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Is the sky 2? Contextual priming in grapheme-color synaesthesia.

Psychol Sci. 2008 May;19(5):421-8

Authors: Brang D, Edwards L, Ramachandran VS, Coulson S

Grapheme-color synaesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which particular graphemes, such as the numeral 9, automatically induce the simultaneous perception of a particular color, such as the color red. To test whether the concurrent color sensations in grapheme-color synaesthesia are treated as meaningful stimuli, we recorded event-related brain potentials as 8 synaesthetes and 8 matched control subjects read sentences such as “Looking very clear, the lake was the most beautiful hue of 7.” In synaesthetes, but not control subjects, congruous graphemes, compared with incongruous graphemes, elicited a more negative N1 component, a less positive P2 component, and a less negative N400 component. Thus, contextual congruity of synaesthetically induced colors altered the brain response to achromatic graphemes beginning 100 ms postonset, affecting pattern-recognition, perceptual, and meaning-integration processes. The results suggest that grapheme-color synaesthesia is automatic and perceptual in nature and also suggest that the connections between colors and numbers are bidirectional.

PMID: 18466400 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Forgetting and recovering the unforgettable.

Psychol Sci. 2008 May;19(5):462-8

Authors: Smith SM, Moynan SC

Two experiments demonstrated striking, reversible forgetting effects that occurred even for a list of expletives. The experiments used a procedure based on the classic memory mechanisms of interference and retrieval cuing. Interference reduced recall dramatically, although appropriate cues triggered complete recovery. Distinctive, emotionally charged materials were quite susceptible to the forgetting and recovery effects. Thus, powerful forgetting effects can be obtained when participants have no intentions to forget and the materials involved are distinctive, emotional materials with sexual and violent content. This forgetting is reversible with appropriate cues. The false-memory debate can and must be informed by experimental investigations not only of false memories, but also of blocked and recovered memories.

PMID: 18466407 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Postural destabilization induced by trunk extensor muscles fatigue is suppressed by use of a plantar pressure-based electro-tactile biofeedback.

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008 Sep;104(1):119-25

Authors: Vuillerme N, Pinsault N, Chenu O, Fleury A, Payan Y, Demongeot J

Separate studies have reported that postural control during quiet standing could be (1) impaired with muscle fatigue localized at the lower back, and (2) improved through the use of plantar pressure-based electro-tactile biofeedback, under normal neuromuscular state. The aim of this experiment was to investigate whether this biofeedback could reduce postural destabilization induced by trunk extensor muscles. Ten healthy adults were asked to stand as immobile as possible in four experimental conditions: (1) no fatigue/no biofeedback, (2) no fatigue/biofeedback, (3) fatigue/no biofeedback and (4) fatigue/biofeedback. Muscular fatigue was achieved by performing trunk repetitive extensions until maximal exhaustion. The underlying principle of the biofeedback consisted of providing supplementary information related to foot sole pressure distribution through electro-tactile stimulation of the tongue. Centre of foot pressure (CoP) displacements were recorded using a force platform. Results showed (1) increased CoP displacements along the antero-posterior axis in the fatigue than no fatigue condition in the absence of biofeedback and (2) no significant difference between the no fatigue and fatigue conditions in the presence of biofeedback. This suggests that subjects were able to efficiently integrate an artificial plantar pressure information delivered through electro-tactile stimulation of the tongue that allowed them to suppress the destabilizing effect induced by trunk extensor muscles fatigue.

PMID: 18506472 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Putting Evidence into Practice: nursing assessment and interventions to reduce family caregiver strain and burden.

Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2008 Jun;12(3):507-16

Authors: Honea NJ, Brintnall R, Given B, Sherwood P, Colao DB, Somers SC, Northouse LL

Family caregiving often is associated with multiple rewards, yet the diversity and intensity of caregiving roles also can result in caregiver strain and burden. Using interventions to reduce the strain and burden on caregivers of patients with cancer is an important role nurses play. This article is a critical review and synthesis of the evidence regarding assessment tools and interventions aimed at reducing caregiver strain and burden in the oncology population. Although the striking finding is the limited number of interventions targeted toward oncology caregivers, suggestions from the literature are offered to support and promote healthy outcomes for family caregivers.

PMID: 18515250 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Ethnic matching and treatment outcome with Hispanic and Anglo substance-abusing adolescents in family therapy.

J Fam Psychol. 2008 Jun;22(3):439-47

Authors: Flicker SM, Waldron HB, Turner CW, Brody JL, Hops H

This study examined treatment outcomes of 86 highly acculturated Hispanic and Anglo substance-abusing adolescents in functional family therapy, testing the hypothesis that ethnic matching of therapist and client is related to better treatment outcomes for clients. Adolescents reported on their substance use pre- and posttreatment on a timeline follow-back interview. Ethnically matched Hispanic adolescents demonstrated greater decreases in their substance use compared with Hispanic adolescents with Anglo therapists. Ethnic match status was not related to treatment outcome for Anglo clients. Thus, the matching hypothesis was supported for Hispanic clients only. The results underscore the importance of greater ethnic diversity among therapists and better cultural competency training for Anglo therapists. More research is needed on individual differences in the effects of ethnic matching.

PMID: 18540772 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Perceptions of children with HIV/AIDS from the USA and Kenya: self-concept and emotional indicators.

Pediatr Nurs. 2008 Mar-Apr;34(2):117-24

Authors: Waweru SM, Reynolds A, Buckner EB

Perceptions of children’s self-concept and associated emotional indicators were assessed in two populations, United States and Kenya, in children living with HIV/AIDS. Assessment of the self-concept mode of the Roy Adaptation Model used both verbal and nonverbal strategies. The sample of children (N = 48), ages 7 to 12 years who were HIV-positive, was recruited from a family clinic that cares for children with chronic illness in the United States (n = 6) and an orphanage that provides for HIV-positive children in Kenya (n = 42). Self-concept was measured using a modification of Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale. Emotional indicators were measured from Human Figure Drawings (HFD) described by Koppitz (1968). All U.S. children were found to have an average self-concept and one-third demonstrated significant emotional indicators. In Kenya, 93% of the participants had an average self-concept and half were found to have significant emotional indicators. HFD can be used with other screening tools to perform a psychosocial assessment and screening for referral. This study contributes to nursing science by introducing a model-based assessment with cross-cultural applicability.

PMID: 18543836 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Dental fear in children: clinical consequences. Suggested behaviour management strategies in treating children with dental fear.

Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2008 Feb;9 Suppl 1:41-6

Authors: ten Berg M

AIM: This is to present an overview of behavioural management techniques in the dental situation, and to prepare guidelines for the treatment of dentally fearful children, focusing on the behavioural management approach. REVIEW: The literature related to the behavioural management of children in the dental setting was reviewed. Using this material a provisional set of guidelines for behaviour management strategies in treating children with dental fear was developed. CONCLUSIONS: Effective behavioural strategies that can be used by the dentist are discussed, from a theoretical as well as from a clinical point of view. In addition, available research studies are discussed and suggestions for guidelines in dental practice are presented.

PMID: 18328248 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Residential care: Dutch and Italian residents of residential care facilities compared.

Epidemiol Psichiatr Soc. 2008 Apr-Jun;17(2):162-5

Authors: de Heer-Wunderink C, Caro-Nienhuis AD, Sytema S, Wiersma D

AIMS: Characteristics of patients living in residential care facilities and the availability of mental hospital- and residential beds in Italy and The Netherlands were compared to assess whether differences in the process of deinstitutionalisation have influenced the composition of their residential patient populations. METHODS: Data from the Dutch UTOPIA-study (UTilization & Outcome of Patients In the Association of Dutch residential care providers) and the Italian PROGRES-study were used. RESULTS: Dutch residents were more likely to suffer from substance or alcohol abuse than Italian residents. The latter were more likely to suffer from schizophrenia or a related disorder, less likely to have experienced mental hospital admissions and showed an overall shorter duration of stay in residential care facilities. Contrary to our expectations Dutch residents, who still have good access to long stay beds in mental hospitals, are not less disabled than Italian residents. Finally, the number of beds in residential care facilities per 10,000 inhabitants in the Netherlands is twice (6) as high as in Italy (3). CONCLUSIONS: The Italian and Dutch deinstitutionalisation processes have resulted in a different availability in the number of residential beds. However, it did not influence the overall level of functioning of both residential populations.

PMID: 18589633 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Listening to music during anesthesia does not reduce the sevoflurane concentration needed to maintain a constant bispectral index.

Anesth Analg. 2008 Jul;107(1):77-80

Authors: Szmuk P, Aroyo N, Ezri T, Muzikant G, Weisenberg M, Sessler DI

BACKGROUND: Music reduces stress responses in awake subjects. However, there remains controversy about the role of music or therapeutic suggestions during general anesthesia and postoperative recovery. We thus tested the hypothesis that intraoperative exposure to soothing music reduces the end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane (ETSevo) necessary to maintain bispectral index (BIS) near 50 during laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: Forty patients, aged 40-60 yrs, ASA I and II, undergoing laparoscopic hernias or cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were studied. All patients were connected to a BIS monitor. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 2 microg/kg, sevoflurane in oxygen, rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg), and maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide, with an infusion of fentanyl (1 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1)). Sevoflurane was titrated to maintain BIS near 50 throughout the procedure. Patients were randomly assigned to either listen to music or not. RESULTS: The ETSevo necessary to maintain a BIS near 50 was virtually identical in patients who listened to music (1.29 +/- 0.33%) and those who did not (1.27 +/- 0.33%, P = 0.84). Patients who listened to music reported slightly less pain, but the difference was not statistically significant. Mean arterial blood pressure was slightly higher in patients who listened to music (101 +/- 11 mm Hg) than in those who did not (94 +/- 10 mm Hg, P = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: The end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane required to maintain BIS near 50 during laparoscopic cholecystectomy was virtually identical in patients exposed to music or not. Although previous work suggests that music reduces preoperative stress and may be useful during sedation, our results do not support the use of music during surgery.

PMID: 18635470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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[Study on relative problems of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of simple obesity]

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2008 Jul;28(7):522-4

Authors: Tang HS

There are many methods of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of simple obesity with definite therapeutic effects, so, they are followed with interest. However, their therapeutic effects are very different for different individuals, and there are many factors influencing therapeutic effects. The author consults 31 papers in publication about Chinese medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion at home in recent years, and in combination with own clinical practice and experience of many years on acupuncture and moxibustion for slimming, and ponders over the relative problems of syndrome differentiation treatment, therapeutic course, rebound, diet control, sports, psycho-therapy, etc. in clinical treatment, and raises personal some knowledge, so as to probe to increasing clinical effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on simple obesity and provide reference material for clinical treatment in future.

PMID: 18678167 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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