Capturing the Impairment Profile of College Students with Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Symptoms

Over the past 15 years, researchers have shown increasing interest in Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) symptoms. Though SCT symptoms were once considered symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) inattentive type, controversy now exists regarding the role of the SCT symptom set in mental health. Several questions remain regarding whether SCT symptoms are separate from related symptom sets (i.e., ADHD, anxiety, depression) and whether SCT symptoms have any negative impact on a person\u27s day-to-day functioning. This exploratory study examined a large, general sample of college students to determine (a) whether SCT symptoms form a separate factor from ADHD, anxiety, and depression in a college sample and (b) what negative outcomes, if any, were associated with SCT symptoms. Factor analyses indicated that SCT symptoms formed a statistically separate factor from symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Students with high levels of SCT symptoms report significantly more impairment compared to students with low levels of SCT symptoms. However, regression analyses suggest that SCT symptoms do not account for significant amounts of unique impairment after controlling for related symptoms (i.e., ADHD, anxiety, depression) and variables (i.e., sleep, health, substance use). The lack of impairment associated with SCT symptoms suggests that it may serve as an underlying construct of many mental health and lifestyle variables, rather than standing independently as a mental health construct

Impairment and Executive Functioning Associated with Symptoms of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo, ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression

This study examined the relationships among Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT), ADHD, anxiety, and depression symptom sets in a college sample, and the extent to which these symptom sets predicted executive functioning and functional impairment. Also, this study investigated (a) the extent to which functional impairment and executive functioning (EF) problems were uniquely accounted for by SCT symptoms when controlling for ADHD, anxiety, and depression symptoms, and (b) which high symptom group accounted for the greatest amount of impairment. College students (N = 458) completed a demographic questionnaire and self-report scales of ADHD, SCT symptoms, anxiety, and depression symptoms, as well as functional impairment and EF problems. Students were divided into four groups: high levels of SCT symptoms (High SCT: n = 45), high levels of ADHD symptoms (High ADHD: n = 10), high levels of SCT and ADHD symptoms (High SCT + ADHD: n = 15), and those without high levels of SCT or ADHD symptoms (Controls: n = 388). Thirteen percent of the sample was found to have high levels of SCT, and most of these students did not have a diagnosis of ADHD or high number of ADHD symptoms. The results indicated that SCT symptoms share a moderate to strong correlation with the other symptom sets; however, high levels of SCT symptoms often occur separate from high levels of ADHD, anxiety, or depression symptoms. Interestingly, SCT symptoms accounted for the most unique variance for both EF problems and functional impairment. Both SCT groups (High SCT and High SCT + ADHD) demonstrated more impairment and executive function problems than the controls. It appears that SCT may be a separate clinical construct worthy of additional study in college students

Benefits and Drawbacks of Pre-licensure Clinical Jobs in Undergraduate Nursing Students

This research study aims to identify the benefits and drawbacks of pre-licensure clinical jobs in undergraduate nursing students. Many nursing students are encouraged to have a job in clinical settings in order to gain more experience. Many undergraduate nursing students here at the University of Akron currently have jobs in the clinical setting and these are the student\u27s who we plan to use as our sample for this study. This study will be completed by spring of 2023, before graduation

Memantine: Can it be Used to Treat Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in social, behavior and communicative skills. The current therapy for ASD only targets the associated symptoms such as aggression, self-harming acts or temper tantrums but not the core symptoms of social dysfunction. The pathology of ASD is not fully understood. Interestingly, imaging studies in ASD patients have reported abnormal high levels of glutamate in certain brain regions that play an important role in social interaction and communication. Thus, it has been hypothesized that medications attenuating glutamate transmission may be used as treatment for some of the core symptoms of ASD. Memantine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, has been approved for the treatment of Alzheimer\u27s disease, and has shown promise in alleviating some of the symptoms of ASD in children. In this review, we will discuss the pathology of ASD, findings from studies that evaluated memantine in ASD patients, the adverse effects of memantine and the potential use of memantine in the treatment of ASD. Finally, we will discuss the role of the pharmacist in managing patients with ASD

Insights into the autotransport process of a trimeric autotransporter, Yersinia Adhesin A (YadA)

Trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAAs) are a subset of a larger protein family called the type V secretion systems. They are localized on the cell surface of Gram‐negative bacteria, function as mediators of attachment to inorganic surfaces and host cells, and thus include important virulence factors. Yersinia adhesin A (YadA) from Yersinia enterocolitica is a prototypical TAA that is used extensively to study the structure and function of the type Vc secretion system. A solid‐state NMR study of the membrane anchor domain of YadA previously revealed a flexible stretch of small residues, termed the ASSA region, that links the membrane anchor to the stalk domain. In this study, we present evidence that single amino acid proline substitutions produce two different conformers of the membrane anchor domain of YadA; one with the N‐termini facing the extracellular surface, and a second with the N‐termini located in the periplasm. We propose that TAAs adopt a hairpin intermediate during secretion, as has been shown before for other subtypes of the type V secretion system. As the YadA transition state intermediate can be isolated from the outer membrane, future structural studies should be possible to further unravel details of the autotransport process

The quality of life of African American women with breast cancer

The objectives of this study were to describe the quality of life of African American women with breast cancer and test a model of factors that may affect their quality of life. A stress-coping framework that included person (demographics, current concerns, and optimism), social resources (family functioning), and illness-related factors (symptom distress, medical characteristics), as well as appraisal of illness and quality of life, was used to guide this exploratory, cross-sectional study. Participants included 98 African American women who were approximately 4 years postdiagnosis. The women reported a fairly high quality of life, were generally optimistic, and had effective family functioning. Although symptom distress was generally low, a sizable number of women reported problems with energy loss, sleep disturbances, and pain. The model explained 75% of the variance in quality of life, with appraisal, family functioning, symptom distress, and recurrence status each explaining a significant amount of the variance. Current concerns had an indirect effect on quality of life that was mediated by appraisal. These findings underscore the importance of helping women foster a positive appraisal of their illness, manage current concerns, maintain family functioning, and reduce symptom distress, because each of these factors indirectly or directly affects their quality of life. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 22:449–460, 1999Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34678/1/3_ftp.pd

A complex interplay between the extracellular matrix and the innate immune response to microbial pathogens

The role of the host extracellular matrix (ECM) in infection tends to be neglected. However, the complex interactions between invading pathogens, host tissues and immune cells occur in the context of the ECM. On the pathogen side, a variety of surface and secreted molecules, including microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules and tissue‐degrading enzymes, are employed that interact with different ECM proteins to effectively establish an infection at specific sites. Microbial pathogens can also hijack or misuse host proteolytic systems to modify the ECM, evade immune responses or process biologically active molecules such as cell surface receptors and cytokines that direct cell behaviour and immune defence. On the host side, the ECM composition and three‐dimensional ultrastructure undergo significant modifications, which have a profound impact on the specific signals that the ECM conveys to immune cells at the forefront of infection. Unexpectedly, activated immune cells participate in the remodelling of the local ECM by synthesizing ECM glycoproteins, proteoglycans and collagen molecules. The close interplay between the ECM and the innate immune response to microbial pathogens ultimately affects the outcome of infection. This review explores and discusses recent data that implicate an active role for the ECM in the immune response to infection, encompassing antimicrobial activities, microbial recognition, macrophage activation, phagocytosis, leucocyte population balance, and transcriptional and post‐transcriptional regulation of inflammatory networks, and may foster novel antimicrobial approaches

Ron's Road to Wealth: Insights for The Curious Investor

Lonh tern investors will learn much from Ron Muhlenkamp's thoughiful reflections on what he has learned about investing over a thirty year priod of succesful practice

Effects of Online Homework on Algebra I Test Scores

Technology in education continues to change and evolve. More and more classrooms are integrating a variety of technology into everyday lessons but is it beneficial to student outcomes? This study looks at assigning online homework versus traditional paper-and-pencil homework. To determine the effects, a control group (n = 40) was assigned traditional homework while an experimental group (n = 29) was given online homework throughout a high school Algebra I course. Using their eighth grade End-of-Course exam to determine prior knowledge, the mean differences of each group’s semester exam and final exams were analyzed. A model to predict a student’s final exam score was also determined using homework type, gender, eighth grade EOC score, and semester exam score. Results showed online homework to be just as effective if not more beneficial than traditional homework. Due to a number of limitations, further research would be needed to generalize the results to a broader population