Predisposing Psychological Factors in the Development of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy: A Review of the Empirical Evidence

Objective: To examine the literature for evidence that psychological factors predispose certain individuals to development of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). Data Sources: English-language journal articles that described psychological data on patients diagnosed with RSD, identified through Medline search and bibliography reviews. Study Selection: All studies reporting data on psychological factors in adult, adolescent, or child patients with RSD were included. Data Extraction: We extracted data regarding psychological factors in patients with RSD and assessed validity of these studies through evaluation against seven basic research criteria. Data Synthesis: Of the 20 articles reviewed, 15 reported the presence of depression, anxiety, and/or life stress in patients with RSD. However, the methodological quality of these studies was generally poor, with most meeting three or less of the seven validity criteria. In particular, the absence of prospective designs restricts conclusions concerning whether psychological factors are etiologically related to RSD. Conclusions: The data reviewed are consistent with a theoretical model in which depression, anxiety, or life stressors may influence development of RSD through their effects on [alpha]-adrenergic activity. However, conclusions regarding etiological significance of these factors are not possible due to the dearth of high-quality studies. Suggestions for prospective research are described

Transverse Mercator with an accuracy of a few nanometers

Implementations of two algorithms for the transverse Mercator projection are described; these achieve accuracies close to machine precision. One is based on the exact equations of Thompson and Lee and the other uses an extension of Krueger's series for the projection to higher order. The exact method provides an accuracy of 9 nm over the entire ellipsoid, while the errors in the series method are less than 5 nm within 3900 km of the central meridian. In each case, the meridian convergence and scale are also computed with similar accuracy. The speed of the series method is competitive with other less accurate algorithms and the exact method is about 5 times slower.Comment: LaTeX, 10 pages, 3 figures. Includes some revisions. Supplementary material is available at http://geographiclib.sourceforge.net/tm.htm

Predisposing Psychological Factors in the Development of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy: A Review of the Empirical Evidence

Objective: To examine the literature for evidence that psychological factors predispose certain individuals to development of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). Data Sources: English-language journal articles that described psychological data on patients diagnosed with RSD, identified through Medline search and bibliography reviews. Study Selection: All studies reporting data on psychological factors in adult, adolescent, or child patients with RSD were included. Data Extraction: We extracted data regarding psychological factors in patients with RSD and assessed validity of these studies through evaluation against seven basic research criteria. Data Synthesis: Of the 20 articles reviewed, 15 reported the presence of depression, anxiety, and/or life stress in patients with RSD. However, the methodological quality of these studies was generally poor, with most meeting three or less of the seven validity criteria. In particular, the absence of prospective designs restricts conclusions concerning whether psychological factors are etiologically related to RSD. Conclusions: The data reviewed are consistent with a theoretical model in which depression, anxiety, or life stressors may influence development of RSD through their effects on [alpha]-adrenergic activity. However, conclusions regarding etiological significance of these factors are not possible due to the dearth of high-quality studies. Suggestions for prospective research are described

A Controlled Evaluation of Devotional Meditation and Progressive Muscle Relaxation

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of devotional meditation (DM), defined as a period of prayer and quiet reading and pondering of biblical material, on physiological and psychological variables related to stress. It was hypothesized that religious persons engaging in DM experience physiological and psychological changes similar to those reported for persons using progressive relaxation (PR) exercises. Thirty-six participants, equally divided by sex into 3 groups: DM, PR, and a Wait List Control, underwent extensive psychophysiological assessment prior to and following a systematic introductio to either DM or PR. The hypothesis that DM could generate positive physiological and psychological effects similar to PR was partially confirmed. The results of the study are discussed in terms of the unique spiritual resources inherent among a Christian population that might foster physiological and psychological relaxation

Ефективність антихелікобактерних комплексів у хворих на пептичну виразку, асоційовану з хелікобактеріозом і оцінка їх впливу на стан слизового бар’єра гастродуоденальної зони

Мета - вивчити у хворих на пептичну виразку (ПВ), асоційовану з хелікобактеріозом (HP), терапевтичну ефективність антихелікобактерних комплексів (АХБК), а також їх влив на стан метаболічних процесів у слизовому бар’єрі гастродуоденальної зони

Ambulatory Electromyogram Activity in the Upper Trapezius Region: Patients With Muscle Pain vs. Pain-free Control Subjects

Study Design: This study compared the ambulatory electromyogram activity of persons reporting pain in the shoulder and cervical regions with an equal group of persons not reporting such pain. Ambulatory electromyogram data were obtained over 3-day periods. In addition, all participants completed several standard psychological questionnaires. Objectives: The results were analyzed with inferential statistics to determine whether subjects reporting significant pain in the shoulder and cervical regions had greater ambulatory electromyogram activity than an equal number of subjects not reporting pain. Summary of Background Data: Considerable controversy exists regarding the role of muscle activity in the etiology and maintenance of muscle pain disorders. Given the availability of ambulatory recording devices that can provide a detailed record of muscle activity over an extended period of time, the present research was conducted to determine whether persons reporting shoulder and cervical pain could be differentiated from a group of normal subjects. Methods: All subjects (N = 20) completed a battery of tests with standardized psychometric instruments and then were fitted with ambulatory electromyogram monitors to record electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius region of the dominant side; the time, duration, and amplitude of electromyogram activity greater than 2 μV was recorded. The monitors were worn during normal working hours (mean, 6.2 hours per day) over 3 consecutive days. In addition to wearing the monitors, all subjects completed hourly self-ratings of perceived muscle tension during the recording periods. Results: As expected, subjects with muscle pain reported significantly more pain (mean, 4.9) than did the normal control subjects (mean, 0.9), t(15) = 3.29, P \u3c 0.01. However, patients with muscle pain did not have greater average electromyogram activity (mean, 6.4 μV) over the 3-day period as compared to the normal controls (mean, 7.1 μV), t(18) = -0.25, P \u3c 0.80. Self-monitoring of perceived muscle tension also did not reveal differences between pain subjects and the normal control subjects (P \u3c 0.75). Conclusions: Ambulatory measurements of electromyogram activity did not differentiate persons reporting upper trapezius or cervical pain from those that did not report such pain. Persons reporting pain are also not distinguishable from normal control subjects on a variety of self-report measures. These results raise questions regarding the role of ambulatory electromyogram recordings in the evaluation and treatment of muscle pain disorders

Morphometric characteristics of pyloric gastric glands at experimental acute gastritis and after administration of ‘Platex-Placental’ medication on the background of experimental acute gastritis

В роботі встановлена динаміка змін середніх метричних показників воротарних залоз шлунка при гострому експериментальному гастриті, після введення препарату «Платекс-плацентарний» (кріоконсервована тканина плаценти) та після введення препарату «Платекс-плацентарний» на тлі гострого експериментального гастриту. Виявлена позитивна динаміка дії препарату «Платекс-плацентарний» на швидкість перебігу та перебудову захисних властивостей воротарних залоз у відповідь на гострий запальний процес.; В работе установлена динамика изменений средних показателей привратниковых желез желудка при остром экспериментальном гастрите, после введения препарата «Платекс-плацентарный» (криоконсервированная ткань плаценты) и после введения препарата «Платекс-плацентарный» на фоне острого экспериментального гастрита. Выявлена положительная динамика действия препарата «Платекс-плацентарный» на скорость протекания и перестройку защитных свойств привратниковых желез в ответ на острый воспалительный процесс.; The study descrides the dynamics of changes in average indices of pyloric gastric glands at experimental acute gastritis, after administration of ‘Platex-Placental’ medication, and after administration of ‘Platex-Placental’ medication on a background of experimental acute gastritis. The positive outcomes were found after administration of ‘Platex-Placental’ medication in terms of inflammation course as well as reorganization of defence peculiarities of pyloric glands as a response to an acute inflammation