Standard versus computerized administration of the wisconsin card sorting test

Abstract

Performance on the Psychological Assessment Resources computerized version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)(PAR) was compared to that on the standard version of the WCST using 119 neurologically normal subjects from Spain. Subjects were randomly assigned to test versions and were administered either the standard or computerized WCST. The data indicate that these two test versions yield similar results in normals. Further, age- and education-corrected standard scores based on the North American standardization sample described in the WCST manual indicate that performance by Spanish subjects on measures of the WCST approximates that of North American subjects.     

Long-term outcome of children treated with rituximab for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

Background

Rituximab (RTX) has recently showed promising results in the treatment of steroid-dependent idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (SDNS).

Methods

This was a retrospective multicenter study of 18 children treated with RTX for SDNS, with a mean follow-up of 3.2 years. RTX was introduced because of side effects or relapses during therapy with immunosuppressive agents. The children received one to four infusions of RTX during the first course of treatment, and subsequent infusions were given due to CD19-cell recovery (CD19?>1 %; 54 % of children) or relapse (41 %), as well as systematically (5 %).

Results

Treatment with RTX maintained sustained remission without relapse in 22 % of patients and increased the duration of remission in all other patients. The time between two successive relapses was 9 months in the absence of re-treatment and 24.5 months when infusions were performed at the time of CD19-cell recovery. At the last follow-up, 44.5 % of patients were free of oral drug therapy. Of those still receiving oral drugs, all doses had been decreased. No serious adverse events occurred.

Conclusion

The results of this retrospective study confirm the efficacy and very good safety of RTX in the treatment of SDNS. The optimal therapeutic protocol seems to be a repeated single infusion at the time of CD19-cell recovery.     

Burn Sexuality Questionnaire: Brazilian translation,validation and cultural adaptation

In measuring the quality of life of burn victims, it is essential that we find reliable and valid means. The Burn Sexuality Questionnaire (BSQ) is a specific instrument that assesses sexuality in the context of quality of life of burn victims. We set out to translate, validate and culturally adapt the BSQ into Brazilian Portuguese. The Portuguese version was applied to 80 patients. After translation, cultural adaptation was performed with 30 patients. We also tested the final version for reliability in 20 patients, and for face, content and construct validities in 30 patients, according to standard procedures. Total Cronbach's alpha was 0.87. Pearson's correlation was significant between scores for different time points. Construct validity was demonstrated with the correlation of the BSQ with the Burn Specific Health Scale – Revised (BSHS-R) questionnaire. It showed significant correlation between the BSQ social comfort domain and the BSHS-R affect and body image (p = 0.025), simple function ability (p = 0.008), work (p = 0.016) and treatment (p = 0.037) domains. This cultural adaptation of the BSQ suggests that it is a reliable tool and has construct validity for the social comfort domain. There is still need for a better-structured tool that could possibly evaluate functional and psychological aspects of sexuality, because one could easily overlook the psychosocial aspects of patients with major, complex burns.     

Predictors of trait dissociation and peritraumatic dissociation induced via cold pressor

Understanding which factors predict individual dissociative response during stressful situations is important to clarify the nature of dissociation and the mechanisms associated to its use as a coping strategy. The present study examined (1) whether experiential avoidance (EA), anxiety sensitivity (AS), depressive symptoms, and state anxiety concurrently predicted trait dissociation (TD)—absorption, amnesia, depersonalization, and total TD scores—and laboratory induced dissociation (LID); and (2) whether TD and catastrophizing predicted LID. We also examined whether catastrophizing mediated the relationships between both AS and depressive symptoms and LID. A total of 101 female undergraduate students participated in a cold pressor task, which significantly induced dissociation. Results of hierarchical regression analyses showed that AS at Time 1 (9 months before the experimental session), as well as depressive symptoms and catastrophizing at the time of the experiment (Time 2), predicted LID at Time 2. Depressive symptoms at Time 2 predicted total TD, absorption, and amnesia scores. AS at Time 1 and depressive symptoms at Time 2 predicted depersonalization. AS, depressive symptoms, and catastrophizing seem to facilitate the use of dissociative strategies by healthy individuals, even in response to non-traumatic but discomforting stress.     

Cultural Influences on Sibling Relationships,Roles, and Self-Concept in the Context of Autism: Perspectives of Latino/a/x and non-Latino/a/x Siblings

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - Siblings describe positive and negative aspects of autism and often assume lifelong support roles. Less is known about cultural influences on sibling...     

25 Jahre Notfall+Rettungsmedizin – reine Männersache?

Notfall + Rettungsmedizin -