Computerized Cognitive Training in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

. Cognitive impairments are common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Systematic reviews reported promising evidence for various cognitive interventions in this population.

Patterns of All-Cause Mortality in Papua New Guinea, 2011.

Existing estimates of mortality for Papua New Guinea (PNG) have primarily been based on models using little empirical data, and without estimation of life expectancy at subnational level. We used data on deaths from the 2000 and 2011 censuses and indirect demographic methods to estimate under-5 mortality (5q0), adult mortality (45q15), and life expectancy by province and sex. A Socioeconomic Composite Index was constructed to assess the plausibility of life expectancy estimates.

Functions of Utopia: How Utopian Thinking Motivates Societal Engagement.

Images of ideal societies, utopias, are all around us; yet, little is known of how utopian visions affect ordinary people's engagement with their societies. As goals for society, utopias may elicit processes of collective self-regulation, in which citizens are critical of, or take action to change, the societies they live in. In three studies, we investigated the psychological function of utopian thinking.

Can Digital Technology Enhance Social Connectedness Among Older Adults? A Feasibility Study.

This study examined the feasibility of a novel communication technology to enhance social connectedness among older adults in residential care. Research suggests that technology can create opportunities for social connectedness, helping alleviate social isolation and loneliness. Studies on implementation and feasibility of such technological interventions, particularly among frail and institutionalized older adults, are scant.

Linking Participatory Action Research on Health Systems to Justice in Global Health: A Case Study of the Maternal and Neonatal Implementation for Equitable Health Systems Project in Rural Uganda.

An ethical framework called "research for health justice" provides initial guidance on how to link health systems research in low- and middle-income countries to health equity. To further develop the largely conceptual framework, we tested its guidance against the experience of the Maternal and Neonatal Implementation for Equitable Health Systems (Manifest) project, which was performed in rural Uganda by researchers from Makerere University. We conducted 21 in-depth interviews with investigators and research implementers, directly observed study sites, and reviewed study-related documents.

Daily vision testing can expose the prodromal phase of migraine.

Background Several visual tasks have been proposed as indirect assays of the balance between cortical inhibition and excitation in migraine. This study aimed to determine whether daily measurement of performance on such tasks can reveal perceptual changes in the build up to migraine events. Methods Visual performance was measured daily at home in 16 non-headache controls and 18 individuals with migraine using a testing protocol on a portable tablet device.

Correlations Between Clinical Trial Outcomes Based on Symptoms, Functional Impairments, and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents With ADHD.

Objective: To assess relationships between treatment-associated changes in measures of ADHD symptoms, functional impairments, and health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Method: Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated post hoc for changes from baseline to endpoint in outcomes of one randomized, placebo- and active-controlled trial of lisdexamfetamine (osmotic-release methylphenidate reference) and one of guanfacine extended-release (atomoxetine reference).

Results: Changes in ADHD Rating Scale IV (ADHD-RS-IV) total score generally correlated moderately with changes in Child Health and Illness Profile-Child Edition: Parent Report Form (CHIP-CE:PRF) Achievement and Risk Avoidance ( r ≈ .

A Cultural Competence Organizational Review for Community Health Services: Insights From a Participatory Approach.

Cultural competence is an important aspect of health service access and delivery in health promotion and community health. Although a number of frameworks and tools are available to assist health service organizations improve their services to diverse communities, there are few published studies describing organizational cultural competence assessments and the extent to which these tools facilitate cultural competence. This article addresses this gap by describing the development of a cultural competence assessment, intervention, and evaluation tool called the Cultural Competence Organizational Review (CORe) and its implementation in three community sector organizations.

Research Priorities for Endometriosis.

The 3rd International Consensus Workshop on Research Priorities in Endometriosis was held in São Paulo on May 4, 2014, following the 12th World Congress on Endometriosis. The workshop was attended by 60 participants from 19 countries and was divided into 5 main sessions covering pathogenesis/pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis/classification/prognosis, disease/symptom management, and research policy. This research priorities consensus statement builds on earlier efforts to develop research directions for endometriosis.

Psychometric assessment of the Cardiac Depression Scale Short Form in cardiac outpatients.

Background: Depression is common in patients with cardiovascular disease and is a risk marker for increased mortality. The valid and reliable detection of depression is fundamental to the appropriate management of these patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Cardiac Depression Scale Short Form 1 (DS-SF1) and the Cardiac Depression Scale Short Form 2 (DS-SF2) for screening cardiac outpatients in clinical settings.

An optimised direct lysis method for gene expression studies on low cell numbers.

There is increasing interest in gene expression analysis of either single cells or limited numbers of cells. One such application is the analysis of harvested circulating tumour cells (CTCs), which are often present in very low numbers. A highly efficient protocol for RNA extraction, which involves a minimal number of steps to avoid RNA loss, is essential for low input cell numbers.

Characterisation of familial colorectal cancer Type X, Lynch syndrome, and non-familial colorectal cancer.

Background: Familial Colorectal Cancer Type X (FCCTX) is defined as individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) who families meet Amsterdam Criteria-1 (AC1), but whose tumours are DNA-mismatch-repair-proficient, unlike Lynch syndrome (LS). FCCTX does not have an increased risk of extra-colonic cancers. This analysis compares epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features among FCCTX, LS, and 'non-familial' (non-AC1) CRC cases.

'Progressive diabetic nephropathy. How useful is microalbuminuria?: contra'.

The concept of microalbuminuria has been central to the development of clinical practice and research in the area of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, in recent times, the value of a paradigm of DKD based solely on microalbuminuria has been questioned. Although both the absolute level and rate of change of microalbuminuria are linked to the development and progression of DKD, microalbuminuria on its own lacks the necessary sensitivity or specificity to accurately predict kidney outcomes for people with diabetes.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of respiratory muscle training on pulmonary function in tetraplegia.

Study Design: Systematic reviewObjectives:To determine the effect of respiratory muscle training (RMT) on pulmonary function in tetraplegia.

Methods: A comprehensive search of the research literature included MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ISI Web of Science, PubMed, the relevant Cochrane and clinical trials registers and hand-searching the reference lists of appropriate papers. There was no language restriction.