Search results for "visual"
showing 10 items of 7386 documents
Detection and distraction effects for threatening information in social phobia and change after treatment.
2007
This work examines differences in the detection and distraction by social-threatrelated information between a social phobia group (SP; N533) and a normal control group (NC; N532). The change obtained after psychological treatment is also studied for the SP group. A paper-and-pencil visual search task is used, in which the emotional valence of the ‘‘target’’ (social threat, physical threat, and neutral words) and ‘‘distractor’’ (social threat, physical threat, neutral, and nonsense words) verbal stimuli is manipulated. Results indicate that there are no differences in the detection of social-threat targets between SP and NC participants. However, the performance of SP individuals is more imp…
Neural correlates of an attentional bias to health-threatening stimuli in individuals with pathological health anxiety
2017
Background: An attentional bias to health-threat stimuli is assumed to represent the primary pathogenetic factor for the development and maintenance of pathological health anxiety (PHA; formerly termed “hypochondriasis”). However, little is known about the neural basis of this attentional bias in individuals with PHA.Methods: A group of patients with PHA, a group of depressed patients and a healthy control group completed an emotional Stroop task with health-threat (body symptom and illness) words and neutral control words while undergoing functional MRI.Results: We included 33 patients with PHA, 28 depressed patients and 31 controls in our analyses. As reflected in reaction times, patients…
Gender variations of body composition, muscle strength and power output in morbid obesity
2005
BACKGROUND: Motor capabilities are reduced in obese (OB) individuals, and this impairment may result also from quantitative variation of muscle mass due to alterations in body composition. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the differences in body mass (BM) and composition, as well as in muscle strength (ST) and power output W(.) between OB and NW males and females, and to test the hypothesis that variations in body composition affect muscle performance in OB subjects. DESIGN AND METHODS: Body composition (determined by BIA with a two-compartment model), upper and lower limb maximum ST (evaluated with isotonic machines) and lower limb maximum anaerobic W(.) (measured with a jumping test…
Visuospatial attention lateralization in volleyball players and in rowers.
2011
In the present study, differences in visuospatial attention lateralization were evaluated in athletes engaged in open- compared to closed-skill sports and sedentary nonathletes. 23 volleyball players (open skill; Italian national level and regional level), 10 rowers (closed skill, Italian national level), and 23 sedentary participants responded to a computerized line-length judgment task. Five lines, differing in the length of their right and left segments, were randomly presented; the respondent made a forced-choice decision about the respective length of the two segments. Volleyball players responded significantly faster; those at the higher competitive level were also more accurate, mak…
Ciclosporin and prednisone v. prednisone in treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy: a controlled, randomized and prospective study.
1986
Forty patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy stages III-V were divided into two groups in a random manner according to their year of birth. Group I received prednisone in decreasing dosage. Group II received prednisone at a comparable dosage and ciclosporin. Steroids were discontinued after 10 weeks in the two groups. In the patients of group II, ciclosporin was continued over 12 months. The therapeutic effect was assessed by an activity score based on subjective and objective symptoms (computerized tomography and sonography of the orbit, Hertel values, clinical findings). All signs of endocrine ophthalmopathy improved significantly in both groups (P less than 0.01 in group I; P less than 0.0…
Comparison of cyclodeviation and duction measurement in Graves' orbitopathy patients using different devices
2011
To compare measurement outcomes of different devices measuring cyclodeviation and ductions in Graves' orbitopathy (GO) patients. Cyclodeviation in GO patients was measured using the Harms tangent screen (HTS), the cycloforometer of Franceschetti, and the synoptometer. Ductions were measured using the modified perimeter, the Goldmann perimeter and the Maddox tangent scale (MTS). In 13 patients, cyclodeviation in primary position, up-, and downgaze was measured with the above-mentioned devices. The mean differences ranged from 0.3º to 3.1º and were smallest between the HTS and the cycloforometer (89% of all measurements within 2º difference). Measurement of abduction, adduction, elevation, an…
Preserved visual-vestibular interaction in patients with bilateral vestibular failure
2004
Background: During caloric vestibular stimulation, subjects showed bilateral activation of the vestibular cortex in the posterior insula and retroinsular region as well as concurrent deactivation of visual cortex areas bilaterally. This finding was the basis for the concept of a reciprocal inhibitory interaction between the vestibular and the visual systems. Objective: To analyze the modulations of this activation and deactivation pattern in patients with loss of vestibular input, that is, in patients with bilateral vestibular failure (BVF). Methods: Modulations of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in PET were measured in nine patients with BVF and compared with those in healthy volunteer…
Modulation of [18F]fluorodopa (FDOPA) kinetics in the brain of healthy volunteers after acute haloperidol challenge.
2006
In animal studies, acute antipsychotic treatment was shown to enhance striatal DOPA-decarboxylase (DDC) activity. However, this phenomenon has not been demonstrated in humans by positron emission tomography (PET). Therefore, we investigated acute haloperidol effects on DDC activity in humans using [18F]fluorodopa (FDOPA) PET. Nine healthy volunteers were scanned with FDOPA in drug-free baseline conditions and after 3 days of haloperidol treatment (5 mg/day). A continuous performance test (CPT) was administered in both conditions. The net blood-brain clearance of FDOPA (K(in)app) in striatum, mesencephalon, and medial prefrontal cortex was calculated by volume-of-interest analysis. The macro…
Assessment and diagnosis of suspected glaucoma in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis
2015
Purpose The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of rare lysosomal storage disorders, characterized by the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans within multiple organ systems including the eye. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of glaucoma in patients with MPS, as well as the characteristics, diagnosis and management of patients with MPS and glaucoma. Methods A multicentre retrospective case-note review was carried out by ophthalmologists from four tertiary referral centres to identify patients with MPS who had been treated for glaucoma. Clinical ophthalmological data were collected using standardized data collection forms. Results Fourteen patients were identified (27 eyes) of 2…
Corneal Biomechanical Parameters With Corneoscleral Contact Lenses in Post-Laser In Situ Keratomileusis Eyes
2018
Objective: To evaluate corneal biomechanical parameters wearing corneoscleral contact lenses (CScL) in patients with irregular corneas after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Methods: Data from patients fitted with CScL because of corneal surface irregularities after complicated LASIK surgery were selected by two eye clinics. Previously and after 1 year of CScL fitting, corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc), and central corneal thickness were evaluated. In addition, visual acuity, subjective comfort, and wearing time CScL were reported. Results: The study comprised 27 eyes. Statistically significant differences were fo…