Code debriefing from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Team Training program improves the cardiopulmonary resuscitation code process.

A Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center developed a brief questionnaire to support the identification of issues and the continuous improvement of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation process and its outcomes.

Ductal lavage of cancerous and unaffected breasts: procedure success rate and cancer detection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ductal lavage (DL) performance in women with known breast cancer and to assess cell yield from contralateral high-risk breasts. STUDY DESIGN: Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer were offered study participation. They underwent bilateral nipple aspiration, followed by DL of those ducts demonstrating nipple aspiration fluid (NAF) production. The procedures were conducted in the operating room prior to definitive surgery. Samples were interpreted masked as to which breast was malignant, and the interpretation used a 5-category scheme: insufficient, benign, mildly atypical, markedly atypical or malignant. RESULTS: A total of 23 women with 24 cancers were enrolled, ranging in age from 32 to 76. One had ductal carcinoma in situ; there were 13 T1, 6 T2 and 4 T3 lesions. NAF was identified in 72% of breasts, more commonly in cancerous than unaffected breasts. DL was performed on 33 breasts; of these, 55% were adequate. Only 16.6% of samples from malignant breasts contained abnormality, marked atypia in 1 and malignancy in 3. No samples from unaffected breasts demonstrated cellular abnormalities. CONCLUSION: The low sensitivity of DL performed on malignant breasts to identify abnormal cells adds to the growing body of evidence that this is not an effective tool in identifying existing breast cancer. Numbers are small, but the ability of DL to identify atypia in unaffected high-risk breasts may also be suboptimal. Future efforts should focus on molecular markers of risk and on alternate means of cell or tissue retrieval.

Patterns and risk factors of change in somatic and mood symptoms among older adults.

PURPOSE: This paper was concerned with patterns of individual-level, longitudinal change in depressive symptoms and factors related to those patterns among Americans 70+ years of age. Two types of depressive symptoms were considered, somatic and mood symptoms. The paper focused on whether the patterns of change and the risk factors for these two types of symptoms differed, as we might expect among old and oldest-old adults. METHODS: The analytic sample included self-respondents of the 1993--1995 Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) study who were born in 1923 or earlier. Depressive symptoms were assessed using an abbreviated Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) Scale. The analyses involved examination of respondents' change scores in depressive symptoms and multivariate models using ordinary least squares (OLS) and seemingly unrelated regressions (SUR). RESULTS: In aggregate, somatic symptoms were more common than mood symptoms initially and over time. Despite differences in aggregate rates, AHEAD respondents' individual-level patterns of change for the two types of symptoms were similar; i.e., stability was the principal trend (53--60%), followed by improvement (21--26%). A number of factors related to change in one aspect of depressive symptoms and not the other, or had greater effects on one aspect of depressive symptoms than the other; e.g., physical health had greater effects on somatic than mood symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that, in investigations of the course and risk factors for depressive symptoms among people 70+ years of age, it is important to separate somatic symptoms from mood symptoms; their etiology may differ. In general, factors reflecting respondents' social milieu (e.g., bereavement, residential relocation) may have greater effects on mood than somatic symptoms, whereas certain factors representing physical health may have greater effects on somatic symptoms.

Relative photometric measurements of retinal circulation (dromofluorograms): a televison technique.

Television fluoroangiography is used in order to obtain fluorescein dilution curves (dromofluorograms [From the Greek word: epsilon rho omicron mu omicron, which means flowing. We coined this word because dilution curves do not afford a true measurement of the blood circulation, or simply of a dilution, but of the fluorescein transport in the circulation!] from single retinal vessels. An optical fiber conveys the light from a single retinal artery, vein, or any other retinal area on the video screen to a photomultiplier. After low-pass electronic filtration, the dilution curves are recorded on a strip-chart recorder. The measurements considered are all related to time: the time interval between initial instants of the arterial and venous curve; the time interval between maximum instants; the arterial and venous curve rising times. It is seen that (1) the method is sensitive enough to enable variations in the quantities in pathologic cases to be detected; (2) owing to the great variability from part to part of the vessels, it is important to specify where the retinal dromofluorogram has been recorded.

Computer-assisted analyses of [14C]2-DG autoradiographs employing a general purpose image processing system.

A general purpose image processing system is described including B/W TV camera, high resolution image processor and display system (TESAK VDC 501), computer (DEC PDP 11/23), and monochrome and color monitors. Images may be acquired from a microscope equipped with a TV camera or using the TV in direct viewing; the A/D converter and the image processor provides fast (40 ms) and precise (512 X 512 data points) digitization of TV signal with a 256 gray levels maximum resolution. Computer programs have been developed in order to perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of autoradiographs obtained with the 2-DG method, which are written in FORTRAN and MACRO 11 Assembly Language. They include: (1) procedures designed to recognize errors in acquisition due to possible image shading and correct them via software; (2) routines suitable for qualitative analyses of the whole image or selected regions of it, providing the opportunity for pseudocolor coding, statistics, graphic overlays; (3) programs permitting the conversion of gray levels into metabolic rates of glucose utilization and the display of gray- or color-coded metabolic maps.

Intraocular injection of APB decreases the metabolic response of the rat superior colliculus.

The functional activity of the superior colliculus (SC) following flash stimulation was examined by means of 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) method in monocularly enucleated Long-Evans rats intraocularly injected with a solution of 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (APB), able to silence the ON retinal activity. After APB injection SC layers recipient of retinal axons suffered a sustained 2DG decrease as compared to controls. Moreover, whereas glucose utilization in normal rat SC appears unevenly distributed and closely related to retinal axon density, by contrast, APB-treated rats showed a rather uniform metabolic activity throughout the SC surface. Furthermore, we calculated the 2DG uptake percentage reduction in 12 SC loci of APB rats in respect to homologous loci of controls: glucose utilization decreases at the loci largely differ from each other, showing that retinal axons carrying ON activity are dispersed over the SC in a mosaic pattern. Thus, the SC metabolic map should be representative of its retinotopic organization which, in turn, depends on the asymmetric distribution in the rat's retina of W-like as well as of other ganglion cell types.

Changes in driving patterns and worsening depressive symptoms among older adults.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether changes in driving patterns-driving cessation and reduction-have negative consequences for the depressive symptoms of older Americans and whether these consequences are mitigated for people with a spouse who drives. METHODS: The project used data from 3 waves of the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) study. Depressive symptoms were assessed with an abbreviated Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale. Using 2 models, the project examined how driving cessation and reduction that occurred between Waves 1 and 2 contributed to increases in depressive symptoms between Waves 2 and 3. The first model included the entire sample (N = 5,239), and the second model focused on drivers only (n = 3,543). A third model added interaction terms to the analysis to consider whether respondents who stopped driving but had a spouse who drove were less at risk of worsening depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Respondents who stopped driving had greater risk of worsening depressive symptoms. Drivers who restricted their driving distances before the study began also had greater risk of worsening depressive symptoms, but seemingly less so than the respondents who stopped driving altogether. For respondents who stopped driving, having a spouse available to drive them did not mitigate the risk of worsening symptoms. DISCUSSION: Changes in driving patterns can be deleterious for older people's depressive symptoms. Initiatives for assisting older people should focus on strategies that help them retain driving skills, that prepare them for the possible transition from driver to ex-driver, and that ensure that they have access to mental health therapies if driving changes are imminent.

Experimental errors in digital image processing for the determination of geometrical parameters of the human eye.

A new method is presented for measuring geometrical parameters of the anterior segment of human eye. A digital imaging technique is employed in conjunction with a slit lamp and TV camera. A method was developed to analyze images and the problem of minimizing measuring errors was studied. The method was tested using a contact lens to simulate the anterior corneal surface.

Improvements in clinical electronystagmogram analysis.

The authors apply the technique of amplitude histogram analysis to the clinical electronystagmogram (ENG). After a brief survey of the underlying concepts, some typical normal and pathological ENG records are discussed. Comparison of advantages and disadvantages reveals that the quoted technique may be suitable to be profitably introduced in clinical practice.

Incremental binocular amplitude of the pattern visual evoked potential during the first five months of life: electrophysiological evidence of the development of binocularity.

The amplitude of the pattern visual evoked potential (VEP) of a binocular stimulus has been shown to be generally larger than the VEP obtained monocularly. There is evidence that this effect can be considered an electrophysiological index of fusion. To study how binocular vision develops in infancy we evaluated the incremental binocular amplitude (IBA) in three infants in a longitudinal investigation during the first five months of life. The stimuli were phase-alternating square-wave gratings with spatial and temporal parameters chosen to be appropriate for neonates. IBA was defined as the percentage increment of the largest binocular response compared with the monocular response. In the first two months of life IBA values were near zero, that is, no summation occurred. Between the second and third month IBA values rose markedly and after the third month its value was greater than 100%, demonstrating binocular facilitation. Thus in the first two months of life the eyes do not seem to cooperate as in adults. By the second and third month the binocular pattern VEP reflects an increasing binocular interaction. Other studies of the development of stereopsis have also found evidence of binocularity at similar ages.

Modifications of the slit lamp for digital image processing of the anterior segment of the eye.

The Zeiss slit lamp has been modified in order to extend its use to measurements of lens transparency. Two major modifications have been introduced: (1) a support for a high-sensitivity TV camera that is connected to an image processing system; (2) two potentiometers for recording electrical signals proportional to the rotation angle of the slit-supporting arm with respect to the visual axis and the slit tilting angle. As a result, the slit lamp output consists of three signals; one TV signal for the images and two analog signals for measurement of the angles. With the aid of an image-processing system connected to a minicomputer, software has been developed to enable the operator to acquire reliable digital images of the anterior segment of the eye in real time. The software provides the user with an easy-to-follow menu.

Reliability of photometric measurements in the Zeiss fundus camera.

The authors test the hypothesis of systematic errors in photometric and/or densitometric measurements performed by Fundus camera equipment. By means of 2 different methods (reflection and transmission) the non-uniformity of light-distribution on sample surfaces placed in front of the fundus camera is shown. The consequent point by point variability in retinal illumination can be defined as the 'retinal shading problem'. This conclusion must be taken into account when equidensitometric measurements are carried out on eye fundus images with fundus camera, by photographic, cinematographic or TV techniques.

Pattern reversal visually evoked potentials in general anesthesia.

Various authors have tried to determine visual acuity both electrophysiologically (Sokol, 1976 and 1978; Marg et al., 1976; Maffei and Fiorentini, 1977) and with psychophysical methods (Teller et al., 1974; Banks and Salapatek, 1976; Atkinson et al., 1976) in awake children. Our experiments try to verify the possibility of assessing visual acuity in children under Ethrane anesthesia. We conclude that under Ethrane anesthesia VEPs produced by phase-alternating square-wave gratings do not allow a fine assessment of visual acuity. Gross indications of visual acuity can however be obtained.

Vision in the neonate (full-term and premature): preliminary result of the application of some testing methods.

Little information is available on the functionality of the visual system in neonates. Comparison was made between neonates born at full term and prematures equated for conceptional age, using two methods of investigation: the visual evoked potential (VEP) and the "forced preferential looking" (FPL). The results obtained by the FPL method indicate a greater visual acuity in premature subjects, whereas the results obtained by the VEP method point to no significant difference in implicit time between the two groups.

Saccadic eye movements are impaired in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Extraocular muscles are generally considered to be spared in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). However, this assumption is based mainly on clinical observations, as systematic eye movement recordings have been performed in a very limited number of cases. Our goal was to analyze several saccade parameters in a higher number of cases, in order to reveal a possible ocular-motor impairment in DMD. Data were collected from a population of 9 subjects with DMD and 9 healthy male subjects of comparable age as controls. We used the electrooculographic (EOG) technique coupled with advanced digital signal processing; saccade duration, amplitude, mean velocity, peak velocity and K factor (ratio mean/peak velocity) were measured. The DMD group showed saccades with significantly longer duration and lower velocity, with respect to controls; these differences were accounted for mainly by the largest movements, whereas there were no significant differences at the smallest eccentricity tested (3 deg). Neither amplitude nor K factor were significantly different from controls for any of the eccentricities tested. To our knowledge. this is the first study to suggest significant impairment of eye movements in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Active blockage and rest position nystagmus: electromyographic demonstration of two types of ocular induced head-turn.

A differentiation of two types of head-turns due to nystagmus, by means of electromyography (EMG) is demonstrated in this paper. The first type is represented by patients who actively block the nystagmus, by means of an increase of discharge of the extraocular muscles who are synergistic and responsible for the head-turn. This block has the same features of the block of nystagmus in convergence and usually exceeds 10-15 degrees from the primary position. The second type is made out of patients whose head-turn is explained with the null-position of Kestenbaum. Here the nystagmus simply disappears in the position of head-turn, which usually is of no more than 10-15 degrees. Both types of patients show the same electronystagmographic features in the position of head-turn. This differentiation is useful from the clinical standpoint. In fact, only the first type of head-turn may require, besides a classical Anderson or Kestenbaum procedure, also a posterior fixation suture according to Cüppers. This operation would be useless in the second type of head-turn. Clinical signs useful for differentiating these two types of head-turn are presented as well.

Device for eliminating corneal light reflections during recording of lateral images with a slit lamp.

Corneal reflections produce defects in photographic sections of the lens taken with a slit-lamp biomicroscope for computerized densitometric analysis of cataract opacity. A simple and workable, adjustable antireflection device was built that can be easily adapted to photographic slit lamps, a common instrument in ophthalmology equipment. The slit lamp is a versatile tool for photographing structures in the anterior segment of the eye, particularly the lens. Corneal reflections are eliminated for angles between the light band and a photograph plane ranging from 20 degrees to 90 degrees, with the light band no greater than 0.5 mm and the corneal curvature about 7.6 to 7.9 mm. The device acts by blocking aberrant light rays from the light source that would otherwise be reflected by the mirrorlike surface of the cornea and enter the objective lens. Here we present a prototype designed for the Zeiss slit lamp.

Folate utilization in Friend erythroleukemia cells.

In order to study the generation, factors controlling endogenous folate pools, and their functional importance, Friend erythroleukemia cells were grown in media containing 100; 1,000; and 10,000 ng/ml of tritiated pteroylglutamic acid (3H)PteGlu1 and then studied in unlabeled media with varying amounts of PteGlu1. The intracellular folate pool was directly proportional to the PteGlu1 in which the cells were incubated. At equilibrium, greater than 95% of the labeled intracellular folate pool chromatographed as polyglutamyl folate, regardless of the exogenous folate concentration. The functional importance of the intracellular folate pool was studied by varying the endogenous pool and the exogenous (media) supply. The ability of the cells to replicate in the absence of exogenous folate was directly proportional to the intracellular polyglutamyl folate pool. The maximal rate of replication, however, required exogenous PteGlu1 in addition. The cell doubling time was the most important determinant of intracellular folate turnover; changes in the intracellular pool size and the extracellular folate concentration had no effect on the turnover time. In a rapidly proliferating tissue, the onset of functional folate deficiency will be determined by dilution of intracellular polyglutamates among progeny until a critical level is reached.

Cellular abnormalities of folate deficiency.

To trace the development of folate-deficient abnormalities of morphology and DNA synthesis, Friend erythroleukaemia cells were grown in media containing 10(2), 10(3) and 10(4) ng of [3H]PteGlu1/ml and then transferred to folate-free media. Parameters examined were: intracellular folate levels; growth potential; morphology; dU suppression; and DNA content by flow microfluorimetry. The most sensitive indicators of folate-deficient cell growth were those related to DNA synthesis (dU and flow microfluorimetry). These became abnormal at intracellular folate levels of 0.2-0.5 ng/10(6) cells and markedly so below 0.1 ng/10(6) cells. Morphological criteria were less sensitive. Cells became megaloblastic at intracellular folate levels below 0.06 ng/10(6). The capacity of the cells to replicate in folate-free media was a function of the intracellular folate (ICF): duplications = 4.01 + ln(ICF)/0.67 (r = 0.993, P less than 0.001). These studies demonstrate that regardless of initial intracellular folate levels, cellular stigmata of folate deficiency appear when cellular folate falls below 3 X 10(5) molecules per cell (dU and flow microfluorimetry) and cells lose the capacity for further replication below 7-10 X 10(5) molecules. The intracellular folate level not only predicts early defects, but also determines the replicative capacity.