Spearman Correlation Factor Research Articles

Can cereal-based oral contrast agents-assisted ultrasound become an alternative to non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in radiological follow-up for pancreatic cystic lesions?

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are recommended to be examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), yet MRI still has limitations, such as high costs, the risk of triggering claustrophobia, and relatively low availability compared with ultrasound. Oral contrast agents-assisted ultrasound has been used to examine the gallbladder and stomach, but whether oral contrast agents could improve the accuracy of transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) for PCLs and could be a potential alternative to non-contrast MRI for PCL follow-up has not been studied. This study aimed to explore the value of cereal-based oral contrast agents in improving the accuracy of PCLs during TAUS. This is a prospective cohort study. Patients with PCL who were admitted to our center between January 2023 and January 2024 were enrolled, and TAUS was performed before and after taking cereal-based oral contrast agents. The imaging quality of the PCL was measured by structural visualization scores. The structural visualization scores of oral contrast agent-assisted ultrasound and non-contrast MRI were also compared. A total of 27 patients with PCLs were enrolled, and 30 PCLs were detected. The sonolucency of the PCL improved after oral contrast agent administration. Before taking the agent, only 30% of patients had satisfactory sonolucency; after taking the oral contrast agent, the corresponding proportion reached 80% (P=0.002). The structural visualization score of the PCL determined by oral contrast agent-assisted TAUS was higher than that determined without the aid of an agent [1 (0-6) vs. 1 (0-3), P=0.001], which was mainly reflected in the increase in the number of visible septa after taking the agent. No significant difference was detected between the structural visualization score of the PCL examined by oral contrast agent-assisted TAUS and that examined by non-contrast MRI and the correlation between the 2 types of scores were satisfactory [1 (0-6) vs. 2 (0-7), P=0.070, Spearman correlation factor r=0.880]. This study used a structured scoring system to confirm that cereal-based oral contrast agents could improve the ultrasound quality of PCLs, and the correlation between the quality of oral contrast agent-assisted ultrasound and non-contrast MRI findings on PCLs was satisfactory. Further research to improve visualization of PCLs on TAUS using oral contrast agents could result in TAUS being a potential alternative to MRI in the follow-up of PCLs in resource-limited situations.

P-747 Can patient self-scans using a home vaginal ultrasound device be used to monitor the ovarian stimulation in ART?

Abstract Study question Can patient self-scans with a home ultrasound device, with or without professional remote online guidance, be used for ovarian and endometrial monitoring during for ART? Summary answer Follicle number/size and endometrial thickness recorded from patients’ home ultrasound self-acquired scans, especially when guided online, corresponded with standard sonographies and aspirated oocyte yield. What is known already Follicle number and size are a key parameter for monitoring the ovarian stimulation and determining the time for triggering and OPU. The endometrial thickness (EMT) and pattern are important parameters associated with implantation and pregnancy. Both are measured repeatedly in serial sonographies during the ART cycles, imposing a significant burden of time, travel and cost on patients, while adding to the clinic’s workload. Patient self-scans with a home ultrasound device can potentially relief patient travel discomfort and the clinic’s patient congestion. Study design, size, duration Open label study performed during one IVF cycle. Participants were trained to visualize uterus and ovaries using the Pulsenmore FC device. After training the patients were randomized to two groups: independent use (IU-scans) or remote online guidance by a clinical sonographer (CG-scans). Before each in-clinic scan patients obtained and recorded their pelvic scan, which were read blindly and compared to the in-clinic scans for ovaries and uterus visualization, follicles number and size, and EMT. Participants/materials, setting, methods Patients without Mullerian or pelvic pathologies undergoing stimulation for IVF. Clinical decisions and triggering were based on individual considerations and the standard in-clinic ultrasound measurements. OPU was performed 36-38h after triggering. All ultrasound scans were analyzed for image quality, number and size of follicles and EMT and compared to the in-clinic scans as the gold standard (GS). Correlation was calculated based on the Spearman Correlation Factor (SCF). Patient satisfaction was measured using a questionnaire. Main results and the role of chance Twenty-four patients completed the study, 11-CG and 13-IU. Image quality score was>3 and adequate uterine visualization was achieved in 100% of the CG-scans and in 87% of the IU-scans. The right ovary was imaged in 100% of the CG-scans and 85.7% of the IU-scans. The left ovary in 97.4% of the CG-scans and 85.7% of the IU-scans. CG-scans AFC correlated better with the GS than IU-scans AFC (SCF 0.85vs.0.12). Correct identification of the first follicle>14mm was achieved in 100% of the CG-scans and in 92% of the IU-patients. Maximal EMT from CG-scans was better correlated with the GS than the IU-scans (SCF 0.64vs.0.46), with a clinically insignificant difference (0.4mm). The number of stimulated follicles obtained from CG-scans was better correlated with the GS than IU-scans (SCF 0.94 vs.0.43). The oocytes/stimulated follicles ratio was 1.19 for the GS and 1.28 for the self scans (1.06 for CG-scans, 1.9 for IU-scans). The MII/follicles>14mm ratio was 1.12 for the GS and 1.49 for the self scans (1.27 for CG-scans,1.69 for IU-scans). Patients’ questionnaire revealed that 89% of patients felt comfortable to self-scan themselfs, 86.5% were interested to use the device and 75% will recommend it to their friends. Limitations, reasons for caution Self vaginal ultrasound scanning is not suitable for all patients and online support by a sonographer is required. Inter-observer differences in scan measurements should be taken into consideration. Since participation in the study was limited to one cycle, no patient learning curve for IU-scans could be evaluated. Wider implications of the findings Reliable folliculometry and endometrial measurements can be obtained from patient self-use vaginal ultrasound scans. Online assistance enhances scanning accuracy. Together with near/home lab tests, safe remote management of ovarian stimulation can be realized, reducing costs, discomfort and travel time, ultimately reducing workload for fertility clinics, and improving workforce flexibility. Trial registration number NCT05485623

Real-Time PCR Method as Diagnostic Tool for Detection of Periodontal Pathogens in Patients with Periodontitis.

The most common type of periodontal disease is chronic periodontitis, an inflammatory condition caused by pathogenic bacteria in subgingival plaque. The aim of our study was the development of a real-time PCR test as a diagnostic tool for the detection and differentiation of five periodontopathogenic bacteria, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia, and Treponema denticola, in patients with periodontitis. We compared the results of our in-house method with the micro-IDent® semiquantitative commercially available test based on the PCR hybridization method. DNA was isolated from subgingival plaque samples taken from 50 patients and then analyzed by both methods. Comparing the results of the two methods, they show a specificity of 100% for all bacteria. The sensitivity for A. actinomycetemcomitans was 97.5%, for P. gingivalis 96.88%, and for P. intermedia 95.24%. The sensitivity for Tannerella forsythia and T. denticola was 100%. The Spearman correlation factor of two different measurements was 0.976 for A. actinomycetemcomitans, 0.967 for P. gingivalis, 0.949 for P. intermedia, 0.966 for Tannerella forsythia, and 0.917 for T. denticola. In conclusion, the in-house real-time PCR method developed in our laboratory can provide information about relative amount of five bacterial species present in subgingival plaque in patients with periodontitis. It is likely that such a test could be used in dental diagnostics in assessing the efficacy of any treatment to reduce the bacterial burden.

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC FORESIGHT ON ORGANIZATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY

The current research aims to diagnose the impact of strategic foresight in achieving organizational sustainability at Al-Wasit Refineries Company - Al-Dora Refinery, as well as knowing the level of interest and adoption of the research variables in the researched company, and the recentness of the variables dealt with, which received wide attention as one of the topics affecting the future of organizations in general and based on the sensitivity of the sector in which the research is conducted and the researched society, and in order to explain the relationships between the variables, the main hypothesis of the research was formulated, which indicated the lack of moral impact of strategic foresight in organizational sustainability, and in order to test it, the researcher resorted to choosing the analytical descriptive approach to complete the research through the use of the questionnaire as a main tool in it, which was distributed in the company, the research community, while the sample was a purposive stratified sample comprehensively confined by (352) individuals represented by the positions (general manager, assistant general manager, directors of agencies, directors of departments, officials of divisions) and from which the data of the questionnaire were collected that it included (59) paragraphs through them, after the researcher distributed the questionnaire to all members of the sample, while the valid ones were for analysis. And the retriever (312), in addition to using observation and field observation as auxiliary methods, to analyze these answers according to a number of statistical methods (percentages, arithmetic mean, confirmatory factor analysis, standard deviation, coefficient of difference, simple linear regression, multiple linear regression, coefficient Determination (R2), path analysis, relative importance, Spearman correlation factor) using (SPSS v.23) and (AMOS v.23) and (Excel 2013) programs.

Characterization of prostate cancer using diffusion tensor imaging: A new perspective

PurposeThis study is aimed at evaluating the potential role of quantitative magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tractography parameters in the detection and characterization of peripheral zone prostate cancer with a particular attention for fiber tract density. Materials and methodsDTI was acquired from eleven high risk, transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy proven prostate cancers with perineural invasion (histological Gleason score ≥ 7) on a 3 T magnet. Twenty parameters derived from DTI were quantified in cancer and healthy regions of the prostate. In addition, fiber tract density in normal versus cancer tissues was also calculated using DTI tractography. Support vector machine with a radial basis function kernel and area under receiver operator characteristic (ROC) were used to describe and compare the diagnostic performance of combined fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) and other statistically significant DTI parameters. Spearman correlation analysis between DTI parameters and Gleason scores was conducted. ResultsEighteen DTI parameters yielded statistically significant differences between cancer and healthy regions (p-value < 0.05). The ROC curve of all statistically significant DTI parameters between cancer and healthy regions was higher than the area under ROC curve using FA + MD alone (95% confidence interval = 0.988, range = 0.975–1.00) vs (95% confidence interval = 0.935, range = 0.898-0.999), respectively (p-value < 0.05). Fiber tract density was also found to be higher in cancer than in healthy tissues (+38.22%, p-value = 0.010) and may be related to the increase in nerve and vascular density reported in prostate cancer. The linear and relative anisotropy were highly correlated with Gleason score (Spearman correlation factor r = 0.655, p-value = 0.001 and r = 0.667, p-value < 0.001, respectively). ConclusionsDTI has the potential to provide imaging biomarkers in the detection and characterization of prostate cancer. Novel quantitative parameters derived from DTI and DTI tractography, including fiber tract density, support the use of DTI in the assessment of high grade prostate cancer.

Use of Tisbe biminiensis nauplii in ecotoxicological tests and geochemical analyses to assess the sediment quality of a tropical urban estuary in northeastern Brazil

An approach pooling geochemical analyses and ecotoxicological tests has been applied to assess the sediment quality of the Capibaribe River Estuary, Brazil. Toxicity tests were performed to compare a well-established, labor-intensive protocol using ovigerous females to a new, easier and faster protocol using nauplii of the epibenthic marine copepod Tisbe biminiensis. The endpoints of the nauplii toxicity test were comparable to those of the female test. Nauplii proved to be more sensitive than females as a biological model for indicating sediment toxicity. All sediments collected had at least one contaminant above the threshold effects level (TEL) proposed in the literature. Furthermore, more than one-third of samples exhibited contaminants above the probable effects level (PEL). The PCA revealed that nauplii mortality was associated with metals in October 2014, which was confirmed by the Spearman correlation factor. In contrast, no strong association among contaminants and toxicological endpoints in May 2015 was found.

CT-guided hook-wire localisation prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery of pulmonary lesions

To assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided pulmonary nodule localisation using a hooked guide wire before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The study included 79 patients with a history of malignancies outside the lung associated with pulmonary nodules. Mean lesion size was 0.7 cm (range 0.5-1.8 cm) and the mean lesion distance to the pleural surface was 1.5 cm (range 0.2-5 cm). All lesions (n=82) were marked with a 22-G hook wire. The technique was designed to insert the tip of the hook wire within or maximally 1 cm from the edge of the lesion. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used for univariate analyses and Fisher's exact test for categorical values. The hooked guide wire was positioned successfully in all 82 pulmonary nodules within mean time of 9 minutes (8-20 minutes, SD: 2.5 minutes). The procedure time was inversely proportional to the size of the lesion (Spearman correlation factor 0.7). Minimal pneumothoraces were observed in five patients (7.6%). Pneumothorax was not correlated to the histopathology of the pulmonary nodules (p>0.09). Focal perilesional pulmonary haemorrhage developed in four patients (5%). Both haemorrhage and pneumothorax were significantly correlated to lesions <10 mm (p=0.02 and 0.01 respectively). The volume of resected lung tissue was significantly correlated to lesions of increased distance from the pleural surface ≥2.5 cm in comparison to lesions of <2.5 cm from the pleural surface. CT-guided pulmonary nodule localisation prior to VATS could enable safe, accurate surgical guidance for the localisation of small pulmonary nodules.

The effect of ultraviolet on direct current potentials of the human skin

Aim of the study. investigation of the suntan on the level of omnipresent electrical potential of skin in frames of development of the hypothesis about the melanocyte participation in skin electrical activity formation. Material and methods. 11 men and 11 women on summer holyday took part in investigation. The relationship between the levels of skin omnipresent electrical potential and the reflection factor were investigated. The omnipresent electrical potentials were registered as the potential differences between the two areas on skin using the Orion 261S pH meter and the liquid Ag/AgCl electrodes of the same company. The reflecting factor was estimated with the help of the spectroradiometer LI-1800 (“LI-COR”) using the included intgrational sphere 1800-12 coated with barium sulfate. Hole size was 1,45 cm. The reflection factor was estimated at the wave band 375-800 nanometers with the scanning pitch 1 nm. Main results. There is a mathematical relation between the magnitudes of potential differences and the reflection factors of the areas of sunburnt skin and the areas of the skin not affected with sun at wave light 620-729 nm. The relationship could be approximated in linear equation. Spearman correlation factor between these two parameters was -0,43 (p = 0,045), between the differences in levels of skin omnipresent electrical potential and the reflection factors of the sunburnt skin was r = -0,52 (p = 0,01), between the differences of the electrical potentials of sunburnt skin and the skin not affected with sun was r = -0,28 (p = 0,2). The presented results of investigation and the data from literature allow to conclude that there is a positive correlation between the level of omnipresent electrical potential of skin and the quantity of melanosomes filled with melanin. Conclusion. It is suggested that melanocytes take part in formation of the skin electrical activity via melanosomes filled with melanin. At the same time the melanocyte contribution in skin electrical activity is not assessed.

Influence of Mechanical Circulatory Support on Endothelin Receptor Expression in Human Left Ventricular Myocardium from Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).

BackgroundIn terminal failing hearts ventricular assist devices (VAD) are implanted as a bridge to transplantation. Endothelin receptor (ETR) antagonists are used for treatment of secondary pulmonary hypertension in VAD patients. However, the cardiac ETR regulation in human heart failure and during VAD support is incompletely understood.MethodsIn paired left ventricular samples of 12 dilated cardiomyopathy patients we investigated the density of endothelin A (ETA) and B (ETB) receptors before VAD implantation and after device removal. Left ventricular samples of 12 non-failing donor hearts served as control. Receptor quantification was performed by binding of [125I]-ET-1 in the presence of nonselective and ETA selective ETR ligands as competitors. Additionally, the ETR mRNA expression was analyzed using quantitative real-time-PCR.ResultsThe mRNA of ETA but not ETB receptors was significantly elevated in heart failure, whereas total ETR density analyzed by radioligand binding was significantly reduced due to ETB receptor down regulation. ETA and ETB receptor density showed poor correlation to mRNA data (spearman correlation factor: 0.43 and 0.31, respectively). VAD support had no significant impact on the density of both receptors and on mRNA expression of ETA whereas ETB mRNA increased during VAD. A meta-analysis reveals that the ETA receptor regulation in human heart failure appears to depend on non-failing hearts.ConclusionsIn deteriorating hearts of patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy the ETA receptor density is not changed whereas the ETB receptor is down regulated. The mRNA and the proteins of ETA and ETB show a weak correlation. Non-failing hearts might influence the interpretation of ETA receptor regulation. Mechanical unloading of the failing hearts has no impact on the myocardial ETR density.

Lumbar spinal muscles and spinal canal study by MRI three-dimensional reconstruction in adult lumbar spinal stenosis

BackgroundLumbar spinal stenosis is degenerative disc disease most common manifestation. If stenosis degree seems poorly related to symptom severity, lumbar muscles role is recognized. Many studies report imaging methods, to analyze muscle volumes and fat infiltration (FI), but remain limited due to the difficulty to represent entire muscle volume variability. Recently a 3D muscle reconstruction protocol (using the deformation of a parametric specific object method (DPSO) and three-point Dixon images) was reported. It offers the ability to evaluate, muscles volumes and muscle FI. PurposeTo describe, in a lumbar spinal stenosis population, muscle volumes, muscle FI and lumbar spinal canal volume with 3D MRI images reconstructions. Materials and methodsTen adults presenting L4–L5 lumbar stenosis, were included. After specific MRI protocol, three-dimensional, muscle and spinal canal, reconstructions were performed. Muscle (psoas and paraspinal muscles) volumes and fat infiltration (FI), the spinal canal volume, age, and height were correlated one to each other with Spearman correlation factor. An ANOVA was performed to evaluate the intervertebral level influence (P≤0.05). ResultsMuscle volumes correlated with height (r=0.68 for psoas). Muscles FI correlated with age (r=0.66 for psoas) and lumbar spinal canal volume (r=0.91). Psoas and paraspinal volumes were maximum at L3–L4 level whereas FI increased from L1–L2 to L5–S1 level. DiscussionThese first results illustrate the importance to consider muscles entirely and report correlations between muscles FI, lumbar spinal canal volume and age; and between muscle volumes and patients height. Muscle degeneration seems more related to muscle FI than muscle volume. Level of evidence3.

Benchmarking density functional perturbation theory to enable high-throughput screening of materials for dielectric constant and refractive index

We demonstrate a high-throughput density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) methodology capable of screening compounds for their dielectric properties. The electronic and ionic dielectric tensors are calculated for 88 compounds, where the eigenvalues of the total dielectric tensors are compared with single crystal and polycrystalline experimental values reported in the literature. We find that GGA/PBE has a smaller mean average deviation from experiments ($\text{MARD}=16.2$%) when compared to LDA. The prediction accuracy of DFPT is lowest for compounds that exhibit complex structural relaxation effects (e.g., octahedra rotation in perovskites) and/or strong anharmonicity. Despite some discrepancies between DFPT results and reported experimental values, the high-throughput methodology is found to be useful in identifying interesting compounds by ranking. This is demonstrated by the high Spearman correlation factor $(\ensuremath{\rho}=0.92)$. Finally, we demonstrate that DFPT provides a good estimate for the refractive index of a compound without calculating the frequency dependence of the dielectric matrix ($\text{MARD}=5.7$%).

The Survey of Correlation between Social Capital and Knowledge Management (The Case Study in National Refining and Distribution of Oil Company in Iran (Shiraz))

The aim of current study’s aim is to investigate the relationship between social capital & the knowledge management in the Iranian National Company of Oil Refining and Distribution. Therefore, after a thorough literature review, the researcher has chosen the Filius knowledge management model, with the four dimensions of knowledge acquisition, knowledge documentation, knowledge transfer, knowledge creation and knowledge application and a model for social capital with five dimension that Mr.molaii used for her research The standard scale for the KM is consisted of 33 statements and the social capital is consisted of 31 statements. The statistical sample of this study was the manager and employees of Iranian National Company of Oil Refining and Distribution, therefore based on a random sampling method, we have survey 60 respondents, among these respondents, 11 belonged to the general engineering unit and 8 belonged to refinement engineering unit, 8 belonged to technical inspection, 13 belonged to financial unit,15 belonged to supplies and store units and 5 belonged to clerical unit. Based on the proposed research model, we have examined the research hypothesis, which consisted of one main hypothesis and five sub hypothesis. At last, the research hypotheses were tested by Spearman Correlation Factor and four hypotheses were accepted and one of them weren’t accepted and their significance factor was confirmed. Afterward, by the multi factor data analyze, it was noticed that the independent variables of research has multi dimension correlation with km as a dependent variable.

AB0415 Impact of different clinical characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on work activity of patients

BackgroundWork productivity loss and activity impairment is one of most important RA consequences and leads to considerable financial losses.ObjectivesTo study the effect of RA clinical characteristics on work productivity of...

The Survey of Correlation between Social Capital and Knowledge of Management (The Case Study in National Oil Refining and Distribution Company in Iran (Shiraz))

The aim of current study's aim is to investigate the relationship between social capital & the knowledge management in the Iranian National Company of Oil Refining and Distribution. Therefore, after a thorough literature review, the researcher has chosen the Filius knowledge management model, with the four dimensions of knowledge acquisition, knowledge documentation, knowledge transfer, knowledge creation and knowledge application and a model for social capital with five dimension that Mr.molaii used for her research. The standard scale for the KM is consisted of 33 statements and the social capital is consisted of 31 statements. The statistical sample of this study was the manager and employees of Iranian National Company of Oil Refining and Distribution, therefore based on a random sampling method, we have survey 60 respondents, among these respondents, 11 belonged to the general engineering unit and 8 belonged to refinement engineering unit, 8 belonged to technical inspection, 13 belonged to financial unit,15 belonged to supplies and store units and 5 belonged to clerical unit, Based on the proposed research model, we have examined the research hypothesis, which consisted of one main hypothesis and five sub hypothesis. At last, the research hypotheses were tested by Spearman Correlation Factor and four hypotheses were accepted and one of them weren't accepted and their significance factor was confirmed. Afterward, by the multi factor data analyze, it was noticed that the independent variables of research has multi dimension correlation with km as a dependent variable.

SU‐GG‐I‐182: Adjustment of Angiographic Time‐Density‐Curves Temporal Parameters for More Accurate Healing Prediction of Stent‐Treated Aneurysms

Purpose: Immediate treatment assessment of intracranial aneurysms using flow modifying stents, can be done using comparative analysis of pre‐ and post‐stented normalized time density curves (NTDC). Previous study showed poor correlation of the time‐related NTDC parameters with the treatment outcome. A parameter normalization method to improve the NTDC parameters‐treatment outcome correlation, is proposed and investigated. Method and Materials: Elastase animal aneurysms model were treated using Asymmetric Vascular Stent prototypes. Angiograms were acquired pre‐ and post‐treatment and after four‐weeks. NTDC's parameters: time‐to‐peak TTP, mean‐transit‐time MTT and wash‐out‐time WOT, were measured and normalized to the corresponding quantities derived from main artery bolus TDC. Aneurysms displaying small area with contrast filling localized at the aneurysm neck were dropped from the analysis. The results are further presented in terms of pre‐stented/post‐stented ratios to describe the flow changes due to stent treatment. Based on a four week follow‐up angiogram, a five grade scale was used to generate a “healing” grade. The correlation between the parameter ratios and healing grade was calculated using Spearman correlation factor (SCF). Results: The pre‐/post‐stented ratio parameters after normalization were: TTP=0.30±0.28, MTT=0.42±0.42 and WOT=0.29±0.28. The SCF's between the time‐related ratios and the healing grade before the correction were under 0.52. After corrections implementation, all SCF's were above 0.82. Conclusion: After implementation of the proposed adjustments the measured parameters agree better with the treatment outcome, hence a better treatment assessment scale can be built for accurate aneurysm occlusion prediction (Support: R01NS43924 and R01EB002873 and Toshiba Medical Systems Corp)

Måling af klinisk demens i relation til positive og negative symptomer ved skizofreni

I Since the concept of dementia praecox was introduced, the focus on symptoms of schizophrenia has mainly been on the positive symptoms. The new rating scales are describing both positive and negative symptoms stressing the importance of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. These symptoms bear a remarkable resemblance to the symptoms of dementia. We examined 36 elderly patients using the BPRS and a dementia scale which had content validity to ICD-10 and DSM-HI-R. 22 patients fulfilled DSM-III-R criteria for dementia. In this group a Spearman correlation factor of 0.63 was found between the BPRS and the Dementia Scale. A high Spearman correlation of 0.84 was found using a subscale of the BPRS consisting of the delusional items and a subscale of the Dementia Scale consisting of as well positive symptoms (psychosis) as symptoms defined in DSM-III-R, which we define as negative symptoms. This illustrates the shared symptoms of schizophrenia and dementia. As is the case with schizophrenia, rating scales for...