Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0599766 (functional recovery)
 13,441 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The purpose of the present study was to investigate a number of factors that may influence the relationship between neuropsychological impairment and treatment outcome among alcoholics. Cognitive deficit upon admission to treatment was significantly related to the individual's age but independent of the years of problem drinking and the recency of the last drink prior to assessment. Significant improvement was noted on measures of neuropsychological function over the period from treatment admission to 6-month follow-up assessment. On the average, improvement in functioning occurred across time despite drinking relapses during the intervening period. The individual's age, but not years of problem drinking, was associated with recovery of function; neither of these variables interacted with subsequent drinking status to affect differentially the changes in cognitive functioning. Finally, selected measures of neuropsychological function assessed both at admission and 6-month follow-up were reliably related to follow-up employment status but unrelated to the average amount of alcohol consumed per day and to the number of heavy drinking days during the 3-month period between the 6- and 9-month follow-ups. The results are discussed in terms of the need for determining the utility of neuropsychological measures in predicting everyday functioning among alcoholics and for selecting domains of assessment other than cognitive status to predict treatment outcome.
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PMID:Clinical limitations of neuropsychological testing in predicting treatment outcome among alcoholics. 639 Dec 58

The neurological complications of alcoholism are briefly mentioned. The cerebral dysfunction associated with long-term alcohol abuse is discussed in detail. The techniques used for measurement of functional deficits and cerebral morphological abnormalities are outlined. Significant correlations were noted between cerebral atrophy and functional measurements. Age was the most important covariate except in those alcoholics with the Wernicke's syndrome or an amnesic syndrome (with VIQ-MQ greater than or equal to 15). Partial reversibility of functional and cerebral atrophy measurements was noted in some recently abstinent alcoholics. EEG abnormalities also tended to improve in some alcoholics. A prolonged but resolving CSF acidosis was noted in many subjects. Possible biological mechanisms and the treatment implications of the sometimes slow (weeks to months) but remarkable functional recovery seen in some recently abstinent alcoholics are discussed.
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PMID:Assessment of neurological dysfunction and recovery in alcoholics: CT scanning and other techniques. 664 60

Postoperative delirium is common in the elderly in the postoperative period. It can result in increased morbidity, delayed functional recovery, and prolonged hospital stay. In surgical patients, factors such as age, alcohol abuse, low baseline cognition, severe metabolic derangement, hypoxia, hypotension, and type of surgery appear to contribute to postoperative delirium. Anesthetics, notably anticholinergic drugs and benzodiazepines, increase the risk for delirium. Despite the above recommendations, postoperative delirium in the elderly is poorly understood. Clearly, further studies are needed to determine the risk and long-term outcome of delirium in the elderly population. Research is also needed to define the effects of hypoxemia on cerebral function and whether oxygen therapy has any benefits. The geriatric-anesthesiologic intervention program of pre- and postoperative geriatric assessment, early surgery, thrombosis prophylaxis, oxygen therapy, prevention and treatment of perioperative decrease in blood pressure, and vigorous treatment of any postoperative complications showed some promise, but further definitive studies are needed.
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PMID:Postoperative delirium in the elderly. 776 56

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is most commonly associated with alcoholism, although other causes have also been implicated. In the years 1994-1997, 9 patients with no history of alcohol abuse presented with acute signs of ophthalmoplegia or nystagmus and ataxia which resolved within 48 h after intravenous thiamine. There were 7 women and 2 men aged 17-57 (7 below the age of 30). Precipitating events included vomiting 2, drastic weight-reducing diet 2, renal colic in a postpartum woman 1, colonic surgery 2 and chronic hemodialysis 1. In 2 patients there was no obvious precipitating event but their history was suggestive of a genetic predisposition. Mental changes were slight or absent in all patients and all of them made good functional recovery. These cases suggest that the diagnosis of WE should be considered more often in nonalcoholics in various clinical settings.
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PMID:Thiamine-responsive acute neurological disorders in nonalcoholic patients. 1115 Aug 38

Chronic excess alcohol use is a well-established cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. The clinical features are variable because patients may be asymptomatic despite there being evidence of severe left ventricular dysfunction. Although the mechanism of alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy is not clearly understood, abstinence from alcohol has been associated with improvement in left ventricular function. Conversely, patients with ongoing alcohol abuse and dilated cardiomyopathy have a poor prognosis, with progressive biventricular failure and, ultimately, death. A case of rapid reversal of alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy with abstinence is reviewed. The present case highlights the acute toxic nature of alcohol and the potential for rapid functional recovery.
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PMID:Acute reversible left ventricular dysfunction secondary to alcohol. 1842 59