HBIM FOR THE SURVEYING, ANALYSIS AND RESTORATION OF THE SAINT JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN CATHEDRAL IN NICOSIA (CYPRUS)

Abstract. The present study illustrates the results of an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Mediterranean Laboratory of Survey and Diagnostics for Architecture (RDA) of the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAR) of the University of Catania in Italy and the Andreas Pittas Laboratories for Art Characterisation (APAC) of the Science and Technology in Archaeology Research Center (STARC) of the Cyprus Institute in Cyprus. The research focused on the application of an H-BIM approach in the study of a Mediterranean iconic heritage asset, the St. John Cathedral of Nicosia, built in 1662 on the remains of a monastery from the 15th century. The adopted methodology has provided the framework for a dynamic investigation, constantly evolving along several dimensions: historical, geometric spatial, architectural-constructive identification and mapping of degrade, interpretation of degenerative causes and design proposals.</p

A Greek validation study of the Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire-23

The Multiple Sclerosis Work Difficulties Questionnaire-23 (MSWDQ-23) is a self-reportinstrument developed to assess barriers faced by People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) in theworkplace. The aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Greek versionof the MSWDQ-23. The study sample consisted of 196 PwMS, all currently working in part- orfull-time jobs. Participants underwent clinical examination and cognitive screening with the BriefInternational Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) and completed self-reportmeasures of fatigue, psychological functioning, and quality of life, along with the MSWDQ-23questionnaire. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed, and goodness-of-fit measureswere used to evaluate construct validity. Convergent validity was checked by correlating MSWDQ-23scores with study measures. Cronbach’s alpha value was produced to assess internal consistency.CFA yielded a model with a fair fit confirming the three-factor structure of the instrument. Higherwork difficulties were associated with higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, poorercognitive function, more fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression, and poorer health status, supportingthe convergent validity of MSWDQ-23. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94) and test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.996, 95%, CI = 0.990–0.998) were excellent. The Greek MSWDQ-23 can beconsidered a valid patient-reported outcome measure and can be used in interventions aiming toimprove the vocational status of PwMS

Last Men Standing: Chlamydatus Portraits and Public Life in Late Antique Corinth

Notable among the marble sculptures excavated at Corinth are seven portraits of men wearing the long chlamys of Late Antique imperial office. This unusual costume, contemporary portrait heads, and inscribed statue bases all help confirm that new public statuary was created and erected at Corinth during the 4th and 5th centuries. These chlamydatus portraits, published together here for the first time, are likely to represent the Governor of Achaia in his capital city, in the company of local benefactors. Among the last works of the ancient sculptural tradition, they form a valuable source of information on public life in Late Antique Corinth

The Effectiveness of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Alone or Combined with Cognitive Training on the Cognitive Performance of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

Objective: The present study reviewed published evidence on the effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) on the cognitive performance of patients with Traumatic brain injury (TBI). Method: A systematic search of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases was carried out. Randomized Controlled Studies published before March 2020 were included. Methodological evaluation was performed based on the Risk of Bias Cochrane tool. A total of 10 placebo-controlled studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were involved in the qualitative analysis, two assessing NIBS combined with cognitive training (CT) and eight evaluating NIBS alone. Results: All but one retrieved article were appraised as of high-risk of bias (one paper was assessed as of unclear-risk owing to considerable underreporting). With the potential exception of attention, our findings were not indicative of a superior efficacy of NIBS-CT to CT alone, regarding the improvement of any of the rest assessed cognitive deficits. Executive function, processing speed, attention, working, and visuospatial memory were only occasionally found to benefit from NIBS alone compared to sham therapy (only one study reported relevant benefits per neuropsychological outcome). Verbal memory and verbal fluency (phonemic-semantic) were consistently found not to benefit from NIBS. Depression measures were the only outcomes associated with a beneficial effect of NIBS in more than one article. Conclusion: Our findings did not provide sufficient high-quality evidence to support the exclusive use of NIBS or combined NIBS-CT to improve any impaired cognitive function in TBI patients. Owing to the suboptimum methodological quality of published studies, additional research is of potential value. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved

Quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis receiving glatiramer acetate or interferon in Greek clinical practice

Aim: To evaluate glatiramer acetate (GA) or IFN-β effects on quality of life (QoL) in people with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis (PwRRMS) in Greece. Methods: A prospective, practice-based study. QoL/function/symptoms were assessed by seven questionnaires/scales. Results: Significant increases in Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey scores occurred with GA in four of the eight domains and three of the eight domains at 6 and 12 months, respectively, versus baseline. Similar and significant SF-36 score improvements occurred with GA in treatment-naive PwRRMS. SF-36 scores were unaffected in GA-treated, IFN-β treatment-experienced PwRRMS, or with IFN-β versus baseline. Slight improvements in fatigue and sexual satisfaction were evident (6 months). No deteriorations were seen in the other four instruments. Conclusion: The findings show that 12-month treatment with GA, but not IFN-β, improved certain QoL parameters in treatment-naive PwRRMS. Plain language summary People with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis (PwRRMS) are treated with drugs, for example, glatiramer acetate (GA) or IFN-β. We checked if these drugs improved quality of life (QoL) in PwRRMS in Greece. QoL was measured by seven questionnaires, asking many questions on aspects of life. One survey showed significant improvements with GA treatment in almost half of the question groups. Similar improvements in this survey were seen with GA in patients who had no other previous treatments. No changes were seen in GA-treated PwRRMS who previously received IFN-β, or treated with IFN-β alone. Slight improvements in fatigue and sexual satisfaction were seen. No QoL deteriorations were seen in the other four questionnaires. Twelve months of GA treatment, but not IFN-β, improved certain QoL parameters in treatment-naive PwRRMS. © 2022 Future Medicine Ltd

Development and Validation of the First Smart TV-Based Visual Acuity Test: A Prospective Study

(1) Background: While smartphones are among the primary devices used in telemedical applications, smart TV healthcare apps are not prevalent despite smart TVs’ penetrance in home settings. The present study’s objective was to develop and validate the first smart TV-based visual acuity (VA) test (Democritus Digital Visual Acuity Test (DDiVAT)) that allows a reliable VA self-assessment. (2) Methods: This is a prospective validation study. DDiVAT introduces several advanced features for reliable VA self-testing; among them: automatic calibration, voice recognition, voice guidance, automatic calculation of VA indexes, and a smart TV-based messaging system. Normal and low vision participants were included in the validation. DDiVAT VA results (VADDiVAT) were compared against the ones from: (a) the gold-standard conventional ETDRS (VAETDRS), and, (b) an independent ophthalmologist who monitored the self-examination testing (VARES). Comparisons were performed by noninferiority test (set at 2.5-letters) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). DDiVAT’s test-retest reliability was assessed within a 15-day time-window. (3) Results: A total of 300 participants (185 and 115 with normal and low vision, respectively) responded to ETDRS and DDiVAT. Mean difference in letters was −0.05 for VAETDRS–VARES, 0.62 for VARES–VADDiVAT, and 0.67 for VAETDRS–VADDiVAT, significantly lower than the 2.5 letter noninferiority margin. ICCs indicated an excellent level of agreement, collectively and for each group (0.922-0.996). All displayed letters in DDiVAT presented a similar difficulty. The overall accuracy of the voice recognition service was 96.01%. ICC for VADDiVAT test-retest was 0.957. (4) Conclusions: The proposed DDiVAT presented non-significant VA differences with the ETDRS, suggesting that it can be used for accurate VA self-assessment in telemedical settings, both for normal and low-vision patients. © 2022 by the authors

Cognitive Fatigability is Independent of Subjective Cognitive Fatigue and Mood in Multiple Sclerosis

Background:Sustained cognitive testing is used to detect cognitive fatigability and is often considered a substitute for subjective cognitive fatigue (CF). However, the relationship between cognitive fatigability and subjective CF in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) remains undetermined.Objective:To explore potential associations between fatigability induced by sustained cognitive testing and subjective CF in PwMS.Methods:We gave 120 PwMS and 60 demographically matched, healthy individuals the Beck Depression Inventory-FastScreen (BDI-FS) to measure mood and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale to measure CF. In addition, we used the Quotient ADHD Test, a sustained attention test, to measure cognitive fatigability. We also explored potential correlations between the individuals' performance on the sustained attention test and thalamic volume using recent MRI scans.Results:Forty-one (34.2%) of the PwMS exhibited cognitive fatigability. These 41 were found to be significantly older (P=0.006), had been diagnosed with the disease for longer (P=0.03), had higher scores (P<0.001) on the Expanded Disability Status Scale, and had reduced thalamic volume (P=0.04) compared with the 79 (65.8%) PwMS not exhibiting cognitive fatigability. The PwMS exhibiting cognitive fatigability scored similarly on the BDI-FS (P=0.21) and self-reported similar rates of CF (P=0.62) as the PwMS not exhibiting cognitive fatigability.Conclusion:Cognitive fatigability induced by sustained cognitive testing is not an accurate clinical alternative to subjective CF. This study provides evidence to support cognitive fatigability and CF in PwMS as two distinct concepts. © 2020 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved