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At least 1,513 records · Page 84Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Predicting adaptation to presymptomatic DNA testing for late onset disorders: who will experience distress? Rotterdam Leiden Genetics Workgroup.

The first comparative study on predicting post-test distress (conceptualised by intrusion and avoidance, measured with the Impact of Event Scale) after presymptomatic genetic testing for Huntington's disease (HD, n=25), cancer syndromes (familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP, n=23)), and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC, n=10) is reported. The variables with the highest predictive potential of post-test distress are presented. Participants who were depressed before the test were more distressed after testing, but we found that those who were anxious before the test were less distressed, that is, had less intrusive thoughts post-test. Other factors associated with a higher level of post-test intrusion were gender (being a woman), having children, and pre-test intrusion. Religion and being at risk for HBOC were associated with less post-test intrusion. Participants who showed avoidance behaviour before the test and those who had many people available for support showed more avoidance behaviour post-test. The test result did not additionally contribute to post-test distress. The prima facie simple notion that the test result, as such, determines the distress experienced seems to be a misrepresentation of the complex reality.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

Construct validity testing of a laparoscopic surgical simulator.

BACKGROUND: We present initial data on the construct, content, and face validity of the LAPMentor (Simbionix), virtual reality laparoscopic surgical simulator. STUDY DESIGN: Medical students (MS), residents and fellows (R/F), and experienced laparoscopic surgeons (ES), with < 30 laparoscopic cases per year (ES<30) and those with > 30 laparoscopic cases per year (ES>30), were tested on 9 basic skill tasks (SK) including manipulation of 0-degree and 30-degree cameras (SK1, SK2), eye-hand coordination (SK3), clipping (SK4), grasping and clipping (SK5), two-handed maneuvers (SK6), cutting (SK7), fulguration (SK8), and object-translocation (SK9). RESULTS: Mean MS (n=23), R/F (n=24), ES<30 (n=26), and ES>30 (n=30) ages were 26 years (range 21 to 32 years), 31 years (range 27 to 39 years), 49 years (range 31 to 70 years) and 47 years (range 34 to 69 years), respectively. In the lower level skill tasks (SK3, SK4, SK5, and SK6) the ES>30, ES<30, and R/F had similar scores, but were all substantially better than the MS scores. In the higher level skill tasks (SK7, SK8, and SK9), the ES>30 scores tended to be better than the R/F and ES<30, which were similar, and these, in turn, were markedly better than the MS. The ES>30 had notably higher SK8 scores than the R/F and ES<30, who had similar scores, and these had notably better scores than the MS. CONCLUSIONS: The noncamera skills (SK3 to 9) of the LAPMentor surgical simulator can distinguish between laparoscopically naive and ES. SK8 showed the highest level of construct validity, by accurately differentiating among the MS, R/F, ES<30 and ES>30.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Towards virtual reality stimulation in force platform posturography.

We developed a stimulation technique on the basis of virtual reality methods for balance investigation performed in balance laboratories of otorhinolaryngological clinics and institutes of occupational health. Such a stimulation technique is greatly progressive in the sense that by creating virtual moving views and "virtual worlds" inside which the subject is located it is possible to make effective stimuli that would be very difficult or even impossible to set in any real environment. We tested our system on healthy subjects and found out that this kind of virtual reality stimulation system is very useful for balance analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Use of a portable head mounted perimetry system to assess bedside visual fields.

AIM: This study was designed to test the ability of a portable computer driven, head mounted visual field testing system to perform automated perimetry on patients at their bedside and to compare these results with the "gold standard" for bedside examinations, confrontation visual fields. METHODS: The Kasha visual field system is a portable automated perimeter which utilises a virtual reality headset. 37 neurosurgery patients were examined at their bedside with a central 24 degree suprathreshold testing strategy after confrontation visual field testing. The patterns of visual field defects were categorised and compared with the results of confrontation testing. RESULTS: A total of 42 field examinations were completed on 37 patients, and the average testing time for both eyes was 4.8 minutes with the perimetry system. Each of the 11 fields (100%) classified with defects on confrontation testing was similarly categorised on head mounted perimetry. 26 out of 31 (84%) visual fields were normal on both confrontation and perimetry testing, while five out of the 31 fields (16%) which were full on confrontation had visual field defects identified by head mounted perimetry. CONCLUSION: The head mounted, automated perimetry system proved easily portable and convenient for examining neurosurgical patients at their bedside in the perioperative period. The device demonstrated equal sensitivity to confrontation visual field testing methods in detecting field defects and offers the advantage of standardised, quantifiable testing with graphic results for follow up examinations.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Spatio-temporal disintegration of visual perception in schizophrenia as revealed by a novel cognitive task, the Searchlight Test.

We developed a novel computer-assisted psychological test (the Searchlight Test) in order to explore 'cognitive fragmentation' and its relation to thought disorder in schizophrenic patients. Participants were instructed to search geometric figures through a small hole (3 cm in diameter) on a display monitor by moving a mouse device and to reconstruct an image of the whole from the temporally and spatially fragmented visual stimuli.The cognitive function measures in 24 schizophrenic patients and 14 normal controls showed that the error rates of the recall task (drawing the figure from memory) and the recognition task (selecting the correct figure from several similar figures) were significantly higher in schizophrenic patients than in normal controls. The error rates of both tasks significantly correlated with disorganization syndrome in schizophrenia, but not with reality distortion or with psychomotor poverty syndrome.The present data obtained with the Searchlight Test suggest the spatio-temporal disintegration of visual perception in schizophrenia and its correlation with disorganization. This test appears to provide a useful tool for studying the pathophysiology of disorganization syndrome, thought disorder and the related cognitive dysfunction of schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Genetic testing for coronary heart disease: the approaching frontier.

The prospect for genetic testing to better delineate the risk for coronary heart disease will become a reality in the next decade. Advances in this area will follow the accelerated trajectory in our ability to dissect the genetics of complex diseases including coronary heart disease. A brief overview of the present state of knowledge will follow the discussion of present approaches in discovering these genetic predispositions. The key issues that will likely shape the field in the near future will also be presented.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1992

Microprocesses in perception and personality.

This paper utilizes an ontogenetically validated personality test, the Meta-Contrast Technique (MCT). The instrument focuses on the microdevelopment of perception (percept genesis) reflecting the process of individual adaptation to and construction of reality. Empirical evidence for the adequacy of the MCT paradigm in neuropsychological personality research is presented. In all, 45 patients were tested; thirty-three patients with various forms of supratentorial brain tumors were examined and compared with a group of 12 cerebrovascular disease (CVD) patients. Without the examiner's knowledge of degree of tumor malignancy, the MCT results allowed differentiation among tumors of various histological types. Uninformed of the final diagnosis, patients with highly malignant gliomas showed panic-related anxiety and schizoid-like regressions, in contrast both to patients with low and nonmalignant brain tumors and to the group of CVD patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Screening for undescended testes.

There is a general consensus among surgeons and paediatricians that cryptorchidism should be detected and treated by the age of 5 years, if not earlier. In reality, incomplete descent is often detected well beyond the age of 5. The effectiveness of local screening was assessed by reviewing the screening history and subsequent management of boys treated for undescended testes between 1983 and 1986. The detection rates for undescended testes in the boys under 5 years were low both for doctors and health visitors. In contrast, the school entry medical examination for 5 and 6 year olds had a higher screening yield. Over 40% of cases came to light as a result of parents recognising the condition and seeking medical opinion. Late detection had also occurred in some boys who had had previous genital surgery or examination. Methods to improve early detection and ways of monitoring proposed changes are discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Hearing loss among nursing home residents: perceptions and realities.

Audiometric examinations were conducted on a random sample of 104 elderly Massachusetts' nursing home residents. The testing revealed that the majority of the participants were hearing impaired. The participants, however, consistently reported satisfaction with their hearing ability and no related hearing problems. Qualitative observations of communication among the participants, staff, and visitors documented that the elderly were negatively affected by their hearing loss. Recommendations are made to improve the quality of care for residents with hearing impairment in the nursing home setting.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Immunodiagnosis of malaria.

Different approaches to immunodiagnosis of malaria in an endemic country have been described in this paper. Demonstration of circulating malaria antigen may be done by gel-diffusion and counter-immunoelectrophoresis. Parasite associated antigen may be demonstrated by highly sensitive methods like radio-immunoassay or enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay. Malaria antibodies of the IgG type being long lasting do not appear to have any role in immuno-diagnosis. However, determination of malaria specific IgM antibodies by P. gallinaceum haemagglutination test or IgM immunofluorescence test may be simple and useful in immunodiagnosis of malaria. The tests though evaluated in different laboratories may not be applicable in the field for diagnosis of malaria at the present moment. However, it is envisaged that with the availability of different specificities of monoclonal antibodies by way of hybridoma technology and also with the help of recombinant DNA techniques immunodiagnosis of malaria in the field situation may become a reality.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of drugs for treating obesity.

Criteria for the evaluation of new drugs to treat obesity are important as guides for designing clinical trials to test these agents. These criteria must be developed in relation to the realities of obesity, which is a chronic disease associated with morbidity and mortality that is increased by visceral fat deposits. The observation that patients regain weight after stopping drug treatment for obesity argues for the proposition that drugs work only when taken and NOT that the drugs are ineffective. The analogy between the development of treatments for obesity to those for the treatment of hypertension is used to highlight potential areas for new developments. Several features of an ideal drug for the treatment of obesity are suggested. Criteria for evaluating new drugs include both primary and secondary endpoints. The primary endpoint for an anti-obesity drug should be weight loss, possibly by category of success. Losses of total body fat or visceral fat might be alternative primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints include reduction in risk factors for associated diseases and improvement in the quality of life. In trials where vigorous placebo designs including highly aggressive behavior modification or very-low-calorie diets were used, it may be difficult or impossible to detect a response to a drug.

Appetite Depressants↗
PubMed1989

Evaluation of new antiviral agents: II. The use of animal models.

Antiviral chemotherapy has become a reality in the 1980s. Since the use of animal models in the testing of new antiviral agents is an inevitable step prior to clinical trial in human patients, it is important to understand the basic principles of using model systems. Briefly reviewed in this paper are the heterologous and homologous animal models which have been used for studies of various herpesvirus infections in humans. Discussions of the use of the guinea pig models mainly, for members of the Herpesviridae are presented in more detail. Precautions needed for the development of new animal models, and suggestions proposed for the use of animal models for testing new antiviral agents are outlined. It is hoped that new animal models will be developed in the foreseeable future for evaluating the much needed effective but less toxic antiviral agents for a variety of human viral diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Concomitant chemoradiotherapy of infiltrating cancers of the bladder].

Until now, radical cystectomy has been considered the most effective treatment for invasive bladder cancer. However it fails to cure more than 50% of patients and can result in a mediocre quality of life. In an effort to improve cure rates, combined modality regimens have been investigated. Despite the preliminary results of early clinical trials, randomized trials have most often failed to show any benefit from neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. One of the major progress brought by radiotherapy has been the wide use of conservative treatment in several cancer, and in the recent years promising results have been published with concomitant radio-chemotherapy. The use of conservative approach in bladder cancer now appears to be a tangible reality for selected patients, but this combined modality have not yet been tested in randomized trials.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2004

Migration of trimellitic acid from epoxy anhydride can coatings into foods.

The migration of trimellitic acid and its esters from epoxy anhydride coatings was determined in simulants as well as in canned foods. The most appropriate simulant was a combination of EC simulants B and C: 2% acetic acid/10% ethanol in water. The average migration into food was 900 microg kg(-1). This far exceeds the 50 microg kg(-1) for which the safety of trimellitic acid and its anhydride is ensured and the Swiss legal limit (QM(T) of 5 mg kg(-1) coating). Furthermore, much trimellitic acid migrated as (unidentified) esters, i.e. toxicological testing of free trimellitic acid is inadequate for the material that in reality migrates.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Talk your way round--a speech interface to a virtual museum.

PURPOSE: To explore the development of a speech interface to a virtual world and to consider its relevance for disabled users. METHOD: The system was developed using mainly software that is available at minimal cost. How well the system functioned was assessed by measuring the number of times a group of users with a range of voices had to repeat commands in order for them to be successfully recognized. During an initial session, these users were asked to use the system with no instruction to see how easy this was. RESULTS: Most of the spoken commands had to be repeated less than twice on average for successful recognition. For a set of 'teleportation' commands this figure was higher (2.4), but it was clear why this was so and could easily be rectified. The system was easy to use without instruction. Comments on the system were generally positive. CONCLUSIONS: While the system has some limitations, a virtual world with a reasonably reliable speech interface has been developed almost entirely from software which is available at minimal cost. Improvements and further testing are considered. Such a system would clearly improve access to virtual reality (VR) technologies for those without the skills or physical ability to use a standard keyboard and mouse. It is an example of both assistive technology (AT) and universal design.

Computer Graphics↗
PubMed2003

A virtual environment for investigating schizophrenic patients' characteristics: assessment of cognitive and navigation ability.

Patients with schizophrenia have thinking disorders such as delusions or hallucinations because they have a deficit in the ability to systematize and integrate information. Therefore, they cannot integrate or systematize visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli. The multimodal integration model of the brain can provide a theoretical background from which one can approach multimodal stimulus integration. In this study, we suggest a virtual reality system for the multi-modal assessment of cognitive ability of schizophrenia patients. The virtual reality system can provide multimodal stimuli, such as visual and auditory stimuli, to the patient and can evaluate the patient's multimodal integration and working memory integration abilities by making the patient interpret and react to multimodal stimuli, which must be remembered for a given period of time. The clinical study showed that the virtual reality program developed is comparable to those of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM), and it provides some information related to the schizophrenic patients' behavior in 3D virtual environment.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The effect of alcohol intoxication on primary and secondary processes in male social drinkers.

The acute effects of alcohol intoxication on cognitive style and on locus of control was investigated in an experimental setting. Sixty male subjects were randomly assigned to either an Alcohol, a Placebo, or a Control group. The alcohol dose was 1.0 ml of 100% alcohol/kg body weight. Subjects filled out a modified version of Rotter's locus of control scale and reported their perceptions to Street's Gestalt Completion Test. The latter test was scored in a standardized way for stimulus closeness, indicating a reality oriented and rational functioning, and stimulus distance, indicating a more primitive, irrational and pleasure oriented functioning. Alcohol made subjects less internally controlled and decreased the reality oriented functioning while the pleasure oriented functioning was not affected. Results were discussed in terms of pharmacological mechanisms, disinhibition, and creativity.

Adult↗