Effects of prism adaptation and visual scanning training on perceptual and response bias in unilateral spatial neglect.

In some patients with unilateral spatial neglect, symptoms reflect impaired lateralized spatial attention and representation (perceptual bias) whereas in others the inability to respond to stimuli located in contralesional space (response bias). Here, we investigated whether prismatic adaptation (PA) and visual scanning training (VST) differentially affect perceptual and response bias and whether rehabilitation outcome depends on the type of bias underlying symptoms. Two groups of neglect patients in the subacute phase were evaluated before, immediately after, and two weeks following 10 days of PA (n = 9) or VST (n = 9). Standard neuropsychological tests (i.e., Behavioural Inattentional Test, Diller cancellation test, and Line Bisection test) were administered to assess neglect symptoms, while the Landmark task was used to disentangle perceptual and response biases. Performance on the Landmark task revealed that PA was more effective in improving the perceptual bias, while VST mainly modulated the response bias. Neuropsychological tests performance suggested that VST is better suited to modulate neglect in patients with response bias, while PA may be effective in patients with both types of bias. These findings may offer novel insights into the efficacy of PA and VST in the rehabilitation of perceptual and response biases in patients with neglect.

Endocannabinoid and perceived stress: Association analysis of endocannabinoid levels in hair versus levels in plasma and urine.

The endocannabinoid system is considered to play a role in a wide range of functions, including stress. Hair analysis of endocannabinoids presents a promising methodological advancement for the retrospective assessment of long-term cumulative endocannabinoid secretion. Despite promising pilot study results suggesting the usefulness of hair endocannabinoid assessments, it remains unclear whether hair endocannabinoid levels mirror systemic endocannabinoid levels accurately. Two independent studies were conducted to investigate to what extent hair endocannabinoid and N-Acylethanolamine levels reflect the systemic levels retrospectively. Endocannabinoid and N-Acylethanolamine levels were measured in 3 cm and 1 cm hair segments respectively, and compared with the averaged levels in multiple plasma samples collected during three months (Study I), and in multiple 24-hour urine samples collected over a month (Study II). In addition, the Perceived Stress Scale was used to assess the perceived stress throughout the studies. Against our hypothesis, no association was found between the endocannabinoid or N-Acylethanolamine levels in hair and plasma or urine. However, hair palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), oleoylethanolamide (OEA), and stearoylethanolamide (SEA) levels were positively correlated with perceived stress in Study I. The current findings suggest that hair endocannabinoid or N-Acylethanolamine levels might not accurately reflect the levels of peripheral circulating endocannabinoid or N-Acylethanolamine. Nevertheless, hair N-Acylethanolamine levels might emerge as a useful strategy in the study of some psychological phenotypes, such as stress.

Severity of unilateral spatial neglect is an independent predictor of functional outcome after acute inpatient rehabilitation in individuals with right hemispheric stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between severity of unilateral spatial neglect (USN) and functional recovery in activities of daily living after a right-hemisphere stroke. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Rehabilitation hospital in Italy. PARTICIPANTS: We investigated 107 of 131 inpatients with right-hemisphere stroke who were consecutively admitted to our rehabilitation hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To assess USN severity, conventional and nonconventional Behavioral Inattention Tests (BITs) were performed at admission to inpatient rehabilitation at a median of 19 days after stroke occurrence. FIM was performed both on admission to and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation to assess functional autonomy. FIM efficiency (improvement of FIM score per day of stay length) and FIM effectiveness (proportion of potential improvement achieved) were calculated. RESULTS: Fifty-four (50.5%) of the 107 patients were affected by USN. In these 54 patients, both conventional and nonconventional BIT scores were significantly correlated with FIM scores assessed at discharge from rehabilitation: ρ values were .385 (P=.004) and .396 (P=.003), respectively. After adjustment for 7 potential confounders, including FIM scores before rehabilitation, we found a significant positive association between either conventional or nonconventional BIT scores and FIM scores after rehabilitation (r=.276, P=.047 and r=.296, P=.033, respectively), FIM efficiency (r=.315, P=.022 and r=.307, P=.025, respectively), and FIM effectiveness (r=.371, P=.006 and r=.306, P=.026, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Data support the independent prognostic role of USN severity assessed at admission to inpatient rehabilitation after a right-hemisphere stroke. Models aimed at predicting the functional outcome in stroke survivors may benefit from inclusion of USN severity.

Accidente por pinchazos en el hospital Vozandes Quito 1997-2005 / Puncture accident at the Vozandes Quito hospital 1997-2005

Se presentan los datos de los accidentes por pinchazos reportados por trabajadores sanitarios del Hospital Vozandes Quito durante un periodo de 8 años. Durante el periodo comprendido entre enero de 1997 hasta diciembre del 2005 se reportaron 362 accidentes por pinchazos. (Se excluyen los datos del año 2003 porque no hay registros completos). La mayoría de accidentes fueron reportados en Sala de Operaciones; 113 accidentes (31 .2%). La mayoría de accidentes fueron ocasionados por agujas huecas; 131 accidentes (36%). La mayoría de los accidentes fueron reportados por médicos y estudiantes de medicina 185 accidentes (51.10%). Sólo 30 (8.2%) de todos los accidentes fueron producidos por salpicaduras y desafortunadamente 51 (14%) de los accidentes fueron por cortopunzantes mal desechados. Lo cual explica también que 29 accidentes (5.5%) ocurrieron a los trabajadores sanitarios de higiene ambiental.

Data on puncture accidents reported by health workers at the Hospital Vozandes Quito over a period of 8 years are presented. During the period from January 1997 to December 2005, 362 puncture accidents were reported. (Data for 2003 are excluded because there are no complete records). Most accidents were reported in the Operations Room; 113 accidents (31 .2%). Most accidents were caused by hollow needles; 131 accidents (36%). Most accidents were reported by doctors and medical students 185 accidents (51.10%). Only 30 (8.2%) of all accidents were caused by splashing and unfortunately 51 (14%) of accidents were due to poorly disposed sharps. This also explains that 29 accidents (5.5%) occurred to environmental hygiene health workers.