scholarly journals Timed Up-and-Go Dual-Task Testing in the Assessment of Cognitive Function: A Mixed Methods Observational Study for Development of the UDDGait Protocol

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ylva Cedervall ◽  
Anna M. Stenberg ◽  
Hanna B. Åhman ◽  
Vilmantas Giedraitis ◽  
Fredrik Tinmark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Study Protocol ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Clinical Implementation ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Final Study ◽  
Standing Up ◽  
Study Participants

New methods to screen for and identify early-stage dementia disorders are highly sought after. The purpose of this pilot study is to develop a study protocol for a dual-task test aimed at aiding the early detection of dementia disorders. We used the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test, which is a mobility task involving starting in a sitting position, standing up, walking three meters to cross a line on the floor, turning around, walking back and sitting down again. We combined TUG with the verbal task of naming different animals. Pilot study participants were 43 individuals with and without established dementia diagnoses who attended a clinic for memory assessment. Video-recorded test performances were systematically analysed. Deviant test performances concerning the interplay between test administration and participants’ responses to the assessment instructions were revealed and led to refinements being made to the final study protocol. Exploration of the dual-task test outcome measures in a sub-sample of 22 persons, ten with and twelve without dementia, indicated that step-length and number of named animals after the turning point of the dual-task test might constitute appropriate measures for examining this kind of sample. We concluded that the refined study protocol is feasible for testing individuals undergoing initial memory assessments and healthy controls. Follow-up studies with larger samples are being carried out and will bring new knowledge to this area of research. It may also provide an opportunity for further studies exploring possibilities for broad clinical implementation.

The efficacy of cognitive-cycling dual-task training in patients with early-stage Parkinson’s disease: A pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-426
Author(s):  
Hsiu-Chen Chang ◽  
Chiung-Chu Chen ◽  
Yi-Hsin Weng ◽  
Wei-Da Chiou ◽  
Ya-Ju Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Freezing Of Gait ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Gait Performance ◽  
The Mean

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that cognitive-motor dual-task (DT) training might improve gait performance, locomotion automaticity, balance, and cognition in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the efficacy of cognitive-cycling DT training in patients with early-stage PD. METHODS: Participants were scheduled to perform cognitive tasks simultaneously with the cycling training twice per week for eight weeks for a total of 16 sessions during their on-states. Clinical assessments were conducted using the unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS), modified Hoehn and Yahr stage, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, gait and cognitive performances under dual-task paradigm, the new freezing of gait questionnaire, Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living scale, 39-item Parkinson’s disease questionnaire, and cognitive performance. RESULTS: Thirteen eligible patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 60.64±5.32 years, and the mean disease duration was 7.02±3.23 years. Twelve PD patients completed 16 serial cognitive-cycling sessions for two months. After 16 sessions of training (T2), the UPDRS III scores improved significantly in both the off- and on-states, and TUG were significantly less than those at pretraining (T0). During both the single-task and the DT situations, gait performance and spatial memory cognitive performance significantly improved from T0 to T2. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that cognitive-cycling DT training improves the motor functions, gait and cognitive performances of PD patients.

scholarly journals Dual-task tests discriminate between dementia, mild cognitive impairment, subjective cognitive impairment, and healthy controls – a cross-sectional cohort study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna B. Åhman ◽  
Ylva Cedervall ◽  
Lena Kilander ◽  
Vilmantas Giedraitis ◽  
Lars Berglund ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Background Discrimination between early-stage dementia and other cognitive impairment diagnoses is central to enable appropriate interventions. Previous studies indicate that dual-task testing may be useful in such differentiation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether dual-task test outcomes discriminate between groups of individuals with dementia disorder, mild cognitive impairment, subjective cognitive impairment, and healthy controls. Methods A total of 464 individuals (mean age 71 years, 47% women) were included in the study, of which 298 were patients undergoing memory assessment and 166 were cognitively healthy controls. Patients were grouped according to the diagnosis received: dementia disorder, mild cognitive impairment, or subjective cognitive impairment. Data collection included participants’ demographic characteristics. The patients’ cognitive test results and diagnoses were collected from their medical records. Healthy controls underwent the same cognitive tests as the patients. The mobility test Timed Up-and-Go (TUG single-task) and two dual-task tests including TUG (TUGdt) were carried out: TUGdt naming animals and TUGdt months backwards. The outcomes registered were: time scores for TUG single-task and both TUGdt tests, TUGdt costs (relative time difference between TUG single-task and TUGdt), number of different animals named, number of months recited in correct order, number of animals per 10 s, and number of months per 10 s. Logistic regression models examined associations between TUG outcomes pairwise between groups. Results The TUGdt outcomes “animals/10 s” and “months/10 s” discriminated significantly (p < 0.001) between individuals with an early-stage dementia diagnosis, mild cognitive impairment, subjective cognitive impairment, and healthy controls. The TUGdt outcome “animals/10 s” showed an odds ratio of 3.3 (95% confidence interval 2.0–5.4) for the groups dementia disorders vs. mild cognitive impairment. TUGdt cost outcomes, however, did not discriminate between any of the groups. Conclusions The novel TUGdt outcomes “words per time unit”, i.e. “animals/10 s” and “months/10 s”, demonstrate high levels of discrimination between all investigated groups. Thus, the TUGdt tests in the current study could be useful as complementary tools in diagnostic assessments. Future studies will be focused on the predictive value of TUGdt outcomes concerning dementia risk for individuals with mild cognitive impairment or subjective cognitive impairment.

scholarly journals The Effects of Dog Walking on Gait and Mobility in People with Parkinson Disease: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1549
Author(s):  
Suzanne O’Neal ◽  
Megan Eikenberry ◽  
Byron Russell
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Parkinson Disease ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Gait Velocity ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Dog Walking ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Stance Time ◽  
Base Of Support

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of dog walking on gait and mobility in people with Parkinson disease (PD). This single-group, single-session, observational pilot study included nineteen participants with PD in Hoehn and Yahr stages II (n = 9) and III (n = 10). Primary measures were a gait analysis and the Timed Up and Go (TUG). Three trials of two conditions (walking with and without a dog) were completed. Walking with a dog resulted in slower gait velocity (mean difference = 0.11 m/s, p = 0.003, d = 0.77), shorter step length (left: mean difference = 7.11 cm, p = 0.000; right: mean difference = 3.05, p = 0.01), and stride length (left: mean difference = 7.52, p = 0.003; right: mean difference = 8.74, p = 0.001). The base of support was more narrowed (Z = −2.13, p = 0.03), with increased double limb stance time (left: Z = −2.89, p = 0.004; right: Z = −2.59, p = 0.01). Walking with a dog caused slower TUG times (mean difference = −1.67, p = 0.000) and increased number of steps (Z = −3.73, p = 0.000). No significant change shown in step time (left: mean difference = −0.001, p = 0.81; right: mean difference = 0.002, p = 0.77) or cadence (Z = −1.67, p = 0.10). In conclusion, there was an overall decline of gait parameters in people with PD when walking with a dog.

scholarly journals Pilot study for the evaluation and adaptation of a Four Item-Acne-Scar Risk Assessment Tool (4-ASRAT): a resource to estimate the risk of acne-induced scars

F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 651
Author(s):  
Jorge Estrella Porter ◽  
Mikaela Camacho ◽  
María Isabel Viteri ◽  
Katherine Aguilar ◽  
Drifa Belhadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Study Protocol ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Risk Assessment Tool ◽  
Acne Scar ◽  
Acne Scars ◽  
Final Study ◽  
Different Populations

Background: Acne-induced scarring is associated with a similar burden as acne, i.e. diminished quality of life, and may be avoided if patients receive appropriate and timely acne treatment. In 2017, a four item-Acne-Scar Risk Assessment Tool (4-ASRAT) was designed by Tan et al. to categorise patients with acne into lower-risk or higher-risk for acne scarring. Its applicability outside the initial study population (France, Brazil and United States) remains to be determined.  Methods: A study protocol was developed to create a systematic approach for validating and adapting 4-ASRAT to different populations, Ecuador in this case. The protocol was reviewed by 11 local and international dermatologists and pilot-tested in an Ecuadorian population using a sample of 10 participants who currently had or had had acne. Feedback from the pilot study was used to improve the study protocol. The results of the pilot study are included here, and the final study protocol is available as extended data.  Results: The protocol proved to be applicable. Images taken of participants were a valuable resource for dermatological evaluation about the presence or absence of acne scars. Tangential light is necessary for this evaluation. Although dermatological assessments varied, we concluded that assessment by three local dermatologists for each participant was adequate for reaching a consensus on the presence or absence of acne scars.   Conclusions: Considering the morbidity related to acne and acne scars, tools designed as prevention that alert patients about risk of developing scarring are necessary. The proposed protocol shows a feasible way of validating and adapting 4-ASRAT to different populations.

scholarly journals Symptom-based early-stage differentiation between SARS-CoV-2 versus other respiratory tract infections—Upper Silesia pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Mika ◽  
Joanna Tobiasz ◽  
Joanna Zyla ◽  
Anna Papiez ◽  
Małgorzata Bach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Body Temperature ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Project Data ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Infection Stage

AbstractIn the DECODE project, data were collected from 3,114 surveys filled by symptomatic patients RT-qPCR tested for SARS-CoV-2 in a single university centre in March-September 2020. The population demonstrated balanced sex and age with 759 SARS-CoV-2( +) patients. The most discriminative symptoms in SARS-CoV-2( +) patients at early infection stage were loss of taste/smell (OR = 3.33, p < 0.0001), body temperature above 38℃ (OR = 1.67, p < 0.0001), muscle aches (OR = 1.30, p = 0.0242), headache (OR = 1.27, p = 0.0405), cough (OR = 1.26, p = 0.0477). Dyspnea was more often reported among SARS-CoV-2(-) (OR = 0.55, p < 0.0001). Cough and dyspnea were 3.5 times more frequent among SARS-CoV-2(-) (OR = 0.28, p < 0.0001). Co-occurrence of cough, muscle aches, headache, loss of taste/smell (OR = 4.72, p = 0.0015) appeared significant, although co-occurrence of two symptoms only, cough and loss of smell or taste, means OR = 2.49 (p < 0.0001). Temperature > 38℃ with cough was most frequent in men (20%), while loss of taste/smell with cough in women (17%). For younger people, taste/smell impairment is sufficient to characterise infection, whereas in older patients co-occurrence of fever and cough is necessary. The presented study objectifies the single symptoms and interactions significance in COVID-19 diagnoses and demonstrates diverse symptomatology in patient groups.

scholarly journals Structural and functional radiomics for lung cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangyao Wu ◽  
Arthur Jochems ◽  
Turkey Refaee ◽  
Abdalla Ibrahim ◽  
Chenggong Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Treatment Strategy ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Clinical Implementation ◽  
Early Stage Lung Cancer ◽  
Treatment Response Evaluation ◽  
Advanced Stage Lung Cancer ◽  
Stage Lung Cancer

Abstract Introduction Lung cancer ranks second in new cancer cases and first in cancer-related deaths worldwide. Precision medicine is working on altering treatment approaches and improving outcomes in this patient population. Radiological images are a powerful non-invasive tool in the screening and diagnosis of early-stage lung cancer, treatment strategy support, prognosis assessment, and follow-up for advanced-stage lung cancer. Recently, radiological features have evolved from solely semantic to include (handcrafted and deep) radiomic features. Radiomics entails the extraction and analysis of quantitative features from medical images using mathematical and machine learning methods to explore possible ties with biology and clinical outcomes. Methods Here, we outline the latest applications of both structural and functional radiomics in detection, diagnosis, and prediction of pathology, gene mutation, treatment strategy, follow-up, treatment response evaluation, and prognosis in the field of lung cancer. Conclusion The major drawbacks of radiomics are the lack of large datasets with high-quality data, standardization of methodology, the black-box nature of deep learning, and reproducibility. The prerequisite for the clinical implementation of radiomics is that these limitations are addressed. Future directions include a safer and more efficient model-training mode, merge multi-modality images, and combined multi-discipline or multi-omics to form “Medomics.”

scholarly journals Patterns of Sequelae in Women with a History of Localized Breast Cancer: Results from the French VICAN Survey

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1161
Author(s):  
Lidia Delrieu ◽  
Liacine Bouaoun ◽  
Douae El Fatouhi ◽  
Elise Dumas ◽  
Anne-Deborah Bouhnik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Current Analysis ◽  
Functional Pain ◽  
Cognitive Sequelae ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Changes Over Time

Breast cancer (BC) remains complex for women both physically and psychologically. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the evolution of the main sequelae and treatment two and five years after diagnosis in women with early-stage breast cancer, (2) explore patterns of sequelae associated with given sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. The current analysis was based on 654 localized BC patients enrolled in the French nationwide longitudinal survey “vie après cancer” VICAN (January–June 2010). Information about study participants was collected at enrollment, two and five years after diagnosis. Changes over time of the main sequelae were analyzed and latent class analysis was performed to identify patterns of sequelae related to BC five years after diagnosis. The mean age (±SD) of study participants at inclusion was 49.7 (±10.5) years old. Six main classes of sequelae were identified two years and five years post-diagnosis (functional, pain, esthetic, fatigue, psychological, and gynecological). A significant decrease was observed for fatigue (p = 0.03) and an increase in cognitive sequelae was reported (p = 0.03). Two latent classes were identified—functional and esthetic patterns. Substantial sequelae remain up to five years after BC diagnosis. Changes in patient care pathways are needed to identify BC patients at a high risk.

scholarly journals Preferences for everyday living inventory (PELI): study protocol for piloting a culture-sensitive and setting-specific translated instrument in German care settings (PELI-D)

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e030268
Author(s):  
Tobias Ingo Stacke ◽  
Johannes Michael Bergmann ◽  
Armin Michael Ströbel ◽  
René Müller-Widmer ◽  
Daniel Purwins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Older People ◽  
Study Protocol ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Care Process ◽  
Internal Quality ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Individual Preferences ◽  
Need Of Care ◽  
Everyday Living

IntroductionRegardless of the healthcare setting, person-centred care and its implementation in caring for older people are a central issue for those who are responsible as professional caregivers and for those in need of care within the care process. Both aspects encompass the possibility of recognising personal preferences. To provide person-centred care, professional caregivers need to know about the individual preferences of the persons being cared for. Therefore, the PELI (an acronym for ‘Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory’) instrument was developed at the Polisher Research Institute (USA) for the systematic recording of individual preferences of older people in need of care. There is currently no comparable instrument available in the German language.MethodsAs part of the proposed project PELI-D, all versions of the original PELI instrument (nursing home version) were (1) culture-sensitively translated into German and will be (2) examined in a pilot study for their reliability, feasibility and practicability. For the project PELI-D, we worked together with our practice partners in Germany (Diaconia and Caritas in North Rhine-Westphalia) and collaborated with our partners in the USA who developed the PELI instrument. This study protocol focuses on the pilot study, which will be conducted by the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (site Witten).Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the internal quality control committee of the DZNE (ID number: WI029 PELI-D) and by the ethics committee of the German Society of Nursing Science Duisburg branch office (ID number: 18-010). All personal information will be deidentified with a specific identification code and stored in a secured location apart from the rest of the study data. Only qualified and study-related staff will be allowed access to the data. The results of the study will be distributed nationally and internationally through peer-reviewed journals, conferences and journals for nursing care practice.

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