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The use of antihistamines (AHs) has until recently been associated with a number of undesirable side effects, the most troublesome of which is sedation. There are two aspects to sedation. The first, an objectively determined measure based on the results of psychometric tests from controlled trials, and the second, the subject's response to the administration of a drug. Since AHs are largely used in ambulant patients, a complete evaluation of sedation should be performed through standardised objective tests, shown to be sensitive to the central effects of AHs and reliable ratings of subjective experiences. A critical review of the literature on the experimental studies with AHs revealed that the traditional AHs had a greater propensity to produce adverse central nervous system (CNS) effects, whereas the so called second generation AHs were generally less impairing when administered within their recommended 'dose window'. A similar review of the clinical literature surveying subjective reports of sedation following the administration of AHs showed that the traditional AHs were perceived as more sedative than the second generation AHs. On the basis of these findings, a series of controlled experiments in non-atopic volunteers investigated the effects of a number of second generation AHs on various aspects of cognitive functioning and psychomotor performance. It is concluded that the second generation AHs have a lesser effect with respect to objective indices of sedation when compared to their predecessors, and that fexofenadine, has a claim to be the first truly non-sedating antihistamine as there is no objective evidence of CNS effects. The identification of an antihistamine, devoid of adverse CNS activity regardless of the administered dose, highlights the need for the introduction of a 'third generation' of AHs.

No description available.

A thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / The purpose of this thesis was to construct a comprehensive battery of standardised tests that was robust in terms of its psychometric characteristics to evaluate visual-perceptual-motor (V-P-M) function in the adult who had suffered a Cerebro-Vascular- Accident (C.V.A.). This was to meet the need for the occupational therapist to target specific deficits and thereby to provide an effective treatment to patients. Work done by the candidate with patients, the literature as well as a review of existing tests demonstrated the need for such a test battery. Up to this time, tests available do not meet all the requirements for a reliable and valid assessment tool for adult V-P-M function. This demanded that the tests compiled for this thesis be based on a sound theoretical model, supplied information on age related changes in function and had undergone rigorous psychometric testing. It was also nescessary that normative data based on information collected from a random sarnote of the population for whom the test was intended and which would include a wide range of age groups, be collected. in order to fulfil these requirements the construction of this test battery followed the eleven steps necessary to produce tests ready for the final stage (step twelve) l.e. the collection of the normative data. ( Abbreviation abstract ) / AC2017

The most commonly used tests for the evaluation of perceptual motor function of children in South Africa are the Southern California Sensory Integration Tests (Ayres, 1972) and Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test (Ayres, 1975). These particular tests were revised, changed and restandardized in 1989. For various reasons the new form, Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (Ayres, 1989), is not feasible for use in South Africa. It has thus become imperative to develop tests in South Africa that can replace these tests. The South African Institute of Sensory Integration appointed working committees in various sectors of the country to develop a test for the South African population. The candidate decided to develop a somatosensory Test which could be used as part of a South African test of sensory integration. A test was designed and constructed, based on the model used by Ayres in the Southern California Sensory Integration Tests. This test comprises five subtests, i.e. Non-vestibular Proprioception (in the first phase of the study this subtest was named Kinesthesia), Finger Recognition, Form Recognition, Two Point Discrimination and Tactile Stimuli Placement tests. This proposed test was used in the field by seven voluntary field workers. They each recruited a sample of convenience and administered the proposed test to 58 children. A self-administered questionnaire was completed for each test administered completed to evaluate the mechanics of the test. The data obtained from the questionnaires were statistically analysed and from this the candidate could draw conclusions about changes necessary for the test. Suggested changes were implemented. These included shortening the test, changing verbal instructions, adapting some parts of test items, reorganising the score sheet and changing the instruction manual accordingly. A pilot study was conducted to determine validity and reliability of the proposed test. A representative sample (n = 114) was recruited from the Sub A population in the Durbanville and Kraaifontein area of the Northern suburbs of the Cape Town Metropolitan Area. A comparative study was done to validate the proposed test, using the Southern California Sensory Integration Tests as a gold standard. The Two Point Discrimination test was excluded from this validation study as there is no corresponding test of the SCSIT. Results were compared and levels of sensitivity and specificity were established. In general, higher levels of specificity than sensitivity were obtained. The Form Recognition test had the highest sensitivity level (60%) and in the case of the Finger Recognition test statistically significant differences were obtained between means (p = 0.006). Thirty children from the group of 114 were tested by two testers to establish the reliability coefficient. The Form Recognition test had the highest coefficient (0.83).

Yue Xiaomin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-55). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter CHAPTER I --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1 --- Neuronal Synchronization --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- Synchronization and attention --- p.4 / Chapter CHAPTER II --- METHODOLOGY OF EEG SIGNAL ANALYSIS / Chapter 1 --- A time series and a stochastic process --- p.8 / Chapter 2 --- Methods to capture neuronal synchronization --- p.10 / Chapter 3 --- Disadvantage of traditional method to calculate coherent --- p.11 / Chapter 4 --- Multivariate AutoRegressive model (MVAR) --- p.12 / Chapter 5 --- Estimation algorithm of MVAR model --- p.15 / Chapter 6 --- Validation of the algorithm by simulation --- p.17 / Chapter CHAPTER III --- EXPERIMENTS AND RESULTS / Chapter 1 --- Experiment --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Participants and experimental procedures --- p.21 / Chapter 1.2 --- EEG recording and processing --- p.22 / Chapter 1.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.23 / Chapter 2 --- Experiment / Chapter 2.1 --- Participants and experimental procedures --- p.32 / Chapter 2.2 --- EEG recording and processing --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.33 / Chapter CHAPTER IV --- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION / Chapter 1 --- Functional connection between different cortical areas --- p.42 / Chapter 2 --- Relationship of coherence to motor behavior --- p.45 / Chapter 3 --- Automatic synchronization --- p.46 / Reference --- p.48

published_or_final_version / Psychology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters’ Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / Background: Motor learning theories indicate that training improves motor performance by reducing variability and increasing task control. Elastic tubing and tyre resistance training methods may allow for the development of control over the dynamics of spinal manipulation. This study thus aimed to determine whether training with elastic tubing and tyre resistance, in conjunction with the standard manipulative training at the Durban University of Technology, resulted in the development of control of the dynamics of manipulation compared to training with the standard training alone. Methods: A quantitative, prospective, experimental cohort design was used. Fifty-three participants were randomly allocated into tyre or elastic tubing resistance training intervention groups, or the control group. All groups continued with the standard manipulative training at the Durban University of Technology. The dynamics of manipulation were measured with the Dynadjust pre-, mid- and post-training. The SPSS was utilised to compute the parametric and non-parametric analyses. Results: The results showed no statistically significant differences over time for any of the measured dynamics of manipulation. None of the groups (excluding the control group for S-I manipulation) developed control of the relationships between the dynamics. Overall, there was no difference between the groups with regards to development of control of the dynamics. Conclusion: The results suggest that the additional training methods, should be carefully considered when employed over a short term. Study limitations include the sample size and the effect of outliers, therefore any firm conclusions drawn from this study are required to be interpreted with caution.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.