Clinical utility of EEG in diagnosing and monitoring epilepsy in adults.

Electroencephalography (EEG) remains an essential diagnostic tool for people with epilepsy (PWE). The International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology produces new guidelines as an educational service for clinicians to address gaps in knowledge in clinical neurophysiology. The current guideline was prepared in response to gaps present in epilepsy-related neurophysiological assessment and is not intended to replace sound clinical judgement in the care of PWE. Furthermore, addressing specific pathophysiological conditions of the brain that produce epilepsy is of primary importance though is beyond the scope of this guideline. Instead, our goal is to summarize the scientific evidence for the utility of EEG when diagnosing and monitoring PWE.

Photocatalytic Properties of TiO2 Thin Films Modified with Ag and Pt Nanoparticles Deposited by Gas Flow Sputtering.

In this work, a gas flow sputtering (GFS) process which allows the production and deposition of metal nanoparticles (NPs) in a vacuum environment is described. Aim of the study is to prove the potential of this technology for the fabrication of new TiO2 films with enhanced photocatalytic properties. For this purpose, Ag and Pt NPs have been produced and deposited on photocatalytic float glass coated with TiO2 thin films by magnetron sputtering. The influence of the process parameters and of the metal amount on the final properties of the particles (quantity, size, size distribution, oxidation state etc.,) was widely investigated. Moreover, the effect of the NPs on the photocatalytic activity of the resulting materials was evaluated for the case of the decomposition of stearic acid (SA) during UV-A irradiation. The reduction of the water contact angle (WCA) during the irradiation period was measured in order to test the photo-induced super-hydrophilicity (PSH).

Stress and the caregiver.

What do we do with a stress level that is high in many areas of our life? How do nurses cope without becoming ill themselves? We look at the literature for documented causes of the stress that seems to pervade the workplace and for strategies that will help us to function as healthy human beings.

Psychiatric nursing interventions in managed care: is there time for caring?

Today's managed care affects how health care is provided: Caregivers focus on the needs of patients while struggling to fulfill the demands of the institutions for which they work. Presented here are some underlying concepts of patient care as well as some suggestions for further research which include the collaboration and consultation of nursing faculty with service. This article which is intended as a primer for the transition of novice psychiatric nurses to experts considers the effects of managed care.

Reliability and validity of American Medical Association's guide to ratings of permanent impairment.

We examined the American Medical Association's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment rating schedule to determine whether this guide provided a reliable and valid assessment of hand impairment. A sample of 118 patients with permanent hand impairment was assessed using the guide. In addition, each patient underwent tests of finger dexterity, hand strength, hand-eye coordination, and the rate of manipulation. The reliability, based on the correlation between the two raters, was 0.75. For the injured hand, psychomotor test scores were highly correlated with the rating of permanent impairment in all cases. These differences were statistically significant for approximately two thirds of the cases. The guide's ratings showed both substantial reliability and accuracy with the various tests of hand function.

Use of the Minnesota Rate of Manipulation Test for disability evaluation.

This study involved the validation of the Minnesota Rate of Manipulation Test in assessing permanent disability of the hand. 118 persons with permanent impairments of the hand were given four subtests of the Minnesota Rate of Manipulation Test. The impaired hand was assessed with the traditional measure for permanent impairment and a rating obtained. Scores for the impaired hand on each of four subtests were strongly correlated with the rating of disability.

Use of a text of psychomotor ability in an expanded role.

To examine the use of a test of psychomotor ability of disabled persons, a group of 118 persons with permanent impairment of one hand were given the disability rating together with the O'Connor Finger Dexterity Test. Scores showed a substantial correlation of .69 between these two instruments. Scores on the Finger Dexterity Test were strongly correlated to the activities of daily living subscale of the Hand Disability Rating Scale (.88), while rating of disability was not. Age appeared unrelated to either test or disability scores.

Women's capacities to perform strenuous work.

The literature was reviewed in an attempt to determine women's capacity to perform work. Although the review uncovered a relatively small amount of work devoted to this topic, the published studies suggest that women have both the physiological capacity to perform hard work and the endurance to complete a full day of hard work. However, the studies also suggest that women have limited capabilities to perform tasks requiring lifting, pushing, and pulling. In studies involving climbing and gripping, occupational comparisons were not available. On anthropometric measures the data will not be comparable with work data until occupational information is developed.

Adverse reactions to methyldopa with particular reference to hypotension.

Of 26,294 consecutive patients monitored in a comprehensive drug surveillance program, 1067 (4 per cent) received methyldopa for treatment of hypertension. Adverse reactions attributed to methyldopa were reported in 149 patients (14 per cent), the most frequent being hypotension. Life-threatening adverse effects were reported in nine patients (6 per cent of reactors)--the major problems being hypotension associated in several patients with signs of cardiac or cerebral ischemia. Hypotension attributed to methyldopa was more frequent in younger patients, in those with uremia, in lighter subjects, and in those receiving a high daily dose. Marked interaction between these factors was demonstrated and eightfold differences in the frequency of hypotension were observed in different sub-groups of methyldopa recipients. Adverse effects other than hypotension were reported infrequently and did not correlate well with the previously mentioned factors. The findings suggest that methyldopa therapy should be commenced cautiously in younger patients, in the non-obese, and in those with impairment of renal function as manifest by elevated blood urea nitrogen levels.