bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cooperative and Competitive Goal Approach to Conflict: Accomplishments and Challenges
Authors: Tjosvold Dean
Published: July 2007

La théorie et la recherche sur les conflits coopératif et compétitif ont des implications lourdes de conséquences pour la gestion des conflits dans les organisations, mais aussi dans les families ou dans les sociétés. Pour le différencier de la compétition, le conflit est défini comme relevant d'activités incompatibles plutôt que d'intérêts opposés. Quand les protagonistes mettent en avant leur interdépendance, on s'est aperçu qu'ils expriment franchement leurs différents points de vue, examinent et prennent en considération les avis opposés avec un esprit ouvert et les intègrent dans des solutions nouvelles qu'ils appliquent avec conviction. Les recherches expérimentales ont enrichi la connaissance de la dynamique de cette contradiction constructive et les travaux dans ce domaine montrent qu'elle a un impact sur la motivation des salariés, le leadership efficace, l'innovation, la qualité du service fourni au client et autres dimensions organisationnelles de première importance. II faudra encore beaucoup de recherches et d'élaborations théoriques pour comprendre l'arbitrage des conflits coopératifs et compétitifs, éclaircir les processus qui amènent les protagonistes à décider que leurs objectifs sont prioritairement coopératifs ou compétitifs, illustrer la valeur du conflit compétitif et appliquer la théorie dans des champs interculturels. Les défis pratiques imposent de concevoir des procédures valides pour développer le conflit coopératif, surtout lors de conflits aigus, apparemment insolubles. Le conflit coopératif est loin d'être une panacée, mais c'est une façon pertinente de s'attaquer aux différends.

Theory and research in cooperative and competitive conflict have potentially important implications for managing conflict in organisations as well as families and societies. To distinguish it from competition, conflict is defined as incompatible activities rather than as opposing interests. To the extent that protagonists emphasise their cooperative interdependence they have been found to express their various views directly, explore and consider opposing positions open‐mindedly, and integrate them into new solutions that they are committed to implement. Experimental research has documented these constructive controversy dynamics and field studies have shown that they impact employee commitment, empowering leadership, innovation, quality customer service, and other vital organisational outcomes. Understanding the mediators of cooperative and competitive conflict, illuminating the processes by which protagonists conclude that their goals are predominantly cooperative or competitive, documenting the value of competitive conflict, and applying the theory in cross‐cultural settings need much more theorising and research. Practical challenges include developing reliable procedures for cooperative conflict, especially in tough, intractable conflict. Cooperative conflict is far from a simple panacea but it is a viable way to deal with divisions.
An Experimental Study of the Effects of Work Stress, Work Control, and Task Information on Adjustment
Authors: Jimmieson Nerina L. , Terry Deborah J.
Published: July 2007

L'objectif de cette recherche était d'étudier les principaux effets intéractifs des exigences de la tâche, du contrôle du travail et des informations provenant de la tâche sur les niveaux d'adaptation. Exigence de la tâche, contrôle du travail et information provenant de la tâche ont été manipulés dans le cadre d'une situation expérimentale où les sujets triaient des lettres (N = 128). Les indices de l'adaptation comprenaient des mesures de l'humeur, de la perception de la performance et de la satisfaction. Les résultats obtenus ont apporté des indications sur les principaux effets des caractéristiques objectives sur les niveaux d'adaptation. Quant au versant subjectif, il semble que le contrôle du travail et l'information provenant de la tâche intéragissent dans leurs effets sur les niveaux d'adaptation. Il faut rester prudent en ce qui concerne la proposition selon laquelle le contrôle du travail et l'information en provenance de la tâche peuvent contrecarrer les impacts négatifs des exigences de la tâche sur l'adaptation. On peut par contre supposer que le rôle régulateur de stress du contrôle subjectif du travail est plus net dans les hauts niveaux d'information subjective.

The present study was designed to examine the main and interactive effects of task demands, work control, and task information on levels of adjustment. Task demands, work control, and task information were manipulated in an experimental setting where participants completed a letter‐sorting activity (N= 128). Indicators of adjustment included measures of positive mood, participants' perceptions of task performance, and task satisfaction. Results of the present study provided some support for the main effects of objective task demands, work control, and task information on levels of adjustment. At the subjective level of analysis, there was some evidence to suggest that work control and task information interacted in their effects on levels of adjustment. There was minimal support for the proposal that work control and task information would buffer the negative effects of task demands on adjustment. There was, however, some evidence to suggest that the stress‐buffering role of subjective work control was more marked at high, rather than low, levels of subjective task information.
Managerial Conflict Management in Five European Countries: The Importance of Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Masculinity
Authors: van Oudenhoven Jan Pieter , Mechelse Lonneke , de Dreu Carsten K. W.
Published: July 2007

Cette recherche aborde la question de la gestion des conflits hiérarchiques au Danemark, en Grande‐Bretagne, aux Pays‐Bas, en Espagne, et en Belgique. Selon Hofstede (1991), les cultures de ces pays différent fondamentalement sur les facteurs “Evitement de l'incertitude”, “Distance hiérarchique” et “Masculinité‐Féminité”. Les divergences dans l‘évitement de l'incertitude suggèrent l'hypothèse suivante: les cadres danois géreraient les conflits hiérarchiques de façon beaucoup plus constructive que les cadres beiges, en particulier quand il s'agit d'un litige avec des supérieurs (ce qui serait une conséquence des différences de distance hiérarchique). Les trois autres pays de notre échantillon devaient adopter des positions intermédiaries. On s'attendait aussi à ce que les cadres des nations fortement “féminines”, comme le Danemark et les Pays‐Bas, fassent preuve, dans les conflits avec les collègues, d'un comportement plus constructif que les cadres des nations plus “masculines”. Une enquête par questionnaires auprès des cadres moyens d'une grande entreprise multinationale disposant d’établissements dans les pays sus‐mentionnés confirma les prédictions relatives à la distance hiérarchique et à la masculinité‐féminité. Par contre, les résultats de cette recherche ne corroborent pas l'idée selon laquelle les différences culturelles en terme d‘évitement de l'incertitude influenceraient les choix de conduites des cadres dans la gestion des conflits.

This research deals with managerial conflict management in Denmark, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium. According to Hofstede (1991), these countries' cultures differ primarily in terms of uncertainty avoidance, power distance, and masculinity‐femininity. The differences in uncertainty avoidance suggest the hypothesis that Danish managers should prefer constructive ways of conflict management much more than Belgian managers, and–as a consequence of power distance differences–in particular in the case of conflict with superiors. The other three countries in our sample were predicted to take intermediate positions. An alternative prediction was that managers from highly feminine nations, such as Denmark and The Netherlands would show more constructive behaviour in conflict with colleagues than managers from more masculine nations. A questionnaire study among middle‐managers from one large multinational firm with plants in these various countries confirmed the power distance, and the femininitymasculinity prediction. The results of this study did not support the prediction that cultural differences in terms of uncertainty avoidance influence managers' preferences for conflict management.
Changes in Poles' Socioeconomic Preferences in the Period of System Transformation
Authors: Tyszka Tadeusz , Sokoiowska Joanna
Published: July 2007

Juste aprés la transformation de l'économie polonaise sous contrǒle étatique en économie de marché, trois enquětes ont été successivement menées pour étudier les préférences socioéconomiques des Polonais.

La structure factorielle des préférences socioéconomiques qui s'est dégagée de l'analyse regroupe des questions qui n'ont qu'un rapport superficiel. Ceci peut indiquer que les gens ou bien ne comprennent pas ou bien ne pretent pas attention aux relations économiques de causalité. On a trouvé un faible soutien en favour de l'économie de marché, faible soutien qui à cu tendance à décroǐtre les années suivantes. Ceci semble ětre cause par le fait que les inconvénients du système antérieur ont été rapidement oubliés, tandis que ceux rencontrés récemment se faisaient plus vifs et pénibles.

Les préférences socioéconomiques des Polonais ont mis en évidence une forme d'organisation relativement stable au cours des trois années successives. Ceci peut s'expliquer par le fait que les enquětos ont été conduites dans une période de forte polarisation politique. Les préférences socioéconomiques se sont avérées ětre en rapport avec diverses variables démographiques et psychologiques. Généralement, les gens plus dynamiques et actifs économiquement ont laissé apparaǐtre un plus grand soutien en faveur de l'économie de marché que ceux qui étaient moins actifs économiquement.

Just after the transformation of the Polish economy from state controlled to market‐oriented, three surveys were carried out to study the socioeconomic preferences of Poles. The factor structure of socioeconomic preferences that emerged from the analysis groups together issues that are related superficially. This may indicate that people either do not understand or do not pay attention to causal economic relationships. Weak support was found for the market‐oriented economy and it showed a tendency to decrease in the subsequent years. This seems to be caused by the fact that drawbacks of the previous system were quickly forgotten while the newly‐experienced drawbacks became vivid and painful. Socioeconomic preferences of Poles displayed some organisation, which was relatively stable in the three subsequent years. This may be due to the fact that the surveys were conducted in the period of strong political polarisation. Socioeconomic preferences turned out to be related to various demographic and psychological variables. Generally, people who were more dynamic and economically more active revealed greater support for the market‐oriented economy than those who were economically less active.
A Comparative Analysis of the Influence of Economic Culture on East and West German Consumers' Subjective Product Meanings
Authors: Grunert Klaus G. , Beckmann Suzanne C.
Published: July 2007

Les consommateurs des économies planifiées ont développé des savoir‐faire différents de ceux adoptés par les consommateurs des économies de marché. Alors que les premiers ont appris à localiser les produits, les seconds se sont exercès à comparer et à choisir entre les produits proposés. Dans le domaine alimentaire, l' ancienne Allemagne de l' Est offrait une série de produits quantitativement suffisants mais peu variés et de qualityé médiocre ou moyenne. Les produits étaient vendus dans tout le pays a des prix imposés. Désormais, la variété et la diversité des qualityés est la měme qu'à l' Ouest et l' on constate des variations de prix considérables. On a étudié les différences entre les consommateurs de l' Est et de l' Ouest en comparant des échantillons de consommateurs de Kiel et de Rostock. On a analysé leur perception des produits alimentaires (du fromage et des plats surgelés) et comment ils les rattachaient à des valeurs (à partir d' une approche moyens‐fins). Les dimensions perceptives de base, qui émanent des caractéristiques concrètes des produits, sont les měmes partout, quoique la perception soit plus précise à l' Ouest qu'à l' Est. L' analyse des valeurs fondamentales de l' existence chez les consommateurs allemands de l' Est et de l' Ouest (grǎce au Schwartz Value Inventory) a montré que ceux de l' Est se portaient sur les valeurs collectives et ceux de l' Ouest sur les valeurs individuelles. L' analyse du lien que les consommateurs établissent entre les caractéristiques concrètes des produits et les valeurs fondamentales de la vie montra qu'il y avait de légères
The Korean Indigenous Psychology Approach: Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Applications
Authors: Kim Uichol , Park Young‐Shin , Park Donghyun
Published: July 2007

Cet article esquisse une psychologie indigène appliquée au comportement et à la pensée coréennes. On considère qu'il s'agit d'un modèle scientifique alternatif se différenciant de la psychologie dominante traditionnelle; cette psychologie s'inspire des sciences exactes a travers un projet qui cherche a mettre en évidence des lois du comportement humain qui soient objectives, experimentales et linéaires. Par contre, cette nouvelle approche met l'accent sur une élaboration empirique de modèles qui part des actions humaines proactives et génératives qui émergent dans un contexte signifiant. La prise de conscience, les intentions et les objectifs, à un niveau à la fois individuel et collectif, font partie integrante du modèle de recherche. Le but n'est pas de se détourner de la science, de l'objectivité, de la méthode expérimentale et de l'accès a des concepts universels, mais d'élaborer une science rigoureuse qui soit solidement basée sur la compréhension de l'humain. On présente ici deux études empiriques réalisées en Corée pour illustrer la richesse de cette psychologie indigène.

This article outlines an indigenous psychology approach that has been applied to Korean behaviour and thought. It is presented here as an alternative scientific paradigm to traditional “mainstream” psychology. Traditional psychology emulates the natural sciences through an approach that attempts to seek objective, experimental, and linear laws of human behaviour. By contrast, the present approach focuses on bottom‐up, model‐building research that examines proactive and generative actions of human beings that occur in a meaningful context. Human consciousness, intentions, and goals, both at the individual and collective level, become an integral part of the research paradigm. The goal is not to abandon science, objectivity, experimental method, and the search for universals, but to create a rigorous science that is firmly grounded in human understanding. Two empirical studies conducted in Korea are reviewed to illustrate the utility of this indigenous psychology approach.
Domestic Labor Markets and Foreign Direct Investment*
Authors: Haaland Jan I. , Wooton Ian
Published: July 2007

We study how the labor market and industry uncertainty affect the investment decisions of multinational enterprises (MNEs). In an uncertain business climate, MNEs must take account of the future in deciding where to locate a branch plant. When wages are endogenously determined, both the opportunity cost of labor and redundancy payments influence the MNE’s decision. When countries compete for foreign investment, different national characteristics determine the winners in different industries. Differences in risk may draw MNEs to different locations. Firm‐specific bargaining always offers an advantage, as the mix of current and future pay fully reflects the firm’s risk profile.
Optimal Monetary Policy with Vertical Production and Trade*
Authors: Shi Kang , Xu Juanyi
Published: July 2007

This paper explores the optimal monetary policy response to domestic and foreign technology shocks in an open economy with vertical structure of production and trade. We find that any stage‐specific productivity shock in one country may have a transborder spillover effect on the other country via the vertical trade. So when choosing optimal monetary rules, each monetary authority should respond to both home and foreign productivity shocks. Also, the flexible exchange rate cannot replicate the flexible price equilibrium, even under producer currency pricing, due to price stickiness in multiple stages. We also find that the existence of a transborder spillover effect depends on the currencies of price setting. Finally, vertical trade may affect the value of exchange rate flexibility under PCP and LCP setting.
Subjectively Weighted Development Scenarios for Urban Allocation: A Case Study of South East Queensland
Authors: Chhetri Prem , Corcoran Jonathan , Stimson Robert , Bell Martin , Cooper Jim , Pullar David
Published: July 2007

This article presents a GIS‐based methodology to integrate a measure of geographic attractiveness of localities in the process of allocating potential dwellings in the context of a large urban region. The methodology was developed for a study area in Brisbane‐South East Queensland (SEQ), known as the Sunbelt Region, a rapidly growing region and a popular tourist destination in Australia. In this article, we have used a multivariate technique to develop a set of parameterised linear equations to define underlying dimensions that drive residential location decision choices. Aesthetic and accessibility factors were identified in the factor analysis from data collected via a survey of Quality of Life. Spatial measures were based on a combination of network distance and kernel density estimation to calculate ‘aesthetic’ and ‘accessibility’ scenarios, which were then overlaid and multiplied by their subjective weights to create an ‘overall attractiveness scenario’. These development scenarios were integrated as a set of criteria to control the allocation of potential dwelling capacity over the next 25 years at a grid cell level.
Thesaurus and Domain Ontology of Geoinformatics
Authors: Deliiska Boriana
Published: July 2007

Geoinformatics is a comparatively new interdisciplinary science and as a part of space informatics uses methods and terminology of informatics and many natural sciences. An ontology of geoinformatics is discussed in the paper, especially concerning its structure, relationships with other ontologies, resources for development and utilization. The ontology of geoinformatics is a kind of domain ontology and has a layered structure consisting of syntactic and semantic layers. The corpus of this ontology is an existing multilingual dictionary of geographical information systems (GIS) enriched with terminology from other external sources. The building of the ontology is preceded by the development of a taxonomy and thesaurus of geoinformatics. The thesaurus database is converted into an OWL ontology by a Visual Basic application. The reusing of the ontology is proposed by its transformation in application ontologies for geoinformatics education.
Formulating Trade Policy in a Small Hydrocarbon‐dependent Economy: The Case of Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Henry Michael
Published: July 2007

We examine the status of Trinidad and Tobago's trade policy regime based mainly on the WTO's Trade Policy Review 2005 and to a lesser extent the Review of 1998. The paper highlights the areas identified by the WTO that the country needs to address to ensure compliance with the rules, disciplines and commitments made under the Multilateral Trade Agreements and the existence of a trade regime characterised by little or no distortions. It undertakes this discussion against the background of Trinidad and Tobago's role as a founding member of CARICOM and the increasing influence of this body in determining its trade policies in particular and economic policies in general. The study highlights the progress made by Trinidad and Tobago in establishing an outward‐oriented trade regime since embracing reforms in the mid‐1980s. However, the need for much deeper reforms is stressed if the country is to realise its ambitious objective of becoming the manufacturing base and the commercial, trans‐shipment and financial hub of the western hemisphere. Further, it points to the inextricable link between the country's economic fortunes and international petroleum prices, and increasing over‐reliance on the hydrocarbons sector. Consequently, it stresses the need for getting its diversification strategy ‘right’ if it is to minimise the fallout effects associated with the bust that inevitably follows a petroleum boom.
Allies and Friends: The Trade Policy Review of the United States, 2006
Authors: Ludema Rodney D.
Published: July 2007

The 2006 WTO Trade Policy Review of the United States reveals that national security concerns have become a dominant influence on US trade policy since 2001. This paper argues that direct and indirect effects of this influence have been deleterious to the multilateral trading system. Security concerns have led to an embrace of bilateralism that bears little relation to US commercial interests and will arguably detract from ongoing efforts at multilateral trade liberalisation. Security concerns have also led to a substantial change in customs and inspection procedures for goods bound for the US, which could swamp tariffs in terms of their trade‐inhibiting effect. Finally, the unpopularity at home of US military actions abroad has weakened the US President and opened the door for rising protectionism in Congress.
First language influence and final consonant clusters in the new Englishes of Singapore and Nigeria
Authors: GUT ULRIKE
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the possible influence of L1 structures on the linguistic system of New Englishes. It focuses on the realization of final consonant clusters in two ‘new’ varieties of English for which L1 influence has been reported: Singapore English and Nigerian English. Although a comparison of the phonological structure of the background languages in the two countries with the phonological structure of English predicts the same type of influence in both varieties, the analyses in this study show great variation between the New Englishes in terms of overall cluster reduction rate, influence of cluster length, variation with following phonetic context and the reduction patterns of certain types of clusters. It is argued that these discrepancies are due to the different status of English in Singapore and Nigeria. The Norm‐Orientation Hypothesis is proposed, which claims that the spread of L1 structures in a new variety of English is crucially influenced by the specific sociolinguistic settings.1
IN BETWEEN CURING AND COUNTING: PERFORMATIVE EFFECTS OF EXPERIMENTS WITH HEALTHCARE INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Authors: Vikkelsø Signe
Published: July 2007

Performance standards and accountability pervade modern healthcare. According to Michael Power, this may signify a new rationality of governance characterized by control of controls, which affects practices not by direct intervention, but through the processes by which practices are made auditable. The paper addresses this thesis by exploring the construction of a Danish standard for electronic patient records. It is shown that making healthcare auditable activates deep tensions between programs of clinical practice, quality control, evidence based medicine, and casemix funding, resulting in an ambiguous and unstable standard. During this process, however, particular notions of patients, diseases, and diagnoses emerge as undisputed innovations, which may come to survive the subsequent career of the standard. The paper discusses the performative effects of these innovations and argues that information infrastructure has become an analytically important site for exploring the substantial effects of new rationalities of governance in healthcare.
INTERACTIONS AND INTERROGATIONS: NEGOTIATING AND PERFORMING VALUE FOR MONEY REPORTS
Authors: Sharma Nina
Published: July 2007

This paper explores the interactions, mediations and interrogations at play by the different actors involved in the final stages of the Value for Money reporting process. The VFM auditing arena is a complex setting with groups of actors carrying out various and at times, conflicting roles. Drawing on the dramaturgical writings of Goffman, the paper examines the ways in which these actors create and manage impressions of themselves. Differences in style, tone and rhetoric are analysed to understand the way in which key parties perform to their audiences. The paper shows how the cautionary style of VFM reports is mediated with the auditees and then elaborated and improvised by the Public Accounts Committee to construct drama into the final accountability process. It is argued that through the process of writing and presenting VFM reports, auditors, MPs and auditees perform roles to manage their identities and address expectations of their audiences.
German Exchange Rate Exposure at DAX and Aggregate Levels, International Trade and the Role of Exchange Rate Adjustment Costs
Authors: Entorf Horst , Jamin Gösta
Published: July 2007

This article analyses value changes of German stock market companies in response to movements of the US dollar. The approach followed in this work extends the standard means of measuring exchange rate exposure in several ways, e.g. by using multifactor modelling instead of augmented Capital Asset Pricing Model, application of moving window panel regressions and orthogonalization of overall market risk vis-à-vis currency risk. A further innovation lies in testing the theoretical implications of exchange rate adjustment costs (hedging costs) for firm values and economic exposure. Based on time series and panel data of German Deutsche Aktien Xchange companies, Deutsche Mark/dollar rates and macroeconomic factors, we find a rather unstable, time-variant exposure of German stock market companies. Dollar sensitivity is positively affected by the ratio of exports/ gross domestic product (GDP) and negatively affected by imports/GDP. Moreover, as expected from theoretical findings, firm values and exchange rate exposure are significantly reduced by adjustment costs depending on the distance of the exchange rate from the expected long-run mean.
Currency Crises, Monetary Policy and Corporate Balance Sheets
Authors: Eijffinger Sylvester C. W. , Goderis Benedikt
Published: July 2007

This paper studies how the exposure of a country’s corporate sector to interest rate and exchange rate changes affects the probability of a currency crisis. To analyze this question, we present a model that defines currency crises as situations in which the costs of maintaining a fixed exchange rate exceed the costs of abandonment. The results show that a higher exposure to interest rate changes increases the probability of crisis through an increased need for output loss compensation and an increased efficacy of monetary policy in stimulating output. A higher exposure to exchange rate changes also increases the need for output loss compensation. However, it lowers the efficacy of monetary policy in stimulating output through the adverse balance sheet effects of exchange rate depreciation. As a result, its effect on the probability of crisis is ambiguous.
Adolf Hitler's Parkinson's disease and an attempt to analyse his personality structure
Authors: Gerstenbrand Franz , Karamat Elisabeth
Published: July 2007

It has been proved that Adolf Hitler suffered from idiopathic Parkinson's disease. No indication for postencephalitic parkinsonism was found in the clinical symptoms or the case history. Professor Max de Crinis established his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in Hitler early in 1945 and informed the SS leadership, who decided to initiate treatment with a specially prepared ‘antiparkinsonian mixture’ to be administered by a physician. However, Hitler never received the mixture, this implies that the SS intended to remove the severely diseased ‘Leader’.

Two different character traits can be analysed in Hitler's personality: on the one hand the typical premorbid personality of parkinsonian patients with uncorrectable mental rigidity, extreme inflexibility and insupportable pedantry. On the other an antisocial personality disorder with lack of ethical and social values, a deeply rooted tendency to betray others and to deceive himself and uncontrollable emotional reactions. This special combination in Hitler's personality resulted in the uncritical conviction of his mission and an enormous driving for recognition. The neuropsychiatric analysis of Hitler's personality could lead to a better explanation of the pathological traits of one of the most conspicuous historical personalities.
The cover‐up of President Urho Kekkonen's dementia and its impact on the political life of Finland—a personal account1
Authors: Palo Jorma
Published: July 2007

Urho Kekkonen, born in 1900, was elected President of Finland in 1956. He stayed in office for 25 years, the longest term for any democratically elected chief of state, until his resignation in 1981. Since he was always a model of good health, news of his cognitive decline while still in office came as a surprise to the whole nation. The impact was aggravated by an attempted cover‐up of his dementia. The attempt failed and the health of presidential candidates became, suddenly, a topic of intense public discussion. No special team of presidential doctors was established but Kekkonen's successor initiated a practice of reporting annually on his health. The ethical dilemma involving mass media was, and still is, its duty to inform people versus its right to self‐censorship, which was practised in Kekkonen's case. The physicians face the question of when, how and whom to inform when they notice that the president or some other powerful leader suffers from cognitive decline or other neuropsychological or mental disability. These are universal problems whose solution depends on the degree of democracy and freedom of expression in each country. Kekkonen died in complete privacy in 1986. Until now, no scientific report of his cognitive decline has been published.
SELEDO: a 5‐y‐ear long‐term trial on the effect of selegiline in early parkinsonian patients treated with levodopa
Authors: Przuntek H. , Conrad B. , Dichgans J. , Kraus P.H. , Krauseneck P. , Pergande G. , Rinne U. , Schimrigk K. , Schnitker J. , Vogel H.P.
Published: July 2007

The SELEDO (from selegiline plus levodopa) study was carried out as a randomized, prospective, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, multicenter long‐term, 5‐y‐ear trial to evaluate the possible advantages of combining selegiline and levodopa in the early treatment of Parkinson's disease. One‐hundred‐and‐sixteen patients were randomized either to selegiline or placebo. Before starting the study medication, the levodopa dose was titrated to the individual requirements of each patient. The primary study end point (time when levodopa had to be increased by 50% of the titrated dose) was reached in 23 of 59 patients in the selegiline group and 26 of 48 patients in the placebo group. At the end of the 5 years' treatment period the rates derived from a life‐table analysis were 50.4% in the selegiline group and 74.1% in the placebo group (P= 0.027, log‐rank test). The median time to reach the primary end point was 4.9 years in the selegiline group and 2.6 years in the placebo group. In patients treated with selegiline, the mean levodopa dose changed only slightly over the 5 years of treatment compared to the initially titrated dose, but rose markedly in the placebo group, where the dose of levodopa had to be adjusted earlier than in the selegiline group. At the same time, the lower levodopa dosage in the selegiline group was accompanied by at least equal therapeutic efficacy (which is necessary for an unambiguous interpretation). Subgroup analyses showed greater benefit for selegiline treated) patients in the earlier stages. Long‐term side effects appeared later in the selegiline group, although the difference was not significant. The early combination of selegiline and levodopa proved to be clearly superior to levodopa monotherapy.
Speed performance and long‐term functional and vocational outcome in a group of young patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury
Authors: Asikainen I. , Nybo T. , Müfler K. , Sarna S. , Kaste M.
Published: July 2007

We studied specific aspects of speed performance in neuropsychological tests and functional and vocational long‐term outcome among moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients admitted to a rehabilitation programme. A group of 140 patients with mild, moderate or severe TBI was followed up for a minimum of 5 years in a rehabilitation programme. Severity of TBI was estimated using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores on emergency hospital admission. The patients, grouped by age at injury into the categories: 7 or younger, 8–16 and 17 years of age or older, were tested five or more years post‐injury with comprehensive neuropsychological tests, including a speed performance test with the Stroop material, the Purdue Pegboard (PB) test and simple visual and additive reaction times. The outcome variables were functional outcome, as measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score, and capacity for employment at the end of follow‐up, ie. on average 12 years post‐injury. The patients with mild TBI were excluded from further analysis of outcome. The study was carried out at the Kauniala outpatient neurological clinic. In the Stroop test, patients with a GOS score of 3 and patients who were incapable of employment were slower (P= 0.0046 and P= 0.0015, respectively) than those with a GOS score of 1 or 2 and those capable of independent or subsidized employment, respectively. The PB test also differentiated significantly between the patients with a GOS score of 3 and those with a GOS score of 1 or 2 at the end of follow‐up (P= 0.0413), and predicted incapacity for employment (P= 0.032), those with worse outcome being slower. Simple reaction times did not differ significantly between the GOS scores at the end of follow‐up, and neither did they predict capacity or incapacity for employment. Our data suggest that the Stroop and PB tests can help estimate functional outcome, as measured by the GOS, among patients with initially moderate or severe TBI and who were referred to a rehabilitation programme. The same tests could also be useful in predicting long‐term vocational outcome.
The risk of motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis is different in Estonians and Russians. Data from South Estonia
Authors: Gross‐Paju Katrin , Ööpik M. , Lüüs S.‐M. , Kalbe I. , Kaasik Ain‐Elmar
Published: July 2007

Epidemiological studies were performed in South Estonia to establish the prevalence rate of multiple sclerosis (MS) and motor neurone disease (MND). The case finding method included information from the hospital records of the central hospital in the region‐the University Hospital (for MS from 1942 to 1989), from all neurologists in the region, from the Estonian MS Society and Association of Muscular Disorders, and from nursing homes in the region. The prevalence day was 31 December 1989. MND incidence was established for the period of 1986–1995. The results demonstrated high prevalence rates of MS among native Estonians (55.3 per 100000), somewhat lower prevalence among native‐born representatives of other nationalities (43.6 per 100 000) and the lowest prevalence rate of MS among non‐Estonian immigrants (26.6 per 100000). The differences were not statistically significant. The results for MND demonstrated the opposite pattern. The mean annual incidence rate of MND for 10 years was statistically significantly higher among people of other nationalities (2.5 per 100000) and Russians (2.6 per 100000), and lower in native‐born Estonians (1.1 per 100 000). No differences in health care or clinical picture were established. The reasons for the demonstrated differences in MND incidence remain unclear.
Neurological characteristics of HIV‐infected men and women seeking primary medical care
Authors: Lopez Oscar L. , Wess Jeanne , Sanchez Jorge , Dew Mary Amanda , Becker James T.
Published: July 2007

We examined the neurological differences between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected men (n= 193) and women (n = 41) receiving primary medical care. There was no difference between men and women in the rate of HIV‐related neurological syndromes (ie. polyneuropathy, myelopathy, myopathy, HIV‐dementia [HAD]). A logistic regression analysis indicated that low CD4+ cell count predicted all neurological syndromes. In addition, HAD was predicted by intravenous‐drug use and lower education level, while neuropathy was associated with older age and with race. These findings indicate that there are no differences in the rate of neuropsychiatric disorders attributable to gender. The presence of other factors (e.g. drug abuse) colild explain previously reported gender differences in neurological manifestations of HN infection.
The effect of tolcapone on the pharmacokinetics of benserazide
Authors: Jorga Karin M. , Larsen Jan P. , Beiske Antonie , Schleimer Michael , Fotteler Bärbel , Schmitt Monique , Moe Brit
Published: July 2007

This study investigated the potential interaction between tolcapone, a catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, and the decarboxylase inhibitor, benserazide. In an open‐labelled six‐week study, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), treated with levodopa/benserazide, were given tolcapone at 200 mg t.i.d. Blood samples for analysis of benserazide, its main active metabolite, trihydroxybenzylhydrazine, levodopa and 3‐O‐methyldopa (3‐O‐MD) were collected immediately before and repeatedly after the first drug intake of the day at baseline and after 1–2 and 6 weeks of treatment. Furthermore, animal experiments were performed to determine the levels of benserazide and trihydroxybenzylhydrazine at doses for which safety had previously been established. It was shown that tolcapone can cause an increase in benserazide plasma concentrations and that this effect is dependent on the benserazide dose. When tolcapone was combined with 25 mg benserazide the elevation was small. Although the increase was more pronounced when tolcapone was combined with 50 mg benserazide, the levels were still substantially lower than concentrations causing toxicity in animals. The safety margin derived from this study, together with the absence of any organic toxic effects in clinical trials, show that the observed interaction between tolcapone and benserazide does not represent a safety concern for PD patients treated with this combination.
Prosodic preservation in Landau‐Kleffner syndrome: a case report
Authors: Doherty Colin P. , Fitzsimons M. , Asenbauer B. , McMackin D. , Bradley R. , King M. , Staunton H.
Published: July 2007

Landau‐Kleffner syndrome (LKS) is a rare acquired condition of auditory verbal agnosia and convulsive disorder in children. It has been proposed that there is a functional relationship between electrical disturbance and the speech defect. Prosody or the melody of language, as described by Monrad‐Krohn (1947), is one aspect of non‐verbal communication which is distributed bilaterally in the brain. Prosodic parameters of expression and perception in one 7.5‐y‐ear‐old child were tested to see if they were preserved as a means of communication. The child was observed during video‐electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring over a 48‐h‐our period. MI utterances were recorded and subject to analysis for the salience and variation of acoustic correlates of prosody. Prosodic comprehension was measured using specific perceptual tasks previously presented to normal children between the ages of 5.5 and 8.5. Despite being unable to meaningfully use or perceive phonemes, the child was able to use variations in fundamental frequency, duration and intensity of utterances, to convey both emotional and propositional intent. Similarly, the child was able to discriminate prosodic contours of a male adult voice to an age equivalent to 5.5 to 6.5 years. This argues in favour of the notion for educating such children not only through the visual channel but also through the auditory channel.
An unusual case of Lafora body disease
Authors: Corkill Robin G. , Hardie Richard J.
Published: July 2007

A case is described in which non‐convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) prompted further investigation leading to the diagnosis of Lafora body disease (LBD). The onset of NCSE was temporally related to the withdrawal of sodium valproate and introduction of carbamazepine, which may have been precipitating factors. NCSE has not previously been reported in LBD. Implications for its drug management are discussed.
Botulinum toxin type A injections for myofascial pain syndrome and tension‐type headache
Authors: Porta Mauro
Published: July 2007

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is characterised by acute and specific pain affecting the piriformis, iliopsoas or scalenus anterior muscles. Tension‐type headache (TH) is a common pathological condition, which can be chronic or episodic. Based on its muscle‐relaxant properties, botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) has demonstrated efficacy in a variety of conditions involving dysregulated muscle contractions. Patients with MPS (n= 40) or TH (n = 20) were recruited to two randomised, single‐blind studies, respectively. Each patient received either BTX‐A or methylprednisolone, injected into the affected muscles after administration of a local anaesthetic. Pain was assessed at baseline, and 30 and 60 days post‐treatment using a standard visual analogue scale. At 30 days post‐injection, the mean pain score in all treatment groups was reduced compared with baseline in both studies, although the difference between treatment groups was not significant at this time in either study. However, by 60 days post‐injection, the mean pain score has continued to fall in the BTX‐A treatment groups, compared with a waning of the steroid therapeutic activity in the controls. The net effect was a highly significant difference between the two treatments in both the MPS (P < 0.0001) and TH (P < 0.0005) studies. No major adverse events were reported. In conclusion, BTX‐A produces a more prolonged pain relief than methylprednisolone in patients suffering from MPS or TH.
Treatment of focal hyperhidrosis with botulinum toxin type A. Brief overview of methodology and 2 years' experience
Authors: Naver Hans , Swartling Carl , Aquilonius Sten‐Magnus
Published: July 2007

Focal hyperhidrosis is a relatively common condition in which patients experience excessive sweating, usually of the palms, axillae, face or feet. Until recently, the only effective treatment option for this chronic condition was surgery. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) in the treatment of patients with hyperhidrosis, establishing optimum dosages and methods of administration. One hundred and seventy patients with focal hyperhidrosis were referred for treatment, the majority with palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis. The iodine‐starch test was used to locate and show the extent of the hyperhidrotic area. Using a template to mark the injection sites, 2 U doses of BTX‐A were injected intradermally at regular intervals. Patients received either 0.5 or 0.8 U/cm2 with regional anaesthesia if required. The iodine starch test and measurements of evaporation were used to assess efficacy. The majority of patients reported a marked reduction in sweating, About one‐third of the patients who received BTX‐A 0.5 U/cm2 requested supplementary small injections into islands of skin where they experienced residual sweating. As a result, the standard dose was increased to BTX‐A 0.8 U/cm2. The median duration of treatment effect was 10 months (range, 3 to >14 months). The effectiveness of BTX‐A was not reduced by repeated use. BTX‐A treatment was well tolerated by all patients. In conclusion, chemical sudomotor denervation with BTX‐A should be recommended before surgical sympathectomy for the treatment of focal hyperhidrosis.
Adductor spasticity in children with cerebral palsy and treatment with botulinum toxin type A: the parents' view of functional outcome
Authors: Heinen Florian , Linder Michaela , Mall Volker , Kirschner Janbernd , Korinthenberg Rudolf
Published: July 2007

Botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) has been used successfully to manage spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. Little has been done to evaluate treatment outcome and satisfaction from the patients' and parents' points of view. The aim of this study was to investigate the parents' perceptions of the benefits of BTX‐A on movement disorders in children with cerebral palsy. Twenty‐six children with adductor spasticity were enrolled into an open‐label, prospective study. Patients received intramuscular injections of BTX‐A, and assessments of joint mobility (passive range of motion), degree of spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale) and functional benefit (Gross Motor Function Measure) were made before and 12–18 weeks after treatment. Parents' assessment of treatment outcomes were evaluated using a standardised questionnaire. BTX‐A was shown to be effective in reducing muscular hyperactivity and functional limitations. Parents' satisfaction with the treatment outcome was high. For non‐ambulatory patients, the reported benefits included facilitation of daily care, ease of positioning and reduction of pain. For patients who were disabled to a lesser extent, improvements in gait and posture included sitting with improved comfort, standing for longer periods of time and/or walking longer distances. The parents' responses supported the impressions of the therapists, demonstrating that BTX‐A produced beneficial effects on daily activities, according to both objective measures and parents' observation.
Management of spasticity with botulinum toxin type A: implementing the treatment algorithm
Authors: O'Brien Christopher
Published: July 2007

Intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) may successfully treat spasticity resulting from focal muscle overactivity. However, BTX‐A should not be considered as a monotherapy. Physical interventions such as strengthening programmes, range‐of‐motion exercises or serial casting should be implemented following BTX‐A injections. The likelihood of treatment success relies heavily on tailoring the treatment protocol to an individual's needs. This paper presents five case studies which describe patient management problems that have been addressed by applying an algorithm for the management of spasticity with botulinum toxin type A. The case studies are representative of patients with hand, arm, hip, leg and/or foot spasticity who have received BTX‐A injections. The potential pitfalls of BTX‐A treatment are presented and possible reasons for treatment failure are discussed. The case studies highlight the importance of reassessing functional objectives for each individual after treatment. The objectives of BTX‐A treatment vary considerably between patients. If the treatment goals are not achieved, modification of the injection procedure and/or dose may be required. A continued failure of treatment suggests either poor patient selection or inappropriate treatment goals. Successful treatment does not obviate the need for routine re‐evaluation of the goals at treatment follow‐up.