Multiple epidural metastases and development of secondary metastatic spinal cord compression]

The purpose was to examine the frequency of initial multiple epidural metastases, and the occurrence of secondary spinal cord compression (SCC). One hundred and seven patients with SCC from a histologically verified solid tumour were followed prospectively with regular neurological examinations until death. Multiple metastases were demonstrated in 37 (35%). Eight (7.5%) patients developed a second occurrence of SCC all in a new location within the spinal canal. The second occurrence of SCC was found with the same frequency in patients with single metastases (7.1%) compared to patients with multiple metastases (8.1%). The median survival time after the diagnosis of spinal cord compression was 3.4 months, while in the group of patients who developed a second occurrence of SCC the median survival time was 9.2 months. We concluded that only symptomatic epidural metastases should be irradiated, and that all patients treated for SCC should be followed regularly and observed for development of a second SCC.     

Hypothesis theory and the development of conceptual learning.

Examines the assumptions of hypothesis theory and its applicability to current understanding of developmental processes. Research bearing on 5 general issues is examined: types of hypotheses and how they are detected; the acquisition of hypotheses through cognitive or conditioning mechanisms; learning, sampling assumptions, and rule-guided behavior; feedback variables, including types of feedback (e.g., tangible vs symbolic) and consequences of positive vs negative feedback; and S variables, including cognitive style, reading level, and MA. (4 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diagnosis and nosographic classification in the child-psychiatric epidemiology]

Psychiatric epidemiology is founded on clinical experience and scientific research; these two spheres are not contradictory but complementary. Different aspects need to be examined thoroughly; for instance, diagnosis, considered as the result of a rather complicated process has hardly ever been studied. This should not lead us to give up or to act in a pseudo-scientific way as if we could control all the problems. The existing results show us that diagnosis is getting significant only with complementary and specific items. From the methodological point of view, video-tape and discussions about case histories allow us to study the diagnosis process. Field researches, comparative studies about systematic case data of different services, clinical and longitudinal investigations contribute ot epidemiological knowledge and facilitate interdisciplinary and international cooperation. Any linear and causal explanations on epidemiological phenomena appear unreliable.     

Genome fingerprinting in the epidemiology and epizootology of tuberculosis]

The history and modern status of tuberculosis are analyzed from epidemiological viewpoint. Different repeating genetic elements of mycobacterial genome are described, which have been recently used to develop methods for typing of pathogenic mycobacterial strains. Genome fingerprinting is compared with the traditional methods of epidemiology. The prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis in domestic and wild animals is analyzed.     

Therapists' cognitive complexity: Review of theoretical models and development of an integrated approach for training.

Therapists' cognitive complexity can influence a variety of clinical and educational processes, from how they make decisions to their engagement in classes and supervision. To date, cognitive complexity models have not been adapted or advanced to meet the demands of clinical training. We provide a review and critique of the current cognitive complexity models and examine the measures typically associated with these models. We also introduce a new model, the Therapists' Cognitive Complexity Model, which includes three components of therapists' cognitive complexity: session thoughts, metacognition, and epistemic cognitions. Implications for therapist training and suggestions for future research are provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fingerprinting of mycobacterial DNA in the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis]

Immunologic status was studied in 86 patients with type-I diabetes mellitus before and after treatment with decarise, thymaline and T-activin. With the aid of ECG, phonocardiogramme, apex cardiogramme, oscillogramme, there has been calculated index of vitality of the myocardium reflecting the subendocardial bloodflow. The principal parameters characterising bodily immune status (absolute number of T- and B-lymphocytes), T-suppressors counts as well as those of circulating immune complexes (CIC) were compared to the values for subendocardial bloodflow (end-diastolic pressure, index of vitality of the myocardium). There has been established strong inverse relation between the absolute numbers of T-, B-lymphocytes, and CIC, end-diastolic pressure and index of vitality of the myocardium, this being regarded as evidence in confirmation of the guarding role of the former and damaging one of the latter (CIC) under vascular pathology in diabetes mellitus.     

Study of the injury epidemiology should be developed in China]

A 24-year-old woman presented with left-sided ptosis, diplopia, sensory impairment on the left side of her face and diminished hearing in her left ear. The neurological findings were hypo-anesthesia in all three divisions of the trigeminal nerve, left-sided facial paralysis of the oculomotor and abducens nerves. Initially the condition was misdiagnosed as maxillary sinusitis and was treated with antibiotics. It seems that this presentation has not been previously described in commonly read English-language journals. In our case, the tumour was removed totally and the neuropathological diagnosis was schwannoma. The case report describes the presentation, investigations, management and outcome in this patient.     

Strength and will: theoretical and methodological issues from the standpoint of risk in epidemiology and HIV/AIDS prevention

Large granular lymphocytes require adherence to hyphae of Candida albicans to inhibit growth of this fungus. This study was undertaken to identify the lymphocyte surface structures that mediate this adhesion. Monoclonal antibodies specific for epitopes of the alpha subunit (CD11b) and the beta 2 subunit (CD18) of Mac-1 eliminated lymphocyte adhesion to C. albicans hyphae. Significant inhibition of lymphocyte adhesion to C. albicans was also achieved with known protein ligands of Mac-1. These proteins included the extracellular matrix proteins vitronectin, laminin, and fibrinogen as well as two engineered peptides containing RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) sequences. Carbohydrates including N-acetyl-D-glucosamine which have been demonstrated to inhibit Mac-l-mediated adhesion to whole yeast and yeast zymosan also blocked lymphocyte adhesion to hyphae. These results identify Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) as the surface structure that mediates lymphocyte adhesion to C. albicans. A model is proposed for lymphocyte Mac-1 activation by microbial ligands.     

The epidemiology of post-traumatic stress disorders]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been subjected to several epidemiological studies during the last 10 years. Large differences in prevalence between different studies can only partly be explained by differences in methodology, impact of the trauma and populations. Changes in diagnostic criteria, the stressor criteria, general mentality over time and cultural differences may account for some of the differences. In general populations a lifetime prevalence of PTSD of between 1% and 9% has been found. In unselected traumatized populations 20-45% will develop PTSD after exposure to significant traumas. Among soldiers who have participated in battles of war a PTSD prevalence of 15-20% has been found. After exposure to lesser traumas and among well-trained corps 5-10% develop PTSD. Over long periods the point prevalence of PTSD in a given traumatized population diminishes. Predictive factors related to PTSD are complex.     

Hypothesis formation as a facilitator of conceptual development.

Examined the role of hypothesis formation in the development of conceptual understanding of certain geometric principles of block design. 33 4–4? yr old children were instructed in the building of a series of 3-dimensional block designs under conditions which either permitted the use of copying strategies or mitigated against these and demanded hypothesis formation based upon partial information. No differences in error rate were found between conditions during duplication of familiar 3-dimensional block designs on a training test. Differences emerged when Ss were required to reconstruct, in 1 trial, from a photograph, familiar designs previously successfully duplicated from 3-dimensional models. Ss who originally had attempted to reconstruct 3-dimensional models under conditions requiring hypothesis formation, more accurately duplicated the complex, pictorial designs than did Ss who had reconstructed the 3-dimensional models under optimal cue conditions. Hypothesis formation, it is concluded, led to greater conceptual understanding of the geometric principles underlying the block designs. (French summary) (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of natural sensory factors in organization of feeding behavior using fledgling development as an example

A change in the composition of natural sensory stimuli, triggers of the alimentary functional system of Muscicapa hypoleuca nestlings, was studied throughout their nest life. In the first five days the alimentary reaction is elicited by a complex of acoustic stimuli. From the fifth to the eighth day the reaction appears in response to a momentary change of illumination. From the ninth to the thirteenth day two stimuli are involved in the organization of the alimentary reaction: a trigger stimulus-a momentary change of illumination, and a directional stimulus-a mobile silhouette of the bird. On the thirteenth to the fifteenth day the alimentary reaction appears only in response to the bird's movement. It is assumed that the successive change of trigger stimuli in one and the same alimentary functional system is determined by a successive involvement of increasingly complicated sensory mechanisms. The time periods of involvement may vary with a change of environmental factors.     

如何实现资源型企业可持续发展——以河北峪耳崖金矿为例

通过分析当前河北峪耳崖金矿所面临的主要问题,对资源型企业如何实现可持续发展提出了合理化建议。从充分利用矿产资源角度,认为加强地质综合研究,充分利用矿产资源是保证矿山企业可持续发展的必要途径之一,对此提出了具体的对策和措施,可为类似矿山提供参考。     

Professionalism in nursing: difference between theoretical learning and clinical activity]

There still seems to exist some dichotomy in nursing education between theoretical achievements and clinical practice, a key moment to verify applied knowledge and put it into practice. The aim with the present study is to compare activities considered professionalizing at a theoretical level with activities being performed during clinical practice. The instrument utilised to collect data was a questionnaire on nurse-professionalism using a Likert scale. The subject participating in the study were 3rd year nursing students from three universities in Rome. The results clearly shows how the theoretical preparation of nurse students is in contrast with clinical practice performance. The only nursing area where theory and practice seem to correspond is that of individualised nursing care, the biggest gap between theory and practice was found concerning research activities.