Relationships between working memory, expressive vocabulary and arithmetical reasoning in children with and without intellectual disabilities.

This experiment examined the relationships between working memory and two measures of achievement, namely expressive vocabulary and arithmetical reasoning, in children with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). For 11-12-year-old children with intellectual disabilities, memory measures tapping the central executive were the most important predictors of both expressive vocabulary and arithmetical reasoning, with phonological memory making a small additional contribution to expressive vocabulary. For mainstream 11-12-year-old children, phonological memory was the best predictor of expressive vocabulary, whereas, arithmetical reasoning ability was predicted by visual memory and to a lesser extent phonological memory. The third group of children, 7-8-year-old mainstream children, had been matched on mental age with the intellectual disability group. For these children the most important predictor of expressive vocabulary was phonological memory, with a small additional contribution from visual memory. Arithmetical reasoning was best predicted by memory measures tapping the central executive with an additional contribution from phonological memory. These results suggest that different working memory resources are used by children of varying ages and ability levels to carry out at least some cognitive tasks

Prevalence and Utilization of Medical Care Services in Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder using Medicare Claims

Objective: To characterize the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among persons in Medicare claims and contrast with prevalence documented during disability determination in Social Security Administration (SSA) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) files. Poster presented at APHA in Chicago Illinois

Use of Medicare Claims as a Source for Research Prevalence and Utilization of Medical Care Services in Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder Over and Under Age 65

Objective: 1. To evaluate the feasibility of using Medicare claims by determining the number of identifiable persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a three year limited data set (2008-2010) 2. To describe the structure, types, and limitations of Medicare claims files for ASD researc

The Book of Bedtime Tales!

https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/hbs_time_cap/1000/thumbnail.jp

Reflections on a Pandemic School Year

https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/hbs_time_cap/1007/thumbnail.jp

Bilateral, Full-thickness Macular Holes While Undergoing Chemotherapy

Background: Bilateral, full-thickness macular holes are a rare condition that can substantially affect quality of life. Macular hole diagnosis and treatment is key for these patients. Case Report: A 71 year old Caucasian male presented with a chief complaint of distance blur in both eyes, worsening over the past 1-2 weeks. He had no diagnosis of diabetes. He added that his prostate cancer had spread and that his last treatment ended 9 days ago. He was ultimately diagnosed with bilateral, full-thickness macular holes. Referral to a retinal specialist for surgical management yielded good results. Conclusion: This is the first case report documenting bilateral macular holes in a patient with these systemic meds to date. More research on any potential ocular side effects of these medications is recommended

Need to optimise infant feeding counselling: A cross-sectional survey among HIV-positive mothers in Eastern Uganda

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The choice of infant feeding method is important for HIV-positive mothers in order to optimise the chance of survival of their infants and to minimise the risk of HIV transmission. The aim of this study was to investigate feeding practices, including breastfeeding, in the context of PMTCT for infants and children under two years of age born to HIV-positive mothers in Uganda.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In collaboration with The Aids Support Organisation Mbale, we conducted a cross-sectional survey involving 235 HIV-positive mothers in Uganda. Infant feeding practices, reasons for stopping breastfeeding, and breast health problems were studied. Breastfeeding duration was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method based on retrospective recall.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Breastfeeding was initiated by most of the mothers, but 20 of them (8.5%) opted exclusively for replacement feeding. Pre-lacteal feeding was given to 150 (64%) infants and 65 (28%) practised exclusive breastfeeding during the first three days. One-fifth of the infants less than 6 months old were exclusively breastfed, the majority being complementary fed including breast milk. The median duration of breastfeeding was 12 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.5 to 12.5). Adjusted Cox regression analysis indicated that a mother's education, socio-economic status, participation in the PMTCT-program and her positive attitude to breastfeeding exclusively, were all associated with a reduction in breastfeeding duration. Median duration was 3 months (95% CI 0–10.2) among the most educated mothers, and 18 months (95% CI 15.0–21.0) among uneducated mothers. Participation in the PMTCT program and being socio-economically better-off were also associated with earlier cessation of breastfeeding (9 months [95% CI 7.2–10.8] vs. 14 months [95% CI 10.8–17.2] and 8 months [95% CI 5.9–10.1] vs. 17 months [95% CI 15.2–18.8], respectively). The main reasons for stopping breastfeeding were reported as: advice from health workers, maternal illness, and the HIV-positive status of the mother.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Exclusive breastfeeding was uncommon. Exclusive replacement feeding was practised by few HIV-positive mothers. Well-educated mothers, mothers who were socio-economically better-off and PMTCT-attendees had the shortest durations of breastfeeding. Further efforts are needed to optimise infant feeding counselling and to increase the feasibility of the recommendations.</p

Construction and validation of a dimensional scale exploring mood disorders: MAThyS (Multidimensional Assessment of Thymic States)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The boundaries between mood states in bipolar disorders are not clear when they are associated with mixed characteristics. This leads to some confusion to define appropriate therapeutic strategies. A dimensional approach might help to better define bipolar moods states and more specifically those with mixed features.</p> <p>Therefore, we proposed a new tool based on a dimensional approach, built with a priori five sub-scales and focus on emotional reactivity rather than exclusively on mood tonality. This study was designed to validate this MAThyS Scale (Multidimensional Assessment of Thymic States).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred and ninety six subjects were included: 44 controls and 152 bipolar patients in various states: euthymic, manic or depressed. The MAThyS is a visual analogic scale consisting of 20 items. These items corresponded to five quantitative dimensions ranging from inhibition to excitation: emotional reactivity, thought processes, psychomotor function, motivation and sensory perception. They were selected as they represent clinically relevant quantitative traits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Confirmatory analyses demonstrated a good validity for this scale, and a good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.95). The MathyS scale is moderately correlated of both the MADRS scale (depressive score; r = -0.45) and the MAS scale (manic score; r = 0.56).</p> <p>When considering the Kaiser-Guttman rule and the scree plot, our model of 5 factors seems to be valid. The four first factors have an eigenvalue greater than 1.0 and the eigenvalue of the factor five is 0.97. In the scree plot, the "elbow", or the point at which the curve bends, indicates 5 factors to extract. This 5 factors structure explains 68 per cent of variance.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The characterisation of bipolar mood states based on a global score assessing inhibition/activation process (total score of the MATHyS) associated with descriptive analysis on sub-scores such as emotional reactivity (rather than the classical opposition euphoria/sadness) can be useful to better understand the broad spectrum of mixed states.</p

Electrocerebral Recovery During the Intracarotid Amobarbital Procedure: Influence of Interval Between Injections

Purpose and Methods : During the intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP) at the University of Michigan, continuous scalp EEG monitoring guides the timing for presentation of memory items and postinjection testing. Most of our patients have undergone bilateral injections. The interval between injections varied from 22 to 60 min, depending on the test and recovery time, as well as the time to catheterize the second side. After noting a trend toward prolonged electro-graphic recovery following the second injection, we tested our clinical impression that recovery of the second hemisphere may be influenced by (a) the time between injections and (b) which hemisphere is injected first (epileptogenic or nonepileptogenic). To study these questions, we analyzed EEG recovery data from 48 consecutive IAPs. Approximately half the patients had the epileptogenic side injected first. Results : We found that (a) electrographic recovery after the second injection is prolonged if the interval between bilateral injections is less than 40 minutes and (b) electrographic recovery is more rapid after injection of the epileptogenic hemisphere. Conclusions : We now recommend waiting at least 45 min between injections. The pathophysiology of more prolonged amobarbital effect on the nonepileptogenic hemisphere than on the epileptogenic hemisphere remains unclear.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65275/1/j.1528-1157.1997.tb00067.x.pd