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Different Clinical Settings (different + clinical_setting)
Selected AbstractsBrief neuropsychological profiles in psychosis: a pilot study using the Audio Recorded Cognitive Screen (ARCS)ACTA NEUROPSYCHIATRICA, Issue 5 2010Carmel M Loughland Loughland CM, Allen J, Gianacas L, Schofield PW, Lewin TJ, Hunter M, Carr VJ. Brief neuropsychological profiles in psychosis: a pilot study using the Audio Recorded Cognitive Screen (ARCS). Objective: This pilot study examines the utility of a novel, standardised brief neuropsychological assessment tool (the ARCS, Audio Recorded Cognitive Screen) in a different clinical setting to that in which it was initially developed. We hypothesised that the ARCS would be feasible to administer to individuals with a psychotic illness and that it would detect cognitive deficits similar to those identified by an established instrument (the RBANS, Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status). Methods: Twenty-five people with psychosis (mean age = 43.72, SD = 9.78) and 25 age- and gender-matched controls were recruited from the Newcastle community (NSW, Australia). The ARCS and RBANS were completed about 1 week apart in a counterbalanced order. Results: The ARCS was well received, performed satisfactorily and both the ARCS and RBANS were sensitive to deficits typically associated with psychosis (e.g. memory and attention). After controlling for memory deficits, the largest disparity between the psychosis and control groups was on the ARCS fluency domain [p < 0.001, partial Eta-squared (,p2) = 0.21]. Conclusion: The ARCS uses audio administration (approximately 34 min) to reduce clinician time (to 3,5 min for scoring) and appears to be a useful brief assessment tool for examining the cognitive deficits associated with psychosis. However, the potential clinical utility of the ARCS needs to be investigated further in larger samples drawn from a wider variety of specialist and non-specialist settings. [source] A validity and reliability study of assessment and screening for sustained withdrawal reaction in infancy: The Alarm Distress Baby scale,INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 5 2001Antoine Guedeney Sustained withdrawal behavior in infancy is an important alarm signal to draw attention to both organic and relationship disorders. A withdrawal scale, the Alarm Distress Baby scale (ADBB), for infants between 2 and 24 months of age was built. This article describes the construction of the scale and the assessment of its psychometric properties. The ADBB has good content validity, based on the advice of seven experts. The scale has good criterion validity: first, as a measure of the infant's withdrawal reaction, with a very good correlation between nurse and pediatrician on the ADBB (rs = 0.84), and second, as a screening procedure for detecting the developmental risk of the infant. The cutoff score of 5 with a sensitivity of 0.82 and a specificity of 0.78 was determined to be optimal for screening purposes. The scale has good construct validity, with good convergent validity with both the Spitz (1951) and the Herzog & Rathbun (1982) lists of symptoms of infant depression (rs = 0.61 and 0.60, respectively). Exploratory factor analysis showed two different factors, consistent with the scale's construct. Reliability was satisfactory with good internal consistency for both subscales (the Cronbach , = 0.80 for the first subscale and 0.79 for the second) and for the global scale (, = 0.83). The test-retest procedure showed good stability over time (rs = 0.90 and 0.84 for the two different raters). The scale could be used in different clinical settings, provided a sufficient level of social stimulation is given to the infant in a relatively brief period of time. The scale can be used by nurses and psychologists or by medical doctors after a short period of training. © 2001 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. [source] Sentinel lymph node as a new marker for therapeutic planning in breast cancer patientsJOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Marco Gipponi MD Abstract Background and Objectives Literature review suggests that the sentinel lymph node (sN) represents a reliable predictor of axillary lymph node status in breast cancer patients; however, some important issues, such as the optimisation of the technique for the intraoperative identification of the sN, the role of intraoperative frozen section examination of the sN, and the clinical implications of sN metastasis as regards the surgical management of the axilla, still require further confirmation. The authors aimed (1) to assess the feasibility of sN identification with a combined approach (vital blue dye lymphatic mapping and radioguided surgery, RGS) and the specific contribution of either techniques to the detection of the sN, (2) to determine the accuracy and usefulness of intraoperative frozen section examination of the sN in order to perform a one-stage surgical procedure, and (3) to define how the sN might modulate the therapeutic planning in different stages of disease. Materials and Methods From October 1997 to June 2001, 334 patients with early-stage (T1,2 N0 M0) invasive mammary carcinoma underwent sN biopsy; the average age of patients was 61.5 years (range, 39,75 years). In a subset of 153 patients, both vital blue dye (Patent Blue-V) lymphatic mapping and RGS were used to identify the sN, and the relative contribution of each of the two techniques was assessed. Results In the whole group, the sN was identified in 326 of 334 patients (97.6%), and 105 of 326 patients (37.3%) had positive axillary lymph nodes (pN+). In 9 of 105 pN+ patients, the definitive histologic examination of the sN did not show metastases but these were detected in non-sN, thus giving an 8.6% false-negative rate, a negative predictive value of 94.5% (156/165), and an accuracy of 96.5% (252/261). As regards the specific contribution of the two different techniques used in the identification of the sN, the detection rate was 73.8% (113/153) with Patent Blue-V alone, 94.1% (144/153) with RGS alone, and 98.7% (151/153) with Patent Blue-V combined with RGS (P,<,0.001). Noteworthy, whenever the sN was identified, the prediction of axillary lymph node status was remarkably similar (93,95% sensitivity; 100% specificity; 95,97% negative predictive value, and 97,98% accuracy) whichever of the three procedures was adopted (Patent Blue-V alone, RGS alone, or combined Patent Blue-V and RGS). Intraoperative frozen section examination was performed in 261 patients, who had at least one sN identified, out of 267 patients who underwent complete axillary dissection; 170 patients had histologically negative sN (i.o. sN,) and 91 patients histologically positive sN (i.o. sN+). All 91 i.o. sN+ were confirmed by definitive histology, whereas in 14 of 170 i.o. sN, patients (8.2%) metastases were detected at definitive histology. As regards the correlation between the size of sN metastasis, the primary tumour size, and the status of non-sN in the axilla, micrometastases were detected at final histology in 23 patients and macrometastases in 82 patients. When only micrometastases were detected, the sN was the exclusive site of nodal metastasis in 20 of 23 patients (86.9%) while in 3 patients with tumour size larger than 10 mm micrometastases were detected also in non-sN. Macrometastases were never detected in pT1a breast cancer patients; the sN was the exclusive site of these metastases in 30 patients (36.6%), while in 52 patients (63.4%) there were metastases both in sN and non-sN. Conclusions Sentinel lymphadenectomy can better be accomplished when both procedures (lymphatic mapping with vital blue dye and RGS) are used, because of the significantly higher sN detection rate, although the prediction of axillary lymph node status remains remarkably similar whichever method is used. The intraoperative frozen section examination proved to be rather accurate in predicting the actual pathologic status of the sN, with a negative predictive value of 91.8%; in 35% of patients it allowed sN biopsy and axillary dissection to be performed in a one-stage surgical procedure. Finally, specific clinical and histopathologic features of the primary tumour and sN might be used to tailor the loco-regional and systemic treatment in different clinical settings, such as in ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS), early-stage invasive breast cancer, and patients with large breast cancer undergoing neo-adjuvant CT for breast-saving surgery as well as elderly patients with operable breast cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2004;85:102,111. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Partial factor IXa inhibition with TTP889 for prevention of venous thromboembolism: an exploratory studyJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 3 2008B. I. ERIKSSON Summary.,Background:,Inhibitors of factor (F) IXa show potent antithrombotic activity with a low risk of bleeding in preclinical models. We investigated the anticoagulant potential of oral TTP889, a small molecule that inhibits up to 90% of FIXa activity at therapeutic doses, using a clinical model of extended prophylaxis in hip fracture surgery (HFS). Methods:,In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind study, 261 patients received oral TTP889 (300 mg once daily) or placebo starting 6,10 days after HFS, and standard thromboprophylaxis for 5,9 days. Treatment was continued for 3 weeks and all patients then underwent mandatory bilateral venography. The primary efficacy outcome was venous thromboembolism (VTE; venographic or symptomatic deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) during treatment, and it was evaluated centrally by an independent adjudication panel. The main safety outcome was bleeding (major, clinically relevant non-major, and minor events). Results:,Two hundred and twelve patients with an evaluable venogram were included in the efficacy analysis. The primary efficacy outcome occurred in 32.1% (35/109) of patients who had been allocated TTP889, and 28.2% (29/103) of patients on placebo (P = 0.58). There were no major bleeding events, and only two clinically relevant non-major bleeding events with TTP889. Conclusion:,Partial FIXa inhibition with TTP889 300 mg daily was not effective for extended prevention of VTE after standard prophylaxis for up to 9 days. Coupled with the low incidence of bleeding episodes, this suggests a lack of antithrombotic potential. Further investigation of TTP889 in different clinical settings is needed. (Clinical trial registration information URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00119457) . [source] Cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure measurements in acute headache patients and in patients with either chronic or no painACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2010S. H. Bø Bø SH, Davidsen EM, Benth J,, Gulbrandsen P, Dietrichs E. Cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure measurements in acute headache patients and in patients with either chronic or no pain. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 122 (Suppl. 190): 6,11. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objective,,, To observe cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure (CSFOP) in different clinical settings and in patients with acute, chronic and no pain and to observe possible differences because of age and sex. Method,,, In this prospective study, CSFOP was measured in lumbar puncture in three different settings of clinical investigations; patients with acute headache investigated for subarachnoidal haemorrhage (n = 222), patients with sciatica undergoing myelography (n = 61), and patients in an outpatient neurological clinic (n = 65). Results,,, The mean CSFOP in cm H2O was 17.3 for the myelography patients, 19.1 for the outpatients, 19.3 for the primary headache patients and 22.4 for the patients with secondary headache. Large proportions of patients in all groups had CSFOP above 20 cm H2O. The female patients in all groups had lower mean CSFOP than the male patients. Conclusion,,, The CSFOP levels found in clinical practice among patients without intracranial lesions or infectious conditions were broader than expected. Measurement of CSFOP is of limited value as diagnostic procedure if not closely linked to clinical symptoms and finds. [source] |