Statistically and clinically significant cognitive declines are observed in a small subset of individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD) following treatment with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).
We ...examine the association between multi-domain cognitive decline (MCD) and demographic and baseline clinical variables and the incidence of serious adverse events (SAE) arising within a six-month interval following DBS for PD.
Study participants with PD who displayed MCD at 6-month follow-up evaluation after DBS (n = 18) were contrasted with individuals with PD from the same study who did not show cognitive decline after DBS (n = 146). Logistic regression analyses were employed to assess relationship between predictors, including age (>70 years old), pre-DBS cognitive screening test performance, SAE, and MCD. MCD+ and MCD-groups were also compared on other baseline clinical and demographic variables.
MCD showed modest association with older age and lower baseline neurocognitive screening performance, whereas the groups did not differ on most other baseline clinical and demographic variables. SAEs during the study interval were the most robust predictor of MCD in the DBS group. A variety of SAEs were documented in study participants experiencing MCD after DBS surgery, including, but not limited to, infections and small intracranial hemorrhages.
Older age and lower baseline cognition measured prior to treatment are associated with MCD measured at six-months after DBS. SAE occurring following DBS surgery are also predictive of MCD. These predictors may reflect aspects of “frailty” in advanced PD. Risk factors for SAE warrant careful consideration in clinical trials.
•Age shows modest associations with higher rate of cognitive decline after DBS for PD.•Lower Baseline cognitive Functioning shows modest association with cognitive decline after DBS for PD.•Serious Adverse Events are associated with Cognitive Decline after DBS for PD.
We have characterized a mammalian homolog of the Drosophila period gene and designated it Per2. The PER2 protein shows >40% amino acid identity to the protein of another mammalian per homolog ...(designated Per1) that was recently cloned and characterized. Both PER1 and PER2 proteins share several regions of homology with the Drosophila PER protein, including the protein dimerization PAS domain. Phylogenetic analysis supports the existence of a family of mammalian per genes. In the mouse, Per1 and Per2 RNA levels exhibit circadian rhythms in the SCN and eyes, sites of circadian clocks. Both Per1 and Per2 RNAs in the SCN are increased by light exposure during subjective night but not during subjective day. The results advance our knowledge of candidate clock elements in mammals.
We consider the effect that national culture has on the propensity for small, independent manufacturing enterprises to (1) cooperate with other firms for technological innovation and (2) use equity ...ties in the formation of these alliances. Results from a five-country study indicate that national culture traits directly influence technology alliance formation and moderate the relationship between perceived technological uncertainty and alliance formation. Specifically, our results suggest that a resource dependence explanation for technology alliance formation is strongest for societies that maintain cooperative values and avoid uncertainty. A transaction cost explanation for the use of equity ties is strongest for societies that value individualism.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major stressor in the lives of couples and families. In the face of the many stressors associated with the pandemic, many couples have struggled, but results from the ...early phase of the pandemic have shown mixed findings with regard to couple outcomes. The present study thus seeks to better understand relationship outcomes over the course of the pandemic, by examining trends in relationship satisfaction and commitment between April/May 2020 and March 2022 and evaluating specific pandemic stressors as covariates. The present study consists of 592 individual participants primarily from the United States who were living at home with another person at the beginning of the pandemic. Participants were sampled in April/May 2020, again about 1 month later, in March 2021, and finally in March 2022. About 85% identified as female, and about 90% were Caucasian, with 1% identifying as Black, 2% as Asian, 1.7% as Latino, and 3.5% as mixed race. Changes in relationship satisfaction and relationship commitment over time were modeled using separate linear mixed effects models. Results showed that satisfaction has dropped significantly and consistently over time, and that commitment has been relatively stable, but did drop significantly from the first time point to the last. Changes over time did not vary significantly by pandemic-specific stressors. These findings suggest that while relationships do not appear to have undergone extreme negative changes in most cases, that certainly attention to repair and renewal of close relationships is an essential component of our national pandemic recovery. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)
A synthetic analogue of a naturally occurring enzyme has been produced by grafting appropriate nucleophilic and hydrogen‐bonding functionalities to gold nanoparticles via self‐assembled monolayers ...(see Figure and cover). The synthetic analogue mimics silicatein proteins, which act as both catalysts and templates for formation of silica needles in a marine sponge, converting silicon alkoxide precursors to silica at low temperatures and near‐neutral pH.
Utilizing information processing theory, we investigated the role that proactiveness plays in the organizational process of perceiving objective industrial munificence. Specifically, we examined the ...moderating effect of proactiveness in the munificence perception process, as well as the mediating impact of perceived munificence on the relationship between objective munificence and firm performance. Data collected from 227 companies in four countries and seven manufacturing industries support both hypotheses. The implications of these findings for managerial practice and future research are discussed.
Baltes and Baltes' "selective optimization with compensation" model is pertinent to driving but evidence about the use of compensation using longitudinal designs is scarce. Therefore, we sought to ...determine if older drivers reduced their engagement in distracting behaviors while driving, over a 6-year period.
We used data captured over several annual assessments from a cohort of 583 drivers aged 70 and older to determine if their engagement in 12 distracting behaviors (e.g., listening to the radio, talking with passengers) declined over time. We adjusted our multivariable model for several potential confounders of the association between our outcome variable and time.
Overall, and after adjustment for potential confounders, the participants reduced their engagement in distracting behaviors over the study period (odds ratio OR = 0.96, 95% confidence interval CI = 0.95-0.97). Baseline age was negatively associated with engagement in distracting behaviors (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.94-0.96). Men engaged in more distracting behaviors than women (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.03-1.27), as did participants living in the largest urban centers compared to participants living in the smallest areas (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.04-1.41). The number of kilometers driven per year (for every 10,000 km) was positively associated with the proportion of distracting behaviors drivers engaged in (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.08-1.19).
Drivers in our cohort reduced their engagement in distracting behaviors over the study period. This suggests that older drivers adjust their driving over time, which aligns with age-related theories and models about compensation.
The objective was to develop a disability-based metric for quantifying disability rates as a result of motor vehicle crash (MVC) spine injuries and compare functional outcomes between pediatric and ...adult subgroups.
Disability rate was quantified using Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores within the National Trauma Data Bank-Research Data System for the top 95% most frequent Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 3 spine injuries (14 unique injuries). Pediatric (7-18 years), young adult (19-45 years), middle-aged adult (46-65 years), and older adult (66+ years) MVC occupants with FIM scores available and at least one of the 14 spine injuries were included. FIM scores of 1 or 2 at time of discharge were used to define disability and correspond to full functional or modified dependence in self-feeding, locomotion, and/or verbal expression. Disability rate was evaluated on a per injury basis for each AIS 3 spine injury and calculated as the proportion of cases associated with disability (i.e. FIM of 1 or 2) out of the total cases of that particular injury. Disability rates were calculated with and without the exclusion of cases with severe co-injuries (AIS 4+) to minimize bias from additional non-spinal injuries that could have contributed to disability. Associations between adjusted disability rates and existing mortality rates were investigated.
Locomotion impairment alone was the most frequent disability type for the top 14 AIS 3 spine injuries (7 cervical, 4 thoracic, and 3 lumbar) across all age groups and spine regions. Adjusted and unadjusted disability rates ranged from 0-69%. Adjusted disability rates increased with age: 14.8 ± 10% (mean ± SD) in pediatrics to 16.2 ± 6.6% (young adults), 29.2 ± 10.9% (middle-aged adults), and 45.0 ± 12.2% (older adults). Among all adult populations, adjusted mortality and disability rates were positively correlated (R
2
>0.24), with disability rates consistently greater than corresponding mortality rates.
Older adults had significantly greater disability rates associated with MVC spine injuries across all spinal regions. MVC disability rates for pediatrics were considerably lower. Overall, rates of mortality were significantly lower than rates of disability. The adjusted disability rates developed can supplement existing injury metrics by accounting for age- and location-specific functional implications of MVC spine injuries.
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