Search Results (3)

How can we determine which language task is relevant for examining functional hemispheric asymmetry? A problem in measuring brain asymmetry using functional magnetic resonance imaging lies in the uncertain reliability of the computed index regarding the “true” asymmetry degree. Strictly speaking, the results from the Wada test or direct cortical stimulation cannot be an exact “ground truth”, specifically for the degree of asymmetry. Therefore, we developed a method to evaluate task performance using reproducibility independent of the phenomenon of functional lateralization. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W) was used as the statistical measure. The underlying idea was that although various algorithms to compute the lateralization index show considerably different index values for the same data, a superior language task would reproduce similar individual ranking sequences across the algorithms; the high reproducibility of rankings across various index types would indicate a reliable task to investigate functional asymmetry regardless of index computation algorithms. Consequently, we found specificity for brain locations; a verb-generation task demonstrated the highest concordance across index types along with sufficiently high index values in the inferior frontal gyrus, whereas a narration–listening task demonstrated the highest concordance in the posterior temporo-parietal junction area. Full article

Medical students may come in contact with individuals infected with COVID-19 in their clinical rotations. A high level of acceptance of vaccination is needed for them to protect their health and the health of patients from this disease. The objectives of this study were to (1) obtain information on medical students’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination, (2) assess factors associated with students’ attitudes, and (3) identify predictors of their willingness to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Using a cross-sectional design, we conducted a questionnaire survey of medical students in July 2021. For this survey, we employed a 15-item questionnaire specifically developed to assess the students’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. Of the 742 distributed questionnaires, 496 (294 males and 202 females) were completed. Among all the participants, 89.1% (442/496) received the second dose of the vaccine, and 90.7% (450/496) indicated that they would hypothetically receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the future. Furthermore, 84.5% (419/496) of all the participants were willing to receive a third dose of the vaccine. Regarding willingness to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, multiple logistic regression models showed that students’ grade and their responses to Q1 (positive attitude toward vaccination), Q9 (belief in the protection offered by COVID-19 vaccination), Q10 (concern about the excessively rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines), Q12 (need for aspects of pre-pandemic life), and Q14 (concern about the sustainability of immunity) had significant associations with this outcome. Confidence in vaccines, relaxation of mobility restrictions, and concern about the sustainability of immunity motivate willingness to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in medical students. Full article

Lithium has been used as a mood-stabilizing drug in people with mood disorders. Previous studies have shown that natural levels of lithium in drinking water may protect against suicide. This study evaluated the association between lithium levels in tap water and the suicide standardized mortality ratio (SMR) in 40 municipalities of Aomori prefecture, which has the highest levels of suicide mortality rate in Japan. Lithium levels in the tap water supplies of each municipality were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. After adjusting for confounders, a statistical trend toward significance was found for the relationship between lithium levels and the average SMR among females. These findings indicate that natural levels of lithium in drinking water might have a protective effect on the risk of suicide among females. Future research is warranted to confirm this association. Full article