scholarly journals Mathematical learning deficits originate in early childhood from atypical development of a frontoparietal brain network

PLoS Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. e3001407
Author(s):  
Ulrike Kuhl ◽  
Sarah Sobotta ◽  
Michael A. Skeide ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Functional Activity ◽  
Posterior Parietal Cortex ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Structural Connectivity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Learning Deficits ◽  
Mathematical Learning ◽  
Atypical Development ◽  
The Right

Mathematical learning deficits are defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder (dyscalculia) in the International Classification of Diseases. It is not known, however, how such deficits emerge in the course of early brain development. Here, we conducted functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments in 3- to 6-year-old children without formal mathematical learning experience. We followed this sample until the age of 7 to 9 years, identified individuals who developed deficits, and matched them to a typically developing control group using comprehensive behavioral assessments. Multivariate pattern classification distinguished future cases from controls with up to 87% accuracy based on the regional functional activity of the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC), the network-level functional activity of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and the effective functional and structural connectivity of these regions. Our results indicate that mathematical learning deficits originate from atypical development of a frontoparietal network that is already detectable in early childhood.

The Role of the Right Posterior Parietal Cortex in Letter Migration between Words

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Cazzoli ◽  
René M. Müri ◽  
Christopher Kennard ◽  
Clive R. Rosenthal
Keyword(s):  
Parietal Cortex ◽  
Posterior Parietal Cortex ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
Letter Position ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Letter Position Coding ◽  
Posterior Parietal ◽  
The Right

When briefly presented with pairs of words, skilled readers can sometimes report words with migrated letters (e.g., they report hunt when presented with the words hint and hurt). This and other letter migration phenomena have been often used to investigate factors that influence reading such as letter position coding. However, the neural basis of letter migration is poorly understood. Previous evidence has implicated the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in processing visuospatial attributes and lexical properties during word reading. The aim of this study was to assess this putative role by combining an inhibitory TMS protocol with a letter migration paradigm, which was designed to examine the contributions of visuospatial attributes and lexical factors. Temporary interference with the right PPC led to three specific effects on letter migration. First, the number of letter migrations was significantly increased only in the group with active stimulation (vs. a sham stimulation group or a control group without stimulation), and there was no significant effect on other error types. Second, this effect occurred only when letter migration could result in a meaningful word (migration vs. control context). Third, the effect of active stimulation on the number of letter migrations was lateralized to target words presented on the left. Our study thus demonstrates that the right PPC plays a specific and causal role in the phenomenon of letter migration. The nature of this role cannot be explained solely in terms of visuospatial attention, rather it involves an interplay between visuospatial attentional and word reading-specific factors.

scholarly journals Distribution of Visual and Oculomotor Alterations in a Clinical Population of Children with and without Neurodevelopmental Disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 351
Author(s):  
Carmen Bilbao ◽  
David Pablo Piñero
Keyword(s):  
Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽  
Developmental Coordination Disorder ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Etiologic Factor ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Lower Amplitude ◽  
The Right

A prospective, non-randomized comparative study was conducted to compare the distribution of oculomotor and visual alterations in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and healthy children without such disorders. Sixty-nine children (aged 6–13 years) were enrolled and divided into three groups: a control group (CG) of 23 healthy children; a group of 18 healthy children with oculomotor abnormalities (OAG); and a group of 28 children with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDDG), with 15 cases of dyslexia, 7 cases of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and 6 cases of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Significantly worse near stereopsis was found in NDDG compared with CG (p < 0.001) and OAG (p = 0.001). Likewise, a significantly lower amplitude of accommodation was found in NDDG compared with CG in both the right (p = 0.001) and left eyes (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences between groups were found in the measurement of near and distance phoria (p ≥ 0.557), near point of convergence (p = 0.700) and fusional vergences (p ≥ 0.059). Significantly impaired oculomotor test scores were found in NDDG compared with CG (p < 0.001), with no significant differences between OAG and NDDG (p ≥ 0.063). The comparison between the three types of neurodevelopmental disorders included revealed the presence of a significantly lower amplitude of accommodation in children with DCD compared with dyslexics. Furthermore, less exophoria at near was present in children with dyslexia compared with children with ADHD (p = 0.018) and DCD (p = 0.054). In conclusion, children with dyslexia, ADHD and DCD show an altered oculomotor pattern and a more reduced amplitude of accommodation, not always compatible with the diagnostic criteria of an accommodative insufficiency. Accommodative and binocular vision problems are not always present in these children and cannot be considered an etiologic factor.

Correlation of Metabolic Risk Factors with Sessile Serrated Lesions

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-179
Author(s):  
Melania Macarie ◽  
Simona Bataga ◽  
Simona Mocan ◽  
Monica Pantea ◽  
Razvan Opaschi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Interval Cancer ◽  
Metabolic Risk Factors ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Anatomical Site ◽  
Metabolic Risk ◽  
Right Colon ◽  
Serrated Lesions ◽  
The Right

Background and Aims: The importance of sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma has been recently established. These are supposed to cause the so-called “interval cancer”, having a rapidly progressive growth and being difficult to detect and to obtain an endoscopic complete resection. We aimed to establish the most important metabolic risk factors for sessile serrated lesions. Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study, on a series of 2918 consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Târgu-Mureș, Romania between 1 st of January 2015-31 th of December 2017. In order to evaluate the metabolic risk factors for polyps’ development, enrolled participants were stratified in two groups, a study group, 33 patients with SSLs lesions, and a control group, 138 patients with adenomatous polyps, selected by systematic sampling for age and anatomical site. Independent variables investigated were: gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, arterial hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia, nonalcoholic liver disease. Results: For SSLs the most common encountered localization was the right colon in 30.55% of cases. By comparative bivariate analysis between SSLs group and control group, it was observed that hypertension (p=0.03, OR 2.33, 95 %CI 1.03-5.24), obesity (p=0.03, OR 2.61, 95 %CI 1.08-6.30), hyperuricemia (p=0.04, OR 2.72, 95 %CI 1.28-7.55), high cholesterol (p=0.002, OR 3.42; 95 %CI 1.48-7.87), and high triglycerides level (p=0.0006, OR 5.75; 95 %CI 1.92-17.2) were statistically associated with SSLs development. By multivariate analysis hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia retained statistical significance. Conclusions: Our study showed that the highest prevalence of SSLs was in the right colon and hypertension and increased triglycerides levels were associated with the risk of SSLs development. These risk factors are easy to detect in clinical practice and may help identifying groups with high risk for colorectal cancer, where screening is recommended.

Early Predictive Biochemical, Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Markers for Cardiac Damage in Patients with Pulmonic Silicosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venera Cristina Dinescu ◽  
Ileana Puiu ◽  
Sorin Nicolae Dinescu ◽  
Diana Rodica Tudorascu ◽  
Elena Catalina Bica ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Disease ◽  
Right Ventricle ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cardiac Damage ◽  
Right Heart ◽  
Pulmonary Heart Disease ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Echocardiographic Parameters ◽  
The Right ◽  
Chronic Pulmonary Heart Disease

The aim of this study was to identify correlations between electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes in patients with silicosis prior to the occurrence of chronic pulmonary heart disease. We conducted a prospective, descriptive, analytical study, in which we included a group of 67 patients consecutively admitted to the Health Promotion and Occupational Medicine Clinic between December 2016 and January 2018, aged 47 to 78 years.There was a biochemical and electrocardiographic evaluation for each patient as well as a right ventricle echocardiographic evaluation (diameters, volumes, function). A control group, including 25 patients with benign minor diseases that required a cardiologist consultation, was also used. From the electrocardiographic point of view, slight changes were observed regarding the waves of electrical activity of the right ventricle. Taking into account the degree of ventilatory dysfunction (depending on FEV1), changes in right heart echocardiographic parameters were identified. Thus, in what the most important right ventricular parameters, including the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) or the RV index of myocardial performance (RVMPI) were concerned, values at the upper limit of normality were recorded in most patients with moderate and severe ventilatory dysfunction. Values of echocardiographic parameters of the right heart at the upper limit of normality, correlated with the degree of ventilatory dysfunction, are early markers for cardiovascular damage in patients with pulmonary silicosis prior to the occurrence of chronic pulmonary heart disease also known ascor pulmonale.

Evaluation of Ovaries in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome using Shear Wave Elastography

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 578-583
Author(s):  
Aysegul Altunkeser ◽  
Zeynep Ozturk Inal ◽  
Nahide Baran
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Shear Wave Elastography ◽  
Left Ovary ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tissue Elasticity ◽  
Group I ◽  
Pcos Group ◽  
The Right

Background: Shear wave electrography (SWE) is a novel non-invasive imaging technique which demonstrate tissue elasticity. Recent research evaluating the elasticity properties of normal and pathological tissues emphasize the diagnostic importance of this technique. Aims: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized by menstrual irregularity, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic overgrowth, may cause infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the elasticity of ovaries in patients with PCOS using SWE. Methods: 66 patients diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria (PCOS = group I) and 72 patients with non-PCOS (Control = group II), were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were recorded. Ovarian elasticity was assessed in all patients with SWE, and speed values were obtained from the ovaries. The elasticity of the ovaries was compared between the two groups. Results: While there were statistically significant differences between the groups in body mass index (BMI), right and left ovarian volumes, luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels (p<0.05), no significant differences were found between groups I and II in the velocity (for the right ovary 3.89±1.81 vs. 2.93±0.72, p=0.301; for the left ovary 2.88±0.65 vs. 2.95±0.80, p=0.577) and elastography (for the right ovary 36.62±17.78 vs. 36.79±14.32, p=0.3952; for the left ovary 36.56±14.15 vs. 36.26±15.10, p=0.903) values, respectively. Conclusion: We could not obtain different velocity and elastography values from the ovaries of the patients with PCOS using SWE. Therefore, further large-scale studies are needed to elucidate this issue.

scholarly journals Hand Preference and Performance in Basketball Tasks

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (22) ◽  
pp. 4336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuela Gualdi-Russo ◽  
Natascia Rinaldo ◽  
Alba Pasini ◽  
Luciana Zaccagni
Keyword(s):  
Professional Training ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Hand Preference ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Right

The aims of this study were to develop and validate an instrument to quantitatively assess the handedness of basketballers in basketball tasks (Basketball Handedness Inventory, BaHI) and to compare it with their handedness in daily activities by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI). The participants were 111 basketballers and 40 controls. All subjects completed the EHI and only basketballers filled in the BaHI. To validate the BaHI, a voluntary subsample of basketballers repeated the BaHI. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor model. Our results show that: (i) Handedness score (R) in daily actions did not differ between basketball players (R by EHI = 69.3 ± 44.6) and the control group (R by EHI = 64.5 ± 58.6); (ii) basketballers more frequently favored performing certain sport tasks with the left hand or mixed hands (as highlighted by R by BaHI = 50.1 ± 47.1), although their choice was primarily the right hand in everyday gestures; and (iii) this preference was especially true for athletes at the highest levels of performance (R by BaHI of A1 league = 38.6 ± 58.3) and for those playing in selected roles (point guard’s R = 29.4 ± 67.4). Our findings suggest that professional training induces handedness changes in basketball tasks. The BaHI provides a valid and reliable measure of the skilled hand in basketball. This will allow coaches to assess mastery of the ball according to the hand used by the athlete in the different tasks and roles.

scholarly journals Systematic Underreproduction of Time Is Independent of Judgment Certainty

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Riemer ◽  
Darren Rhodes ◽  
Thomas Wolbers
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Posterior Parietal Cortex ◽  
Judgment Bias ◽  
Time Discrimination ◽  
Temporal Intervals ◽  
Neuronal Processes ◽  
Posterior Parietal ◽  
Temporal Stimuli ◽  
The Right ◽  
Temporal Judgments

We recently proposed that systematic underreproduction of time is caused by a general judgment bias towards earlier responses, instead of reflecting a genuine misperception of temporal intervals. Here we tested whether this bias can be explained by the uncertainty associated with temporal judgments. We applied transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to inhibit neuronal processes in the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and tested its effects on time discrimination and reproduction tasks. The results show increased certainty for discriminative time judgments after PPC inhibition. They suggest that the right PPC plays an inhibitory role for time perception, possibly by mediating the multisensory integration between temporal stimuli and other quantities. Importantly, this increased judgment certainty had no influence on the degree of temporal underreproduction. We conclude that the systematic underreproduction of time is not caused by uncertainty for temporal judgments.

scholarly journals Elevated Expression of SLC6A4 Encoding the Serotonin Transporter (SERT) in Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Mathis Hildonen ◽  
Amanda M. Levy ◽  
Christina Dahl ◽  
Victoria A. Bjerregaard ◽  
Lisbeth Birk Møller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tourette Syndrome ◽  
Serotonin Transporter ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Elevated Expression ◽  
Gene Expression Levels

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. Most of the GTS individuals have comorbid diagnoses, of which obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the most common. Several neurotransmitter systems have been implicated in disease pathogenesis, and amongst these, the dopaminergic and the serotonergic pathways are the most widely studied. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene (SLC6A4) was differentially expressed among GTS individuals compared to healthy controls, and whether DNA variants (the SERT-linked polymorphic region 5-HTTLPR, together with the associated rs25531 and rs25532 variants, and the rare Ile425Val variant) or promoter methylation of SLC6A4 were associated with gene expression levels or with the presence of OCD as comorbidity. We observed that SLC6A4 expression is upregulated in GTS individuals compared to controls. Although no specific genotype, allele or haplotype was overrepresented in GTS individuals compared to controls, we observed that the LAC/LAC genotype of the 5-HTTLPR/rs25531/rs25532 three-locus haplotype was associated with higher SLC6A4 mRNA expression levels in GTS individuals, but not in the control group.

scholarly journals Protocol for a family-centered behavioral intervention to reduce early childhood caries: the MySmileBuddy program efficacy trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christie L. Lumsden ◽  
Burton L. Edelstein ◽  
Charles E. Basch ◽  
Randi L. Wolf ◽  
Pamela A. Koch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Behavioral Intervention ◽  
Early Childhood Caries ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Causal Pathways ◽  
Family Centered ◽  
Childhood Caries

Abstract Background Although largely preventable through diet management and topical fluoride use, early childhood caries (ECC) often progresses to severity that necessitates surgical repair. Yet repair often fails to mitigate caries progression. Needed is an effective behavioral intervention to address underlying behavioral causes. Methods This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the efficacy of a behaviorally focused, family-centered intervention, the MySmileBuddy Program (MSB Program), to reduce ECC progression in high-risk preschoolers in New York City. Recruitment will target 858 children ages 24–71 months with ECC and their parents from primary care medical and dental clinics. The study aims to assess the MSB Program’s efficacy to: (1) decrease ECC progression measured 12-months post-randomization; and (2) enhance adoption of a low cariogenic diet and twice-daily fluoridated toothpaste use compared to control group. Potential causal pathways (mediators and moderators) will be explored. The MSB Program equips community health workers (CHWs) with an app that facilitates multilevel risk assessment and provides motivational interviewing-based counseling to inform parents about the caries process, develop personalized goals, and create family-level action plans to achieve targeted behaviors. Social support from CHWs (4 interactions during the 6-month intervention, supplemented by up to 4 in-person/remote contacts throughout the 12-month study period, based on need) is bolstered by automated text messages. Participants will be randomized to a Control Group (paper-based educational handout plus toothbrushes and fluoridated toothpaste for the child) or Intervention Group (MSB Program, two tooth-brushing observations with feedback and instruction, and toothbrushes and toothpaste for the entire family). All children will receive visual ICDAS dental examinations and parents will complete study measures at baseline and 12-months. An incentive up to $150 plus round-trip transit cards ($5.50 value) will be provided. Discussion This study hypothesizes that the MSB Program can reduce ECC progression in a high-risk population. Sufficient incentives and a focus on establishing rapport between participants and CHWs are anticipated to mitigate recruitment and retention challenges. If successful, this study will advance the long-term goal of reducing pediatric oral health disparities by demonstrating the efficacy of an acceptable and feasible intervention that shifts attention from dental repair to behavioral risk mitigation. Trial registration: Trial registration was completed on 4/13/2021 through the U.S. National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov website (Identifier: NCT04845594).

The Effect of Reflexology on Lactation in Women Who Had Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sevde Aksu ◽  
Pelin Palas Karaca
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cesarean Section ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Breast Pain ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Right ◽  
Documentation Tool ◽  
And Control

<b><i>Aim:</i></b> The research was conducted as a randomized controlled pilot study to evaluate the effects of reflexology on lactation in mothers who delivered by cesarean section (CS). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A single-blind randomized controlled experimental study was conducted with a total of 60 postpartum women in the reflexology application (<i>n</i> = 30) and control groups (<i>n</i> = 30). After the CS, the mothers in the control group were given approximately 3-h routine nursing care after recovering from the effects of anesthesia; the introductory information form was applied, and the Breastfeeding Charting System and Documentation Tool (LATCH) and visual analog scale (VAS) for the signs of the onset of lactation were implemented on the first and second days. Reflexology was applied to the women in the intervention group after an average of 3 h following the mother’s condition had become stable and she had recovered from the effects of anesthesia. Reflexology was applied a total of 20 min – 10 min for the right foot, 10 min for the left foot – twice a day with 8-h intervals on the first and second days after CS. After the last reflexology application, the LATCH and VAS for the signs of the onset of lactation were applied. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of the women, 70% breastfed their babies within 60 min after delivery; 46.7% of the mothers received breastfeeding training and 81.7% needed support for breastfeeding after the CS. The LATCH breastfeeding scores of the women in the intervention group on both days were significantly higher compared to those of the women in the control group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). On the first day after the CS, apart from breast pain, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of breast heat and breast tension (<i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). On the second day after the CS, apart from breast tension, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of breast heat and breast pain (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). In the study, women in the intervention group were found to have higher scores in terms of all three symptoms compared to the control group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> In the study, it was determined that LATCH scores and signs of the onset of breastfeeding increased in the mothers who received reflexology after CS.

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