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Manual dexterity impairments are among the most common and debilitating motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. Assessment of dexterity is therefore critical for evaluating upper limb function and guiding therapeutic interventions. To determine the test-retest reliability, minimum detectable change, concurrent, and discriminant validity of the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test in people with Parkinson’s disease, and cut-off times that best distinguish people with Parkinson’s disease from healthy controls. Cross-sectional study. Forty people with Parkinson’s disease and 30 healthy people were included. The test-retest reliability was evaluated by determining the intraclass correlation coefficient. The standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change were calculated by using intraclass correlation coefficient results. The concurrent validity of Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test was determined by investigating its relationship with the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-NHPT), Jebsen Hand Function Assessment Test (JHFT), Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, and Hoehn and Yahr scale. The cut-off times that best discriminated between people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy controls were investigated by plotting receiver operating characteristic curves. The Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.975-0.994). The minimum detectable change values of Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test subtests ranged from 7.26 to 12.39. Subtests showed fair to strong correlations with other outcomes (correlation coefficients ranged from 0.39 to 0.78, p ≤ 0.02). Significant differences in the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test subtests were found between people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy controls (p < 0.001). Cut-off times ranging from 61.20 to 93.71 seconds were found to be good discriminants people with Parkinson’s disease from healthy controls. The Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test is a reliable and valid tool for assessing manual dexterity in people with Parkinson’s disease. •Manual dexterity problems are quite common in people with Parkinson's disease.•The Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test has excellent test-retest reliability.•The minimum detectable change values ranging from 7.26 to 12.39.•The test has good discriminate and concurrent validity in evaluating hand dexterity.•The test may be preferred as a measurement tool specific to Parkinson's Disease.

Cross-sectional study. The WorkAbility Rate of Manipulation Test (WRMT), an adaptation of the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT), contains a revised board and protocols to improve its utility for therapy or fitness assessment. To describe the development and preliminary psychometric properties of WRMT. Sixty-six healthy participants completed MMDT and WRMT in a random order followed by a user experience survey. We compared tests using repeated-measures analysis of variance, test-retest reliability, and examined agreement between tests. Despite the similarities of these 2 instruments, the different administration protocols resulted in statistically different score distributions (P < .001). Results supported good test-retest reliability of WRMT (placing test ICC = 0.88-0.90 and turning test ICC = 0.68-0.82). The WRMT correlated moderately with MMDT (r = 0.81 in placing test and r = 0.44-0.57 in turning test). Bland-Altman plot showed that the differences in completion time were 3.8 seconds between placing tests and 19.6 (both hands), 0.3 (right hand), and 3.9 (left hand) seconds between turning tests. Overall, participants felt that the instruction of WRMT was easier to follow (44%) and preferred its setup, color, and depth of the test board (49%). Time required to complete 1 panel of 20 disks correlated highly with the time needed to finish a complete trial of 60 disks in both MMDT (r = 0.91-0.97) and WRMT (r = 0.88-0.95). Caution is warranted in comparing scores from these 2 test variants. 3b.

Background Chemotherapy is a well-known risk factor for sensorial and motor disturbances. Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) which predominantly affects sensory nerves might cause a diminished fine motor function. This prospective observational study aimed to assess the sensorimotor functions of breast cancer patients before, during, and after chemotherapy. Methods A total of 56 breast cancer patients were evaluated at three different times as follows: T1 (before chemotherapy), T2 (middle chemotherapy), and T3 (completion of chemotherapy). Motor function was assessed with handgrip strength (HGS), peripheral muscle strength (PMS), and the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT). Semmes Weinstein Monofilament Test (SWMT) was performed to assess the sensory function. Fatigue was evaluated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Module Cancer Related Fatigue (EORTC-QLQ-FA12), respectively. Results HGS and MMDT were found significant (χ 2 : 11.279, p  = 0.004 and χ 2 : 9.893, p  = 0.007, respectively) whereas PMS was not found significant (F (2,110) = 1.914, p  = 0.152). Pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni adjustments revealed that HGS was found significant between T1 and T3, while significant results were obtained between T1 and T2 as well as T2 and T3 in MMDT ( p  = 0.01 and p  = 0.042). There were significant results in some reference points of SWMT, though they were not found after pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni adjustment ( p  > 0.05). Fatigue was found significantly increased from T1 through T3 (Median: 19.44 vs 27.77, z: -2.347, p  = 0.019, Wilcoxon test). Conclusion Our study showed that decreased handgrip strength and fine motor function, as well as increased fatigue, are evident during the chemotherapy. SWMT can be an optional assessment in the context of tracking changes in cutaneous sensation during chemotherapy due to its non-invasive, cheap, and easily repeatable features among cancer patients. To preserve functional capacity as well as independence in daily living, precautions and follow up assessments during the systemic therapy process should be integrated as early as possible to prevent future deteriorations in daily life for patients who undergo chemotherapy. Trial registration NCT04799080.

Several dexterity tests have been developed, including the Minnesota Rate of Manipulation Test (MRMT) and a new version, the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT). The objectives of the study were: a) to verify the test-retest reliability of the MMDT; b) to compare the MRMT and the MMDT; c) to study the concurrent validity of the MMDT; and d) to establish reference values for elderly people with the MMDT. Two hundred and forty-seven community-living healthy elderly were evaluated with the MMDT, and two other dexterity tests, the Box and Block Test (BBT) and the Purdue Pegboard (PP). Thirty-five of them were evaluated twice with the MMDT and 44 were evaluated with both the MMDT and MRMT. The results show that the test-retest reliability of the MMDT is acceptable to high (intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.79 to 0.87, depending on the subtest) and the validity of the test is demonstrated by significant correlations between the MMDT, the BBT and the PP (0.63 to 0.67). There is a high correlation (0.85 to 0.95) between the MMDT and the MMRT in spite of different results. The reference values will help occupational therapists to differentiate better between real dexterity difficulties and those that may be attributed to normal aging.

Norms for children aged 6–19 years were developed in 1985 for the Box and Block Test (BBT) and updated in 2013 for 3–10-year-olds. Evidence suggests that past normative data may need to be updated due to changes in children’s hand use over the past 40 years. To compare children’s performance on the BBT with existing 1985 normative data. Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional observational study to validate the Complete Minnesota Dexterity Test (CMDT) using the BBT. All were healthy volunteers, aged 7 to 18 years, with no known physical, cognitive, or emotional conditions. Participants completed study procedures in a pediatric hospital. During data collection we noted low performance on the BBT and hypothesized a decline compared to the 1985 norms. Participants completed one trial of the BBT with each hand. We compared our sample to the normative sample using mean number of blocks placed in 60 seconds and standard error of the means using two-tailed, one sample t-tests. Of 816 children screened, 181 were eligible and consented to participate. A total of 98 females and 83 males participated. Each gender-by-age group-by-hand category ranged from 4–21 participants. In each group, means were statistically significantly lower than norms, indicated by nonoverlapping 95% confidence intervals and t-test results. The difference in blocks placed in 60 seconds ranged from 9.1 to 31.3 fewer blocks. This study suggests that children’s manual dexterity has declined over the past 40 years. Clinicians should consider this when using the BBT to evaluate performance. This study lacked enough subjects to establish new normative data but suggests the 1985 norms need to be updated. Our findings provide evidence of a decline in manual dexterity among children on the BBT since 1985. •Children’s manual dexterity scores have declined over the past 40 years.•The Box and Block Test norms for 6–19-year-olds from 1985 are no longer valid.•When evaluating children, clinicians should assessments with up-to-date norms.

This study explored the association between intelligence and motor skills in children with ASD after controlling for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the associations between motor impairment and intellectual disability (ID) in this population. In total, 120 children with ASD (3–16 years; 81.7% boys) completed a standardized intelligence test, the Movement Assessment Battery for Children and Beery–Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration. Variance in performance IQ was associated with 20.8% of the variance in motor skills while significant associations were found between comorbid ID and motor impairment (ɸ = 0.304). Manual Dexterity and Balance are moderately influenced by performance IQ in children with ASD. Furthermore, presence of ID is also moderately associated with motor impairment in this population.

Background Olfactory deficit is consistently associated with age‐related cognitive and mobility decline, and one of the earliest signs of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Lipids in the nasal mucosa stabilize the olfactory nerve membrane which may contribute to olfactory transduction to the brain. The lipid composition of the nasal mucosa is likely affected by lipids in circulation. Therefore, we investigated whether plasma lipids mediated the relationships of olfaction with cognitive and mobility impairment and function, which may shed light on underlying mechanisms. Method In 656 Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging participants (mean age:70.5years, 55%women, 30%Black, 3%cognitive impairment), we tested the mediation effects of lipid metabolites on associations of olfaction with cognitive and mobility impairment and performance. Plasma lipids and small molecules were assayed via FIA‐ and LC‐mass spectrometry, respectively, and categorized into six lipid classes (i.e., acylcarnitines, ceramides, glycosylceramides, glycerolipids and cholesteryl esters, sphingomyelins, and triglycerides). Odor identification was scored via 16‐item Sniffin’ Sticks. Cognitive impairment was determined based on clinical characteristics, and cognitive functions were measured via a neuropsychological battery. Mobility impairment and performance were measured by gait speed. All models were adjusted for demographics and additionally adjusted for visceral fat via CT in a subsample (n = 570). Result Only very long‐chain and long‐chain glycosylceramides and sphingomyelins were positively associated with both olfaction and cognitive and mobility outcomes (p <0.05)(Figure 1). Sphingomyelins significantly mediated associations of olfaction with cognitive outcomes of attention (Trail Making Test part A), manual dexterity (Purdue Pegboard), and verbal memory (California Verbal Learning Test), and mobility impairment and performance of usual and rapid gait speed, 400‐meter walk time, and HABCPPB up to 29.4% (all p <0.05). Glycosylceramides also mediated the association with attention, rapid gait speed, and 400‐meter time up to 11% (all p <0.05)(Figure 2). The mediating effects of sphingomyelins persisted after further adjusting for visceral fat. Conclusion Certain lipid species of sphingomyelins and glycosylceramides mediate the relationship of olfaction with cognition and mobility. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these cross‐sectional findings and further investigate the mediation role of lipid metabolism in the nasal mucosa.

Previous research has established normed and validated assessments to measure manual dexterity in children. However, there currently are no validated brief assessment tools that are specifically designed to measure unilateral and bimanual dexterity in this population. The main purpose of this study was to develop normative data for the Complete Minnesota Dexterity Test (CMDT) for children and adolescents. Additionally, we assessed the CMDT’s test-retest reliability and concurrent validity with the Box and Blocks Test (BBT). Cross-sectional observational quantitative study. Participants were 181 healthy children, aged 7–18 years, with no known physical, cognitive, or emotional conditions which could impact performance. The five subtests of the CMDT were completed for two trials with each hand, and one trial of the BBT was completed with each hand. Age group norms for each CMDT subtest were computed using means and standard deviations. Test-retest reliability was computed using test-retest correlations. Validation of the CMDT was examined using Pearson correlations between the first trial of each CMDT subtest and the BBT score. A total of 98 females and 83 males participated and were divided into eight age groups, with 19–26 participants per group. Normative data were obtained for the placing, turning, displacing, and one-hand and two-hand turning subtests. Reliability measures for all subtests were high, with test-retest correlations ranging from 0.89 to 0.93 (p < 0.0001). There was a high degree of correlation between the CMDT and BBT (r = −0.64 to −0.82, p < 0.0001). The CMDT’s robust construct validity supports its use for the assessment of manual dexterity in children. There were not clinically meaningful improvements on retesting, therefore one trial of each subtest is sufficient. •Establishment of pediatric normative data for Complete Minnesota Dexterity Test.•Complete Minnesota Dexterity Test shows test-retest reliability in children.•Complete Minnesota Dexterity Test validated against Box and Blocks Test in children.

Objective: Hand functionality, defined as the ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor skills, is crucial for emergency service nurses as it directly affects their ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor skills, such as administering medication, operating equipment, and providing patient care. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-h work shift on hand functionality and perceived exertion among emergency service nurses.Method: Employing a cross-sectional design, the study measured manual dexterity, handgrip, and pinch strength, and perceived exertion using the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test (MMDT), Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT), Handgrip Strength Test, Pinch Strength Test, and the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Scale. Data were collected from 34 emergency service nurses both before and after their shifts.Results: The present findings indicated significant postshift declines in manual dexterity as evidenced by the MMDT and 9-HPT, with the former demonstrating a large effect size and the latter a small effect size. No significant changes were observed in handgrip and pinch strength. Notably, Borg RPE scores increased significantly postshift, indicating substantial perceived fatigue with a nearly perfect effect size. Correlation analyses revealed significant relationships between increased physical exertion and changes in hand dexterity and strength, underscoring the physical demands placed on nurses during typical work shifts.Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for healthcare institutions to reassess work schedules and ergonomic practices to mitigate fatigue and preserve nurses’ hand functionality, thereby enhancing patient care and nurse well-being. The study calls for further research to explore more comprehensive strategies aimed at reducing the occupational strain on emergency service nurses.