Search results for "Topic"

Supporting Reporting: On the Positive Effects of Text- and Video-Based Awareness Material on Responsible Journalistic Suicide News Writing.

2016

Suicide is a global public health problem. Media impact on suicide is well confirmed and there are several recommendations on how media should and should not report on suicide to minimize the risk of copycat behavior. Those media guidelines have been developed to improve responsible reporting on suicide (RRS). Although such guidelines are used in several countries, we lack empirical evidence on their causal effect on actual journalistic news writing. We conducted an experiment with journalism students (N = 78) in Germany in which we tested whether exposure to awareness material promoting RRS influences news writing. As a supplement to the widely used text-based material, we tested the impac…

Somatotopic arrangement of sudomotor axon reflex sweating in humans

2005

Impaired sweating may be one of the first symptoms in neuropathies, and therefore the evaluation of sweating might facilitate their early detection. Sudomotor axon reflexes can be quantified by two different methods: quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing (QSART) measures the amount of local sweating, whereas staining with the iodine starch reaction assesses the extension of the sudomotor axon reflex area. The aim of our study was to compare both tests at three different sites on the leg: foot, lower leg and thigh.QSART and iodine starch staining after iontophoretic stimulation with acetylcholine were performed on 15 male volunteers (mean age: 25; range 24-27 years) on the left resp. th…

Topical prazosin attenuates sensitivity to tactile stimuli in patients with complex regional pain syndrome

2015

Background The sympathetic nervous system may play an important role in certain forms of chronic pain. The main aim of this study was to determine whether functional blockade of α1-adrenoceptors would alter sensitivity to cutaneous stimulation in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Methods and Results In an initial study, high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of intradermal interstitial fluid collected from the forearms of three healthy individuals established that the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin penetrated the skin barrier when mixed in Lipoderm® cream base. Next, we found that application of this cream to the forearm of 10 healthy participants a…

An Internet-Based Self-Help Treatment for Fear of Public Speaking: A Controlled Trial

2010

Abstract This study offers data about the efficacy of “Talk to Me,” an Internet-based telepsychology program for the treatment of fear of public speaking that includes the most active components in cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) for social phobia (exposure and cognitive therapies). One hundred twenty-seven participants with social phobia were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions: (a) an Internet-based self-administered program; (b) the same program applied by a therapist; (c) a waiting-list control group. Results showed that both treatment conditions were equally efficacious. In addition, Talk to Me and the same treatment applied by a therapist were more efficacious than the…

Temporary stages and motivational variables: Two complementary perspectives in the help-seeking process for mental disorders

2018

Abstract Introduction Help-seeking for mental disorders is a complex process, which includes different temporary stages, and in which the motivational variables play an especially relevant role. However, there is a lack of instruments to evaluate in depth both the temporary and motivational variables involved in the help-seeking process. This study aims to analyse in detail these two sets of variables, using a specific instrument designed for the purpose, to gain a better understanding of the process of treatment seeking. Material and methods A total of 152 patients seeking treatment in mental health outpatient clinics of the NHS were individually interviewed: 71 had Obsessive-Compulsive Di…

The Italian Multiple Sclerosis Database Network (MSDN): The risk of worsening according to IFNβ exposure in multiple sclerosis

2006

We evaluated the risk of worsening according to the length of exposure to interferon beta (IFNβ)ina large cohort of 2090 multiple sclerosis patients collected by the Italian MS Database Network. Overall 44-140 patient-visits with a follow-up of 22-143 patient-years were evaluated. Forty-one per cent of patients were exposed to IFNβ for up to 2 years, 39% for 2- 4 years and 20% for more than 4 years. A Cox regression model was used to analyse two clinical outcomes: disability progression and worsening of relapse rate. The technique of propensity score was applied to reduce bias in the comparison of non-randomized groups. The risks of disability progression (HR=0.23; 95% CI: 0.17 - 0.30) and …

Keratinizing Desquamative Squamous Metaplasia of the Upper Urinary Tract: Leukoplakia—Cholesteatoma

1982

Influence of Thymopentin on Antibody Response, and Monocyte and T Cell Function in Hemodialysis Patients Who Fail to Respond to Hepatitis B Vaccinati…

1990

We investigated the influence of thymopentin as an adjuvant for hepatitis B vaccination on in vitro monocyte and T cell function and in vivo antibody response in a prospective, placebo-controlled double-blind trial in 20 low- and nonresponders to hepatitis B vaccination on chronic hemodialysis. 50 mg thymopentin was given subcutaneously twice per week for 3 weeks, followed by 1 intramuscular injection of 40 micrograms HB-Vax and 3 subsequent injections of thymopentin. After 1 month, the patients were boostered with 40 micrograms HB-Vax. There was no significant difference in T cell and monocyte function after administration of thymopentin, as determined in vitro. After 3 months, 3 patients …

Visual performance of two simultaneous vision multifocal contact lenses

2012

Purpose To evaluate and compare the visual performance of two simultaneous vision multifocal contact lenses (CLs). Methods In this cross-over study design 20 presbyopic subjects were fitted with two different simultaneous vision multifocal CLs (the PureVision Multifocal Low Add and Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia) in random order. After 1 month, binocular distance visual acuity (BDVA) under photopic (85 cd/m2) and mesopic (3 cd/m2) conditions, binocular near visual acuity (BNVA), binocular distance contrast sensitivity function (CSF) under photopic and mesopic conditions, binocular near CSF and defocus curve were measured. Subjects were then refitted with the alternative correction and the proc…

Quality of vision with the Acri. Twin asymmetric diffractive bifocal intraocular lens system.

2007

To assess the quality of vision in patients who had implantation of asymmetric Acri. Twin bifocal diffractive intraocular lenses (IOLs) by evaluating distance and near visual acuities and photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity under monocular and binocular conditions.Fernández-Vega Ophthalmological Institute, Oviedo, Spain.The study comprised 343 consecutive patients who had bilateral implantation of the Acri. Twin system: a distance-weighted 737D IOL and a near-weighted 733D IOL. Monocular and binocular best corrected distance visual acuities, best distance corrected near visual acuity, and distance contrast sensitivity under photopic (85 cd/m(2)) and mesopic (5 cd/m(2)) conditions were…