bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
B - 90 Need for Cognition Results in Greater Persistence on Fluid Intelligence Tests
Authors: Ikonomou Vasilios C , Wagaman Bailey , Myers Melissa A , Campbell Ivan , Hawley Nanako A , Pizer Jasmin H , Asencio-Ortiz Paola , Foster Joshua , Hill Benjamin D
Published: October 2023

Objective

We evaluated reaction time (RT) as a mediator of the relation between the trait Need for Cognition (NFC) and Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM).

Methods

174 undergraduate students (M = 20 years old, SD = 1.5; 74.1% female) completed the 18 item NFC questionnaire and RAPM as part of a larger battery. RAPM mean RT (RMRT) was calculated in msec.

Results

Overall total effect between NFC and RAPM total score was significant [F(2,146) = 44.04; p < 0.001; r2 = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.05, 0.18] when not accounting for the effect of the mediator for RT. RMRT demonstrated a significant indirect effect on RAPM total score [B = 0.11; t(148) = 4.34; p < 0.001; 95% CI = 0.09, 0.24]. Results indicate that the direct effect of NFC and RAPM was significant [B = 0.23; t(148) = 3.42; p < 0.001; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.19] when controlling for the mediator of RT, which shows a partially mediated effect.

Conclusions

RT partially mediates the relationship between NFC and RAPM performance. This is the first demonstration that high NFC improves performance on fluid intelligence tests at least partly by high NFC individuals persevering longer on test items. As NFC and RAPM are still correlated after including RT as a mediator, test persistence is not solely responsible for this direct relationship. Future research needs to determine additional variables that account for the relation between NFC and RAPM.
B - 96 Assessing the Factor Structure of Social Connectedness and its Psychopathological Correlates
Authors: Nabulsi Yasmin B , McClellan Marnee , Milam Alicia , Haschke Katelyn , Debb Scott
Published: October 2023

Objective

Since COVID-19, social isolation has become increasingly prevalent, impacting neurocognitive, physical, and psychological health. Assessment of psychological functioning involves gauging levels of social dysfunction, particularly ones that capture psychopathological correlates. The current study aimed to explore the factor structure of the Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) as well as the predictive nature of depression and anhedonia on factor loadings of the SCS. Past studies established the SCS as a one-factor scale, however, social disconnection is observed in individuals with various pathologies, suggesting a multifaceted nature to this construct.

Method

A university population (N = 383) was given the SCS, the Revised-Social Anhedonia Scale-Short Form (RSAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-2) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).

Results

An exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation and maximum likelihood extraction yielded three factors explaining 60% of the variance. Factor 1 (factor loadings between 0.48 and 0.78) reflected overall feelings of disconnection from the world, and 35% of the variance. Factor two (factor loadings between 0.57 and 0.78) contributed 16% of the variance, measuring closeness with friends and family. Factor three (factor loadings between 0.61and 0.69) explained 6% of the variance, measuring stranger adaptability. A hierarchical linear regression show RSAS and BDI predicting more variance for factor 1 (R2 = 0.43) than factor 2 (R2 = 0.31) or factor 3 (R2 = 0.17), all ps < 0.01.

Discussion

These results did not replicate a one-factor structure similar to past studies, supporting a multidimensional and complex nature of social connection. Measurement of social connection dimensions may be particularly relevant to assessment of individuals with mixed neuropsychological and psychopathological features.
B - 99 The Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury on Empathy and Quality of Life
Authors: Pek Nicholas J
Published: October 2023

Objective

The focus of this present research was to investigate the relationship between empathy and quality of life in individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI.

Method

Individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI between ages 18 and 65 (Nf39) completed the Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) and Empathy Quotient (EQ).

Results

Performance on the EQ was correlated with QOLIBRI (r(1,37) = 0.398, p = 0.012). Based on their EQ scores, the participants were divided into three groups: below-average empathy (N = 9), average empathy (N = 16), and above average empathy (N = 14). There was a statistically significant difference in the total QOLIBRI scores across the three empathy groups (F (2, 36) = 5.037, p = 0.012). Post-hoc analysis, indicated those with lower EQ scores also reported lower QOLIBRI scores.

Conclusion(s)

This work provides evidence that those with low empathy may have a worse quality of life after brain injury relative to those with higher levels of empathy. Understanding the relationship between empathy and quality of life for individuals with brain injury can inform professionals where to target interventions such that improvements in empathy may also increase quality of life.
B - 103 Early Onset Frontotemporal Dementia: a Neuropsychological Case Study
Authors: Greco Steven , Sica Robert , Sawhney Jasmin , Rastogi Amisha
Published: October 2023

Objectives

A neuropsychological case review of Early-Onset Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) utilizing the Meyers Neuropsychological Battery (MNB). FTD is a degeneration of brain nerve cells resulting in behavioral deterioration and other effects upon personality and brain functions. Due to early onset of FTD, diagnostic ambiguity is often the case. The current case was a patient referred by neurology to rule-out adult ADHD/LD.

Methods

The patient is a 51-year-old, Caucasian, right-handed male. Initially, his symptoms were sleep changes, anxiety, reduced attention concentration, and memory. The medical community indicated the possibility of an undiagnosed ADHD condition. MRI and EEG of the brain revealed an arachnoid cyst and focal slowing in the left temporal region. In addition, asymmetric enlargement of the left Sylvian fissure and brain parenchyma were noted.

Results

MNB neurocognitive findings were diffuse and revealed lateralized motor impairments in primary and psychomotor abilities. MNB Premorbid Estimate (T-48), OTBM (T-31), and DTBM (T-27) were comparatively significant. Psychological findings were consistent with an anxiety disorder.

Conclusion

Contrary to the medical community diagnostic initial impression, ADHD was ruled out. MNB revealed a pattern of findings consistent with a neurodegenerative condition (FTD, Cor. = 0.74, Conf. = 0.80). This study highlights the importance of administering a full thorough neuropsychological examination rather than assessing the patient’s complaints of “reduced attention concentration.” FTD is statistically increasing, hence the importance to fully evaluate across the lifespan, especially in consideration to early onset FTD.
B - 106 Case Illustration of an Adolescent with Nonverbal Learning Disability and Mosaic Turner Syndrome: Neuropsychological and Personality Assessment
Authors: Soomro Amal , Schwartz Eliezer
Published: October 2023

Objective

Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD) is a controversial diagnosis which continues to lack an agreed upon diagnostic taxonomy despite its long existence and overlap with other disorders. NLD is considered a dysfunction of the right hemisphere with neuropsychological, academic, and social–emotional/adaptation deficits along with poor motor coordination. This case study reviews an adolescent diagnosed with NLD and Mosaic Turner Syndrome (MTS) and discusses challenges encountered to emphasize importance of an early diagnostic accuracy and the effect of developmental conditions.

Methods

A 17-year-old female presented for neuropsychological evaluation for a mental health diagnosis and possible academic accommodations. Chief complaints included lifelong functionally interfering difficulties with attention, organization, and emotional and social functioning. Medical history was significant for MTS.

Results

The patient’s VCI was in the high-average range (VCI = 114), while her PSI was in the low-average range (PSI = 81). She demonstrated high-average to average visual–spatial, construction abilities, and language skills, while performance ranged low-average for perceptual-motor processing and processing speed. Performance on delayed visual-graphic figures was significantly weaker compared to her superior performance on verbal memory for meaningful information. Finally, her delayed visual-graphic was significantly impaired compared to her general performance visual–spatial and construction abilities.

Conclusion

The constellation of symptoms reported by the patient, combined with the results of neuropsychological assessment, was highly congruent with prototypical nonverbal learning disability, except for difficulties in mathematical skills. This case demonstrates the importance of proper diagnosis during childhood, the role of neuropsychological evaluation in specific learning disability (SLD) assessment, and lasting effects of a developmental condition on adult functioning.
H - 02 Unveiling the Effects of Bilingualism on Autobiographical Memory in Hispanics: Implications for Cognitive Aging
Authors: Acevedo-Molina Mónica , Deffner Austin , Hernandez Daniel , Grilli Matthew D
Published: October 2023

Objective

Episodic autobiographical memory (EAM) may be particularly sensitive to age-related cognitive decline and risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Virtually nothing is known about EAM specificity in Hispanic individuals. Bilingualism is a cognitive factor that may influence EAM specificity among Hispanics. The present study aimed to 1) examine if EAM is sensitive to age in Hispanics and 2) reveal whether bilingualism influences EAM specificity in Hispanics.

Methods

A sample of 150 young and middle-aged/older adults (50 English-Spanish bilingual Hispanics; 50 monolingual English-speaking Hispanics; 50 monolingual English speaking Non-Hispanic Whites) narrated EAMs using the established Autobiographical Interview (Levine et al., 2002). Using the scoring protocol of the Autobiographical Interview, we evaluated the narratives for episodic and non-episodic detail.

Results

We replicated the often-found age-related reduction in episodic detail generation in Hispanics. Bilingual Hispanics’ memories were more episodically specific than monolingual Hispanics and Non-Hispanic Whites. We also found that, among bilingual Hispanics, the language used at encoding versus language used at memory retrieval was not associated with episodic specificity.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that episodic autobiographical memory is sensitive to age and bilingualism in Hispanics, making it a culturally appropriate cognitive measure among this population.
H - 21 ¿Habla Español? Increasing Access to Clinical and Educational Materials for Non-English Speakers
Authors: Caicedo Mariana Rincon , Gordon Chandra , Punt Stephanie E , Schuttler Jessica
Published: October 2023

Objective

Effective communication is an essential factor in successful health care delivery. However, Hispanic-Americans, many of whom are non-English speakers, face disparities related to a lack of multilingual providers and resources in their preferred language. The goal of this quality improvement project was to increase access to clinical and educational materials for non-English speakers at an outpatient pediatric clinic.

Method

A survey assessing the availability of bi- or multilingual providers and staff as well as Spanish materials utilized by providers was disseminated to all staff working at the Pediatrics Department, including the Division of Developmental/Behavioral Sciences, of an academic medical center. Participants uploaded resources they use to assist in the development of a departmental repository of Spanish materials.

Results

Data was collected November 2022–January 2023. Sixty-five participants completed the survey with 28% speaking Spanish, and 23% reporting they provide health care services in Spanish. Forty-six different kinds of resources were identified, and eight were uploaded and compiled into a repository with the goal of being distributed across the department to be used by providers and staff.

Conclusions

Although valuable work has been done to develop culturally-appropriate materials in Spanish for health care use, the availability and use of these resources appears to be limited. Building an infrastructure for sharing these materials department-wide, and broader within healthcare systems is essential. Further research is needed to understand the cultural appropriateness of health-related materials translated into Spanish, and in developing guidelines for the translation and adaptation of materials for a growing culturally-diverse patient population.
H - 30 California Surveillance of Mental Health Disparities in Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): a Randomized & Representative Sample
Authors: Ignacio Daniel , Degeneffe Charles , Serpas Dylan G , Clay Kiana , Liu Yingying , Berges Victoria , Shinoda Katie
Published: October 2023

Objective

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a silent public health epidemic that begins as a medical condition (“neurometabolic cascade”) that may develop into significant psychiatric symptoms that negatively impact community reintegration for survivors following injury (“neuropsychosocial cascade”). However, survivors may not seek medical attention for a variety of reasons (e.g., anosognosia, fear of retaliation, no insurance). Therefore, medical incidence does not necessarily reflect the community prevalence of TBI.

Method

The California Department of Rehabilitation, the Department of Public Health, and the State Survey Panel collected data from a randomized and representative sample of Californians (N = 1057) using three probability-based techniques, such that every Californian registered with the United States postal service had a non-zero chance of being selected. Respondents were evaluated using psychometrically established methods for screening history and symptoms of TBI.

Results

California rates of community prevalence ranged between 15% (estimated 4.2 million Californians) and 42%, depending on the definition of TBI used, highlighting significant disparities in operationalization. These rates were compared to the annual medical rates (< 1%) derived from the California Department of Public Health (2016–2020).

Conclusions

This study revealed significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and neurocognitive disorders over three decades, on average, relative to the general California population: illustrating a disease process. Neuropsychiatric disparities were associated with dysfunctional community reintegration (e.g., home insecurity, justice system involvements, employment instability).
H - 32 Elevated Neurobehavioral Symptoms Detected in Greater Lifetime Subconcussive Exposure Frequency in Spanish-Speakers
Authors: Krch Denise , Lequerica Anthony , Arango-Lasprilla Juan Carlos , Corrigan John
Published: October 2023

Objective

To examine whether individuals who have had one exposure to lifetime subconcussive impacts differ from those who have had multiple subconcussive exposures or those who have never had any injury to the head or neck in their report of neurobehavioral symptoms.

Method

458 adults from the continental U.S., Spain, and Latin America participated in an online survey that included the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method Self- Administered-Brief (OSU TBI-ID SAB), which assesses lifetime exposure to Traumatic Brain Injury, and the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), a measure of symptoms commonly observed after head injury. Questions from the OSU TBI-ID SAB allow for categorization of a No Exposure group, and Single and Multiple Subconcussive Exposure groups. General linear models were fitted with NSI scores as the dependent variable and the exposure groups as the independent variable. Sex, current age, and other central nervous system compromise were covariates.

Results

A significant Group difference with small effect size was found F(2,452) = 9.3, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.40. The Multiple Exposure group scored significantly higher on the NSI versus the Single Exposure (p = 0.004) and No Exposure (p < 0.001) groups. The Single Exposure group did not differ significantly from the No Exposure group (p = 0.084).

Conclusions

The Spanish OSU TBI-ID SAB is sensitive to differentiating cumulative subconcussive exposures from those with only one subconcussive exposure and those with none. These data support the feasibility of deriving a subconcussive exposure index from the OSU TBI-ID SAB, and also provide preliminary justification for inclusion of a neurobehavioral symptom measure in subconcussive research and clinical practice.
H - 37 Impact of Barriers to Healthcare Access on Cognition and Accelerated Brain Aging in Diverse Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: Preliminary Pilot Data
Authors: Román Cristina A F , DeLuca John
Published: October 2023

Objective

Racially/ethnically diverse persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) have worse outcomes than their white counterparts. Barriers to healthcare access may contribute to these disparities, though much remains unknown. The current pilot study investigates the impact of barriers to healthcare on cognition and accelerated brain aging in diverse pwMS. We hypothesize that greater barriers to healthcare will be associated with poorer cognitive performance and increased brain aging.

Method

Eighteen middle-aged pwMS (40–60 years) were included. Barriers to healthcare access was evaluated using total and subscale (skills, marginalization, expectations, knowledge, and pragmatics) scores of the modified Barriers to Care Questionnaire. Cognition was measured using raw scores from the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), and California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II). Accelerated brain aging was calculated by subtracting chronological age from predicted brain age based on the brainageR paradigm.

Results

Given established directional hypotheses, one tailed correlations were conducted. Greater marginalization-related barriers to healthcare were associated with poorer performance on the SDMT (r = −0.409, p = 0.046). Greater knowledge-based barriers to healthcare were associated with increased brain aging (r = −0.615, p = 0.004). Lastly, brain age was significantly related to immediate (r = −0.653, p = 0.003) and delayed (r = −0.549, p = 0.014) visual memory, such that increased brain age was associated with poorer visual memory.

Conclusion

To the authors’ knowledge, this is among the first studies to examine the impact of barriers to healthcare on cognition and brain health in diverse pwMS. It demonstrates the importance of sociocultural determinants when examining outcomes in MS. This work has implications for culturally informed research and clinical care.
H - 45 Preliminary Teleneuropsychological Normative Data for the Mini Mental State Examination for Puerto Rican Adults
Authors: Roman Carolina Fernanda Serrano , Zambrana Bonaparte Hjalmar M , Irizarry Walter Rodriguez
Published: October 2023

Objective

Established guidelines for teleneuropsychology (TeleNP) indicate that normative studies are warranted for future regular use of TeleNP practice (Bilder et al., 2020). Consequently, this study aims to explore the impact of demographic factors to provide preliminary normative data for the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) via TeleNP for Spanish-speaking Puerto Ricans.

Method

A TeleNP version of the MMSE was administered as part of a larger neuropsychological battery to 102 cognitively healthy Puerto Ricans (69% female) between 55–78 years old, 4–23 years of education (Age: M = 63.2, SD = 6.1; Education: M = 16.3, SD = 3.5) and residing on the island. A thorough neurological/psychiatric history and the CERAD Wordlist were used to exclude (< 2 SD; 1 removed case) any dementia-suspicious case. Multiple regression analysis was used to clarify if age, education, or sex significantly predicted MMSE total score. Normative data was generated and stratified by statistically significant demographics. Frequency of the most missed item was reviewed.

Results

Age and education explained 26% of the variance of the MMSE score (p < 0.001). The total sample had an average raw score of M = 29.08 (SD = 1.16). Normative scores are presented according to age and education level. Most frequently missed item was delayed recall (35%; ≤2/3).

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary normative data for cognitively healthy and community-dwelling Puerto Rican adults, which can improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce rates of false negatives while providing clinicians a TeleNP-appropriate screening tool. Future research with the MMSE via TeleNP should include a larger sample, including a clinical population.
H - 46 The Importance of Cultural Context and Colonialism in the Bilingual Neurocognitive Advantage Debate: a Systematic Literary Review
Authors: Velo Samantha G
Published: October 2023

Using an adaptation of the PRISMA checklist, this interdisciplinary systematic literary review synthesizes forty peer-reviewed research papers and neuropsychological theoretical publications about the bilingual cognitive advantage debate. The objectives of this study were to (1) analyze the neurocognitive and methodological discussion behind bilingualism studies, and (2) explore how a better understanding of cultural context and colonialism can help contribute to the bilingual cognitive advantage debate. Research with quantitative and qualitative designs were considered, as long as they studied the bilingual population (regardless of what languages the participants knew or their age). Although most papers were from the field of cognitive neurosciences, articles from different scientific disciplines were considered for analysis. Results showed that there doesn’t appear to be a consensus on bilinguals holding a significant cognitive advantage over monolinguals, yet some studies found that bilinguals had higher scores in inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. While bilinguals show an increase in grey matter and activity in areas of the frontal lobe, the precise mechanisms of control between languages have yet to be identified. However, most of these studies did not have diverse samples and showed methodological discrepancies when measuring bilingualism. Although heritage language of immigrated people is a known factor in this area of study, linguistic cultural sensibilities of colonized lands haven’t been properly assessed in the cognitive advantage debate. Based on these findings, a research proposal and scale regarding executive functioning and the perceptions of Puerto Rican bilingualism are in development.
H - 58 Medical Competency and Translational Fallouts: a Need for Advocacy for Ethnic Minorities
Authors: Gomez Jazmin , Miranda Michelle , Arias Franchesca
Published: October 2023

Objective

Despite a growing ethnically and linguistically diverse population, the medical system in the U.S. continues to lack the cultural sensitivity needed to provide patients from underrepresented groups with culturally relevant care. This case study of a 32-year-old Mexican woman, by the pseudo name of Ella, will be reviewed to describe her family’s journey through the medical system. Ella was referred for neuropsychological testing to determine medical capacity for kidney transplant. She’s an example of how our health care system has inadequately adapted to our diversification and how lower literacy and disempowerment has led to misinformed ideas about illness and higher risk of health complications.

Method

This case study will review Ella’s medical, developmental, and psychosocial history, will illustrate the important considerations relevant to providing culturally, ethically, and linguistically informed neuropsychological and medical evaluations.

Results

Through neuropsychological testing, Ella was diagnosed with a severe intellectual disability, solidifying that she doesn’t have the capacity to make medical decisions. Her mother, a monolingual Spanish speaker, bringing another daughter as she’s the only fluent English speaker in the family. After having her kidney transplant surgery halted due to an allergic reaction, Ella’s life is at risk due to translational fallouts in communication between Ella’s providers and family, and misinformation regarding her medical diagnoses and treatments.

Conclusions

Advocacy for a healthcare system that adapts to language, lower health literacy, socioeconomic/legal statuses will ensure that our ethnic minorities are informed of their medical conditions and management, and receive the lifesaving care they need, when the need it.
H - 59 The Utility of Neuropsychology in the U.S. Naturalization Process: an Unexplored Opportunity in Multicultural Practice, Training, and Advocacy
Authors: Greth Zach , Judd Tedd , Lafo Jacob
Published: October 2023

Objective

This project reviewed literature related to evaluating U.S. citizenship applicants seeking exemption from the naturalization exams due to cognitive and/or psychological impairment. U.S. Naturalization rates are rising, and neuropsychologists are especially qualified to conduct evaluations to determine eligibility for test waiver. Exploring this topic may contribute to improvements in service provision and advocacy for citizenship applicants, a historically underserved group.

Data Selection

Data extraction occurred in April of 2023. Sources derived from The Clinical Neuropsychologist, PsycNet, Google Scholar, and Widener University’s library database. Search phrases combined “neuropsychology” with (1) “U.S. citizenship tests,” (2) “U.S. citizenship exemption,” and (3) “Form N-648.” Result pages one through five were examined, and any source referencing “neuropsychology” and “citizenship,” “exemption,” “Form N-648,” “U.S. citizens,” “U.S. citizenship,” and/or “waiver” was selected.

Data Synthesis

Ten scholarly articles, two book chapters, two presentations, and one poster abstract fit the above criteria for review. Information was limited to brief statements about naturalization and acknowledgment that test exemption exists, and case illustrations where exemption was considered. However, none of the results provided specific strategies to help guide neuropsychologists who are less familiar with this process, but still called upon to evaluate and determine eligibility for test waiver.

Conclusions

There is a marked absence of neuropsychology literature regarding assessment for exemption from the U.S. citizenship exams. Given the socioeconomic benefits afforded with naturalization, this absence seems to represent a gap in the field. Future research and collaboration with allied networks may pose a novel way to broaden neuropsychology’s relevance and optimize services for citizenship applicants.
H - 61 Towards a Clinical-Cultural Neuropsychological Science: a Case Study of a Bilingual Spanish-Speaker with Untreated Sleep–Wake Disturbance
Authors: Hernandez-Vallant Alexandra , Decruz-Dixon Naila , Burks Alexis , Edwards Katie , Gillezeau Christina , Mullins Teagan , Schodt Kaitlyn , Shendo Macaiah , Abrams-Silva Lynette
Published: October 2023

Objective

Access to neuropsychological services for bilingual individuals remains limited and more research is needed to clarify benefits of testing in both languages. Additionally, certain disorders remain underdiagnosed in the Hispanic/Latinx population. This case study describes the use of a comprehensive culturally and linguistically appropriate neuropsychological evaluation to leverage linguistic, cognitive, and social context to assist with establishing needed care and diagnostic clarity.

Method

The patient was a 40-year-old right-handed Spanish-bilingual Hispanic male community-referred to rule out attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He learned English at the age of 4. History was remarkable for parasomnias in childhood, sleep disturbance, multiple closed head injuries, cannabis use, and chronic pain. He completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery with measures in both Spanish and English.

Results

Cognitive findings revealed deficits in verbal memory, variable executive functioning, and better performances in English relative to Spanish. Findings from the evaluation supported a diagnosis of mild neurocognitive disorder secondary to untreated sleep–wake disturbance. Recommendations included reasonable occupational accommodations, sleep study, pain management, brief psychotherapy to address sleep hygiene, and re-evaluation in one year. Following the evaluation, the patient received 6-sessions of a highly structured treatment for insomnia and is no longer endorsing clinically significant levels of sleep disturbance.

Conclusion

Sleep–wake disorders are underdiagnosed among Hispanic/Latinxs, and these disorders can manifest with similar symptoms to ADHD. Without culturally and linguistically appropriate services, the likelihood of misdiagnosis and issues of access to treatment will persist. Importantly, the present evaluation was able to identify cognitive and linguistic strengths and weaknesses to best direct referral needs.
H - 65 Clinical Evidence for an Age-Dependent Relationship between Kawasaki Disease and Cognition in a Latinx/e Girl
Authors: Oleas Denise , Weiss Erica , McGinley John , Bronshteyn Diana , Stimmel Marnina , Facchini Ronda
Published: October 2023

Objective

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed countries (e.g., Japan, U.S.). Rare in the U.S., the systemic, acute inflammation condition with typical symptoms of a fever, cervical lymphadenopathy, conjunctivitis, extremity changes, and exanthema, can cause long term post-inflammatory neurological and emotional changes. Cognitive deficits (e.g., ADHD) can emerge post-KD but the literature is equivocal and to-date there are no U.S. studies. We report the case of an 11-year-old Latinx/e girl to expand knowledge of KD-related cognitive changes.

Method

Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of an 11-year-old with KD diagnosed in early childhood and hemiplegic migraines, academic difficulties and emotional intolerance.

Results

Overall ability was within the low average range with significant negative impact of slow processing speed. Academic assessment demonstrated moderate impairment in reading, and mild math impairment. Memory, expressive/receptive language, visuospatial, and psychomotor abilities were within expectation. Variable complex attention, impulsivity, inattention, and poor self-monitoring were evident. Mild anxiety was reported. Resulting diagnoses of ADHD, and Reading Disorder were offered.

Conclusions

KD may produce inflammation in the brain and neurological changes which may lead to later cognitive impairment. This 11-year-old Latinx/e girl’s cognitive profile supports recent literature suggesting KD-related cognitive difficulties likely develop between 5-10 yrs after KD diagnosis and reinforces the need for longitudinal research. Furthermore, it expands the literature regarding the neuropsychological effects of KD on cognitive functioning in Latinx/e children in the U.S as to date most research has focused on children of Asian-descent.
PGE2 functions in ovoviviparous teleost black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii): evolutionary status between parturition and ovulation
Authors: Lyu Likang , Wen Haishen , Li Yun , Wang Xiaojie , Li Jianshuang , Zuo Chenpeng , Yan Shaojing , Qi Xin
Published: October 2023

Fish have evolved various reproductive strategies including oviparity, viviparity, and ovoviviparity, which undoubtedly affect the survival of the whole species continuity. As the final step in reproduction, parturition in viviparous vertebrate and ovulation in oviparous teleost seem to share a similar mechanism, when prostaglandins (PGs) act as the trigger to launch the whole process. In the present study, ovoviviparous teleost black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) is employed as the research object. Intraperitoneal injection showed that PGE2 (500 μg/kg) could activate the delivery reactions in perinatal black rockfish. RNA-seq data of ovary in perinatal period revealed transcriptional change in cell junction, inflammation, and apoptosis, which is related to mammal parturition and teleost ovulation. Further results proved the positive correlation between ptger EP2 and previous mentioned pathways. Subsequent experiment proved that PGE2 was able to induce the ovulation and spawning in unfertilized individuals, which had a bilayer follicular structure compared to monolayer follicular in perinatal period black rockfish. Both unfertilized and perinatal ovary matrix could response to PGE2 stimulation. In conclusion, the function of PGE2 in activating both parturition and ovulation in a relatively different pathways conserved with viviparity or oviparity provided novel evidence of the evolutionary status of ovoviviparous vertebrates.
Improved fMRI-based pain prediction using Bayesian group-wise functional registration
Authors: Wang Guoqing , Datta Abhirup , Lindquist Martin A
Published: October 2023

In recent years, the field of neuroimaging has undergone a paradigm shift, moving away from the traditional brain mapping approach towards the development of integrated, multivariate brain models that can predict categories of mental events. However, large interindividual differences in both brain anatomy and functional localization after standard anatomical alignment remain a major limitation in performing this type of analysis, as it leads to feature misalignment across subjects in subsequent predictive models. This article addresses this problem by developing and validating a new computational technique for reducing misalignment across individuals in functional brain systems by spatially transforming each subject’s functional data to a common latent template map. Our proposed Bayesian functional group-wise registration approach allows us to assess differences in brain function across subjects and individual differences in activation topology. We achieve the probabilistic registration with inverse-consistency by utilizing the generalized Bayes framework with a loss function for the symmetric group-wise registration. It models the latent template with a Gaussian process, which helps capture spatial features in the template, producing a more precise estimation. We evaluate the method in simulation studies and apply it to data from an fMRI study of thermal pain, with the goal of using functional brain activity to predict physical pain. We find that the proposed approach allows for improved prediction of reported pain scores over conventional approaches.

Received on 2 January 2017. Editorial decision on 8 June 2021
Gathering Over Heterogeneous Meeting Nodes
Authors: Chakraborty Abhinav , Bhagat Subhash , Mukhopadhyaya Krishnendu
Published: October 2023

We consider two finite and disjoint sets of homogeneous robots deployed at the nodes of an infinite grid graph. The grid graph also comprises two finite and disjoint sets of prefixed meeting nodes located over the nodes of the grid. The objective of our study is to design a distributed algorithm that gathers all the robots belonging to the first team at one of the meeting nodes belonging to the first type, and all the robots in the second team must gather at one of the meeting nodes belonging to the second type. The robots can distinguish between the two types of meeting nodes. However, a robot cannot identify its team members. This paper assumes the strongest adversarial model, namely the asynchronous scheduler. We have characterized all the initial configurations for which the gathering problem is unsolvable. For the remaining initial configurations, the paper proposes a distributed gathering algorithm. Assuming the robots are capable of global-weak multiplicity detection, the proposed algorithm solves the problem within a finite time period. The algorithm runs in $\Theta (dn)$ moves and $O(dn)$ epochs, where $d$ is the diameter of the minimum enclosing rectangle of all the robots and meeting nodes in the initial configuration, and $n$ is the total number of robots in the system.
Coronary calcification in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes: insights from the MATRIX trial
Authors: Sanz-Sanchez Jorge , Garcia-Garcia Hector M , Branca Mattia , Frigoli Enrico , Leonardi Sergio , Gagnor Andrea , Calabrò Paolo , Garducci Stefano , Rubartelli Paolo , Briguori Carlo , Andò Giuseppe , Repetto Alessandra , Limbruno Ugo , Garbo Roberto , Sganzerla Paolo , Russo Filippo , Lupi Alessandro , Cortese Bernardo , Ausiello Arturo , Ierna Salvatore , Esposito Giovanni , Santarelli Andrea , Sardella Gennaro , Varbella Fernando , Tresoldi Simone , de Cesare Nicoletta , Rigattieri Stefano , Zingarelli Antonio , Tosi Paolo , van ‘t Hof Arnoud , Boccuzzi Giacomo , Omerovic Elmir , Sabaté Manel , Heg Dik , Vranckx Pascal , Valgimigli Marco
Published: October 2023

Aims

The role of coronary calcification on clinical outcomes among different revascularization strategies in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) has been rarely investigated. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate the role of coronary calcification, detected by coronary angiography, in the whole spectrum of patients presenting with acute ACS.

Methods and results

The present study was a post hoc analysis of the MATRIX programme. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as the composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke up to 365 days. Among the 8404 patients randomized in the MATRIX trial, data about coronary calcification were available in 7446 (88.6%) and therefore were included in this post hoc analysis. Overall, 875 patients (11.7%) presented with severe coronary calcification, while 6571 patients (88.3%) did not present severe coronary calcification on coronary angiography. Fewer patients with severe coronary calcification underwent percutaneous coronary intervention whereas coronary artery bypass grafting or medical therapy-only was more frequent compared with patients without severe calcification. At 1-year follow-up, MACE occurred in 237 (27.1%) patients with severe calcified coronary lesions and 985 (15%) patients without severe coronary calcified lesions [hazard ratio (HR) 1.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.66–2.20, P < 0.001]. All-cause mortality was 8.6% in patients presenting with and 3.7% in those without severe coronary calcification (HR 2.38, 1.84–3.09, P < 0.001). Patients with severe coronary calcification incurred higher rate of MI (20.1% vs. 11.5%, HR 1.81; 95% CI 1.53–2.1, P < 0.001) and similar rate of stroke (0.8% vs. 0.6%, HR 1.35; 95% CI 0.61–3.02, P = 0.46).

Conclusion

Patients with ACS and severe coronary calcification, as compared to those without, are associated with worse clinical outcomes irrespective of the management strategy.
Discovery of plasma proteins associated with ventricular fibrillation during first ST-elevation myocardial infarction via proteomics
Authors: Stampe Niels Kjær , Ottenheijm Maud Eline , Drici Lylia , Wewer Albrechtsen Nicolai J , Nielsen Annelaura Bach , Christoffersen Christina , Warming Peder Emil , Engstrøm Thomas , Winkel Bo Gregers , Jabbari Reza , Tfelt-Hansen Jacob , Glinge Charlotte
Published: October 2023

Aims

The underlying biological mechanisms of ventricular fibrillation (VF) during acute myocardial infarction are largely unknown. To our knowledge, this is the first proteomic study for this trait, with the aim to identify and characterize proteins that are associated with VF during first ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods and results

We included 230 participants from a Danish ongoing case-control study on patients with first STEMI with VF (case, n = 110) and without VF (control, n = 120) before guided catheter insertion for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The plasma proteome was investigated using mass spectrometry-based proteomics on plasma samples collected within 24 h of symptom onset, and one patient was excluded in quality control. In 229 STEMI patients {72% men, median age 62 years [interquartile range (IQR): 54–70]}, a median of 257 proteins (IQR: 244–281) were quantified per patient. A total of 26 proteins were associated with VF; these proteins were involved in several biological processes including blood coagulation, haemostasis, and immunity. After correcting for multiple testing, two up-regulated proteins remained significantly associated with VF, actin beta-like 2 [ACTBL2, fold change (FC) 2.25, P < 0.001, q = 0.023], and coagulation factor XIII-A (F13A1, FC 1.48, P < 0.001, q = 0.023). None of the proteins were correlated with anterior infarct location.

Conclusion

Ventricular fibrillation due to first STEMI was significantly associated with two up-regulated proteins (ACTBL2 and F13A1), suggesting that they may represent novel underlying molecular VF mechanisms. Further research is needed to determine whether these proteins are predictive biomarkers or acute phase response proteins to VF during acute ischaemia.
Altered biomarkers for cardiovascular disease and inflammation in autoimmune Addison's disease – a cross-sectional study
Authors: Sævik Åse Bjorvatn , Ueland Grethe , Åkerman Anna-Karin , Methlie Paal , Quinkler Marcus , Jørgensen Anders Palmstrøm , Höybye Charlotte , Debowska Aleksandra W J , Nedrebø Bjørn Gunnar , Dahle Anne Lise , Carlsen Siri , Tomkowicz Aneta , Sollid Stina Therese , Nermoen Ingrid , Grønning Kaja , Dahlqvist Per , Grimnes Guri , Skov Jakob , Finnes Trine , Valland Susanna F , Wahlberg Jeanette , Holte Synnøve Emblem , Kämpe Olle , Bensing Sophie , Husebye Eystein Sverre , Øksnes Marianne
Published: October 2023

Objective

Increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease has been reported in autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD), but pathomechanisms are poorly understood.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

We compared serum levels of 177 cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers in 43 patients with AAD at >18-h glucocorticoid withdrawal and 43 matched controls, overall and stratified for sex. Biomarker levels were correlated with the frequency of adrenal crises and quality of life (QoL) by AddiQoL-30. Finally, we investigated changes in biomarker levels following 250 µg tetracosactide injection in patients without residual adrenocortical function (RAF) to explore glucocorticoid-independent effects of high ACTH.

Results

Nineteen biomarkers significantly differed between patients with AAD and controls; all but 1 (ST1A1) were higher in AAD. Eight biomarkers were significantly higher in female patients compared with controls (IL6, MCP1, GAL9, SPON2, DR4, RAGE, TNFRSF9, and PGF), but none differed between male patients and controls. Levels of RAGE correlated with the frequency of adrenal crises (r = 0.415, P = .006) and AddiQoL-30 scores (r = −0.347, P = .028) but not after correction for multiple testing. PDL2 and leptin significantly declined 60 min after injection of ACTH in AAD without RAF (−0.15 normalized protein expression [NPX], P = .0001, and −0.25 NPX, P = .0003, respectively).

Conclusions

We show that cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers are altered in AAD compared with controls, particularly in women. RAGE might be a marker of disease severity in AAD, associated with more adrenal crises and reduced QoL. High ACTH reduced PDL2 and leptin levels in a glucocorticoid-independent manner but the overall effect on biomarker profiles was small.
Ceauşescu, Barthes and a Few Boring Hippies: May and August 1968 in Romania
Authors: Matei Alexandru
Published: October 2023

This article offers an overview of the Romanian echoes of the French social turbulence of May 68. It also explains the conservatism of Romanian cultural and political institutions at that moment. The article addresses the question of why Nicolae Ceaușescu’s nationalist communist regime prevented Romanian May 68 upheavals from taking place. It argues that the events of May 1968 cannot be separated from August 1968 (the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia) and from the two previous decades of Soviet control over Romanian culture. In such a context, nationalism was perceived as an emancipation compared to the previous Stalinist era, and any favourable echo of the French 1968 social movements would have challenged it. The article argues that the view of Romania’s 1968 that emerges in periodicals challenges the perspective that May 68 represented youthful revolt against capitalist systems. Instead, a more nuanced picture is required, one that is specific to Romania at that time.
Variation in transcription regulator expression underlies differences in white–opaque switching between the SC5314 reference strain and the majority of Candida albicans clinical isolates
Authors: Lohse Matthew B , Ziv Naomi , Johnson Alexander D
Published: October 2023

Candida albicans, a normal member of the human microbiome and an opportunistic fungal pathogen, undergoes several morphological transitions. One of these transitions is white–opaque switching, where C. albicans alternates between 2 stable cell types with distinct cellular and colony morphologies, metabolic preferences, mating abilities, and interactions with the innate immune system. White-to-opaque switching is regulated by mating type; it is repressed by the a1/α2 heterodimer in a/α cells, but this repression is lifted in a/a and α/α mating type cells (each of which are missing half of the repressor). The widely used C. albicans reference strain, SC5314, is unusual in that white–opaque switching is completely blocked when the cells are a/α; in contrast, most other C. albicans a/α strains can undergo white–opaque switching at an observable level. In this paper, we uncover the reason for this difference. We show that, in addition to repression by the a1/α2 heterodimer, SC5314 contains a second block to white–opaque switching: 4 transcription regulators of filamentous growth are upregulated in this strain and collectively suppress white–opaque switching. This second block is missing in the majority of clinical strains, and, although they still contain the a1/α2 heterodimer repressor, they exhibit a/α white–opaque switching at an observable level. When both blocks are absent, white–opaque switching occurs at very high levels. This work shows that white–opaque switching remains intact across a broad group of clinical strains, but the precise way it is regulated and therefore the frequency at which it occurs varies from strain to strain.