Translating Medical Dialogues into Pictographs: An Approach Using UMLS.

This paper describes a first attempt to map UMLS concepts to pictographs as a resource for translation systems for the medical domain. An evaluation of pictographs from two freely available sets shows that for many concepts no pictograph could be found and that word-based lookup is inadequate for this task.

Influence of pressure on a dysprosocenium single-molecule magnet.

The effects of external pressure on a high-performing dysprosocenium single-molecule magnet are investigated using a combination of X-ray diffraction, magnetometry and theoretical calculations. The effective energy barrier () decreases from 1300 cm at ambient pressure to 1125 cm at 3 GPa. Our results indicate that compression < 1.

High-Pressure Crystallographic and Magnetic Studies of Pseudo- Symmetric Dy(III) and Ho(III) Single-Molecule Magnets.

Single-ion magnets based on lanthanide ions in pseudo- symmetry have gained much attention in recent years as they are reported to possess a large blocking temperature and a large barrier for magnetization reversal. Magneto-structural correlations reveal that the axial O-Ln-O angle is an important parameter to control the barrier, and while it can be fine-tuned by chemical modification, an alternative would be to utilize hydrostatic pressure. Herein, we report the crystal structures and static magnetic properties of two air-stable isostructural lanthanide SIMs under applied pressures.

Head stabilization in peripheral vestibular syndromes.

In classical posturography the standing position has been evaluated by recording the postural sway on a force-plate and measuring some parameters such as surface and velocity (Platform or P-recording). The postural sway not only results in forces exerted on the support surface by the feet, but the head also participates in the movements of this postural sway. For recording of the head movements (H-recording), a lightbulb is placed on top of the head and the described light-path is recorded by a TV camera.

Reliability of examination data in the diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

A practical clinical view of the reliability of the data obtained in the several steps of the examination procedure is discussed to obtain an objective basis for the selection of patients with provoked vertigo (benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo [BPPV]) in view of treatment of this type of vertigo by rehabilitation therapy. Clinical experience supports the concept that the diagnosis has to be based not only upon a typical history, but also upon the presence of a reproducible vertigo and paroxysmal positional nystagmus (ppn). Such a ppn can be reproduced not only as a "classic" nystagmus by the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, but also as a positional nystagmus and vertigo during electronystagmographic recording in the position tests and in the vestibular habituation training (VHT)-test battery (a battery of 19 maneuvers applied for defining the adequate exercises in the rehabilitation treatment of BPPV).

Head extension effect in static posturography.

The effect of head extension on the standing position has been studied by analysis of recordings made by static posturography type III (SPGIII), a set of six test of posturography for sensory interaction. The head extension effect in posturography was evaluated by comparing the results of testing with head extension on a stable platform and on foam rubber to testing with a normal head position. In normal subjects head extension increased the postural sway, but there was no more effect on foam rubber than on the stable platform.

Posturography: head stabilisation compared with platform recording. Application in vestibular disorders.

Posturography with simultaneous recording of the head movements (H-recording) and of the pressure of the feet on the platform (P-recording) has been applied in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders. For the whole testing (four tests with visual and proprioceptive interaction) 40% showed an identical degree of abnormality for the measurements of surface in P- and H-recording. In a large majority of the patients, showing a difference between H- and P-recording, this difference indicated a lower degree for the H-recording.

Vestibular patients examined by posturography: sensory interaction testing.

Posturography (PG) examines the influence of vestibular disturbance on standing balance via the vestibulospinal reflex. Testing under several conditions, in which the sensory input by vision and proprioception is impeded from contributing in a normal way, evaluates the "sensory interaction." In a number of patients with known peripheral vestibular disorders, PG showed normal results, which indicate that, for these patients, the possible influence of the vestibular dysfunction has been cancelled at the central level (compensation).

Diagnostic problems in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

The steps of the examination procedure applied for a correct diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) are reviewed. A precise diagnosis is important in view of treatment of this type of vertigo by rehabilitation therapy. Clinical experience supports the concept that the diagnosis has to be based not only on a typical history, but also on the presence of a reproducible vertigo and paroxysmal positioning nystagmus.

Relevance of function tests in the diagnosis of vestibular disorders.

The diagnostic value or relevance of a vestibular function test is dependent on the whole clinical and functional context of each particular case. It is not the ability to show 'abnormality' in a high number of patients complaining of whatever kind of vertigo, that indicates the relevance of a function test. Neither is relevance of a test based upon the possibility that this test can re-categorize some patients in the same way as has been done by other tests.

Can posturography contribute to the diagnosis of vertigo in patients where other tests fail to do so?

In this study, patients showing abnormal posturographic results in a test-configuration upon examination of the visuo-proprioceptive-vestibular interaction (Static Posturography type III, SPGIII) are reviewed. Group I (n = 81) comprised patients for whom no clear diagnosis could be obtained (neither central nor peripheral) and with rather atypical complaints. Group II (n = 77) comprised patients in whom a well-defined peripheral disorder could be found (typical provoked vertigo as BPPV (n = 30) and Meniere's disease (n = 30)).

Sensory interaction posturography in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders.

The results of posturography, using all sensory inputs, are compared with recordings when one or more of the sensory inputs are altered by the test conditions. This gives an idea of the sensory interaction in central compensation in the vestibulospinal reflex. Positive and negative effects could be observed in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders.

Sensory interaction platform posturography in patients with Ménière's syndrome.

Introduction: The influence on balance by the peripheral vestibular disturbance in Ménière's disease is studied. The influence of visual and proprioceptive support in balance is evaluated.

Materials And Methods: Patients with recurrent spontaneous vertigo attacks (n = 134) were studied, 90 with Ménière's disease and 44 with recurrent vestibulopathy.

Sensory interaction posturography in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is a very common peripheral vestibular disturbance. The dysfunction becomes manifest mainly by vertigo and typical nystagmus. However, the vestibulospinal reflex (VSR) can also be disturbed.

Sensory interaction testing in platform posturography.

Mostly techniques measuring the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) have been used for the evaluation of patients with dizziness problems. Some investigators, however, have also tried to take into account the vestibulospinal reflex (VSR). So recording techniques for the Romberg-test have been proposed and called posturography (PG).

Rehabilitation therapy for patients with disequilibrium and balance disorders.

Vestibular rehabilitation is based on the use of adaptive and compensatory mechanisms already existing in the human brain. Research using animals provides a great deal of information on the neural mechanisms responsible for these functions and suggests strategies that should be helpful in rehabilitation of patients with disequilibrium and balance disorders. Research in animals and human beings suggests that rehabilitation should be specifically designed, depending on the patients' deficits.

Contribution of a posturographic six-test set to the evaluation of patients with peripheral vestibular disorders.

A posturographic six-test set was developed in order to investigate the contribution of each sensory input in the balance performance of patients with peripheral vestibular disturbances. In test 1 (t1) the three sensory inputs are contributing to balance. In (t2), the contribution of vision is excluded by closing the eyes; in (t3) the neck proprioceptor is influenced by extreme retroflexion of the head, and in (t4) the input of the foot-ankle proprioceptor is altered by standing on foam rubber.

Posture in otoneurology. Volume I.

In this study, posture is studied in the context of neuro-otological problems. In the several chapters, postural elements, postural influence upon balance aspects as well as postural components of the balance function in normal and pathological conditions are emphasized. Two main applications are put forward: rehabilitation by postural treatment techniques (REHAB) and examination techniques for the vestibulospinal aspects (posturography--PG).

Vestibular habituation training: exercise treatment for vertigo based upon the habituation effect.

Vestibular habituation training is an exercise treatment for positional vertigo based on the assumption that such a type of vertigo can be cured by habituation effect. The latter is produced by repeating the situation eliciting vertigo. In this way the mechanisms of adaptation and compensation are stimulated, processes of which have been considered "error controlled.

Vestibular habituation training for positional vertigo in elderly patients.

Positional vertigo can be successfully treated by exercises (Vestibular Habituation Training, VHT) in elderly patients as well as in younger ones. Provided the patients have been correctly selected, this type of treatment is the only way for an adequate treatment of such a type of vertigo. Application of VHT has to be recommended also in elderly people, as the results obtained are as favourable as those in younger people.

Vestibulospinal findings in two syndromes with spontaneous vertigo attacks.

The influence of vestibular dysfunction upon the vestibulospinal reflex (VSR) in two common peripheral syndromes was investigated by two types of posturographic examination: "static" posturography, recording and analyzing the postural sway in stance, and "kinetic" posturography, recording the stepping in place test. The influence of the dysfunction was examined outside the attacks, ie, between attacks and not during or immediately after an attack, in patients with Meniere's disease and in others with a sudden vestibular loss syndrome, "neuronitis." However, in both syndromes the influence of the dysfunction was obvious only in some patients; this indicates that central adaptation intervened in the other patients.

Evaluation of balance function in peripheral vestibular disorders.

The functional influence upon overall balance function induced by a peripheral vestibular disturbance is evaluated by positioning, rotatory and posturographic testing. The information does not contribute to the diagnostic labelling of a patient (as e.g.

Clinical application of vestibulospinal reflex tests in peripheral vestibular disorders.

The influence of peripheral vestibular disturbances upon postural behaviour can be measured by posturography (PG). The results show that both otolithic and canal dysfunction can have some influence, whereas central compensation tries to suppress it. In this way, central compensation can be assessed by PG, which adds complementary information sui generis to the data of the 'classical' evaluation of a dizzy patient.