Prospective use of intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide in pseudogout

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess the efficacy of intramuscular (i.m.) triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of pseudogout. METHODS: Fourteen patients with crystal proven pseudogout presenting with an acute attack within 5 days of onset were treated with intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide 60 mg and followed for 30 days. Patients with inadequate response were eligible for a 2nd triamcinolone acetonide injection on Day 1-2. RESULTS: Twelve patients had contraindication to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents (NSAID). Acute arthritis was monoarticular in 10 patients, and involved 2 or more joints in 4 patients. All patients had good clinical response to triamcinolone acetonide based on restoration of near baseline joint range of motion and joint circumference, and at least 50% improvement in patient and physician global assessment. Major clinical improvement occurred by Day 1-2 (2 patients), Day 3-4 (11 patients), and Day 10-14 (one patient). Six patients required a 2nd triamcinolone acetonide injection on Day 1-2. Toxicities were not observed. CONCLUSION: I.m. triamcinolone acetonide appears to be safe, well tolerated, and effective in the treatment of pseudogout. It may be a reasonable alternative therapy when NSAID are contraindicated, and for polyarticular attacks where intraarticular corticosteroids are impractical.     

Client attributions for disability: Perceived accuracy, adjustment, and coping.

Examined the effects of client attributions regarding a responsibility for the cause of their own disability on the perceptions of 90 rehabilitation graduate students toward clients' adjustment, coping, and rehabilitation prognosis. Ss reviewed the vocational evaluation report and resume of a client; disability and attribution of responsibility for the cause of the client's disability were systematically manipulated in the report. Perceived accuracy of the attribution and predicted disability adjustment/coping were a function of the interaction between disability type and client's expressed attribution. Adjustment/coping and projected rehabilitation prognosis were positively related to the perceived accuracy of the attribution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Expert systems in organizations: Legal and ethical considerations

Information technology is not only driving productivity worldwide, but also is creating many structural and processing changes within organizations. Alterations in people's work habits and in their relationships in the workplace create many questions, which may become critical organizational problems in the future if they are not identified early. These questions are ethical or legal in nature, and their understanding is vitally important Within the realm of artificial intelligence systems, a significant amount of attention is received by the domain of expert systems, which enhance or replace existing organizational decision‐making processes. This article highlights some of the basic considerations arising within the organizational setting as a result of expert systems utilization.