RESUMEN
Inhibitory control, as a fundamental executive function, has been found to be associated with a range of cognitive processes. In this study, our objective was to enhance inhibitory control through a targeted training program and assess its impact on attention, executive function, delay discounting and risky decision making. Thirty-two typically-developing children (age mean 6.89 ± 0.32 years) were recruited in a random clinical trial design in two equal intervention and active control groups. Go/No-Go, Flanker, continuous performance, delay discounting, and balloon analogue risk tasks were used for assessment in three baseline, post- intervention, and 3-months follow-up sessions. The intervention group received the program for attentive rehabilitation of inhibition and selective attention (PARISA) and the active control group participated in a story telling class, both in 12 sessions. The results of the study indicate significant improvements in sustained attention, interference control, and prepotent inhibition among participants in the intervention group. However, there were no significant changes observed in delay discounting and risky decision making. These findings suggest that the inhibitory control training primarily enhances aspects of cold cognition and attentional processes. However, the observed improvements did not extend to reward processing or warm cognition.
RESUMEN
Sulfur mustard (2,2-dichloroethyl sulfide, SM) has been documented as an alkylating agent. It has been widely used as a chemical weapon during the last two decades. Despite extensive worldwide research, no effective therapy has yet been devised for the treatment of patients exposed to SM. A severe suppression of the immune system still remains as the major cause of opportunistic infections, septicemia and death in such patients. The aim of this study was to determine the possible effect of SM on natural killer (NK) cells in patients suffering from SM injuries. Patients were classified into three groups: mild, moderate and severe. Blood sample obtained from each patient was examined using flowcytometric technique. Results showed that the percentage of NK cells (CD45+/CD56+) is significantly lower in severe patients than that of the control group (P<0.05). It was also observed that the activity of NK cells (CD56+/CD25+) in severe alkylating group is noticeably higher compared with the control group (P<0.1).