Medical Specialties Commons^™

Type 2 Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus NPro Suppresses Type I Interferon Pathway Signaling In Bovine Cells And Augments Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus Replication, Abdulrahman Abdulaziz A. Alkheraif

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infections contribute to the bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC), which is a multi-factorial disorder involving co-infections of viruses and bacteria including mycoplasma. BRDC causes great economic losses to the United States feedlot industry. BVDV infection induces immunosuppression in infected animals. BVDV N^pro binds and degrades the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3) and effectively blocks type I interferon (type I IFN) expression in host cells. BRSV nonstructural proteins, NS1 and NS2, block activation of IRF-3. In calves, concurrent infection with BVDV and BRSV resulted in more severe clinical …

Patient Acceptance Of Remote Scribing Powered By Google Glass In Outpatient Dermatology: Cross-Sectional Study, Sandra Odenheimer, Deepika Goyal, Veena Jones, Ruth Rosenblum, Lam Ho, Albert Chan

Faculty Publications

Background: The ubiquitous use of electronic health records (EHRs) during medical office visits using a computer monitor and keyboard can be distracting and can disrupt patient-health care provider (HCP) nonverbal eye contact cues, which are integral to effective communication. Provider use of a remote medical scribe with face-mounted technology (FMT), such as Google Glass, may preserve patient-HCP communication dynamics in health care settings by allowing providers to maintain direct eye contact with their patients while still having access to the patient’s relevant EHR information. The medical scribe is able to chart patient encounters in real-time working in an offsite location, …

Agreement Between Clinician-Rated Versus Patient-Reported Outcomes In Huntington Disease, Noelle E Carlozzi, Nicholas R Boileau, Joel S Perlmutter, Kelvin L Chou, Julie C Stout, Jane S Paulsen, Michael K Mccormack, David Cella, Martha A Nance, Jin-Shei Lai, Praveen Dayalu

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Clinician-rated measures of functioning are often used as primary endpoints in clinical trials and other behavioral research in Huntington disease. As study costs for clinician-rated assessments are not always feasible, there is a question of whether patient self-report of commonly used clinician-rated measures may serve as acceptable alternatives in low risk behavioral trials.

AIM: The purpose of this paper was to determine the level of agreement between self-report and clinician-ratings of commonly used functional assessment measures in Huntington disease.

DESIGN: 486 participants with premanifest or manifest Huntington disease were examined. Total Functional Capacity, Functional Assessment, and Independence Scale assessments …

Characterizing The Recovery Trajectories Of Knee Range Of Motion For One Year After Total Knee Replacement, Saurabh Mehta, Andrew Rigney, Kyle Webb, Jacob Wesney, Paul W. Stratford, Franklin D. Shuler, Ali Oliashirazi

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of routinely collected clinical data.

OBJECTIVE: This study modeled the recovery in knee flexion and extension range of motion (ROM) over 1 year after total knee replacement (TKR).

BACKGROUND: Recovery after TKR has been characterized for self-reported pain and functional status. Literature describing target knee ROM at different follow-up periods after TKR is scarce.

METHODS: Data were extracted for patients who had undergone TKR at a tertiary care hospital at 2, 8, 12, 26, and 52 weeks after TKR. A linear mixed-effects growth model was constructed that investigated the following covariates age, sex, pre-TKR range, body mass …

Adaptation Of Microelectrode Array Technology For The Study Of Anesthesia-Induced Neurotoxicity In The Intact Piglet Brain, Emily D. Geyer, Prithvi A. Shetty, Christopher J. Suozzi, David Z. Allen, Pamela P. Benavidez, Joseph Liu, Charles N. Hollis, Greg A. Gerhardt, Jorge E. Quintero, Jason J. Burmeister, Emmett E. Whitaker

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Every year, millions of children undergo anesthesia for a multitude of procedures. However, studies in both animals and humans have called into question the safety of anesthesia in children, implicating anesthetics as potentially toxic to the brain in development. To date, no studies have successfully elucidated the mechanism(s) by which anesthesia may be neurotoxic. Animal studies allow investigation of such mechanisms, and neonatal piglets represent an excellent model to study these effects due to their striking developmental similarities to the human brain.

This protocol adapts the use of enzyme-based microelectrode array (MEA) technology as a novel way to study the …

Assistive Utensil: A Spork For Hand Tremors And Spatial Awareness, Ana Font Hernandez, Jacob Kabariti, Troy Taylor

Publications and Research

In this poster, we present a 3D printed solution for hand tremors and special awareness. Our spork is an assistive device designed and 3D printed for patients suffering from scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, drug withdrawal, etc. The scale-based handle will act as a counterweight to offset the contents on the other end and reduce shakiness. The larger grip allows an easy and comfortable hold. The product will be 3D printed for a customizable fit and at an affordable price. Lastly, the product will include a haptic feedback sensor to assist the visually impaired in locating food contents on …

A Study Of Acoustically Activated Nanodroplets, Songita Choudhury

Theses & Dissertations

Current treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which is the main pathophysiological event leading to death in the United States, has advanced considerably with the introduction of emergent percutaneous interventions, but there remains an urgent need for novel techniques to rapidly and accurately detect infarcted or ischemic tissue that results from AMI. Ultrasound contrast agents, also known as microbubbles (MB), have become commonplace in echocardiography. However, MBs are purely intravascular tracers and unable to cross endothelial barriers due to size. The limitations of MBs, namely size and short circulation times within the human body, led to the development of phase-change …

Quantification Of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Following Immunomodulation Therapy In A Murine Allograft Model Of Colorectal Carcinoma, Caroline Spainhour

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Colorectal Carcinoma (CRC) is one of the deadliest cancers in the world, with 150,000 new cases annually in the United States. Traditional treatments include chemotherapy and invasive surgery; however, research has shown that only 25% of patients that undergo traditional treatment have a positive result. Immunotherapy is an emerging form of cancer treatment that utilizes the patients’immune system to fight cancer cells by targeting inflammation, which plays a large role in the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are immune cells that affect the inflammatory microenvironment of tumors. TAMs are M1 in the early stages of tumors, …

Longitudinal Measures Of Deformation Are Associated With A Composite Measure Of Contractility Derived From Pressure-Volume Loop Analysis In Children., Shahryar M. Chowdhury, Ryan J. Butts, Carolyn L. Taylor, Varsha M. Bandisode, Karen S. Chessa, Anthony M. Hlavacek, Arni Nutting, Girish S. Shirali, G Hamilton Baker

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Aims: The relationship between echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) systolic function and reference-standard measures have not been assessed in children. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of echocardiographic indices of LV systolic function via direct comparison to a novel composite measure of contractility derived from pressure-volume loop (PVL) analysis.

Methods and results: Children with normal loading conditions undergoing routine left heart catheterization were prospectively enrolled. PVLs were obtained via conductance catheters. A composite invasive composite contractility index (ICCI) was developed using data reduction strategies to combine four measures of contractility derived from PVL analysis. Echocardiograms …

Systemic Blood Pressure Trends And Antihypertensive Utilization Following Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: An Analysis Of The Interagency Registry For Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support, Adham Elmously, Andreas R. De Biasi, Donald A. Risucci, Berhane Worku, Evelyn M. Horn, Arash Salemi

NYMC Faculty Publications

Background: Elevated systemic blood pressure (SBP) has been linked to complications in Continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs), including stroke and pump thrombosis. We queried Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) to describe the response of SBP to CF-LVAD implantation and to delineate contemporary trends in antihypertensive (AH) utilization for patients with these pumps. Methods: We identified all CF-LVAD implantations in patients older than 18 years from 2006-2014, excluding those whose durations were less than 30 days. Pre-implant patient demographics and characteristics were obtained for each record. SBPs [i.e., mean arterial pressures (MAPs)], AH-use data, and vital status …

A Multi-Faceted Intervention To Improve Naloxone Co-Prescription Rates Among Primary Care Providers, Jolane S. Conklin

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

It is estimated that 91 Americans die every day due to opioid overdoses, with at least half of those overdoses involving an opioid prescription (CDC, 2016d). To address this issue, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) has initiated an opioid initiative, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a clinical guideline, both of which include a focus on increasing use of naloxone. Despite these recommendations, providers often fail to co-prescribe naloxone to patients at increased risk of opioid overdose. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to evaluate the effect of …

Use Of Urine Antigen Testing For Blastomyces In An Integrated Health System, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Blastomycosis, an endemic fungal infection, mimics many other diseases. We explored the use of Blastomyces urine antigen (BuAg), reportedly the most sensitive noninvasive test, in clinical practice and compared it to other noninvasive tests.

Methods: A total of 836 BuAg tests performed on unique patients (first test only) at one large integrated health system from June 2013 to May 2016 were retrospectively reviewed to examine test characteristics and demographic features. Of these, 100 cases from 2015, a year containing a large local blastomycosis outbreak, were randomly selected for detailed analysis.

Results: Demographics for the BuAg-tested population: mean age 54.9 …

Renal Granulomatosis Post Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin Therapy For Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer, Karen Tran-Harding, Rashmi T. Nair, Halemane S. Ganesh

Radiology Faculty Publications

Intravesical Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy is a proven, effective treatment for intermediate- and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Minor side effects are common and expected but systemic effects can occur in < 5% of treated patients. We present a rare case of a 49-year-old male that presented with fever and chills after 3 weeks of intravesical BCG therapy post transurethral resection of bladder tumor. New renal lesions were present on contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan which was histologically proven to be necrotizing renal granulomatosis.

The Corticosteroid Compounds Prednisolone And Vamorolone Do Not Alter The Nociception Phenotype And Exacerbate Liver Injury In Sickle Cell Mice., Luis E F Almeida, Jesse M Damsker, Sarah Albani, Nina Afsar, Sayuri Kamimura, Drew Pratt, David E Kleiner, Martha Quezado, Heather Gordish-Dressman, Zenaide M N Quezado

Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Publications

Clinicians often hesitate prescribing corticosteroids to treat corticosteroid-responsive conditions in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients because their use can be associated with complications (increased hospital readmission, rebound pain, strokes, avascular necrosis, acute chest syndrome). Consequently, SCD patients may receive suboptimal treatment for corticosteroid-responsive conditions. We conducted a preclinical trial of dissociative (vamorolone) and conventional (prednisolone) corticosteroid compounds to evaluate their effects on nociception phenotype, inflammation, and organ dysfunction in SCD mice. Prednisolone and vamorolone had no significant effects on nociception phenotype or anemia in homozygous mice. Conversely, prednisolone and vamorolone significantly decreased white blood cell counts and hepatic inflammation. Interestingly, …

Refrigerated Stability Of Diluted Cisatracurium, Rocuronium, And Vecuronium For Skin Testing After Perioperative Anaphylaxis, Kristen Dinsmore, Bethany Campbell, Timothy Archibald, Greg Mosier, Stacy Brown Phd, Alexei Gonzalez-Estrada Md

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Rationale: The purpose of this study is to investigate the stored stability of dilutions of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs), namely cisatracurium, rocuronium, and vecuronium, for skin prick/intradermal testing.

Methods: Concentrations of NMBAs were monitored by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for a period of 14 days. Dilutions of NMBAs were prepared in saline by factors of 10x, 100x, 1,000x, 10,000x, and 100,000x as sensitivity of the assay allowed. Diluted drug products were stored in a laboratory refrigerator until sampling. On sampling days, aliquots of each dilution were removed and compared to a freshly prepared set of reference dilutions.

Results: The results …

The Tempo Trial At 5 Years: Transoral Fundoplication (Tif 2.0) Is Safe, Durable, And Cost-Effective., Karim S Trad, William E Barnes, Elizabeth R Prevou, Gilbert Simoni, Jennifer A Steffen, Ahmad B Shughoury, Mamoon Raza, Jeffrey A Heise, Mark A Fox, Peter G Mavrelis

Surgery Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Questions remain about the therapeutic durability of transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF). In this study, clinical outcomes were evaluated at 5 years post-TIF 2.0.

METHODS: A total of 63 chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) sufferers with troublesome symptoms refractory to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, absent or ≤2 cm hiatal hernia, and abnormal esophageal acid exposure were randomized to the TIF group or PPI group. Following the 6-month evaluation, all patients in the PPI group elected for crossover to TIF; therefore, all 63 patients underwent TIF 2.0 with EsophyX

RESULTS: Of 63 patients, 60 were available at 1 year, 52 …

Lumbar Decompression Surgery: Does Chronic Steroid Use Increase The Risk Of Postoperative Infectious Complications? – A Study Of The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (Nsqip) Database, Shane Sobrio, Mikel Thista, Raj Rao, Alex Gu, Chapman Wei, Warren Yu

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Intro: It has long been established that corticosteroids have a negative impact on the human immune system’s ability to function at an optimal level. Many past studies have shown that patient’s will have higher rates of infection if they are taking chronic steroids. What has yet to be established is just how much of an increased risk patients on chronic steroids have for infection after undergoing lumbar decompression surgeries, of which there are thousands per year. We hypothesize that patients on chronic steroids will have higher rates of surgical site infections and higher rates of other infections (UTI, pneumonia, etc.) …

Oncology Section Edge Task Force On Cancer: Measures Of Cancer-Related Fatigue—A Systematic Review, Mary Insana Fisher, Claire Davies, Hannah Lacy, Deborah Doherty

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. Being able to accurately screen for and assess CRF will improve access to and prescriptions for interventions. Valid and reliable measures to screen for and assess CRF need to be identified.

Purpose: To identify and recommend reliable, valid, and clinically useful tools to screen for and assess CRF among those treated for cancer.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to assess the published psychometric properties and clinical feasibility of each method identified. Task force members independently reviewed each measure using …

In Vitro Assay Development As An Alternative To The Use Of Laboratory Animals For Measuring Clostridium Perfingens Type C Toxoid, Lauren M. Wilmes

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Clostridium perfringens type C produces beta toxin, which is a primary virulence determinate that can cause necrotic enteritis in neonatal animals. Vaccines directed against C. perfringens toxins have shown to be efficacious in preventing disease. However, the production of a commercial vaccine requires not only an efficacious antigen, but also testing methods for quantifying antigens and potency on final product. This research was undertaken to fulfill a need for the reduction in small animal usage to produce and deliver vaccines. The current testing methods are performed in vivo according to the Code of Federal Regulations number 9 (9CFR) United …

Supervising Ebt: What Content Do Workplace-Based Supervisors Cover And What Techniques Do They Use?, Shannon Dorsey, Michael D Pullmann, Suzanne E.U. Kerns, Esther Deblinger, Leah Lucid, Julie P Harrison, Kelly Thompson, Lucy Berliner

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Workplace-based clinical supervision in public mental health is an underutilized resource for supporting evidence- based treatments (EBTs) [1], despite the fact that supervisors may offer a cost-effective way to support clinician fidelity to EBT. Very little, however, is known about the content and techniques used by workplace-based supervisors [2]; particularly in the context of EBT implementation [3].

P16-Ki67-Hmb45 Immunohistochemical Profiling May Help Discriminate Between Spitzoid Melanoma And Atypical Spitz Nevi, Robert E. Garola, Vivekanand Singh

Posters

Background

When Spitz nevi have increased vertical thickness (>1.5 MM), show ulceration and deep seated mitosis, the differential diagnostic considerations of atypical Spitz nevus (ASN) or a Spitzoid melanoma (SM) enter into consideration. While expert consultation from a dermatopathologist is most often sought to resolve the differential diagnosis, it could be expensive and time consuming. Recently, the use of molecular genetic testing has also been advocated in the work group up of atypical melanocytic proliferations. On the contrary, immunohistochemistry is a more routinely used technique in most pathology centers may be more simple to apply. A single immunohistochemical marker …

Evaluating Cognition In Individuals With Huntington Disease: Neuroqol Cognitive Functioning Measures, Jin-Shei Lai, Siera Goodnight, Nancy R Downing, Rebecca E Ready, Jane S Paulsen, Anna L Kratz, Julie C Stout, Michael K Mccormack, David Cella, Christopher Ross, Jenna Russell, Noelle E Carlozzi

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

PURPOSE: Cognitive functioning impacts health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for individuals with Huntington disease (HD). The Neuro-QoL includes two patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures of cognition-Executive Function (EF) and General Concerns (GC). These measures have not previously been validated for use in HD. The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Neuro-QoL Cognitive Function measures for use in HD.

METHODS: Five hundred ten individuals with prodromal or manifest HD completed the Neuro-QoL Cognition measures, two other PRO measures of HRQOL (WHODAS 2.0 and EQ5D), and a depression measure (PROMIS Depression). Measures of functioning The Total …

Therapeutic Effects Of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization And The Use In Athletic Populations: A Literature Review, Jenna Treloar

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This literature review examines the mechanism and application of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) in athletic populations. IASTM is a treatment technique used for soft tissue pathologies. Experimental studies have been performed to determine the effects of IASTM on range of motion, pain, and inflammation in upper and lower extremities. Conflicting evidence exists for the effect of IASTM on the inflammatory reparative process of the body while more evidence exists in support of the technique’s benefits on pain reduction and improvement in range of motion. Understanding the effects of IASTM on range of motion, pain, and inflammation may be useful …

Visualdx, Tariq Rahaman

Library Learn - Complete Video Collection

VisualDx is a clinical decision support tool and is available via NSU Libraries. The attached PDF contains instructions for accessing the mobile app.

• Click here to access VisualDx!

For tutorials on using the VisualDx platform, visit the website.

Echocardiographic Detection Of Increased Ventricular Diastolic Stiffness In Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients: A Pilot Study., Shahryar M. Chowdhury, Ryan J. Butts, Anthony M. Hlavacek, Carolyn L. Taylor, Karen S. Chessa, Varsha M. Bandisode, Girish S. Shirali, Arni Nutting, G Hamilton Baker

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background: Pediatric heart transplant recipients are at risk for increased left ventricular (LV) diastolic stiffness. However, the noninvasive evaluation of LV stiffness has remained elusive in this population. The objective of this study was to compare novel echocardiographic measures of LV diastolic stiffness versus gold-standard measures derived from pressure-volume loop (PVL) analysis in pediatric heart transplant recipients.

Methods: Patients undergoing left heart catheterization were prospectively enrolled. PVLs were obtained via conductance. The end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship was obtained via balloon occlusion. The stiffness constant, β, was calculated. Echocardiographic measures of diastolic function were derived from spectral and tissue Doppler and two-dimensional …

Word-List Intrusion Errors Predict Progression To Mild Cognitive Impairment, Kelsey R Thomas, Joel Eppig, Emily C Edmonds, Diane M Jacobs, David J Libon, Rhoda Au, David P Salmon, Mark W Bondi, Alzheimer’S Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

OBJECTIVE: Preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) defined by a positive AD biomarker in the presence of normal cognition is presumed to precede mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Subtle cognitive deficits and cognitive inefficiencies in preclinical AD may be detected through process and error scores on neuropsychological tests in those at risk for progression to MCI.

METHOD: Cognitively normal participants (n = 525) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were followed for up to 5 years and classified as either stable normal (n = 305) or progressed to MCI (n = 220). Cox regressions were used to determine whether baseline process scores on …

In-Home Delivery Of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Via Virtual Reality Gaming, Alexandra L. Borstad, Roger Crawfis, Kala Phillips, Linda Pax Lowes, David Maung, Ryan Mcpherson, Amelia Siles, Lise Worthen-Chaudhari, Lynne V. Gauthier

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: People with chronic hemiparesis are frequently dissatisfied with the recovery of their hand and arm, yet many lack access to effective treatments. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CI therapy) effectively increases arm function and spontaneous use in persons with chronic hemiparesis. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and measure safety and outcomes of an in-home model of delivering CI therapy using a custom, avatar-based virtual reality game.

Methods: Seventeen individuals with chronic hemiparesis participated in this pretest/posttest quasi-experimental design study. The 10-day intervention had three components: 1) high-repetition motor practice using virtual reality gaming; 2) constraint of …

A Practicality Analysis Pertaining To Minimally Invasive Robot-Assisted Urologic Surgery, Chase Cavayero

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Minimally invasive robot-assisted surgery is a technological development that has changed the field of medicine in the past decade. The introduction of the da Vinci® by Intuitive Surgical Inc. has opened up many interesting options in several different fields. Specifically, the field of urology has seen increased utilization of the robotic technique due to the precision allowed by the technology. Although many perioperative and postoperative benefits have been documented within the literature pertaining to robotic surgery, some surgeons contend that the extra cost associated with the procedures is not practical. To this point the extra cost has not been prohibitive, …

The Accuracy Of Point-Of-Care Ultrasound In Detecting Small Bowel Obstruction In Emergency Department, Ali Pourmand, Ubah Dimbil, A. Drake, Hamid A. Shokoohi

Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

Radiological imaging plays an essential role in the evaluation of a patient with suspected small bowel obstruction (SBO). In a few studies, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been utilized as a primary imaging modality in patients with suspected SBO. POCUS has been shown to be an accurate tool in the diagnosis of SBO with multiple research studies noting a consistent high sensitivity with a range of 94–100% and specificity of 81–100%. Specific sonographic findings that increase the likelihood of SBO include dilatation of small bowel loops > 25 mm, altered intestinal peristalsis, increased thickness of the bowel wall, and intraperitoneal fluid accumulation. …

Assessing Working Memory In Mild Cognitive Impairment With Serial Order Recall., Sheina Emrani, David J Libon, Melissa Lamar, Catherine C Price, Angela L Jefferson, Katherine A Gifford, Timothy J Hohman, Daniel A Nation, Lisa Delano-Wood, Amy Jak, Katherine J Bangen, Mark W Bondi, Adam M Brickman, Jennifer Manly, Rodney Swenson, Rhoda Au, Consortium For Clinical And Epidemiological Neuropsychological Data Analysis (Cenda)

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Working memory (WM) is often assessed with serial order tests such as repeating digits backward. In prior dementia research using the Backward Digit Span Test (BDT), only aggregate test performance was examined.

OBJECTIVE: The current research tallied primacy/recency effects, out-of-sequence transposition errors, perseverations, and omissions to assess WM deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

METHODS: Memory clinic patients (n = 66) were classified into three groups: single domain amnestic MCI (aMCI), combined mixed domain/dysexecutive MCI (mixed/dys MCI), and non-MCI where patients did not meet criteria for MCI. Serial order/WM ability was assessed by asking participants to repeat …