Chemosensory Function in Congenitally Blind or Deaf Teenagers

Introduction

It may be assumed that congenital absence of a certain sensory function would affect the processing of remaining sensory processes. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate chemosensory brain responsiveness both electrophysiologically and psychophysically in congenitally blind or deaf individuals.

Methods

Fourteen blind, 13 deaf, and 10 control subjects were recruited to this study. Psychophysical assessment of olfactory function was performed via “Sniffin’ Sticks” test. In this test, olfactory threshold, discrimination, identification, and total scores were compared between blind, deaf, and control subjects. In addition, electrophysiological assessment of olfactory function was performed via event-related potentials to olfactory and trigeminal stimuli.

Results

The “Sniffin’ Sticks” test indicated frequent hyposmia in the deaf group. Discrimination and total scores of the deaf group were significantly lower than the control group. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between blind and control groups. Threshold and total scores of the deaf group were significantly lower than the blind group. There were no significant differences in amplitudes and latencies of any chemosensory-evoked potential components for both stimuli between the groups.

Conclusions

The deaf subjects appear to have lower olfactory test scores than blind and control subjects. Application of stimulants in a more complex setup may help to disentangle the various changes in chemosensory processing in the absence of other sensory channels.

     

Psychiatric disorder prevalence among deaf and hard-of-hearing outpatients

Objectives

To contribute to the dearth of literature on the prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders in deaf adults, this study examined the diagnostic and clinical characteristics of deaf psychiatric outpatients in comparison to hearing psychiatric outpatients.

Methods

Archival clinical data for deaf adults (N=241), treated at a specialized, linguistically and culturally affirmative outpatient community mental health program from 2002 to 2010, was compared to data from a random sample of hearing adult outpatients (N=345) who were treated at the same community mental health center.

Results

In various diagnostic categories, significant differences were seen between the deaf and hearing groups: bipolar disorders (3.7% versus 14.2%), impulse control disorders (15.8% versus 5.2%), anxiety disorders (18.7% versus 30.1%), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (11.2% versus 4.9%), pervasive developmental disorders (3.3% versus 0.3%), substance use disorders (27.8% versus 48.4%), and intellectual disabilities (10.4% versus 2.9%).

Conclusions

The deaf outpatient group evidenced a different diagnostic profile than the hearing sample. It is suggested that the use of culturally competent and fluent ASL-signing clinicians provides more diagnostic clarity and is encouraged as a best practice for the care of deaf individuals.     

Prevalence and characteristics of self-reported physical and mental disorders among adults with hearing loss in Denmark: a national survey

Purpose

Existing research shows that people with hearing loss have a high risk of additional physical and mental disorders. However, only a few population-based studies have been conducted. This study assesses the prevalence and characteristics of additional disorders among adults with hearing loss in Denmark and thereby contributes a population-based study to this area of research.

Method

Data on self-reported physical and mental disorders from a national survey of 772 adults with hearing loss were compared to corresponding data from a national survey of 18,017 adults from the general population.

Results

People with hearing loss reported more physical and mental disorders than the general population. Specifically, they reported higher incidences of visual impairment, cerebral palsy, intellectual impairment, and “other mental disorders”.

Conclusion

Adults with hearing loss have a greater risk of additional physical and mental disorders. It is important for clinicians to have some understanding of the communication needs and characteristics of deaf and hard-of-hearing patients, so that they can recognize and treat symptoms and provide appropriate support.

     

In Vivo Investigation of Glucose Metabolism in Idiopathic and PRKN-Related Parkinson's Disease

Background

Alterations in mitochondrial dysfunction have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mitochondrial energy production is linked to glucose metabolism, and diabetes is associated with PD. However, studies investigating glucose metabolism in vivo in genetically stratified PD patients and controls have yet to be performed.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to explore glucose production, gluconeogenesis, and the contribution of gluconeogenesis to glucose production in idiopathic and PRKN PD compared with healthy controls with state-of-the-art biochemical methods.

Methods

We applied a dried-blood sampling/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry approach to monitor fluxes in the Cori cycle in vivo.

Results

The contribution of gluconeogenesis to total glucose production is increased in idiopathic PD patients (n = 33), but not in biallelic PRKN mutation carriers (n = 5) compared with healthy controls (n = 13).

Conclusions

We provide first-time in vivo evidence for alterations in glucose metabolism in idiopathic PD, in keeping with the epidemiological evidence for an association between PD and diabetes. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.     

Narrative spoken language skills in severely hearing impaired school-aged children with cochlear implants

Cochlear implants have a significant positive effect on spoken language development in severely hearing impaired children. Previous work in this population has focused mostly on the emergence of early-developing language skills, such as vocabulary. The current study aims at comparing narratives, which are more complex and later-developing spoken language skills, of a contemporary group of profoundly deaf school-aged children using cochlear implants (n = 66, median age = 8 years 3 months) with matched normal hearing peers. Results show that children with cochlear implants demonstrate good results on quantity and coherence of the utterances, but problematic outcomes on quality, content and efficiency of retold stories. However, for a subgroup (n = 20, median age = 8 years 1 month) of deaf children without additional disabilities who receive cochlear implantation before the age of 2 years, use two implants, and are raised with one spoken language, age-adequate spoken narrative skills at school-age are feasible. This is the first study to set the goals regarding spoken narrative skills for deaf children using cochlear implants.     

Patterns of Motivation and Ongoing Exercise Activity in Cardiac Rehabilitation Settings: A 24-Month Exploration from the TEACH Study

Background  

Few studies have explored exercise and motivational patterns of cardiac rehabilitation patients in the long term.     

Intraoperative neurophysiology for surgery in and around the brainstem: role of brainstem mapping and corticobulbar tract motor-evoked potential monitoring

Introduction  

New advancements of intraoperative neurophysiology for surgery in and around the brainstem have been described.     

Mediating Effects of Body Image Satisfaction on Exercise Behavior,Depressive Symptoms,and Gestational Weight Gain in Pregnancy

Background  

Body image satisfaction in pregnancy may have an important influence on maternal biopsychosocial outcomes.     

Does bereavement-related first episode depression differ from other kinds of first depressions?

Background  

It has never been investigated whether first depression differs in patients who have experienced bereavement compared to patients who have not.     

Weight Bias and Weight Loss Treatment Outcomes in Treatment-Seeking Adults

Background  

Few studies have explored the relationship between weight bias and weight loss treatment outcomes.     

Location and outcome of anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage

Background  

The characteristics of patients with anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (AAICH) have not been well characterized in a population-based setting.     

Change in Goal Ratings as a Mediating Variable Between Self-efficacy and Physical Activity in Older Men

Background  

Few studies have examined the associations between exercise self-efficacy, goals, and physical activity over time.     

Depressive disorder and social stress in Pakistan compared to people of Pakistani origin in the UK

Purpose  

Depressive disorder is more common in low to middle than high-income countries, but the reasons for this have not been explicitly defined.     

Statins and cognition in late‐life bipolar disorder

Objectives

Recent data suggests that statins have positive effects on cognition in older adults. Studies in patients with mood disorders have found contradicting positive and negative effects of statins on mood and cognition, with limited data in bipolar disorder (BD). The objective of this study was to assess the association between statin use and cognition in older adults with BD.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional sample of 143 euthymic older adults with BD (age ≥ 50), statin users (n = 48) and nonusers (n = 95) were compared for cognitive outcomes: Global and cognitive domain z‐scores were calculated from detailed neuropsychological batteries using normative data from healthy comparators (n = 87).

Results

The sample had a mean age of 64.3 (±8.9) years, 65.0% were female, with an average of 15.1 (±2.79) years of education. Statin users did not differ from nonusers on global (?0.60 [±0.69] vs ?0.49 [±0.68], t[127] = 0.80, P = .42) or individual cognitive domains z‐score.

Conclusions

In older patients with BD, statin use is not independently associated with cognitive impairment. This suggests that in older BD patients, the cognitive dysfunction associated with BD trumps the potential cognitive benefit that is associated with statins in older adults without a psychiatric disorder. Further, statins do not seem to exacerbate this cognitive dysfunction. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.     

Secondhand Smoke Policy and the Risk of Depression

Background  

Banning smoking in work and public settings leads to immediate reductions in disease burden. However, no previous studies have looked specifically at the impact smoking bans may have on depression.     

The Associations of Multiple Dimensions of Discrimination and Abdominal Fat in African American Adults: The Jackson Heart Study

Background  

Discrimination may be adversely associated with abdominal obesity, but few studies have examined associations with abdominal fat.     

A Review and Meta-Analysis of Affective Judgments and Physical Activity in Adult Populations

Background  

Popular theories of health behavior have often been criticized for neglecting an affective component to behavioral engagement.     

The Conjoined Effect of Naturalistic Perceived Available Support and Enacted Support on Cardiovascular Reactivity During a Laboratory Stressor

Background  

Studies have suggested that enacted social support has salutogenetic effects on cardiovascular activation during stress.     

Association of mental distress with health care utilization and costs: a 5-year observation in a general population

Objective  

Previous studies have associated mental distress and disorders with increased health care utilization and costs. However, most studies have selected subjects from treatment facilities or have applied retrospective designs.