Text mining to improve screening for trauma-related symptoms in a global sample.

Previous studies showed that textual information could be used to screen respondents for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we explored the feasibility of using language features extracted from short text descriptions respondents provided of stressful events to predict trauma-related symptoms assessed using the Global Psychotrauma Screen. Texts were analyzed with both closed- and open-vocabulary methods to extract language features representing the occurrence of words, phrases, or specific topics in the description of stressful events. We also evaluated whether combining language features with self-report information, including respondents' demographics, event characteristics, and risk factors for trauma-related disorders, would improve the prediction performance. Data were collected using an online survey on a cross-national sample of 5048 respondents. Results showed that language data achieved the highest predictive power when both closed- and open-vocabulary features were included as predictors. Combining language data and self-report information resulted in a significant increase in performance and in a model which achieved good accuracy as a screener for probable PTSD diagnosis (.7 < AUC ≤ .8), with similar results regardless of the length of the text description of the event. Overall, results indicated that short texts add to the detection of trauma-related symptoms and probable PTSD diagnosis.

Nine Hole Peg Test asymmetry in refining upper limb assessment in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is the most frequently used scale to measure neurologic impairment and quantify the level of disability in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) even though the scale focuses on ambulation and undervalues upper limb (UL) impairment. The 9-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) is the gold standard for UL assessment in MS, calculating a mean score from right and left arms, even though subjects with MS often show a lateralization of neurological deficit. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine whether an interaction exists between mean right-left 9-HPT scores or 9HPT score asymmetry (difference between right and left side) in predicting EDSS in MS subjects. METHODS: Demographic and disease variables and 9-HPT scores were obtained from medical records of individuals with MS collected in an ad-hoc database. Subjects with 9-HPT score ≤180 s for each arm were included. An asymmetry score was represented as the absolute value of the difference between 9-HPT scores for both arms. RESULTS: 549 subjects were included: 67.8% female, mean age 45±13.14 years, mean EDSS 3.98±2.12, 356 relapsing-remitting, 68 primary and 125 secondary progressive, mean 9-HPT scores: right arm 30.20 ± 19.99 s, left arm 31.80 ± 20.35 s. Mean asymmetry was 9.35±18.20 s. Correlation between mean right-left 9-HPT scores and EDSS was 0.58 (p<.001). Significant interaction between mean right-left 9-HPT scores and 9-HPT asymmetry in predicting EDSS scores was found. Regression slope of EDSS on mean right-left 9-HPT score decreases as asymmetry value increases (non-significance area values ≥ 40.93 s). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest interaction exists between mean right-left 9-HPT scores and asymmetry in predicting EDSS. A consequence of this is that, by disregarding information about asymmetry, studies exploring the association between mean right-left 9-HPT scores and global measures of disability may provide biased results. The bias tends to increase as asymmetry increases, and to be most prevalent among patients with EDSS scores > 6.

Box and block test, hand grip strength and nine-hole peg test: correlations between three upper limb objective measures in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Limited data are available in the literature for upper limb impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to report the distribution of values of hand grip strength (HGS), of the box and block test (BBT) and of the nine-hole peg test (9HPT) correlated with demographic and clinical data in subjects with MS. METHODS: This study involved five Italian neurological centres. The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18, MS diagnosis, stable disease phase, right-hand dominance. All subjects underwent HGS, BBT and 9-HPT evaluation. RESULTS: In all, 202 subjects with MS were enrolled: 137 females; mean age 48.4 years; mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 4.17; mean disease duration 14.12 years; disease course 129 relapsing-remitting, 21 primary progressive and 52 secondary progressive MS subjects; mean right HGS 25.3 kg, left 23.2 kg; mean right BBT 45.7 blocks, left 44.9 blocks; mean right 9-HPT 30.7 s, left 33.4 s. All results were statistically significantly different compared to healthy controls. HGS, BBT and 9-HPT were associated with age, EDSS and disease duration, whilst disease course correlated with BBT and 9-HPT. The BBT and 9-HPT scores significantly differed according to level of disability (EDSS ≤3.0, 3.5-5.5, ≥6.0). CONCLUSION: Hand grip strength and BBT value distribution in a large MS population is reported. Correlations between HGS, BBT and 9-HPT were generally low.

Investigating the links between fear of missing out, social media addiction, and emotional symptoms in adolescence: The role of stress associated with neglect and negative reactions on social media.

Fear of missing out (FoMO) is known to be associated with a decrease in emotional well-being in adolescents. However, few studies have investigated the possible mediating factors between FoMO and emotional symptoms. In this study, we studied the relationship between FoMO and emotional symptoms in a sample of 472 Italian adolescents aged 11-19. In particular, the study investigated the possible mediating role of perceived stress associated with experiences of neglect and negative reactions by other social media users, and social media addiction. Self-report measures were used. Results show that FoMO directly and indirectly predicts emotional symptoms. Additionally, FoMO is associated with increased sensitivity to stress associated with experiences of neglect and negative reactions by online peers, and social media addiction. Sensitivity to stress associated with neglect (but not to negative reactions) by online peers is found to mediate the relationship between FoMO and social media addiction, which, in turn, mediates the relationship with emotional symptoms. In general, the study shows that FoMO is a factor in experiencing higher sensitivity to stress associated with neglect by online peers, which in turn my act as a trigger for social media addiction, and ultimately showing a negative impact on emotional well-being of adolescents. Limits and future directions for research are discussed.

Examining the validity of the multiple-sclerosis walking scale-12 with Rasch analysis: Results from an Italian study.

BACKGROUND: The Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) has showed good psychometric properties in reports exploring its validity using Classical Test Theory methods. Findings from recent studies using Item Response Theory methods advance the idea that some aspects of the MSWS-12 does not fully comply with some requirements of sound measurement. RESEARCH QUESTION: The present study investigated whether the measurement properties of the Italian version of the MSWS-12 met the assumptions of the Rasch model. METHODS: Sample consisted of 199 patients with a diagnosis of MS (50% female; Mean age (SD) = 48.15 (12.33)). Analyses were performed using both unidimensional and multidimensional Rasch modeling techniques. RESULTS: Rating scale for items assessing need for support when walking, and ability to run, showed significant functioning problems. A revision of the rating scale improved the measurement properties of these items. Items assessing need for support showed signs of multidimensionality and differential item functioning when controlling for patients' disease course and EDSS score. Additionally, included items did not appear to cover the full range of impairment as observed in the sample. SIGNIFICANCE: Emerging findings are consistent with those from previous studies in highlighting the need for a revision of the current content of the MSWS-12, and the inclusion of new items assessing impairment at the lower end of the disability continuum.

Schwannoma maligno: reporte y revisión de un caso / Malignant Schwannoma: report and overhaul

Reporta el caso de un paciente de sexo femenino de 44 años con un schwannoma maligno en pierna izquierda con un año de evolución, diagnosticada en el Hospital Luis Vernaza de la ciudad de Guayaquil. Se investiga en la literatura acerca de esta patología poco frecuente, relacionada a tumores de las vainas nerviosas, que pueden afectar diferentes estructuras anatómicas y usualmente se halla asociada a otras patologías como la enfermedad de Von Recklinghausen (neurofibromatosis).