Effects Of Music Therapy In Solving Math Problems: Basis For Developing Solving With Music (Solmus) Program

This study examined the effect of mood calming music in math problem solving.Experimental research design was used in the study among 32 Grade 11 students who are “at-risk” in General Mathematics. The experimental group (N = 16) listened to mood calming music while they are solving math problems in a conducive well-lighted and ventilated environment; meanwhile, the control group (N = 16) were given the same room condition without treatment. Ten-item math problems equivalent to 40 points were given to the participants to solve in one-hour period. The results revealed that the test scores in the Mathematics problem solving for the control and experimental groups are 14.31 (SD = 2.24), and 17.31 (SD = 3.96), respectively. Using Independent Sample t-test, the result showed that the difference between the two means is significant (t = 2.64, df = 30, p = .013). Learning difficulty in math can be enhanced by incorporating music to increase test scores. Thus, this study would serve as a basis for developing the SolMus program

IgA and IgG antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody engagement of Fc receptor genetic variants influences granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) is a rare autoimmune neutrophil-mediated vasculitis that can cause renal disease and mucosal manifestations. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are present in many patients, vary in level over time, and induce neutrophil activation through engagement with Fc receptors (FcRs). Given roles for FcRs in ANCA-mediated neutrophil activation and IgA antibodies in mucosal immunity, we hypothesized that FcR genetics and previously unappreciated IgA ANCA affect clinical presentation. We assembled a total of 673 patients and 413 controls from two multicenter cohorts, performed ELISA and immunofluorescence assays to determine IgA and IgG ANCA positivity, and used Illumina, TaqMan, or Pyrosequencing to genotype eight haplotype-tagging SNPs in the IgA FcR (FCAR) and to determine NA1/NA2 genotype of FCGR3B, the most prevalent neutrophil IgG FcR. We evaluated neutrophil activation by measuring degranulation marker CD11b with flow cytometry or neutrophil extracellcular trap formation with confocal microscopy. Functional polymorphisms in FCGR3B and FCAR differed between patient groups stratified by renal involvement. IgA ANCA were found in ∼30% of patients and were less common in patients with severe renal disease. Neutrophil stimulation by IgA or IgG ANCA led to degranulation and neutrophil extracellcular trap formation in a FcR allele-specific manner (IgA:FCAR P = 0.008; IgG:FCGR3B P = 0.003). When stimulated with IgA and IgG ANCA together, IgG ANCA induced neutrophil activation was reduced (P = 0.0001). FcR genotypes, IgA ANCA, and IgG ANCA are potential prognostic and therapeutic targets for understanding the pathogenesis and presentation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's)