Application of the Simodont dental trainer in preclinical manual dexterity training / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To explore the application of the Simodont dental trainer in preclinical manual dexterity training for dental students of different grades, and to discuss its effect by quantitatively evaluating their practice results.Methods:The evaluation was conducted among 118 students in the Department of Stomatology, Shantou University Medical College from Batch 2015 to Batch 2018. Each student had five different manual dexterity modules for training. Each module had three levels of difficulty and was required to be completed in 30 minutes. The assessment index included Target, Leeway Bottom and Sides, Container Bottom and Sides, which was provided by the Simodont dental trainer. The operating time (in seconds), the displacement of the dental hand pieces and the dental mirrors (in meters) were simultaneously recorded. SPSS 25.0 was used for statistical analysis.Results:For the index Target, Leeway Bottom and Sides, Container Bottom and Sides, the results showed that there was a statistical difference between students who passed pre-clinical training and who did not take the professional course ( P < 0.001). For the index Target, differences were showed among students from different grades in all modules ( P < 0.001). Conclusion:The circle module, channel module, hollow-circle module and cross-module in the Simodont dental trainer have sensitivity to discriminate the manual dexterity of different levels of dental students. The further assessment of the discrimination of the manual dexterity is required for assume-block module. The Simodont dental trainer can quantitatively measure the manual dexterity of dental students, which is important for the quantitative evaluation of dental preclinical education.

Dexterity Testing in Dental Students

Introduction:TheorganismSphingomonaspaucimobilisformerlyknownasPseudomonaspaucimobilisisastrictaerobe,motile,non-sporeforming,non-fermentative,Gram-negativebacillus,characterizedbycatalaseandoxidaseactivities.Itisanopportunisticpathogenthatcausesinfectioninhealthyandimmunocompromisedindividuals.Sphingomonaspaucimobilisisubiquitousandhasbeenisolatedfromdiversesourcesincludingthehospitalenvironment.

Influence Of Sitting Orientation On Upper Extremity Function In Normal Children Between 5 To 16 Years Using Nine Hole Peg Test

Background:This study was to measure the upper extremity performance time on Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) in two different sitting orientations relative to vertical plane. Aim:To find out the influence of sitting orientation on upper extremity motor function using NHPT. Methods:100 children with the mean age 11year (53 male, 47 female) partici-pated in the study. Children were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Age groups were re-established for data representation purposes as: 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, 14-16. Each one was briefly interviewed prior to the test, procedure explained and statistical analysis was done for the final results. Results: Gender wise relation revealed non-significant difference in performance time on NHPT in 900 upright and 150 anterior sitting orientation. Performance time on NHPT with dominant and non-dominant hand in 900 upright & 150anterior sitting orientation shows significant difference. The mean performance time with dominant hand on NHPT was slightly lesser in 150anterior sitting orientation than 900upright orientations. According to age wise distribution the performance time on NHPT reveals that as the age increases the performance time decreases from 5-11 year. The performance time be-comes constant from 11-16 years of age. Conclusion:Result of this study suggest that trunk orientation does not affect upper extremity performance on NHPT. As it implies that 150anterior trunk orientation is equivalent to upright sitting orientation. Hence both the trunk orientation can be used to train patients for upper extremity hand function.

Motor Coordination Performance Differences Between School Children With And Without Developmental Coordination Disorder Attending Integrative Special Education In Klang Valley

@#Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have impairments in gross and fine motor skills consequently limit their participation in school activities. The aim of this study was firstly to evaluate motor coordination performance of children with DCD in manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination and balance skills, and secondly, to compare the motor coordination performance between children with DCD and age-matched children without DCD. A total of 47 children with DCD (32 boys, 15 girls) and 16 children without DCD (15 boys, 1 girl) aged between 7 to 10 years old participated in this study. They were recruited from integrative special education classes from six selected primary schools within Klang Valley. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2) evaluated their motor coordination performance. Group differences on the MABC-2 subtest scores and total test score were analysed using independent t-test. Cohen’s d was calculated to obtain the effect size of clinical differences. Children with DCD showed significantly lower score in manual dexterity (p=0.001), aiming and catching (p=0.001), balance test (p=0.001) and total test score (p=0.001) compared to the children without DCD. Effect sizes on manual dexterity (d=0.52), balance (d=0.68), and total test score (d=0.73) indicated moderate clinical differences between the two groups. In conclusion, children with DCD showed deficits in both gross and fine motor skills performance based on the MABC-2 subtests and total test score, in comparison with children without DCD. School-based rehabilitation to improve gross and fine motor problems among the children is warranted.

Intermanual Transfer of Learning in a Fine Manual Skill Task

Abstract Intermanual Transfer of Learning (IMTL) is the ability to learn a certain skill in an easier way with one hand after that skill has been learnt by the opposite hand(1). This research aimed to investigate IMTL in a Fine Manual Dexterity (FMD) task in subjects presenting different Hand Preference (HP). The sample comprised 882 right and left-handers, both genders, aged 6 to 95 years old. The Dutch Handedness Questionnaire(2) was used to assess HP and the Purdue Pegboard Test(3) evaluated FMD. Direction and intensity of HP, Direction of Transfer (DT), gender, age and nationality were analyzed. IMTL changed according to DT and age, tending to be asymmetric, holding high values in the direction of Non-Preferred Hand (NPH) to Preferred Hand (PH). Children had got a higher IMTL rather than youngsters, adults and old adults with significant differences in adults.(AU)

Patients with essential tremor can have manual dexterity and attention deficits with no impairments in other cognitive functions / Pacientes com tremor essencial podem apresentar prejuízo na destreza manual e déficit de atenção sem prejuízo em outras áreas da cognição

ABSTRACT Essential tremor (ET) was long believed to be a monosymptomatic disorder. However, studies have evidenced structural changes and attention is now being focused on non-motor symptoms. The objective of the study is to describe and compare ET patients with control groups according to their cognitive functions, and secondarily, to compare their sociodemographic characteristics and other clinical features. All participants were assessed using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale for the severity of tremor; a neuropsychological assessment battery and a screening questionnaire for mood and anxiety symptoms. There were no significant age and gender differences between all groups. As for neuropsychological assessment results, a significant difference was found only in the Pegboard test. We also found a significant negative correlation between a poorer cognitive test results and disease severity and a significant differences regarding depression or anxiety symptoms in patients with ET. The study results suggest that patients with ET have impaired manual dexterity and attention.

RESUMO O tremor essencial (TE) era considerado como um transtorno monossintomático. Contudo estudos tem demonstrado alterações anatômicas despertando o interesse para sintomas não-motores.O objetivo do estudo é descrever e comparar pacientes com grupos controles segundo suas funções cognitivas, e secundariamente, comparar suas características demográficas e outros sintomas clínicos. Todos os participantes foram submetidos à escala de Fahn, Tolosa e Marin para avaliação da intensidade do tremor, a uma bateria neuropsicológica e a um questionário para detecção de transtorno de humor e ansiedade. Não houve diferença significativa na idade e gênero entre todos os grupos. Quanto ao resultado da avaliação neuropsicológica, foi encontrado uma diferença significativa apenas no Test Pegboard. Nós também encontramos uma correlação negativa no desempenho dos testes cognitivos e intensidade do tremor, presença de sintomas depressivos e ansiosos. Os resultados deste trabalho sugerem que pacientes com TE apresentem alteração na destreza manual e na atenção.

Influência do nível de habilidade e posição corporal no alcance de lactentes / Influence of skill level and body position on infants reaching

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: Embora o desenvolvimento do alcance em diferentes posições corporais tem sido amplamente estudado, há poucas pesquisas sobre este assunto, considerando o nível de habilidade do lactente. Objetivo: Verificar como as posições corporais afetam os ajustes proximais e distais do alcance manual de lactentes de quatro a seis meses. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Dez lactentes classificados como menos (n=6) e mais habilidosos (n=4) foram avaliados no mês de aquisição do alcance (M1) e após um mês de prática espontânea (M2), nas posições supina (0º), reclinada (45º) e sentada (70º). Foram analisados os ajustes proximais (alcances uni ou bimanuais) e distais (mão aberta, semi-aberta ou fechada), posição das mãos no início do movimento (perto ou longe do corpo) e movimentos de preensão. RESULTADOS: Houve predomínio de alcances unimanuais para os lactentes mais habilidosos. Os lactentes menos habilidosos apresentaram maior freqüência de alcances unimanuais em M1 (sentado) e M2 (supino e sentado). Houve predomínio de alcances com as mãos semi-abertas, exceto para lactentes mais habilidosos em M2 na posição reclinada. Lactentes menos habilidosos apresentaram mãos próximas ao corpo em M1 (reclinado e sentado) e M2 (reclinado), enquanto os mais habilidosos iniciaram seus alcances com as mãos longe do corpo em M2 (supino). Lactentes mais habilidosos fizeram mais alcances seguidos de preensão em M2 nas posições supina e sentada. CONCLUSÕES: A posição corporal afeta os ajustes proximais e distais do alcance, de acordo com o nível de habilidade do lactente.

BACKGROUND: Although the development of reaching under different body position conditions has been widely studied, little research has addressed this issue considering the infant's skill level. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how different body positions affect proximal and distal reaching adjustments among four to six-month-old infants. Methods: Ten infants classified as less (n=6) and more skilled (n=4) were evaluated both in the month when they acquired reaching abilities (M1) and after one month of spontaneous practice (M2), in the supine (0º), reclined (45º) and seated (70º) positions. Proximal (one or two-hand reaching) and distal (open, half-open or closed hand) adjustments, arm starting position (next to or away from the body) and grasping movements were analyzed. RESULTS: One-hand reaching predominated among the more skilled infants. Less skilled infants showed higher frequency of one-hand reaching in M1 (seated) and M2 (supine and seated). Reaching with the hands half-open predominated, except among the more skilled infants in M2 in the reclined position. The less skilled infants presented hands next to the body in M1 (reclined and seated) and in M2 (reclined), while the more skilled ones started their reaching with hands away from the body in M2 (supine). The more skilled infants performed more reaching followed by grasping in M2, in the supine and seated positions. CONCLUSIONS: Body position affects proximal and distal adjustments to reaching maneuvers, according to the infant's skill level.

O teste de destreza manual Minnesota adaptado utilizado como avaliação do potencial de uso de membros superiores de pacientes hemiplégicos / The adapted Minnesota manual dexterity test as an assessment tool for the hemiplegic patients' upper extremity function

O estudo mostra a adaptação do teste de destreza manual Minnesota, no seu subteste ?de colocação?, como um modo de avaliação da função do membro superior hemiplégico, desde os que apresentam movimentos totais com déficit na destreza, até os que apresentam movimento parcial ativo ou nenhuma capacidade de preensão. O quanto, de fato o membro superior hemiplégico pode ser utilizado pelo paciente durante a realização de atividades, é muitas vezes, difícil de se mensurar. Acreditamos que o uso deste teste seja uma forma de se medir essa possibilidade e também de se medir a modificação dessa condição durante o decorrer do tempo, permitindo que façamos comparações de medições e evoluções de função do membro superior. Estas medições são úteis como estímulo de constatação da melhora da função do membro superior pelo próprio paciente e também poderão ser úteis em abordagens científicas quando queremos quantificar a performance de um paciente durante um tratamento.

The study shows the adaptation of the ?Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test? in its Placing subtest, as an assessment tool for the evaluation of the hemiplegic upper extremity function, from individuals who present total movements with dexterity deficit to those who present active partial movement or no pressing capacity. To what extent the hemiplegic upper extremity can be, in fact, used by the individual during the accomplishment of activities, is normally difficult to measure. We believe this test can be used as a tool for the assessment of this capacity and also to measure the changes in this condition with time. It also allows us to compare measurements and the evolution of the upper extremity function. These measurements are useful, as they stimulate patients by making them aware of the upper extremity function improvement as well as regarding its scientific approaches to quantify a patient?s performance during treatment.