ارتباط بين حافظه فعال و رواني کلامي در سالمندان

مقدمه: حافظه فعال و رواني کلامي از اولين عملکردهاي شناختي هستند که در فرايند سالمندي افت پيدا مي‌کنند. هدف از اين مطالعه بررسي، ارتباط بين اين دو عملکرد شناختي در سالمندان بود. مواد و روش‌ها: در اين مطالعه 150 نفر از سالمندان ساکن در استان قم، به صورت تصادفي خوشه‌اي انتخاب شدند و به آزمون‌هاي رواني كلامي (معنايي و آوايي) و آزمون فراخناي اعداد (مستقيم و معکوس) پاسخ دادند. جهت بررسي ارتباط بين متغيرهاي مطالعه از آزمون همبستگي Pearson دو طرفه استفاده شد. یافته‌ها: بين رواني کلامي آوايي و بخش مستقيم آزمون فراخناي اعداد همبستگي معني‌داري وجود داشت (0/05 < P، 0/286 = r). همچنين بين بخش معکوس آزمون فراخناي اعداد و آزمون رواني کلامي آوايي نيز همبستگي معني‌داري نشان داده شد (0/01 < P، 0/355 = r). رواني کلامي معنايي نيز همبستگي معني‌داري با فراخناي اعداد مستقيم (0/01 < P، 0/599 = r) و معکوس (0/01 < p، 0/488 = r) نشان داد. نتیجه گیری: ارتباط بين رواني کلامي آوايي و معنايي را مي‌توان به دليل زيرساخت‌هاي تشريحي مشترک اين دو کارکرد شناختي (قطعه پيش پيشاني و به طور اختصاصي بخش طرفي خارجي آن) دانست. بر اين اساس مي‌توان آزمون رواني کلامي را به عنوان پيش‌گوي حافظه فعال دانست. کلید واژه‌ها: حافظه فعال، رواني کلامي آوايي و معنايي، سالمند

Protective effects of licorice extract on ovarian morphology, oocyte maturation, and embryo development in PCOS-induced mice: An experimental study

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an oxidative state resulting in ovarian dysfunction. Licorice is one of the natural antioxidants used for the treatment of infertility. Objective: To evaluate the effect of licorice extract on ovarian morphology, oocyte maturation, and embryo development in PCOS-induced mice. Materials and Methods: thirty-two female NMIR mice were divided into four groups (n = 8/each): control group receiving no treatment (group I); PCOS group injected with estradiol valerate once daily for 21 days (group II); and experimental groups receiving either 100 mg/kg (group III) or 150 mg/kg (group IV) licorice by gavage along with estradiol valerate once daily for 3 wk. Serum levels of the testosterone and estrogen were measured using ELISA kit. Histological study of ovaries was evaluated, and oocyte maturation, fertilization rate, and embryo development were determined after in vitro maturation. Results: Experimental groups (III, IV) had significantly higher testosterone and estradiol levels compared to the PCOS group (p ≤ 0.001). A significant increase in the number of healthy follicles (primary, preantral follicles) (p = 0.001), corpus luteum (p = 0.001) with significant decrease in the number of atretic follicles (primary, preantral, cystic follicles) (p ≤ 0.001) was seen in the experimental groups. Increase in the fertilization rate (p ≤ 0.001) and blastocyst stage embryos (p = 0.02, p = 0.004) were observed in the experimental groups. Conclusions: It appears that the two doses (100 mg and 150 mg) of licorice could decrease ovarian cyst and improve the fertilization rate of oocyte and embryo development in PCOS mice. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two experimental groups. Key words: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Mice, Licorice, Histology, In vitro maturation, In vitro fertilization

The Effect of Cognitive Rehabilitation on the Improvement of Language Skills in 9-12 Years Old Children with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder

Background: According to the research literature, there was a relationship between cognitive functions of attention and working memory and linguistic skills. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of cognitive rehabilitation on the improvement of the linguistic skills in 9-12 years old children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Methods: 40 students in grade 4, 5 and 6 of a primary school in Miyane city were assigned equally and randomly to two intervention and control groups. The research design was experimental with pre-test, post-test, follow-up, and control group. The language tests included; Thurston Verbal Fluency task, Token test of receptive language, Boston naming speed test, Assessment of Persian Reading Ability (APRA), verbal working memory subtest of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, and Attention Register task. Parental version of the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham (SNAP-IV) questionnaire was used to screen ADHD. The intervention method was based on Attentive Rehabilitation of Attention and Memory (ARAM) with emphasis on attention and working memory. Mixed ANOVA statistical test was used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that the linguistic skills assessed in the research which include naming (F=29.42, P=0.01), verbal fluency (phonological fluency: F=15.68, P=0.01; semantic fluency: F=13.73, P=0.01), reading abilities (alphabet reading 1: F=17.84, P=0.01; alphabet reading 2: F=27.07, P=0.01; word reading: F=19.82, P=0.01; reading ability: F=19.97, P=0.01; voice change: F=13.47, P=0.01; reading comprehension: F=36.85, P=0.01), comprehension (F=6.75, P=0.01), verbal working memory (direct digits: F=7.7, P=0.01; inverse digits: F=14.26, P=0.01) and attention (attention registration 1: F=10.23, P=0.01; attention registration 2: F=4.33, P=0.04) were improved, following the intervention. Conclusion: Computerized Training of working memory and attention can enhance the language skills in children with ADHD. This result confirmed the role of attention and working memory on language skills

Effectiveness of Compensatory Rehabilitation on Neuropsychological Functions of Preschool Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms

Background: Executive functions are impaired in children with attention deficithyperactivity disorder. One method to improve these functions is Compensatory rehabilitation. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of compensatory rehabilitation training on neuropsychological functions in preschool children with attention deficit- hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Methods: This is an experimental study by pretest, posttest and follow-up design with control group. Thirty two (32) children with attention deficithyperactivity disorder symptoms were selected using convenience sampling and randomly divided into control and intervention groups. The neurological tests included missing scan, day and night stroop, continuous performance test and trial making test. In the intervention program, parents were taught how to use effective strategies and skills to manage cognitive deficits in children, based on Tameshk package. Data was analyzed by repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: From the results of data analysis, compensatory rehabilitation had a significant effect on working memory (P<0.00), inhibition (P<0.00, errors; P<0.00, time) and shifting attention (P<0.01 errors in section A; P<0.00, time section A) in children. Conclusion: Compensatory rehabilitation utilizes skills and instructions to improve cognitive functions in children. The current research showed that training by compensation approach could improve neuropsychological functions in children with ADHD

Living with Multiple Sclerosis: A Phenomenological Study of Worries, Concern and Psychological Problems in Iranian Patients with MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS), as a progressive and degenerative illness, has an impact on different aspects of individual lives and may lead to difficulties, concerns, and worries in patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate concerns, worries and problems in patients with MS. We used a descriptive phenomenological qualitative approach. Participants were volunteers purposively selected based on their availability. We carried out deep interviews with 15 MS patients and analyzed the detailed information obtained from these interviews by using Colaizzi’s method. We extracted six essential themes and thirty-four sub-themes associated with MS from the content of the interviews. The main themes were labelled “Confronting existential concerns,” “Crisis of facing up with the illness,” “Suffering from the illness,” “Relationship,” “Confrontation with spirituality and religion,” “Searching for tranquility.” Results of the present study also reiterated the following: Patients with MS seem to lose meaning of life and this together with problems in dealing with existential concerns, may lead to the “disintegration of self,” hence resulting in considerable psychological disturbance and distress. It is concluded that the illness evokes psychological injury such as existential anxiety, relationship disturbance and hopelessness, and these psychological injuries can lead to relapsing of MS

Effectiveness of Hesabyar Cognitive Rehabilitation on Neuropsychological Functions of Children with Special Learning Disabilities

Background: Children with learning disabilities have cognitive impairments not attributable to their intelligence. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Hesabyar Cognitive Rehabilitation on neuropsychological functions of children with special learning disabilities.Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study which had pre-test and post-test design and conducted with a control group. The statistical population included all the male elementary students with special learning disabilities in Semnan, Iran, in the academic year 2019-2020. The sample consisted of 40 students (20 participants in each group) with special learning disabilities that were treated. The Conners Psychological Scale was used for data collection. The experimental group underwent cognitive load rehabilitation every other day for 10 sessions while the control group did not receive any treatment. The data were analyzed using the statistical method of multivariate analysis of covariance and SPSS version 24.Results: The mean±SD of age in the experimental group and the control group were respectively 11.2±0.9 and 11.5±0.8. The results of ANCOVA analysis showed that Hesabyar Cognitive Rehabilitation program made significant changes in components of variables, including selective attention (P=0.002), sustain attention (P=0.001), attention shifting (P=0.001), attention divided (P=0.004), attention span (P=0.002) l-term memory (P=0.011) [components of difficulty in memory function and learning], executive functions (P=0.001), problem with speed and cognitive processing ability (P=0.016), as well as components of academic performance problems, namely attention functions (P=0.004), computational science (P=0.002), argument/calculations (P=0.014), and attitudinal discussions (P=0.001) [components of academic performance problems: mathematics].Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, Hesabyar Cognitive Rehabilitation program is one of the treatments that can be used to minimize the problems of students with math learning disorders

Motor Learning in children with ADHD and Normal Children: Comparison of Implicit and Explicit Motor Sequence

Introduction: Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) face many academic and training problems and also impose some problems on their teachers and classmates. Motor learning can be categorized into two main types: implicit and explicit. The main goal of the present study was to investigate the possible differences between implicit and explicit motor sequence learning in children with ADHD and normal children by using serial reaction time task. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 24 children with ADHD, who were equally assigned to explicit and implicit learning groups, and 24 normal children, also equally assigned to implicit and explicit learning groups. Each group, therefore, consisted of 12 participants. Repetitive Measure ANOVA was run to compare reaction time and error in different blocks, and squared t-test was used to compare regular and irregular blocks. Results: Comparison of implicit and explicit learning for accuracy (the number of reaction errors) and speed (response time) revealed the accuracy to be P=0.012 and speed P=0.012 in ADHD explicit group, and accuracy P=0.094 and speed P=0.954, in ADHD implicit group. Normal explicit group indicated accuracy of (P=0.008) and speed of (P=0.05) and normal implicit group indicated accuracy of (P=0.011) and speed of (P=0.442). Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that explanation and description of the task was more effective in motor sequence learning in ADHD children. It is, therefore, recommended that pre-exercise training be included in the programs provided to these children.Keywords: Motor Sequence, Explicit Learning, Implicit Learning, ADH

Intra-peritoneal and intra-rectal immunogenicity induced by rotavirus virus like particles 2/6/7 in mice

We previously developed virus like particles of rotavirus (RV) with VP2, VP6, and VP7 proteins (VLP2/6/7) using stable High-five cell line. To evaluate the immunogenicity of our construct, we assessed the humoral and cytokine responses induced by VLP2/6/7 in BALB/c mice immunized intra-peritoneally and intra-rectally. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Relative quantitative (RQ) Real-time PCR were used to evaluate the antibody (IgG and IgA) levels in serum and mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-gamma in spleen cells, respectively. Our results showed that VLP2/6/7 is capable of intra-peritoneal (I.P.) and intra-rectal (I.R.) induction of serum IgG and IgA responses. IgA was detected in fecal samples of immunization groups by I.P. and I.R. routes. Interestingly, I.R. route induced higher IgA titer compared with I.P. route which was statistically significant. Moreover, mRNA levels of IL-6 and IFN-gamma were significantly elevated in mice immunized intra- peritoneally with VLP2/6/7 compared to control group. As such, the mean change was 7.4 (P < 0.05) and 14.8 (P < 0.001) for IFN-gamma and IL-6, respectively. Likewise, the same pattern was found when mice were immunized intra-rectally. Although elevated, the difference in the mean change for IL-10 was not statistically significant when compared to control group. Our findings indicated that VLPs constructed via a stable insect cell line are able to induce both humoral and cellular responses, a similar pattern as observed after immunization with live RVs. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improves Executive Dysfunctions in ADHD: Implications for Inhibitory Control, Interference Control, Working Memory, and Cognitive Flexibility

Objective: This study examined effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the DLPFC and OFC on major executive functions (EFs) including response inhibition, executive control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility/task switching in ADHD. Methods: ADHD children received (a) left anodal / right cathodal DLPFC tDCS and (b) sham stimulation in experiment one and (a) left anodal DLPFC / right cathodal OFC tDCS (b) left cathodal DLPFC / right anodal OFC tDCS and (c) sham stimulation in experiment two. The current intensity was 1 mA for 15 min with a 72-hr interval between sessions. Subjects underwent Go/No-Go task, Nback test, WCST and Stroop task after tDCS. Results: anodal lDLPFC tDCS most clearly affected executive control functions (e.g., WM, interference inhibition), while cathodal lDLPFC tDCS improved inhibitory control. Cognitive flexibility/task switching benefited from combined DLPFC-OFC, but not DLPFC stimulation alone. Conclusion: Task specific stimulation protocols can improve EFs in ADHD

Corrigendum to "Repeated stimulation of the dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex improves executive dysfunctions and craving in drug addiction: A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study" [Brain Stimul 13 (3) (2020) 582-593].

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