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N Buller

Publications and source records attributed to N Buller.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Factorial structure of the BAKO 1-4. On the validation of the "Base competence for school years 1-4" test for determining phonological processing].

BACKGROUND: Phonological awareness in native German speaking school children in grades 1 through 4 can be tested using the BAKO 1-4. We raised the question whether BAKO 1-4 subtests probe different aspects of phonological processing. METHODS: Participants were 62 school children aged 7-12 years. Application of the BAKO 1-4 was performed during routine clinical testing. RESULTS: Statistical analysis indicated two factors with sufficient loading as latent variables. DISCUSSION: Our data indicate that two underlying variables constitute BAKO 1-4 test performance: the first involves "conscious phonological processing in a narrow sense", and the second involves decision making. Two subtests loading on factor 2 may be related to the decision making processes. This has to be kept in mind when applying the test to indecisive children.

Auditory Perceptual Disorders↗
PubMed2006

[Is there a correlation between low-level auditory processing and phonological processing in preschool children?].

BACKGROUND: It appears to be widely accepted that specific language impairment (SLI) and developmental dyslexia result from some form of phonological deficit. Some theorists contend that these deficits are directly and exclusively caused by a cognitive deficit specific to representation and processing of speech sound. However, separate theories hold that phonological deficits indeed may cause SLI or dyslexia but phonological deficits arise due to sensory, mainly auditory, deficits. Here we studied if there is a correlation between two hotly debated measures of auditory low-level processing and measures of phonological processing in preschool children. METHODS DESIGN: prospective study. SAMPLE: preschool children. VARIABLES: monaural and binaural temporal order judgement (TOJ(b) and TOJ(m)), several standardized measures of broad and narrow phonological processing (Bielefelder Screening BISC). STATISTICS: correlation analysis. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between TOJ(b)/TOJ(m )and phonological processing. However, these data show that "impaired" TOJ(b) and TOJ(m) is neither a necessary nor a sufficient prerequisite for impaired phonological processing. DISCUSSION: Although TOJ(b) and TOJ(m) as measures of auditory low-level processing show a correlation with some measures of phonological processing, the precise nature of mechanisms leading to SLI or dyslexia still remains an unsolved problem.

Articulation Disorders↗
PubMed2006

[Auditory processing disorder versus attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. A dysfunction complex or different entities?].

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that auditory processing disorders (APD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) may be the same entity with slightly differing symptoms. For testing this theory we compared parents' ratings of APD and ADHD behavioural characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out with parents rating 312 children (113 girls and 199 boys; 6.0-9.11 years old, nonverbal intelligence IQ 95 or above) using APD and ADHD questionnaires. RESULTS: Significant, albeit weak correlations between several APD and ADHD subscale scores were found. Correlations between selective listening and attention behaviours approximated clinical relevance (rho >0.4). Factor analysis revealed two factors with APD behaviour loading on one and ADHD behaviour on a second different factor. Using a categorical approach, it appears that ADHD children have significantly more APD problems than children without ADHD. DISCUSSION: These data are consistent with the hypothesis that APD and ADHD overlap partly while still being distinct entities. In addition to dimensional aspects, the parents' rating may provide a guideline for establishing a diagnosis based on categorical distinctions.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed2006

Infection with Photobacterium damselae subspecies damselae and Vibrio harveyi in snapper, Pagrus auratus with bloat.

OBJECTIVE: To diagnose the cause of chronic, low mortality associated with bloat in tanks of snapper at an aquaculture facility. DESIGN: A clinical, pathological and microbiological investigation into the cause of a low number of ongoing mortalities associated with bloat in snapper at an aquaculture facility is outlined. Necropsy, histology, microbiology and a comparison of haematology and water analysis from affected and unaffected fish and holding tanks, respectively were conducted. RESULTS: Affected moribund fish were found in lateral or dorsal recumbency floating on the water surface within 24 hours of death. Photobacterium damselae subspecies damselae was isolated from intestinal contents and Vibrio harveyi from the blood of affected fish and both were isolated from culture water. Both V harveyi and P damselae subspecies damselae isolates were sensitive to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and sulphamethoxazole plus trimethoprim. Environmental parameters such as pH and dissolved oxygen were similar in tanks of affected and unaffected fish. Affected fish had gas distended swimbladders, anaemia, and the intestines were diffusely distended with a clear, pale yellowish fluid. Livers were mottled tan and green in a zonal pattern. Histologically the intestines of fish from tanks suffering mortality had a moderate granulocytic enteritis with oedema and infiltrations with eosinophilic granule cells that were also present as an infiltrate in the gills. There were elevated numbers of melanomacrophage centres and haemosiderin deposits in the spleen, kidney and liver of affected fish. CONCLUSION: Vibrio harveyi and Photobacterium damselae subspecies damselae infection should be recognised as potential pathogens of snapper held in water of less than optimal quality.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[German phoneme contrast hierarchy. A study with preschool children].

BACKGROUND: Phonemes are defined as the smallest possible units of speech with a distinctive function. Major and minor class features are used to describe individual phonemes. Phoneme opposition is based on distinctive feature contrasts. Here we constructed minimal pairs (MP) with different degrees of opposition. Preschool children were asked to repeat these MP after auditory presentation. We then investigated whether the phoneme contrast hierarchy corresponded to the empirically found degree of difficulty. METHODS: A total of 161 preschool children (96 boys, 65 girls) participated voluntarily. Real word MP (RW-MP) and nonsense word MP (L-MP) were presented from a CD recording via loudspeakers. MP were based on phonemes covering a wide range of phoneme oppositions. The children had to repeat the MP. Confusion errors were compared to the degree of phoneme opposition. RESULTS: A weak correlation was found between the theoretical degree of phoneme opposition and the phoneme confusion error matrix. When errors within an item block were added, no significant correlation was found. However, for MP with the least degree of opposition, confusion errors were always highest. DISCUSSION: The degree of markedness in MP influenced the correct perception/production of these MP. This influence must be regarded as fairly weak.

Child↗
PubMed2005

[Verbal learning and memory test in children. Analysis of it environmental validity].

BACKGROUND: The VLMT (auditory verbal learning and memory test) was constructed for use in children and adults. This study aimed at investigating the ecological validity in children. METHODS: In a retrospective study, data from 384 children were investigated. Correlations between the VLMT and a newly developed questionnaire (AVWS-Q) probing auditory processing skills were calculated. RESULTS: Significant albeit very weak correlations between VLMT items and AVWS-Q items were found. DISCUSSION: Results indicate that VLMT performance cannot be predicted by the AVWS-Q (neither as a sum score nor as questions regarding memory skills alone). Either the ecological validity of the VLMT has to be considered poor or the AVWS-Q does not probe memory skills sufficiently.

Child↗
PubMed2005

[Subjective assessment of auditory processing deficits and perceptual performance in children].

BACKGROUND: Auditory processing disorders (APD) result from dysfunctions in processes dedicated to audition. They effect the processing of information in the auditory modality. Besides several audiometric procedures, the suggestion has been made to use a newly developed questionnaire to assess APD; however, data on the reliability and validity of this psychometric tool are still lacking. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis, questionnaire data from 483 children referred to us because of suspected APD were examined and a factorial analysis was performed. RESULTS: Only one factor could be extracted. However, this did not explain much of the variance. DISCUSSION: According to our results, APD can be assumed to be a one dimensional construct. In addition, noise hypersensitivity may be separable from other APD complaints.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Impairment of speech and communication skills in dementia].

Dementia results not only in the impairment of cognitive-mnestic skills, but also of communication skills. Symptoms include difficulties in finding words and limited expression. The diagnosis of speech and language pathologies in dementia is problematic because there are no standard examination methods. Furthermore, it is difficult to distinguish dementia from semantic dementia, Broca's aphasia and chronic progressive aphasia.

Dementia↗
PubMed2005

[Gender and phoneme discrimination ability].

BACKGROUND: Boys tend to acquire language skills later than girls. Furthermore, specific language impairment and dyslexia are more often diagnosed in males than in females indicating that efficiency of phonological processing may be gender dependent. Phoneme discrimination tests tap some phonological processing abilities. Here we raised the question if phoneme discrimination abilities in male preschool children are inferior to female's phoneme discrimination abilities thus indicating less efficient phonological processing in boys. METHODS: Participants were 161 preschool children. Phoneme discrimination was tested using minimal pair (MP) reproduction. MP were either real words or nonwords (logatoms) presented in duplets or triplets. Children were asked to repeat what they had heard (immediate serial recall task). Statistical analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney-U-tests. RESULTS: Neither a correlation was seen between gender and phoneme discrimination sum scores (i. e. all items) nor between gender and scores of each item block. DISCUSSION: Results indicate no difference between male and female children in regard to those phonological processes and representations being tapped by the test procedure employed here.

Child↗
PubMed2004

[Phonological loop and minimal pair discrimination in preschool children].

BACKGROUND: Phoneme discrimination tests based on presenting minimal pairs (MP) are frequently used to assess auditory processing. However test results may be influenced by other factors beside proper acoustic representation. Here we aim at determining whether working memory capacity (WMC) correlates with reproducing sets of MP. METHODS: WMC was evaluated by memory span for digits in 161 preschool children. MP were either real words or non-words (logatoms). Both real word-MP and logatom-MP were presented in duplets or triplets. Children were asked to repeat what they had heard. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: All four test item blocks showed a significant positive correlation with WMC (group values). Some children with poor WMC performed sufficiently on MP discrimination and vice versa. DISCUSSION: Besides confirming the phonological similarity effect, our data indicates a significant interdependence between different processes and phonological representations. This must be taken into account when using MP tests for evaluating "auditory processing" in the clinical routine. However, poor WMC is neither necessary nor obligatory for poor phoneme discrimination.

Auditory Perceptual Disorders↗
PubMed2004

[Dementia-current knowledge and significance for ENT specialists].

Because of the growing number of elderly people, the incidence of dementia is increasing. This disease is a heavy burden for patients and their relatives, and has growing social and financial implications. The essential feature of dementia is an impairment in both short and long-term memory which is associated with an impairment in abstract thinking, impaired judgment, other disturbances of higher cortical functions, and/or personality change. Mild cognitive impairment represents a transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal aging and very early dementia, and is becoming increasingly recognized as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disorders. ENT specialists require knowledge on the basic problems in patients with (early) dementia and the most common diagnostic/therapeutic assessments. New therapeutic concepts such as cholinesterase inhibitors have been shown to interfere with the progression of Alzheimer's disease. In this report, the strategies in diagnostics and therapy which should be known by ENT specialists are presented.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of coronary-artery bypass surgery and stenting for the treatment of multivessel disease.

BACKGROUND: The recent recognition that coronary-artery stenting has improved the short- and long-term outcomes of patients treated with angioplasty has made it necessary to reevaluate the relative benefits of bypass surgery and percutaneous interventions in patients with multivessel disease. METHODS: A total of 1205 patients were randomly assigned to undergo stent implantation or bypass surgery when a cardiac surgeon and an interventional cardiologist agreed that the same extent of revascularization could be achieved by either technique. The primary clinical end point was freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at one year. The costs of hospital resources used were also determined. RESULTS: At one year, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the rates of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction. Among patients who survived without a stroke or a myocardial infarction, 16.8 percent of those in the stenting group underwent a second revascularization, as compared with 3.5 percent of those in the surgery group. The rate of event-free survival at one year was 73.8 percent among the patients who received stents and 87.8 percent among those who underwent bypass surgery (P<0.001 by the log-rank test). The costs for the initial procedure were $4,212 less for patients assigned to stenting than for those assigned to bypass surgery, but this difference was reduced during follow-up because of the increased need for repeated revascularization; after one year, the net difference in favor of stenting was estimated to be $2,973 per patient. CONCLUSION: As measured one year after the procedure, coronary stenting for multivessel disease is less expensive than bypass surgery and offers the same degree of protection against death, stroke, and myocardial infarction. However, stenting is associated with a greater need for repeated revascularization.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A spirochete isolated from a case of severe virulent ovine foot disease is closely related to a Treponeme isolated from human periodontitis and bovine digital dermatitis.

The isolation of spirochetes from severe ovine foot disease has been reported recently by our research group. In this study we describe the preliminary classification of this spirochete based on nucleotide sequence analysis of the PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis of this sequence in comparison with other previously reported 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the spirochete belonged to the treponemal phylotype Treponema vincentii which has been associated with bovine digital dermatitis and human periodontal disease. Further work is required to define the common virulence determinants of these closely related treponemes in the aetiology of these tissue destructive diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Immunization with meningococcal outer-membrane protein vesicles containing lipooligosaccharide protects mice against lethal experimental group B Neisseria meningitidis infection and septic shock.

Detergent-treated group B Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane vesicles (D-OMVs) from wild-type M986 and from nonencapsulated mutant M986-non-capsule variant (NCV) were compared as immunogens. Eight weeks after 3 consecutive immunizations with the immunogens, mice were challenged with a lethal dose of purified endotoxin or heat-killed or living N. meningitidis, plus d-galactosamine (400 mg/kg). D-OMVs from M986 induced bactericidal antibodies to both M986 (B : 2a : P1.5,2 : L3,7) and 6275 (B : 2a : P1.2,5 : L3) and protected the animals against both strains, whereas D-OMVs from M986-NCV did not protect the animals against infection with 6275 even when high serum bactericidal activity was induced. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha detected after bacterial infection was high in both protected and unprotected mice; interleukin (IL)-6 was high in mice that died but low in animals that survived. Exogenous administration of recombinant mouse IL-6 reversed the immunogens' protective effects. Protection against infection in mice does not necessarily correlate with the measured levels of serum bactericidal antibody alone, opsonic antibody alone, or cytokine profile alone. A comprehensive assessment of the preclinical efficacy of group B outer-membrane protein vaccines should include monitoring humoral antibodies, cytokine response, and protective effects against lethal infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Pseudomonas pseudomallei isolates collected over 25 years from a non-tropical endemic focus show clonality on the basis of ribotyping.

Between 1966 and 1991, melioidosis, a disease caused by Pseudomonas pseudomallei that is mostly confined to tropical regions, occurred in farm animals and a farmer in temperate south-west Western Australia. Using an Escherichia coli probe containing a ribosomal RNA operon, P. pseudomallei DNA from isolates from 8 animals, a soil sample and the human case showed an identical ribotype on Southern blotting. The ribotype was different from the 3 commonest ribotypes seen in tropical Australia. This molecular typing supports the theory of clonal introduction of P. pseudomallei into a non-endemic region, with environmental contamination, local dissemination and persistence over 25 years. As melioidosis is often fatal in humans, such persistence in a temperate region is cause for concern.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Simultaneous implantation of two Palmaz-Schatz stents mounted on a long angioplasty balloon.

Three cases are presented in which two Palmaz-Schatz stents were implanted simultaneously in a native coronary artery or saphenous vein graft. The two stents were mounted in tandem on a long angioplasty balloon. This technique has advantages in ease of delivery and positioning, with prevention of stent overlap, and when deployment of multiple stents is clinically appropriate.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1993

Early changes in left ventricular subendocardial function after successful coronary angioplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To study the early effects of coronary angioplasty on resting left ventricular long axis function, reflecting that of the subendocardium. DESIGN: Prospective echocardiographic and Doppler examination of patients with coronary artery disease, before and after single vessel coronary angioplasty. SETTING: A tertiary referral centre for cardiac diseases with facilities for invasive and non-invasive investigation. PATIENTS: 23 patients with significant left coronary disease being considered for coronary angioplasty. RESULTS: Before angioplasty the mean (SD) isovolumic relaxation time was longer than normal (75(19) ms v 55 (10), p < 0.001) with a significant increase in transverse dimension change before mitral valve opening, and peak rate of early diastolic thinning (8(3) v 10.4 (2.6) cm/s (p < 0.001)) was reduced. Long axis motion was frequently abnormal. The interval from the onset of the Q wave to the onset of shortening was prolonged (118 (30) ms v 90 (19) at the left site and 115 (26) ms v 81 (9) at the septal site, p < 0.001) and the onset of early diastolic rapid lengthening delayed with respect to the aortic valve closure sound (A2) by 85 (34) ms v 58 (11) at the left site and 88 (33) ms v 60 (9) at the septal site (p < 0.001). Although overall amplitude was reduced at the septal site only (1.23 (0.3) cm v 1.5 (0.4), p < 0.05), the extent (0.8 (0.2) cm v 1.04 (0.3) at the left site and 0.66 (0.2) cm v 0.9 (0.3) at the septal site, p < 0.001) and peak rate (6.2 (2) cm/s v 10 (2.5) at the left site and 5.4 (2.3) cm/s v 8.5 (2) at the septal site, p < 001) of early diastolic lengthening were both much lower than normal. The E/A ratio on transmitral Doppler was modestly reduced (1.0 (0.7) v 1.4 (0.4), p < 0.05). After angioplasty: isovolumic relaxation time shortened to 64 (18) ms (p < 0.001) and left ventricular incoordination regressed. Long axis shortening with respect to Q (98 (32) ms v 118 (30) at the left site and 94 (23) ms v 115 (26) at the septal site, p < 0.01) and that of lengthening with respect to A2 both normalised. Early diastolic peak lengthening rate increased (7.5 (2.1) cm/s v 6.2 (2) at the left site, and 6.3 (2.4) cm/s v 5.4 (2.3) at the septal site, p < 0.001). The early diastolic peak thinning rate of the posterior wall significantly increased (10 (3.5) cm/s v 8 (3), p < 0.005) as did mitral E/A ratio 1.2 (0.7) v 1.0 (0.7), p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Long axis motion, representing the function of longitudinally arranged subendocardial fibres, is consistently abnormal in the resting state in coronary artery disease. These systolic and diastolic abnormalities return towards normal after successful angioplasty, suggesting that they are the direct effect of coronary artery stenosis.

Angioplasty↗