The current project applied a new theoretically-driven training paradigm shown to be effective at improving memory performance in a group of aging adults (Jennings & Jacoby, 2003) to a group of 10 individuals with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Training effects were assessed on the paradigm itself and other measures of memory and attention. Performance on cognitive measures was compared to a group of 9 healthy, young adults to control for practice effects. Results showed a replication of previous findings in terms of both frequency and magnitude of improvement in this new population. Some proximal effects of training were found on a similarly-structured task (false fame) but no distal effects of training were seen on other cognitive measures. Limitations of the current project included small sample sizes. Recommendations are provided for future research. Implications for a dual-process model of memory and clinical practice are discussed.

No description available.

A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic at Technikon Natal, 1999. / The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of patella mobilization in patients suffering from patellofemoral pain syndrome, This was a prospective, randomized, placebo controlled, pilot study, Group A received patella mobilization, while Group B, the placebo group, received detuned ultrasound, The study involved 30 subjects, 15 in each group selected from the general population, Each subject was treated eight times within a four week period, however if they became asymptomatic prior to their eighth treatment the subjective and objective data normally collected on the eighth treatment was collected on their last consultation, patients were required to return for a one month follow-up from the date of their last consultation, Each subject was assessed by means of the short-form Mc Gill Pain Questionnaire, Numerical Pain Questionnaire and the Patient-Specific Functional Scale, Objectively their pressure-pain threshold and tolerance was assessed by means of an algometer, Assessments were taken at the first, eighth, and follow-up consultation for all the subjective and objective measurements, Algometer readings were also obtained at the fourth consultation, the pressure was applied at approximately one kilogram per centimeter squared per second, Excessively high or low readings were retaken, Statistical analysis was completed under the guidance of the statistician at Technikon, Natal, using the non-parametric Wilcoxon sign-rank test and the Mann- Whitney unpaired test comparing intra-group and inter-group data respectfully, / M

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic,Technikon Natal, 2001. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate Piroxicam versus Protease administration, in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings, in order to determine the effectiveness of each approach in the treatment of grade 1 and 2 acute ankle inversion sprains. The study was a prospective, randomized, double blinded, controlled study. The study involved 30 subjects, 15 in each group which were selected from the general population. One group received Protease and strapping while the other group two received Piroxicam and strapping. Patients received 3 treatments over a period of one week. Patients in the Protease group received 1200mg (3 x 400mg) of Protease daily before meals for seven days. Patients in the Piroxicam group received 40mg (2 x 20mg) of Piroxicam for the first two days, and then 20mg (1 x 20mg) for the following five days, administered with meals. All patients were taught how to apply an elastic crepe bandage to the ankle, which was to be used at all times, except during bathing for the duration of the study / M

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine (Surgery) Johannesburg 1993. / During the period June 1985-December 1989, 77 patients were accumulated for the autotransfusion trial, 21 of which were control patients. These patients were managed at three institutions namely Hillbrow (64), Coronation (1) and Shongwe (12) Hospitals. Of these 77 patients, 65 were involved in penetrating or blunt injuries, and 12 were ruptured ectopic pregnancies. The ages of all patients ranged from 16 yrs to 65 yrs. The patients were divided into four groups: 1 banked blood only (controls), 21 2 autotransfused blood only, 27 3 combined banked and autotransfusion, 17 4 ruptured ectopic pregnancies, 12. Investigated were the effects of autotransfused or banked blood volumes on the following parameters: 1 White cell counts: admission and post-transfusion day 1 2 Platelet counts: post-transfusion days :1. and 2 3 Haemoglobin: admission and post-transfusiondays 1 and 2 4 prothrombin indeex: post-trancfusidoanys 1, 2, and 3 5 Partial thromboplast times: post-transfusion days 1 and 2 6 Fibrinogen Degradation products: post-transfusion day 1 7 Haptoglobin levels: post-transfusion day 1 8 Haemopexin levels: post-transfusion day 1 9 Fibrinogen levels: post-transfusion days 1 and 2 Four salvage techniques were utilised. Complications were analysed for each transfusion group. Autotransfusion of salvaged blood from haemotihoxaces and haemoperitoneums is safe, efficaoious, and cost effective, provided that certain guidelines are followed.

This was a holistic study. Four themes were investigated to demonstrate the effectiveness of orthotic intervention for plantar ulceration affecting leprosy impaired subjects in India. 1. Efficacy Efficacy was demonstrated, primarily, through analysis of data pertaining to a controlled trial. Thirty-seven subjects, presenting with leprosy impairments including anaesthesia and plantar ulceration, were fitted with orthoses and allocated to an experimental group. Thirty-four similar subjects, were not offered orthoses and were allocated to a control group. After 8 months 52% of the ulcers presented by Experimental group and 12% of the ulcers presented by the Control group had healed. The rationale supporting the prescription of orthoses was investigated using the EMED system. It was demonstrated that intervention with orthoses resulted in significantly lower sub pedal peak pressures than intervention with leprosy sandals. 2. Implementation and Sustain ability Ulcer assessment data from March 1994 to January 1995 were used to compare the effects of orthoses supplied by the investigator with orthoses supplied by an Indian technician. The service, evaluated on the strength of these findings, was considered to have been successfully implemented. The analysis of data, collected from January 1995 to December 1995, was used to explain why the service was not sustained at an acceptable level. 3. Acceptability Interview data were analysed to describe the attitudes of the subjects to the intervention (n = 46). Indications from the analysis were that neither ulcer status (healed or unresolved) nor group allocation (Experimental or Control) affected attitudes towards the intervention. A general indication was that the intervention was favourably endorsed. 4. Appropriateness Using the Delphi technique (n = 10), a consensus on indicators of "appropriate" impairment control measures was sought. Differences of opinion were not resolved, but group priorities were ranked and a polled response was recorded. The results of the study were similar to the criteria suggested by the Delphi contributors.

No description available.

Although already known that Maori were over-represented in terms of Work-Related Fatal Injury, because of flawed identification processes, both in numerator and denominator data, little progress has been made in understanding the true extent, nature and distribution of work-related fatal injury among Maori. The present study aimed to more accurately describe the problem, identifying specific circumstances associated with Maori deaths that will assist in developing preventive strategies for Maori. Coronial files with an ICD 9-CM E-Code between E800 and E989 and a decedent aged 15-84, were reviewed as part of the study of all New Zealand work-related fatal injuries occurring between 1985 and 1994. Basic descriptive and causal information concerning each incident were abstracted and coded. Maori were identified within this dataset by either the classification recorded upon death certificates or if they were identified as Maori within Coroners files. In all, 91 Maori deaths were identified within the 817 work-related fatalities. Notably, agreement between the data sources used to identify ethnic status was only around 52%. Crude rates were significantly higher for Maori and did not show the significant linear decline across years, compared with the non-Maori rates. Rates adjusted for employment patterns based on ethnicity did not differ. Specific event sequences leading to death were examined by age industry and occupational group for both Maori and non-Maori workers. This study is the first to specifically investigate work-related injury for Maori. It confirms that overall inequities exist, and that they are largely due to differing employment patterns between Maori and non-Maori.

Blood vessel injury was found to release intracellular pools of protein D-aspartyl/L-isoaspartyl carboxyl methyltransferase (PIMT) into the extracellular milieu, where it became trapped. Trapped PIMT was able to utilize radiolabeled S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) introduced into the circulation to methylate blood vessel proteins containing altered aspartyl residues specifically at the site of injury. In vitro studies more fully characterized this endogenous PIMT activity in thoracic aorta and inferior vena cava. At least 50% of the PIMT activity released during injury, was resistant to non-ionic detergent extraction, suggesting that the enzyme activity can become trapped within or behind the extracellular matrix (ECM). Analysis of inferior vena cava, found that 90% of the altered aspartyl residues in blood vessels are inaccessible to methylation by intracellular PIMT under physiological conditions. Subfractionation of inferior vena cava on the basis of solubility found that at least 40% of the altered aspartyl containing proteins in blood vessels are insoluble in non-ionic detergent containing buffers and are highly resistant to extraction by protein denaturants. Analysis of peptides revealed that the majority of the altered aspartyl groups in blood vessels are located extracellularly. Digestion of these extracellular matrix proteins with cyanogen bromide (CNBr), followed by methylation with (PIMT), found that about 60% of the altered aspartyl residues in the ECM are solubilized by this treatment. The presence of hydroxyproline in amino acid hydrosolates of this fraction and acidic pH gel electrophoresis of methylated peptides, allowed the identification of collagen as the major PIMT substrate in the CNBr-soluble material. CNBr peptides derived from both type I and type III collagen were found to methylated. It is estimated that one centimeter of blood vessel contains on the order of 5 x 10����� altered aspartyl residues involving 1% to 5% of the total extracellular protein. / Graduation date: 1997

This investigation was conducted to determine the effectiveness of Personal Achievement Skills (PAS), a structured group psychotherapy approach, on the productivity, social functioning, self-esteem, locus of control, and life satisfaction of individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury. Subjects for the study were recruited through disability advocacy organizations, state disability service agencies, and local colleges, universities, and rehabilitation centers. The research design utilized was a randomized, pretest, posttest control group design with 15 experimental and 14 control group subjects. A behavioral Activity Questionnaire was specially designed for the study to assess productivity. It included activities such as employment, educational pursuits, social and community involvement, volunteer work, and family responsibilities. Other measures included: (a) the Affiliative Tendency Scale, (b) the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, (c) the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale, and (d) the Life Satisfaction Index. The results of the investigation indicated that PAS group participants, in comparison to the control group, improved significantly on the self-esteem measure. No such improvement was found on the other measures in the study. With regard to the self-esteem finding, male subjects responded more favorably to the PAS approach than female subjects. The issues and concerns of using the PAS approach with individuals with physical limitations were discussed along with recommendations and modifications for future research. / Graduation date: 1992