BACKGROUND: Cognitive therapy may have therapeutic benefit in patients with early Alzheimer's disease (AD). CASE REPORT: This was a 12-week, single-blind pilot study of 4 patients with AD. The cognitive therapy included exercises for orientation to time and place; memory training, including face-name association, object recall training, and spaced retrieval; visuo-motor organization using software; similarity and ruled based categorization; and behavior modification and sequencing (e.g., making change, paying bills). The regional cerebral metabolic abnormalities and the effects of treatment on cortical metabolic responses were evaluated using 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (PET). After 12 weeks, the participants showed slight improvement in some neuropsychological measures, and three of them showed increased regional cortical metabolism on brain PET studies. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive therapy may stabilize or improve cognitive and functional performance of patients with early AD and increase regional cortical metabolism of the patients' brain.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Behavior Therapy ; Brain ; Cognitive Therapy* ; Exercise ; Humans ; Learning ; Metabolism ; Pilot Projects* ; Positron-Emission Tomography*

Although transfusion is a globally prevalent medical procedure, there are knowledge gaps among physicians due to inadequate education on this topic. Our study sought to evaluate the level of understanding and awareness among medical students at Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Asan, Korea regarding transfusion medicine and patient blood management (PBM). The findings revealed a critical need to strengthen areas of education related to alternative treatments for various types of anemia, the impact of underlying conditions on anemia, and the implementation of PBM strategies in non-emergency situations. This underscores the imperative need for expanded and improved educational programs to ensure optimal patient outcomes and the safe use of blood products.

Many medical institutions have adopted a massive transfusion protocol (MTP) for the effective management of hemorrhagic shock. However, in medical institutions where severe trauma patients are infrequently admitted, the use of MTP is rare, potentially leading to deficiencies in staff proficiency and confidence when responding to severe hemorrhage events. This study introduced simulation training to improve staff skills and confidence and assess the current state of the MTP. Healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, medical technologist, and support staff from emergency medical center and blood bank, participated in two simulation training sessions.The Red Blood Cell (RBC) turnaround time (TAT) failed to meet the 5-minute target in both sessions, with recorded times of 10 minutes and 9 minutes, respectively. The fresh frozen plasma (FFP) TAT exceeded the 20-minute target in the first session but achieved the goal with a time of 19 minutes in the second session. Consequently, the RBC TAT target was adjusted to a more realistic 10 minutes. Operational changes, such as installing a blood product refrigerator in the emergency department and prioritizing MTP activities, were suggested to further reduce TAT. Simulation-based training can improve compliance with MTP procedures and increase staff confidence. For institutions where MTP activation is infrequent, regular simulation training and the dissemination of educational materials are crucial to ensuring a prompt and accurate response in actual severe hemorrhage events.

Many medical institutions have adopted a massive transfusion protocol (MTP) for the effective management of hemorrhagic shock. However, in medical institutions where severe trauma patients are infrequently admitted, the use of MTP is rare, potentially leading to deficiencies in staff proficiency and confidence when responding to severe hemorrhage events. This study introduced simulation training to improve staff skills and confidence and assess the current state of the MTP. Healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, medical technologist, and support staff from emergency medical center and blood bank, participated in two simulation training sessions.The Red Blood Cell (RBC) turnaround time (TAT) failed to meet the 5-minute target in both sessions, with recorded times of 10 minutes and 9 minutes, respectively. The fresh frozen plasma (FFP) TAT exceeded the 20-minute target in the first session but achieved the goal with a time of 19 minutes in the second session. Consequently, the RBC TAT target was adjusted to a more realistic 10 minutes. Operational changes, such as installing a blood product refrigerator in the emergency department and prioritizing MTP activities, were suggested to further reduce TAT. Simulation-based training can improve compliance with MTP procedures and increase staff confidence. For institutions where MTP activation is infrequent, regular simulation training and the dissemination of educational materials are crucial to ensuring a prompt and accurate response in actual severe hemorrhage events.

Many medical institutions have adopted a massive transfusion protocol (MTP) for the effective management of hemorrhagic shock. However, in medical institutions where severe trauma patients are infrequently admitted, the use of MTP is rare, potentially leading to deficiencies in staff proficiency and confidence when responding to severe hemorrhage events. This study introduced simulation training to improve staff skills and confidence and assess the current state of the MTP. Healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, medical technologist, and support staff from emergency medical center and blood bank, participated in two simulation training sessions.The Red Blood Cell (RBC) turnaround time (TAT) failed to meet the 5-minute target in both sessions, with recorded times of 10 minutes and 9 minutes, respectively. The fresh frozen plasma (FFP) TAT exceeded the 20-minute target in the first session but achieved the goal with a time of 19 minutes in the second session. Consequently, the RBC TAT target was adjusted to a more realistic 10 minutes. Operational changes, such as installing a blood product refrigerator in the emergency department and prioritizing MTP activities, were suggested to further reduce TAT. Simulation-based training can improve compliance with MTP procedures and increase staff confidence. For institutions where MTP activation is infrequent, regular simulation training and the dissemination of educational materials are crucial to ensuring a prompt and accurate response in actual severe hemorrhage events.

Many medical institutions have adopted a massive transfusion protocol (MTP) for the effective management of hemorrhagic shock. However, in medical institutions where severe trauma patients are infrequently admitted, the use of MTP is rare, potentially leading to deficiencies in staff proficiency and confidence when responding to severe hemorrhage events. This study introduced simulation training to improve staff skills and confidence and assess the current state of the MTP. Healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, medical technologist, and support staff from emergency medical center and blood bank, participated in two simulation training sessions.The Red Blood Cell (RBC) turnaround time (TAT) failed to meet the 5-minute target in both sessions, with recorded times of 10 minutes and 9 minutes, respectively. The fresh frozen plasma (FFP) TAT exceeded the 20-minute target in the first session but achieved the goal with a time of 19 minutes in the second session. Consequently, the RBC TAT target was adjusted to a more realistic 10 minutes. Operational changes, such as installing a blood product refrigerator in the emergency department and prioritizing MTP activities, were suggested to further reduce TAT. Simulation-based training can improve compliance with MTP procedures and increase staff confidence. For institutions where MTP activation is infrequent, regular simulation training and the dissemination of educational materials are crucial to ensuring a prompt and accurate response in actual severe hemorrhage events.