Performance discrepancies on the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II) in the standardization sample.

The standardization data for the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II; D. C. Delis, J. H. Kramer, E. Kaplan, & B. A. Ober, 2000) were used to evaluate the base rate of 6 specific discrepancies between various key variables. The results indicated that CVLT-II performance discrepancies should equal or exceed 1 or 1.5 z score points (depending on the individual comparison) in the hypothesized direction to be considered potentially unusual. However, because about 1 in 3 persons in the standardization sample displayed at least 1 such large discrepancy, it is concluded that these base rates should be viewed only as a starting point for interpretation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The association of gonorrhoea and syphilis with premature birth and low birthweight

The indications and results of single and double lung transplantation are described on the basis of 66 operations performed by the authors and on the background of the world literature. Lung transplantation is considered a new and promising therapeutic mode for treating patients with end-stage pulmonary failure related to fibrosis, emphysema, infective conditions, and pulmonary hypertension yielding satisfactory early results. The long-term prognosis of patients undergoing lung transplantation, like that of any other organ transfer, remains guarded.     

The detection of anisochrony in monaural and interaural sound sequences

Nakao and Axelrod (1976) and van Noorden (1975) showed that the threshold for discriminating an anisochronous duple rhythm (a series of clicks with a temporal offset on every other one) from an isochronous rhythm (no offset) is poorer when the clicks are presented alternately to the two ears than when they are presented to the same ears. Van Noorden reported that the difference between the thresholds in the alternating and nonalternating conditions varied with the tempo of the sequence. Nakao and Axelrod found invariance of this threshold difference with sequence speed. According to our quantification of temporal processing of interaural sequences, the latter result should be expected. We carried out five psychophysical experiments to establish interaural and monaural discrimination between isochronous and anisochronous rhythms. Across experiments, base time intervals of 60-720 msec were spanned. The main result was that we replicated the poorer discrimination for interaural sequences. This deterioration in discrimination was the same for all sequence speeds. It was also the case that the thresholds were almost constant up to a sound repetition rate of about 3 per second, but increased linearly with slower rates. This result supports evidence in the literature that temporal processing of sequences faster than about 3-4 sounds per second differs from temporal processing of slower sequences.     

A short form of the WISC--III for clinical use.

Using specific theoretical and practical criteria, 8 subtests were selected from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Third Edition (WISC--III; D. Wechsler, 1991) to construct a short form that would allow computation of all 4 factor index scores. Linear scaling was used to compute deviation quotients of the short form, and confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine which of 6 hypothesized models could best explain intelligence as measured by this WISC--III short form. The results indicated that the short form had satisfactory reliability and validity and that a 4-factor model (composed of Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organization, Freedom from Distractibility, and Processing Speed) fit the data of this short form relatively best. Specific guidelines for use of this short form in clinical practice are provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Potential of and problems with new measures of psychometric intelligence after traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Examination of the concurrent and criterion validities of the General Ability Measure for Adults (GAMA) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition (WAIS–III) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Study Design: Correlational methods and multivariate analyses of variance. Setting: Regional rehabilitation center. Participants: Prospective series of consecutive rehabilitation referrals, including 60 adults with TBI and no confounding premorbid histories. Main Outcome Measures: GAMA and WAIS–III IQ and factor index scores were obtained within 1 year after injury and were compared with each other and with measures of injury severity. Results: GAMA and WAIS–III summary IQ scores demonstrated substantial covariance (supporting concurrent validity), but neither was sufficiently sensitive to injury severity. The WAIS–III Processing Speed (PS) index was the only measure that clearly demonstrated criterion validity. Conclusions: GAMA and WAIS–III summary IQ scores measure similar abilities but may not be sensitive to degree of injury severity in individuals with TBI. In contrast, the WAIS–III PS index appears to have promise in the evaluation of sequelae of TBI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Construct Validity of the California Verbal Learning Test--Children's Version (CVLT-C) After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.

The purpose of this study was to determine the latent structure of the California Verbal Learning Test--Children's Version (CVLT-C; D. Delis, J. Kramer, E. Kaplan, & B. Ober, 1994) in a sample of 175 children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Maximum-likelihood confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test 6 competing hypothetical models for fit and parsimony. A 4-factor model consisting of Attention Span, Learning Efficiency, Delayed Recall, and Inaccurate Recall provided the best fit to the data. The results support the construct validity of the CVLT-C in children with TBI and suggest that a multifactorial interpretation of quantitative indexes from this instrument is appropriate for clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hierarchical Linear Modeling of California Verbal Learning Test--Children's Version Learning Curve Characteristics Following Childhood Traumatic Head Injury.

California Verbal Learning Test-Children's Version (CVLT-C) indices have been shown to be sensitive to the neurocognitive effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The effects of TBI on the learning process were examined with a growth curve analysis of CVLT-C raw scores across the 5 learning trials. The sample with history of TBI comprised 86 children, ages 6-16 years, at a mean of 10.0 (SD=19.5) months postinjury; 37.2% had severe injury, 27.9% moderate, and 34.9% mild. The best-fit model for verbal learning was with a quadratic function. Greater TBI severity was associated with lower rate of acquisition and more gradual deceleration in the rate of acquisition. Intelligence test index scores, previously shown to be sensitive to severity of TBI, were positively correlated with rate of acquisition. Results provide evidence that the CVLT-C learning slope is not a simple linear function and further support for specific effects of TBI on verbal learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

在腐植酸上二氧化氮光敏还原制备亚硝酸

研究结果表明,土壤和其他含有腐植酸的表面,具有一种能产生还原表面物质的有机表面光化学,而这种还原表面物质可以选择性地与二氧化氮反应。亚硝酸形成的表观速率可以解释最近观察到的白天在边界层中亚硝酸高浓度现象,亚硝酸的光分解占整个羟基自由基源的60%。我们认为这种在腐植酸上的光诱导亚硝酸产物对最低对流层的化学过程有潜在的重要影响。     

Referral of patients with polyneuropathy by the family physician: influence of type of symptoms but not of age

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of the age of the patient and the nature of a polyneuropathy on the referral behaviour of general practitioners (GPs). DESIGN: Written questionnaire sent to GPs regarding paper case records of polyneuropathy. SETTING: University Hospital Utrecht, the Netherlands. METHODS: 1590 GPs were asked about their differential diagnosis regarding a paper case record of a patient with polyneuropathy. There were six case records, differing in age (53, 64 and 73 years) and nature of the disease (sensory or sensorimotor polyneuropathy). The GPs were divided into six groups with similar demographic characteristics and type of practice. To avoid focus on polyneuropathy, all GPs also received questions about three other neurological cases (amaurosis fugax, radicular syndrome and vasovagal collapse). RESULTS: The mean response of the questionnaire was 54% (n = 844). Most GPs diagnosed the polyneuropathy (analysis of variance; p < 0.0001). The age of the patient did not influence the diagnosis nor the referral behaviour. At least 73% of the patients with a sensory and 81% of the patients with a sensorimotor polyneuropathy were referred to neurologists for further investigations (chi(2)-test; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: At least 73% of the GPs referred a patient with polyneuropathy to a neurologist; patients with muscle weakness were referred more often than patients with only sensory disturbances. Referral was not influenced by the age of the patient.