421 research outputs found
The effects of brain trauma on the memory skills of musicians
The localization of function in terms of music processing in the brain has
fascinated researchers in many disciplines for well over one hundred years. Is there a
central location for this specialized and complex process or does it involve many different
areas of the brain? Some researchers have thought that the processing of language and
music are analogous, but does the processing of music occur in the same way as language
(Damasio and Damasio, 1977), (Zatorre, 1984)? In recent years the use of non-invasive
imaging techniques such as the PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography) and MRI
(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) have proven to be most accurate in the demonstration of
brain activity (Vollmer-Haase et aI., 1998) and have led researchers to agree that there is
not a specific anatomical centre for music in the brain (Baeck, 2002), (Peretz, 2002).
This thesis will examine in what way and to what degree various types of
Traumatic Brain Injury in musicians affect music memory. A pilot study was conducted
with musicians who have not experienced brain trauma. These musicians were asked to
complete a questionnaire and then were interviewed in order to understand the process
with which they utilize their musical memory. Six brain-injured musicians were also
interviewed in the same manner. When possible, medical records were solicited and
reviewed as a means of ascertaining specifics regarding the trauma. Using then, a
qualitative framework in a case study format, the questionnaire and the focused interviews
will provide the data. (London, 1982), (Psathas, 1972). This format will provide a
perspective that has been neglected in many studies in Neuromusicology, that of allowing
the musicians to speak for themselves.
The interviews are a study of the personal reflections of the musicians who are
commenting on their understanding of their own experiences of musical memory. While
my interest does lie in the clinical evidence provided by researchers in the field of
Neuromusicology and their insights into musical memory, there has not been any
extensive work written which concerns itself with the personal experiences of musicians
and their subjective interpretation of these memorization processes. The balance between
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the clinical evidence needs to be contrasted with the subjective elements of a person's selfperception
and understanding. It is my aim in this study to explore these perceptions in the
context of real life situations. It should also be noted that the observations made are a
reflection of the subject's personal experiences and their subjective view of these
experiences
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Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of Iris Nevus: A Case Report
Iris nevus is common: 6% of patients with suspected iris melanoma have lesions other than melanoma, and 36% of them are nevi. Iris nevus turns into melanoma in approximately 8% of cases at a mean of 15 years. This case report provides the first description of an iris tumor examined with iris optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) compared to iris fluorescein angiography (IFA). A 60-year-old man with a diagnosis of iris nevus in the left eye was referred to our department for IFA and iris OCTA. The iris vasculature in IFA was visible only in the early phases, but not clearly. OCTA, however, gave visualization of the vascular network and very precisely defined the vessels of the whole lesion, except for the pupillary portion, which was masked by superficial pigment accumulations. IFA and iris OCTA can add information about the vascular architecture compared to slit-lamp biomicroscopy, ultrasound biomicroscopy, and anterior-segment OCT. However, IFA is time-consuming and invasive and can – very occasionally – cause serious adverse reactions. In contrast, OCTA defines the texture of the iris vasculature better. In conclusion, OCTA is a new method, easy to execute, needing no dye injection, and provides useful information on the vascular network of iris lesions. It could therefore be helpful in the diagnosis and follow-up of these lesions
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Effect of prophylactic timolol 0.1% gel on intraocular pressure after an intravitreal injection of ranibizumab: a randomized study
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to make a prospective evaluation of the effect of timolol 0.1% eye gel on short-term intraocular pressure (IOP) after an intravitreal injection (IVI) of ranibizumab.
Participants and methods: One hundred and fifty eyes of 150 IVI-naïve patients with macular edema caused by various pathological conditions (age-related macular degeneration, central or branch retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic retinopathy) were scheduled to undergo an IVI of ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 cc). The patients were randomly divided into three groups: 50 were not treated with timolol before the IVI (group 1); 50 received an instillation of timolol 0.1% eye gel the evening before the IVI (group 2); and 50 received an instillation of timolol 0.1% eye gel 2 hours before the IVI (group 3). The incidence of clinically significant intraocular hypertensive spikes (>25 mmHg and >40 mmHg) was then assessed.
Results: Our findings showed that mean IOP at baseline was significantly higher than at both 5 and 60 minutes after IVI (P25 mmHg were recorded at either time in 27 patients (54%) in group 1, 23 patients (44%) in group 2, and 24 patients (48%) in group 3. None of the between-group differences were significant. Spikes of >40 mmHg (which were only detected 5 minutes after IVI) were recorded in nine (18%), eight (16%), and one patient (2%) in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The only significant difference was between the control and group 3 (P=0.012).
Conclusion: An increase in IOP after antivascular endothelial growth factor IVI is a frequent complication. The prophylactic use of timolol 0.1% gel effectively reduced the mean IOP when administered 2 hours before IVI and was also effective in preventing dangerous IOP spikes of >40 mmHg. It is therefore recommended before IVIs as a means of preventing emergency procedures and preserving the health of the optic nerve
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Cataract and optic disk drusen in a patient with glycogenosis and di George syndrome: clinical and molecular report
Background
We report the ophthalmic findings of a patient with type Ia glycogen storage disease (GSD Ia), DiGeorge syndrome (DGS), cataract and optic nerve head drusen (ONHD).
Case presentation
A 26-year-old white woman, born at term by natural delivery presented with a post-natal diagnosis of GSD Ia. Genetic testing by array-comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) for DGS was required because of her low levels of serum calcium. The patient has been followed from birth, attending the day-hospital every six months at the San Paolo Hospital, Milan, outpatient clinic for metabolic diseases and previously at another eye center. During the last day-hospital visit, a complete eye examination showed ONHD and cataract in both eyes. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was subsequently done to check for any association between the eye problems and metabolic aspects.
Conclusions
This is the first description of ocular changes in a patient with GSD Ia and DGS. Mutations explaining GSD Ia and DGS were found but no specific causative mutation for cataract and ONHD. The metabolic etiology of her lens changes is known, whereas the pathogenesis of ONHD is not clear. Although the presence of cataract and ONHD could be a coincidence; the case reported could suggest that hypocalcemia due to DGS could be the common biochemical pathway
Acting rehearsal in collaborative multimodal mixed reality environments
This paper presents the use of our multimodal mixed reality telecommunication system to support remote acting rehearsal. The rehearsals involved two actors, located in London and Barcelona, and a director in another location in London. This triadic audiovisual telecommunication was performed in a spatial and multimodal collaborative mixed reality environment based on the 'destination-visitor' paradigm, which we define and put into use. We detail our heterogeneous system architecture, which spans the three distributed and technologically asymmetric sites, and features a range of capture, display, and transmission technologies. The actors' and director's experience of rehearsing a scene via the system are then discussed, exploring successes and failures of this heterogeneous form of telecollaboration. Overall, the common spatial frame of reference presented by the system to all parties was highly conducive to theatrical acting and directing, allowing blocking, gross gesture, and unambiguous instruction to be issued. The relative inexpressivity of the actors' embodiments was identified as the central limitation of the telecommunication, meaning that moments relying on performing and reacting to consequential facial expression and subtle gesture were less successful
Intravitreal ranibizumab for choroidal neovascularization in a patient with angioid streaks and multiple evanescent white dots
Background: To report a patient with angioid streaks (ASs) and coincident multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) who developed choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Case presentation: A 20-year-old woman presented with reduced vision (20/100) in her left eye (LE). Based on a complete ophthalmologic examination the patient was diagnosed with ASs and coincident MEWDS. Two weeks later best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved up to 20/25 and the MEWDS findings almost disappeared. Two months later BCVA dropped again (20/100) due to the development of CNV which was treated by a single intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 mL). One month after this BCVA improved up to 20/40, and there was regression of the CNV. There was no need for retreatment at the last follow-up visit, 1 year after the ranibizumab injection, when the patient showed further recovery of BCVA up to 20/25. Conclusions: In this case of ASs, MEWDS completely resolved after 2 weeks, but 2 months later CNV developed. A single intravitreal injection of ranibizumab had a long-lasting effect. Larger series are necessary to clarify the pathogenesis of CNV in such cases and the role of intravitreal ranibizumab
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