Cognitive Stupidity

The brain of an infant may be the blank tablet envisaged by Locke,[1] but as it is shaped by both experience and language it develops into the mind of an adult. As the character of the maturing individual becomes defined, the mind shapes experiences decreasingly according to immediate stimuli themselves and increasingly according to linguistic interpretations of and emotional reactions to perceptions. Thus, the environment does not dictate human behavior but provides a context for its expression.

Neural Networks In A Generalized Model Of The N-Pacemaker Phase Response Curve

In this publication, we generalize the proposed model of two interacting oscillators in the case of a strong difference in their periods (when the pacemaker pulses do not alternate) and propose a General model describing a network of oscillators coupled globally. Our goal is to make the model as simple as possible and enter the minimum number of parameters. Therefore, we will fully characterize the pacemaker of their internal lengths of the cycle and re-present them as pulse oscillators. Interaction of pacemakers is described by PRC.

Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge of Preparation And Management of Labour Among Primigravida Women In Selected Hospital, Salem, Tamilnadu, India

Labor is one of the most painful events in a women's life. Many women would like to avoid pharmacological or invasive methods of pain management in labor, and this may contribute towards the popularity of complementary methods of pain management. This review examined the evidence currently available on manual methods, including frequent change in positions, massage and reflexology, for pain management in labor. The main aim of this study is to identify the level of knowledge on preparation and management of labor among primigravida women. A pre experimental one group pre and post test design was selected and adapted purposive sampling technique to recruit the samples. The total sample size was 30. Tools used like demographic variables, structured interview schedule and structured teaching program on preparation and management of labor. At the first day, pre test was conducted by using SIS and structured teaching on preparation and management of labor was administered as a group of antenatal women. After 7 days post test was conducted by using same tool. Data analysis was done by descriptive and inferential statistics. Highest percentage (50%) of the women were in the age group of 21-25 years. The overall mean score in pre test was 12.16±4.4 and the mean percentage 40.53 where as in post test the overall mean score was 22.76±7.26 and the mean percentage was 75.87. The calculated ‘t’ value was 10.18 at 0.05 level of significance. It depicts that structured teaching program on preparation and management of labor was highly effective. There was no significant association between the demographic variables with pre and post test knowledge scores.

A Pilot Study Concerning Psychological and Psychiatric Problems among Ischemic Heart Patient

Introduction: Psychosocial stresses and psychiatric problems may make worse the prognosis of patients with ischemic heart disease. Therefore assessing their incidence among this group of patients may perhaps enhance our perception concerning their dynamic significance in the field of psychological medicine. Method and Materials: 101 patients with diagnosed ischemic heart disease, in the coronary care unit of a general hospital, had been interviewed by a psychiatrist to find that is there any meaningful association between psychiatric complications or psychosocial strains and ischemic cardiac events. Results: Ischemic events were meaningfully more prevailing amongst patients with both biological risk factors and psychiatric problems. Moreover, the quantity of patients suffering from psychiatric difficulties was significantly more than patients without psychiatric complications. Besides, there was a significant alteration between male and female patients as regards the category of psychosocial stress. Seventy- nine percent of psychosocial stresses had been experienced by patients who had psychiatric complications. Besides, while more dysthymic illness was evident in the acute assembly of patients, more major or minor depressive disorder was noticeable in the chronic group of cardiac patients; a variance which looked significant. Conclusion: The high incidence of psycho-social stresses and psychiatric problems among ischemic heart patients, which may act as co-factors in triggering the pathogenicity of organic risk factors, ask for enough care for recognition, checking, and controlling of them, by way of reasonable clinical and psycho-social interventions.

Evaluation of Hyponatremia among Psychiatric Inpatients: A Preliminary Local Appraisal

Introduction: Hyponatremia is one of the most frequent ion and water disorders and severe hyponatremia is associated with well-known clinical symptoms and manifestations. In the present assessment the incidence and clinical profile of hyponatremia have been probed among a great sample of non-western psychiatric inpatients and compared with the available data in literature regarding prevalence and other associated clinical characteristics. Methods: All inpatients with idiopathic hyponatremia during the last sixty-four months had been included in the present study. Clinical diagnosis, as well, was in essence based on ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5)’. Statistical significance had been defined as a p value ≤0.05. Results: While the annual incidence of hyponatremia in current evaluation was around 0.01%, the annual incidence of mortality due to hyponatremia was around 0.001%. It was significantly more prevalent among male psychiatric inpatients (p<0.04) and patients with duration of illness in excess of one year (p<0.04). Furthermore it was meaningfully more evident among schizophrenic patients (p<0.007), in comparison with remaining primary psychiatric disorders. There was no significant relationship between hyponatremia and symptomatic profile, or serum level of sodium and occurrence of seizure. Conclusion: Hyponatremia was significantly more prevalent among male patients and cases with duration of illness in excess of one year. Furthermore it was meaningfully more evident among schizophrenic patients.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Stroke Rehabilitation

Neurorehabilitation involves a wide spectrum of different approaches of treatment modalities and is a notable period for patient after stabilization of patient’s neurologic injury. In 1985 Barker and co-authors introduced transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a noninvasive and safe brain stimulation technique. TMS can be delivered via single-pulse, double-pulse, paired-pulse and low or high frequency repetitive pulses (rTMS). Depending on stimulation parameters i.e. frequency, rate, and duration, application of repetitive stimuli to cortical regions can enhance or decrease the excitability of the affected brain structures. In the last years the development of stimulators significantly progressed, specially discharging at high frequencies up to 100 Hz and the application of TMS expanded into the areas of behavioral and cognitive functions assessment, as well.

Neurorehabilitation of Parkinson’s Disease: Is It Time for A New Approach?

In the latest years a lot of studies have been published about neurorehabilitation of Parkinson’s disease (PD). These studies have clearly demostrated the efficacy of neurorehabilitation in all phases of the disease. In spite of various medical and surgical treatments for Parkinson's disease, infact, patients gradually develop significant physical problems [1]. Physiotherapy aims to enable people with PD to maintain their maximum level of mobility, activity, and functional independence over time. A range of approaches to movement rehabilitation are used based on physical terapy. As recently demonstrated by a Cochrane review [1] benefit for physiotherapy was found in most outcomes over the short term (i.e. < 3 months) but was significant only for speed, two- or six-minute walk test, Freezing of Gait questionnaire, Timed Up & Go, Functional Reach Test, Berg Balance Scale, and clinician-rated UP. Moreover this review illustrates that a wide range of approaches are employed by physiotherapists to treat patients with PD.

The Good Physicians for Prospective Diagnosis: The Next Steps

Evidence-based medicine has enabled an individualized approach to medical decision-making and has become part of modern clinical practice. Health technologies are tools that can be used to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. Despite the technological progress, diagnostic problems persist. This work is a commentary on the work already done in predicting the appropriate physicians for the prospective of the right diagnosis and is a description of the challenges to be faced in the next work.