Role Of Various Variables Research Articles

QOL-29. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER CRANIOSPINAL IRRADIATION IN CHILDREN TREATED FOR MEDULLOBLASTOMA: A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT USING AGE-APPROPRIATE SCALES

Abstract BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma 5-years survival rates range from 50-95% across risk classes, underscoring the need to mitigate treatment-related neurocognitive deficits. This study evaluates cognitive outcomes within 2 years post-radiotherapy, considering treatment modalities and various influencing factors. METHODS We conducted a retrospective monocentric study on patients under 18 years old, treated at our hospital from 2007 to 2020, with histologically and molecularly confirmed medulloblastoma, who underwent craniospinal irradiation. Cognitive function was assessed within 24 months post-therapy using age-appropriate Wechsler scales to evaluate verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. Patients were categorized into two groups based on a threshold score of 80, indicating “neurocognitive normality” if scores were ≥80 in all domains or “neurocognitive deficient” if any domain scored <80. Statistical analyses utilized SPSS for descriptive statistics and tests for categorical and continuous variables. RESULTS Among 100 selected patients, 91 completed the evaluations. The average age at diagnosis was 8.47 years, and at the onset of radiotherapy was 8.83 years. Forty-four patients (48%) scored ≥80 in all domains, indicating ‘neurocognitive normality,’ while 47 patients (52%) scored <80 in at least one domain, classified as ‘neurocognitive deficient’. In the descriptive analysis identifying significant differences in the two groups, no significant differences were observed in age, WHO classification, risk class, or pre-surgical shunt. In contrast, significant differences emerged in posterior fossa syndrome frequency, kinetic (p=0.002) and static forms (p<0.001) and in parental education level(p=0.025). CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the multifactorial nature of neurocognitive development in children with medulloblastoma within 2 years post-radiotherapy, identifying postoperative complications and the social environment as significant factors. Notably, specifics of radiotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy did not show a significant impact in this preliminary analysis. Future studies will further investigate the roles of various variables on neurocognitive outcomes, aiming to extend our understanding beyond two years post-radiotherapy.

An Investigation of the Mediating Role of Various Variables in the Effect of Both Gender and Economic, Social and Cultural Status on Reading Literacy

The present study was based on the Turkish sample in PISA 2009 and PISA 2018. To investigate the effect of both gender and economic, social and cultural status index on reading literacy, the causal mediation effect was utilized in order to test the mediating role of the following variables: enjoyment of reading, the metacognitive strategy of summarizing, and the metacognitive strategy of reading and comprehension. With respect to the effect of the variable of gender on reading literacy, it was revealed in the present research study that all the variables utilized in the study had a statistically significant partial mediating role in the variable of enjoyment of reading, which was the strongest mediator variable. As for the effect of the economic, social and cultural status on reading literacy, it was revealed that there were statistically significant variables that played a mediating role; however, as these variables contributed very little to the explained variance, these variables were concluded to have no mediating role.

An Investigation of the Mediating Role of Various Variables in the Effect of Both Gender and Economic, Social and Cultural Status on Reading Literacy

The present study was based on the Turkish sample in PISA 2009 and PISA 2018. To investigate the effect of both gender and economic, social and cultural status index on reading literacy, the causal mediation effect was utilized in order to test the mediating role of the following variables: enjoyment of reading, the metacognitive strategy of summarizing, and the metacognitive strategy of reading and comprehension. With respect to the effect of the variable of gender on reading literacy, it was revealed in the present research study that all the variables utilized in the study had a statistically significant partial mediating role in the variable of enjoyment of reading, which was the strongest mediator variable. As for the effect of the economic, social and cultural status on reading literacy, it was revealed that there were statistically significant variables that played a mediating role; however, as these variables contributed very little to the explained variance, these variables were concluded to have no mediating role.

Magic Moments: Determinants of Stress Relief and Subjective Wellbeing from Visiting a Cultural Heritage Site.

We provide an experimental evaluation of the impact of aesthetic experiences in terms of stress reduction (cortisol levels) and wellbeing increase. The test experience is a visit to the vault of the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, Italy. Data have been collected using a double step method. A structured interview in relation to the individual subjective well-being has been administered to a sample of 100 subjects. In addition, a sample of their saliva has been taken, and its cortisol level measured, before and after the experience, and likewise for momentary wellbeing measured on a Visual Analogous Scale. Subjects reported an average increase of 40% in wellbeing and a decrease of the 60% in the cortisol level. The recorded cortisol level values dropped on average well beyond the decrease normally associated to its circadian cycle. The modulating role of various variables has been appreciated, and profiling of the typical subjects who are wellbeing respondents/non-respondents and cortisol respondents/non-respondents has been carried out. We conclude that aesthetic experience seems to have a noticeable impact on individual physical and mental health. In both dominions, cultural participation intensity is significantly correlated to the response. The study underlines the potential of the arts and culture as a new platform for public health practices and new approaches to welfare policy design.

Factors affecting consumers' behavioural intention to adopt broadband in Pakistan

PurposeThe aim of this study is to examine various attitudinal, normative and control factors affecting the adoption of broadband internet by consumers in a developing country by focusing on Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachA survey approach was employed to achieve the overall aim of this study. The empirical data concerning the attitudinal, normative and control variables were collected using a questionnaire. A regression analysis was performed to test the role of various variables on consumers' behavioural intentions (BIs) to adopt broadband internet in Pakistan.FindingsThe findings of the study suggest that primary influence, facilitating conditions, resources, cost, perceived knowledge and perceived ease of use were all significant factors for explaining consumers' BIs to adopt broadband.Originality/valueThe primary value of this paper lies in extending the current understanding of broadband adoption, by providing insights from a developing country perspective. This has been achieved by synthesising and empirically testing previous research on broadband adoption conducted from a developed country (i.e. the UK) perspective.

Manipulation of the induction of adjuvant arthritis in Sprague-Dawley rats

To investigate the roles of various variables in the induction of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in the outbred Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and further characterize its arthritic features by comprehensive examinations. The roles of different preparative techniques, inoculation routes and doses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) suspension as well as the sex preference in the induction of AIA were comparatively studied using clinical assessment. The hind paws of animals were analyzed by radiological and histological examinations. The serum levels of cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were determined by ELISA. The particle size and dose of MT played a dominant role in the induction and severity of AIA. Male rats manifested markedly more severe arthritic signs than female rats. After subcutaneously inoculated with 500 microg MT, male rats developed pronounced arthritis with 100% incidence and low variable clinical signs. Even using only 62.5 microg MT, AIA was efficiently induced in male rats and characterized by upregulated expression profiles of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Since outbred SD rats are much cheaper and more readily available than Lewis rats, this well-developed SD rat AIA model is an efficient and cost-effective arthritis model available for screening novel anti-arthritic agents.