scholarly journals A new gaming platform to improve cognitive performance and promote healthy behavior: a pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Baccolini ◽  
C Isonne ◽  
G Migliara ◽  
C Salerno ◽  
C Marzuillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Pilot Phase ◽  
Training Tool ◽  
Cognitive Diseases ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background Brain training games can sharpen the mind and potentially prevent cognitive diseases, that are particularly relevant to the population ageing. The EU funded project ACDC, Adult Cognitive Decline Conscientiousness, developed an online training tool to train cognitive functions and promote healthy behaviors in the adult population. Methods An online platform, consisting of 16 games with different levels, was built. Three main brain domains were targeted: memory, visuospatial and verbal skill. After the completion of each game level, healthy lifestyle tips were presented to the users. Participants were actively recruited from the project partners; inclusion criteria were adult age (40-70 years) without cognitive diseases. An adapted version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to assess cognitive performance at the start and after two hours of active gaming. The paired t-test was used to compare the scores before and after the training. A satisfaction questionnaire was administered at the end of the training session. Results Fifty-six participants from three European countries (Austria, Spain and Italy) took part in the pilot phase (median age: 57, IQR: 47-66). Most of them were university graduates (38%) or had a high school diploma (41%), employed full-time (46%) and females (82%). Significant improvements were registered in the verbal domain, where the mean score increased from 4.18 to 4.83 (p = 0.047), and in the memory area, where the mean score grew from 4.80 to 6.60 (p < 0.001). The visuospatial mean score improved from 4.55 to 5.16 (p = 0.0518). Most users (84%) were greatly satisfied with the platform and reported a high level of appreciation for the interactive gaming approach. Conclusions Despite the small sample size, the pilot phase detected some improvements in cognitive performance and a good appreciation of the training tool. Given these encouraging findings, the study will now be extended to more participants. Key messages The newly developed platform represented a promising tool to train cognitive functions. The proposed interactive gaming approach was greatly appreciated by the users.

Stillbirth Rate and Weight at Birth of Quintuplets in Japan

1989 ◽  
Vol 38 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoko Imaizumi
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Birth Order ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Size Effects ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Stillbirth Rate ◽  
The Mean

AbstractNation-wide data in Japan on births and prenatal deaths of 16 sets of quintuplets during 1974-1985 were analysed. Among the 16 sets, 3 sets were liveborn, 8 were stillborn, and 5 were mixed, with a stillbirth rate of 0.64 (51/80). Effects of sex, maternal age and birth order on the stillbirth rate were not considered because of the small sample size. Effects of gestational age and birthweight on stillbirth rate were also examined. The mean weight of the 40 quintuplet individuals was 1,048 g.

The use of frequency distributions in an attempt to detect host mortality induced by infections of diplostomatid metacercariae

Parasitology ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Parasite Burden ◽  
Fish Host ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Host Age ◽  
Parasite Abundance ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Host Mortality ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Over Dispersion

SummaryFollowing recent suggestions that a peaked host age–parasite abundance curve, concomitant with a decline in the degree of dispersion of parasites in the older age classes of hosts, can provide evidence of parasite-induced host mortality, the changes in mean abundance and over-dispersion of metacercarial stages of Diplostomum spathaceum, D. gasterostei, Tylodelphys clavata and T. podicipina in relation to fish age were studied in a field locality. The mean parasite burden of D. spathaceum, D. gasterostei and T. clavata increased with host age and the maximum mean burden was found in the oldest hosts. The variance to mean ratio also increased in D. gasterostei, but decreased in the oldest hosts in D. spathaceum and T. clavata. It is concluded that this decrease could be due to parasite-induced host mortality but could equally be due to death of parasites within the host or to changes in infection rate or could be a reflection of the small sample size of the oldest fish. The mean burden of T. podicipina declined gradually with host age, but the variance to mean ratio remained constant and it is concluded that this could be explained by death of the parasites within the host. None of these data or data from other localities provided clear and unambiguous evidence of host mortality induced by heavy infections of any of the four species, although they are consistent with such mortality and do not refute such a possibility. It is concluded that it may be just as difficult to detect and unequivocally demonstrate parasite-induced host mortality in metacercarial digenean–fish host systems as in any other parasite–host systems.

scholarly journals The Impact of Improved Thermistor Calibration on the Expendable Bathythermograph Profile Data

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1947-1961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlos Goes ◽  
Elizabeth Babcock ◽  
Francis Bringas ◽  
Peter Ortner ◽  
Gustavo Goni
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Profile Data ◽  
Expendable Bathythermograph ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

AbstractExpendable bathythermograph (XBT) data provide one of the longest available records of upper-ocean temperature. However, temperature and depth biases in XBT data adversely affect estimates of long-term trends of ocean heat content and, to a lesser extent, estimates of volume and heat transport in the ocean. Several corrections have been proposed to overcome historical biases in XBT data, which rely on constantly monitoring these biases. This paper provides an analysis of data collected during three recent hydrographic cruises that utilized different types of probes, and examines methods to reduce temperature and depth biases by improving the thermistor calibration and reducing the mass variability of the XBT probes.The results obtained show that the use of individual thermistor calibration in XBT probes is the most effective calibration to decrease the thermal bias, improving the mean thermal bias to less than 0.02°C and its tolerance from 0.1° to 0.03°C. The temperature variance of probes with screened thermistors is significantly reduced by approximately 60% in comparison to standard probes. On the other hand, probes with a tighter weight tolerance did not show statistically significant reductions in the spread of depth biases, possibly because of the small sample size or the sensitivity of the depth accuracy to other causes affecting the analysis.

scholarly journals Geographic Variation of the Curve-Billed Thrasher (Toxostoma Curvirostre) Complex

The Auk ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-322
Author(s):  
Octavio R. Rojas-Soto
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Error ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Sierra Madre Occidental ◽  
Geographic Patterns ◽  
Western Group ◽  
Sierra Madre ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Geographic patterns of variation in morphological characters in the Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre) have been recognized by the description of seven subspecies. Twelve standard measurements, as well as three colorimetric characters and two color pattern characters, were analyzed to test whether subspecies limits predict patterns of variation. Measurement error was addressed by measuring each character three times and calculating the mean. A total of 821 male study skins were used, representing 29 locations. A variety of analysis revealed two major groups, an eastern and western group, divided by the Sierra Madre Occidental. Those two groups had previously been recognized as the curvirostre and palmeri groups, respectively. Those groups were also recovered by analysis of mtDNA. The two groups fulfill the requirements for species. The Tiburón Island (T. c. insularis) sample was distinct for several characters; however, small sample size precludes formal taxonomic recommendation. Within the two major groups, most characters showed incongruent clinal patterns of variation that did not match subspecies limits.

Profiling Cognitive Performance and Sleep Quality Measures in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehrdad Afarid ◽  
Hooman Rezaie ◽  
Behzad Khademi1 ◽  
Mohammad Nami
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control

BACKGROUND This study aimed at profiling cognitive functions in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to evaluate cognitive functions in patients diagnosed with AMD METHODS This cross-sectional investigation enrolled 45 patients with AMD and 45 age- and sex-matched controls. The overall cognitive performance in AMD sufferer versus control subjects was asses using the Persian version of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination battery (ACE-R). Subjects’ sleep quality was also evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The mean global assessment and subscale scores were statistically compared between groups. RESULTS The mean global scores for ACE-R in AMD and control groups (80.4±12.3 and 86 ± 9.6, respectively) were found to be statistically different (p=0.018). On the other hand there was no significant difference (p=0.793) between the AMD and control groups in terms of PSQI scores (9.7±2.8 and 9.8±2.8, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AMD patients seem to have cognitively underperformed in memory and verbal fluency domains compared to the control group. Evidence on cognitive impairments in patients with AMD may possibly herald neurocognitive insufficiencies and have common pathological mechanisms with dementias.

scholarly journals Implementation of a novel prehospital advance directive protocol in southeastern Ontario

CJEM ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 9 (04) ◽  
pp. 250-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose P. Mengual ◽  
Michael J. Feldman ◽  
Gord R. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Prehospital Setting ◽  
Do Not Resuscitate ◽  
Surrogate Decision Makers ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Surrogate Decision

ABSTRACTIntroduction:Do not resuscitate (DNR) orders are commonly accepted in most health care settings, but are less widely recognized in the prehospital setting. We describe the implementation of and satisfaction with a prehospital DNR protocol that allows paramedics to honour verbal and non-standard written DNR requests.Methods:This prospective observational study reviewed all cardiac arrests in southeastern Ontario between March 1, 2003 and September 31, 2005. Following a verbal or non-standard written DNR request, paramedics completed a questionnaire and a follow-up structured telephone interview was conducted with surrogate decision makers (SDMs).Results:There were 1890 cardiac arrests during the study period, of which 86 met our inclusion criteria. Paramedic surveys were available for 82 cases (95%), and surrogate decision makers (SDMs) were successfully contacted in 50 (58%) of them. Two SDMs declined to be interviewed. The mean patient age was 72.7 (standard deviation 13.8) years and 65% were male. Sixty-three (73%) of DNR requests were verbal, and 23 (27%) were written. The mean paramedic comfort was rated 4.9 on a 5-point Likert scale (with 5 being “very comfortable” ) (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.9–5.0). The mean SDM comfort was rated by paramedics as 4.9 (95% CI 4.8 –4.9). SDMs reported comfort in withholding CPR in 47 of 48 cases (98%), and with paramedic care in all cases. One SDM stated that although it was consistent with the patient's wishes, she was uncomfortable having to make the DNR request.Conclusions:Satisfaction with this novel prehospital DNR protocol was uniformly high among paramedic and SDM respondents. It appears that such a protocol is feasible and acceptable for the prehospital setting. Our conclusions are limited by a small sample size, the lack of a comparison group, and limited follow-up.

scholarly journals Aggregation of plaque disclosing agent in a dentifrice

2004 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Débora Dias da Silva ◽  
Camila da Silva Gonçalo ◽  
Maria da Luz Rosário de Sousa ◽  
Ronaldo Seichi Wada
Keyword(s):  
Dental Plaque ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Assessment Index ◽  
Plaque Removal ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Two Stages

Dental plaque removal is an important issue in health promotion. Toothbrushing is one of the main methods employed for such purpose, since it can prevent dental caries by means of the fluoride present in the dentifrice. Dentifrices might contain plaque disclosing agents and thus allow dental plaque observation. The aim of this study was to assess whether utilization of a plaque disclosing agent interfered with plaque removal among adolescents, as well as the difference between utilization of erythrosine tablets and dentifrices containing plaque disclosing agent. The sample was composed of 62 students from Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, aged 12 to 14 years old, divided into 3 groups: G1 or control group (toothbrushing without plaque disclosure); G2 (plaque disclosing with an erythrosine tablet and toothbrushing) and G3 (toothbrushing with dentifrice containing plaque disclosing agent). After toothbrushing, disclosure of the remaining dental plaque was performed in all groups with a fuchsin tablet and measured through the Simplified Oral Health Assessment Index (OHI-S), in two stages with a 2-month interval between them. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there was no difference in the OHI-S index between the groups (p>0.05), however the G3 displayed a higher proportion of students with plaque reduction (23%) than G2 (21%), besides the smallest difference in the mean remaining dental plaque. There was no difference between groups; however, it was suggested that the dentifrice with plaque disclosing agent had positive results in relation to the erythrosine tablet, even though the small sample size may have interfered with the results, indicating the need of complementary studies.

scholarly journals SURG-09. CHANGING PARADIGMS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CEREBRAL METASTASES

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi241-vi241
Author(s):  
Edvin Telemi ◽  
James Snyder ◽  
Ian Lee ◽  
Adam Robin
Keyword(s):  
Disease Progression ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Expectant Management ◽  
Initial Therapy ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Cerebral Metastases ◽  
Extracranial Disease ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Clinically Significant

Abstract INTRODUCTION Paradigms in the management of cerebral metastases (CM) are evolving, in part due to the expanded use of laser interstitial thermal therapy or LITT in lesion ablation, with treatment of CM comprising up to 34% of all LITT cases. Currently, CM are treated with LITT largely in the setting of disease progression after initial therapy with focused radiation with no standard for performing biopsy prior to LITT. In this study we aim to assess the significance of the pathology of the lesion at the time of LITT on survival. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of our institution’s LITT/brain tumor database and identified patients who underwent LITT with concurrent biopsy. For deceased patients, we identified cause of death if secondary to neurologic causes defined as death either due to direct intracranial disease progression leading to rapid neurologic decline or due to progressive neurologic decline without significant extracranial disease burden. RESULTS We identified 16 progressive CM lesions in 15 adults treated with LITT with concurrent biopsy, predominantly with non-small cell lung cancer. The mean age at LITT was 62, median follow-up was 8.5 months and thirteen of fifteen patients had previous focused radiation therapy. Eleven of sixteen lesions demonstrated radiation necrosis(RN) without tumor and 5 with tumor progression(TP). The mean survival in patients with RN was 548 days compared with 285 days in patients with TP (p=0.15). Of the 9 deceased, 2 of 5 patients with RN and 3 of 4 patients with TP died of neurologic causes. CONCLUSIONS Although statistically not significant due to the small sample size, this preliminary analysis suggests that clinically significant differences in survival and cause of death may exist between patients with RN and TP. Further evaluation with implications for treatment, prognosis and the expectant management of the patient with CM is warranted.

scholarly journals Comparison of two different doses of citicoline in patients with traumatic brain injury

2020 ◽  
pp. 8-15
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Head Injuries ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Traumatic Head ◽  
The Mean

Introduction: The ever-increasing and common occurrence of head traumas highlight the importance of adopting therapeutic measures for the reduction of the associated morbidity and mortality. Citicoline, as a safe medicine with positive effects on improving traumatic injuries, has been proven to be useful in various studies. However, there are still no data on the specific standard method and dosage of citicoline for the treatment of patients with traumatic head injuries. Regarding this, the present study was performed to determine the effective therapeutic dosage of citicoline and its impact on patients with traumatic head injuries. Methods: This double-blind clinical trial was performed on 30 patients with traumatic concussion (a Glasgow coma scale [GCS] of ≤8) admitted to the intensive care unit and neurosurgery department. The patients were randomly divided into three groups of A (control), B (citicoline with a dosage of 0.5 g/twice a day), and C (citicoline with a dosage of 1.5 g/twice a day). The GCS, degree of muscle strength, Glasgow outcome score (GOS), contusion volume, and cerebral edema (based on brain CT scans) were calculated at specific times and intervals. In addition, the patients' dependency on a ventilator and their length of ICU stay were registered. Results: Mean GCS on the first day of stay, GCS changes on the third and fourth days of stay, first and seventh days of stay, seventh and fourteenth days of stay, and first and fourteenth days of stay in the three study groups showed the significant statistical difference (P<0.05). Significant statistical differences were seen between the GOS of the 30th day of stay in the three study groups (P<0.05). The contusion volume difference was only significant between the first and seventh days of stay in groups A and C (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the mean length of stay in ICU and duration of dependency on a ventilator in the three study groups (P<0.05). The mean degree of muscle strength was only significantly different on the first day of stay between groups B and C (P=0.008). Conclusions: In contrary to similar studies, the results of the current study revealed that citicoline had no positive effect on patient healing. This result may be due to the small sample size and the inconsistent first-day GCSs of the patients in all three groups. Therefore, given the confirmation of the effectiveness of citicoline even at higher dosages in other studies in future studies, it is recommended to use populations with a larger number of patients.

scholarly journals The Association of ADRA2A Genotype with Dexmedetomidine Dosage in Pediatric Patients 

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwin Biju ◽  
Katherine A. Gallaway ◽  
Todd C. Skaar ◽  
Emma M. Tillman
Keyword(s):  
Effective Dose ◽  
Adrenergic Receptor ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Pediatric Intensive Care ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Critically Ill Children ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
Variant Genotype ◽  
The Mean

Background: Critically ill children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) often require sedation with dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenergic receptor (ADRA2A) agonist. In adults, evidence suggests an ADRA2A polymorphism (rs1800544) modulates the dexmedetomidine response. We hypothesize that pediatric patients with at least one wild-type allele (GG and GC) will require larger dexmedetomidine doses and a longer time to effective dose than patients with a variant genotype (CC). Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board (IRB). Patients in the PICU, 1 week through 25 years of age, and sedated with dexmedetomidine for ≥ 2 days were approached for enrollment. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood or saliva before genotyping for rs1800544 with a custom designed TaqMan® Assay on the QuantStudio 12K Flex platform. Patient genotype was determined using TaqMan® Genotyper software. Patient data were collected from the electronic medical record. Results: Sixty-five patients were enrolled and genotyped. Twenty-six patients were homozygous variant (CC), 27 heterozygous (GC), and 12 wildtype (GG) for rs1800544. The maximum dose (mcg/kg/hr) was 0.75 ± 0.31, and 0.78 ± 0.32, in patients with and without a G allele, respectively (p=0.65). The mean doses were 0.59 ± 0.22 and 0.58 ± 0.24 in patients with and without a G allele, respectively (p=0.85). The time to effective dose (hrs) was 5.8 ± 12.0 for patients with a G allele and 4.0 ± 8.2 for patients with no G allele (p=0.74).  Conclusion:  Our hypothesis that the CC genotype would require lower doses of dexmedetomidine was not confirmed. Patients without a G allele required lower dexmedetomidine dosage and a longer time to achieve an effective dose, but these findings were not significant. This could be due to the small sample size or clinical factors that affect pediatric sedation.  An adequately powered study could determine the association of ADRA2A genotype with dexmedetomidine. 

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