Baseline Test Series Research Articles

Novel Pre-Season Concussion Baseline Assessment Including Protocols based on Recognizable Clinically-Relevant Neurosensory Methodologies

ObjectiveOur goal was to develop and validate a neurophysiological-centric baseline model that can be appreciated by the broader neuro community and practically utilized by the sports community.BackgroundAs concussions, a mild traumatic brain injury, and other traumatic brain injuries gain notoriety amongst public awareness, there has been a rise in available computer-based concussion baseline assessments. Furthermore, states, sporting agencies, and schools are mandating implementation of concussion baselines. However, validation and standardization of these current baseline neurological tests have been remiss and are often not utilized by medical or neurological practitioners, making their utility suspect.Design/MethodsWe applied our neurocognitive baseline program to college football freshmen and high school aged ice hockey players. The list of baseline assessments is: eye-hand coordination reaction time using the Dynavision D2™ device, stereopsis measurements, phoria, oculomotor performance, electroretinography and visual-evoked potential, binocularity, optical coherence tomography, peripheral vision assessments, and balance.ResultsThe results suggest that this baseline program can be performed as a battery appropriate for a pre-participation examination prior to sport participation. The data derived from said baseline can be interpreted by sport, age and gender specific. These demographics can also be examined for developing normative data and useful for identifying subjects outside this normal.ConclusionsIt is felt that the current state of concussion baselines for athletic organizations are inadequate. We chose to identify a series of baseline tests that are more clinically-relevant and easy to perform as evidenced from the pre-season baseline used by the University of Cincinnati athletes and non-collegiate athletes. These baselines are used as part of the standard pre-participation examination, further providing valuable insight into the development of sports vision training performance enhancement programs and extensively relied upon as a pre-season concussion baseline. We feel this model has enhanced clinical utility compared to the current wide spread computer-based neuropsychological assessments.

Cytotoxicity testing of aqueous extract of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina Del) and sniper 1000EC (2,3 dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate) using the Alium cepa test.

The unrefined nature of the herbal preparations from Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and toxicity potentials of Sniper may both have severe consequences on the biochemical and genetic systems. To assess the microscopic and macroscopic effects of these substances. VA leafs and Sniper were prepared and dissolved in distilled water to give different concentrations. Series of baseline tests were carried out to establish concentration range for root growth. Series of twelve onion bulbs of three per series was prepared, with a series of three onion bulbs serving as control. Chromosomal aberrations were statistically analysed using chi- squared test. Root bundle mean length was obtained after 96 hours and EC50 values at 95% confidence interval was determined from a plot of root length against sample concentrations using Microsoft Excel software. Total cytotoxic effect was induced by 2% sniper and 70% VA. EC50 for VA and sniper were 33.07 and 0.346 respectively. The two substances induced chromosomal aberrations and the effect was concentration dependent. There are risks of these widely used substances for therapeutic and environmental purposes.

Self-Monitoring Symptoms in Glaucoma: A Feasibility Study of a Web-Based Diary Tool.

Purpose. Glaucoma patients annually spend only a few hours in an eye clinic but spend more than 5000 waking hours engaged in everything else. We propose that patients could self-monitor changes in visual symptoms providing valuable between clinic information; we test the hypothesis that this is feasible using a web-based diary tool. Methods. Ten glaucoma patients with a range of visual field loss took part in an eight-week pilot study. After completing a series of baseline tests, volunteers were prompted to monitor symptoms every three days and complete a diary about their vision during daily life using a bespoke web-based diary tool. Response to an end of a study questionnaire about the usefulness of the exercise was a main outcome measure. Results. Eight of the 10 patients rated the monitoring scheme to be “valuable” or “very valuable.” Completion rate to items was excellent (96%). Themes from a qualitative synthesis of the diary entries related to behavioural aspects of glaucoma. One patient concluded that a constant focus on monitoring symptoms led to negative feelings. Conclusions. A web-based diary tool for monitoring self-reported glaucoma symptoms is practically feasible. The tool must be carefully designed to ensure participants are benefitting, and it is not increasing anxiety.

A system for accurate measuring of thermal-structure displacement on a high speed rotating turbine disk by using digital image correlation technology

A non-contact rotational thermal-structure deformation measurement system based on digital image correlation (DIC-2D) technology was proposed and established to measure in-plane thermal-structure deformation on a high speed rotating disk accurately. Digital images can be captured at a constant rotor azimuth by applying a precise synchronisation strategy to coordinate the operating frequency and internal delays of a camera and a stroboscope. The relationship between false radial displacement and rotational motion blur (RMB) was quantified through a series of baseline tests. Firstly, the deformation of a disk was investigated by theoretical analysis considering windage heating and transient thermal loading effects to obtain the baseline for verification. Then, a flat metal disk was tested with windage heating effect to analyse the accuracy at rotational speeds that range from 3000rpm to 6000rpm. The model was also tested with three different thermal loading conditions at a fixed rotational speed of 3800rpm to validate the reliability of the model. The comparison results revealed that the proposed system can accurately and reliably measure in-plane thermal structure deformation of a rotating disk with a tangential velocity of up to 200m/s, and the maximum deviation was less than 15% at 3800rpm.

Patch testing with methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone 200 ppm aq. detects significantly more contact allergy than 100 ppm. A multicentre study within the European Environmental and Contact Dermatitis Research Group

Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and methylisothiazolinone (MI) are the active ingredients in commonly used preservative systems (e.g. Kathon CG(®)). MCI/MI is present in the European baseline patch test series at 100 ppm aq. Since 1986, 200 ppm (dose 0.006 mg/cm(2)) has been used in Sweden without causing skin irritation. Centres in Spain, the United Kingdom and Ireland have also used 200 ppm in their baseline series. To find the optimal patch test concentration for MCI/MI. MCI/MI 100 ppm aq. and MCI/MI 200 ppm aq. were simultaneously patch tested in 3300 consecutively tested dermatitis patients at eight European patch test clinics and one US patch test clinic. With the Finn Chambers(®) technique (diameter 8 mm), 15 µl was micropipetted on to the filter paper in the chamber. The corresponding volume for Van der Bend(®) chambers was 20 µl, and that for IQ Chambers(®) was 25 µl. Contact allergy to MCI/MI at 100 and 200 ppm was found in 1.2% and 2.1% of patients, respectively (p < 0.001). MCI/MI 200 ppm aq. (dose 0.006 mg/cm(2) ) diagnoses significantly more contact allergy than the presently used concentration of 100 ppm (dose 0.003 mg/cm(2)), without resulting in more adverse reactions. MCI/MI at 200 ppm should therefore be considered for inclusion in the European baseline test series.

Allergic contact dermatitis to methylisothiazolinone: Exposure from baby wipes causing hand dermatitis

Methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) is a preservative used in both cosmetic and industrial settings. In Europe it is allowed to be used in rinse-off cosmetics only because of its propensity to cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). No such legislation exists in Australia. In recent years MI without MCI has been used. In August 2010 the first cases of MI causing non-occupational ACD were reported in Europe. The objective here was to present a case series of ACD to MI occurring in the Australian setting. : We retrospectively reviewed positive reactions to MI and MCI/MI from the Skin and Cancer Foundation patch test clinical database. MI was added to our baseline test series in January 2011. : In total 653 patients were tested for MI and there were 43 reactions, of which 23 were relevant, based on a history of exposure to MI. Seven were parents of young children with hand dermatitis caused by ACD to MI contained in baby wipes. The remaining patients reacted to MI in shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, moisturisers, a skin cleanser and a facial wipe. Three patients had ACD to MI associated with occupational exposure to hand cleansers. These data demonstrate for the first time that MI is an emerging, important allergen in both cosmetic and occupational settings in Australia. An important source of exposure was baby wipes, which was predominantly associated with hand dermatitis in parents. We believe that it is important to test for MI, not just MCI/MI, in the baseline series.

Persistence, spatial distribution and implications for progression detection of blind parts of the visual field in glaucoma: a clinical cohort study.

BackgroundVisual field testing is an essential part of glaucoma care. It is hampered by variability related to the disease itself, response errors and fatigue. In glaucoma, blind parts of the visual field contribute to the diagnosis but - once established – not to progression detection; they only increase testing time. The aims of this study were to describe the persistence and spatial distribution of blind test locations in standard automated perimetry in glaucoma and to explore how the omission of presumed blind test locations would affect progression detection.Methodology/Principal FindingsData from 221 eyes of 221 patients from a cohort study with the Humphrey Field Analyzer with 30–2 grid were used. Patients were stratified according to baseline mean deviation (MD) in six strata of 5 dB width each. For one, two, three and four consecutive <0 dB sensitivities in the same test location in a series of baseline tests, the median probabilities to observe <0 dB again in the concerning test location in a follow-up test were 76, 86, 88 and 90%, respectively. For <10 dB, the probabilities were 88, 95, 97 and 98%, respectively. Median (interquartile range) percentages of test locations with three consecutive <0 dB sensitivities were 0(0–0), 0(0–2), 4(0–9), 17(8–27), 27(20–40) and 60(50–70)% for the six MD strata. Similar percentages were found for a subset of test locations within 10 degree eccentricity (P>0.1 for all strata). Omitting test locations with three consecutive <0 dB sensitivities at baseline did not affect the performance of the MD-based Nonparametric Progression Analysis progression detection algorithm.Conclusions/SignificanceTest locations that have been shown to be reproducibly blind tend to display a reasonable blindness persistence and do no longer contribute to progression detection. There is no clinically useful universal MD cut-off value beyond which testing can be limited to 10 degree eccentricity.

DOCTOR: A randomized phase II trial of preoperative cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and docetaxel with or without radiotherapy based on poor early response to standard chemotherapy for resectable adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and/or OG junction.

TPS4145 Background: Surgery forms the mainstay of curative treatment for oesophageal and gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (OAC). Preoperative chemotherapy (CTX) with or without concurrent radiotherapy (CRT) have resulted in modest improvements in outcome. Patients who demonstrate a histological response in the resected specimen following pre-operative therapy (CTX or CRT) have consistently better survival than non-responders. Recent data suggests that early metabolic response, assessed by FDG-PET scan performed 14+/-1 days after the start of CTX compared with a baseline PET scan, is predictive of a histological response and improved survival. Increasing the proportion of responders to pre-operative therapy remains one of the major challenges facing patients with localised OAC. Methods: 150 patients with resectable adenocarcinona of the oesophagus or GOJ will be registered and given 1 cycle of cisplatin and 5FU (CF). Patients will undergo a series of baseline tests including endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound and 18FDG-PET. At Day 15 of the initial CF cycle the PET will be repeated. Patients with a PET response (≥ 35% reduction in SUVmax) to initial treatment will continue with CF as standard treatment prior to surgery. PET non-responders (&lt; 35% reduction in SUVmax) will be randomized equally to receive either docetaxel, cisplatin and 5FU (DCF) or DCF plus radiatiotherapy. Following completion of the preoperative chemotherapy /chemoradiotherapy patients will have their cancer surgically removed. The primary end point is major histological response (&lt;10% residual viable tumour) and secondary endpoints of progression-free and overall survival, toxicity, quality of life and feasibility of response-based therapy. Eligibility: T2 or greater tumours (by EUS or CT), or T1 tumours that are poorly differentiated, or T1 node positive, histologically proven invasive adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus or GOJ, technically resectable tumour which is sufficiently FDG avid on the initial PET staging scan. Status: Opened to accural 2009.

Effect of Wet–Dry Cycles and Cation Exchange on Gas Permeability of Geosynthetic Clay Liners

A series of gas permeability tests were performed on a partially hydrated needle punched geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) after exposure to wet–dry cycles and ion exchange. To be able to evaluate the effect of wetting and drying cycles combined with the effect of cation exchange, three sets of GCL samples were prepared with different types of hydrating liquid. The first set of GCL samples was hydrated with de-ionized water, which formed a baseline test series. The second and third sets were hydrated with 0.0125 and 0.125 M calcium chloride (Ca Cl2 ) solutions, respectively. All three sets of GCL samples were subjected to multiple wetting and drying cycles before undergoing gas permeability tests. Gas permeability of the GCL, hydrated with 0.0125 M calcium chloride solution, was found to be approximately one order of magnitude higher than that of the GCL hydrated with de-ionized water, whereas gas breakthrough flow was observed for all but the first wetting cycle on GCLs hydrated with the stronger 0.125 M cal...