The Push-Turn-Taptap Task Outperforms Measures of Executive Functioning in Predicting Declines in Functionality: Evidence-Based Approach to Test Validation

Performance on the Push-Turn-Taptap (PTT) task has been shown to be a strong predictor of concurrent everyday functioning. This study utilized a prospective, longitudinal design to evaluate the PTT task for predicting future performance on a behavioral assessment of everyday functioning. The PTT task was compared to other measures of executive functioning as well as general cognition in terms of administration time and ability to identify participants who evidenced functional decline. A total of 50 community-dwelling older adults (ages 58–87) completed the PTT task, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Behavioral Dyscontrol Scale, Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System, and Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Baseline PTT performance (a) was highly correlated with an objective measure of everyday functioning after approximately one year (r?=??.497, p?<?.001), (b) was associated with changes in follow-up functioning, F(3, 46)?=?3.15, p?=?.03, (c) was a better predictor of future functional status than a longer battery of EF, and (d) reliably identified individuals with the greatest magnitude of functional decline. The PTT tasks may provide a particularly advantageous method of predicting future changes in everyday functioning in older adults.     

Correlates of root caries experience in middle-aged and older adults in the Northwest Practice-based REsearch Collaborative in Evidence-based DENTistry research network

BackgroundThe authors examined the correlates of root caries experience for middle-aged adults (aged 45–64 years) and older adults (65 years and older) to test the hypothesis that the factors related to root caries are different for middle-aged adults than they are for older adults.MethodsThe authors conducted an observational cross-sectional study that focused on adult patients aged 45 to 97 years recruited from the Northwest Practice-based REsearch Collaborative in Evidence-based DENTistry research network (N = 775). The outcome variable was any root caries experience (no/yes). The authors hypothesized that sociodemographic, intra- oral and behavioral factors were root caries correlates. The authors used Poisson regression models to generate overall and age-stratified prevalence ratios (PRs) of root caries, and they used generalized estimating equations to account for practice-level clustering of participants.ResultsA total of 19.6 percent of adults had any root caries. A dentist’s assessment that the patient was at high risk of developing any caries was associated with greater prevalence of root caries experience in both middle-aged adults (PR, 2.70; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.63–4.46) and older adults (PR, 1.87; 95 percent CI, 1.19–2.95). The following factors were associated significantly with increased root caries prevalence but only for middle-aged adults: male sex (P = .02), self-reported dry mouth (P < .001), exposed roots (P = .03) and increased frequency of eating or drinking between meals (P = .03). No other covariates were related to root caries experience for older adults.ConclusionsWithin a practice-based research network, the factors associated with root caries experience were different for middle-aged adults than they were for older adults. Research is needed to identify relevant root caries correlates for adults 65 years and older.Practical ImplicationsInterventions aimed at preventing root caries are likely to be different for middle-aged adults than for older adults. Dentists should use root caries prevention programs that address appropriate aged-based risk factors.     

双磷酸盐相关性颌骨坏死的循证治疗:附3例报道

目的:探讨双磷酸盐相关性颌骨坏死的循证治疗。方法:针对3例双磷酸盐用药患者出现的拔牙创不愈、牙周肿痛、溢脓等症状,提出临床问题,检索收集并评价相关证据,帮助制订治疗方案。结果:共纳入相关文献39篇,结果显示①双磷酸盐相关性颌骨坏死的致病机制不明;诊断标准普遍参照美国口腔颌面外科医师协会的临床指南。②治疗方案为早期有骨坏死或暴露而无明显感染时,先行抗感染、镇痛等非手术治疗;感染症状复发时,行局部清创术;出现大段骨坏死或病理性骨折时,行大范围骨切除。③组织病理学诊断标准尚未建立;影像学检查有助于早期诊断和牙槽骨手术前评估。④停药并不能缓解症状和进程,但在清创和牙槽骨手术期间有利于伤口愈合,是否停药由医患双方协商确定。根据以上证据,对3例患者先行保守治疗,效果不佳后行局部清创术,随访6~12个月,疗效良好。结论:双磷酸盐相关性颌骨坏死是近年新出现的疾病。目前致病机制不明,诊断和治疗方法未统一。循证治疗可制定合理方案,有效提高治疗效果和生存质量。     

胃癌手术消化道重建方式的选择及评价

随着现代外科治疗效果的提高,患者术后生命质量越来越受到重视.其中消化道重建方式是患者术后生命质量最相关的因素.目前的证据表明:食管-空肠储袋Roux-en-Y吻合在全胃切除术中应用较合适;Roux-en-Y吻合在远端胃大部切除术的消化道重建中可能具有一定优势;保留幽门的胃大部切除术和近端胃大部切除术只考虑在早期胃癌(cT1cN0)中采用,保留幽门的胃大部切除术并不完全优于远端胃大部切除术;对于预期寿命相对较短、全身状况差、高龄、不可切除肿瘤、伴幽门梗阻的患者考虑内镜下支架置入;而预期寿命可相对延长的患者仍推荐Devine胃癌旷置+胃空肠短路术.然而,由于目前获得的证据级别还不高,对于现有各种胃癌消化道重建方式尚不能得出明确的评价,还需要高质量的研究结果来进一步论证.     

Rehabilitation of very severe unilateral neglect by visuo-spatio-motor cueing: Two single case studies

Robertson, North, and Geggie (1992) have suggested that the voluntary activation of the left upper limb in the left hemispace (spatio-motor cueing) could reduce unilateral neglect. This study assesses the efficacy of visuo-spatio-motor cueing, and particularly the generalisation to daily-life activities, in two patients with very severe neglect who had failed to improve with scanning training. The patients were included in the trial 4 and 7 months after a severe unilateral right hemispheric stroke. They both suffered from disabling unilateral neglect despite intensive conventional therapy. A single-case experimental ABAB design was used (A = baseline with conventional treatment; B = visuo-spatio-motor cueing; each period = 2 weeks). A randomisation test was used to assess the presence of a specific therapeutic effect. In both cases, there was a statistically significant treatment-related improvement on a line bisection test. A parallel improvement was found on neglect behaviourin daily life, as assessed by the Catherine Bergego Scale (Azouvi et al., 1996). The therapeutic effect was maintained at 1-month follow up. These results suggest that visuo-spatio-motor cueing may be efficient in very severe neglect and may help in obtaining generalisation to daily-life activities.     

Evidence-based practice: A quality indicator analysis of peer-tutoring in adapted physical education

The purpose of the research was to conduct a quality indicator analysis of studies investigating peer-tutoring for students with a disability in adapted physical education. An electronic search was conducted among English journals published from 1960 to November 2012. Databases included ERIC, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus. Fifteen research studies employing group-experimental (Gersten et al., 2005) or single-subject designs (Horner et al., 2005) met inclusion criteria. Each study was assessed for the presence and clarity of quality indicators. Group designs met an average of 62.5% essential and 69% desirable indicators. An average of 80% of indicators was present for single-subject designs. Results suggest claims of peer-tutoring being an evidence-based practice are premature. Recommendations for clarifying and applying the quality indicators are offered.