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34 Verbal Memory as a Language Function: Phonological Processing Contributes to Word List Recall in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis
- Emily Dvorak, James F. Sumowski
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 549-550
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Objective:
Verbal memory deficits are present in multiple sclerosis (MS), but neither inflammatory T2 lesion volume nor cerebral atrophy (generalized or localized hippocampal atrophy) fully explain disease-related verbal memory changes. Importantly, the hippocampus does not function in a vacuum; memory encoding and retrieval requires interactions between the hippocampus and cortical areas where information is processed and represented. Indeed, we have previously shown that lexical access speed (a language function assessed by rapid automatized naming) independently predicted delayed recall of verbal information (word list) for persons with MS, even when controlling for total learning. Informed by this work and recent ultra high field (7.0 Tesla) MRI research reporting high cortical lesion count in regions associated with phonological processing (e.g., plenum temporale, superior temporal gyrus), we assessed whether phonological processing independently explains verbal memory deficits in persons with MS.
Participants and Methods:Analyses were performed on a clinical sample of persons withMS aged 18 to 59 years (n=60: 49 relapsing, 11 progressive). Word-list memory was assessed by the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, Revised (HVLT-R), which yielded scores for Total Learning (TL) and Delayed Recall (DR). Phonological processing was assessed with WIAT-4 Phonemic Proficiency. WIAT-4 Sentence Repetition was utilized as a non-phonological language control task, and WIAT-4 Word Reading was administered to control for premorbid verbal ability. CANTAB Paired Associate Learning served as a nonverbal memory comparison. Performance on tasks was standardized using published age-adjusted norms. Primary analyses used partial correlations to assess relationships between Phonemic Proficiency and (a) HVLT-R TL and DR controlling for WIAT-4 Word Reading, and (b) HVLT-R DR controlling for WIAT-4 Word Reading and HVLT-R TL. To assess specificity to phonological processing, the same partial correlations assessed relationships between Sentence Repetition and HVLT-R variables, and between Phonemic Proficiency and nonverbal memory (CANTAB PAL).
Results:When controlling for premorbid verbal ability, Phonemic Proficiency performance accounted for 7.8% of the variance in HVLT-R TL (rpartial=0.28, p=0.031) and 16% of the variance in HVLT-R DR (rpartial=0.40, p=0.002). Moreover, when additionally controlling for HVLT-R TL, Phonemic Proficiency still accounted for 10% of the variance in HVLT-R DR (r partial— 0.32, p=0.016). Showing specificity to phonological processing ability, performance on Sentence Repetition was not significantly related to HVLT-R DR when controlling for premorbid verbal ability (WIAT-4 Word Reading) and HVLT-R TL (rpartial=0.09, p=0.510). Showing specificity to verbal memory, neither Phonemic Proficiency nor Sentence Repetition performance were reliably related to CANTAB PAL for any variance in performance in nonverbal memory (Ps>0.9).
Conclusions:Results suggest that language ability, specifically phonological processing, contributes to delayed recall of word lists independent of premorbid verbal ability and initial total learning scores in persons with MS. These findings demonstrate contributions of language ability to verbal memory and highlight the need for further research into language ability changes in persons with MS. This may have implications for verbal memory rehabilitation in MS.
Reducing Second Gram-Negative Antibiotic Therapy on Pediatric Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Services
- Rachel L. Wattier, Emily R. Levy, Amit J. Sabnis, Christopher C. Dvorak, Andrew D. Auerbach
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- Journal:
- Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology / Volume 38 / Issue 9 / September 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 31 July 2017, pp. 1039-1047
- Print publication:
- September 2017
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OBJECTIVE
To evaluate interventions to reduce avoidable antibiotic use on pediatric oncology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) services.
DESIGNInterrupted time series.
SETTINGAcademic pediatric hospital with separate oncology and HSCT services.
PARTICIPANTSChildren admitted to the services during baseline (October 2011–August 2013) and 2 intervention periods, September 2013–June 2015 and July 2015–June 2016, including 1,525 oncology hospitalizations and 301 HSCT hospitalizations.
INTERVENTIONIn phase 1, we completed an update of the institutional febrile neutropenia (FN) guideline for the pediatric oncology service, recommending first-line β-lactam monotherapy rather than routine use of 2 gram-negative agents. Phase 2 included updating the HSCT service FN guideline and engagement with a new pediatric antimicrobial stewardship program. The use of target antibiotics (tobramycin and ciprofloxacin) was measured in days of therapy per 1,000 patient days collected from administrative data. Intervention effects were evaluated using interrupted time series with segmented regression.
RESULTSPhase 1 had mixed effects–long-term reduction in tobramycin use (97% below projected at 18 months) but rebound with increasing slope in ciprofloxacin use (+18% per month). Following phase 2, tobramycin and ciprofloxacin use on the oncology service were both 99% below projected levels at 12 months. On the HSCT service, tobramycin use was 99% below the projected level and ciprofloxacin use was 96% below the projected level at 12 months.
CONCLUSIONSLocally adapted guidelines can facilitate practice changes in oncology and HSCT settings. More comprehensive and ongoing interventions, including follow-up education, feedback, and engagement of companion services may be needed to sustain changes.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1039–1047