Global and regional cortical CMRglc is reduced significantly in MS patients compared with normal control subjects. Furthermore, the CMRglc reductions correlate with TLA as well as with cognitive dysfunction, which indicates that MRI white matter lesion burden has a deteriorating effect on cortical cerebral neural function.

No abstract

Background: Amidst this global pandemic, the impact on accessing care and support for cancer survivors in Australia is uncertain and unknown. The purpose of the current study is to explore the impact that COVID-19 had on Australian rural/ regional cancer survivors and their ability to access health services, treatment, and supportive care during this pandemic. Methods: Cancer survivors (n ¼ 66) completed an online survey regarding the impact of COVID-19 on their access to medical and support services. Results: Findings indicated that COVID-19 had a significant impact on the lives of cancer survivors with the biggest challenges being reduced social support and the inability to see their health care providers. Findings also revealed that older participants reported greater impact and distress due to COVID-19. Conclusions: In order to ensure that the health and support needs of cancer survivors are not negatively impacted, providers of psychosocial support may need to make strategic changes in the provision of access to health and support services.

No abstract

No abstract

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has accentuated the role and interplay of numerous educational factors, inviting pedagogical research concerning online education. Using self-determination theory's basic psychological needs and fundamental learning theories, identified educational factors were integrated into three pathways: (1) autonomy, technology acceptance, and self-regulation of learning; (2) relatedness, authentic happiness, and a classroom community; and (3) competency, harmonious passion, and trait conscientiousness. This study extends educational research by elucidating the relationships between psychological need fulfilment, educational factors, and students' expectations of their future grades during the impact of COVID-19. Australian university students (N = 226, 77% female) completed questionnaires assessing their experience of home isolation, factors of each hypothesised pathway, and their expected grades. Structural equation modelling revealed that higher need fulfilment significantly predicted engagement in educational factors and that educational factors are complexly interrelated, providing resilience, motivation, and the mechanisms that facilitate learning. Most importantly, relatedness between academics and students positively influenced all learning pathways. Reciprocal determinism demonstrated the most substantial association with expected grades, and new insight was gained into the interrelationships of passion, trait conscientiousness, and self-regulation of learning.

No abstract

Acute mental disorder in early Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is rare and little is known about the structural and metabolic changes in this relation. We present an MS patient with discrete motor and sensory deficits, who developed severe behavioral changes over a period of nine months during the initial course of the disease. The cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglc) was measured using positron emission tomography (PET), and the patient underwent MRI as well as a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. Significantly reduced values of CMRglc were found bilaterally in the frontal and temporal cortex, the putamen, the thalamus and the hippocampus. The MRI revealed progression of MS lesions in the frontal lobes during the development of mental symptoms. Neuropsychological examination showed wide spread cognitive dysfunction, and a pronounced frontal lobe syndrome. The study demonstrates the remote metabolic effects of lesions affecting subcortical neural connections in an MS patient with severe cognitive dysfunction.