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PubMed2006

Functional communication and executive function in aphasia.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the relationship between functional communication and executive function ability in aphasia. Twenty-five participants with aphasia underwent examination with an extensive test battery including measures of functional communication, executive function ability, and language impairment. Compared to published norms, most participants did not perform within normal limits on the executive function tests. As expected, the correlation between severity of language impairment and functional communication ratings exceeded that among the executive functioning and functional communication measures. Eight of ten correlation coefficients for the relationship between executive functioning and functional communication reached statistical significance suggesting a clear relationship between scores on the executive functioning measures and functional communication ability. Based on these results, it appears that decreased executive functioning ability may coincide with decreased functional communication ability in persons with aphasia.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The relationship of the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) to functional capacity and real-world functional outcome.

The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) assesses five different domains of cognitive function with six tests, and takes about 30-35 minutes to complete in patients with schizophrenia. Previous work has demonstrated the reliability of this measure, and its sensitivity to the deficits of schizophrenia. However, the relationship of this brief cognitive measure to functional outcome has not been determined. Further, future registration trials for potentially cognitive enhancing compounds may not only assess efficacy with cognitive performance measures, but with assessments of real-world functional outcome and functional capacity. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the BACS and a potential co-primary measure for treatment studies of cognition in schizophrenia, and to determine if such a measure accounts for significant variance in functioning beyond that provided by cognitive function. The current study assessed 60 patients with schizophrenia over the course of six months. Cognitive functions were measured with the BACS. Functional capacity was measured with the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA). Real-world functional outcome was measured with the Independent Living Skills Inventory (ILSI). BACS composite scores were significantly correlated with functional capacity as measured by the UPSA (r = .65, df = 55, p < .001), and real-world functional outcome as assessed by the ILSI (r = .37, df = 56, p = .005). In multiple regression analyses, UPSA scores did not account for additional variance in real-world functioning beyond that accounted for by the BACS. These data suggest that brief cognitive assessments such as the BACS are able to assess aspects of cognition that are related to important functional measures in clinical trials of cognitive enhancement. They also suggest that the measures being considered as potential co-primary indicators of cognitive function for registration trials are significantly correlated with cognition as assessed by brief cognitive assessments.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Black-white disparities in functional decline in older persons: the role of cognitive function.

BACKGROUND: Black elders have a greater frequency of functional decline than do white elders. The impact of cognitive function on explaining black-white disparities in functional decline has not been extensively explored. METHODS: To compare the extent to which different risk domains (comorbidity, smoking, socioeconomic status (SES), self-rated health, and cognitive function) explain more frequent functional decline in black elders, we studied 779 black and 4892 white community-dwelling adults aged 70 and older from the Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD), a population-based cohort study begun in 1993. Our primary outcome was worse functional status at 2 years than at baseline. We used logistic regression to compare the unadjusted with the adjusted black-white odds ratios (ORs) after adjusting for each risk domain. RESULTS: At baseline black participants aged 70-79 had higher rates of smoking, diabetes, and hypertension; lower SES; and worse cognitive function than did white participants (p <.05 for all). The mean cognitive score was 15.7 in black and 21.8 in white participants (p <.01). Black participants had a higher frequency of 2-year functional decline than did white participants (10.9% vs 4.7%; OR = 2.61, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.69-4.03 adjusted for age and sex). Adjustment for comorbidity and smoking did not significantly change the black-white OR, whereas self-rated health and SES accounted for about half the risk. Adjustment for cognitive function accounted for nearly all the associated decline (OR = 1.10, 95% CI, 0.67-1.79). Among participants aged 80 and over, those who were black had significantly lower risk for functional decline after adjustment for cognitive function (OR = 0.61, 95% CI, 0.38-0.96 vs OR = 1.08, 95% CI, 0.70-1.66 adjusted for age and sex only). CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive function mediated the higher frequency of functional decline among black elders. Efforts to understand cognitive function may enhance our understanding of black-white disparities in health outcomes.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

The impact of cognitive functioning on mortality and the development of functional disability in older adults with diabetes: the second longitudinal study on aging.

BACKGROUND: For older adults without diabetes, cognitive functioning has been implicated as a predictor of death and functional disability for older adults and those with mild to severe cognitive impairment. However, little is known about the relationship between cognition functioning on mortality and the development of functional disability in late life for persons with diabetes. We examined the relative contribution of cognitive functioning to mortality and functional disability over a 2-year period in a sample of nationally representative older US adults with diabetes who were free from cognitive impairment through secondary data analyses of the Second Longitudinal Study of Aging (LSOA II). METHODS: Participants included 559 US adults (232 males and 327 females) >or= 70 years old who had diabetes and who were free from cognitive impairment were examined using an adapted Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS), Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to investigate the independent contribution of cognitive functioning to three mutually exclusive outcomes of death and two measures of functional disability status. The covariates included in the model were participants' sex, age, race, marital status, educational level, duration of diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) status, and self-rated health. Persons with diabetes who had the lowest levels of cognitive functioning relative to the highest level of cognitive functioning had a greater odds of dying (AOR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.67-0.96) or becoming disabled (AOR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.78-0.97) compared to those people who were disability free. CONCLUSION: Older adults with diabetes and low normal levels of cognition, yet within normal ranges, were approximately 20% more likely to die and 13% more likely to become disabled than those with higher levels of cognitive functioning over a 2-year period. Brief screening measures of cognitive functioning could be used to identify older adults with diabetes who are at increased risk for mortality and functional disability, as well as those who may benefit from interventions to prevent or minimize further disablement and declines in cognitive functioning.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2000

Functional connectivity in the thalamus and hippocampus studied with functional MR imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: With functional connectivity functional MR imaging, co-variance in signal intensity has been shown in functionally related regions of brain in participants instructed to perform no cognitive task. These changes are thought to represent synchronous fluctuations in blood flow, which imply neuronal connections between the regions. The purpose of this study was to map functional connectivity in subcortical nuclei with functional connectivity functional MR imaging. METHODS: Imaging data were acquired with an echo-planar sequence from six volunteers who performed no specific cognitive task. For functional connectivity functional MR imaging, a "seed" voxel or group of voxels was selected from the resting data set in the thalamus or in the hippocampus. Control voxels in gray matter presumed not to be eloquent cortex were also chosen. The correlation coefficient of the seed voxels and the control voxels with every other voxel in the resting data set was calculated. The voxels with correlation coefficients greater than or equal to 0.5 were mapped onto anatomic images for the functional connectivity functional MR images. The anatomic location of these voxels was determined by conventional parcellation methods. RESULTS: For each participant, functional connectivity functional MR imaging maps based on four seed voxels in the thalamus or hippocampus showed clusters of voxels in the ipsilateral and contralateral thalamus or hippocampus. For control voxels, few voxels in the hippocampus or thalamus showed significant correlation. Significantly more pixels in the ipsilateral hippocampus correlated with the seed voxel than in the contralateral hippocampus. The differences between numbers of functionally connected voxels in ipsilateral thalamus and those in contralateral thalamus were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The thalamus and hippocampus show functional connectivity, presumably representing synchronous changes in blood flow.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The relationship between impairments in joint function and disabilities in independent function in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Knowledge about the impact of joint impairment on functional ability is needed in planning care and setting treatment goals in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We investigated the relationship between joint impairments and upper and lower limb function. METHODS: Twenty-one children with systemic JIA with an average age of 9.2 years and a mean disease duration of 4.8 years participated in this study. Joint impairments were assessed by the following variables: joint counts on swollen (JCS) and tender (JCT) joints and the loss of joint motion as determined by the Joint Alignment and Motion scale (JAM). Functional performance and functional ability were determined by the Juvenile Arthritis Functional Assessment Scale (JAFAS) and Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ), respectively. The relationship between impairments and functional disabilities was studied at the level of (1) the complete instruments, (2) upper and lower limb function separately, and (3) the individual joints and items. RESULTS: Regarding complete instruments, the Spearman rank correlation between functional disabilities and loss of joint motion was moderate to good (JAM/CHAQ rs = 0.66, JAM/JAFAS rs = 0.77). A fair correlation was found between functional disabilities and the joint count on swollen joints (JCS/CHAQ rs = 0.45, JCS/JAFAS rs = 0.52), but no significant relationship was found with the number of tender joints (JCT/CHAQ rs = 0.02, p > 0.05, and JCT/JAFAS rs = 0.14, p > 0.05). At the extremity level (upper and lower limb function), the relationship between functional disabilities and the loss of joint motion appeared to be stronger in the leg than in the arm. At the level of the individual joints and questionnaire items, loss of joint motion in hip or shoulder joint appeared to be the most important factor in predicting limitation in leg or arm function. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that with respect to joint impairments, loss of joint motion is the strongest indicator of functional disability in children with systemic JIA. Loss of joint motion has a greater effect on lower limb function.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Functional-Performance Deficits in Volunteers With Functional Ankle Instability.

Context: Although functional-performance tests are dynamic measures used to assess general lower body function, studies investigating these tests for ankle instability have yielded conflicting results.Objective: To determine if a relationship exists between a measure of functional ankle instability and deficits in functional performance.Design: A case-control study correlating subject performance on a set of lower extremity functional-performance tests with a measure of ankle instability.Setting: University athletic training research laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: We recruited 60 participants (43 females, 17 males, age = 22.4 +/- 4.9 years, height = 169.9 +/- 9.7 cm, mass = 72.6 +/- 16.3 kg; 42 injured, 18 uninjured) to participate in the study. Six questions were used to determine if functional ankle instability was present in each participant. A point was added for each yes response to produce an index that represents a continuous variable of functional ankle instability.Main Outcome Measure(s): Four unilateral hopping tests were used in this study: figure-of-8 hop, side hop, up-down hop, and single hop. For the first 3 tests, the total time was recorded with a handheld stopwatch to the nearest 0.01 second; for the single hop-for-distance test, the distance was recorded to the nearest 0.01 m. Correlations were computed with the functional ankle instability index and each of the 4 functional-performance tests.Results: No relationship was revealed between the functional ankle instability index and single hop for distance or up-down hop, with r values of -.008 and .245, respectively. A significant relationship was found between the functional ankle instability index and the side hop (r = .35, P </= .01) and the figure-of-8 hop (r = .31, P </= .02).Conclusions: A positive relationship existed between functional ankle instability and performance deficits on the side hop and figure-of-8 hop. Conversely, a relationship did not exist between functional ankle instability and frontal-plane functional-performance activities.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Assessment of left atrial appendage function after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: relation to left atrial mechanical function.

Although several flow patterns in the left atrial appendage have been described, mechanical determinants of its function have not been elucidated in human beings. We attempted to investigate changes in left atrial appendage function after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and examine the potential relation between appendage function and left atrial mechanical function. Twenty patients without mitral valvular disease underwent transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography at 24 hours and 1 week after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Left atrial appendage function was assessed by the pulsed Doppler measurements of left atrial appendage emptying and filling velocities corresponding to early and late ventricular diastole, respectively. Left atrial mechanical function was evaluated by the transmitral A-wave velocity, percent atrial contribution of the total left ventricular filling (percent atrial filling), and the pulmonary venous A-wave velocity. Left ventricular function was also estimated with conventional M-mode echocardiography. The late appendage emptying and filling velocities markedly increased during 1 week after cardioversion (p < 0.0001, respectively). This finding was associated with an increase in left atrial mechanical function. Changes in the late emptying and filling velocities significantly correlated with changes in the transmitral A-wave velocity (r = 0.59, p < 0.01), percent atrial filling (r = 0.61, p < 0.005), and the pulmonary venous A-wave velocity (r = 0.56, p < 0.05). In contrast, little change was observed in the early emptying and filling velocities. There was no relation between the indexes of left ventricular function and those of appendage function. In conclusion, unless there was an alteration of the loading conditions, left atrial appendage function improved over several days after cardioversion, and its function was related to left atrial mechanical function.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

How well is enzyme function conserved as a function of pairwise sequence identity?

Enzyme function conservation has been used to derive the threshold of sequence identity necessary to transfer function from a protein of known function to an unknown protein. Using pairwise sequence comparison, several studies suggested that when the sequence identity is above 40%, enzyme function is well conserved. In contrast, Rost argued that because of database bias, the results from such simple pairwise comparisons might be misleading. Thus, by grouping enzyme sequences into families based on sequence similarity and selecting representative sequences for comparison, he showed that enzyme function starts to diverge quickly when the sequence identity is below 70%. Here, we employ a strategy similar to Rost's to reduce the database bias; however, we classify enzyme families based not only on sequence similarity, but also on functional similarity, i.e. sequences in each family must have the same four digits or the same first three digits of the enzyme commission (EC) number. Furthermore, instead of selecting representative sequences for comparison, we calculate the function conservation of each enzyme family and then average the degree of enzyme function conservation across all enzyme families. Our analysis suggests that for functional transferability, 40% sequence identity can still be used as a confident threshold to transfer the first three digits of an EC number; however, to transfer all four digits of an EC number, above 60% sequence identity is needed to have at least 90% accuracy. Moreover, when PSI-BLAST is used, the magnitude of the E-value is found to be weakly correlated with the extent of enzyme function conservation in the third iteration of PSI-BLAST. As a result, functional annotation based on the E-values from PSI-BLAST should be used with caution. We also show that by employing an enzyme family-specific sequence identity threshold above which 100% functional conservation is required, functional inference of unknown sequences can be accurately accomplished. However, this comes at a cost: those true positive sequences below this threshold cannot be uniquely identified.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Cubic response functions in time-dependent density functional theory.

We present density-functional theory for time-dependent response functions up to and including cubic response. The working expressions are derived from an explicit exponential parametrization of the density operator and the Ehrenfest principle, alternatively, the quasienergy ansatz. While the theory retains the adiabatic approximation, implying that the time-dependency of the functional is obtained only implicitly-through the time dependence of the density itself rather than through the form of the exchange-correlation functionals-it generalizes previous time-dependent implementations in that arbitrary functionals can be chosen for the perturbed densities (energy derivatives or response functions). In particular, general density functionals beyond the local density approximation can be applied, such as hybrid functionals with exchange correlation at the generalized-gradient approximation level and fractional exact Hartree-Fock exchange. With our implementation the response of the density can always be obtained using the stated density functional, or optionally different functionals can be applied for the unperturbed and perturbed densities, even different functionals for different response order. As illustration we explore the use of various combinations of functionals for applications of nonlinear optical hyperpolarizabilities of a few centrosymmetric systems; molecular nitrogen, benzene, and the C(60) fullerene. Considering that vibrational, solvent, and local field factors effects are left out, we find in general that very good experimental agreement can be obtained for the second dynamic hyperpolarizability of these systems. It is shown that a treatment of the response of the density beyond the local density approximation gives a significant effect. The use of different functional combinations are motivated and discussed, and it is concluded that the choice of higher order kernels can be of similar importance as the choice of the potential which governs the Kohn-Sham orbitals.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

How to choose one-dimensional basis functions so that a very efficient multidimensional basis may be extracted from a direct product of the one-dimensional functions: energy levels of coupled systems with as many as 16 coordinates.

In this paper we propose a scheme for choosing basis functions for quantum dynamics calculations. Direct product bases are frequently used. The number of direct product functions required to converge a spectrum, compute a rate constant, etc., is so large that direct product calculations are impossible for molecules or reacting systems with more than four atoms. It is common to extract a smaller working basis from a huge direct product basis by removing some of the product functions. We advocate a build and prune strategy of this type. The one-dimensional (1D) functions from which we build the direct product basis are chosen to satisfy two conditions: (1) they nearly diagonalize the full Hamiltonian matrix; (2) they minimize off-diagonal matrix elements that couple basis functions with diagonal elements close to those of the energy levels we wish to compute. By imposing these conditions we increase the number of product functions that can be removed from the multidimensional basis without degrading the accuracy of computed energy levels. Two basic types of 1D basis functions are in common use: eigenfunctions of 1D Hamiltonians and discrete variable representation (DVR) functions. Both have advantages and disadvantages. The 1D functions we propose are intermediate between the 1D eigenfunction functions and the DVR functions. If the coupling is very weak, they are very nearly 1D eigenfunction functions. As the strength of the coupling is increased they resemble more closely DVR functions. We assess the usefulness of our basis by applying it to model 6D, 8D, and 16D Hamiltonians with various coupling strengths. We find approximately linear scaling.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Time evolution of the number of functional murine eccrine sweat glands after irradiation: a quantitative analysis of experimental data using a model of proliferative and functional organization.

The function of eccrine sweat glands in the beta-pad of the mouse foot after irradiation was followed over time. Graded doses of X-rays were given to the foot, either as single doses or in two equal fractions separated by a 24-h interval. A quantitative, non-invasive, functional assay was used allowing repeated evaluation of the animals. Sweat gland function was assessed once a week for the first 6 weeks, and at 8, 10, 14, 18, 28, 38 and 45 weeks after irradiation. The beta-pad of the unirradiated foot was used as a control. The function dropped to a nadir within 8-10 weeks after irradiation, whereafter it gradually recovered, reaching a stable level 20-25 weeks after irradiation. These data were analyzed using a mathematical model of proliferative and functional organization of the sweat pore. The model provides a description of the time evolution of pore function, and its basic features were as follows. The functional subunit is a single sweat pore, which will be assayed as functional provided that it contains a number of functional cells above a critical threshold. The functional cells are capable of self renewal (a so-called 'flexible' tissue), and the proportion of proliferating cells is subject to homeostatic control. Irradiation is assumed to transfer a certain fraction of the cells into a state with a limited probability of successful division. This fraction is assumed to have a linear-quadratic dependence on dose. The values of all free model parameters were optimized by a maximum-likelihood fit to the experimental data. With optimized parameter values, the initial decrease, nadir, and long-term level of tissue function estimated from the model were in close agreement with the experimental observations for all the 28 dose groups. Some of the estimated model parameters are: growth fraction 4.2 +/- 0.2%; cell cycle time, 0.95 +/- 0.04 days; number of functional cells in a single pore in the unirradiated animal, 9.9 +/- 0.5; and alpha/beta ratio, 4.3 Gy (95% confidence interval 3.1-5.0 Gy). It is concluded that the present model, despite its relative mathematical simplicity, provides a close description of the postirradiation kinetics of functional cells in the mouse sweat gland.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Neuropsychological functioning as a moderator of the relationship between psychosocial functioning and the subjective experience of self and life in schizophrenia.

Psychosocial interventions and models of quality of life in schizophrenia are based on the notion that increases in psychosocial functioning will be related to improvements in subjective experience outcomes such as self-esteem and satisfaction with life. However, studies have repeatedly failed to demonstrate a direct relationship between psychosocial functioning and subjective experience in schizophrenia. This study of 40 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia examined whether neurocognitive measures of executive functioning moderated the relationship between psychosocial functioning and subjective experience. Subjective experience was represented by measures of satisfaction with life and self-esteem. The Global Assessment Scale measured psychosocial functioning, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test measured executive functioning. Multiple regression and correlation analyses indicated that executive functioning was a strong moderator. Specifically, individuals with schizophrenia with impaired executive functioning displayed a positive and statistically significant association between psychosocial functioning and both measures of subjective experience (r = 0.55 and 0.61). However, among schizophrenia patients with intact executive performance, psychosocial functioning was negatively associated with self-esteem and satisfaction with life (r = -0.24 and -0.46). And the findings were internally replicated using two other neuropsychological measures relevant to executive functioning. These findings indicate that executive functioning plays a major role in moderating the relationship between subjective experience and psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia. Implications for biosocial models, psychosocial interventions, and models of quality of life in schizophrenia are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1981

Structure and function in neurobiology: a conceptual framework and the localization of functions.

A framework of concepts on structure and function of the nervous system is presented, in which we attempt to formulate the intended meanings of some ambiguous statements on structure and function in neurobiology in a set of strictly defined concepts. Function. The word "function" as generally used has different meanings. Two meanings of the question "What is the function of B?" are particularly relevant for this subject: (1) "What does B do?" and (2) "Why did B evolve?" It is shown that question 1 must be answered before question 2. Function of brain region S. The question "What does brain region S do?" has a meaning identical to the question "What is the relation between inputs and outputs of S, at specified conditions of S?" The answer to this question is the I/O-function. The I/)-function can be described at different levels, for instance at the molecular or cellular level. When neuroscientists ask "What is the function of brain region S?", the intended meaning appears to be either "What is the extra-CNS I/O-function of S?," or "Why did S evolve?" The "extra-CNS I/O-function of CNS subsystem S" is "the I/O-function of S in which input and output elements are outside the CNS". In many cases, neuroscientists want to know the "behavioral I/O-function of CNS subsystem S," i.e., the "I/O-function of S in which input and output elements are outside the organism"; they want to know "what is represented by the inputs of S outside the organism, and what are the effects of the outputs of S outside the organism." Loosely speaking, when a neuroscientist wants to know "the function of brain region S," he wants to know "the meaning of its neural messages, and their behavioral effects." Some examples of generally accepted behavioral I/O-functions of clearly sensory and motor parts of the CNS are presented. Localization of function. The following conclusions are drawn for "localization of function F." (1) "Function F" must be specified as "I/O-function F' " referring to input and output elements outside the CNS. (2) "Localization of I/O-function F' " is a kind of shorthand for "identification of the neural activity representing the states of these input and output elements." (3) If neurons exist whose activity only (or mainly) represents this input ("pontifical cells"), and/or only (or mainly) generates this output ("command neurons") (or, in other words, whose behavioral I/O-function is F'), it might be said metaphorically that "function F is localized in these neurons." In most cases, the existence of such neurons is still on open question.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[The relationship of lung function and heart function of RHD patients in different period].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of heart function and lung function in RHD patients. METHODS: We compared heart posterior-anterior film, lung function test results, PaO(2) and O(2) Sat of blood gas analysis before and after motion before operation, early postoperation, late postoperation, according to heart function and cardiothoracic ratio in 98 RHD patients. RESULTS: With worsening of heart function and enlargement of cardiothoracic ratio, lung function worsened too. PaO(2) and O(2) Sat did not change apparently. The lung function of early postoperation did not improve significantly. The lung function improved gradually with better heart function and shortening of heart in later postoperation. But small air way obstruction and diffuse function and function residue volume changed slowly. CONCLUSIONS: Heart function affects the lung function directly. They were positively correlated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

The relationship of social function with motor and speech functions in children with autism.

BACKGROUND: Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder, characterized by pervasive impairment in several areas of development, including social interactions and communication skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate the development profiles and determine the relationship of social function with motor and speech functions in children with autism. METHODS: We collected the medical records of 32 children with autism. We used the Chinese Children Developmental Inventory (CCDI) to assess eight functional domains including: gross motor (GM), fine motor (FM), expressive language (EL), concept comprehension (CC), social comprehension (SC), self help (SH), personal social (PS), and general development (GD). The children were classified into group A if the PS development quotient (DQ) was equal to or higher than 50%, or they were classified into group B if the PSDQ was lower than 50%. We compared the DQ between the two groups. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The developmental functions, including motor, speech, and self help functions in the autism group with high social function were better than those in the autism group with low social function. The DQs of all developmental function in group A (60-88%) were higher than those in group B (28-57%) (p < 0.01). The gross motor and fine motor functions were better than speech and social function by 20 to 37% in both groups. Correlation analysis among developmental functions showed significant correlation (r=0.46-0.94, p<0.01). Using a stepwise linear regression test, the PS function was highly correlated with SC (r2=0.832, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Autism is a multifaceted and disproportional developmental disorder. Social communication may play the dominant role in determining the social functions in children with autism.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMed2026

Early-stage trajectories of social-occupational functioning and long-term functional outcome prediction in early psychosis: A 12-year follow-up of the randomized controlled trial on extended early intervention.

BACKGROUND: Functional impairment in psychosis often persists despite symptomatic remission. There is a paucity of research examining early-course psychosocial functioning trajectories, and none has been conducted to examine relationship between the trajectories and prospective long-term functional outcomes in early psychosis sample. METHODS: We conducted 12-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial on extended early intervention for first-episode psychosis to identify early-course social-occupational functioning trajectories and their baseline predictors and associations with 12-year outcomes. Participants who completed Social and Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFAS) scores at three or more timepoints between baseline and 3-year follow-up were included in the study. Premorbid adjustment, illness characteristics, symptom severity, functioning, and treatment profiles were assessed. Latent growth mixture modeling was employed to derive early-course social-occupational functioning trajectories based on SOFAS scores over 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 148 participants were included in this study, with 106 patients having completed the 12-year follow-up. Our results identified four distinct trajectories, including persistently-good class, gradually-improved class, suboptimal-stable class, and persistently-poor class. Patients in persistently-poor class had more severe negative symptoms at baseline compared to patients in persistently-good class. Patients with persistently-poor trajectory had worse long-term outcomes than those with other classes in the majority of functional measures at 12-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients were classified in early-stage suboptimal or poor functional trajectories. Above one-fourth of the participants exhibited persistently-poor social-occupational functioning trajectory, which predicted worse functional outcomes at 12-year follow-up. These findings highlighted the importance of tracking functional changes during the initial years of illness.

Humans↗