Psychophysiological response to cognitive workload during symmetrical, asymmetrical and dual-task walking.

Walking with a lower limb prosthesis comes at a high cognitive workload for amputees, possibly affecting their mobility, safety and independency. A biocooperative prosthesis which is able to reduce the cognitive workload of walking could offer a solution. Therefore, we wanted to investigate whether different levels of cognitive workload can be assessed during symmetrical, asymmetrical and dual-task walking and to identify which parameters are the most sensitive. Twenty-four healthy subjects participated in this study. Cognitive workload was assessed through psychophysiological responses, physical and cognitive performance and subjective ratings. The results showed that breathing frequency and heart rate significantly increased, and heart rate variability significantly decreased with increasing cognitive workload during walking (p<.05). Performance measures (e.g., cadence) only changed under high cognitive workload. As a result, psychophysiological measures are the most sensitive to identify changes in cognitive workload during walking. These parameters reflect the cognitive effort necessary to maintain performance during complex walking and can easily be assessed regardless of the task. This makes them excellent candidates to feed to the control loop of a biocooperative prosthesis in order to detect the cognitive workload. This information can then be used to adapt the robotic assistance to the patient's cognitive abilities.

[Gynecological sequela of puerperal infections. 1948]. / Secuelas ginecológicas de la infección puerperal.

This paper is part of a symposium on puer petal infections that was presented in the 7th., Asamblea Nacional de Cirujanos. The authors review the factor and evolution and the final results in puerperal infections. (1 degree Classification of the pathogenic germ, 2 degrees Site of infection, 3 degrees Effect of the pregnancy on the genital organs, 4 degrees Means of invasion, 5 degrees Organic resistance). A final review is made considering the above mentioned factor in the gynecological pathology to which puerperal sepsis can lead, presenting synoptic charts. Finally, the gynecological processes due to the surgical treatment of the puerperal infection in relation to sterility and psychic disturbances such as frigidity ad dyspaurenia are reviewed.

[Statistical analysis of 100 recent cases of sterile couples. (1948)]. / Causas error en estadísticas de parejas estériles. Estudio analítico de 100 casos.

A statistical analysis of 100 recent cases of sterile couples, studied from February through December, 5945, is made. The management of the study is described. Sterility causes are classified under four groups: hormonal factor; tubal factor; cervical spermatic factor; spermatic (pure) factor. Every group has two subgroups: serious and not serious. The serious case is incurable or very difficult to treat (examples: azoospermia, bilateral absence or tubal obstruction, nonovulatory menstruation). Other doctor-referred cases (difficult): 61. Doctors' own wives: 15. Serious cases: 65 with three pregnancies (4.56 per cent). Not serious cases: 24, with ten pregnancies (41.8 per cent). Total number of cases finished: 89, with 13 pregnancies (14.5 per cent). Study discontinued: eleven. The last total rate (14.5 per cent) is erroneous because there is an absolute difference between the "serious cases", and the "not serious cases." In Mexico the "sterility specialist" has many "serious cases", and for this reason the rate of successful cases is low.