Bone mineral density in pediatric patients with meningomyelocele

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the bone mineral density (BMD) and the factors leading to reduction in BMD in children diagnosed with meningomyelocele.

Methods

A total of 31 patients with meningomyelocele (mean (SD) age, 8.5 (3.9) years; 51.6 % were females) and 22 healthy children were included. BMD of femoral neck and spinal L1–L4 levels and markers for bone metabolism were recorded.

Results

BMD of femoral neck (p?=?0.001) and spinal L1–L4 (p?=?0.01), serum calcium (p?=?0.031), and urinary deoxypyridinoline (p?=?0.015) levels were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Mobilization was significantly reduced in lumbar (p?=?0.001) and thoracic (p?=?0.002) level meningomyelocele compared to controls, while a significant positive correlation was noted between BMD of spinal L1–L4 and mobility (r?=?0.58, p?=?0.015).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a decrease in BMD in meningomyelocele patients being associated with osteoporosis rather than nutritional and hormonal factors and the negative impact of higher levels of lesion on the mobility.

     

Predictors of Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) in African American Young Adolescents

Background

African American adolescents residing in the South are at increased risk for obesity and physical inactivity, yet our understanding of potential influences is limited.

Purpose

Using an ecological framework, this study explored multilevel predictors (individual, family, home, and neighborhood environment) of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among 116 African American adolescents (ages 12–16).

Methods

Adolescents and their parents completed self-report surveys for hypothesized predictors. Youth physical activity was measured using accelerometry.

Results

In multiple regression models, decreased daily MVPA was associated with female sex (β?=??24.27, p?<?0.0001). Family social support (β?=?1.07, p?=?0.004) and adolescent self efficacy for PA (β?=?6.89, p?=?0.054) were positively associated with daily MVPA.

Conclusions

Adolescent demographics along with family social support and self-efficacy influence younger African American adolescent physical activity. Further exploration of the complex interaction of multiple levels of influence is needed to develop appropriate interventions for this vulnerable group.

     

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism and susceptibility to epilepsy

Background

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T polymorphism was reported as risk factor for multiple diseases due to its role in conversion of homocysteine to methionine. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to find out the validity of association of C677T polymorphism with epilepsy susceptibility.

Methods

Pubmed, Science Direct, Springer Link and Google Scholar, databases were searched for relevant studies up to January, 31, 2018. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were performed using five genetic models. All statistical analysis was done by MetaAnalyst and Mix programs.

Results

Except recessive model, significant association was found between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and epilepsy risk in other four genetic models (T vs C: OR?=?1.29, 95% CI?=?1.08–1.52, p?=?0.004; TT vs CC: OR?=?1.48, 95% CI?=?1.19–1.82, p?=?0.0003; TT + CT vs CC: OR?=?1.20, 95% CI?=?1.05–1.38, p?=?0.008; TT vs CT + CC: OR?=?1.35, 95% CI?=?1.11–1.62, p?=?0.002). Similarly, in the subgroup analysis based on ethnicity, significant association was found in Asian (T vs C: OR?=?1.85; 95% CI?=?1.15–2.99; p?=?0.03) and Caucasian populations (TT vs CC: OR?=?1.38; 95% CI?=?1.10–1.1.73; p?=?0.005). No evidence of heterogeneity and publication bias was detected in present meta-analysis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, results of present meta-analysis suggested that 677T allele of MTHFR is significantly increases the epilepsy susceptibility.

     

The Perceived and Built Environment Surrounding Urban Schools and Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls

Background

Neighborhood perceived/built environment and physical activity (PA) associations have been examined for adolescents around homes, but not surrounding schools.

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine if positive perceptions/built environment in neighborhoods surrounding schools predict PA among low-income, urban adolescent girls.

Methods

Measures include: minutes in moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA, ankle accelerometry), perceptions of the school environment (questionnaire), built environment (neighborhood audit). Analyses include multi-level models.

Results

Two hundred twenty-four sixth and seventh grade girls [mean(sd) age?=?12.1(0.7)?years] from 12 schools serving low-income, primarily African American communities; mean MVPA 35.4 min (mean days assessed?=?5.8). Girls in schools with more positive perceptions of the neighborhood environment surrounding the school were less active (β?=?7.2, p?=?0.043). Having “places to go within walking distance” (perceptions) and number of food stores near school (built environment) positively relate to MVPA (β?=?5.5, p?=?0.042 and β?=?0.59, p?=?0.047).

Conclusions

Among neighborhoods surrounding urban schools, positive perceptions do not predict PA; accessibility, via both perceived and built environment, support PA.

     

Does fatigue in Parkinson’s disease correlate with autonomic nervous system dysfunction?

Background

Despite its negative impact on quality of life, fatigue in Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains an under-recognized issue and the underlying pathology is undetermined.

Objective

To contribute at understanding the pathogenesis of fatigue in a naturalistic cohort of cognitively intact PD patients.

Methods

In a Caucasian population of PD patients (n?=?27), we evaluated to what extent fatigue (quantified as PFS-16 score) is associated with PD duration and with autonomic dysfunction, studied by both MIBG scintigraphy and autonomic nervous system testing. The latter included the head-up tilt test, Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing, and handgrip tests.

Results

PFS-16 score correlated with disease duration (R?=?0.57, p?=?0.002). Fatigue showed a clear correlation with deep breathing test (R?=???0.53, p?=?0.004) but not with the MIBG H/M ratios.

Conclusions

Our data are consistent with a multifactorial pathogenesis of fatigue and with effects of dopamine depletion in PD-related fatigue; on the other hand, our findings do not support a role for sympathetic denervation in PD-related fatigue.

     

Association between the growth rate of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma and age in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex

Purpose

The most common neurological complications associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) include intractable seizures that begin in infancy and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) complicated by hydrocephalus with increasing age. Information on SEGA growth of TSC patients is limited. This study aimed to examine the TSC-SEGA growth rates by periodic neuroimaging.

Methods

This study evaluated the TSC-SEGA growth rates by serial neuroimaging. Fifty-eight patients with TSC underwent systematic evaluation, including a review of medical history and serial brain neuroimaging.

Results

While magnetic resonance imaging was more sensitive in detecting cortical tubers than computed tomography (73.1 vs. 0 %, p?<?0.001), its efficacy in identifying intracranial lesions was comparable to that of computed tomography (96.2 vs. 100 %, p?=?0.658). Significant tumor growth was observed in children (p?=?0.012) and adults (p?=?0.028) during follow-up periods, respectively (median for children 23.5 months, interquartile range 18–40 months and median for adults 23 months, interquartile range 12–34 months). Further, the SEGA growth rate in children was significantly higher than that in adults (75.6 vs. 16.5 %, p?=?0.03).

Conclusions

The results of the study show that SEGA has a significantly higher growth rate in children using serial follow-up brain imaging, suggesting the importance of performing follow-up neuroimaging at yearly intervals in childhood to identify and prevent potential comorbidities.

     

Adult normative values for the PATA Rate Test

Background

During neurological evaluation, dysarthria is not rated using quantitative measures, but rather using a qualitative approach.

Objective

Aim of our study was to validate and acquire normative values for the PATA Rate Task (PRT), a quantitative test used to measure the severity of dysarthria.

Methods

For the PRT probands are invited to repeat the syllables “PA-TA” as quickly as possible during a 10-s interval. The score consists in the number of correct repetition of both syllables.

Results

We enrolled 232 healthy controls (118 males, 114 females), mean and standard deviation of the PRT was 28.84?±?6.6 (range 14–52). The PRT showed good inter-rater reliability (R?=?0.783; p?<?0.001), as well as test–retest reliability (R?=?0.927; p?<?0.001), and intra-rater reliability (R?=?0.888; p?<?0.001). Higher age correlated with lower scores (R?=?? 0.368; p?<?0.001).

Conclusions

The PRT showed good reliability and could be easily added to the evaluation of movement disorders where a speech evaluation is essential.

     

Semi-quantitative dopamine transporter standardized uptake value in comparison with conventional specific binding ratio in [123I] FP-CIT single-photon emission computed tomography (DaTscan)

Purpose

We developed a new analytical method to quantify the dopamine transporter (DAT) radiation dose in the striatum on [¹²³I] FP-CIT single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). This method is based on the dopamine transporter standardized uptake value (DaTSUV). The purpose of this study was to compare DaTSUV with the classical specific binding ratio (SBR) in the discrimination of dopaminergic neurodegenerative diseases (dNDD) from non-dNDD.

Method

Seventy-seven consecutive patients who underwent DaTscan were included. Patients were divided into a dNDD group (n?=?44; 24 men, 20 women; median age 73 years) and a non-dNDD group (n?=?33; 14 men, 19 women; median age 75 years) based on their clinical diagnoses. The relationship between each method was evaluated by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Differences in SBR and DaTSUV in each group were evaluated by t test. Pairwise comparison of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to compare the discriminating abilities of each method according to the standard error of the area under the curve (AUC). A value of p?<?0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Result

There was a significant strong correlation between DaTSUV and SBR (r?=?0.910 [95% CI?=?0.862–0.942], p?<?0.001). The dNDD group showed significantly lower SBR (3.48 [1.25–7.91] vs 6.58 [3.81–11.1], p?<?0.001) and DaTSUV (4.91 [1.59–13.6] vs 8.61 [2.29–15.6], p?<?0.001) than the non-dNDD group. The discriminating ability of SBR (AUC?=?0.918) was significantly higher than that of DaTSUV (AUC?=?0.838, p?=?0.0176).

Conclusion

DaTSUV has a good correlation with SBR, but it could not exceed SBR for discriminating dNDD from non-dNDD.

     

Spatial perception predicts laparoscopic skills on virtual reality laparoscopy simulator

Objects

This study evaluates the influence of visual-spatial perception on laparoscopic performance of novices with a virtual reality simulator (LapSim®).

Materials and methods

Twenty-four novices completed standardized tests of visual-spatial perception (Lameris Toegepaste Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek [TNO] Test® and Stumpf–Fay Cube Perspectives Test®) and laparoscopic skills were assessed objectively, while performing 1-h practice sessions on the LapSim®, comprising of coordination, cutting, and clip application tasks. Outcome variables included time to complete the tasks, economy of motion as well as total error scores, respectively.

Results

The degree of visual-spatial perception correlated significantly with laparoscopic performance on the LapSim® scores. Participants with a high degree of spatial perception (Group A) performed the tasks faster than those (Group B) who had a low degree of spatial perception (p?=?0.001). Individuals with a high degree of spatial perception also scored better for economy of motion (p?=?0.021), tissue damage (p?=?0.009), and total error (p?=?0.007).

Conclusion

Among novices, visual-spatial perception is associated with manual skills performed on a virtual reality simulator. This result may be important for educators to develop adequate training programs that can be individually adapted.

     

Elevated C-reactive protein and white blood cell count at admission predict functional outcome after non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Introduction

Patients with non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are considered to have an overall benign course of disease compared to patients suffering from aneurysmal SAH. Nevertheless, a small but significant number of such patients might only achieve unfavorable outcome. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine if routine laboratory markers of acute phase response are associated with unfavorable outcome in patients with non-aneurysmal SAH.

Methods

From 2006 to 2017, 154 patients suffering from non-aneurysmal SAH were admitted to our institution. Patients were stratified according to the distribution of cisternal blood into patients with perimesencephalic SAH (pSAH) versus non-perimesencephalic SAH (npSAH). C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBC) assessments were performed within 24 h of admission as part of routine laboratory workup. Outcome was assessed according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) after 6 months and stratified into favorable (mRS 0–2) vs. unfavorable (mRS 3–6).

Results

The multivariate regression analysis revealed “CRP?>?5 mg/l” (p?=?0.004, OR 143.7), “WBC count?>?12.1 G/l” (p?=?0.006, OR 47.8), “presence of IVH” (p?=?0.02, OR 13.5), “poor-grade SAH” (p?=?0.01, OR 45.2) and “presence of CVS” (p?=?0.003, OR 149.9) as independently associated with unfavorable outcome in patients with non-aneurysmal SAH.

Conclusion

Elevated C-reactive protein and WBC count at admission were associated with unfavorable outcome after non-aneurysmal SAH.

     

Relation between functional connectivity and disability in multiple sclerosis: a non-linear model

Objective

To characterize the relation between brain functional connectivity and disability in patients with multiple sclerosis; to investigate the existence of critical values of both disability and functional connectivity corresponding to exhaustion of functional adaptive mechanisms.

Methods

Hundred-and-nineteen patients with no-to-severe disability and 42 healthy subjects were studied via 3T resting state functional MRI. Out of 116 regions extracted from Automated Anatomical Labeling atlas, pairs of regions whose functional connectivity correlated with Expanded Disability Status Score were identified. In patients, mathematical modeling was applied to find the best models describing Expanded-Disability-Status-Score vs structural or functional measures. Functional vs structural models intersecting points were identified.

Results

Disability had direct linear relation with lesion load (r?=?0.40, p?<?5E?6), inverse of thalamic volume (r?=?0.31 p?<?1E?3) and functional connectivity in bi-frontal pairs of regions (r?>?0.40, p?<?0.04), while being non-linearly associated with functional connectivity in cerebello-temporal and cerebello-frontal pairs of regions (F?>?1.73, p?<?0.02). Structural vs functional models intersecting points corresponded to Expanded Disability Status Score of 3.0. 85% of patients scoring more than 3.0 showed functional connectivity in cerebello-temporal and cerebello-frontal pairs of regions below confidence intervals (z?=?[2.28–2.88] 95% CI) measured in healthy subjects.

Conclusions

Functional brain connectivity changes may represent mechanisms of adaptation to structural damage and inflammation and may be not always clinically beneficial. Functional connectivity decreases in comparison with structural measure at Expanded Disability Status Score greater than 3.0, which may be critical and indicate exhaustion of compensatory mechanisms.

     

Onset of bladder and motor symptoms in multiple system atrophy: differences according to phenotype

Purpose

To compare the order of presentation of bladder and motor symptoms between multiple system atrophy phenotypes.

Methods

Medical records were retrospectively reviewed in 144 patients.

Results

Bladder symptoms occurred either before or within 12 months after onset of motor symptoms in significantly more patients with the cerebellar phenotype than the parkinsonian phenotype (80 vs. 53%, p = 0.003); similar results were observed for urinary incontinence (79 vs. 45%, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Urinary dysfunction is more likely to appear either before or shortly after motor symptoms in the cerebellar phenotype than in the parkinsonian phenotype.

     

Primary lateral sclerosis and the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis–frontotemporal dementia spectrum

Aim

To investigate whether primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) represents part of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis–frontotemporal dementia (ALS–FTD) spectrum of diseases.

Methods

Comprehensive assessment was taken on 21 patients with PLS and results were compared to patients diagnosed with pure motor ALS (n?=?27) and ALS–FTD (n?=?12). Clinical features, Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE) scores, Motor Neuron Disease Behaviour (Mind-B) scores, motor disability on the ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS) and survival times were documented. Motor cortex excitability was evaluated using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Results

Global cognition was impaired in PLS (mean total ACE score 82.5?±?13.6), similar to ALS–FTD (mean total ACE score 76.3?±?7.7, p?>?0.05) while behavioural impairments were not prominent. TMS revealed that resting motor threshold (RMT) was significantly higher in PLS (75.5?±?6.2) compared ALS–FTD (50.1?±?7.2, p?<?0.001) and ALS (62.3?±?12.6, p?=?0.046). Average short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) was similar in all three patient groups. The mean survival time was longest in PLS (217.4?±?22.4 months) and shortest in ALS–FTD (38.5?±?4.5 months, p?=?0.002). Bulbar onset disease (β?=???0.45, p?=?0.007) and RMT (β?=?0.54, p?=?0.001) were independent predictors of global cognition while motor scores (β?=?0.47, p?=?0.036) and SICI (β?=?0.58, p?=?0.006) were significantly associated with ALSFRS.

Conclusion

The cognitive profile in PLS resembles ALS–FTD, without prominent behavioural disturbances. A higher RMT in PLS than ALS and ALS–FTD is consistent with differential cortical motor neuronal abnormalities and more severe involvement of corticospinal axons while SICI, indicative of inhibitory interneuronal dysfunction was comparable with ALS and ALS–FTD. Overall, while these findings support the notion that PLS lies on the ALS–FTD spectrum, the mechanisms underlying slow disease progression are likely to be distinct in PLS.

     

Radiographic and microsurgical characteristics of proximal (A1) segment aneurysms of the anterior cerebral artery

Background

Proximal A1 segment aneurysms of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) radiologically resemble internal carotid artery bifurcation (ICBIF) aneurysms because of their anatomical proximity. However, proximal A1 aneurysms exhibit distinguishing features, relative to ICBIF aneurysms. We report our experience of managing proximal A1 aneurysms, then compare them to ICBIF aneurysms.

Methods

Among 2191 aneurysms treated between 2000 and 2016 in a single institution, we retrospectively reviewed 100 cases categorized as ICBIF or A1 aneurysms. We included aneurysms originating from the ICBIF and ACA, proximal to the anterior communicating artery (A1 segment) and divided them into two groups: proximal A1 (n?=?32) and ICBIF (n?=?50). If any portion of the aneurysm involved the ICBIF, it was classified as ICBIF. Aneurysms wholly located in the A1 segment were classified as proximal A1. Patient factors and angiographic factors were evaluated and compared.

Results

The proximal A1 group exhibited differences in aneurysm size (p?=?0.013), posterior aneurysm direction (p?=?0.001), and A1 perforators as incorporating vessels (p?=?0.001). The proximal A1 group tended to rupture more frequently when the aneurysm was smaller (p?=?0.046). One case of morbidity occurred in the proximal A1 group.

Conclusion

Compared to ICBIF aneurysms, proximal A1 aneurysms were smaller and directed posteriorly, with incorporating perforators. Because of these characteristics, it may be difficult to perform clipping with 360° view in microsurgical field. Therefore, when planning to treat proximal A1 aneurysms, different treatment strategies may be necessary, relative to those used for ICBIF aneurysms.

     

Social networks and symptomatic and functional outcomes in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the strength of associations between social network size and clinical and functional outcomes in schizophrenia.

Method

Studies were identified from a systematic search of electronic databases (EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) from January 1970 to June 2016. Eligible studies included peer-reviewed English language articles that examined associations between a quantitative measure of network size and symptomatic and/or functional outcome in schizophrenia-spectrum diagnoses.

Results

Our search yielded 16 studies with 1,929 participants. Meta-analyses using random effects models to calculate pooled effect sizes (Hedge’s g) found that smaller social network size was moderately associated with more severe overall psychiatric symptoms (N?=?5, n?=?467, g?=???0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI)?=???0.875, ??0.184, p?=?0.003) and negative symptoms (N?=?8, n?=?577, g?=???0.75, 95% CI?=???0.997, ??0.512, p?=?0.000). Statistical heterogeneity was observed I²?=?63.04%; I²?=?35.75%,) which could not be explained by low-quality network measures or sample heterogeneity in sensitivity analyses. There was no effect for positive symptoms (N?=?7, n?=?405, g?=???0.19, 95% CI?=?0.494, 0.110, p?=?0.213) or social functioning (N?=?3, n?=?209, g?=?0.36, 95% CI?=???0.078, 0.801, p?=?0.107). Narrative synthesis suggested that larger network size was associated with improved global functioning, but findings for affective symptoms and quality of life were mixed.

Conclusion

Psychosocial interventions which support individuals to build and maintain social networks may improve outcomes in schizophrenia. The review findings are cross-sectional and thus causal direction cannot be inferred. Further research is required to examine temporal associations between network characteristics and outcomes in schizophrenia and to test theoretical models relating to explanatory or mediating mechanisms.

     

Wake-up stroke and CT perfusion: effectiveness and safety of reperfusion therapy

Objective

Ischemic stroke is a neuroemergency condition highly treatable with thrombolysis and thrombectomy. Recently, observational studies have brought insights into clinical and imaging characteristics of wake-up stroke, which interested up to 25% of ischemic stroke patients. In clinical practice, wake-up strokes are usually not considered for reperfusion therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the use CT perfusion imaging in patients with wake-up stroke and to assess the effect of neuroimaging information provided by CT perfusion maps on the efficacy and safety of thrombolysis and thrombectomy.

Patients and method

We studied 22 wake-up stroke (WUS) patients (13F/9M mean age) who underwent reperfusion therapy after the eligibility assessed by the CT perfusion imaging (<?50% core-to-penumbra ratio and negative CT perfusion).

Results

Mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 8.1?±?4.9 at admission while 3.3?±?5.1 at discharge, significantly different from admission (p?<?0.001). As many as ten patients had mRS lower than 3 at discharge. Intracranial hemorrhage occurred in five patients and caused symptoms worsening only in two patients (decrease of NIHSS score of 4 points) of which one patient died.

Conclusion

The main finding of this study is that wake-up stroke with adequate selection by CT perfusion may benefit reperfusion treatment.

     

Can risk assessment predict suicide in secondary mental healthcare? Findings from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Biomedical Research Centre (SLaM BRC) Case Register

Purpose

The predictive value of suicide risk assessment in secondary mental healthcare remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the extent to which clinical risk assessment ratings can predict suicide among people receiving secondary mental healthcare.

Methods

Retrospective inception cohort study (n?=?13,758) from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) (London, UK) linked with national mortality data (n?=?81 suicides). Cox regression models assessed survival from the last suicide risk assessment and ROC curves evaluated the performance of risk assessment total scores.

Results

Hopelessness (RR?=?2.24, 95% CI 1.05–4.80, p?=?0.037) and having a significant loss (RR?=?1.91, 95% CI 1.03–3.55, p?=?0.041) were significantly associated with suicide in the multivariable Cox regression models. However, screening statistics for the best cut-off point (4–5) of the risk assessment total score were: sensitivity 0.65 (95% CI 0.54–0.76), specificity 0.62 (95% CI 0.62–0.63), positive predictive value 0.01 (95% CI 0.01–0.01) and negative predictive value 0.99 (95% CI 0.99–1.00).

Conclusions

Although suicide was linked with hopelessness and having a significant loss, risk assessment performed poorly to predict such an uncommon outcome in a large case register of patients receiving secondary mental healthcare.

     

Does Liking and Orosensation Intensity Elicited by Sampled Foods Vary with Thermal Tasting?

Introduction

Food choice and habitual diet-related health outcomes are strongly influenced by the oral sensations elicited by food. Of the biological-based mediators of orosensation, thermal tasting—the capacity to experience phantom taste sensations on lingual thermal stimulation—has not been investigated with respect to orosensation and liking of sampled foods.

Methods

Twenty-three female thermal tasters (TTs) and 21 female thermal non-tasters (TnTs) scored liking of (9-point hedonic scale) and the intensity of orosensations elicited by (gVAS) 22 food and beverage items in duplicate using a randomized complete block design in a customized sensory evaluation laboratory. Foods selected included high fat, high sugar, and high salt items. Sampled items were grouped according to the dominant orosensation(s) elicited (sweet, bitter, sour, salty, astringent, creamy, crunchy, crispy, firm, menthol cool, and grainy), and intensity and liking assessed for each group.

Results

No significant differences were found for thermal tasting status (TTS) in intensity ratings of orosensory groupings (p(t)?>?0.05). TnTs gave higher liking ratings for creamy foods than TTs (t?=?5.99, p?=?0.015), and their liking of the “aversive” food grouping was higher than for TTs and approached significance (t?=?2.97, p?=?0.086).

Conclusions and Implications

The previously reported variation in orosensation due to TTS observed with simple aqueous solutions, and some beverages may not extend to sampled foods. However, differences in liking are suggested for some food groupings and are worthy of further investigation.

     

Thermal Tasting and Difference Thresholds for Prototypical Tastes in Wine

Introduction

Thermal tasting—the capacity to experience phantom taste sensations on thermal stimulation of the tongue—has been shown to associate with greater responsiveness to orosensations elicited in aqueous solutions and beverages. Here, we sought to determine if this heightened acuity extends to difference thresholds.

Methods

An ascending two-alternative forced choice method was used to measure difference thresholds for sweetness (sucrose), sourness (tartaric acid), and bitterness (quinine) in a neutral white wine. Individual best-estimate thresholds (BETs) were calculated according to ASTM E-679-04.

Results

Group difference thresholds (g/L) for thermal tasters (TT) and thermal non-tasters (TnT), respectively, were sweetness, 3.52 and 5.24; sourness, 0.23 and 0.70; and bitterness, 0.0058 and 0.0060. There was an overall trend of TTs having lower difference thresholds than TnTs, but this was significant only for sourness (t?=?3.95, p?=?0.002). Additionally, wine expertise was inversely associated with the difference threshold for sweetness (rho?=??0.470, p?=?0.029) and was a significant source of variation in the analysis of covariance (t?=??2.69, t?=?0.016).

Conclusions

These data provide some preliminary evidence that the supra-threshold intensity “advantage” in orosensory perception previously reported for thermal tasters may extend to difference thresholds and complex products such as wine.

Implications

These results add to the evidence that thermal tasting represents a potentially important taste phenotype that may associate with food preference and consumption and should also be considered when populating sensory panels.

     

Correlation of occupational stress with depression,anxiety, and sleep in Korean dentists: cross-sectional study

Background

This study aimed to investigate the degree of occupational stress and the clinical mental state of dentists. In addition, we investigated the correlation of occupational stress with depression, anxiety, and sleep among dentists in Korea.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey on 231 dentists was conducted using the Doctor Job Stress Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), State-Trait Anxiety Index (STAI), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Correlation of occupational stress with mental health was investigated by adjusted multiple regression analysis.

Results

The scores of CES-D, STAI, and PSQI revealed a significant correlation with the Doctor Job Stress Scale (t?=?3.93, P?<?0.0001; t?=?4.05, P?<?0.0001; t?=?4.18, P?<?0.0001, respectively). In particular, patient factors and clinical responsibility/judgment factors were significantly associated with depression (t?=?2.80, P?=?0.0056; t?=?4.93, P?<?0.0001, respectively), anxiety (t?=?2.35, P?=?0.0195; t?=?5.11, P?<?0.0001, respectively), and sleep (t?=?3.78, P?=?0.0002; t?=?4.30, P?<?0.0001, respectively), whereas work factors were not associated with any mental health state.

Conclusions

This study confirms that dentists as professions experience more severe mental states. For successful mental health care among dentists, stress management focusing on interpersonal relationship with patients and responsibility as an expert rather than the intensity of work should be considered.