Impression Scale Research Articles

Draw Yourself Doing Mathematics: Creating a Prompt and Rubric to Probe Student Mental Images of Mathematics

ABSTRACT The Draw Yourself Doing Mathematics prompt was developed to study university students’ mental model of their self-image of doing mathematics derived from work connected to student attitudes toward mathematics. Undergraduate students are given 10 minutes to draw, on physical paper, a picture in response to the prompt. A scoring rubric has been developed to analyze the drawings and comprises an overall impression scale (ranging from extremely negative to extremely positive) and three categorical scales (location, activity, and affect). While the prompt was developed with K-16 students in mind, the validity of scores produced by the prompt has only been studied with undergraduate students. Rubric use has proven reliable with faculty and undergraduate researchers; scoring the drawings produced by the prompt allows for several hundred drawings to be produced in a few hours. Scores produced by the rubric help paint a picture of the mental images of doing mathematics over time, after pedagogical treatments, at the beginning and/or end of a course, and as a snapshot in time during the course. The drawings themselves help open conversations between instructors and students about, especially, the emotional aspects of doing mathematics.

Middle Miocene volcanic flare up preceding and synchronous with the Langhian/Serravallian sea‐level decline in the North Pannonian Basin: Insights from 40Ar/39Ar dating, geo‐seismic analysis and 3D visualization of the subterranean Kráľová stratovolcano

AbstractThe Pannonian Basin System originated from the collision of the African and European tectonic plates, followed by the Miocene extensional collapse that led to the development of a back‐arc basins. Accurate dating is essential to comprehend the tectono‐volcanic evolution of the region, particularly in the under‐studied Danube Basin. Single‐grain 40Ar/39Ar dating has revealed that volcanic activity in the Danube Basin commenced around 14.1 million years ago, aligning with previous biostratigraphic and radioisotope data from nearby volcanic fields. The initial Middle Miocene pyroclastic deposits were generated by intermediate high K calc‐alkaline magmas, contributing significantly to the deposition of thick layers of fine vitric tuffs. The timing and chemistry of the volcanism are consistent with the Badenian rift phase in the Middle Miocene within the Carpathian–Pannonian region, suggesting an intraplate back‐arc volcanic environment. Three‐dimensional imaging has exposed the buried Kráľová stratovolcano, revealing its impressive scale with a thickness between 2620 and 5000 m and a base diameter of 18–30 km. Such dimensions place it among the ranks of the world's largest stratovolcanoes, indicating its substantial impact on the evolution of the Carpathian–Pannonian area. The complex formation history of the stratovolcano points to multiple phases of growth. Furthermore, the basin controlling Mojmírovce‐Rába fault's intersection with the stratovolcano implies that fault activity was subsequent to the volcanic activity, being younger than 14.1 million years. Regional age data consistently indicates that volcanic activity in the Danube Basin reached its zenith just prior to and during the lower/upper Badenian sea‐level fall (Langhian/Serravallian). K‐metasomatism is unique to the stratovolcanic structures and is not observed in the wider regional setting. This study supports the notion of an intricate, interconnected subterranean intrusive system within the stratovolcano, underscoring the complex interplay between geological structures and volcanic processes.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ПРЕПОДАВАНИЯ ДИСЦИПЛИНЫ “НАНОТЕХНОЛОГИИ В ЕСТЕСТВЕННОНАУЧНЫХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯХ” В СЕВЕРО-КАЗАХСТАНСКОМ УНИВЕРСИТЕТЕ ИМЕНИМ.КОЗЫБАЕВА

Nanotechnology has captured the information field on an impressive scale, which is in one way or another related to scientific topics. In the modern world, the term "nanotechnology" is heard by almost every layman, for marketing purposes there are abuses with reference to this area. A definition is given that restricts the scope of this term. At the same time, breakthrough opportunities with the use of this interdisciplinary field for science, the latest outstanding research both for the promotion of digitalization and for the knowledge of man himself are shown. Since 2022, North Kazakhstan University has beenconducting classes in the discipline "Nanotechnology in Natural Science Research" using high-precision modern equipment. The goal is to reveal the features of teaching this discipline at the Department of Physics. The importance of training specialists ofvarious educational programs of the natural sciences in this discipline, the need to apply practical research skills on advanced scientific equipment: atomic force microscope, scanning tunneling microscope are considered. The results of scanning by students obtained in laboratory classes are given. The aspects of teaching this discipline at the North Kazakhstan University at the Department of Physics are revealed, the importance of the knowledge and skills gained in the formation of a future competitive specialist in the labor market is shown.

Former Colonial Souk of Tablaba, Taghjijt, Guelmim-Oued Noun

This article describes the rehabilitation of the former colonial market of Tablaba, in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region of southern Morocco. In an old palm grove shared by the Tekna and Ayt Herbil tribes, a colonial souk was built in 1940 with local materials and on an impressive scale. In its rehabilitation carried out by Salima Naji following decades of decay, traditional techniques took pride of place. Equally important was a new pilot training program implemented across the province, recovering vernacular methods while also reviving building trades. Thus what is described is not the reconstruction of the original complex, which had partially disappeared when the work began, nor a restoration of any of its constituent parts in the strict sense, but a rehabilitation linking a memorial space that has been kept intact with new built structures.

Effects of an Educational Presentation About Autism on High School Students' Perceptions of Autistic Adults.

Social communication difficulties are a clinical characteristic of autism, but social interactions are reciprocal in nature and autistic individuals' social abilities may not be the only factor influencing their social success. Nonautistic individuals' social perceptions and behavior also contribute to autistic individuals' social difficulties. Previous research has identified that nonautistic individuals' perception of autistic individuals is influenced by autism knowledge and the quantity and quality of exposure to autistic people. The current research aimed to examine how autistic adults are perceived by high school students, assess whether quality and quantity of autism contact predicts these perceptions, and explore whether these perceptions are malleable. One hundred fifty-one senior high school students (15-19 years old) completed the First Impression Scale after viewing video recordings of 20 autistic and 20 nonautistic adults in social situations, either before or after viewing a 50-minute educational presentation detailing the everyday experiences of autistic people and participating in a question-and-answer session. We assessed students' prior experiences with autistic people using the Quantity and Quality of Contact Scale and their own self-perceived social competence using the Multidimensional Social Competence Scale. Consistent with previous studies, students rated autistic adults less favorably than nonautistic adults. However, the educational presentation produced modest but significant improvements on these ratings, with students who viewed the presentation rating autistic adults as more attractive and likable and reporting greater social interest in them compared to those who had not yet viewed the presentation. Furthermore, consistent with a double empathy framework, exploratory analyses indicated that self-reports of greater social competence among students was associated with greater bias against autistic adults, whereas reports of higher quality interactions with autistic people were associated with less bias. Previous research has demonstrated that nonautistic adults evaluate autistic people less favorably and report lower social interest in them relative to nonautistic controls. In this study, we extend these findings to adolescents but find these biases are somewhat malleable, with education about autism exerting some modest benefits. Changing nonautistic attitudes about autistic differences may provide an avenue for improving interactions for autistic individuals without putting the onus on autistic individuals to change or mask their behavior and identity.

Effects of Jie Yu Wan on Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective To systematically assess the clinical efficacy of the Jie Yu Wan (JYW) formula in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods A multicenter, prospective, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at four hospitals in China. A total of one hundred thirty-three patients with GAD were enrolled from 2017 to 2019. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) JYW formula on GAD at eight weeks, with the use of Buspirone as the comparator. A stepwise dosing protocol was used (JYW: high dose 24 g/day, low dose 12 g/day; Buspirone: high dose 30 mg/day, low dose 15 mg/day) and the dose was adjusted depending on whether the treatment response of Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score was less than or equal to 25% after one week. The primary outcome was a change in total score on the HAMA. The secondary outcomes included the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, and TCM Syndrome Scale. Adverse events were recorded using the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS). Assessments were conducted at the baseline and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Results A total of one hundred thirty-three participants were randomly assigned to the JYW group (n = 66) and the Buspirone group (n = 67). One hundred twenty-one patients (91%) completed at least one follow-up session. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender, age, disease course, HAMA, HAMD, CGI, and TCM Syndrome Scale scores at baseline (all P > 0.05). Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed statistically significant time effects for the HAMA (P=0.002), HAMD (P = 0.018), and CGI (P=0.001) in both groups. Sensitivity analyses supported the credibility of the main results (P > 0.05). The group effect was not significant for the HAMA (P=0.43), HAMD (P=0.27), CGI (P=0.37), and TCM Syndrome Scale (P=0.86). Furthermore, there were no significant interaction effects between time and group in terms of the HAMA (P=0.47), HAMD (P=0.79), CGI (P=0.67), and TCM Syndrome Scale (P=0.69). After one week, 53 patients (80%) of the JYW group and 52 patients (78%) of the Buspirone group were adjusted to high doses. The interaction effect between time, group, and the dose was determined by repeated measures ANOVA test, and the HAMA score served as the outcome measure. The interaction effect between time and dose was statistically significant (P=0.04), which shows that high-dose JYW (24 g/day) was more effective in decreasing patients' HAMA scores than low-dose JYW (12 g/day), and Buspirone had the same effect, which means that high-dose Buspirone (30 mg/day) was more effective than low dose. (15 mg/day). Conclusions The conclusion of this study supports that JYW and Buspirone can effectively alleviate the anxiety symptoms of GAD patients, which are both effective and safe for treatment of mild to moderate GAD. Besides, high-dose JYW or Buspirone are more effective than low-dose, which is of great importance in assisting clinical medication choice.

Police applicant response bias on the California Psychological Inventory.

Positive response bias is common under the high demand conditions of personnel selection. This study investigated positive response bias on the California Psychological Inventory (CPI)-434 by police officer applicants as scored by the CPI-434-Police and Public Safety Report. Police officer applicants completed the CPI-434 under high and then again under low demand conditions. The high demand condition was represented by the CPI administration as part of the preemployment psychological evaluation. The low demand condition was represented by a CPI administration with no contingencies approximately 4 months later during the police academy. Demand effects were illustrated by comparing applicant scores (within-subject) under high versus low demand conditions on CPI-Police and Public Safety Report (CPI-PPSR) prediction equations and CPI scales. Significant demand effects were observed on 23 of 46 comparisons. Modest support for the construct validity of the Good Impression (Gi) scale and somewhat less for the Fake Good Index as measures of positive response bias were observed. Response bias potential impact on police officer performance predictions was discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Handbook of Research on the Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities. Mohamed Taher, ed. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2022. 565p. $295.00 (ISBN: 978-1799883630).

Organizations such as Libraries, Archives, and Museums (LAM) impact social justice (SJ) and civic engagement (CE) all over the world. This handbook explores these topics from different perspectives, uncovering the relationships between the LAM institutions and the communities they serve. The authors aim “to fill the gap with a sufficiently comprehensive critical overview of the role played by LAM in achieving SJ and CE,” examining the subject in a novel way, and on an impressive scale. The book is broken into four sections: the workplace, participation in the community, theory in the community, and smart cities. Each section includes chapters that look at how these institutions contribute to the life of the city from the perspectives of educators, archivists, curators, and librarians.

Importance of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in forensic psychiatry

Hintergrund und Ziel der ArbeitFür die Elektrokonvulsionstherapie (EKT) liegen Leitlinienempfehlungen zur Behandlung schwerer affektiver und psychotischer Erkrankungen vor, wie sie auch bei Patienten im Maßregelvollzug (MRV) vorkommen. Über die Anwendung der EKT in der forensischen Psychiatrie existieren jedoch keinerlei systematisch erhobene Daten. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist eine Erhebung des Ist-Zustands sowie des geschätzten Bedarfs an EKT im MRV.Material und MethodenEs wurde ein Fragebogen zur Erhebung der aktuellen Anwendung sowie der Einschätzung des Bedarfs an EKT in dieser Population entwickelt. Dieser wurde elektronisch und bei Bedarf postalisch an die forensischen Kliniken in Deutschland versendet.ErgebnisseWir erhielten Antwort von 52 Kliniken (66 %). 29 der Kliniken gaben an, Patienten mit EKT behandeln zu können. Eine Behandlungsindikation wurde klinikübergreifend für 3,4 % der untergebrachten Patienten gesehen. In einem Jahr (2018) wurden insgesamt 32 EKT-Behandlungen an 12 Kliniken des Maßregelvollzugs mit durchschnittlich guter Wirksamkeit (Ø CGI‑I 2,32) durchgeführt. Häufigste Begründung für die fehlende Anwendung der EKT waren mangelnde strukturelle Voraussetzungen. Jeweils etwa ein Drittel der Kliniken sehen einen mittleren bzw. hohen Bedarf an EKT im MRV.DiskussionDie EKT kommt im MRV in Deutschland aktuell nur sehr begrenzt zum Einsatz. Auffällig ist, dass die Anzahl der durchgeführten Behandlungen etwa um den Faktor 8 hinter der Indikationshäufigkeit zurücksteht. Ungeachtet dessen sehen zwei Drittel der Kliniken einen mittleren bis hohen Bedarf, womit eine Unterversorgung mit EKT im MRV zu bestehen scheint.

The efficacy and safety of ethyl methyl hydroxypyridine succinate used as part of sequential therapy in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia

Objective: to investigate the efficacy and safety of Mexidol ® FORTE 250 in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) in the presence of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Patients and methods. The investigation enrolled 20 patients aged 45 to 75 years with CCI in the presence of hypertension and atherosclerosis, who received intravenous Mexidol ® administered dropwise at a dose of 500 mg once a day for 14 days, followed by oral Mexidol ® FORTE 250 mg thrice a day for 60 days (a study group). A control group consisted of 14 patients with CCI in the presence of hypertension concurrent with atherosclerosis, who were prescribed combination therapy for CCI without using these drugs. The patients were examined before and at 14 and 60 days of treatment. The investigators studied subjective complaints, neurological symptoms, and the indicators of the Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment in Elderly Patients; the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS); asthenia rating scales (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, MFI-20); and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale over time. Results and discussion. Therapy with Mexidol ® in patients with CCI in the presence of hypertension and atherosclerosis was found to be accompanied by positive changes in the asthenia rating scale MFI-20, cognitive functions assessed by MoCA, as well as Tinetti movement coordination. No significant differences in these indicators were noted in patients of the control group. Combination treatment for CCI with Mexidol ® and Mexidol ® FORTE 250 as a sequential therapy was twice more effective than that without using these drugs, as shown by the scales as a whole and it was up to 10 times greater for individual scale parameters. Conclusion. The study of Mexidol ® FORTE 250 as part of the sequential therapy, which was used according to the above regimen, indicates its clinical efficacy and safety in patients with CCI.

Competing Ecourban Futures in Taipei

Competing Ecourban Futures in Taipei Jason Parry (bio) Garden centers must become the Jacobin Clubs of the new Revolution. —Ian Hamilton Findlay1 Even before being designated a World Design Capital in 2016, the municipal government of Taipei had already begun investing in sustainable green urbanism initiatives.2 A massive bike-share program, called YouBike, added millions of bicycles to the city's roads and complemented upgrades to Taipei's metro system.3 The city also invested in large public works designed to transform Taipei into a "sponge city" that would replace impermeable concrete surfaces with permeable ones—providing for enhanced flood control and water filtration.4 It was in a series of new high-profile building projects, however, that Taipei's drive to become a hub for sustainable design was most clearly manifested. Already in 2015, Taipei's mayor, Ko Wen-je, unveiled a plan to transform Taipei into an "eco city with smart architecture."5 A precedent and inspiration for such "smart architecture" was Taipei 101—the skyline- defining tower that, at the time of its completion in 2004, was the tallest in the world. Besides its impressive scale, Taipei 101 was also notable for its innovative water recycling and air-conditioning systems, designed by Siemens Taiwan, that earned the building an LEED Platinum Certification.6 Nevertheless, while Taipei 101 was touted as an ecologically conscious architectural landmark, the building nevertheless represented a gargantuan use of building materials.7 The innovative systems that make the tower energy efficient for its size are [End Page 121] small compensation for the immense carbon emissions incurred in its construction. The contradictions embodied in Taipei 101 raise fundamental questions about the future of the sustainable city—about what the future ecocity looks like, how it operates, and whom it includes and excludes.8 As ever-greater numbers of the earth's human population begin living in urban environments, the city becomes the territory for which debates about the sustainable future have perhaps the greatest implications. This article interprets recent sustainable building projects in Taipei as speculative narratives about the future of ecological urban design. These plans and buildings are not just interventions in Taipei's urban fabric, I argue, but blueprints for a possible urban future. Each architectural project analyzed here embodies a particular theory of ecological design, and Taipei can thus be considered an agonistic laboratory where potentially irreconcilable models of sustainable urbanism are being produced, tested, and evaluated. The two case studies reviewed here are the Tao Zhu Yin Yuan (also known as the Agora Garden Tower) designed by Vincent Callebaut and the Paracity designed by Marco Casagrande. The former project is an example of the emerging "vertical forest" typology—a style of high-rise building characterized by balconies covered with trees and vegetation.9 Casagrande's Paracity, meanwhile, is a simple set of timber frames intended to facilitate additional construction by local inhabitants. Despite their common aim to remake Taipei into a more sustainable city, these two projects are radically different in their methodological approaches and in the presuppositions they harbor about the future of ecological urbanism. Callebaut's building makes use of sophisticated technologies, including a photovoltaic rooftop pergola to capture solar energy and a wastewater recycling system featuring cutting-edge nanotechnologies.10 The goal of Callebaut's designs, in the architect's own words, is "to Transform the City into an ecosystem, the districts into forests, and the towers is [sic] into urban trees!"11 Casagrande's Paracity, on the other hand, is decidedly low-tech, intended to promote vernacular architectural styles and traditional local knowledge. The projects are also distinguished by their location. While the Tao Zhu Yin Yuan is located in Taipei's main business and financial district in close proximity to Taipei 101, Casagrande has proposed his Paracity for a small island in the middle of the Tamsui River. Moreover, the [End Page 122] luxury apartments of the Tao Zhu Yin Yuan are clearly marketed to a different segment of the urban population than the semi-improvised developments proposed for Casagrande's Paracity. By reviewing the merits and pitfalls of these two projects, not only in themselves but in terms of their scalability to...

Practicing the Patience of God: A Response to Technologically Induced Impatience by Way of Ancient Holy Habit

This article addresses three interrelated concerns: the pervasive nature of technologically induced impatience, a theological understanding of divine patience, and, finally, a suitable response to techno-impatience by way of engagement with the art and practice of holy habit. As we have experienced faster flows of information, and larger amounts of information through which we must sort, we have become less patient people. This loss of patience continues to produce a new kind of personal and communal disquiet on an impressive scale. To address concerns with techno-impatience, arguments will be drawn from scriptural and theological concepts of divine patience. These concepts prompt us to rediscover, and reinvent, a richer understanding of patience as an individuated spiritual virtue. Accordingly, a corrective to the exacerbating effects of technologically induced impatience will be offered: namely, the explicit spiritual discipline of practicing holy patience.

Social Entrepreneurship: An Emerging Trend in India

Today in the era of sustainable development everybody is concern about the society. We take a lot from society. Now the questions arises what we are giving in return. This lead to emergence of social entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship is a term that is used to represent the whole picture of the process of social change on a larger and more impressive scale than a traditional non-governmental organization (NGO). It is very significant in the study of voluntary organizations, non-profit organization. Previously, organizations dealing with key social issues had to be idealistic, philanthropic with entrepreneurial traits. Social entrepreneurship in India is emerging mainly because the government is also very interested in its promotion, not only to finance or advice, but also to its licensing. After the compulsion of corporate social responsibility in Companies Act 2013, CSR in the private sector with clearly allocated funds and full-fledged action teams have played an important role in improving the image of social entrepreneurship. The purpose of the paper is to study the growing trends of social entrepreneurship in India and the new initiatives taken by various social entrepreneurs. It also provides a brief idea of the different theories of social entrepreneurship. Efforts are being made to provide information and an exploratory study of social business support activities and social entrepreneurship companies in India.

Accelerated theta-burst repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression in South Africa: A series of nine cases

IntroductionThis case series documents local experience using accelerated theta-burst repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a supplementary treatment for depression in both major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD).MethodsNine consenting patients (MDD = 7; BD [major depressive episode] = 2) received the accelerated theta-burst protocol consisting of three magnetic pulses delivered 20 ms apart and repeatedly delivered every 200 ms, resulting in a 5 Hz theta rhythm over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Treatment comprised 20 sessions delivered over 8 days. Accelerated theta burst rTMS treatment provides more stimuli over a shorter period of time, thus potentially increasing feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Improvement was monitored using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale at baseline, day 5 and day 8 of rTMS treatment. All patients remained on their prescribed medication for the duration of rTMS treatment. We performed a Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test to determine whether there was a difference in scores from baseline to post-treatment. The CES-D scores decreased significantly from baseline (Mdn 38.0; IQR 31.0; 51.0) to post-treatment (Mdn 17.0; IQR 11.0; 28.5; Z = -2.55, p = 0.011). The CGI severity scores also decreased significantly between baseline (Mdn 4.0; IQR 4.0; 5.0) and post-treatment (Mdn 3.0; IQR 3.0; 4.0; Z = -2.43, p = 0.015).ResultsFive patients demonstrated at least a 50% symptom reduction on the CES-D scale. The most commonly reported adverse effect was mild headache, which lasted a few hours during and post-rTMS treatment.ConclusionA limitation of these findings is that this was a small case series without a control arm; however, the findings suggest that the accelerated theta burst rTMS protocol for depression was well tolerated with most patients also experiencing symptomatic improvement by day 8.

Acute Effects of Music Therapy in Subjects With Psychosis During Inpatient Treatment

Objective: Previous studies have proposed music therapy (MT) as a useful rehabilitation approach for patients with psychosis, but few studies have focused on acute settings. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a structured MT program on clinical and social functioning indices of patients with psychosis while hospitalized in an emergency psychiatric ward. Method: The intervention followed a modified approach to Benenzon’s MT model and was delivered biweekly to 61 patients with psychosis consecutively admitted to our ward. Before and after the MT program, all subjects were administered the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) for assessment of general psychopathology, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for affective symptomatology, the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale for severity of symptoms, and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale for psychosocial functioning. Results: A repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed that patients who underwent the MT intervention had a statistically significant reduction of BPRS and CGI scores, compared to the control group; furthermore, the BPRS anxiety/depression factor and the HADS scores for affective symptomatology significantly decreased after the observation period compared to controls. Conclusion: Our results are in line with previous studies showing favorable effects of MT in patients with psychosis, in particular on affective symptomatology, but extend this observation to an emergency setting with short periods of hospital stay.

Research on the impact of recreational activities on the patients of schizophrenia

This research was done for finding out the impacts of Recreational Activities on the Schizophrenic Patients. 30 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia registered in Hitit University Education and Research Hospital’s Community Mental Health Centerwere included in the research. The patients were applied with educational games and folk dances as recreational activities three days a week for 12 weeks. In the research, Scale for the Assessment of the Negative Symptoms (SANS), Scale for the Assessment of the positive Symptoms (SAPS), Global Assessment of the Functioning (GAF) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scales were used as data collection tools at the beginning and the end of 12 weeks. In addition, body lipid percentages, body weights and body mass indexes (BMI) of the patients were calculated at the beginning and the end of the research by using TANITA device. According to the results of statistical analyses, the difference between start and end SANS (p=0,471), GAF (p=0,004), CGI (p=0,003) values and body lipid percentages (p=0,019) of the participants was statistically significant. However, the difference between start and end weight (p=0,406), BMI (p=0,471) and SAPS (p=0,081) rates was not statistically significant.

The efficacy and safety of Danggui-Sayuk-Ga-Osuyu-Saenggang-tang on Korean patients with cold hypersensitivity in the hands: study protocol for a pilot, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial

BackgroundIn recent years, cold hypersensitivity in the hands (CHH) has become a common ailment of women in Korea. It can lead to gynecological problems such as irregular menstruation, miscarriage, and infertility. Traditionally, Korean herbal medicine has been the primary treatment method used to balance thermoregulation in the human body; however, its effectiveness has not been confirmed through systematic study. Thus, in this trial, we will investigate the feasibility of a full randomized clinical trial, Danggui-Sayuk-Ga-Osuyu-Saenggang-tang (DSGOST) in Korean women with CHH.MethodsThis study will be a pilot, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, two-arm, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 66 participants will be randomly divided into two groups, a DSGOST treatment group and a placebo control group, in a 1:1 ratio using a web-based randomization system. Each group will take DSGOST or placebo three times daily for 6 weeks. The primary outcome will be measured using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of CHH. Secondary outcomes will include changes in skin temperature of the hands, Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale scores, recovery rate of skin temperature of the hands after the cold stress test, and the Korean version of the WHO Quality of Life Scale, abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF).DiscussionThis trial will be the first trial to reflect the newly defined disease range of CHH which was compiled by Korean medicine expert consensus. This study will provide considerable evidence for further large-scale trials and general clinical guidelines for CHH in the Korean medical field.Trial registrationThis study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02645916. Registered on 30 December 2015.

Communication about immunotherapy: Barriers and information to discuss.

6543 Background: Since immunotherapy is a promising new therapeutic approach to cancer treatment, improving physician/patient communication about this approach is important. No communication guidelines exist. To begin to fill this gap, we identified provider and patient preferences for information, and identified barriers to communication about immunotherapy. Methods: We qualitatively interviewed 15 oncology professionals who offer immunotherapy treatment about the information they deemed important to communicate to patients and the communication barriers. After a discussion about immunotherapy options with a provider, we interviewed 18 oncology patients about the information that was most useful to them and their impressions of immunotherapy. We captured impressions on two 1-5 scales with 5 being ‘very positive impression’ and ‘very likely to be cured’ and by picking words from a list of positive and negative terms like ‘effective’ and ‘risky.’ All open-ended questions were qualitatively coded. We reached saturation of themes with 18 patients. Results: Patients identified 4 useful topics to discuss: treatment options, benefits, treatment logistics, and side effects. Providers identified 3 topics important topics to convey: side effects, realistic view of benefit and treatment logistics. The most frequently provider-identified barrier to communication was patients’ baseline misconceptions about immunotherapy’s effectiveness. Supporting this, patients’ impressions were very positive (average of 4 on impressions scale and 3.9 on potential to be cured scale.) The most frequently chosen word patients chose to describe immunotherapy treatment was ‘hopeful’ (10/18 55%). Conclusions: There is largely agreement on the important topics to discuss about immunotherapy, though half of the patients thought a discussion of treatment options would be useful and only one physicians mentioned options. Of note, communication is hampered by patients’ preconceptions about immunotherapy’s effectiveness. Communication guidelines should identify techniques to effectively overcome this barrier.

POSSIBILITIES OF ANXIETY-DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE

Aim. To study the efficacy and safety of D-, L-gopantenic acid/Pantogam active in the complex treatment of congestive heart failure and coronary heart disease in patients with symptoms of anxiety-depressive disorder. Patients and methods. 82 patients with NYHA II-III heart failure, anxiety and depression were enrolled in the study. Material and methods. The severity of psychological disorders and the efficacy of 8-week therapy with Pantogam active were assessed using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), State Trait Anxiety Index (STAI), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale. The quality of life was evaluated using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey. Global improvement or change of psychological symptoms by CGI Scale were considered as efficacy criteria. Standard diagnostic tools, i.e., echocardiography and 24-hour Holter monitoring, were applied as well. Results. 8-week treatment with Pantogam active of patients with heart failure and depression greatly reduces the severity of anxiety-depressive disorders, improves physical activity tolerance and vegetative regulation of heart rhythm, and decreases heart rate in supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Conclusions. In heart failure patients, anxiety-depressive disorders are accompanied by significant disturbances of heart rhythm vegetative regulation, development of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, physical activity intolerance, increased hospital admission rate, and decreased quality of life. 8-week treatment with Pantogam active due to its bimodal action significantly improves these symptoms and the quality of life.

EP 108. EEG-based arousal markers for individualized treatment in obsessive compulsive disorder

Objectives Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and their combination are effective in the treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Based on findings of increased levels of central nervous system (CNS)-arousal in OCD, aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that electroencephalogram (EEG)-based CNS- arousal markers differ for responders compared to non-responders to a therapy. Further goal was to identify specific response- predictors for either CBT, SSRI treatment or a combined therapy. Methods CNS-arousal during a fifteen-minute resting state condition was assessed by means of electroencephalogram (EEG)-vigilance stages using VIGALL (Vigilance Algorithm Leipzig) from 51 unmedicated patients suffering from OCD. Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) were used to assess response or non-response after three to six months following therapy with either CBT ( n = 22), SSRI ( n = 12) or combination of both ( n = 17). Results Responders showed significant lower amounts of high CNS-arousal stage W (ANOVA F = 4.8; p 0.02 ). The percentage of W-stages also negatively correlated with YBOCS changes after treatment ( r = −0.32, p 0.03 ). Further, CNS-arousal as assessed by amounts of vigilance stages also allowed discrimination between response to one of the three different treatment arms CBT, SSRIs or the combination of both. Discussion The results of lower CNS-arousal in responders in comparison to non-responders in treatment of OCD suggest, that EEG-based markers might be useful for individualizing treatment in OCD, e.g. for decisions of early augmentation. Especially the fact that CNS-arousal markers were different for responders to either CBT, SSRI or combined therapy underlines the possible predictive value of EEG-based markers. Prospective studies in this field are strongly warranted.