Semantic Verbal Fluency in Youth with Down Syndrome: Analysis of Conventional and Contextual Cluster Formation

Expressive language delays and executive functioning challenges are common in youth with Down syndrome (DS). Verbal fluency is one method to investigate these constructs. We examined semantic verbal fluency responses to determine patterns in response generation and the psychometric properties of coded cluster formations. Participants were 97 children and adolescents with DS ranging in age from 6 to 19 years old. The semantic verbal fluency task was administered at two time points, two weeks apart. Heterogeneity in performance was observed for responses when coded either with conventional or contextual classifications. Overall, the number of switches in conventional classifications was greater than contextual classifications. This implies that participants did not use traditional (conventional) categories to organize their semantic verbal fluency responses, but may have been using contextual strategies. However, the number of switches and cluster size variables had poor to moderate test–retest reliability, which indicated that participants did not stay consistent with their performance over the two-week testing interval, regardless of the strategies used. Therefore, conventional and contextual clusters and switches as a measure of executive control may not be appropriate for all individuals with DS and additional attention is warranted to determine the utility of response coding in this population.

LEWIS-SUMNER SYNDROME: ANALYSIS OF ATYPICAL ONSET WITH PRIMARY ASYMMETRIC LESIONS OF LOWER LIMB NERVES

Lewis-Sumner syndrome is the most common atypical form of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). In most patients, the disease is slowly progressive, which slows down the correct diagnosis. Timely diagnosis in some cases is also complicated by an abnormal primary lesion of the lower limb nerves in patients with Lewis-Sumner syndrome, for whom the typical clinical picture is upper flaccid distal paraparesis. The objective of the study is to determine the frequency of Lewis-Sumner syndrome (LSS), with the lower limb nerve onset; to characterize clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients with the syndrome. Materials and Methods. The authors analyzed clinical data, results of stimulation electroneuromyography and ultrasound examination of peripheral nerves of 36 LSS patients. Results. The authors observed a high percentage (44 %) of LSS patients with lower limb nerve onset. However, changes in the neurophysiological and sonographic examination of the lower limb nerves, specific for CIDP, were not revealed. Changes typical of dysimmune neuropathy were verified only in the study of clinically intact long upper limb nerves. Conclusion. In asymmetric neuropathy of the lower limbs of idiopathic genesis, one should remember about LSS and, even despite the presence of symptoms only in the lower limbs, examine the peripheral nerves of the upper limbs. Key words: chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Lewis-Sumner syndrome, atypical form. Синдром Льюиса – Самнера является наиболее частой атипичной формой хронической воспалительной демиелинизирующей полинейропатии (ХВДП). У большинства больных заболевание носит медленно прогрессирующий характер, что является одним из факторов увеличения сроков постановки верного диагноза. Своевременную диагностику в ряде случаев затрудняет и нехарактерное первичное поражение нервов ног у пациентов с синдромом Льюиса – Самнера, для которых типичной клинической картиной является верхний вялый дистальный парапарез. Цель исследования: определить частоту встречаемости синдрома Льюиса – Самнера (СЛС), дебютирующего с поражения нервов ног; охарактеризовать клинические и параклинические особенности больных с данным синдромом. Материалы и методы. Проанализированы клинические данные, результаты стимуляционной электронейромиографии и ультразвукового исследования периферических нервов 36 пациентов с СЛС. Результаты. Установлен высокий процент (44 %) встречаемости пациентов с СЛС с дебютом с поражения нервов ног. Однако специфические, характерные для ХВДП, изменения при нейрофизиологическом и сонографическом исследовании нервов ног не выявлены. Изменения, типичные для дизиммунной нейропатии, верифицированы только при исследовании клинически интактных длинных нервов рук. Выводы. В случаях асимметричной нейропатии нижних конечностей идиопатического генеза следует иметь настороженность в отношении СЛС и, даже несмотря на наличие симптоматики только в нижних конечностях, обследовать периферические нервы рук. Ключевые слова: хроническая воспалительная демиелинизирующая полинейропатия, синдром Льюиса – Самнера, атипичная форма.

Clinical And Anamnestic Characteristics Of The Health State Of Adolescents With Vegetative Dysfunction Syndrome

The publication discusses the features of clinical and anamnestic data in adolescents with autonomic dystonia syndrome. Analysis of the health status of children and adolescents in the Youth Center of the city of Tashkent in dynamics for the period 2018-2020 testifies to the persistence of an increase in the incidence of adolescents in socially significant classes of diseases: nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine systems, accompanied by metabolic disorders, arterial hypertension. The growth rate of pathology increases in the adolescent period of ontogenesis. The psychological status of adolescents with ADS demonstrates a high frequency of disorders accompanied by high emotional instability, contributing to social and psychological maladjustment. ADS contributes to the formation of multiple organ pathology, the predominance of disharmonious and sharply disharmonious physical development, inconsistency of body mass index, impaired formation of reproductive health in adolescents with a high frequency of delayed sexual development.

Factors associated with hypertensive pregnancy syndrome: analysis multiple in hierarchical models / Fatores associados à síndrome hipertensiva da gestação: análise múltipla em modelos hierarquizados

Objetivo: analisar os fatores associados a Síndrome Hipertensiva da Gestação. Método: estudo transversal, observacional, do qual participaram 314 gestantes, realizado em um município do interior do Paraná. As variáveis foram agrupadas em níveis de maneira hierarquizada. O nível distal contemplou variáveis de caráter biológico; intermediário as características sociodemográficas e de estilo de vida; proximal as variáveis da assistência pré-natal. Realizou-se análise de regressão logística múltipla. Resultados: os fatores associados foram: obesidade e a doença crônica não transmissível, no nível distal; cuidados com a alimentação e recebimento de benefício social apresentaram associação no nível intermediário; no nível proximal, consulta com especialista, acompanhamento nutricional e obesidade gestacional. Doença crônica não transmissível, cuidados com a alimentação e acompanhamento nutricional demonstraram-se fatores protecionais. Conclusão: os fatores associados à SHG são amplos e abarcam aspectos que devem ser considerados não somente na assistência pré-natal, mas no cuidado à saúde da mulher em idade fértil.