Test Battery Research Articles

Digital music and movement intervention to improve health and wellbeing in older adults in care homes: a pilot mixed methods study

BackgroundLow physical activity among older adults is related to adverse health outcomes such as depression and loneliness, poor physical function and increased risk of falls. This study was designed to increase physical activity through a digital, group-based, physical activity and music intervention and to examine its effectiveness on social, mental and physical health outcomes.MethodsParticipants were 34 older adults (65 years +) recruited across four care homes in Scotland to a pilot study. Surveys were administered at baseline and post-intervention, comprising measures of fear of falling, depression and anxiety, loneliness, sleep satisfaction and quality of life. A battery of physical function tests and saliva sampling for cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone hormone analysis were also conducted at each time point. Additionally, process evaluation measures (recruitment, intervention fidelity, attendance, retention rates and safety) were monitored. The intervention comprised 12 weeks of three prescribed digital sessions per week: movement and music (n = 2) and music-only (n = 1), delivered by an activity coordinator in the care home. Post-intervention interviews with staff and participants were conducted to gain qualitative data on the acceptability of the intervention.ResultsAn average of 88% of prescribed sessions were delivered. Pre- to post-intervention intention-to-treat analysis across all participants revealed significant improvements in anxiety, salivary DHEA, fear of falling and loneliness. There were no significant improvements in health-related quality of life, perceived stress, sleep satisfaction or physical function tests, including handgrip strength. Qualitative analysis highlighted benefits of and barriers to the programme.ConclusionsThe digital movement and music intervention was deemed acceptable and delivered with moderate fidelity, justifying progression to a full-scale trial. Although a proper control group would have yielded more confident causal relationships, preliminary psychosocial and biological effects were evident from this trial. To show significant improvements in physical function, it is likely that a bigger sample size providing sufficient power to detect significant changes, greater adherence, longer intervention and/or higher exercise volume may be necessary.Trial registrationThe trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT05601102 on 01/11/2022.

Cognitive Effects of Three β-Adrenoceptor Acting Drugs in Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Noradrenergic signaling declines in Parkinson's disease (PD) following locus coeruleus neurodegeneration. Epidemiologic studies demonstrate that β-acting drugs slow PD progression. The primary objective was to compare the safety and effects of 3 β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) acting drugs on central nervous system (CNS) function after a single dose in healthy volunteers (HVs) and evaluate the effects of multiple doses of β-AR acting drugs in HVs and PD-patients. In Part A, HVs received single doses of 32 mg salbutamol, 160μg clenbuterol, 60 mg pindolol and placebo administered in a randomized, 4-way cross-over study. In Part B (randomized cross-over) and Part C (parallel, 2:1 randomized), placebo and/or clenbuterol (20μg on Day 1, 40μg on Day 2, 80μg on Days 3-7) were administered. CNS functions were assessed using the NeuroCart test battery, including pupillometry, adaptive tracking and recall tests. Twenty-seven HVs and 12 PD-patients completed the study. Clenbuterol improved and pindolol reduced the adaptive tracking and immediate verbal recall performance. Clenbuterol and salbutamol increased and pindolol decreased pupil-to-iris ratios. Clenbuterol was selected for Parts B and C. In Part B, clenbuterol significantly increased performance in adaptive tracking with a tendency toward improved performance in immediate and delayed verbal recall. In Part C trends toward improved performance in immediate and delayed verbal recall were observed in PD-patients. Typical cardiovascular peripheral β2-AR effects were observed with clenbuterol. This study demonstrates the pro-cognitive effects of clenbuterol in HVs with similar trends in PD-patients. The mechanism of action is likely activation of β2-ARs in the CNS.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Delirium Severity After Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery in Parkinson's Disease.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a serious complication following deep brain stimulation (DBS) but only received little attention. Its main risk factors are higher age and preoperative cognitive deficits. These are also main risk factors for long-term cognitive decline after DBS in Parkinson's disease (PD). To identify risk factors for POD severity after DBS surgery in PD. 57 patients underwent DBS (21 female; age 60.2±8.2; disease duration 10.5±5.9 years). Preoperatively, general, PD- and surgery-specific predictors were recorded. Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the neuropsychological test battery CANTAB ConnectTM were used to test domain-specific cognition. Volumes of the cholinergic basal forebrain were calculated with voxel-based morphometry. POD severity was recorded with the delirium scales Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and Nursing Delirium Scale (NU-DESC). Spearman correlations were calculated for univariate analysis of predictors and POD severity and linear regression with elastic net regularization and leave-one-out cross-validation was performed to fit a multivariable model. 21 patients (36.8%) showed mainly mild courses of POD following DBS. Correlation between predicted and true POD severity was significant (spearman rho = 0.365, p = 0.001). Influential predictors were age (p < 0.001), deficits in attention and motor speed (p = 0.002), visual learning (p = 0.036) as well as working memory (p < 0.001), Nucleus basalis of Meynert volumes (p = 0.003) and burst suppression (p = 0.005). General but also PD- and surgery-specific factors were predictive of POD severity. These findings underline the multifaceted etiology of POD after DBS in PD. Valid predictive models must therefore consider general, PD- and surgery-specific factors.

Comparing psychometric characteristics of a computerized cognitive test (BrainCheck Assess) against the Montreal cognitive assessment.

Previous validation studies demonstrated that BrainCheck Assess (BC-Assess), a computerized cognitive test battery, can reliably and sensitively distinguish individuals with different levels of cognitive impairment (i.e., normal cognition (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia). Compared with other traditional paper-based cognitive screening instruments commonly used in clinical practice, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is generally accepted to be among the most comprehensive and robust screening tools, with high sensitivity/specificity in distinguishing MCI from NC and dementia. In this study, we examined: (1) the linear relationship between BC-Assess and MoCA and their equivalent cut-off scores, and (2) the extent to which they agree on their impressions of an individual's cognitive status. A subset of participants (N = 55; age range 54-94, mean/SD = 80/9.5) from two previous studies who took both the MoCA and BC-Assess were included in this analysis. Linear regression was used to calculate equivalent cut-off scores for BC-Assess based on those originally recommended for the MoCA to differentiate MCI from NC (cut-off = 26), and dementia from MCI (cut-off = 19). Impression agreement between the two instruments were measured through overall agreement (OA), positive percent agreement (PPA), and negative percent agreement (NPA). A high Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.77 (CI = 0.63-0.86) was observed between the two scores. According to this relationship, MoCA cutoffs of 26 and 19 correspond to BC-Assess scores of 89.6 and 68.5, respectively. These scores are highly consistent with the currently recommended BC-Assess cutoffs (i.e., 85 and 70). The two instruments also show a high degree of agreement in their impressions based on their recommended cut-offs: (i) OA = 70.9%, PPA = 70.4%, NPA = 71.4% for differentiating dementia from MCI/NC; (ii) OA = 83.6%, PPA = 84.1%, NPA = 81.8% for differentiating dementia/MCI from NC. This study provides further validation of BC-Assess in a sample of older adults by showing its high correlation and agreement in impression with the widely used MoCA.

Functional fitness and physical independence in later years: cut-off values and validation

BackgroundTo establish and validate the criterion-referenced standards of functional fitness in predicting physical independence in 80 + years.MethodsA group of 2,749 older community dwellers (60–84 years) were recruited, and 2,050 were identified with moderate-to-high independent living ability according to the proposed minimum composite physical function score. The Senior Fitness Test battery was applied to measure functional fitness at five-year intervals. The declining rate for each fitness dimension was calculated based on the differences between any two adjacent age groups and was adjusted according to the reported degradation rate differences between the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.ResultsThe age-and-sex-specific criterion-referenced standards were identified for muscle strength, cardiovascular endurance, and dynamic balance that older adults should possess at 60–79 to maintain independent living abilities. Moderate to high consistency (k = 0.622–0.650) and associations (φ = 0.641–0.694) were found between the predicted physical independence by criterion-referenced standards of functional fitness and the results from the composite physical function scale. Moreover, the predicted independent living abilities in later years from the criterion-referenced standards of functional fitness showed high test-retest reliability (Pa = 0.90–0.96).ConclusionThe criterion-referenced standards for functional fitness are valid and reliable to predict independent living abilities in later years, and provide the threshold to identify the limitations in physical fitness and detect the risks of functional disabilities among older adults in an early stage.

The effects of the 'active before school' programme on the academic skills of 8-9-year-old children: a physically and cognitively engaging intervention.

Literature underscores the significance of exercise and cognitive stimulation for achieving academic success. This study aims to investigate the effects of the technology-based "Active Before the First School Bell" programme, comparing the effects of two school-based interventions (physical activity vs. cognitive engagement) on the academic skills of 8-9-year-old children. This encompasses their school skills, visual-motor coordination, levels and attitudes towards physical activity, and fitness. The study involved 88 primary school children (age: 8.3 years, 58.0% girls). To assess the programme's distinct effects children were categorised into three groups. The first group (n = 31) participated in cognitive classes (CEG), the second (n = 27), in physical activity classes (PAEG), and the third (n = 30), was a control one (CG). A 12-week intervention, consisting of three 15-min sessions per week before school, was implemented. Self-report questionnaires gauged levels of physical activity. Academic skills were assessed using a battery of diagnostic methods for school failure in early childhood education. Fitness was measured using selected items from the Eurofit test battery. Pre- and post-test measures were collected and analysed, employing one-way ANOVA on ranks with Dunn's post-hoc tests. Significant post-test differences between the groups were observed in visual spatial function, with the PAEG outperforming the CG, and in auditory and language functions, where both experimental groups outperformed the CG. Results suggest that before school physical activities may be more effective than cognitive activities in improving the academic skills. The short-term effects obtained provide insights for implementing before-school programmes for children in the early school years.

Possible determinants of physical fitness in Japanese school children: Across-sectional study.

Physical fitness is one of the most important health indicators in children. Although appropriate body composition or certain lifestyle factors such as frequent physical activity are thought to improve physical fitness, results of previous studies are inconsistent, and most studies were from Western countries. We investigated associations of body composition and modifiable lifestyle factors such as physical activity, screen time, diet and sleep duration with physical fitness in Japanese primary school children. 2308 children (age 10-12 years old) in 12 primary schools were analysed in this cross-sectional study. Physical fitness was evaluated by sports battery tests conducted routinely and annually at schools. The total score of sports battery tests, 20-m shuttle run (laps) and grip strength (kg) were selected as outcomes. Information about lifestyle factors was collected by two questionnaires. Associations between lifestyle factors and physical fitness were assessed by multivariable linear mixed models by sex. Frequent exercise was related to better overall physical fitness. Regarding the 20-m shuttle run, many unfavourable lifestyle factors such as higher BMI in boys (β -7.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] -8.39, -6.35) and girls (β -3.54, 95% CI -4.50,-2.58), longer screen time (β -4.31, 95% CI -7.29, -1.34) in boys and girls (β -5.65, 95% CI -9.01, -2.30); shortest (reference) versus longest, breakfast skipping in boys (β -5.24, 95% CI -8.71, -1.77) and girls (β -3.57, 95% CI -6.84, -0.30); consumers (reference) versus skippers were associated with worse performance. Better quality of diet was associated with better results in the 20-m shuttle run only in girls (β 2.58, 95% CI 0.24, 4.93); lowest (reference) versus highest. Frequent exercise was related to better physical fitness. Higher BMI and unfavourable lifestyle factors such as longer screen time and breakfast skipping were associated with worse results of the 20-m shuttle run.

Performance Evaluation of Model-Based Online Condition Monitoring Algorithms for Li-Ion Battery State Estimation

This discovery examines and tests four model-based charge-state (SOC) estimation methods for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. This work evaluates some parts of the SOC estimation, such as error distribution evaluation, rise time estimation, consumption time estimation, etc., instead of the former probing. The battery comparison model is introduced and the state function of the model is inferred. The first step is to study four model-based SOC estimation strategies. The four systems are then tested using simulation and analysis. To mimic the driving conditions of an electric vehicle, the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) flow profiles are used. A genetic calculation is then used to find the limits of the model to determine the optimal limits of the Li-ion battery model. The simulations are run continuously and without interruption, and the results are analyzed. To test the device in circle discovery, a battery test bench is developed and uses a Li-ion battery.

Understanding visual perception in visual snow syndrome: a battery of psychophysical tests plus the 30-day clinical diary.

Patients with visual snow syndrome (VSS) experience uncountable flickering tiny dots in the entire visual field. Symptoms often persist over the years. Very little is known about altered perception in VSS. VSS is diagnosed based on subjective reports because there is no manual with objective measures. In this study, 20 patients with VSS and 17 healthy controls performed a battery of tests assessing visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, illusion perception, spatial-temporal vision, motion perception, visual attention, and selective attention. Surprisingly, except for one test, which is the honeycomb illusion, patients performed at the same level as controls. Patients reporting black and white visual snow performed better in the Stroop test compared to patients reporting other visual snow colours. In addition to a clinical visit, the 30-day clinical diary was administered to patients to broadly measure their symptom severity. We found that better performance in the tests, in particular in the contrast and coherent motion tests, was correlated with lower VSS symptoms, weaker VS characteristics (e.g. density and size) and lower VS severity. Our results suggest that, even if visual abilities are not deteriorated by VSS, they can determine how severe symptoms are, and show that VSS is an heterogenous disorder where symptoms and visual abilities vary between patients, for instance depending on the VS colour. The study was primarily designed to identify tests where performance differs between controls and patients. In addition, exploratory analyses were conducted to initiate an understanding of the overall pattern of relationships between patients' visual abilities and symptoms, which is of clinical relevance. Future studies with more power are necessary to validate our findings.

Investigation of Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Case-Control Study.

Swelling, effusion, tenderness, and pain seen in the joints of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). This disease may cause limitation in joint movements, muscle weakness, atrophy, balance, and gait disorders. Physical fitness is accepted as an important determinant of health in both childhood and adolescence. The aim was to evaluate the physical fitness of children/adolescents with JIA and compare it with healthy peers. Seventy children/adolescents were included (35 JIA and 35 healthy). The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and the Brockport physical fitness test battery were used for evaluation. The Brockport physical fitness test battery consists of dominant handgrip strength, curl-up, push-up, trunk lift, shoulder stretch, sit and reach tests, skinfold thickness (calf/triceps/subscapular) measurements, and PACER 20 m test. A significant difference was found in all sub-parameters of CHAQ (P < .05) and dominant hand grip strength (P = .037), curl-up test (P < .001), trunk lift test (P = .018), shoulder stretch (P < .001) and PACER 20 m test (P < .001) tests in favor of the healthy group. Children/adolescents with JIA demonstrated lower performance compared to their healthy peers in muscular and cardiovascular capacity tests (curl-up test, PACER 20 m test, trunk lift test, dominant hand grip strength test, and shoulder stretch test). Their functional abilities are more impaired, and they experience higher levels of pain and lower levels of general well-being compared to healthy peers.

Impulse control disorders related cognitive and behavioral features in Parkinson’s disease

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate cognitive and behavioral distinctions in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with impulse control disorders (ICDs). Patients and methods: A total of 72 patients (52 males, 20 females; mean age: 60.8±9.2 years; range, 41 to 77 years) with PD (31 with ICD features [PDwIC] and 41 without ICD [PDwoICD]) and 67 healthy controls (35 males, 32 females; mean age: 60.4±10.4 years; range, 36 to 79 years) were included in this prospective cross-sectional study between April 2018 and January 2020. All participants underwent a comprehensive neuropsychometric assessment, including a battery of cognitive and psychiatric tests. Furthermore, the Iowa Gambling Task was employed to evaluate risky decision-making capacities, and the UPPS (Urgency, Premeditation [lack of], Perseverance [lack of], Sensation Seeking) Impulsive Behavior Scale was utilized to assess impulsive personality traits. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess the presence and severity of depression. Results: The PDwICD, PDwoICD, and healthy control groups showed comparable characteristics in terms of age and education level. Male sex was more prevalent in the PDwICD group than in the control group (p=0.01). The PDwICD group exhibited significantly higher MDS UPDRS I scores and total LEDD compared to the PDwoICD group (p=0.027 and p=0.003, respectively). The PDwICD group also had higher BDI scores and UPPS-Sensation Seeking subscores than the PDwoICD group (p=0.001 and p=0.044, respectively). The multivariate analyses demonstrated an independent association between higher scores of BDI and presence of ICD in PD (p=0.006). Conclusion: In conclusion, comprehensive screening for affective characteristics can help clinicians identify those at higher risk for impulsive behaviors in PD. Prospective studies are needed to better understand the factors leading to ICDs and explore the roles of personality traits, cognitive and behavioral features, and dopaminergic medications.

Haploinsufficiency of intraflagellar transport protein 172 causes autism-like behavioral phenotypes in mice through BDNF

IntroductionPrimary cilia are hair-like solitary organelles growing on most mammalian cells that play fundamental roles in embryonic patterning and organogenesis. Defective cilia often cause a suite of inherited diseases called ciliopathies with multifaceted manifestations. Intraflagellar transport (IFT), a bidirectional protein trafficking along the cilium, actively facilitates the formation and absorption of primary cilia. IFT172 is the largest component of the IFT-B complex, and its roles in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) have been appreciated with unclear mechanisms. ObjectivesWe performed a battery of behavioral tests with Ift172 haploinsufficiency (Ift172+/-) and WT littermates. We use RNA sequencing to identify the genes and signaling pathways that are differentially expressed and enriched in the hippocampus of Ift172+/- mice. Using AAV-mediated sparse labeling, electron microscopic examination, patch clamp and local field potential recording, western blot, luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and neuropharmacological approach, we investigated the underlying mechanisms for the aberrant phenotypes presented by Ift172+/- mice. ResultsIft172+/- mice displayed excessive self-grooming, elevated anxiety, and impaired cognition. RNA sequencing revealed enrichment of differentially expressed genes in pathways relevant to axonogenesis and synaptic plasticity, which were further confirmed by less spine density and synaptic number. Ift172+/- mice demonstrated fewer parvalbumin-expressing neurons, decreased inhibitory synaptic transmission, augmented theta oscillation, and sharp-wave ripples in the CA1 region. Moreover, Ift172 haploinsufficiency caused less BDNF production and less activated BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway through transcription factor Gli3. Application of 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone, a potent small molecular TrkB agonist, fully restored BDNF-TrkB signaling activity and abnormal behavioral phenotypes presented by Ift172+/- mice. With luciferase and chip assays, we provided further evidence that Gli3 may physically interact with BDNF promoter I and regulate BDNF expression. ConclusionsOur data suggest that Ift172 per se drives neurotrophic effects and, when defective, could cause neurodevelopmental disorders reminiscent of autism-like disorders.

Competition policy and enterprise competitiveness: Catalyst or barrier?

As a seminal institutional innovation within the framework of Chinese-style modern competition theory, the question of whether the Fair Competition Review System (FCRS) can harness policy dividends and bolster enterprise competitiveness stands as a pivotal concern for accelerating the emergence of new productive forces and fostering a harmonious integration of an "effective government + efficient market." Leveraging data from China's listed manufacturing enterprises spanning the period from 2010 to 2020, this paper undertakes an empirical examination of the impact of competition policy frameworks on the competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises. The FCRS is treated as a quasi-natural experiment, and a difference-in-differences (DID) methodology is employed for analysis.The findings of this paper are as follows: (1) The implementation of the FCRS has been found to effectively augment the competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises by approximately 1.97 %, and this fundamental conclusion retains its validity after a battery of robustness tests; (2) The FCRS primarily influences enterprise competitiveness by lowering financing costs, enhancing technological innovation, and mitigating over-investment; (3) Heterogeneity analysis reveals that non-high-tech enterprises and those with lower financing constraints can attain more pronounced effects in promoting enterprise competitiveness through competition policies. Additionally, enterprise size and operational risks also exert an influence on the efficacy of competition policies in enhancing competitiveness; (4) Expanded analysis indicates that competition policies optimize the capital structure of enterprises through "debt reduction" and "capacity enhancement," thereby exploring the viability of analyzing the macro factors that impact enterprise "deleveraging" from the lens of competition policies. The research conclusions presented in this paper carry substantial guiding significance for the government in clarifying the preeminent role of market allocation of resources, promoting the establishment of a unified national market, and orchestrating a coherent fair competition system.

Abstract 23: Cognitive impairment during chronic i.c.v. angiotensin II is associated with increased tau phosphorylation in the cortex and hippocampus

Cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, are recognized as important contributors to cognitive impairment and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying the detrimental effects of hypertension on the brain remain to be fully established. Angiotensin II (Ang II) has known detrimental effects on the brain, including cerebrovascular damage, sympathetic activation, and neuroinflammation. Ang II activates neuronal glycogen synthase 3b (GSK-3b), a major kinase involved in the phosphorylation of the microtubule associated protein tau. Hyperphosphorylated tau and the subsequent formation of neurofibrillary tangles are a hallmark of AD and related dementias (tauopathies). Here, we tested the central hypothesis that brain Ang II leads to cognitive impairment by increasing tau hyperphosphorylation. 3-month old male C57BL6 mice were implanted with a s.c. osmotic minipump connected to an i.c.v. cannula delivering low dose Ang II (6ng/hr) or saline for 4 weeks. Blood pressure was monitored twice weekly using tail-cuff plethysmography. During the 4 th week of infusion, mice underwent a battery of neurobehavioral testing assessing various cognitive domains including novel object recognition (recognition and short-term memory), Y-maze (spatial working memory), Barnes maze (spatial learning and long-term memory), and hippocampal/executive function (nest building). Tau phosphorylation was assessed in the cortex and hippocampus by Western blotting. Systolic blood pressure increased slightly by week 3 prior to start of behavioral tests (control: 115.3 ± 4.1 mmHg vs Ang II: 130.8 ± 4.7; n=10). We did not observe significant differences during novel object recognition (discrimination index: control: 0.49 ± 0.08 vs Ang II: 0.35 ± 0.23; n=5) or Y-maze (spontaneous alternations: control: 62.4 ± 6.1% vs Ang II: 59.0 ± 4.3%). Mice receiving i.c.v. Ang II had significantly delayed latency to find the escape hole during the Barnes maze learning trials (Treatment p=0.0006, Time p=0.0039, interaction: p=0.3028; two-way repeated measures ANOVA). The impairment in spatial learning was associated with an increase in tau phosphorylation in the cortex assessed by AT8 antibody. Ongoing studies are investigating whether this increase is mediated by activation of neuronal GSK-3b. We conclude that Ang II-mediated hyperphosphorylation of tau is a potential novel molecular mechanism driving the detrimental effects of hypertension on cognitive health.

Do client protection principles matter for the economic and social performance of microfinance institutions?

This study investigates the influence of client protection principles (CPPs) in lending practice on the economic and social performance of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). The demand for ethical and fair treatment of microfinance borrowers has increased in recent years after several incidences of exploiting clients in different parts of the world. In response to this call, many MFIs adopted CPPs in lending operations to borrowers. However, there is a debate about whether adopting CPPs enhances the economic and social performance of MFIs. We empirically test this using a unique panel dataset of 1015 MFIs (5650 MFI-year observations) operating in 93 countries from 2007 to 2018. We find a positive impact of client protection on social performance in the short- and long-run. The impact of client protection on financial performance is negative in the short run, but the effect diminishes in the long run. Our documented findings are robust across a battery of robustness tests and account for endogeneity using propensity score matching, two-stage least squares estimation, and a two-step system generalized method of moments. Detailed analyses show that not all the client protection principles have a significant impact on MFI performance. Additional analyses show that the influence of CPPs on social performance is more pronounced in larger than smaller MFIs. Also, adopting CPPs increases the clients' access to savings and the MFIs’ access to subsidized funds.

The Effects of a 6-Week Plyometric and Sprint Interval Training Intervention on Soccer Player's Physical Performance.

Despite the well-documented benefits of sprint interval training (SIT) and plyometric training (PT) in improving the physical fitness of soccer players, it remains unclear which of these training methods is superior for enhancing players' aerobic and anaerobic performance. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of SIT and PT on physical performance measures of male soccer players. Thirty male soccer players were randomly assigned to PT (n = 10), SIT (n = 10), and an active control group (CON, n = 10). Before and after the training period, participants underwent a battery of tests consisting of vertical jump, Wingate, linear sprint with and without ball dribbling, change of direction, ball kick, and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) tests. Both groups exhibited similar improvements in maximal kicking distance (PT, effect size [ES] = 0.68; SIT, ES = 0.92) and measures of aerobic fitness including maximum oxygen uptake (PT, ES = 1.24; SIT, ES = 1.26) and first (PT, ES = 0.85; SIT, ES = 1.08) and second (PT, ES = 0.86; SIT, ES = 0.98) ventilatory thresholds. However, PT intervention resulted in greater changes in vertical jump (ES = 1.72 vs. 0.82, p = 0.001), anaerobic power (peak power, ES = 1.62 vs. 0.97, p = 0.009; mean power, ES = 1.15 vs. 1.20, p = 0.05), linear speed (20-m, ES = -1.58 vs. -0.98, p = 0.038; 20-m with ball, ES = -0.93 vs. 0.71, p = 0.038), and change of direction ability (ES = -2.56 vs. -2.71, p = 0.046) than SIT. In conclusion, both PT and SIT demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing aerobic performance among male soccer players. However, PT yielded superior improvements in anaerobic power, vertical jump, linear speed, and change of direction performance compared to SIT. These findings suggest that PT may offer additional benefits beyond aerobic conditioning.

OS04-02 Development of an innovative human-based testing battery for assessing thyroid hormone mediated developmental neurotoxicity

OS04-02 Development of an innovative human-based testing battery for assessing thyroid hormone mediated developmental neurotoxicity

S05-03 The development of a human liver-based In Vitro test battery to detect liver steatotic potential of chemicals from various applicability domains

S05-03 The development of a human liver-based In Vitro test battery to detect liver steatotic potential of chemicals from various applicability domains

Depressive symptoms-Not apredictor for five-year mortality in patients with subjective cognitive decline, non-amnestic and amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

The main aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence of depressive symptoms on mortality in patients with SCD (subjective cognitive decline), naMCI (non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment), and aMCI (amnestic mild cognitive impairment). Additional factors (age, sex, years of school attendance, and neuropsychological performance) were considered to determine the impact on survival probability. Amonocentric retrospective data analysis based on adjusted patient protocols (n = 1221) from the observation period 1998-2021, using the Cox Proportional Hazards model, assessed whether depressivity had an explanatory value for survival, considering SCD as the reference level in relation to naMCI and aMCI. Covariates were included blockwise. Cox regression revealed that depressiveness (Beck Depression Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale) did not make asignificant contribution as arisk factor for mortality in all five model blocks, BDI-II with HR 0.997 [0.978; 1.02] and GDS-15 with HR 1.03 [0.98; 1.08]. Increasing age with HR 1.09 [1.07; 1.11] and male sex with HR (inverted) 1.53 [1.17; 2.00] appeared as risk factors for increased mortality across all five model blocks. aMCI (vs. SCD) with HR 1.91 [1.33; 2.76] showed asignificant explanatory value only up to the fourth model block. By adding the six dimensions of the Neuropsychological Test Battery Vienna in the fifth model block, the domains attention and perceptual speed with HR 1.34 [1.18; 1.53], and executive functions with HR 1.24 [1.11; 1.39], showed substantial explanatory values for survival. Accordingly, no tendency can be attributed to depressiveness as arisk factor on the probability of survival, whereas the influence of certain cognitive dimensions, especially attention and perceptual speed, and executive functions, can be seen as protective for survival.

Neuropsychological performance in women at risk of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.

While neuropsychological deficits are commonly observed in affective and psychotic disorders, this remains unexplored in these disorders when they occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period. A neuropsychological test battery was administered to women defined at risk of postpartum depression (PD, N = 53) because having either a current or past diagnosis of major depressive disorder, women at risk of postpartum psychosis (PP, N = 43) because of a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder and/or a previous episode of PP and women not at risk (NR, N = 48) in the third trimester of pregnancy. Generalized and specific cognitive abilities were compared between groups. Women at risk of PP presented worse executive functions and processing speed compared to NR and worse performance compared to women at risk of PD across all cognitive domains. In addition, women at risk of PP who developed a psychiatric relapse in the first four weeks post-partum showed worse verbal learning and memory, visual memory, executive functions and processing speed in pregnancy compared to NR, whereas women at risk of PP who remained well presented neuropsychological performance that was intermediate between that of the women NR and those at risk of PP who developed symptoms. There were no differences in performance between women at risk of PD and the NR women, even if 31 women at risk of PD presented depressive symptoms at the time of cognitive assessment. Our findings in women at risk of PP align with neuropsychological findings in individuals with, or at risk of psychosis unrelated to pregnancy. In addition, initial evidence that women at risk of PP who develop a psychiatric relapse in the postpartum show a particularly poor neuropsychological performance in pregnancy suggests that this could be considered part of a phenotype for the disease and help guiding future preventive strategies in this clinical population. In women at risk of PD, the presence of depressive symptoms did not influence cognitive performance.