In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that cortical electrophysiological markers for the processing of facial emotion are associated with individual differences in executive and social cognition skills. We tested for correlations between the amplitude of event-related potentials (N170) in a dual valence task and LY294002 participants’ scores on three neuropsychological assessments (general neuropsychology,

executive functioning, and social cognition). N170 was modulated by the stimulus type (face versus word) and the valence of faces (positive versus negative). The neural source of N170 was estimated to be the fusiform gyrus. Robust correlations were found between neuropsychological markers and measures

of facial processing. Social cognition skills (as measured by three tests: the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test, the Faux Pas test, and the Iowa Gambling Task) correlated with cortical measures of emotional discrimination. Executive functioning ability also correlated with find more the cortical discrimination of complex emotional stimuli. Our findings suggest that the cortical processing of facial emotional expression is associated with social cognition skills. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: We determined the rate of diagnostic imaging use for the preoperative evaluation of boys with cryptorchidism and the factors that influence referring providers to obtain imaging.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a national cross-sectional survey of pediatricians randomly sampled from the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile. The primary outcome Thalidomide was whether the respondent obtained imaging at the initial evaluation of boys with cryptorchidism. Participants were queried

regarding practice location and type, length of time in practice, frequency of reading academic journals and the accessibility of surgical sub-specialists. For those who ordered imaging, respondents were asked how frequently they ordered imaging, and were asked to select patient factors and professional beliefs that influenced their decision to obtain imaging. Factors associated with imaging use were identified using multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Of the pediatricians who acknowledged contact by surveyors 47% completed the survey and 34% of respondents reported always or usually ordering imaging. Of those who obtained imaging 96.4% used ultrasound. Pediatricians in practice fewer than 20 years (OR 3.43, 95% CI 1.92-6.16) and those in nonacademic practices (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.34-6.71) were more likely to order imaging. Pediatricians obtained imaging because of beliefs that imaging reliably identifies a nonpalpable testis, reassures the family and assists the surgeon with operative planning.