Skin conductance and schizophrenic symptomatology

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 177-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. à Campo ◽  
H.L.G.J. Merckelbach ◽  
H. Nijman ◽  
M. Yeates-Frederikx ◽  
W. Allertz

SUMMARYSkin conductance is a psychophysiological parameter that reflects fundamental processes such as attention and arousal. The present study explored whether deviations in skin conductance activity are associated with severity of schizophrenic symptoms. For this purpose, Skin Conductance Responses (SCRs) to discrete stimuli (80 dB noises) and Skin Conductance Levels (SCLs) of 37 schizophrenic patients and 31 healthy volunteers were recorded. In accordance with previous studies, schizophrenic patients were found to be hyporesponsive compared to healthy controls. More specifically, almost half of the patients (46%) did not react with any SCR to the first 3 stimuli, whereas only 10% of the control group exhibited such a non-responding. Accordingly, the mean amplitude of the first 3 SCRs – as measured in u Siemens – was found to be significantly lower in patients compared to controls. As well, mean SCL was found to be (marginally) elevated in the patient group. This was especially the case for patients who did exhibit SCRs. In the patient group, a negative correlation was found between amplitude of SCRs and symptom severity. This association was mainly carried by a significant correlation between positive symptoms and reduced SCRs. The clinical relevance of these findings is discussed in detail.

1988 ◽  
Vol 152 (5) ◽  
pp. 618-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Tarrier ◽  
Christine Barrowclough ◽  
Kathleen Porceddu ◽  
Susan Watts

The measure of expressed emotion (EE) of the relative has been found to be an important predictor of schizophrenic relapse. Electrodermal measures were recorded when the schizophrenic patient was talking to an experimenter, and when the patient was talking to a relative. Although there were no differences during the relative-absent period, patients with a high-EE relative present exhibited significantly higher frequencies of non-specific skin-conductance responses (NS-SCRs) than patients with a low-EE relative present. Patients show a significant decrease in NS-SCRs on the entry of low-EE, but not high-EE relatives. Patients with high-EE relatives show overall higher levels of skin-conductance levels (SCLs) than patients with low-EE relatives. Although patients with high-EE relatives rate themselves significantly more tense and anxious on self-rating scales, there are no significant correlations between self-ratings and electrodermal measures. The use of electrodermal reactivity as an assessment measure of relapse risk is discussed.


Author(s):  
Robin A. Bertels ◽  
Janneke A. E. Kammeraad ◽  
Anna M. Zeelenberg ◽  
Luc H. Filippini ◽  
Ingmar Knobbe ◽  
...  

AbstractThe aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of flecainide, beta-blockers, sotalol, and verapamil in children with frequent PVCs, with or without asymptomatic VT. Frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and asymptomatic ventricular tachycardia (VT) in children with structurally normal hearts require anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy depending on the severity of symptoms or ventricular dysfunction; however, data on efficacy in children are scarce. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic children (≥ 1 year and < 18 years of age) with a PVC burden of 5% or more, with or without asymptomatic runs of VT, who had consecutive Holter recordings, were included in this retrospective multi-center study. The groups of patients receiving AAD therapy were compared to an untreated control group. A medication episode was defined as a timeframe in which the highest dosage at a fixed level of a single drug was used in a patient. A total of 35 children and 46 medication episodes were included, with an overall change in PVC burden on Holter of -4.4 percentage points, compared to -4.2 in the control group of 14 patients. The mean reduction in PVC burden was only significant in patients receiving flecainide (− 13.8 percentage points; N = 10; p = 0.032), compared to the control group and other groups receiving beta-blockers (− 1.7 percentage points; N = 18), sotalol (+ 1.0 percentage points; N = 7), or verapamil (− 3.9 percentage points; N = 11). The efficacy of anti-arrhythmic drug therapy on frequent PVCs or asymptomatic VTs in children is very limited. Only flecainide appears to be effective in lowering the PVC burden.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87
Author(s):  
Maciej Rachwał ◽  
Justyna Drzał-Grabiec ◽  
Katarzyna Walicka-Cupryś ◽  
Aleksandra Truszczyńska

Abstract Background: The post-mastectomy changes to the locomotor system are related to the scar and adhesion or to the lymphatic edema after amputation which, in turn, lead to local and global distraction of the work of the muscles. These changes lead to body statics disturbance that changes the projection of the center of gravity and worsens motor response due to changing of the muscle sensitivity. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the static balance of women after undergoing mastectomy. Methods: The study included 150 women, including 75 who underwent mastectomy (mean age: 60±7.6) years, mean body mass index (BMI): 26 (±3.6) kg/m2) and 75 who were placed in the control group with matched age and BMI. The study was conducted using a tensometric platform. Results: Statistically significant differences were found for almost all parameters between the post-mastectomy group and group of healthy women, regarding center of foot pressure (COP) path length in the Y and X axes and the mean amplitude of COP. Conclusions: First, the findings revealed that balance in post-mastectomy women is significantly better than in the control group. Second, physiotherapeutic treatment of post-mastectomy women may have improved their posture stability compared with their peers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chidozie N. OKOYE ◽  
Samuel O. EKERE ◽  
Onyinyechukwu A. AGINA ◽  
Ikechukwu J. UDEANI ◽  
Chukwunonso K. EZEASOR

The present study evaluated the effect of whole egg consumption on the liver, testes, cauda epididymal sperm reserve and lipid profile of male rats. These evaluations were carried out on adult twenty (20) male albino rats, which were randomly selected into four groups of 5 rats each, designated groups A, B, C and D. Group A was the control group and received only equivalent volume of distilled water, while groups B, C and D received 0.25mg/kg, 0.5mg/kg; and 1.0mg/kg body weight of the quail egg respectively. Standard procedures were carried out in the tissue processing, cauda epididymal sperm reserve and in lipid profile determinations. On days 35 and 49, the mean serum total cholesterol value of group D was significantly lower than that of the control group. On day 35, the mean serum low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein (LDL and HDL cholesterol) values of all the treatment groups were significantly lower and higher than that of the control group, respectively. However, on days 49 and 63, the mean serum very low density lipoprotein (VLDL cholesterol) and triglyceride values of all the treatment groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. A significant increase in cadual epididymal sperm count (CESR) was recorded on day 63 at the mid and high doses. No obvious pathological lesions were observed in the histomorphology of the testes and liver when compared to the control. Therefore, whole quail egg consumption caused an increase in serum triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein concentration, and also improved fertility. In other words, prolonged consumption of quail egg should be done with caution as it may predispose one to cardiovascular disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-16
Author(s):  
Catarina Iria ◽  
Fernando Barbosa ◽  
Rui Paixão

Abstract. A group of offenders with antisocial personality (ASP) and a control group identified facial expressions of emotion under three conditions: monetary reward, monetary response cost, and no contingency, to explore effects on the antisocial offenders’ deficits commonly reported in these tasks. Skin Conductance Responses (SCRs) indexed emotional arousal. Offenders with ASP performed worse than controls under reward and no contingency conditions, but under the response-cost condition results were similar. The offenders with ASP presented higher SCR than the controls in the two monetary conditions. Findings suggest that offenders with ASP are hypersensitive to monetary contingencies; monetary reward seems to interfere negatively in their performance while monetary response cost improves it. Arousal level seems unable to explain ability to identify facial affects, while results suggest that methodological variations may explain the conflicting results in the literature.


Author(s):  
Maryam Hajikari ◽  
Soheila Mojdeh ◽  
Mohsen Shariari

Introduction The incidence of gastric ulcers in patients with abdominal stoma is high and affects the quality of patients’ life. Aim To evaluate the effect of Adib herbal ointment containing chamomile rose, black nightshade origin versus Comfeel and Conveen ointments on the skin of abdominal stoma. Material and methods This is a clinical study in which the volunteers were stoma patients. Study group consisted of 52 qualified subjects, 26 were included in the experimental group and 26 in the control group. A 2-part questionnaire was used for the data collection. The 1st part was demographic information. The 2nd part of the data collection was evaluated according to the pressure ulcer scale for healing (PUSH) tool, which used for examining skin ulcers around the stoma. P ≤ 0.05 was considered as a significant. Results and discussion The results of the Mann–Whitney test showed that between the mean score of the total score of the wound before intervention (P = 0.92) and on the 3rd day (P = 0.476), 6th (P = 0.222), 9th (P = 0.11) and 12th (P = 0.418), there was no significant difference between the control and test groups. Also, the Friedman test (intra-group) also showed that between the mean score of the total score of the wound before the intervention and the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th days in the control group (P = 0.0001) and in the experimental group (P = 0.0001) There was a significant statistical difference. Conclusions Based on the study, Adib herbal ointment could be recommended for the treatment of stoma to the skin as an herbal product as other common treatments.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Castro Neto ◽  
B.V. Sanches ◽  
S.H.V. Perri ◽  
M.M. Seneda ◽  
J.F. Garcia

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of uterine double flushing on embryo recovery rates (total structures and viable embryos), after a resting period with the uterus filled with PBS. There were 210 embryo recovery procedures conducted using the uterine double flushing method, and the results were compaired with 432 conventional single flushing procedures. All procedures were conducted with Limousin (n=403) and Guzerá (n=239) cows, following the same superovulation protocol. Cyclic donors received a progestagen implant (CIDR) and 1mL of oestradiol benzoate (Estrogin®) at Day 0. Between Day 5 and Day 9 animals received doses ranging from 200 to 300UI (zebu cows) and 300 to 500UI (taurine cows) of FSH (Pluset® – Serono) in decreasing doses. Between Day 6 and Day 8 PGF2a (Ciosin®) was administered, followed by withdrawal of the progestagen after 24h. Artificial insemination was performed between 14 and 26h after the beginning of treatment. For the double flushing procedure, after the first uterine flushing of both horns with 1L DPBS (Nutricell), a Foley catheter was positioned in the uterine body in order to fill the uterus with the same solution (80 to 150mL). After this procedure the catheter was closed with a disposable 5-mL syringe gasket, and the animals were allowed to rest in the surroundings of the work place for 30min. After this period, a second flush was performed in order to recover the remaning liquid used during manipulation of the uterus. Animals from the control group (group A) were subjected to a single uterine flushing procedure. From 210 double flushing procedures (group B – test), 1409 viable embryos were produced, classified as grades I, II, III and IV (IETS), (average of 6.7 embryos per procedure), whereas, in the 432 single flushing procedure (group A – control), 1993 embryos were produced (average of 4.6). Statistical analysis showed the increase of viable embryo recovery rate. When consecutive double flushing was performed, the average of recovered embryos increased from 8.3 to 12.7 (P&lt;0.05) in Limousin cows, and from 7.9 to 11.5 (P&lt;0.05) in Guzerá cows. Comparing recovery after single flushing with that after double flushing, the mean number of viable embryos increased from 4.7 to 6.9 (P&lt;0.05) in Limousin cows and from 4.5 to 6.4 (P&lt;0.05) in Guzerá cows. In order to assure the nonexistence of negligence effects or operator influence on results, the mean values of total embryo recovery rate after single flushing (control group) was compared to the mean values of the same rate after the first uterine flushing on test group. Results indicated no difference between recovery rates. The present work showed the viability of using the uterine double flushing procedure for improvement of embryo recovery rates in cattle.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi

The hematological features of Gongronema latifolium, aqueous leaves extract was evaluated using standard methods. After 10 days of consecutive infusions into 9 experimental animals (rabbits). The rabbits were monitored and the following parameters determined; hemoglobin (HB), PCV, Platelet, WBC, Differential White Blood Cell. The Rabbits were grouped into 4, one consisting of control (group A), group B was fed with 0.5 mg/kg, group C with 1.0 mg/kg, and Group D with 1.5mg/kg of the aqueous extract of Gongronemalatifolium. The mean values obtained for hemoglobin estimation for the control group is 5.9 ± 4.1 g/dl, 9.1 ± 2.9 g/dl for group B 10.2 ± 1.8 g/dl for group C and 12.8 ± 0.1 g/dl for group D with no significant increase on the PCV estimation, the mean value for the control (group A) is 17.7 ± 12.3%, 27.3 ± 8.7% for group B, group C (30.6 ± 5.4%) and D (28.4 ± 0.3) show increase that statistically significant (p > 0.01). the platelet counts of group C (600 ± 0 x 109/L) and D(600 ± 0 x 109/L) show significant increase (p > 0.01) when compared with the control (600 ± 00). But the platelet value of group B (550 ± 50 x 109/L) shows no difference. No significant changes were observed in the White Blood Counts of the test groups B (3.5 ± 0.5 x 109/L), C (1.9 + 2.1 x 109/L) and D(3.6 ± 0.4) when compared with the control group (2.9 ± 1.9). The values obtained from the differential White Blood Counts (Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Eosinophils and Monocytes) were not significant. Therefore, Gongronemalatifolium, when properly taken as a nutritional diet, causes beneficial changes on hemoglobin, packed cell volumes and platelet counts of consumers.


2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Manjurul Karim ◽  
Md Abdul Wahab ◽  
Lubna Khondoker ◽  
Md Shirajul Islam Khan

A case-control study conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka from July 2008- December 2010. A total 60 female patients of telogen effluvium attending in outpatient department (OPD) were enrolled in the study with 30 having hair loss considered as case (Group-A) and another 30 females had no history of hair loss were considered as control (Group-B). The study included 60 patients and the mean age were 25.4±7 years ranging from 18 to 42 years in group A and 24.8±5.6 years ranging from 17 to 36 years in group B. Maximum number was found in the age group of 21- 30 years in both groups and nearly three fourth (73.4%) patients were unmarried in group A and 18(60.0%) in group B. Most of the patients were student in both groups, which were 21(70.0%) and 17(56.7%) in group A and group B respectively and majority of the the patients were HSC level in both groups, 15(50.0%) and 14(46.7%) in Group A and Group B respectively. Most of the patients came from middle class, which were 20(66.7%) and 16(53.3%) in group A and group B respectively. The mean serum ferritin were 18.8±8.1 g/L ranging from 4.5 to 36.54 g/L and 36.6±9.9 mg/L ranging from 18.46 to 56.3 mg/ L in group A and group B respectively. The mean Hb level was 11.5±1.4 gm/dl ranging from 8.5 to 14.0 gm/dl in group A and 12.8±1.1 gm/dl ranging from 10.5 to 14.5 gm/dl in group B. The mean difference of Hb level was statistically significant (p<0.05) between two groups in unpaired t-test. It can be concluded that low iron level is associated with telogen effluvium in women. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmed.v21i2.13617 Bangladesh J Medicine 2010; 21: 84-89


Blood ◽  
1954 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 953-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUIS ANGELONE ◽  
DAVID H. WATKINS ◽  
CLIFFORD A. ANGERER

Abstract Blood was obtained from patients who were divided into four groups: (A) euthyroid, (B) untreated hyperthyroid, (C) iodine-treated hyperthyroid and (D) hypothyroid. The erythrocytes from each patient group were washed and resuspended in Krebs-phosphate solution for study by the Warburg respirometric technic. When the erythrocytes obtained from patient groups B, C and D are compared with group A (control), a +92 per cent, +23 per cent and -15 per cent change is noted, respectively, in their mean QOO2 values when QOO2 values for erythrocytes for each patient in each patient group (excluding group C) are plotted relative to their respective serum PBI concentration (µg. per cent), a curve of exponential order appears to be the curve of best probable fit for these data. The mean QOO2 value for the iodine-treated hyperthyroid group falls on the ordinate of this curve (fig. 1) between the euthyroid and untreated hyperthyroid groups, though the mean serum PBI value (abscissa), of course, has no meaning for this group.


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