Vitamin D supplementation does not improve the severity or the resolution of ultraviolet B-induced acute erythema

Peer reviewe

Digital Clock Drawing: Differentiating “Thinking” versus “Doing” in Younger and Older Adults with Depression

Psychomotor slowing has been documented in depression. The digital Clock Drawing Test (dCDT) provides: (i) a novel technique to assess both cognitive and motor aspects of psychomotor speed within the same task and (ii) the potential to uncover subtleties of behavior not previously detected with non-digitized modes of data collection. Using digitized pen technology in 106 participants grouped by Age (younger/older) and Affect (euthymic/unmedicated depressed), we recorded cognitive and motor output by capturing how the clock is drawn rather than focusing on the final product. We divided time to completion (TTC) for Command and Copy conditions of the dCDT into metrics of percent of drawing (%Ink) versus non-drawing (%Think) time. We also obtained composite Z-scores of cognition, including attention/information processing (AIP), to explore associations of %Ink and %Think times to cognitive and motor performance. Despite equivalent TTC, %Ink and %Think Command times (Copy n.s.) were significant (AgeXAffect interaction: p=.03)—younger depressed spent a smaller proportion of time drawing relative to thinking compared to the older depressed group. Command %Think time negatively correlated with AIP in the older depressed group (r=−.46; p=.02). Copy %Think time negatively correlated with AIP in the younger depressed (r=−.47; p=.03) and older euthymic groups (r=−.51; p=.01). The dCDT differentiated aspects of psychomotor slowing in depression regardless of age, while dCDT/cognitive associates for younger adults with depression mimicked patterns of older euthymics

The impact of utilitarian product reviews on brand perception

The impact of online reviews on consumer behavior has been increasingly studied as online retail platforms have grown exponentially, and internet research used prior to purchasing products has become more common. However, limited research has examined the impact of those product reviews on the overall perception of the brands selling these products. This study exclusively looked at product reviews for high and low-involvement utilitarian products and analyzed how those reviews affect consumers\u27 perception of a brand. Taking a sample of 301 participants, findings showed that star ratings had a drastic effect on consumers\u27 perception of a brand, associating a low star-rated review with poor brand perception and vice versa. The research also found that low-involvement utilitarian products were highly affected by star ratings, especially concerning purchases of future products from that brand. Those findings suggest that for products associated with a low involvement thought process, consumers are willing to purchase different products from that brand purely from seeing a high-rated star review. However, for products associated with a higher involvement thought process, consumers will conduct more future research before deciding to purchase different products from that brand. Additionally, the findings strengthen the importance of a brand building its image and following, as they showcase how one visual review can deter consumers from wanting to buy not only a specific product but any other products from that brand

Increased physical fitness is associated with higher executive functioning in people with dementia

Physical fitness (PF) has been associated with improved cognition in older age, but less is known about its effects on different cognitive domains in individuals diagnosed with dementia. We explored the associations between PF and cognitive performance in 40 healthy elderly and 30 individuals with dementia. Participants completed a battery of standardized cognitive tests (Mini-Mental State Exam, Verbal Fluency, Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire, Clock Drawing, and California Verbal Learning Test) and were classified into high versus low levels of PF based on their score on the Physical Fitness Questionnaire. Analyses took into account age, gender, education, occupation, head injury, Internet use, brain training, and past levels of exercise and revealed overall benefits of PF, in particular for the people with dementia. Discriminant analysis showed high accuracy of reclassification, with most errors being due to the misclassification of dementia cases as healthy when they had high PF. The first discriminant function accounted for 83% of the variance. Using individual estimates of this function, which reflected global cognitive performance, confirmed the beneficial role of PF in dementia, even when taking into account age, past level of exercise, and the number of years since the dementia diagnosis. Finally, univariate analyses confirmed the differential sensitivity of the cognitive tests, with MMSE and clock drawing showing reliable interaction effects. This work shows that PF is associated with a reduced level of cognitive deterioration expected with dementia, especially in executive functioning and provides empirical support for the cognitive benefits of interventions promoting PF for individuals with dementia

The impact of foreign direct investment and fiscal instrument towards unemployment tissue in Malaysia / Hanib Libon

This paper focused on studies about the relationship among public foreign direct investment, taxation and government spending with unemployment issues in Malaysia. Studies on the variables are using Department of Statistic Malaysia data from 1982 to 2010 which consist 29 years-length. Several types of analyses are performed in determine each of explanatory variable towards variable that need to be explained. First, we study the stationary between foreign direct investment, taxation and government spending with the unemployment issues in Malaysia using panel unit root test. Secondly, we also study about the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable either it has positive or negative relationship using single and multiple regression model. The result reveals that the independent variables have a different relationship with the dependent variables. For example, as for the foreign direct investment and government spending, it has a negative relationship with unemployment while taxation has a positive relationship. The time series data are subjected to various shortcomings such as autocorrelation problem. As for the conclusion, we can conclude that the foreign direct investment and government spending are highly correlated to the unemployment while taxation is vice versa

Multidimensional apathy and executive dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Apathy and cognitive dysfunction are prominent symptoms of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). More specifically ALS patients show increased Initiation apathy-a lack of motivation for self-generation of thoughts as assessed by the Dimensional Apathy Scale. This study aimed to investigate the cognitive underpinnings of apathy subtypes in ALS. We hypothesized that increased Initiation apathy would be associated deficits on tests of intrinsic response generation, such as verbal fluency. We also explored the relationship of other apathy subtypes to cognitive processes, in particular emotional apathy with emotional and social cognition deficits and executive apathy with planning and goal management deficits. ALS patients, and their carers (N = 30), and healthy matched controls, and their informants (N = 29) were recruited. All participants completed self- and informant/carer-rated Dimensional Apathy Scale, to quantify apathy subtypes (Executive, Emotional and Initiation), along with standard apathy and depression measures. Patients and controls completed the Edinburgh Cognitive and behavioural ALS Screen, and a comprehensive neuropsychological battery including emotional recognition, social cognition, intrinsic response generation tasks (verbal fluency and random number generation) and a new ecologically valid, computerised measure of planning and goal management. The results demonstrated that increased Initiation apathy was the only significantly elevated subtype in ALS (self-rated p < .05, informant/carer-rated p < .01). Initiation apathy was found to be significantly associated with verbal fluency deficit, while Emotional apathy was significantly associated with emotional recognition deficits. No associations were found between apathy subtypes and depression or in controls. This is the first study to show specific associations between apathy subtypes (Emotional and Initiation) and executive and emotional cognitive dysfunction, indicating possible distinct underlying mechanisms to these demotivational symptoms

Desarrollo del internado médico en un centro del primer nivel de atención y un Hospital de Lima Norte 2022 - 2023

El internado médico en el Perú se considera una etapa en donde los estudiantes de medicina del último año, que han culminado sus estudios teóricos alcancen poner en destreza sus conocimientos y consigan la capacidad de ampliar sus experiencias en al área clínica y obtener a base de ello un juicio crítico. Objetivo: Exponer las lecciones y el desarrollo del internado médico situado durante el periodo 2022 - 2023. Asimismo, especificar la trayectoria profesional de acuerdo al entorno vivido durante el internado. Metodología: Se puntualizaron las vivencias y lecciones del internado médico ejecutado en el Hospital Nacional Sergio E. Bernales y en el Centro de Salud 1-III Gustavo Lanatta de San Martin de Porres. Resultados: Caso 1 – paciente varón de 27 años acude por presentar dolor abdominal tipo cólico localizado en fosa iliaca derecha asociado a náuseas y vómitos, cuenta con el diagnóstico de síndrome doloroso abdominal a descartar Apendicitis. Caso 2 – paciente femenina de 27 años acude por presentar dolor abdominal tipo cólico a nivel de hipocondrio derecho, refiere antecedente de ingesta de comida copiosa, cuenta con el diagnóstico de síndrome doloroso abdominal a descartar Colecistitis. Caso 3 – paciente varón de 9 años acude por presentar lesiones escoriativas extensas a nivel de MMSS y MMII asociado a prurito con mayor intensidad en las noches, cuenta con el diagnóstico de Escabiosis. Caso 4 – paciente femenino de 6 años acude por presentar otalgia con evidencia de secreción purulenta, cuenta con el diagnóstico de Otitis media aguda. Caso 5 – paciente femenina de 23 años acude por presentar dolor pélvico tipo cólico con sangrado vaginal de escasa cantidad, cuenta con el diagnóstico de aborto incompleto. Caso 6 – paciente femenina de 32 años acude por presentar flujo vaginal de mal olor y d color grisáceo, cuenta con el diagnóstico de vaginosis bacteriana. Caso 7 – paciente varón de 49 años acude por presentar cuadro clínico respiratorio asociado a disnea a medianos esfuerzos con antecedente de pico febril, cuenta con el diagnóstico de Neumonía adquirida en la comunidad. Caso 8 – paciente masculino de 51 años acude por presentar mareos repetitivos produciéndole inestabilidad a la marcha con sensación nauseosa cuenta con el diagnostico a descartar síndrome de Meniere. Conclusiones: El internado médico es un período muy relevante de formación, en donde ponemos en práctica toda nuestra base de conocimiento adquirido a lo largo de la carrera. En todo momento nos impulsan a tener una capacitación constante para manejar de forma adecuada a los pacientes y sobretodo con una visión relacionada a la realidad de nuestro país

Cognitive Efficiency in Alzheimer's Disease is Associated with Increased Occipital Connectivity

There are cognitive domains which remain fully functional in a proportion of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. It is unknown, however, what distinctive mechanisms sustain such efficient processing. The concept of "cognitive efficiency" was investigated in these patients by operationalizing it as a function of the level of performance shown on the Letter Fluency test, on which, very often, patients in the early stages of AD show unimpaired performance. Forty-five individuals at the prodromal/early stage of AD (diagnosis supported by subsequent clinical follow-ups) and 45 healthy controls completed a battery of neuropsychological tests and an MRI protocol which included resting-state acquisitions. The Letter Fluency test was the only task on which no between-group difference in performance was found. Participants were divided into "low-performing" and "high-performing" according to the global median. Dual-regression methods were implemented to compute six patterns of network connectivity. The diagnosis-by-level of performance interaction was inferred on each pattern to determine the network distinctiveness of efficient performance in AD. Significant interactions were found in the anterior default mode network, and in both left and right executive control networks. For all three circuits, high-performing patients showed increased connectivity within the ventral and dorsal part of BA19, as confirmed by post-hoc t tests. Peristriate remapping is suggested to play a compensatory role. Since the occipital lobe is the neurophysiological source of long-range cortical connectivity, it is speculated that the physiological mechanisms of functional connectivity might sustain occipital functional remapping in early AD, particularly for those functions which are sustained by areas not excessively affected by the prodromal disease