bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnetic resonance outcome of new enhancing lesions in patients with relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis
Authors: Ciccarelli Olga , Giugni Elisabetta , Paolillo Andrea , Mainero Caterina , Gasperini Claudio , Bastianello Stefano , Pozzilli Carlo 
Published: March 2003

The aim of the study was to monitor the natural history of new enhancing lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) by means of serial gadolinium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Out of the 63 new enhancing lesions seen on the baseline scan, belonging to 26 relapsing‐remitting MS patients, 26 (40%), nine (14%) and four (6%) lesions showed persisting enhancement at first, second and third follow‐up scan, respectively. At the end of 5 months of follow‐up, 58 (92%) of the new enhancing lesions were detected as T2 hyperintensities, 24 (38%) as T1 hypointensities ('black holes'), and five lesions (8%) disappeared in both T2 and T1 weighted images. Duration of gadolinium enhancement of at least two consecutive scans significantly influenced the development of ‘black holes’. No significant correlation was observed between volume, location, configuration of enhancement at baseline and final outcome of the lesion. In individual cases, different evolution of new enhancing lesions was observed at the same time.In conclusion, this study documented that different outcomes of new lesions are unrelated either to the individual patient or to the baseline MRI characteristics. However, prolonged blood–brain‐barrier disruption as shown by persisting enhancement significantly influences the lesion outcome.
Similar subcortical pattern of cognitive impairment in AIDS patients with and without dementia
Authors: Suarez S. V. , Stankoff B. , Conquy L. , Rosenblum O. , Seilhean D. , Arvanitakis Z. , Lazarini F. , Bricaire F. , Lubetzki C. , Hauw J.‐J. , Dubois B. 
Published: March 2003

The aim of this study was to develop a series of neuropsychological tests that define the cortical and subcortical features of cognitive impairment and the characteristics of memory in demented and mildly cognitively impaired AIDS patients. We attempted to establish a usable method to assess and determine the type and degree of cognitive impairment in individual AIDS patients.We examined 53 patients without central nervous system opportunistic infections. A short battery included two scales of global efficiency (the Mattis dementia rating scale and the Mini Mental State Examination), a psychomotor speed test, an executive control assessment and explicit memory evaluation. Patients were categorized into four groups based on their score on both the Mattis dementia rating scale and the DSM‐IV criteria: (1) asymptomatic; (2) having AIDS without cognitive impairment; (3) having AIDS with mild cognitive impairment; and (4) having AIDS dementia. Patients with mildly impaired cognition demonstrated slowed thinking, abnormal initiation and conceptualization, and memory impairment. AIDS dementia patients had slower motor activity and memory recall was more severely affected. The short neuropsychological battery was able to characterize modified cognitive performances in both severely and mildly cognitively impaired AIDS patients. The subcortical pattern of the memory disorder was obvious, regardless of the degree of cognitive impairment.
Is the genetic liability in multifactorial disorders higher in concordant than discordant monozygotic twin pairs? A population‐based family twin study of migraine without aura
Authors: Gervil M. , Ulrich V. , Kaprio J. , Russell M. B. 
Published: March 2003

Migraine without aura (MO) is a multifactorial disorder. Expression of a disorder with multifactorial inheritance depends on the genetic liability and on environmental factors. A high liability is reflected by a high frequency of affected relatives. We have previously shown that monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs have a significant higher concordance of MO than dizygotic twin pairs. The incomplete concordance among MZ twin pairs may be due to a lower genetic liability among discordant than concordant MZ twin pairs. The present study analysed the genetic liability in MZ twin pairs concordant and discordant for MO by the population‐relative risk of MO among parents and siblings.The twin pairs were from the population‐based Danish Twin Register. First‐degree relatives of 29 concordant and 34 discordant MZ twin pairs were blindly telephone interviewed by a physician. The participation rate of the eligible first‐degree relatives was 96%.The population‐relative risk of MO among parents and siblings was 2.73 (2.39–3.06) in concordant and 2.37 (2.03–2.71) in discordant MZ twin pairs. The relative risk of MO was significantly higher in female first‐degree relatives of concordant than of discordant MZ male and female twin pairs. An opposite effect was observed in male first‐degree relatives, although this was not significant for male first‐degree relatives of female MZ twin pairs.The present study found no statistically significant difference in genetic liability to MO among concordant and discordant MZ twin pairs. However, a difference in genetic liability among MZ and DZ twin pairs is anticipated to be small. Thus, it may be possible to show the effect in a larger study population or by investigating a more frequent trait than MO.
Lateralization of motor circuits and handedness during finger movements
Authors: Solodkin A. , Hlustik P. , Noll D. C. , Small S. L. 
Published: March 2003

Although functional lateralization in the human brain has been studied intensively, there remains significant controversy over the brain mechanisms that instantiate it. The main objective of the present study is to characterize the regions associated with the generation of different movements by the fingers of both hands by right‐ and left‐handed people. Thirteen right‐ and left‐handers were studied using blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during performance of single and sequential finger movement tasks. We used single‐shot whole‐brain spiral fMRI to map the functional components of the motor system during these tasks. Regions of interest included the primary motor and sensory cortices, the pre‐motor cortices and the cerebellum.Sequential movements were associated with intense brain activation in several bilateral regions, whereas single movements were associated with less activation in fewer regions, but with greater laterality. Right‐ and left‐handers differed in their pattern of activation, sharing a pattern of activation on simple movements but responding differently to sequential movements. On simple movements, the brain activation patterns of left‐ and right‐handers were similar in volume, number of areas and laterality. By contrast, on sequential movement, left‐handers activated larger volumes and a larger number of brain areas than right‐handers, and showed significantly less brain lateralization.These results highlight differences in the functional organization of motor areas in right‐ and left‐handed people. The discrepancies that might reflect differences in the network features of motor systems in these two groups, could also determine differences in motor activity that occur during recovery from injury (e.g. after stroke).
MR findings in subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord caused by nitrous oxide anaesthesia – two cases
Authors: Ilniczky S. , Jelencsik I. , Kenéz J. , Szirmai I. 
Published: March 2003

Vitamin B12 deficiency causes haematological and neurological diseases. Subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord is characterized by degeneration of the posterior and lateral columns.We report two cases of SCD induced by nitrous oxide (N2O) anaesthesia. In both cases magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord showed symmetric, reversible changes in the posterior columns, correlating well with patients’ symptoms.
The trend in public attitudes in the Czech Republic towards persons with epilepsy
Authors: Novotná I. , Rektor I. 
Published: March 2003

This study evaluates trends in public familiarity with and attitudes towards people with epilepsy over a 16‐year time‐period.A survey exploring the Czech public's attitudes towards and knowledge of epilepsy used a modified version of a questionnaire first used in the USA in 1949, and in the Federal Republic of Germany beginning in 1968. This survey was carried out for the first time in the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia) in 1981, and then again in 1984. There was no significant difference between the 1981 and 1984 responses. A slightly modified questionnaire was used in 1997–1998, with evaluable responses gathered from 235 people. In comparison with the 1981 study, people's acquaintance with epilepsy was significantly higher in 1997–1998. In 1997–1998, about 94% of the people surveyed had some information about epilepsy (78% in 1981). Intolerance towards children with epilepsy dropped from 29 to 13%. About 30% of the people surveyed considered epilepsy to be a mental disease (50% in 1981). Employment of people with epilepsy was recommended by 74% (42% in 1981). In contrast with the situation about 16 years earlier, there were fewer important differences from the results of similar surveys taken in other European countries. However, the answers concerning the willingness to help a person having a seizure show that, despite certain progress, the quality of information that the Czech population has is not fully satisfactory.
The importance of educational and psychological factors in Parkinson's disease quality of life
Authors: Cubo E. , Rojo A. , Ramos S. , Quintana S. , Gonzalez M. , Kompoliti K. , Aguilar M. 
Published: March 2003

Objective:  To define the factors correlated with quality of life (QoL) in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Background:  PD has a substantial impact on QoL. Although several clinical factors have been associated with QoL in PD, the influence of patient's education still remains controversial. Methodology:  A consecutive series of patients with PD were examined using the unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS part I, II, III), Schwab and England (SE), and Hoehn and Yahr stage (H&Y). QoL was rated with the PDQ‐39, cognition with the Mini‐Mental State examination (MMSE), and the presence of depressive symptoms with the geriatric depression scale (GDS). Patient's characteristics, estimated cumulative levodopa dose (CLD), UPDRS, H&Y, MMSE and GDS were correlated with the PDQ‐39 using univariate and multiple regression analysis. Results:  A total of one hundred 58 patients (68 men, 90 women) with a mean age of 65.6 ± 9.3 years, PD duration of 8.1 ± 10.6 years, and education of 6.6 ± 3.9 years were included. The mean PDQ‐39 was 48.8 ± 27.8, mean MMSE was 25.7 ± 4, and mean GDS was 11.7 ± 6.8. Using stepwise multiple regression analysis, the most important predictive factors were depression, UPDRS part I, UPDRS part II, and educational background, which accounted for a 61% of the variability of the PDQ‐39 scores. Conclusions:  In our PD sample, educational, behavioural, and psychological factors influenced life satisfaction more than physical ones.
Motor‐axonal polyneuropathy associated with hepatitis C virus
Authors: Costa J. , Resende C. , De Carvalho M. 
Published: March 2003

The association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the presence of mixed cryoglobulinemia and peripheral neuropathy is well‐documented (Apartis et al., 1996). HCV is the chief cause of essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (type II cryoglobulinemia) with cryoglobulins present in up to half of patients with HCV infection (Akriviadis et al., 1997). More recently it has been stated that peripheral polyneuropathy may be associated with HCV chronic infection without mixed cryoglobulinemia (Lidove et al., 2001).Patients usually present with a clinical and electrophysiology – predominantly sensory axonopathies (Apartis et al., 1996; Heckmann et al., 1999) or less frequently with fulminating vasculitis and mononeuropathy multiplex syndrome (David et al., 1996) – especially when associated with cryoglobulinemia.We report, for the first time, the association between pure motor‐axonal polyneuropathy and HCV infection without cryoglobulinemia.
Hybrid cyst: case reports and review of 15 cases in Japan
Authors: Takeda H , Miura A , Katagata Y , Mitsuhashi Y , Kondo S 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTHybrid cyst is a rare cystic lesion that includes more than two components of the pilosebaceous units. To clarify the clinical and pathological features of hybrid cysts, we report two cases and review 15 cases of hybrid cyst in Japan.On the whole, the age range was 12–73 years with a 2.95 : 1 female predominance and predilection for the scalp and face (46.7%). Most of the tumours presented as a solitary lesion and the size range was 2–45 mm. The most frequent histological type was the combination of infundibular and trichilemmal cysts (60.0%). Studying the clinicopathological features of hybrid cysts helps us in understanding the pathogenesis of diseases arising from pilosebaceous units.
Diminished men and dangerous women: representations of gender and learning disability in early‐ and mid‐nineteenth‐century Britain
Authors: McDonagh Patrick 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe present article explores the relationship of gender and learning disabilities in early‐ and mid‐nineteenth‐century literary representations of people with learning disabilities. Literary texts are useful historical documents because these often foreground how learning disabilities worked symbolically in a social context and enable us to examine the ideological forces shaping notions of learning disabilities. The images explored in the present study suggest some common cultural themes. Men with learning disabilities were understood as being diminished, somehow lacking an essential component of masculine identity. Women, on the other hand, were often reduced to the essential, yet disruptive element of feminine sexuality, or later in the century, were conceived as deviant from the feminine norm in their carnality.
Vocabulary needs in augmentative and alternative communication: a sample of conversational topics between staff providing services to adults with learning difficulties and their service users
Authors: Graves Judy 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThis paper describes an attempt to gather information about the vocabulary needs of a sample of people with learning difficulties in order to inform the content of local augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) resources and training programmes. The participants were staff members working in a range of local day care and residential services who were asked to record topics of conversation in diaries. The results were analysed in terms of the frequency of topic areas similar to those described by Maslow's model of human need. The influences on the development of vocabularies for AAC programmes and philosophies current in services for adults with learning difficulties are briefly discussed. The approaches of two of perhaps the most widely used resources (i.e. Makaton and Signalong) are described in the context of their rationale for vocabulary content. The results of the present study suggest that Physical Needs and Function were the most frequent topic areas for conversation. There were far fewer conversations recorded for Social and Emotional topics. Flexible topic‐based frameworks for AAC programmes are suggested as a model that might be able to respond to individual and local vocabulary needs more readily than any one prescribed vocabulary.
Impact of group training on emotion recognition in individuals with a learning disability
Authors: McKenzie Karen , Matheson Edith , McKaskie Kerry , Hamilton Lucie , Murray George C. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe present paper outlines the impact of group training on the emotion recognition of six individuals with a moderate learning disability. The accuracy of identifying emotions depicted by line drawings and photographs with and without an emotional context was examined before and after group training. The results indicated that there was a significant overall increase in accuracy in identifying emotions following group training. In addition, a significant increase was found in the ability to correctly label emotions depicted by line drawings typically used in symbol‐based communication systems. The implications of the results are discussed.
A psychotherapy service for children, adolescents and adults with learning disabilities at the Tavistock Clinic, London, UK
Authors: Hernadez‐Halton Isabel , Hodges Sally , Miller Lynda , Simpson David 
Published: March 2003

SummaryIn 1995, a new team was specifically created at the Tavistock Clinic, London, UK, to work with people with learning disability of all ages using psychodynamic ideas, principles and methods. This was a new organization, born out of the growing interest and work in this field, work that had been going on at the Tavistock Clinic for many years. The present paper describes the work of the organization, and provides two case examples to illustrate the team's way of working.
Making connections: the relevance of the social model of disability for people with learning difficulties
Authors: Chappell Anne Louise , Goodley Dan , Lawthom Rebecca 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe present paper explores the social model of disability and its significance for people with learning difficulties. The authors argue that, while the social model has been adopted as an explicit framework for analysis by many people with physical and sensory impairments, its impact on people with learning difficulties, and the non‐disabled people who write about them or research with them has been much less marked. In the first part of the present paper, the authors examine why the social model appears to have neglected learning difficulty and why learning difficulty researchers have not utilized the social model as a means for understanding the experiences of people with learning difficulties. Drawing on research with self‐advocates, the second part of this paper discusses the way that many people with learning difficulties can be seen to engage with ideas inherent to the social model. However, the political nature of many of the everyday actions of people with learning difficulties, which impinges on the social model, is not recognized. Consequently, it has not been theorized.
From engagement to participation: How do we bridge the gap?
Authors: Joyce Theresa , Shuttleworth Lorraine 
Published: March 2003

SummarySupporting and developing choice has often been seen as an aim for community services, but is difficult to achieve for individuals with severe learning and communication difficulties. Measures of service quality have tended to look more at the activities which individuals engage in, although there is now an increasing emphasis on trying to access user views. The aims of the present study were to examine staff judgements about clients' responses to the daily routines organized for them and to examine the extent to which it appeared that service users were engaging in activities which they preferred. The results suggest that staff are able to ascribe meaning to the different behaviours of clients, but that they do not always agree amongst themselves as to what the behaviour means. They are also aware that service users do not enjoy all the activities in their daily routine. Service providers and commissioners need to make the development of choice and preferences for service users as much of a priority as engagement in activities.
Enabling young people with a learning disability to make choices at a time of transition
Authors: Cameron Lois , Murphy Joan 
Published: March 2003

SummaryTransition times, such as leaving school and moving to and from college or day centre, are highly significant for young people with a learning disability, but it can be particularly difficult to ensure that their voice is heard when making choices. The pilot study described in the present paper examined whether Talking Mats, a light‐technology augmentative framework, could be used successfully with young adults with a learning and communication disability. The participants were able to indicate their likes and dislikes, and to express views about the choices available to them. Some expressed opinions not previously known to their carers, and some raised sensitive topics, such as where they wanted to live and who they wished to spend time with. The ‘mats’ allowed differences of opinion to be explored and were used as a vehicle for further, deeper discussion. Talking Mats has proved to be a powerful tool in allowing young people with a learning disability to communicate their views.
Consultation with children with autistic spectrum disorders about their experience of short‐term residential care
Authors: Preece David 
Published: March 2003

SummaryConsultation with children receiving services from social services departments is required by international and national legislation. Research has been undertaken examining the experience of children with disabilities receiving short‐term care. However, none of these studies has focused on autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs). The present paper suggests that this condition's characteristics affect the ability of children with ASDs to participate in consultation. Case studies were undertaken investigating the impact of the characteristics of autism upon researchers' abilities to elicit children's opinions about their experience of short‐term residential care. Factors which maximized the children's input and the accuracy of results are identified.
The emotional lives of people with learning disability
Authors: Arthur Andrew R. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe emotional lives and difficulties of people with learning disabilities are much neglected. This paper reviews accounts of research and therapy and makes an assessment of the current state of knowledge. Very little research actually exists when compared to the non‐learning disabled, and so, studies of psychotherapy, child development, parent‐infant bonding, psychological assessment and emotional disturbance in people with learning disability are examined. The review finds that there is evidence to suggest the presence of a significantly higher level of emotional developmental problems and disturbance in people with learning disability. This problem requires multidisciplinary attention if progress in improving quality of life is to be maintained.
How far are people with learning disabilities involved in funeral rites?
Authors: Raji Oyepeju , Hollins Sheila , Drinnan Ange 
Published: March 2003

SummaryMany referrals to specialist learning disability services follow bereavement and loss experiences. Research and clinical experience both suggest that people who have not been fully involved in funeral rituals have delayed and/or prolonged grief reactions. This study in a multicultural inner London borough examined local religious and cultural practices following bereavement of people with learning disabilities. Interviews were sought with funeral directors and representatives from six religious groups to build up a picture of local practice, resources and knowledge, particularly with regard to how people with learning disabilities are involved in the process. It was found that most of the local funeral directors had little direct experience of people with learning disabilities. The religious group representatives who were interviewed also spoke of a lack of involvement of people with learning disabilities. A pamphlet has been designed for funeral directors and religious groups to give to families or friends of people with learning disabilities who have been bereaved.