Does speed of processing training improve everyday life functional activity in traumatic brain injury: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial evaluated Speed of Processing Training (SOPT) efficacy for improving everyday functioning in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Thirty-four participants with moderate to severe TBI completed either SOPT or placebo control treatment across 10 sessions over five weeks. Assessments at baseline, post-treatment, and six-month follow-up measured Timed Activities of Daily Living (TIADL) performance along with self-reported quality of life, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms.

Cold tolerance strategies of freshwater mussels across latitudes.

Freshwater mussels across Europe exhibit physiological and behavioural adaptations to survive winter conditions. Climate change projections, including more frequent extreme weather events, are expected to intensify pressures on these ecosystems. In this study, we tested the temperature-size hypothesis, which posits that larger body size in ectothermic organisms is an adaptation to colder climates.

Impact of visual discomfort symptoms on SDMT performance among persons with MS.

Background: Visual problems are common among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and may interfere with the assessment of cognitive functioning using visually mediated neuropsychological tests. The current study explored visual discomfort symptoms among persons with MS compared to healthy controls (HCs), using the Visual Discomfort Scale (VDS), which measures somatic and perceptual visual discomfort symptoms that interfere with reading.

Methods: Eighty-nine persons with MS and 30 HCs completed the VDS and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), a visually mediated test of information processing speed and gold standard for screening for MS-related cognitive dysfunction.

Quality of Life and Its Determinants in Older Adults with Intestinal Stomas: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Assessing the quality of life (QoL) of older adults with intestinal stomas is crucial to understanding the impact of body image and lifestyle changes in this often-underrepresented population. This study aims to evaluate the QoL of older adults with intestinal stomas and analyze the influence of sociodemographic and clinical factors on different QoL domains. This cross-sectional study analyzed the QoL of 47 older adults with intestinal stomas, using the City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy Questionnaire (COHQOL-OQ).

Strengthening Older Adults Remembering (SOARing): Research protocol for a multi-site randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of the Kessler Foundation modified Story Memory Technique (KF-mSMT®) in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

Background: Long-term memory dysfunction is the hallmark feature of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) resulting in substantial negative impact on everyday functioning and quality of life. The Kessler Foundation modified Story Memory Technique (KF-mSMT®) is a 10-session memory rehabilitation protocol in which participants are taught to utilize imagery and context to facilitate learning. This paper describes the protocol for a double blind, placebo controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT) examining the efficacy of the KF-mSMT® in persons who meet criteria for aMCI.

Applying the Kessler Foundation Modified Story Memory Technique to Improve New Learning in Aging Populations.

Introduction: The current study examined the efficacy of the 10-session Kessler Foundation modified Story Memory Technique (KF-mSMT) to improve new learning in older adults.

Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial included twenty-eight individuals over age 65 randomized to the treatment group ( = 17) or placebo control group ( = 13). Participants completed a baseline neuropsychological assessment, including questionnaires assessing everyday memory, and a repeat assessment immediately post-treatment.

Trait fatigue impacts Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) performance in multiple sclerosis: The role of working memory.

Background: Cognitive impairment and fatigue are two prevalent symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Fatigue is often thought to be associated with slower processing speed. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a widely used assessment of processing speed in MS, but it has also been shown to tap into working memory as well.

Effectiveness and safety of daily oral semaglutide in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus switching from sulfonylureas: A real-world retrospective study.

Background: Hypoglycaemia is a serious side effect in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), especially when using insulin and insulin secretagogues such as sulfonylureas. Current guidelines recommend reducing or discontinuing these medications in high-risk populations. This study assessed the real-world effectiveness and safety of oral semaglutide in T2DM patients who suspended or reduced sulfonylurea dosages in favour of oral semaglutide.

Speed of processing training to improve cognition in moderate to severe TBI: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often results in cognitive deficits. Processing speed (PS) deficits are common, exerting a significant impact on daily life. Few studies have examined the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation specifically for PS deficits in moderate to severe TBI.

Renal function at 12 months of kidney transplantation comparing tacrolimus and mycophenolate with tacrolimus and mTORi in donors with different KDPI ranges. A multicenter cohort study using propensity scoring.

Introduction: The combination of tacrolimus/mTORi compared to tacrolimus/mycophenolate (MMF) was shown to be safe in the TRANSFORM trial. For donors with a high KDPI (Kidney Donor Profile Index), however, there are no data to support the effectiveness of this regimen. The main objective of this study was to explore the influence of the KDPI on 12-month renal function (eGFR) in patients receiving mTORi or MMF.

Effect of methylphenidate on oculomotor function in individuals with multiple sclerosis: a pilot randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Introduction: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently experience visual and oculomotor symptoms that may impact and confound neuropsychological assessments of information processing speed (IPS). In this study, we examined the effect of the psychostimulant methylphenidate on oculomotor function and the association between change in oculomotor speed and change in information processing speed.

Methods: We used a repeated measures crossover design in which a sample of 11 participants with MS were randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms: one that received methylphenidate for 4 weeks and another that received a placebo for 4 weeks.

Behavioral Interventions to Improve Sleep Outcomes in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review.

Background: Sleep disturbances are common in individuals with multiple sclerosis. The objective of this systematic review was to determine effective behavioral interventions to improve their sleep.

Methods: Literature searches were performed in December 2021 in Ovid MEDLINE, Elsevier Embase, and Web of Science, along with hand searching for grey literature and cited references.

The influence of information processing speed on benefit from learning and memory rehabilitation in TBI: a sub-analysis of the TBI-MEM trial.

Objective: This study examined the influence of processing speed (PS) on benefit from treatment with the Kessler Foundation modified Story Memory Technique® (KF-mSMT®), a cognitive rehabilitation intervention shown to improve new learning and memory in traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Setting: Non-profit research center.

Participants: 62 participants with moderate-to-severe TBI were included, 31 assigned to the treatment group and 31 to the placebo-control group.

The Efficacy of the Speed of Processing Training Program in Improving Functional Outcome: From Restoration to Generalization.

Objective: To examine the efficacy of Speed of Processing Training (SOPT) in improving everyday functional outcomes in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: A nonprofit rehabilitation research institution and the community.

Associations between smartphone keystroke dynamics and cognition in MS.

Objective: Examine the associations between smartphone keystroke dynamics and cognitive functioning among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Sixteen persons with MS with no self-reported upper extremity or typing difficulties and 10 healthy controls (HCs) completed six weeks of remote monitoring of their keystroke dynamics (i.e.

The efficacy of speed of processing training for improving processing speed in individuals with multiple sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The current study examines the efficacy of speed of processing training (SOPT) to improve processing speed (PS) in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Outcomes included changes in the useful field of view (UFOV) and neuropsychological evaluation (NPE).

Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial included 84 participants with clinically definite MS and impaired PS, 43 in the treatment group and 41 in the placebo control group.

Marine heatwaves hamper neuro-immune and oxidative tolerance toward carbamazepine in Mytilus galloprovincialis.

The increased frequency and intensity of short-term extreme warming phenomena have been associated to harsh biological and ecosystem outcomes (i.e., mass mortalities in marine organisms).

The adapted symbol digit modalities test: Examining the impact of response modality.

Background: Information processing speed is often impaired in neurological disorders, as well as with healthy aging. Thus, being able to accurately assess information processing speed is of high importance. One of the most commonly used tests to examine information processing speed is the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), which has been shown to have good psychometric properties.

Tropical Infections in the Context of Kidney Transplantation in Latin America.

Reports on tropical infections among kidney transplant (KT) recipients have increased in recent years, mainly because of the growing number of KT programs located in tropical and subtropical areas, and greater mobility or migration between different areas of the world. Endemic in emerging and developing regions, like most countries in Latin America, tropical infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Tropical infections in KT recipients may exhibit different pathways for acquisition compared with those in nonrecipients, such as transmission through a graft and reactivation of a latent infection triggered by immunosuppression.

Exploring the causes of the high incidence of delayed graft function after kidney transplantation in Brazil: a multicenter study.

This retrospective multicenter (n = 18) cohort study evaluated the incidence, risk factors, and the impact of delayed graft function (DGF) on 1-year kidney transplant (KT) outcomes. Of 3992 deceased donor KT performed in 2014-2015, the incidence of DGF was 54%, ranging from 29.9% to 87.

Effects of triclosan exposure on the energy budget of Ruditapes philippinarum and R. decussatus under climate change scenarios.

We built a simulation model based on Dynamic Energy Budget theory (DEB) to assess the growth and reproductive potential of the native European clam Ruditapes decussatus and the introduced Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum under current temperature and pH conditions in a Portuguese estuary and under those forecasted for the end of the 21st c. The climate change scenario RCP8.5 predicts temperature increase of 3 °C and a pH decrease of 0.

The Impact of Hypothermic Pulsatile Machine Perfusion Versus Static Cold Storage: A Donor-Matched Paired Analysis in a Scenario of High Incidence of Delayed Kidney Graft Function.

BACKGROUND The present study analyzed the impact of hypothermic pulsatile machine perfusion (MP) following a long period of static cold (SC) storage in the peculiar Brazilian scenario of high incidence of delayed graft function (DGF), despite good donor characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective analysis, with a 1-year follow-up, of 206 recipients of donor-matched paired kidneys was performed. Of the 206 donor kidneys, 103 were maintained exclusively in static cold storage (SC group) and 103 were kept on machine perfusion after a period of SC preservation (MP group).