Cognitive testing

Bonithon-Kopp et al. (1986b) investigated another potential marker for lead exposure. Maternal and infant hair lead levels, determined from hair samples taken at birth, were found to be correlated inversely with results on neurobehavioral tests (McCarthy Scales of Children s Abilities) when the children were tested at 6 years of age. Other studies have also reported associations between hair lead levels and behavioral or cognitive test scores, but measures of lead in hair may not accurately reflect internal body burden of lead, and such data should not be used to evaluate internal dose-response relationships (EPA 1986a). 

Cognitive Tests. Schroeter et. al. studied hemodynamic responses to classic Stroop task where mismatch in words spelling out various colors [93]. The task consisted of two rows and were asked to decide whether the color of the top row of letter corresponded with the bottom row spelling out a color. Three types of stimuli were presented, (1) neutral, where top row consisted of X s, (2) congruent, where top row... 

Elderly patients after admission to a hospital often first show mental signs and symptoms, then show behavioural disturbances (Saravay et al. 2004). Thus if early mental signs and symptoms are identified and acted on, behavioural disturbances and subsequent extended length of hospital stay may be prevented. For cognitive testing many screening instruments are available. The most widely used is probably Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). 

None of the exposures produced changes in clinical chemistry values (blood count, blood nitrate, blood urea nitrogen, serum enzymes, and serum electrolytes or urinalysis and nitrate and nitrite urinary excretion), spontaneous electrical activity of the cortex of the brain (detected by EEG), pulse rate and sinus rhythm, or pulmonary function. Visual and auditory acuity, exercise EKG, and time estimation tests did not differ from control values for any of the exposures. Only one of several cognitive tests was affected by exposure and the change occurred only in the four subjects exposed at 1.5 ppm. The test was taken during the time the subjects were experiencing severe headaches. 

Change in visual evoked response 0.35 ppm for 8 h Threshold for impairment of balance 0.5 ppm for 6 h Threshold for abnormal cognitive test 1.5 ppm for 3.2 h End point/Concentration/Rationale A 6-h exposure at 0.5 ppm which resulted in severe headache and was the threshold for loss of equilibrium falls within the AEGL-2 definition of threshold for impaired ability to escape. 

Post carpenters would install interior partitions - one to set apart the nursing staff and another to provide a quiet cubicle for the NF and VITA cognitive testing. An in-house bathroom, complete with chemical toilet and sink would be placed in one comer, leaving ample space for the volunteers, their beds and accompanying hassocks for staff Nothing less than a veritable Holiday Inn, modified to accommodate chemical warfare volunteers. 

A few days later, the infantry colonel s scoring of the military tasks arrived in the mail. He had been required to rate them blind, because there were deliberately no time stamps on them and Lloyd had re-recorded them in random sequence. Nevertheless, the colonel s judgment of military competence in each scene conformed closely to the corresponding NF score. The Edgewood cognitive tests once again proved to be good predictors of performance in the field. 

We tested a variety of military skills in this pilot study. Motion picture documentation of performance was provided and used to produce a film (Soldier s Predicament). The aim of this pilot study was to examine the relationship between performance of military tasks such as rifle assembly and map reading, to cognitive measures such as NF, SC and VITA As expected, the performance ability of well-trained soldiers was grossly inadequate and completely impossible during periods of incapacitation, as indicated by their cognitive test scores. The relevance of laboratory measures to simulated military performance was reinforced by these results. 

Authors Smokers n) Nonsmokers (n) FTND Pack-year Cognitive test Results... 

Exposure of humans at 15,000-20,OOOppm causes anesthesia. At levels of 42 00-53 00 ppm for 30 minutes, cognitive tests indicated a performance decrement for remembering word pairs. ... 

Humans exposed to isobutane at concentrations of 250, 500, or 1000 ppm for periods of 1 minute to 8 hours did not exhibit any untoward physiological responses as determined by continuous ECG telemetry, spirometric measures, blood count, urinalysis, and a battery of cognitive tests. Repetitive exposures at 500 ppm for up to 8 hours/day for 10 days also were without any measurable untoward effect. 

Cognitive impairments are among the most common mental changes in PD, ranging from mild impairment of selected cognitive functions to severe dementia. In a study of more than 100 PD patients, only 25% performed adequately on a range of cognitive tests. Another 25% had mild impairment,... 

Lucki, I., Rickels, K., Geller, A.M. Chronic use of benzodiazepines and psychomotor and cognitive test performance. Psvchopharmacologv 88, 426-433, 1986. 

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