Normative Adjustments to the D-KEFS Trail Making Test: Corrections for Education and Vocabulary Level

The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) Trail Making Test (TMT), a modification of the original TMT, was created to isolate set-shifting (Letter–Number Switching) from other component skills. This was accomplished by including four baseline conditions (Visual Scanning, Number Sequencing, Letter Sequencing, and Motor Speed) and by placing equal numbers of stimuli in the three sequencing conditions. Given that some studies with the original TMT demonstrated a significant effect of education and intellectual functioning on performance, we utilized the D-KEFS national standardization sample to examine the effects of education and vocabulary level—i.e., Vocabulary subtest from the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI)—on the D-KEFS TMT. The results indicate a significant effect of these variables on each D-KEFS TMT condition. Normative tables for education- and vocabulary-adjusted scaled scores based on the database from the D-KEFS national normative study were generated.     

Measuring Hand Intrinsic Muscle Strength: Normal Values and Interrater Reliability

Abstract

Background: The intrinsic musdes of the hand are of interest in spinal cord injury (SCI) and other myelopathies, because they are innervated by the most caudal cord segments innervating the upper limb. ln addition, abnormalities of the peripheral nervous system, such as peripheral nerve entrapments, often affect hand intrinsic musde strength of SCI patients. Therefore, measuring hand intrinsic strength may allow for early diagnosis of neurologic dedine.

Methods: A method was developed for measuring strength of hand intrinsic musdes with a handheld myometer. With the use of a handheld myometer, this study examined the distribution of strength measurements for second-digit abductors, fifth-digit abductors, and thumb opposers in able-bodied participants and in individuals with weakness. The quantitative measurements were compared with manual musde test scores and interrater reliability is described for these hand intrinsic strength measurements. Thirty-one able-bodied individuals participated (17 men, 14 women; mean age = 37.7 years) . ln addition, 24, patients with SCI participated (23 men, 1 woman; mean age = 53.5 years; 9 with paraplegia and 14 with tetraplegia as a primary diagnosis). The Bland-Altman method was used to test for interrater reliability.

Results: Mean strength of able-bodied participants was 5.0 kg for second-digit abduction, 3.1 kg for fifth-digit abduction, and 5.0 kg for thumb opposition, and the lower Iimits of normal were 3 .0, 1 .8, and 3.4 kg, respectively. The 95th percentile of interrater differences were 2 9.3% for second-digit abduction, 38.5% for fifth-digit abduction, and 43.7% for thumb opposition.

Condusion: Abnormal hand intrinsic strength should be suspected if values are lower than the 5th percentile values listed above or if strength change exceeds the 95th percentile for interrater differences shown above. These quantitative hand strength measurements may allow for earlier diagnosis of secondary neurologic complications and may aid in monitaring neurologic recovery in persons with SCI.     

Estimating the prevalence of drinking problems among physicians

Objective

Surveys assessing alcohol use among physicians have most commonly employed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) or the AUDIT-C, the most common short version of the AUDIT. As with other screeners, prevalence estimation is dependent on the accuracy of the test as well as choice of the cutoff value. The aim of the current study is to derive more precise prevalence estimates of alcohol problems in physicians by correcting for false-positive and false-negative results.

Method

In the context of a survey, the AUDIT was sent out via email or standard postal service to all 2484 physicians in Salzburg, Austria. A total of 456 physicians participated. A published correction formula was used to estimate the real prevalence of alcohol use problems.

Results

Applying a cutoff of 5 points for the AUDIT-C, 15.7% of female and 37.7% of male physicians screened positive. Use of a correction based on general population data and the sensitivity and specificity of the AUDIT-C resulted in much lower prevalence rates: 4.0% for female and 9.5% for male physicians. Using the full AUDIT, 19.6% of the female physicians and 48% of the male physicians were screened positive. Using the correction, the estimated prevalence rates for females and males were 6.3% and 15.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that uncorrected screening results may markedly overestimate the prevalence of physicians drinking problems.     

Error-based training and emergent awareness in anosognosia for hemiplegia

Residual forms of awareness have recently been demonstrated in subjects affected by anosognosia for hemiplegia, but their potential effects in recovery of awareness remain to date unexplored. Emergent awareness refers to a specific facet of motor unawareness in which anosognosic subjects recognise their motor deficits only when they have been requested to perform an action and they realise their errors. Four participants in the chronic phase after a stroke with anosognosia for hemiplegia were recruited. They took part in an “error-full” or “analysis of error-based” rehabilitative training programme. They were asked to attempt to execute specific actions, analyse their own strategies and errors and discuss the reasons for their failures. Pre- and post-training and follow-up assessments showed that motor unawareness improved in all four patients. These results indicate that unsuccessful action attempts with concomitant error analysis may facilitate the recovery of emergent awareness and, sometimes, of more general aspects of awareness.     

Antisociality, underarousal and the validity of the Concealed Information Polygraph Test

The Concealed Information Polygraph Test has been advocated as the preferred method for the physiological detection of deception. In this study, we further examined the validity of the Concealed Information Test in antisocial individuals. Physiological responding to concealed information was assessed in 48 male prisoners, and compared with responding in 31 male community volunteers. Based upon the association between antisociality and autonomic hyporesponsivity, lower detection rates were expected in the prisoners. Participants were questioned on five personally significant items (e.g., day of birth), instructed to deny recognition of this information, and promised a financial reward when able to hide recognition. Prisoners showed reduced autonomic reactivity in comparison to the community volunteers. This hyporesponsivity had little impact on the sensitivity of the Concealed Information Test. Detection efficiency in the prisoners was significantly above chance (d=2.67; a=0.82; 79%), and did not differ significantly from that obtained in the community volunteers (d=3.04; a=0.85; 87%). The present data support the validity of the Concealed Information Test in criminal populations.     

运用个性测验探讨对思维过程改变的护理

我们对４３４例精神科住院病人，运用《艾森克个别测验》（ＥＰＱ）了解各量分值及相应的表现，再根据个性化资料确定离要护理诊断，对于重性疾病Ｅ量表Ｔ分增高的病人和轻性精神疾病，特别是女性Ｎ量表Ｔ分增高的病人所表现的个性特征，采用针对性护理措施，避免了一般化护理。     

结核感染T细胞斑点试验在脊柱结核诊断中的应用

目的：探讨结核感染T细胞斑点试验在脊柱结核诊断中的临床应用价值。方法选取2012年4月～2013年1月本院骨科病区收治的疑似脊柱结核患者156例,分别采用结核感染T细胞斑点试验和结核菌素试验进行诊断,比较两者对脊柱结核诊断的临床意义（包括灵敏性、特异性、假阳性率和假阴性率指标的差别）。结果结核感染T细胞斑点试验的灵敏性和特异性明显高于结核菌素试验（P＜0．05）;同时,结核感染T细胞斑点试验的假阳性率和假阴性率明显低于结核菌素试验试验（P＜0．05）。结论结核感染T细胞斑点试验在诊断脊柱结核中具有良好的敏感性和特异性,具有重要临床应用价值。