Verbal definitions of familiar objects in blind children reflect their peculiar perceptual experience.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent the verbal definitions of familiar objects produced by blind children reflect their peculiar perceptual experience and, in consequence, differ from those produced by sighted children. METHODS: Ninety-six visually impaired children, aged between 6 and 14 years, and 32 age-matched sighted children had to define 10 words denoting concrete animate or inanimate familiar objects. RESULTS: The blind children evoked the tactile and auditory characteristics of objects and expressed personal perceptual experiences in their definitions. The sighted children relied on visual perception, and produced more visually oriented verbalism. In contrast, no differences were observed between children in their propensity to include functional attributes in their verbal definitions. CONCLUSIONS: The results are discussed in line with embodied views of cognition that postulate mandatory perceptuomotor processing of words during access to their meaning.

Pidotimod in the treatment of patients affected by bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

A multicentre double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted in order to assess the effects of pidotimod ((R)-3-[(S)-(5-oxo-2-pyrrolidinyl) carbonyl]-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, PGT/1A, CAS 121808-62-6), a new synthetic biological response modifier, on the clinical picture of bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Seven centres of respiratory diseases participated in the trial. A total of 137 patients, 103 males and 34 females (mean age: 65.0 years) were admitted to the study. The trial was subdivided into 3 phases. During the first 8-day phase (D0-D8), 68 patients received 800 mg pidotimod orally (one sachet) twice daily and an antibiotic treatment (amoxycillin plus clavulanic acid: 1 g twice daily), while 69 patients received placebo (one sachet) and antibiotic according to the same dosage schedule. In the second 7-day phase (D8-D15), while the double-blind therapy proceeded, the antibiotic treatment was stopped. The third phase (D15-D45) consisted of a 30-day follow-up period. Five clinical observations, at D0, D4, D8, D15 and D45, were scheduled. The Skin test, to evaluate immunocompetence, was carried out at D0, D15 and D45. The faster improvement of symptomatology (dyspnoea, cough, sputum, hyperpyrexia) in the patients in the pidotimod group compared with the placebo group was reflected in recovery time: mean 8.9 days in the pidotimod group versus 10.7 days in the placebo group (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pefloxacin in lower respiratory tract infections.

To determine the efficacy and safety of pefloxacin in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections, a multicentre trial involving four departments of respiratory diseases was performed. One hundred and eight patients were admitted to the study: most of them were affected with exacerbations of chronic bronchitis or with pneumonia complicating lung cancer. Isolation and identification of responsible microorganisms from bronchial secretions was possible in 78 patients. Seven patients were withdrawn, one for worsening of the underlying disease and six for early side-effects. Thus, of 108 patients recruited, 101 completed the course of therapy (pefloxacin 400 mg bd for 5-14 days) and could be submitted to final evaluation. Of these 43 (42.6%) were cured and 48 (47.5%) showed improvement. Eradication of responsible microorganisms was achieved in 70 (90.9%) of 77 patients microbiologically evaluated. Side-effects of moderate severity were observed in 12 patients (gastrointestinal disturbances in 11 and dyspnoea in one); these did not necessitate discontinuation of therapy.

[Cefotetan in the therapy of respiratory infections. Multicenter research]. / Il cefotetan nella terapia delle infezioni respiratorie. Ricerca multicentrica.

In a controlled multicenter trial 291 patients have been treated with cefotetan. They suffered from acute or chronic exacerbated bronchopulmonary disorders. In 110 patients it was possible to identify the etiological agent: enterobacteria (62), non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli (10), Haemophilus influenzae (8), Branhamella catarrhalis (1), Streptococcus pneumoniae (19), Staphylococcus aureus (12), Streptococcus pyogenes (4). In the exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (203), cefotetan was generally administered at the dose of 1 g/12 h i.m., whereas it was administered at the dose of 2 g/12 h i.v. in acute infection. The mean duration of therapy was 8.8 days. Positive clinical results were obtained in 251 patients (86.2%) with eradication of the pathogen initially isolated in 90.5% of cases. Cefotetan showed good local and general tolerance. The results obtained confirm those of studies concerning limited numbers of patients and show the efficacy of cefotetan both in acute and chronic pathologies, also in patients with serious involvement of their general conditions (concomitant pathologies, high mean age).

Old and new in chest physiotherapy.

Some "old" chest physiotherapy techniques, such as postural drainage of bronchial secretions, breathing control, relaxation, pre- and post-surgical treatments and exercise training have survived until today because of their unquestionable and persistent validity. This does not mean that in this field of rehabilitation medicine nothing new exists. Chest physiotherapy has now completely overcome the empirical phase that characterized every branch of medicine during its early development. We now employ mainly respiratory pathophysiology techniques for objective evaluation of physiotherapy efficacy. For example we use transcutaneous monitoring of blood gas variations during therapy. Among new chest physiotherapy techniques, biofeedback training may lead to better relaxation in a shorter time, and it is now widely used in breathing control. Jet-ventilation and percussion-ventilation seem likely to mark a further improvement in bronchial secretion drainage. Concerning the future of chest physiotherapy, the recent advances in the physiology and pathophysiology of respiratory muscles are disclosing important practical implications, e.g. in defining criteria for respiratory muscle training and rest in chronic respiratory failure.

[Sequelae of tuberculosis]. / Le sequele della tubercolosi.

Authors relate about some present clinical problems relative to tuberculosis reliquates. Today we run the risk of ignoring either tuberculosis activity or reliquates pathology, mostly since the latent stage of symptoms is often a long time. A careful and repeated clinical and bronchologic study is then necessary to don't make a too easy diagnosis of benign hemoptysis and to don't undervalue diagnosis of scar-cancer. Furthermore, we need remember that tuberculosis reliquates often involve bronchial and vascular structures. There is a frequent forming of peripheral bronchiectasis. At last, the perfusion damage provoked by reliquates can cause an obstructive bronchial alteration with the consequent possible developing asthma.

[Functional respiratory rehabilitation in exudative pleuritis]. / La riabilitazioe funzionale respiratoria nelle pleuriti essudative

The rehabilitation of respiratory function in exudative pleurisy has two objectives, namely the prevention of adhesions, or, when this is no longer possible, to limit their influences on respiratory function. Stress is laid on the importance of the moment when rehabilitation management begins. The main moments of the treatment programme are reviewed, and an explanation is offered of the techniques adopted, and the functional tests best suited for assessment of the results. Lastly, reference is made to the satisfactory results observed in 50 patients.