Readiness for Parkinson's disease genetic testing and counseling in patients and their relatives in urban settings in the Dominican Republic.

Genetic testing for Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasing globally, and genetic counseling is an important service that provides information and promotes understanding about PD genetics and genetic testing. PD research studies have initiated outreach to underrepresented regions in North America, including regions in Latin America, such as the Dominican Republic (DR); some studies may include return of genetic test results. Thus, understanding what individuals know about PD, genetic testing for PD, and their interest in speaking with a genetic counselor, is crucial when assessing readiness. In this cross-sectional study, a survey was distributed to people with Parkinson's disease (PwP) and their unaffected biological relatives in the DR. Questions assessed genetics knowledge, attitude toward genetic testing, and interest in genetic testing and counseling. Of 45 participants, 69% scored the maximum on the attitude scale, indicating an overall positive attitude toward genetic testing; 95% indicated interest in genetic testing for PD, and 98% were at least somewhat interested in meeting with a genetic counselor. The mean PD genetics knowledge score was similar to previously published data. Through free text responses, participants expressed a desire to know more about PD treatment and management, prevention, cause, and their personal risk for PD. These results provide further evidence of readiness for genetic testing in this country but also underscore some gaps in knowledge that should be addressed with targeted educational efforts, as part of building genetic testing and counseling capacities.

Perception of task-irrelevant affective prosody by typically developed and diagnosed children with Autism Spectrum Disorder under attentional loads: electroencephalographic and behavioural data.

The relevance of affective information triggers cognitive prioritisation, dictated by both the attentional load of the relevant task, and socio-emotional abilities. This dataset provides electroencephalographic (EEG) signals related to implicit emotional speech perception under low, intermediate, and high attentional demands. Demographic and behavioural data are also provided. Specific social-emotional reciprocity and verbal communication characterise Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and may influence the processing of affective prosodies. Therefore, 62 children and their parents or legal guardians participated in data collection, including 31 children with high autistic traits (x̄age=9.6-year-old, σage=1.5) who previously received a diagnosis of ASD by a medical specialist, and 31 typically developed children (x̄age=10.2-year-old, σage=1.2). Assessments of the scope of autistic behaviours using the Autism Spectrum Rating Scales (ASRS, parent report) are provided for every child. During the experiment, children listened to task-irrelevant affective prosodies (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, neutral and sadness) while answering three visual tasks: neutral image viewing (low attentional load), one-target 4-disc Multiple Object Tracking (MOT; intermediate), one-target 8-disc MOT (high). The EEG data recorded during all three tasks and the tracking capacity (behavioural data) from MOT conditions are included in the dataset. Particularly, the tracking capacity was computed as a standardised index of attentional abilities during MOT, corrected for guessing. Beforehand, children answered the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, and resting-state EEG activity of children was recorded for 2 minutes with eyes open. Those data are also provided. The present dataset can be used to investigate the electrophysiological correlates of implicit emotion and speech perceptions and their interaction with attentional load and autistic traits. Besides, resting-state EEG data may be used to characterise inter-individual heterogeneity at rest and, in turn, associate it with attentional capacities during MOT and with autistic behavioural patterns. Finally, tracking capacity may be useful to explore dynamic and selective attentional mechanisms under emotional constraints.

Weeding through the haze: a survey on cannabis use among people living with Parkinson's disease in the US.

Symptomatic management of Parkinson's disease (PD) is complex and many symptoms, especially non-motor symptoms, are not effectively addressed with current medications. In the US, cannabis has become more widely available for medical and recreational use, permitting those in the PD community to try alternative means of symptom control. However, little is known about the attitudes towards, and experiences with, cannabis use among those living with PD. To address this shortcoming, we distributed an anonymous survey to 7,607 people with PD in January 2020 and received 1339 responses (17.6%). 1064 complete responses were available for analysis. Respondents represented 49 states with a mean age of 71.2 years (±8.3) and mean PD duration of 7.4 years (±6.2). About a quarter of respondents (24.5%) reported cannabis use within the previous six months. Age and gender were found to be predictors of cannabis use in this sample (Age OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.97; Male OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.03). Users reported learning about cannabis use from the internet/news (30.5%) and friends or other people with PD (26.0%). Cannabis users were more likely to report insufficient control of their non-motor symptoms with prescription medications than non-users (p = 0.03). Cannabis was primarily used for PD (63.6%) and was most often used to treat nonmotor symptoms of anxiety (45.5%), pain (44.0%), and sleep disorders (44.0%). However, nearly a quarter of users (23.0%) also reported they had stopped cannabis use in the previous six months, primarily due to a lack of symptom improvement (35.5%). Three quarters of respondents (75.5%) did not use cannabis, primarily because there was a lack of scientific evidence supporting efficacy (59.9%). Our results suggest that the lack of formal guidance or research evidence about cannabis for PD may in part underlie inconsistencies in both use and reported effectiveness.

The influence of tractor-seat height above the ground on lateral vibrations.

Farmers experience whole-body vibrations when they drive tractors. Among the various factors that influence the vibrations to which the driver is exposed are terrain roughness, tractor speed, tire type and pressure, rear axle width, and tractor seat height above the ground. In this paper the influence of tractor seat height above the ground on the lateral vibrations to which the tractor driver is exposed is studied by means of a geometrical and an experimental analysis. Both analyses show that: (i) lateral vibrations experienced by a tractor driver increase linearly with tractor-seat height above the ground; (ii) lateral vibrations to which the tractor driver is exposed can equal or exceed vertical vibrations; (iii) in medium-size tractors, a feasible 30 cm reduction in the height of the tractor seat, which represents only 15% of its current height, will reduce the lateral vibrations by around 20%; and (iv) vertical vibrations are scarcely influenced by tractor-seat height above the ground. The results suggest that manufacturers could increase the comfort of tractors by lowering tractor-seat height above the ground, which will reduce lateral vibrations.

Elementos básicos de salud infantil en mujeres cuidadoras de niños / Basic elements of child health in women taking care of children

Se realizó estudio descriptivo prospectivo en mujeres cuidadoras de niños en el área de salud de Cabezas, provincia Matanzas, en el período octubre 2002 - marzo 2003, con el objetivo de valorar aspectos vinculados a la cultura sanitaria en relación con la salud infantil. Se aplicó una encuesta para evaluar el cuidado de la enfermedad diarreica aguda, la enfermedad respiratoria aguda, la conducta ante cuadros febriles, uso de antibióticos y otros temas. Se apreció que sólo el 30,86 por ciento de las cuidadoras obtuvo una valoración adecuada respecto al tratamiento de estas afecciones y problemas. En la atención a la enfermedad diarreica aguda y la enfermedad respiratoria aguda se encontró un mayor nivel de conocimientos con respecto a los otros temas. La identificación de síntomas y signos de alarma ante la fiebre, la aplicación de medidas higiénicas para la prevención de la sepsis urinaria en las hembras, la ingestión de agua hervida y la atención adecuada de la fiebre, fueron las temáticas con menor dominio

Elementos básicos de salud infantil en mujeres cuidadoras de niños / Basic elements of child health in women taking care of children

Se realizó estudio descriptivo prospectivo en mujeres cuidadoras de niños en el área de salud de Cabezas, provincia Matanzas, en el período octubre 2002 - marzo 2003, con el objetivo de valorar aspectos vinculados a la cultura sanitaria en relación con la salud infantil. Se aplicó una encuesta para evaluar el cuidado de la enfermedad diarreica aguda, la enfermedad respiratoria aguda, la conducta ante cuadros febriles, uso de antibióticos y otros temas. Se apreció que sólo el 30,86 por ciento de las cuidadoras obtuvo una valoración adecuada respecto al tratamiento de estas afecciones y problemas. En la atención a la enfermedad diarreica aguda y la enfermedad respiratoria aguda se encontró un mayor nivel de conocimientos con respecto a los otros temas. La identificación de síntomas y signos de alarma ante la fiebre, la aplicación de medidas higiénicas para la prevención de la sepsis urinaria en las hembras, la ingestión de agua hervida y la atención adecuada de la fiebre, fueron las temáticas con menor dominio(AU)

La representación cartográfica: una herramienta de la epidemiología / The cartographic representation: a tool of epidemiology

Se describen algunas de las principales técnicas cartográficas, revisando su utilidad en el campo de la epidemiología, además de las ventajas y desventajas que cada una tiene. Se ejemplifica su utilización con datos sobre mortalidad general e infantil en el Estado de México y el Distrito Federal para el año de 1980

Exploración radisotopica de la función ventricular basal izquierda del tránsito esofágico, de la vía urinaria superior y de la función vesical en pacientes chagásicos cronicos predominantemente asintomáticos / Radioisotopic exploration of basal left ventricular function of the esophageal transit, of upper urinary duct and of bladder function of patients with chronic Chagas' disease predominantly en assymptomatic

Estudou-se em 56 pacientes chagásicos crônicos (45 assintomáticos e os restantes portadores de transtornos cardiovasculares e digestivos) a funçäo ventrícular esquerda (ejeçäo basal, motilidade parietal segmentar e o histograma); em 29 deles, o trânsito esofagiano e em outros 25 enfermos explorou-se a via urinária, respectivamente com o 99m - TC coloidal e o 99ml - TC b + PA. Observou-se que a fraçäo de ejeçäo do ventrículo esquerdo entre os indivíduos normais era de 0,66 + ou - 0,07, enquanto nos chagásicos crônicos com alteraçöes cardiovasculares (Grupo II) verificou-se 0,49 + ou - 0,21. A motilidade parietal esteve alterada em 60% do mesmo grupo de enfermos e o desvio standard do histograma foi de 1,98 + ou - 0,45, para 1,29 + ou - 0,17 no grupo de voluntários. O trânsito esofágico foi considerado normal em 9 casos e alterado em 20, sendo que em 6 foi do tipo prolongado, em 4 adinâmico e em 10 incoordenado. Nos 25 pacientes nos quais investigaram a via urinária superior, foi encontrada alteraçäo em 22 (dilataçäo piélica uni ou bilateral) e a funçäo vesical nestes pacientes foi normal em apenas quatro casos. Concluem os pesquisadores que o 99 - TC representa um grande avanço tecnológico no estudo da funçäo cardíaca, esofágica e das vias urinárias em pacientes chagásicos crônicos e assintomáticos