ASHA NOMS--a case study

The effect of low-intensive laser exposure at a wavelength of 634 nm and power 1 mWt at the tip of the light-guide on the blood anticoagulative system was studied in mongrel narcotized dogs of both sexes weighing 8 to 16 kg during the postresuscitation period after 4-min clinical death from massive blood loss. The anticoagulative system in the blood plasma was depleted during the reanimation period (the activities of plasmin and fibrinogen-heparin complexes and the level of heparin dropped). Intravascular laser exposure of the blood (for 30 min during blood loss after drop of the mean arterial pressure to 40 mm Hg and at the beginning of the second hour of the postreanimation period) boosted the activities of plasmin and fibrinogen-heparin complexes but failed to increase the level of heparin in the postreanimation period.     

The Predictive Validity of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Questionnaire in a Heroin-Addicted Polysubstance Abuse Sample.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the predictive utility of the stages-of-change scales of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA; E. A. McConnaughy, J. O. Prochaska, & W. F. Velicer, 1983) questionnaire in a heroin-addicted polysubstance-abusing treatment sample. Ninety-six participants completed the URICA at the beginning of a 29-week treatment period that required thrice-weekly urine drug screens. Multivariate multiple regression analysis indicated that after controlling for demographic variables, substance abuse severity, and treatment assignment, the stages-of- change scales added significant variance to the prediction of heroin- and cocaine-free urine samples. The Maintenance scale was positively related to cocaine-free urines and length in treatment. The implications of these findings for treatment and for measuring readiness among individuals using multiple substances while taking maintenance medications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transmyocardial revascularization: a case study

Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) is an investigational cardiovascular surgical procedure for patients with severe advanced coronary artery disease refractory to conventional treatment. The following case study traces one particular patient undergoing TMR from preoperative evaluation through a 6-month follow-up visit based on TMR research protocol.     

Hypoglycemic hemiplegia: a case study

We report on a 59 year old patient with repetitive shoulder trauma due to numerous grand mal convulsions and consequent severe osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint with formation of multiple loose bodies. We discuss the aetiology of the loose bodies as being different to those found in synovial chondromatosis, as well as the radiological, histological, clinical and therapeutical features of this entity.     

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy: a case study

The case of a 57-year-old man with lymphadenopathy fever, splenomegaly, and polyclonal gammopathy is described. The difficult clinical course, the short lived response to cytotoxic treatment, the frequent infections, the immunologic abnormality, and the histologic findings in lymph node biopsy and postmortem material justified our diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia, a new entity described recently.     

A case study versus science.

Comments on the article by R. J. Sternberg and W. M. Williams (see record 1997-04591-002) regarding the empirical validity of the Graduate Record Examination in predicting graduate student performance in psychology. It is argued that Sternberg and Williams's study suffers from severe range restriction in the predictor and the criteria and from unreliable criteria. It is agreed that the study was correctly characterized as a case study rather than a validation study; however, a case study from a very selective school adds little or nothing to the scientific knowledge base unless it considers fundamental factors such as range restriction in the predictor and criterion and their reliability. A more empirical approach is suggested if this line of research is to make a contribution to science. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A case study in communication disorders

Often, children with language disorders exhibit other more subtle delays or deviance in social, communicative, and cognitive development. By focusing on these three areas, the clinician can understand the developmental context in which the language delay manifests. This approach includes the following: gathering information, psychological and communicative examinations, psychiatric examination, and medical evaluation.     

Diagnostic case study: varicella pneumonia

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can cause hyperintense lesions in the corticospinal tract but rarely can also cause T2 shortening in the motor cortex bilaterally. The present case of ALS showed unilateral T2 shortening of the superior parietal lobule without corticospinal tract changes.     

Transmyocardial revascularization: a case study

We evaluated the anatomic distribution and pattern of skin involvement in 155 pediatric patients with Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura treated in our center over the last 20 years. Of these, 120 (77.4%) presented with cutaneous signs; only 10% of them had no leg involvement. Seven patients (4.5%) had edema of the hands, feet, or face. The mean age of this subgroup was 9.2+/-2.2 months, compared to 6.8+/-2.3 years for the entire group (p < 0.05). Skin biopsies were performed in 18 of these patients, including the 7 with edema, to confirm the clinical diagnosis. All biopsy specimens showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis, with IgA deposits in two and C3 deposits in one. It is important that clinicians keep in mind that an atypical presentation of Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura is not unusual.     

Fragile ''X'' syndrome. A case study

Aim of this paper is to assess the validity of bone scanning for radiation therapy treatment planning in the skeletal system. Radiation therapy treatment planning in the skeletal system is based on plain film radiographs and bone scanning. Between January 1, 1993 and June 30, 1994, 228 patients were irradiated due to malignancies in the skeletal system. Included were bone metastases, lymphomas, sarcomas and bone invasion of neuroblastoma. The morphological display of the plain film radiographs and the bone scintigraphies were compared and modifications of the target volume due to the scan findings quantified. In 17 of 228 patients (7.5%) the target volume was modified by at least 2 cm due to tumor invasion depicted by radionuclide scanning only. Bone scintigraphy enables a sensitive display of bony invasion in skeletal malignancies. Because of a scan induced alteration of the target volume in 7.5% of the cases, bone scanning cannot be abandoned in RT treatment planning.     

A disease management case study on asthma

This paper provides an overview of how one pharmacy benefits manager, MedImpact Pharmaceutical Management, Inc. (San Diego, California), approaches its disease management (DM) program for asthma. This group's experience with DM counters the common but fallacious belief that reduction of component costs leads to reduction of total expenditures. In fact, greater expenditures on certain components (in particular, drug therapies and preventive and follow-up visits to physicians) can result in greatly reduced overall expenditures by reducing hospitalizations and emergency department treatments for asthmatic patients. The program addresses four essential components of DM: physician intervention, patient empowerment, health risk management, and pharmaceutical care. For each of these areas, careful statistical analysis, effective education, and integrated management can help improve patient care while reducing overall costs.     

Pediatric case study: hemolytic uremic syndrome

The nursing interventions necessary to care for this critically ill child were professionally challenging. Meeting the psychosocial, educational, and supportive needs of the family during this period of uncertainty, as well as, providing the dialysis therapy and support for this fragile child demonstrated the unique contributions of professional nursing. All outcomes were met, but the patient's extremely poor myocardial function made dialysis treatments and volume control difficult. The use of CVVHD was instrumental to providing dialysis in a safe, effective manner. The nursing care for S.B.K. and her family was physically and emotionally draining, but seeing her neurological status return was the great reward for all of our efforts.     

Hispanic assessment: A case study.

Comments that there are 3 types of misuses of psychological instruments with ethnic minorities; inappropriate test selection, poor test administration, and misinterpretation of test results. A case study (19-yr-old Spanish-speaking female) that illustrates these misuses, together with professional apathy, is presented, possible remedial measures are suggested. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Malignant eccrine acrospiroma. A case study

A 37-year old patient was anaesthetised twice within 4 weeks for surgery of a vertebral disc prolapse. The first anaesthesia was performed with volatile anaesthetics without any anomalies. After the second operation in total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol and alfentanil the excitatory form of a central anticholinergic syndrome occurred. The application of physostigmine resulted in an immediate and complete disappearance of the symptoms.