[ influence of "cognitive orientation of daily occupational performance [CO-OP]" on motor-based occupational performance of children aged 7-10 years old with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]

Although motor difficulties are not considered as a diagnostic criterion in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: However its association with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD] is commonly reported. CO-OP is a problem-solving approach developed to help children with Developmental Coordination Disorder and addresses their motor-based problems. In this approach, therapist supports the children to use their cognitive strategies in a process of guided discovery to solve occupational performance problems. The objectives of CO-OP are to improve the motor performance of children with ADHD by helping them to discover various procedures to remove barriers and enhance supports by facilitating activities and participation. This study was designed to examine the influence of CO-OP on motor-based occupational performance of children with ADHD. A single case experimental design [multiple baseline] was used to examine the influence of a 12 weeks intervention of CO-OP [twice a week] on Six children with ADHD. Each child selected three different goals to practice during intervention. Outcome measures included the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [COPM], and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency and Performance [BOTMP]. At first and prior to the intervention, the COPM was administered to the children and parents separately to obtain a rating of performance and satisfaction of the child in selective goals. The CO-OP intervention protocol was based on Polatajko and colleagues work in 2001. During intervention, children were taught the global problem solving strategies helping them to discover and perform domain-specific strategies. Therapist and family also supported children to achieve the performance of selected goals. The results of this study demonstrated improvements in both goals and motor performance in the participants due to the intervention. These results support the use of the CO-OP with children with ADHD. Further research into the application of CO-OP with children with ADHD is warranted based on preliminary positive findings regarding the efficacy of this intervention to address motor-based performance difficulties

[Identification of serological groups A, B, C, W135, Y, X Neisseria meningitidis carriers by multiplex PCR in the nasopharynx of students in Kashan during 2011-2012]

Neisseria meningitidis [N. meningitidis] is a pathogen which colonizes in the nasopharynx without any clinical manifestations. Among the 13 different serological groups, only the serogroups A, B, C, W135, Y, X play a major role in disease development. This study aimed to determine N. meningitidis cases carrying these serological groups using the multiplex PCR method in the nasopharynx of students in Kashan schools. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1289 students in Kashan during 2011-2012. Samples were collected from the students' nasopharynx using a sterile swab and cultured on a selective medium. Strains were identified through biochemical tests. Then the serological groups were determined using the multiplex PCR method. One-hundred and fifteen [8.9%] out of 1289 students were N.meningitidis carriers; 75 [65.2%] male and 40 [34.8%] female. There was a significant difference between gender and the rate of carriers [P=0.032]. The highest rate of carriers [12.3%] was in the 15 to 19 year age group. There was a significant relationship between the rate of carriers and increase in the number of family members [P<0.001]. In this study, only the serological groups B [8 cases] and C [107 cases] were detected. Since the serological group C is involved in the outbreak and there is no vaccine currently available for the serological group B to prevent the infection, detection of these serological groups can be important