in nutritional status at 1 month and 6 months post gastrostomy were mixed across the patient groups. Patients with a depleted corrected arm-muscle area 21.6 cm2 (log-rank test 9.05; P = 0.003, relative risk 4.7). All patients in whom corrected arm-muscle area had increased at the 1-month follow-up survived to 6 months post gastrostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of nutritional status may be difficult in gastrostomy-fed patients. Upper-arm anthropometry is more often successful than other assessment methods and gives prognostic information.
Adult↗
A cross-sectional and longitudinal study of health-related quality of life after percutaneous gastrostomy.
OBJECTIVE: Although gastrostomy feeding tends to have fewer interruptions than naso-gastric feeding and is cosmetically more acceptable; there is little information on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in these patients. This study aimed to measure the health-related quality of life of patients after gastrostomy placement. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and prospective cohorts. SETTING: Institutional and community-dwelling patients receiving nutritional support via a gastrostomy. PARTICIPANTS: For the cross-sectional cohort, all individuals who have received a percutaneous gastrostomy from our unit (January 1994-December 1996) were included; 55 of the 102 patients who were still living agreed to follow-up assessment. For the prospective cohort, all patients referred to our unit for percutaneous gastrostomy (March 1997-June 1998) were eligible to participate; 54 of 88 patients (62%) consented and were recruited. METHODS AND OUTCOME MEASURES: A cross-sectional assessment of patient outcome and health-related quality of life using SF-36, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and a disease-specific questionnaire (PEG-Qu) was carried out in patients in primary health care after receiving a gastrostomy. These assessments, plus the Modified Rankin Scale, were performed on patients studied at the time of gastrostomy placement, and after 1, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. RESULTS: HRQoL questionnaires could be answered in less than half the patients. An overall rating of the effect of the gastrostomy on the patients' and carers' HRQoL showed a positive effect in 55% and 80%, respectively. A positive impression of the gastrostomy by the patient did not necessarily reflect an improvement in their nutritional status. Assessment of HRQoL in a cohort of gastrostomy patients showed deficiencies in the physical domain but not mental function (anxiety or depression), energy or health perception. Neither physical function nor level of cognition at time of gastrostomy placement appear to be able to predict patient survival. Nutritional outcome was not related to HRQoL outcome. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients and carers rate gastrostomy positively. Patients who were 75 years or older had a poorer survival compared to younger patients, but gender, physical or cognitive function had no predictive value on survival.
Age Factors↗
The perception of scale-dependent and scale-independent surface structure from binocular disparity, texture, and shading.
The integration of binocular disparity, shading, and texture was measured for two different aspects of three-dimensional structure: (1) shape index, which is a measure of scale-independent structure, and (2) curvedness, which is a measure of scale-dependent structure. Binocular disparity was found to contribute significantly more to judged shape index than it does to judged curvedness, and shading and texture were both found to contribute more to judged curvedness than to judged shape index. These results demonstrate that different cues do not contribute equally to different aspects of perceived surface structure. This finding suggests that, for the case of linear integration, multiple cues to three-dimensional structure do not combine on the basis of a single type of representation shared by all the 'shape-from-X' processes in the visual system.
Contrast Sensitivity↗
The perception of surface curvature from optical motion.
Observers viewed the optical flow field of a rotating quadric surface patch and were required to match its perceived structure by adjusting the shape of a stereoscopically presented surface. In Experiment 1, the flow fields included rigid object rotations and constant flow fields with patterns of image acceleration that had no possible rigid interpretation. In performing their matches, observers had independent control of two parameters that determined the surface shape. One of these, called the shape characteristic, is defined as the ratio of the two principle curvatures and is independent of object size. The other, called curvedness, is defined as the sum of the squared principle curvatures and depends on the size of the object. Adjustments of shape characteristic were almost perfectly accurate for both motion conditions. Adjustments of curvedness, on the other hand, were systematically over-estimated and were not highly correlated with the simulated curvedness of the depicted surface patch. In Experiment 2, the same flow fields were masked with a global pattern of curl, divergence, or shear, which disrupted the first-order spatial derivatives of the image velocity field, while leaving the second-order spatial derivatives invariant. The addition of these masks had only negligible effects on observers' performance. These findings suggest that observers' judgments of three-dimensional surface shape from motion are primarily determined by the second-order spatial derivatives of the instantaneous field of image displacements.
Form Perception↗
Perceptual localization of surface position.
In 2 experiments, observers were required to identify corresponding points on an object viewed from multiple orientations. On each trial, a surface was presented initially with a single target location marked by a small dot. Following a brief blank interval, the same surface was presented again at a different orientation. The observer was required to position an adjustable probe dot in this 2nd display to match the location of the target in the 1st view. Under optimal conditions, the variance in their settings over multiple trials was just a few minutes of arc, though these errors varied significantly with the structural complexity of the depicted surface.
Adult↗
Successful pregnancy in a patient with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction while on ambulatory percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding.
We report a case of ambulatory endoscopic gastrostomy feeding via a low profile button device using a portable feeding pump. This provided successful nutritional support to a patient with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction who became pregnant while on gastrostomy feeding. She successfully completed her pregnancy with nutritional support through the gastrostomy. The portable feeding pump gave her excellent quality of life both indoors and outdoors, and she could continue feeding without interrupting her daily housework, shopping and babycare.
Adult↗
An increasingly attractive option in physician staffing.
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Managed Care Programs↗
What's new in occupational medicine.
Occupational medicine has been a specialty of the American Board of Preventive Medicine since 1955. There are a number of current clinical and administrative topics that are discussed, including employment drug testing, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) guidelines, 24-hour coverage, ergonomics, fiscal accountability, and treating job injuries and workers' compensation claims.
Ergonomics↗
[Detection of the tendon of the musculus plantaris longus--diagnostic imaging and anatomic correlate].
Using ultrasound as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), the plantaris tendon can be identified between the top of the calcaneus and the upper third of the lower leg in cross sections. Due to the surrounding fat tissue, the best proof of plantaris tendon existence and diameter can be obtained on sections at the level of syndesmosis and ankle joint. This allows to avoid unnecessary incisions during plastic and reconstructive surgery using this tendon as an autologeous transplant. For the experienced examiner ultrasound seems to be the easiest way to show plantaris tendon existence; in case of doubt, MRI or CT will give further information.
Ankle Injuries↗
Surface range and attitude probing in stereoscopically presented dynamic scenes.
The authors report on different methods to probe the structure of visually perceived surfaces in 3 dimensions. The surfaces are specified by patterns of shading with Lambertian and specular components, which deform over time and over stereoscopic views. Five observers performed 2 probe tasks, 1 involving the adjustment of a punctate probe so as to be on the apparent surface and the other involving the adjustment of a small gauge figure that indicates surface attitude. The authors found that these rather different methods yielded essentially identical depth maps up to a linear transformations and that the observers all deviate slightly from veridicality in basically identical ways. The nature of this deviation appears to be correlated with the rough topography of the specularities.
Attention↗
Perception of local three-dimensional shape.
The authors present a series of 4 experiments designed to test the ability to perceive local shape information. Observers were presented with various smoothly varying 3-dimensional surfaces where they reported shape index and sign of Gaussian curvature at several probe locations. Results show that observers are poor at making judgments based on these local measures, especially when the region surrounding the local point is restricted or manipulated to make it noncoherent. Shape index judgments required at least 2 degrees of context surrounding the probe location, and performance on sign of Gaussian curvature judgments deteriorated as the contextual information was restricted as well.
Attention↗
The perception of surface orientation from multiple sources of optical information.
An orientation matching task was used to evaluate observers' sensitivity to local surface orientation at designated probe points on randomly shaped 3-D objects that were optically defined by texture, lambertian shading, or specular highlights. These surfaces could be stationary or in motion, and they could be viewed either monocularly or stereoscopically, in all possible combinations. It was found that the deformations of shading and/or highlights (either over time or between the two eyes' views) produced levels of performance similar to those obtained for the optical deformations of textured surfaces. These findings suggest that the human visual system utilizes a much richer array of optical information to support its perception of shape than is typically appreciated.
Attention↗
Effect of corticosteroids on the maturation of neutrophil motility in very low birthweight neonates.
Neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis and chemokinesis were longitudinally studied in a group of 17 neonates with birthweights between 750 and 1250 g. Five of the 17 neonates were treated with prenatal betamethasone to attempt to prevent hyaline membrane disease, six received postnatal dexamethasone in an effort to reduce bronchopulmonary dysplasia, three received both, and three were not treated with corticosteroids. The group of 17 neonates were tested on four separate occasions: (1-2, 3-4, 7-8, and 10-14 postnatal days). PMN chemotaxis and chemokinesis were determined using a standard micropore filter assay. A group of 36 adults was used as additional controls. There were no significant differences noted in PMN chemotaxis or chemokinesis for the corticosteroid vs the noncorticosteroid-treated groups. In the total group of 17 neonates, there was depression in PMN chemotaxis compared with adult values, which lasted at least through postnatal day 8. By day 13 to 14, PMN chemotactic values were similar to those of adults. In contrast, chemokinesis, was depressed during the initial 14 days (except for the first 2 postnatal days). These data suggest that perinatal corticosteroid administration does not affect PMN motility in newborn infants.
Betamethasone↗
[The value of spiral computed tomography in the imaging of aortocoronary bypass vessels].
Spiral computer tomography (Sp-CT) was performed on 25 patients with 81 aorto-coronary bypasses, with persistent symptoms, following selective coronary angiography. The purpose was to determine to what extent Sp-CT is able to demonstrate patency or occlusion of individual bypasses. From the raw data, transverse sections and standardised 3D reconstructions were obtained. Statistical evaluation showed a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 100% with regard to patency. Sp-CT provides optimal contrast and complete demonstration of the bypass without movement artifacts from respiration. 3D reconstructions aid in the evaluation of complex anatomical situations but occasionally lead to incorrect diagnosis of stenoses or occlusions. Compared with other non-invasive procedures (conventional CT and NMR) Sp-CT has proved significantly better for the evaluation of bypass occlusions. Sp-CT cannot completely replace angiography but in some cases may be an acceptable alternative.
Aged↗
[Primary diagnosis and follow-up in acute pulmonary embolism: comparison of digital subtraction angiography and spiral CT].
The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate Spiral CT in the primary diagnosis of acute pulmonary emboli and for follow-up after thrombolytic treatment. Digital subtraction angiography of the lung was used as the reference method. 38 patients were subjected to both procedures. 79% of Spiral CT and 63% of DSA examinations were optimal. The two methods agreed in the diagnosis of thrombo-embolism in 30 patients and excluded it in eight patients. Spiral CT verified thrombi in a total of 213 cases; of these 23 were in a main pulmonary artery (11%), 88 in lobar arteries (41%), and 102 in segmental arteries (48%). DSA demonstrated 180 thrombi. 17% of the adherent and partially occlusive thrombi were not shown. 38 pulmonary infarcts were found in 18 patients. In 15 patients resolution of thrombi following thrombolytic treatment was shown by Spiral CT. Spiral CT is an excellent alternative to DSA and its use in the diagnosis of pulmonary emboli is entirely appropriate.
Acute Disease↗