Total Test Score Research Articles

Investigating the ability of standard tests to detect improvements in behavior after a 9-week training program in shelter dogs - A pilot study

Annually, millions of dogs enter shelters worldwide. As such, it is vital to develop effective methods for assessing adoptability and promoting successful rehoming that can be easily implemented by organizations with minimal resources. Many shelters use temperament testing and training programs to facilitate these goals, but there is limited research on the effects of training programs on shelter dog behavior, and no standardized tests for assessing the skills imparted by those programs. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of temperament and basic education tests to detect changes in dog behavior after training in a shelter context. As a secondary goal, we aimed to compare video and live scoring of dog behavior in these tests. Twelve shelter dogs were enrolled in a 9-week training program to learn basic education skills (e.g., walking on a leash without pulling, not jumping on people, responding to cues such as ‘sit’ or ‘stay’). Both before and after the program, each dog was tested using a previously evaluated and published temperament test designed for use in shelters and a test of basic education skills developed by the research team to determine the ability of the tests to measure training progress. Results showed no differences between pre- and post-training temperament test scores for the categories Human Sociability and Playfulness nor for the total temperament test score; however, a decrease was observed in the score for Dog Sociability. Regarding the basic education test, results showed improvements in scores for the categories ‘Walking on a loose leash’, ‘Sit, down and staying in place’, ‘Coming when called’ and for the total basic education test score; conversely, no differences were found for the categories ‘Accepting a friendly stranger’, ‘Waiting politely for petting’, ‘Walking through a crowd’ and ‘Supervised Separation’. Moreover, we found an overall high interrater agreement for both tests. The outcomes of the present study suggest that i) the proposed basic education test is a reliable measure for detecting improvements imparted by basic education programs, and that ii) basic education training has minimal effects on behavior assessed in the employed temperament test. We discuss how the utilized behavior tests and training programs may be beneficial in a shelter context.

Efficacy of vortioxetine versus desvenlafaxine in the treatment of functional impairment in patients with major depressive disorder: Results from the multinational VIVRE study.

In VIVRE (NCT04448431), vortioxetine was associated with significantly higher rates of symptomatic and functional remission, better daily and social functioning, and greater treatment satisfaction than desvenlafaxine in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and partial response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy. This analysis further explored the relative improvement in patient functioning with vortioxetine versus desvenlafaxine. VIVRE was a randomized, double-blind study of vortioxetine (10 or 20mg/day) versus desvenlafaxine (50mg/day) in adults with MDD and partial response to initial SSRI monotherapy. Mean percentage changes from baseline to week 8 in Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) total and domain scores were analyzed by treatment group in the overall population and in working patients. In the overall population, the mean reduction in FAST total score from baseline after 8weeks of treatment was 37.2% in vortioxetine-treated patients versus 31.8% in desvenlafaxine-treated patients (P=0.04). Significantly greater improvements versus desvenlafaxine were seen in vortioxetine-treated patients for FAST autonomy, cognitive functioning, and interpersonal-relationships scores (all P<0.05). In working patients, the mean reduction in FAST total score from baseline at week 8 was 38.7% versus 32.1% in the vortioxetine and desvenlafaxine groups, respectively (P=0.04). Significant correlations were seen between absolute changes in patient functioning, and those in depression severity and health-related quality of life. Vortioxetine was significantly better than desvenlafaxine in improving overall functioning as well as daily, social, and cognitive functioning in patients with MDD with inadequate response to prior SSRI therapy.

The Influence of Product Quality, Price and Digital Marketing on Purchasing Decisions for Android Smartphones in The City of Denpasar

A smartphone or smartphone being present in the environment. Due to the fact that it facilitates communication and provides instant access to information, this gadget has gained a dominant position in the worldwide electronics market. The purpose of this study is to investigate the following factors: the impact of product quality on decisions to purchase Android smartphones; the influence of price on decisions to purchase; and the impact of quality, price, and digital marketing on decisions to purchase Samsung smartphones. Quantitative surveying is the method that this research use. In Denpasar City, the population that was researched consisted of consumers that either use or purchase Android cellphones. The total sample size of 97 individuals was gathered through the employment of a purposive sampling approach, and the method of data collection was accomplished through the utilization of a questionnaire that had been validated and determined to be trustworthy. For the purpose of data analysis, multiple regression was utilized. The findings of the study indicate that the following factors have a significant impact on purchasing decisions: (1) the quality of the product has a significant impact on purchasing decisions; (2) the price has a significant impact on purchasing decisions; and (3) digital marketing and product quality have a powerful impact on purchasing decisions. The findings of the descriptive test on purchasing decisions obtained a total score of 415.6, with the second largest indicator (419) earning an average score of 4.28 and the smallest indication (412) obtaining the lowest score. The results of the descriptive test on product quality have a total score of 401, with an average score of 4.13 on the third largest indicator (414), which is the smallest 394. Total score for the price descriptive test was 401.6, with an average score of 4.14 on indications 2 and 3, with the maximum score being 403 and the smallest score being 399. There was a total score of 398.6 on the descriptive test for digital marketing, with an average score of 4.10 on indication 3, with the greatest being 413 and the smallest being 386.

Psychometric analysis and validation of the SF-34 PREG: An adaptation of the SF-36 for assessing quality of life in pregnant women.

This study aims to perform a psychometric analysis of the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) in a population of pregnant women and validate an adapted version of the instrument to measure health-related quality of life specific to pregnancy. A cross-sectional study design was carried out with data collection between 7 and 36 weeks of gestation, with a total sample of 547 pregnant women divided into two randomized subsamples. Data were collected between September 2021 and April 2023. An exploratory factor analysis was initially performed on one subsample, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis on the other. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega, and correlations between factors were analyzed. Results from the exploratory factor analysis proposed a seven-factor model explaining 56% of the variance. All proposed dimensions achieved Cronbach's alpha scores above 0.75, with a total test score of 0.92. Furthermore, all dimensions exhibited positive and statistically significant correlations. Bartlett's test of sphericity and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test yielded values of 5599 (P < 0.001) and 0.871, respectively. The confirmatory factor analysis reaffirmed this model with good fit indices: χ2 792 (P < 0.001), comparative fit index (CFI) and Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) >0.90, and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) <0.06. This study developed and validated the "SF-34 PREG," an adapted version of the SF-36, specifically designed for pregnant women. The SF-34 PREG demonstrated high reliability and a robust factorial structure, making it a more precise and relevant tool for assessing health-related quality of life during pregnancy. Although it does not include the social functioning dimension of the original SF-36, the SF-34 PREG offers improved relevance and accuracy for this specific population. Further research and clinical use of the SF-34 PREG are recommended.

Associations between the Framingham Risk Score and cognitive functions in people with multiple sclerosis

Background &amp; Objective: Cognitive impairment is common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) is an algorithm used to estimate the 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVDr). This study aimed to evaluate the possible associations between FRS and cognitive impairment in people with MS. Methods: Demographic characteristics, laboratory parameters, clinical findings, vascular risk factors, and Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) test results, FRS and CVDr scores were recorded for 110 MS patients. Results: FRS and CVDr scores exhibited a significant negative correlation with the number of correct responses in the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (p &lt; 0.001 for all) and California Verbal Learning Test–Second UK Edition (CVLT-II) test (p &lt; 0.001 for all), and significant positive correlation with the number of incorrect responses in the CVLT-II (p &lt; 0.001 for all). The total score of the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test Revised had a negative correlation with FRS and CVDr (p &lt; 0.001 for both). BICAMS scores showed no significant correlation with smoking status, homocysteine, and uric acid levels. Conclusion: We suppose that vascular risk factors and FRS and CVDr scores may be associated with the deterioration of working memory, information processing speed, verbal learning, and memory in people with MS. Based on the potential impact of vascular risk factors on cognitive functions, our findings suggest that lifestyle changes, appropriate treatment, and using a multidisciplinary approach toward vascular risk factors during MS management may exhibit a positive effect on cognition in people with MS.

‘‘Language profile among Arabic-speaking children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder”

BackgroundChildren with ADHD were found to have language impairment in many studies. The way they use language in their everyday life may be affected, namely, the pragmatic aspect of language. Measuring the affected parameters in all aspects of language will help to reach better rehabilitation. Thus, this study set out to observe relationships between hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention with all language domains in 30 Egyptian Arabic-speaking children with ADHD between 4 and ≤7 years old with the aim of better intervention. Children were evaluated to establish the diagnosis of ADHD and its type following the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-V criteria and the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale-Revised. Language abilities were assessed by the Pre-school Language Scale 4th edition (Arabic version), the Arabic articulation test, and the Egyptian Arabic Pragmatic Language Test. This assessment covered receptive and expressive language abilities and phonological and pragmatic skills. ResultsCompared to norms, it was found that the ADHD children who participated in this study had non-significant language delays in the parameters of the modified PLS-4 test. 70 % of the ADHD children had total pragmatic test scores below their 5th percentile, while 30 % of the children had total pragmatic test scores above their 5th percentile. 50 % of ADHD children failed to master certain sounds corresponding to their phonological age. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between each of the inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity scores and the receptive, expressive, total language ages, and pragmatic language scores. ConclusionChildren with ADHD in this study did not show major difficulties in areas beyond what would be expected in normally developing children. Most children with ADHD in the present study had problems with pragmatic language aspects that are correlated positively to ADHD symptoms. 50 % of ADHD children failed to master certain sounds corresponding to their chronological age.

Peak nasal inspiratory flow assessment of polyp size and response from SYNAPSE

BackgroundIn the Phase III SYNAPSE study, mepolizumab plus standard of care (SoC) reduced nasal polyp score (NPS) versus placebo in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. ObjectiveInvestigate relationships between NPS and (1) peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) and (2) patient-reported outcomes (PROs). MethodsIn this post hoc analysis, patients randomized 1:1 received mepolizumab 100 mg or placebo subcutaneously every 4 weeks (plus SoC). Changes from baseline in PNIF (Week 52), visual analog scale (VAS) scores (overall symptoms, nasal obstruction, loss of smell; Weeks 49–52), and 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) total score (Week 52) were assessed in patients with NPS improvements (≥1-point) or without (<1-point, or worsening). ResultsPatients with NPS improvements had greater improvements in median (interquartile range [IQR]) PNIF (mepolizumab 50 L/min [10.5, 87.5], placebo 40 L/min [0, 85.0]) than those without (0.0 L/min [─10.0, 45.0], 0.0 L/min [─30.0, 30.0]); similar results were seen for median (IQR) change from baseline in overall symptoms (with: ─5.8 [─8.1, ─3.8], ─4.1 [─7.0, ─1.2]; without: ─1.3 [─6.3, 0.0], ─0.1 [─3.4, 0.0]), nasal obstruction (with: ─5.7 [─8.2, ─3.5], ─4.5 [─7.3, ─1.2]; without: ─1.3 [─6.6, 0.0], 0.0 [─3.6, 0.0]), loss of smell (with: ─2.8 [─7.9, 0.0], ─0.7 [─4.0, 0.0]; without: 0.0 [─2.4, 0.0], 0.0 [─0.3, 0.0]) VAS, and SNOT-22 total score (with: ─37.0 [─52.0, ─24.0], ─29.0 [─43.0, ─9.0]; without: ─16.0 [─42.0, 0.0], 0.0 [─27.0, 0.0]). ConclusionNPS improvement was associated with PNIF and PRO improvements irrespective of treatment. PNIF could be a useful non-invasive tool for monitoring nasal polyp size.

The Relationships of Specific Cognitive Control Abilities with Objective and Subjective Sleep Parameters in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Revealing the Association between Cognitive Planning and Sleep Duration.

This study aimed to examine the associations between specific sleep parameters and specific aspects of cognitive functioning in individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), compared with healthy controls (HCs) by using cognitive, subjective, and objective sleep measures. A total of 179 participants were enrolled, all aged ≥ 65 years (mean age = 70.23; SD = 4.74) and with a minimum of six years of education (mean = 12.35; SD = 3.22). The sample included 46 HCs (36 females), 75 individuals with amnestic MCI (aMCI) (51 females), and 58 individuals with non-amnestic MCI (naMCI) (39 females). Inhibition, cognitive flexibility as a combined application of inhibitory control and set shifting or task/rule switching, and planning were examined. The following D-KEFS subtests were administered for their evaluation: Verbal Fluency Test, Color-Word Interference Test, and Tower Test. Self-reported sleep questionnaires (Athens Insomnia Scale, Stop-Bang questionnaire, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index) were used for subjective sleep assessments. Actigraphy was used for objective sleep measurements. Mixed-measures ANOVA, MANOVA, and one-way ANOVA, as well as the Scheffe post hoc test, were applied to the data. The results showed that the three groups exhibited statistically significant differences in the Tower Test (total achievement score, total number of administered problems, and total rule violations). As regards objective sleep measurements, the total sleep time (TST) was measured using actigraphy, and indicated that there are significant differences, with the HC group having a significantly higher mean TST compared to the naMCI group. The relationships evaluated in the TST Tower Test were found to be statistically significant. The findings are discussed in the context of potential parameters that can support the connection between sleep duration, measured as TST, and cognitive planning, as measured using the Tower Test.

Exploring age-related changes in motor function: insights from the peak decline found in Koji Awareness screening test

The KOJI AWARENESS (KA) screening test assesses motor function in humans. We aimed to analyze the correlation between age and KA screening scores and to identify the specific age at which a significant decline occurs. A total of 793 healthy participants (234 females) were interviewed for basic information on age and sex and completed the KA screening test. In addition to calculating the total score from the KA test, the scores were calculated for the neck-scapula-upper extremity-complex (NSU), trunk, and lower extremity (LE) segments. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the validity of the test. Additionally, Bayesian linear regression was employed to estimate the change point in KA scores, facilitating the identification of a critical age associated with a notable decline in motor function. KA screening total and separate body segment scores were negatively correlated with age in both gender (for female and male, KA total score, ρ = − 0.443, ρ = − 0.344; NSU segment, ρ = − 0.431, ρ = − 0.427; trunk segment, ρ = − 0.210, ρ = − 0.473; LE segment: ρ = − 0.43, ρ = − 0.507). Furthermore, a change-point analysis using linear regression analysis showed that KA screening total scores declined sharply at the age of 49.1(95% credible interval: 37.503, 68.366). The result show that total KA scores decrease − 0.196 (95% credible interval: − 0.335, − 0.049) for every 1 year of age increase, and for ages over 49.1, total KA scores additionally decrease − 0.255 (95% credible interval: − 0.485, − 0.054) for every 1 year of age increase. In the NSU segment, females showed a more rapid decline than males from the age of 50 years. KA screening test total scores declined sharply at the age of 49.1. These results may be useful in setting treatment goals, exercise, and lifestyle programs for age-related decline in motor function.

AI-Driven Deep Learning Techniques in Protein Structure Prediction.

Protein structure prediction is important for understanding their function and behavior. This review study presents a comprehensive review of the computational models used in predicting protein structure. It covers the progression from established protein modeling to state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) frameworks. The paper will start with a brief introduction to protein structures, protein modeling, and AI. The section on established protein modeling will discuss homology modeling, ab initio modeling, and threading. The next section is deep learning-based models. It introduces some state-of-the-art AI models, such as AlphaFold (AlphaFold, AlphaFold2, AlphaFold3), RoseTTAFold, ProteinBERT, etc. This section also discusses how AI techniques have been integrated into established frameworks like Swiss-Model, Rosetta, and I-TASSER. The model performance is compared using the rankings of CASP14 (Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction) and CASP15. CASP16 is ongoing, and its results are not included in this review. Continuous Automated Model EvaluatiOn (CAMEO) complements the biennial CASP experiment. Template modeling score (TM-score), global distance test total score (GDT_TS), and Local Distance Difference Test (lDDT) score are discussed too. This paper then acknowledges the ongoing difficulties in predicting protein structure and emphasizes the necessity of additional searches like dynamic protein behavior, conformational changes, and protein-protein interactions. In the application section, this paper introduces some applications in various fields like drug design, industry, education, and novel protein development. In summary, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in established protein modeling and deep learning-based models for protein structure predictions. It emphasizes the significant advancements achieved by AI and identifies potential areas for further investigation.

Selenium intake is an effective strategy for the improvement of cognitive decline in low cognition older Americans

Age-related cognitive decline is a prominent concern in older adults and selenium (Se) deficiency has been found to be associated with cognitive deficits. For the first time, the present study explored the association between Se intake and cognitive performance in older people with/without cognitive impairment using the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014. Weighted linear regression models were conducted to evaluate the association between dietary Se/total Se intakes and cognitive assessments. A total of 2387 participants were included. The significant positive association between dietary Se/total Se intakes and total scores of cognitive functioning tests existed only in the older people with low cognitive performance (p < 0.001), not in those with normal cognitive performance. In conclusion, Se intake was beneficial for cognitive decline only in the low cognition older people but failed in normal cognition older people.

The predictive validity of MCAT scores and undergraduate GPA for COMLEX-USA licensure exam performance of students enrolled in osteopathic medical schools.

Osteopathic (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine [DO]) medical students account for more than 25 % of all medical students in the United States. This study examined the predictive validity of Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) total scores and cumulative undergraduate grade point averages (UGPAs) for performance on the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA) Level 1 and Level 2-CE (Cognitive Evaluation) licensure examinations administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). Additionally, the study examined the degree to which MCAT total scores and UGPAs provide comparable prediction of student performance by key sociodemographic variables. This study involved a collaborative effort between the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) and the NBOME. Data were examined for 39 accredited DO-granting medical schools in the United States during the 2017 application cycle. Researchers utilized three regression models that included MCAT total scores, cumulative UGPA, and combined MCAT total scores and cumulative UGPA to determine predictive validity. Researchers also examined the comparability of prediction for sociodemographic variables by examining the differences between observed and predicted error for both scores and pass/fail success rates. Medium to large correlations were discernible between MCAT total scores, UGPA, and COMLEX-USA examination outcomes. For both COMLEX-USA Level 1 and Level 2-CE scores and pass/fail outcomes, MCAT scores alone provided superior predictive value to UGPA alone. However, MCAT scores and UGPA utilized in conjunction provided the best predictive value. When predicting both licensure examination scores and pass/fail outcomes by sociodemographic variables, all three models provided comparable predictive accuracy. Findings from this comprehensive study of DO-granting medical schools provide evidence for the value-added benefit of taking MCAT scores and UGPA into consideration, particularly when these measures are utilized in conjunction. Further, findings provide evidence indicating that individuals from different sociodemographic backgrounds who enter medical school with similar MCAT scores and UGPA perform similarly on licensure examination outcome measures.

An evaluation of a final year multiple choice questions examination at Faculty of medicine-university of Benghazi

Background: Multiple choice questions (MCQs) are widely used in medical education, they have the feature of sampling broad domains of knowledge efficiently and reliably. They represent one of the most important examination tools used in undergraduate and postgraduate medical examinations. Exam analysis is an assessment tool that provides important information about validity and reliability of test. Item analysis is used to analyze the difficulty and the discrimination ability of individual items and the total test scores. The purpose of this study is to examine the quality of one of the final exam papers, that is composed of single best of five MCQs, and to examine the correlation between the difficulty and discrimination index of each item. Subject and method: The authors collected the exam results of 425 students who set for the final exam at the end of the a academic year 2021- 2022. The exam consisted of 70 MCQs and was aiming to assess the students` knowledge, understanding, application and analysis of the subject matter. The test was analyzed regarding content validity and reliability of the test as a whole as well as the difficulty coefficient and discrimination coefficient for each item. Results: Out of the 425 students who set for the exam about 86% has passed (scored ≥ 60% of the total marks), the test reliability was excellent (0.91) and the mean difficulty index (P) was 75.22 ± 19.4 (easy exam). Out of the 70 items six (8.57%) had a poor discrimination (D &lt; 0.1). When comparing the exam questions with the blueprint 90% of the topics of the subject materials were either over or under represented. About 77% of the exam questions were testing either students` knowledge or understanding. The correlation between the difficulty index and discrimination index was moderately positive which was statistically significant (0.633, P = 0.000). Conclusion: although the current study showed a good exam reliability, however the exam content validity was suffering from many weakness regarding the total number of the items, and distribution of the items according to the topics and the cognitive levels, therefore the number of exam questions should be increased and a blueprint should be developed for assessment. The overall exam difficulty was low as there were too many easy questions and this could impair both exam validity and reliability. The number of average and difficult questions should be considerably increased.

Cerebral arterial blood flow, attention, and executive and cognitive functions in depressed patients after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage.

Intracerebral hemorrhage mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension, and surgery is currently the main treatment for hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, but the bleeding caused by surgery will cause damage to the patient's nerve cells, resulting in cognitive and motor dysfunction, resulting in a decline in the patient's quality of life. To investigate associations between cerebral arterial blood flow and executive and cognitive functions in depressed patients after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. Eighty-nine patients with depression after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage who were admitted to our hospital between January 2019 and July 2021 were selected as the observation group, while 100 patients without depression who had acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage were selected as the control group. The attention span of the patients was assessed using the Paddle Pin Test while executive function was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24) was used to evaluate the severity of depression of involved patients. Cerebral arterial blood flow was measured in both groups. The MoCA score, net scores I, II, III, IV, and the total net score of the scratch test in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Concurrently, the total number of responses, number of incorrect responses, number of persistent errors, and number of completed responses of the first classification in the WCST test were significantly higher in the observation group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Blood flow in the basilar artery, left middle cerebral artery, right middle cerebral artery, left anterior cerebral artery, and right anterior cerebral artery was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The basilar artery, left middle cerebral artery, right middle cerebral artery, left anterior cerebral artery, and right anterior cerebral artery were positively correlated with the net and total net scores of each part of the Paddle Pin test and the MoCA score (P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with each part of the WCST test (P < 0.05). In the observation group, the post-treatment improvement was more prominent in the Paddle Pin test, WCST test, HAMD-24 score, and MoCA score compared with those in the pre-treatment period (P < 0.05). Blood flow in the basilar artery, left middle cerebral artery, right middle cerebral artery, left anterior cerebral artery, and right anterior cerebral artery significantly improved in the observation group after treatment (P < 0.05). Impaired attention, and executive and cognitive functions are correlated with cerebral artery blood flow in patients with depression after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage and warrant further study.

Combined Use of Phosphatidylethanol and the Audit Test for Detecting of Alcohol Abuse

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of alcohol abuse among men by using combined the direct biochemical marker phosphatidylethanol (PEth) and the AUDIT questionnaire (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test). Subjects and Methods: The concentration of PEth was determined in 136 blood samples of men aged 15 - 65 years. The blood was obtained from the laboratory of the medical advisory centre, where it was submitted for routine biochemical analysis. Immediately before blood sampling, clients were asked to complete the AUDIT questionnaire. Determination of the concentration of PEth was carried out using the method of high performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC - MS). Statistical data processing was carried out using the Statistica 10.0 program. Results: Discrimination by the level of alcohol consumption using the concentration of PEth showed that the proportion of abstinents (practically not drinking alcohol) among men was 20.6 %; the proportion of moderate drinkers was 63.1 %; the proportion of alcohol abusers was 16.3 %. The highest average concentration of PEth, as well as the proportion of those who abuse alcohol, was observed in the age groups of 50 - 59 and 60+ years. The distribution by level of alcohol consumption according to the total score of the AUDIT test was as follows: abstinents - 17.9 %; moderate drinkers - 69.6 %; alcohol abusers - 12.5 %. The highest average test score, as well as the highest share of alcohol abusers, was observed in the age group 50 - 59 years. Correlation analysis did not reveal any relationship between the concentration of PEth in the blood and the total score of the AUDIT test in any of the age groups of men. Conclusion: The results indicate a fairly high prevalence of alcohol abuse among men. Alcohol-related problems are especially high among middle-aged men. The outcomes suggest a low concordance between the concentration of PEth in the blood and the AUDIT score.

Posterior Nasal Nerve Ablation as a Viable Treatment Option for the Primary Symptom of Postnasal Drip.

Postnasal drip (PND) syndrome is a prevalent complaint encountered in otolaryngology practices. PND may be refractory to medical therapy, and surgical treatments are complicated by side effects. While posterior nasal nerve (PNN) ablation has demonstrated efficacy for chronic rhinitis overall, we sought to examine the effect of PNN ablation for patients with PND as their primary complaint. This is a retrospective case series study of 40 chronic rhinitis (CR) patients with a primary complaint of PND. Included patients had to have failed medical therapy such as anti-cholinergic nasal sprays, reflux treatments, and/or nasal steroids. Primary outcome measures included 22 item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) PND component and Total Nasal Symptom Score. Secondary outcome measure was subjective improvement, defined as a > 30% improvement in PND symptoms. Median follow-up was 138 days (interquartile range: 72-193). 72.5% (29/40) of patients reported at least a 30% improvement in PND symptoms. Mean PND SNOT-22 scores were 4.2/5 (SD = 0.8) pre-procedure versus 1.9/5 (SD = 1.3) post-procedure (P = .001). PNN ablation response did not correlate to ipratropium bromide nasal spray response, although younger and non-smoker patients had better response rates. This exploratory study of PNN ablation for the primary symptom of PND demonstrates efficacy as assessed by the PND component of SNOT-22 and subjective improvement. These results can be useful in guiding physician-patient discussions in determining treatment options for medically refractory PND.

Impact of Prolonged Screening and COVID-19 Infection on Acquired Colour Vision Deficiencies Assessed by the Farnsworth–Munsell 100 Hue Test

Over the past decade, global screening time has increased, a trend intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the integration of screens into daily life. Studies have documented the adverse effects of prolonged screening on ocular health and binocular vision, such as dry eye syndrome, blurry vision, headaches, myopia, and visual fatigue. However, it remains unclear if prolonged screening affects the development of colour vision defects. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between (a) prolonged screening and acquired colour vision deficiencies and (b) COVID-19 infection and acquired colour vision deficiencies. Methods: A population of 50 individuals with normal trichromatic vision, aged 20 to 30 years, with an average daily screening time of 516.7 min, was evaluated. Participants were initially screened using the Ishihara 32-plate Test to exclude those with congenital colour vision deficiencies. The Farnsworth–Munsell 100 Hue Test (FM100H) and Square Root Total Error Score (√TES) were used to evaluate acquired colour vision deficiencies under standardized conditions. The dataset underwent dual analysis: (1) detailed statistical scrutiny and (2) comparison of √TES values with historical data from 1982, 1991, 2001, and 2002. Results: The global group had a √TES (Mean ± SD) of 5.40 ± 1.58, the COVID-19 subgroup 5.46 ± 1.62, and the non-COVID-19 subgroup 5.32 ± 1.51. No significant differences were found between the √TES values from this population and those reported in previous studies. Statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between gender and COVID-19 infection with √TES values. Conclusions: Neither screening time nor COVID-19 infection appears to significantly impact the occurrence of permanently acquired colour vision deficiencies in individuals aged 20 to 30 years.

The effect of reminiscence therapy on cognitive level, quality of life and depressive symptoms in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial.

Evidence suggests that reminiscence therapy can effectively reduce cognitive and psychological symptoms. This study was conducted to examine the effect of individual reminiscence therapy on cognitive level, quality of life and depressive symptoms in older adults with type 2 diabetes. This study is an experimental type, randomised controlled study designed in pre-test - post-test design. The sample size of the study consisted of 58 older adults with type 2 diabetes, consisting of 29 intervention and 29 control subjects. The older adults in the intervention group were individually subjected to 5 weeks of reminiscence therapy in two sessions (each session 40-45 min) per week. No intervention was applied to the control group. Personal Information Form, Standardised Mini Mental Test, SF-36 Quality of Life and Beck Depression Inventory were used to collect the data. While there was no significant difference between the pre-test Mini Mental Test, Beck Depression Inventory total score and SF-36 Quality of Life Scale mental and physical health sub-dimension mean scores of the older adults in the intervention group and the mean scores of those in the control group (P > 0.05), the difference between the Mini Mental Test, Beck Depression Inventory total score and SF-36 Quality of Life Scale mental and physical health sub-dimension mean scores of the older adults in the intervention and control groups in the post-test was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). The post-test Mini Mental Test total score, SF-36 Quality of Life Scale mental and physical health sub-dimension mean scores of the older adults in the intervention group were higher than the older adults in the control group. It was determined that the post-test Beck Depression Inventory total mean scores of the older adults in the intervention group were lower than the older adults in the control group. Reminiscence therapy can positively affect cognitive levels, quality of life and depression symptoms of older adults living in the community. Individual reminiscence therapy can be used as a nursing intervention in primary healthcare.

A Study of the Effect of Interactive Physical Activity on Executive Function in Children with Autism

To explore the impact of interactive physical activity on executive function of children with autism through interactive physical activity teaching, and to verify the effective improvement of executive function of children with autism through interactive physical activity intervention. Four autistic children aged 8-10 were divided into the experimental group and the control group by literature review, interview, observation and experiment methods. Two children in the experimental group received 90 minutes of interactive physical activity once a week for 12 weeks. Through the working memory, inhibition ability, cognitive flexibility test indicators, the intervention subjects were pretested and post tested for 8 times. The working memory test scores of autistic children in the experimental group increased from 3.50-3.75 before intervention to 6.00-6.25 after intervention, and the inhibitory ability test scores increased from 2.75 before intervention to 5.00-5.75 after intervention, while the cognitive flexibility test scores did not change significantly. The total score of executive function test increased from 8.25-9.25 before intervention to 13.50-14.00 after intervention. Interactive physical activity has positive effects on working memory and inhibition in executive function of autistic children, but it has no effect on cognitive flexibility. Interactive physical activity should be based on the differences of children with autism and the fun of roller skating combined with the concept of interactive physical activity, targeted intervention for children with autism.

Cross-cultural comparison of the performance on the Five-Point test between highly educated comparable samples of Argentina and South Africa

Objective The study aimed to carry out a cross-cultural analysis by comparing Five-Point test scores for two different countries. The Five-Point test measures design fluency, an executive function, and is an inexpensive test that makes it more accessible to assessment settings, including under-resourced settings. Methods Adults in Argentina (n = 90) and South Africa (n = 90) with tertiary levels of education were tested on the Five-Point Test. ANOVA was applied to compare the scores of the two groups on the total number of unique designs produced (Total Unique Designs). Results The study found no significant differences in the Total Unique Designs scores between the two groups (p = .13; η = 0.01). Correlations between demographic variables and the Total Unique Designs scores varied slightly across both samples. Conclusions Despite large cultural differences between both samples (language, race, religion, income) scores on this test did not differ significantly. These findings provide initial evidence of scalar equivalence on the test across these samples. Norms for the Five-Point Test Total Unique Designs scores might be used interchangeably between these two highly educated groups from different countries.