Interpretation of compound nouns by adolescents with specific language impairment and autism spectrum disorders: An investigation of phenotypic overlap

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate (i) whether adolescents with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) and Autism plus Language Impairment (ALI) experience word-formation difficulties, and (ii) whether these two groups present with a similar language phenotype. The study investigated four groups using a 2 (language status) ×2 (autism status) design; adolescents with SLI (n =?14), ALI (n =?16), Autism Language-Typical (ALT; n =?14), and language matched controls (n =?17), with all groups presenting with typical non-verbal skills. Mean age was 14;10. Comprehension of conventional Noun–Noun lexical compounds (e.g., snowman), synthetic compounds (SCs, e.g., cat chaser), and novel root compounds (RCs, e.g., sheep socks), was assessed using a forced-choice picture selection task. The SLI and ALI participants frequently mis-parsed the SCs, interpreting the first noun as the agent. Those with poorer vocabularies and non-word repetition had greater difficulties. Reaction time (RT) profiles were flatter in the ASD groups, with similar RTs across different compounds. Language difficulties in the SLI and ALI groups extend to word-formation processes; for example, comprehension of SCs. This may reflect difficulties making analogies with stored lexical items. Overall the results support the hypothesis of a phenotypic overlap between SLI and ALI.     

活血化痰方治疗血管性轻度认知障碍临床研究

目的:观察活血化痰方治疗血管性轻度认知障碍的临床疗效。方法:将84例血管性轻度认知障碍患者按照随机数字表法分为对照组与观察组,每组42例,对照组采用尼莫地平片治疗,观察组采用活血化痰方治疗,两组患者均连续治疗6个月,以治疗2个月、4个月、6个月为观察点,比较治疗后两组患者中医证候积分、认知功能改善情况,检测患者血清丙二醛(malondjaldehyde,MDA)水平及超氧化歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px)等氧化应激指标的变化情况,评价临床疗效。结果:观察组有效率为90.48%高于对照组73.81%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗2个月、4个月、6个月,观察组中医证候积分均低于同组治疗前及对照组治疗后,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),认知功能评分均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);SOD、GSH-Px活性均高于对照组,MDA水平低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:活血化痰方可改善血管性轻度认知障碍患者中医证候及认知功能,减轻氧化应激损伤,临床疗效显著。     

基于老年健康综合评估探讨糖尿病与认知功能障碍的相关性研究

背景　目前糖尿病患者认知功能障碍被临床糖尿病治疗策略忽略,且尚未发现有效的治疗方法可以逆转痴呆的病程,因此,积极寻找痴呆的危险因素,从防治的角度预防痴呆的发生是改变目前在痴呆诊治中被动局面的一种有效方法。目的　探讨住院老年患者糖尿病与认知功能障碍的相关性。方法　选取2017年9月-2019年2月在成都市第一人民医院老年病科完成老年健康综合评估的住院老年患者为研究对象,采用简易精神状况量表（MMSE）、临床痴呆评定量表（CDR）、日常生活能力量表（ADL）进行评估。依据2型糖尿病诊断标准将患者分为正常组和糖尿病组。采用二分类Logistic回归分析探讨住院老年患者糖尿病与认知功能障碍的相关性。结果　共发放问卷610份,回收有效问卷606份,有效回收率99.3%。纳入研究的606例患者中,正常组428例,平均年龄（71.4±7.6）岁;男性180例（42.1%）,女性248例（57.9%）。糖尿病组178例,平均年龄（72.3±6.4）岁;男性82例（46.7%）,女性96例（53.9%）。两组患者MMSE、CDR、ADL评分及认知情况比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。二分类Logistic回归分析结果显示：糖尿病与住院老年患者认知功能障碍存在相关性（P<0.05）。结论　在住院老年患者中,糖尿病和认知功能障碍关系密切,临床上应关注两者共同的危险因素及影响因素,应注意筛查老年糖尿病患者的认知功能状况,及时发现认知功能障碍并进行有效的干预。     

Vascular cognitive impairment in patients with late-onset seizures after an ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment and seizures are both common conditions in patients with cerebrovascular disease. PURPOSE: The present study investigates whether the occurrence of late-onset seizures, following an ischemic stroke, contributes to vascular cognitive impairment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The mean Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the median modified Rankin (mR) scores were compared between 125 patients who developed late-onset seizures (66 with a single seizure and 59 with repeated seizures or epilepsy) following an ischemic stroke and 125 patients who did not during, at least, a 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: There were no differences in age, gender, etiology and degree of neurological impairment on admission for their stroke between the groups with and without seizures. Although the mean MMSE score was similar between both groups the median mR score was significantly higher in the seizure patients. Comparing the patients with a single seizure to the non-seizure ones showed the same results. On the other hand, comparison of the patients with epilepsy to the non-seizure group revealed, in addition to the higher median mR score, a significantly lower mean MMSE score in the former group. CONCLUSION: Repeated seizures following an ischemic stroke promote vascular cognitive impairment.     

老年轻度认知障碍记忆损害特点的研究

目的探讨老年轻度认知障碍患者的记忆损害特点,比较不同神经心理学测验对诊断和发现轻度认知障碍的敏感性,筛选临床实用的简捷敏感的神经心理学测验工具。方法轻度认知障碍患者20例,轻度阿尔茨海默病患者26例,健康老年人30名。应用词语回忆测验、图片回忆测验、数字广度测验、本顿视觉保持测验C式A法及D式D法进行测试。结果轻度认知障碍组在图片回忆分、视觉保持测验D式D法正确分及持续错误分上的成绩较正常对照组差(P<0．05);轻度认知障碍组视觉保持测验D法成绩明显差于A法(P<0．01)。结论轻度认知障碍患者对具体视觉形象的记忆能力及对无意义图形的视觉记忆能力受损,存在即刻记忆和延迟记忆障碍,且延迟回忆较即刻回忆损害明显,短时记忆更新的可塑性差;图片回忆测试、本顿视觉保持测验的延迟回忆测试或与即刻回忆联合测试有助于轻度认知障碍的早期发现。     

血管性痴呆和血管性认知障碍的临床研究进展

血管性认知障碍和痴呆是认知障碍和痴呆领域以及脑血管病领域研究方面的交叉点。本文综述了血管性痴呆和认知障碍的定义、诊断标准和药物治疗进展。在诊断方面重点介绍了血管性痴呆各个亚型的临床特点。在治疗方面重点介绍了血管性痴呆和认知障碍的胆碱能递质代谢障碍以及胆碱酯酶抑制剂治疗的进展。     

Predictors of gastric emptying in Parkinson''s disease

Predictors of gastric emptying (GE) in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) of a solid and liquid meal are not well defined. For measurement of GE 80 patients with PD were randomly assigned to receive either a solid meal (250 kcal) containing 13C-octanoate (n = 40) or a liquid meal (315 kcal) with 13C-acetate (n = 40). All patient groups were off medication affecting motility and were matched for age, gender, body mass index, disease duration and severity, using Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Gastric emptying was compared with a healthy control group (n = 40). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine predictors of gastric emptying. Exactly 88% and 38% of PD patients had delayed GE of solids and liquids respectively. Solid and liquid emptying was similar in women and men. There were no differences in GE in PD patients < 65 years of age when compared with patients > or = 65 years. Multiple regression analysis showed that motor handicaps such as rigour and action tremor are independent predictors of solid GE (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). The severity of motor impairment, but not any other neurological symptom, as assessed by UPDRS is associated with gastroparesis in PD and solid emptying is more likely to be delayed.     

Nutrient intake and psychological health in an elderly Chinese population

BACKGROUND: Associations between nutrition and cognitive impairment, and nutrition and depression, have been observed. Elderly people are at risk of under nutrition, and also have higher prevalence of cognitive impairment and depression. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between nutrient intake and psychological health in the elderly, adjusting for confounding factors. SUBJECTS: Three thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine men and women aged 65 years and over living in the community, with approximately equal numbers in three age groups: 65-69, 70-74, 75+ years. METHODS: Dietary intake was assessed using a 7-day food frequency questionnaire. Cognitive function was assessed by the cognitive part of the Community Screening Instrument for Dementia (CSID). Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Information was also collected for confounding factors: demographics, educational level, socioeconomic status, medical history, smoking, alcohol intake, and physical activity. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine associations between lifestyle and dietary variables, and CSID and GDS, controlling for confounders. RESULTS: Both CSID and GDS scores were associated with co-morbidity, demographic and socioeconomic factors. Few associations between lifestyle factors and CSID score were observed. Dietary factors inversely associated with GDS score include total fat intake, vitamins A, B2, B3, C, fibre, and vegetables. In terms of nutrient density, iron and isoflavone intake were additional factors. CONCLUSION: Association exists between intake of various nutrients and psychological health independent of other confounding factors in the elderly population. A follow-up study of this cohort or interventional studies are needed to elucidate cause effect relationship.     

Disinhibition of somatosensory evoked potential recovery in alcoholics

The pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in alcoholics remains unclear. Previous studies suggested that diffuse white matter atrophy is associated with cognitive impairment in alcoholics. To elucidate this issue, the present study evaluated alcoholics with cognitive impairment using the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) recovery method, which is suitable for detecting subtle dysfunction at the cortical level. Subjects comprised 12 alcoholics with mild cognitive impairment [Mild group: Mini Mental State Examination Score (MMSE), ≥24; mean, 27.9 ± 1.6], 12 alcoholics with moderate to severe cognitive impairment (Moderate group: MMSE score, < 24; mean, 21.0 ± 2.5) and 12 normal subjects (Control group). SEP was recorded from the hand sensory area contralateral to the median nerve stimulated at the wrist. Single-pulse or paired-pulse stimuli at various interstimulus intervals (10–300 ms) were administered. Recovery functions of N9 (a peripheral nerve component), N20, N20-P25 and P25-N33 (cortical components) were studied. N20 recovery curves of both alcoholic groups were less suppressive than those of Controls, and P25-N33 recovery curves of the Moderate group were more excitatory than those of the Mild or Control groups. A disinhibited recovery pattern of N20 indicates subcortical dysfunction, and a disinhibited pattern of P25-N33 would be induced by cortical dysfunction. Therefore, subcortical dysfunction indicated by an abnormal N20 recovery pattern may contribute to the early cognitive impairment of alcoholics, whilst the cortical dysfunction indicated by an abnormal P25-N33 recovery pattern may contribute to the later cognitive impairment of alcoholics.