Yoxas/statistical_literacy huggingface dataset:
Previous studies have shown that, in samples of non-Western observers, susceptibility to the Ebbinghaus illusion is stronger in urban than rural dwellers. While such relationship between illusion strength and urbanicity has often been ascribed to external factors (such as the visual impact of the environment), the present study explored the possibility that it is instead mediated by general cognitive ability, an internal factor. We recruited a sample of remote Namibians who varied in their level of urbanicity, and measured their susceptibility to the Ebbinghaus illusion, their levels of education and literacy, and their general cognitive ability. The results showed that urbanicity was related to Ebbinghaus susceptibility, and that general cognitive ability, literacy and education did not mediate this effect, which is reassuring with regard to the findings of previous studies that did not control for these variables. However, we found robust relationships between urbanicity, on the one hand, and cognitive ability, education and literacy, on the other, which advocates for careful consideration of the impact of the latter variables in studies about the cognitive effects of urban environments.
Previous studies have suggested that experimental pain sensitivity is associated with cognitive function. The aim of this study is to assess this relationship in a large population-based sample. We included 5,753 participants (aged 40-84 years) from the seventh wave of the population-based Tromsø Study who had been examined with cognitive tests and experimental pain assessments, and for whom information on covariates were available. Cox regression models were fitted using standardized scores on cognitive tests (12-word immediate recall test, digit symbol coding test, and Mini-Mental State Examination [MMS-E]) as the independent variable and cold pressor or cuff pressure pain tolerance as the dependent variables. Statistical adjustment was made for putative confounders, namely, age, sex, education, smoking, exercise, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, symptoms indicating anxiety or depression, analgesic use, and chronic pain. In multivariate analysis, cold pressor tolerance time was significantly associated with test scores on the 12-word immediate recall test (hazard ratio [HR] 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90-0.97, p < 0.001), the digit symbol coding test (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-0.98, p = 0.004), and the MMS-E (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.96 p < 0.001). Tolerance to cuff pressure algometry was significantly associated with 12-word immediate recall (HR 0.94-0.97, p < 0.001) and Digit Symbol Coding test scores (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.96, p < 0.001) while there was no significant association with Mini Mental State Examination test score (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95-1.00, p = 0.082). Lower pain tolerance was associated with poorer performance on cognitive tests.
Previous studies have suggested that ischemic stroke can result in white matter fiber injury and modifications in the structural brain network. However, the relationship with balance function scores remains insufficiently explored. Therefore, this study aims to explore the alterations in the microstructural properties of brain white matter and the topological characteristics of the structural brain network in postischemic stroke patients and their potential correlations with balance function. We enrolled 21 postischemic stroke patients and 21 age, sex, and education-matched healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent balance function assessment and brain diffusion tensor imaging. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were used to compare the fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity of white matter fibers between the two groups. The white matter structural brain network was constructed based on the automated anatomical labeling atlas, and we conducted a graph theory-based analysis of its topological properties, including global network properties and local node properties. Additionally, the correlation between the significant structural differences and balance function score was analyzed. The TBSS results showed that in comparison to the HC, postischemic stroke patients exhibited extensive damage to their whole-brain white matter fiber tracts (P < 0.05). Graph theory analysis showed that in comparison to the HC, postischemic stroke patients exhibited statistically significant reductions in the values of global efficiency, local efficiency, and clustering coefficient, as well as an increase in characteristic path length (P < 0.05). In addition, the degree centrality and nodal efficiency of some nodes in postischemic stroke patients were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The white matter fibers of the entire brain in postischemic stroke patients are extensively damaged, and the topological properties of the structural brain network are altered, which are closely related to balance function. This study is helpful in further understanding the neural mechanism of balance function after ischemic stroke from the white matter fiber and structural brain network topological properties.
Previous studies involving ex-illiterate and young readers of alphabetic scripts have shown that processing of non-verbal visual stimuli may be affected by literacy, which is attributable to intensive perceptual training during reading acquisition. This study examined whether the characteristics of one's native writing system, with respect to visual complexity and overall shape of orthographic unit, would influence the processing of pictured objects using event-related potential (ERP) with linear mixed-effects modeling. Kanji and Hangul constitute an interesting contrast as they differ in visual complexity but are similar in orthographic shape. Neural responses to pictures were analyzed in N170 and N400 reflecting ease of recognition and access to semantic representation, respectively. Trilingual speakers with Japanese or Korean as L1, who learned to read Chinese and English as non-native languages, as well as native Chinese and native English readers participated in a repetition detection task in which mixed blocks of pictures and words (Chinese or English) were presented. The overall results showed bilaterally distributed N170 and N400, and group differences in the N400 were confined to the anterior region. More importantly, Japanese readers exhibited more negative N170 and less negative N400 than Korean participants regardless of language context. The present findings have provided insights into the possible impact of reading acquisition on non-linguistic visual processing, and suggest that one's early experience of a visually complex orthography has positive transfer to processing of line drawings in terms of more efficient visual recognition and semantic access.
Previous studies on attrition from MD-PhD programs have shown that students who self-identify as Black are more likely to withdraw before graduating than Hispanic students and students not from groups underrepresented in medicine (non-UIM). Here, we analyzed data collected for the National MD-PhD Program Outcomes Study, a national effort to track the careers of over 10,000 individuals who have graduated from MD-PhD programs over the past 60 years. On average, Black trainees took slightly longer to graduate, were less likely to choose careers in academia, and were more likely to enter nonacademic clinical practice; although, none of these differences were large. Black graduates were also more likely to choose careers in surgery or internal medicine, or entirely forego residency, and less likely to choose pediatrics, pathology, or neurology. Among those in academia, average research effort rates self-reported by Black, Hispanic, and non-UIM alumni were indistinguishable, as were rates of obtaining research grants and mentored training awards. However, the proportion of Black and Hispanic alumni who reported having NIH research grants was lower than that of non-UIM alumni, and the NIH career development to research project grant (K-to-R) conversion rate was lower for Black alumni. We propose that the reasons for these differences reflect experiences before, during, and after training and, therefore, conclude with action items that address each of these stages.
Previous studies reported possible connections between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and several neurodegenerative disorders. However, the comprehensive relationships between IBD and various neurodegenerative disorders were not summarized. We executed a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies to provide an estimate of the strength of the two-directional prospective association between IBD and neurodegenerative disorders. We accomplished a thorough bibliographic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases until June 2023 to locate relevant longitudinal studies. The extracted data were then analyzed via meta-analysis using either a fixed or random effects model. The final analysis encompassed 27 studies. Individuals with IBD faced an increased risk of developing four neurodegenerative disorders than the general public, namely, Alzheimer's disease (hazard ratio[HR] = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.77, P=0.031), dementia (HR =1.24, 95% CI: 1.13-1.36, P<0.001), multiple sclerosis (HR =2.07, 95% CI:1.42-3.02, P<0.001) and Parkinson's disease (HR =1.23, 95% CI:1.10-1.38, P<0.001). Two articles reported an increased incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or multiple system atrophy in IBD patients. Three studies investigated the prospective association between multiple sclerosis and IBD, revealing an elevated risk of the latter in patients with the former. (HR=1.87, 95% CI:1.66-2.10, P<0.001). These findings verified the two-directional relationship between the brain-gut axis, specifically demonstrating a heightened risk of various neurodegenerative diseases among IBD patients. It may be profitable to prepare screening strategies for IBD patients to find neurodegenerative diseases during the long-term course of treatment for IBD with a view to potential earlier diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, reducing public health and social burden. PROSPERO (CRD42023437553).
Previous studies reported that there were disparities in hypertension management among different ethnic groups, and this study aimed to systematically determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in multiple Chinese ethnic groups. We searched Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science for articles up to 25 October, 2022. The pooled prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The heterogeneity of estimates among studies was assessed by the Cochran Q test and I2 statistic. Meta-regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors influencing the heterogeneity of the pooled prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rate of hypertension. In total, 45 publications including 193,788 cases and 587,826 subjects were eligible for the analyses. The lowest prevalence was found in the Han group (27.0%), and the highest prevalence was in the Mongolian population (39.8%). The awareness rates ranged from 24.4% to 58.0% in the four ethnic groups. Both the highest treatment and control rates were found in the Mongolian population (50.6% and 16.0%, respectively), whereas the Yi group had the lowest control rate (8.0%). In addition, the study year, the mean age of subjects, mean body mass index of subjects, tobacco use (%), alcohol use (%), residence (urban%), and education (primary school%) had varied effects on heterogeneity. These findings highlight the disparities in prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in a different ethnic population of China, which could provide suggestions for making targeted prevention measures.
Previous studies suggest that paliperidone might show a better profile for social functioning and cognitive abilities than risperidone. We aimed to study whether switching from risperidone to paliperidone palmitate (PP) is associated with improved cognitive abilities at 3 or 6 months after the switch. Thirty-eight patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia were studied. All patients were treated with oral risperidone or risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) and had an indication to be switched to PP by their psychiatrists. Statistical analyses were conducted in a final sample of 27 patients who completed the follow-up visits. Three assessments were completed: 1) baseline (preswitch), 2) 3 months postswitch, and 3) 6 months postswitch. Social functioning at each visit was assessed with the Personal and Social Performance Scale. Cognitive assessment was conducted at each visit with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery. Statistical analyses were performed with R. Linear mixed models were used to explore longitudinal changes in social functioning and cognitive outcomes. PSP scores significantly improved over time after the switch from risperidone to PP. A sensitivity analysis found a significant negative interaction between time and PP maintenance doses (greater improvement in those patients receiving lower doses when compared to higher doses). Regarding longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning, patients improved in 6 out of 10 cognitive tasks involving processing speed, working memory, visual memory, reasoning and problem solving, and attention and vigilance. Our study suggests that switching from risperidone to PP in patients with schizophrenia is associated with an improvement in social functioning and cognitive performance.
Previous studies suggested either census-tract-level median household income (MHI) or median family income (MFI) estimates may be used as a unidimensional measure of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) in the United States (US). To better understand its general use, the purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of MHI and MFI in a wide range of geographic areas. Area-based socioeconomic data at the census tract level were obtained from the 2000 Census as well as the 2005-2009, 2010-2014, and 2015-2019 American Community Survey. MHI and MFI were used as two simple measures of neighborhood SES. Based on the five area-based indexes developed in the US, several census-tract-level socioeconomic indicators were used to derive five composite measures of neighborhood SES. Then, a series of correlation analyses was conducted to assess the relationships between these seven measures in the State of California and its seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Two simple measures were very strongly and positively correlated with one another, and were also strongly or very strongly correlated, either positively or negatively, with five composite measures. Hence, the results of this study support an analytical thinking that simple measures and composite measures may capture the same dimension of neighborhood SES in different geographic areas.
Previous systematic reviews have identified the benefits of exercise for chronic neck pain on subjective reports of pain, but not with objective measures such as quantitative sensory testing (QST). A systematic review was conducted to identify the effects of neck specific exercise on QST measures in adults with chronic neck pain to synthesise existing literature and provide clinical recommendations. The study protocol was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (PROSPERO CRD42021297383). For both randomised and non-randomised trials, the following databases and trial registries were searched: AMED, CINAHL, Embase, Google Scholar, Medline, PEDro, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index from Web of Science Core Collection, clinicaltrials.gov, GreyOpen, and ISRCTN registry. These searches were conducted from inception to February 2022 and were updated until September 2023. Reference lists of eligible studies were screened. Study selection was performed independently by two reviewers, with data extraction and quality appraisal completed by one reviewer and independently ratified by a second reviewer. Due to high heterogeneity, narrative synthesis was performed with results grouped by exercise type. Three trials were included. Risk of bias was rated as moderate and the certainty of evidence as low or moderate for all studies. All exercise groups demonstrated statistically significant improvement at an intermediate-term follow-up, with progressive resistance training combined with graded physical training demonstrating the highest certainty of evidence. Fixed resistance training demonstrated statistically significant improvement in QST measures at a short-term assessment. Fixed resistance training is effective for short-term changes in pain sensitivity based on low-quality evidence, whilst moderate-quality evidence supports progressive resistance training combined with graded physical training for intermediate-term changes in pain sensitivity.
Previous work has shown that adults in the United States process fractions and decimals in distinctly different ways, both in tasks requiring magnitude judgments and in tasks requiring mathematical reasoning. In particular, fractions and decimals are preferentially used to model discrete and continuous entities, respectively. The current study tested whether similar alignments between the format of rational numbers and quantitative ontology hold for Korean college students, who differ from American students in educational background, overall mathematical proficiency, language, and measurement conventions. A textbook analysis and the results of five experiments revealed that the alignments found in the United States were replicated in South Korea. The present study provides strong evidence for the existence of a natural alignment between entity type and the format of rational numbers. This alignment, and other processing differences between fractions and decimals, cannot be attributed to the specifics of education, language, and measurement units, which differ greatly between the United States and South Korea.
Primary aldosteronism is a natural model for chronic aldosterone excess in humans and associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Cognitive deficits are inherent to the symptomatology of depression and anxiety disorders. Mineralocorticoid receptors and aldosterone appear to play a role in memory. Aldosterone was additionally supposed to be a risk factor for cognitive decline in patients with essential hypertension. The objective of this study was to investigate possible effects of chronically high aldosterone concentrations on cognitive function. A range of cognitive dimensions were assessed in 19 patients (9 males, 10 females); mean age 47.1 (12.5) under standardized treatment and several rating scales for anxiety, depression, quality of life and sleep were administered. Cognitive parameters were compared to standard norms from a large, healthy standardization sample. Patients showed increased levels of anxiety and depression without meeting diagnostic criteria for a disorder. Besides a numerically lower attention score, patients did not show any significant differences in the cognitive dimensions. Anxiety and depression were negatively correlated with quantitative performance in males. In females, a negative correlation between sleep disturbances and abstract reasoning and a positive correlation with quantitative performance were found. Our data showed no specific effect of chronic aldosterone in the tested cognitive parameters overall at least in younger patients, but they indicate sexually dimorphic regulation processes.
Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare vasculitis restricted to the brain, spinal cord, and leptomeninges. This study aimed to describe the imaging characteristics of patients with small vessel PACNS (SV-PACNS) using 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This ongoing prospective observational cohort study included patients who met the Calabrese and Mallek criteria and underwent 7 T MRI scan. The MRI protocol includes T1-weighted magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo imaging, T2 star weighted imaging, and susceptibility-weighted imaging. Two experienced readers independently reviewed the neuroimages. Clinical data were extracted from the electronic patient records. The findings were then applied to a cohort of patients with large vessel central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis. We included 21 patients with SV-PACNS from December 2021 to November 2023. Of these, 12 (57.14%) had cerebral cortical microhemorrhages with atrophy. The pattern with microhemorrhages was described in detail based on the gradient echo sequence, leading to the identification of what we have termed the "coral-like sign." The onset age of patients with coral-like sign (33.83 ± 9.93 years) appeared younger than that of patients without coral-like sign (42.11 ± 14.18 years) (P = 0.131). Furthermore, the cerebral lesions in patients with cortical microhemorrhagic SV-PACNS showed greater propensity toward bilateral lesions (P = 0.03). The coral-like sign was not observed in patients with large vessel CNS vasculitis. The key characteristics of the coral-like sign represent cerebral cortical diffuse microhemorrhages with atrophy, which may be an important MRI pattern of SV-PACNS. ANN NEUROL 2024.
Primary antibodies are one of the main tools used in molecular biology research. However, the often-occurring cross-reactivity of primary antibodies complicates accurate data analysis. Our results show that three commercial polyclonal antibodies raised against N-6 adenine-specific DNA methyltransferase 1 (N6AMT1) strongly cross-react with endogenous and recombinant mitosis-associated protein Aurora kinase A (AURKA). The cross-reactivity was verified through immunofluorescence, immunoblot, and immunoprecipitation assays combined with mass spectrometry. N6AMT1 and AURKA are evolutionarily conserved proteins that are vital for cellular processes. Both proteins share the motif ENNPEE, which is unique to only these two proteins. We suggest that N6AMT1 antibodies recognise this motif in N6AMT1 and AURKA proteins and exhibit an example of "specific" non-specificity. This serves as an example of the importance of controls and critical data interpretation in molecular biology research.
Primary brain tumors (PBTs) are uncommon, but they significantly increase the risk of disability and death. There is a deficiency of data concerning the epidemiology and anatomical distribution of PBTs among adults in Palestine. A retrospective descriptive study in which data were collected from the clinical reports of Palestinian patients diagnosed with PBTs at Al-Makassed Hospital during the period (2018-2023). In Palestinian adolescents and adults, the incidence rate of PBTs was 3.92 per 100,000 person-years. Glioblastoma (18.8%) was the most common type identified, and it was more common in males. Non-malignant tumors were more common than malignant tumors (2.41 vs. 1.52 per 100,000). The mortality rate from PBTs was 4.8%. The most common initial symptom was headaches, and it occurred more with non-malignant tumors (57.28% vs. 42.72%, p-value < 0.001). Cerebral meninges (26.3%) were the most common location for primary brain tumors (p-value < 0.001). This is the first study of primary brain tumor epidemiology in Palestine. The overall incidence of PBTs in Palestinian adolescents and adults was 3.96 per 100,000, which was lower than the incidence rate of primary brain tumors worldwide. More studies on the epidemiology and distribution of PBTs in Palestine are recommended.