No description available.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of triazolam, a short-acting benzodiazepine, on nocturnal arousals, body movements, and quality of sleep in healthy, postmenopausal females. A double-blind control by constancy cross-over design was employed. Twelve subjects were randomly assigned to the sequence paradigm placebo, drug, placebo, drug or to the sequence paradigm drug, placebo, drug, placebo. Each subject slept for six nights in a sleep laboratory that was specifically designed to decrease the artificiality of the laboratory setting. EEG, EOG, and EMG measurements were recorded on a polysomnograph. Body movements were recorded on videotape and measured by radar and ultrasound instruments. Sleep quality was measured using both Likert and visual analogue scales. In examining arousal activity during sleep period time, the findings demonstrated a significant decrease in wakes after sleep onset (WASO), sleep stage one episodes, and sleep stage shifts when triazolam was compared to a placebo reference. There was no significant effect on K-complex activity associated with movement. In examining body movements during the sleep period time, the findings demonstrated a significant decrease in major body movements when triazolam was compared to a placebo reference. Minor body movements were increased, but not at significant levels. In examining the subject's perceived quality of sleep, their satisfaction with sleep was significantly increased on nights following triazolam administration when compared with nights following placebo administration.

No description available.

No description available.

This research has provided an analysis of how the issue of age is related to the expression of specific symptoms characteristic of the genetic disorder known as Marfan syndrome. Marfan syndrome occurs when the body cannot produce, or produces too little fibrillin-1, a component of the connective tissues. The body systems affected by Marfan syndrome include the skeletal, cardiovascular, ocular, and pulmonary systems. Evidence drawn from medical case studies showed that while not statistically significant, illustrated that symptom expression increases with age, especially during the period of adolescence. The evidence also suggested that the type of physician involved in a diagnosis may affect the information provided in case studies. / Department of Anthropology

The types of intrusion errors (Prior List, Semantically Related, and Unrelated) made on the LASSI-L verbal memory task were compared across three diagnostic groups (N = 160, 61 % female), Cognitively Normal (CN), amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Errors related to Proactive, Recovery from Proactive, and Retroactive Interference were also analyzed, as well as the relationship of errors to Amyloid load, a biomarker of AD. Results suggest that the types of error made indicated the level of cognitive decline. It appears that as deficits increase, impaired semantic networks result in the simultaneous activation of items that are semantically related to LASSI-L words. In the aMCI group, providing a semantic cue resulted in an increased production of Semantically Related intrusions. Unrelated intrusions occurred rarely, although, a small number occurred even in the CN group, warranting further investigation. Amyloid load correlated with all intrusion errors. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

by Hiu-ming Li. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-88). / SUMMARY --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.3 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1. --- Retinal pigment epithelium --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Embryology / Chapter 2.1.2. --- Anatomy and histology / Chapter 2.1.3. --- Growth and aging / Chapter 2.1.4. --- Macular region / Chapter 2.2. --- The photoreceptor outer segment --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3. --- Lipofuscin --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4. --- Lipofuscin in retinal pigment epithelium and retinal photoreceptor disc shedding --- p.14 / Chapter 2.5. --- Possible mechanism for lipofuscin formation in the RPE --- p.22 / Chapter 2.6. --- Age-related lipofuscin accumulation in the RPE --- p.22 / Chapter 2.7. --- Racial difference of RPE lipofuscin concentration --- p.25 / Chapter 2.8. --- RPE lipofuscin and age-related macular degeneration --- p.26 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1. --- Histologic Specimens --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2. --- Measuring equipment --- p.28 / Chapter 3.3. --- Software of measurements --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4. --- Light source and filters --- p.31 / Chapter 3.5. --- Control --- p.31 / Chapter 3.6. --- Measurement of autofluorescent Intensity --- p.32 / Chapter 3.7. --- Bleaching (oxidation) of melanin --- p.39 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- RESULTS --- p.42 / Chapter 4.1. --- Bleaching test --- p.42 / Chapter 4.2. --- RPE autofluorescence observation in different age --- p.43 / Chapter 4.3. --- RPE autofluorescence observation within individual eyes --- p.45 / Chapter 4.4. --- Topographic distribution of lipofuscin --- p.49 / Chapter 4.5. --- Lipofuscin content at the Foveola --- p.50 / Chapter 4.6. --- The relationship of age and lipofuscin content in total RPE --- p.51 / Chapter 4.7. --- The relationship of age and lipofuscin content in the macular RPE --- p.57 / Chapter 4.8. --- Relationship of age and lipofuscin content in the posterior pole of RPE --- p.59 / Chapter 4.9. --- Relationship of age and lipofuscin content in the temporal RPE --- p.61 / Chapter 4.10. --- Relationship of age and lipofuscin content in the nasal RPE --- p.63 / Chapter 4.11. --- Age related topographic changes --- p.65 / Chapter 4.12. --- The relationship of age and lipofuscin content in the RPE of male --- p.66 / Chapter 4.13. --- The relationship of age and lipofuscin content in the RPE of female --- p.68 / Chapter 4.14. --- Relationship of lipofuscin content in different sex --- p.70 / Chapter CHAPTER 5. --- DISCUSSION --- p.71 / Chapter 5.1. --- Evaluation of method --- p.71 / Chapter 5.2. --- RPE lipofuscin content in different age --- p.71 / Chapter 5.3. --- Topographic distribution of lipofuscin --- p.74 / Chapter 5.4. --- Lipofuscin and age-related macular degeneration in Chinese --- p.78 / REFERENCES --- p.81

This series of projects aims to explore the potential role of strategic flexibility in cognitive aging, and whether this construct can serve as an effective mechanistic proxy for cognitive reserve. Study 1 introduces the task designed for this series, based on stimuli from a classic test of fluid reasoning and formatted as a task-switching paradigm to explore strategic characteristics in a structured way. This study suggests that such a task is subject to age-related effects. Study 2 introduces a redesigned version of this task, matching it more closely to existing paradigms of task-switching, and explores how covariates interact with measured performance. Study 3 draws upon an existing sample of extensive neuropsychological and neuroimaging data, and aims to describe the associations among this set of data and measures of strategic flexibility. Results overall indicate that age negatively affects strategic flexibility, but cognitive reserve may mitigate this impairment.

Graduation date: 1993

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences