Historical Testimony of Female Disability: The Neurological Impairment of Teresa de Ávila

Author(s):  
Encarnación Juárez-Almendros

The objective of this chapter is to study Libro de la vida (The Book of Her Life), the personal testimony of Teresa de Avila (1515-1582), a nun suffering neurological disorders, possibly epilepsy, in order to demonstrate how the author creates a textual resistance to external labelling and social segregation. In her autobiography, Teresa explains her frequent physical problems in relation to mystical graces, involuntary and uncontrollable raptures, beatific and devilish visions, hearing of voices and prophetic messages. In a period in which both the experience of epilepsy and of having visions were stigmatized and suspected of devilish intervention in women weaken body and soul, Teresa successfully defends her right to explain her own body occurrences contravening the accepted explanations.

2002 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 281-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noomi Katz ◽  
Jennifer Fleming ◽  
Nava Keren ◽  
Sue Lightbody ◽  
Adina Hartman-Maeir

Occupational therapy focus on client-centred, occupational performance intervention may become complicated by the phenomena of self-awareness. The problem of awareness deficits in clients with neurological disorders may be attributed to neurological impairment of self-awareness and/or psychological denial of disability. These phenomena present themselves more commonly in combination than dichotomously and have implications for treatment outcomes. Individuals with impaired self-awareness or denial face difficulties with motivation and participation in therapy, and the adoption of compensatory strategies, which ultimately impacts on rehabilitation outcome. The extent of unawareness versus denial can be assessed by observation of a client's behavior and this information can be very useful in directing the treatment approach. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to discuss the phenomenon of unawareness and/or denial of disability and its importance to successful rehabilitation outcomes, current thinking and research conducted in different countries. Also, detailed case examples of three clients representing three major populations of traumatic brain injury, stroke and schizophrenia who may exhibit unawareness and/or denial of disability will be presented, including intervention strategies for both phenomena.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asim Kurjak ◽  
Panos Antsaklis ◽  
Milan Stanojevic ◽  
Radu Vladareanu ◽  
Simona Vladareanu ◽  
...  

AbstractAssessment of fetal neurobehavior and detection of neurological impairment prenatally has been a great challenge in perinatal medicine. The evolution of four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound not only enabled a better visualization of fetal anatomy but also allowed the study of fetal behavior in real time. Kurjak Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test (KANET) was developed for the assessment of fetal neurobehavior and the detection of neurological disorders, based on the assessment of the fetus by application of 4D ultrasound in the same way that a neonate is assessed postnatally. KANET is a method that has been applied for the past 10 years and studies show that it is a strong diagnostic tool and can be introduced into everyday clinical practice. We present all data from studies performed up to now on KANET.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sareer Ahmad ◽  
Amjad Khan ◽  
Waqar Ali ◽  
Myeung Hoon Jo ◽  
Junsung Park ◽  
...  

Herein, we have evaluated the protective potentials of Fisetin against d-galactose-induced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and memory impairment in mice. d-galactose (D-gal) causes neurological impairment by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS), neuroinflammation, and synaptic dysfunction, whereas fisetin (Fis) is a natural flavonoid having potential antioxidant effects, and has been used against different models of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, the normal mice were injected with D-gal (100 mg/kg/day for 60 days) and fisetin (20 mg/kg/day for 30 days). To elucidate the protective effects of fisetin against d-galactose induced oxidative stress-mediated neuroinflammation, we conducted western blotting, biochemical, behavioral, and immunofluorescence analyses. According to our findings, D-gal induced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunctions, and cognitive impairment. Conversely, Fisetin prevented the D-gal-mediated ROS accumulation, by regulating the endogenous anti-oxidant mechanisms, such as Sirt1/Nrf2 signaling, suppressed the activated p-JNK/NF-kB pathway, and its downstream targets, such as inflammatory cytokines. Hence, our results together with the previous reports suggest that Fisetin may be beneficial in age-related neurological disorders.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Céline Delvert ◽  
Pascal Rippert ◽  
Françoise Margirier ◽  
Jean-Pierre Vadot ◽  
Carole Bérard ◽  
...  

Background: Transverse-plane foot deformities are a frequently encountered issue in children with neurological disorders. They are the source of many symptoms, such as pain and walking difficulties, making their prevention very important. Objectives: We aim to describe the use and tolerability of a side pole static ankle foot orthosis used to prevent transverse-plane foot deformities in children with neurologic disorders. Study design: Monocentric, retrospective, observational study. Methods: Medical data were collected from 103 children with transverse-plane foot deformities in one or both feet caused by a neurological impairment. All children were braced between 2001 and 2010. Results: Unilateral orthosis was prescribed for 32 children and bilateral orthosis for 71. Transverse-plane foot deformities were varus in 66% of the cases and an equinus was associated in 59.2% of the cases. Mean age for the first prescription was 8.6 years. For the 23 patients present at the 4-year visit, 84.8% still wore the orthosis daily, and 64.7% wore the orthosis more than 6 h per day. The rate of permanent discontinuation of wearing the orthosis was 14.7%. Conclusion: The side pole static ankle foot orthosis is well tolerated with very few side effects, which promotes regular wearing and observance. Clinical relevance Side pole static ankle foot orthoses are well tolerated and can be safely used for children with foot abnormalities in the frontal plane that have a neurological pathology origin.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 796
Author(s):  
Dagmara Wasiuk-Zowada ◽  
Andrzej Knapik ◽  
Justyna Szefler-Derela ◽  
Anna Brzęk ◽  
Ewa Krzystanek

Background: Stroke (S), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease (PD) are chronic neurological diseases that are a challange for public health and represent a real social problem. Physical activity (PA) improves functional performance, reduces various symptoms in PD and MS, in stroke- reduced neurological impairment of patients and provides a chance for independence. One of the main obstacles in successful rehabilitation is patients’ movement passivity. The reason might be the psychological aspects, in particular fear of movement—kinesiophobia. Aim: To determine how many patients with S, MS, and PD suffer from kinsiophobia and what factors influence this process. Methods: Fifty patients after stroke, eighty one MS patients and sixty one PD patients were consecutively recruited from hospital and outpatients clinics. The sociodemographic data, self- assesment of fitness, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) and The Modified Baecke Questionnarie for Older Adults for physical activity were collected. A score >37 was considered to indicate a high level of kinesiophobia according to the TSK. Results: High level of kinesiophobia was shown in 66.67% of the subjects. TSK medians in particular illnesses were above the cut-off score and amounted: S—42.50 points; MS—38 points; PD—42.00 points. Regression showed 15% of fluctuation of variance (R2 = 0.1498; p < 0.0001), where regression factor showed: for mobility self-assessment: b = −0.2137 and for the age b = 0.0065. Conclusions: Kinesiophobia among the patients suffering from S, MS and PD concerns most of the subjects. Predictors of kinesiophobia are: limitations connected with functioning and age. The meaning of kinesiophobia in neurological disorders requires further research.


Author(s):  
Richard L. Klein ◽  
Åsa K. Thureson-Klein ◽  
Harihara M. Mehendale

KeponeR (decachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta[cd]pentalen-2-one) is an insecticide effective against ants and roaches. It can cause severe toxicity in fishes, birds, rodents and man. Prominent effects include hepatic lipid deposition and hypertrophy, impairment of reproductive capacity and neurological disorders. Mitochondrial oligomycin-sensitive Mg2+-ATPase is also inhibited. The present study is a preliminary investigation of tissue ultrastructural changes accompanying physiological signs of acute toxicity, which after two days treatment include: pronounced hypersensitivity and tremor, various degrees of anorexia and adipsia, and decreased weight gain.Three different series of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (Charles River or CD-I) were treated by intubation with Kepone in corn oil at a dose of 50 mg per kg for 3 successive days or at 200 ppm in food for 8 days. After ether anesthesia, rats were immediately perfused via a cannula in the left ventricle with 4% p-formaldehyde and 0.5% glutaraldehyde in Millonig's phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 for 20-30 min at 22°C.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-13
Author(s):  
James B. Talmage ◽  
Jay Blaisdell

Abstract Injuries that affect the central nervous system (CNS) can be catastrophic because they involve the brain or spinal cord, and determining the underlying clinical cause of impairment is essential in using the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), in part because the AMA Guides addresses neurological impairment in several chapters. Unlike the musculoskeletal chapters, Chapter 13, The Central and Peripheral Nervous System, does not use grades, grade modifiers, and a net adjustment formula; rather the chapter uses an approach that is similar to that in prior editions of the AMA Guides. The following steps can be used to perform a CNS rating: 1) evaluate all four major categories of cerebral impairment, and choose the one that is most severe; 2) rate the single most severe cerebral impairment of the four major categories; 3) rate all other impairments that are due to neurogenic problems; and 4) combine the rating of the single most severe category of cerebral impairment with the ratings of all other impairments. Because some neurological dysfunctions are rated elsewhere in the AMA Guides, Sixth Edition, the evaluator may consult Table 13-1 to verify the appropriate chapter to use.


2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 6-8
Author(s):  
Lorne Direnfeld ◽  
Christopher R. Brigham ◽  
Elizabeth Genovese

Abstract The AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), does not provide a Diagnosis-based estimate of impairment due to syringomyelia, a disorder in which a cyst (syrinx), develops within the central spinal cord and destroys neural tissue as it expands. The AMA Guides, however, does provide an approach to rating a syringomyelia based on objective findings of neurological deficits identified during a neurological examination and demonstrated by standard diagnostic techniques. Syringomelia may occur after spinal cord trauma, including a contusion of the cord. A case study illustrates the rating process: The case patient is a 46-year-old male who fell backwards, landing on his upper back and head; over a five-year period he received a T5-6 laminectomy and later partial corpectomies of C5, C6, and C7, cervical discectomy C5-6 and C6-7; iliac crest strut graft fusion of C5-6 and C6-7; and anterior cervical plating of C5 to C7 for treatment of myelopathy; postoperatively, the patient developed dysphagia. The evaluating physician should determine which conditions are ratable, rate each of these components, and combine the resulting whole person impairments without omission or duplication of a ratable impairment. The article includes a pain disability questionnaire that can be used in conjunction with evaluations conducted according to Chapter 3, Pain, and Chapter 17, The Spine.


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