ObjectiveThe Trail Making Test (TMT) and Stroop Test (ST) are attention tests widely used in clinical practice and research. The aim of this study was to provide normative data for the adult Brazilian population and to study the influence of gender, age and education on the TMT parts A and B, and ST cards A, B and C.MethodsWe recruited 1447 healthy subjects aged ≥18 years with an educational level of 0-25 years who were native speakers of Portuguese (Brazilian). The subjects were evaluated by the Matrix Reasoning and Vocabulary subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III, along with the TMTA, TMTB and ST A, B and C.ResultsAmong the participants, mean intellectual efficiency was 103.20 (SD: 12.0), age 41.0 (SD: 16.4) years and education 11.9 (SD: 5.6) years. There were significant differences between genders on the TMTA (p=0.002), TMTB (p=0.017) and STC (p=0.024). Age showed a positive correlation with all attention tests, whereas education showed a negative correlation. Gender was not found to be significant on the multiple linear regression model, but age and education maintained their interference.ConclusionGender did not have the major impact on attentional tasks observed for age and education, both of which should be considered in the stratification of normative samples.

Purpose -This paper aims to present the results of a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) in a complex hospital building, and also to discuss a system for analyzing and diagnosing those results. Design/methodology/approach -The POE was aimed at establishing adequate use and maintenance of the building. The main approaches of the study consisted of two basic performance features, namely, physical accessibility and fire safety. Findings -The importance of the pre-design evaluation (PDE) might also be recalled as well as the usefulness of the POE for new designs and for remodeling existing buildings, because these instruments aid in the constant updating of directive plans of occupation, especially in the case of large complexes such as health care facilities. One indication of this importance is the relatively low number of problems detected during the POE, when one considers the complexity of the work of renovation and the dimensions of the IPq facilities. Originality/value -The paper presents the results of a POE and recommendations that would make it possible to quickly identify the points where there is need for improvement, and the degree of importance or priority to be given.

Objective: A 4.5-year follow-up study was conducted to characterize baseline verbal episodic memory (VEM) and its behavior and to assess the effects of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) on this domain. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with RRMS underwent two neuropsychological assessments performed an average of 4.5 years apart. Twenty-six control participants underwent a single neuropsychological assessment. A significance level of p < 0.005 was adopted to denote a significant difference between the groups on the Mann Whitney and Wilcoxon paired statistical analyses. Results: No statistical difference was found in the results of the VEM tests between the first and second neuropsychological assessments of the patients. However, a statistical difference was evident between the patient and control groups in the results of the VEM tests. Conclusion: The patient group showed changes in the VEM relative to the control group. After approximately 4.5 years of disease, the patient performance on the VEM stabilized or improved.Keywords: multiple sclerosis; cognition; longitudinal studies. RESUMOObjetivo: Neste estudo, propomos a caracterização da Memória Episódica Verbal (MEV) basal e o seu comportamento após o período de 4,5 anos de doença, a fim de avaliar o efeito da EMRR neste domínio. Métodos: Vinte e nove pacientes com EMRR foram submetidos a duas avaliações neuropsicológicas realizadas entre um intervalo de tempo médio de 4,5 anos. Vinte e seis controles foram submetidos à avaliação neuropsicológica única. Considerou-se nível de significância p <0,005 para delinear diferença significante entre os grupos nas análises estatísticas Mann Whitney e Wilcoxon pareado. Resultados: Não houve diferença estatística nos resultados dos testes de MEV entre a primeira e segunda avaliação neuropsicológica realizada pelos pacientes. Houve discrepância estatística nos resultados dos testes de MEV entre o grupo dos pacientes e controles. Conclusão: O grupo de pacientes apresentou alterações de MEV quando comparado aos controles. Após 4,5 anos aproximadamente os pacientes estabilizaram ou melhoraram seu desempenho em MEV.Palavras chave: esclerose múltipla; cognição; estudos longitudinais.Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) clinically present with a myriad of neurologic symptoms, including cognitive decline, regarded as having the greatest impact on key aspects of their daily living, such as managing domestic tasks, participating in society and holding down a job 1 . According to reviews of the scientific literature, one third of MS patients with the relapsing-remitting (RRMS) clinical form show cognitive impairments that are often milder than that found in the progressive subtypes of the disease 2,3 . Cognitive impairments can vary, but an impact on episodic memory is evident in the early stages of the disease. A 10-year longitudinal study revealed that decline in information processing speed and verbal episodic memory (VEM) in early RRMS patients predicted progression to the secondary progressive MS clinical form....