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The lived experience of mothers living with fibromyalgia syndrome: A phenomenological inquiry
Lo Monaco M, Alblooshi S, Mallaci Bocchio R, Natoli G, Landa ML and Corrao S
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a complex chronic pain condition that negatively impacts women's daily lives, particularly their roles as mothers and wives. A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of motherhood and daily life among women diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
National surveillance using a clinical quality indicator for prolonged antipsychotic use among older Australians with dementia who access aged care services
Sluggett JK, Caughey GE, Air T, Cations M, Lang CE, Ward SA, Ahern S, Lin X, Wallis K, Crotty M and Inacio MC
Dementia guidelines recommend antipsychotics are only used for behavioral and psychological symptoms when non-drug interventions fail, and to regularly review use. Population-level clinical quality indicators (CQIs) for dementia care in permanent residential aged care (PRAC) typically monitor prevalence of antipsychotic use but not prolonged use. This study aimed to develop a CQI for antipsychotic use >90 days and examine trends, associated factors, and variation in CQI incidence; and examine duration of the first episode of use among individuals with dementia accessing home care packages (HCPs) or PRAC.
The role of religion and COVID-19 vaccine uptake in England
Ejnar Hansen M and David Pickering S
While many countries have successfully deployed COVID-19 vaccination programmes, there are disparities in their uptake. One factor influencing vaccine coverage is religion. Existing research has found a link between religious beliefs and vaccine hesitancy. This study looks at religion in England to examine its relationship with public health.
Managers' Micro-Communities Matter: The Impact of Clinical Supervision Team on Therapist Perception of the Organization
Boyd MR, Becker KD, Park AL, Pham K and Chorpita BF
Positive organizational climate - employee perceptions of their work environment and the impact of this environment on well-being and functioning - is associated with desirable organizational and client-level outcomes in mental health organizations. Clinical supervisors are well-positioned to impact organizational climate, as they serve as intermediaries between higher-level administrators who drive the policies and procedures and the therapists impacted by such decisions. This cross-sectional study examined the role of clinical supervisors as drivers of therapist perceptions of organizational climate within supervisory teams. Specifically, the present study investigated: (1) shared perceptions of organizational climate among therapists on the same supervisory team; (2) predictors of therapist climate perceptions. Eighty-six therapists were supervised by 22 supervisors. Indices of interrater agreement and interrater reliability of therapists on the same supervisory team were examined to determine shared or distinct perceptions of organizational climate. Multi-level models were used to examine whether supervisor attitudes towards evidence-based practices and therapist perceptions of supervisor communication predicted perceived organizational climate. Results showed perceptions of organizational cohesion and autonomy were shared among therapists on the same supervisory team and distinct from therapists on different supervisory teams. Therapist perceptions of their supervisor's communication was positively associated with perceptions of organizational cohesion and autonomy. These findings align with emerging evidence that middle managers shape their employees' experience of their work environment through communication strategies. These findings also point to the potential for intervening at lower organizational levels to improve overall organizational climate.
Human local field potentials in motor and non-motor brain areas encode upcoming movement direction
Combrisson E, Di Rienzo F, Saive AL, Perrone-Bertolotti M, Soto JLP, Kahane P, Lachaux JP, Guillot A and Jerbi K
Limb movement direction can be inferred from local field potentials in motor cortex during movement execution. Yet, it remains unclear to what extent intended hand movements can be predicted from brain activity recorded during movement planning. Here, we set out to probe the directional-tuning of oscillatory features during motor planning and execution, using a machine learning framework on multi-site local field potentials (LFPs) in humans. We recorded intracranial EEG data from implanted epilepsy patients as they performed a four-direction delayed center-out motor task. Fronto-parietal LFP low-frequency power predicted hand-movement direction during planning while execution was largely mediated by higher frequency power and low-frequency phase in motor areas. By contrast, Phase-Amplitude Coupling showed uniform modulations across directions. Finally, multivariate classification led to an increase in overall decoding accuracy (>80%). The novel insights revealed here extend our understanding of the role of neural oscillations in encoding motor plans.
Differences in cardiovascular risk and health-related quality of life in COPD patients according to clinical phenotype
Montiel AM, Ruiz-Esteban P, Del Río AD, Valdivielso P, Chaparro MÁS and Olveira C
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a high prevalence and a major impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL). COPD exacerbations are an important cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting cardiovascular risk, and are associated with poorer health status. The aim of this study was to assess the association between cardiovascular risk (CVR) and HRQL, according to exacerbator or non-exacerbator phenotype. We undertook a cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study of 107 patients with COPD. Patients with two or more moderate exacerbations or one severe exacerbation in the previous year were considered as exacerbators. The CVR was calculated with the Framingham scale and SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) and the HRQL was assessed with the generic questionnaire Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), the St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the COPD Assessment Test (CAT). Statistical analysis was done with SPSS version 26.0 for Windows. The SF-36 and the SGRQ showed lower values for the exacerbator phenotype, indicating a poorer quality of life. The CAT questionnaire showed values above 10 for the exacerbator phenotype, and lower values in the non-exacerbator group. After categorizing the sample according to their median age (65 years), we found a greater deterioration in HRQL in patients under 65 years of age according to the SF-36, the SGRQ and the CAT. We also detected differences in HRQL between non-exacerbator patients with a high CVR according to the Framingham (≥ 20%) and SCORE (≥ 5%) scales compared to those without this risk. A tendency towards worse HRQL was observed in non-exacerbator patients with a high CVR, which was statistically significant for the SGRQ impact domain on the SCORE scale. The CAT also showed a worse quality of life in non-exacerbator patients with a high CVR, which was significant in the Framingham model (Framingham high risk 8.41 vs non-high risk 6.05, p < 0.01). These differences were not observed in exacerbator patients. Our findings confirm that a high CVR influences HRQL in patients with COPD, especially in non-exacerbator patients with a high CVR, measured according to the SGRQ and the CAT.
Linking Cardiac Psychology and Cardiovascular Medicine via Self-Determination Theory and Shared Decision-Making
Shaffer JA, Matlock DD, Boylan JM, Vagnini KM, Rush CL, Martin R and Masters KS
Despite considerable progress in recent years, research in cardiac psychology is not widely translated into routine practice by clinical cardiologists or clinical health psychologists. Self-determination theory (SDT), which addresses how basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness contribute to the internalization of motivation, may help bridge this research-practice gap through its application to shared decision-making (SDM). This narrative review discusses the following: (a) brief background information on SDT and SDM, (b) the application of SDT to health behavior change and cardiology interventions, and (c) how SDT and SDM may be merged using a dissemination and implementation (D&I) framework. We address barriers to implementing SDM in cardiology, how SDM and SDT address the need for respect of patient autonomy, and how SDT can enhance D&I of SDM interventions through its focus on autonomy, competence, and relatedness and its consideration of other constructs that facilitate the internalization of motivation.
Trends in HIV prevalence and risk factors among men who have sex with men in Mozambique: implications for targeted interventions and public health strategies
Ribeiro Banze Á, Muleia R, Nuvunga S, Boothe M and Semá Baltazar C
Men who have sex with Men (MSM) are known to contribute to increased HIV prevalence as an integral part of key populations with high vulnerability to HIV/AIDS due to their sexual behaviours. Mozambique conducted two rounds of bio-behavioral surveys (BBS) in this population with the main objective of estimating HIV prevalence and associated risk behaviors among MSM in Mozambique. The present study aims to estimate the trend of HIV prevalence and determine the correlations of HIV infection among MSM.
The effect of retirement on physical and mental health in China: a nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity study
Wang T, Liu H, Zhou X and Wang C
With the rapid aging of the domestic population, China has a strong incentive to increase the statutory retirement age. How retirement affects the health of the elderly is crucial to this policymaking. The health consequences of retirement have been debated greatly. This study aims to investigate the effects of retirement on physical and mental health among Chinese elderly people.
[Survey on the awareness rate of mpox knowledge and related factors among men who have sex with men in China]
Chen HJ, Tang HL, Li PL, Xu J, Luo W, Yang J, Yu MH and Lyu P
To understand the awareness rate of mpox knowledge and related factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. The survey was conducted among men aged ≥18 years who had sex with men in the past year, using the convenience sampling method. The estimated sample size was 4 312. With the assistance of social organizations of MSM in 30 provinces in China, an online questionnaire survey was conducted using anonymous self-designed questionnaires powered by www.wjx.cn during 10-14 August 2023 to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics, awareness of mpox knowledge, travel history, and sexual behaviors of the respondents. The software SAS 9.4 was used for statistical analysis. There were 7 725 respondents, and the age of the respondents was (31.6±9.0) years. The results revealed that the awareness rate of mpox knowledge was 50.1% (3 872/7 725). The main routes to acquire mpox knowledge were mainly new media, including WeChat, Weibo, TikTok, and Blued social software (88.4%,6 827/7 725), while official media report was the most trusted way to acquire related knowledge (79.3%,6 129/7 725). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors indicated a higher awareness rate of mpox knowledge, including living in the western region or the eastern region, people were over 26 years old in early adulthood and midlife, college-educated or with higher degrees, living in towns or urban periphery, being in homosexual or in bisexual relationships, 1-5 homosexual times/months in the past 3 months, knowing their HIV infection status, paying attention to mpox knowledge very often, occasionally or rarely, and convenient ways to acquire mpox knowledge from new media and social organizations. The awareness rate of mpox knowledge was low among MSM in China. Efforts should be made to improve the awareness rate of mpox knowledge among those who are young, less educated, or sexually active, with targeted health education via new media and social organizations.
Psychometric properties of stigma and discrimination measurement tools for persons living with HIV: a systematic review using the COSMIN methodology
Zhang Y, Yang X, Chai X, Han S, Zhang L, Shao Y, Ma J, Li K and Wang Z
The development of antiretroviral therapy broadly extends the life expectancy of persons living with HIV (PLHIV). However, stigma and discrimination are still great threat to these individuals and the world's public health care system. Accurate and reproducible measures are prerequisites for robust results. Therefore, it is essential to choose an acceptable measure with satisfactory psychometric properties to assess stigma and discrimination. There has been no systematic review of different stigma and discrimination tools in the field of HIV care. Researchers and clinical practitioners do not have a solid reference for selecting stigma and discrimination measurement tools.
University students' free time management and quality of life: the mediating role of leisure satisfaction
Terzi E, Isik U, Inan BC, Akyildiz C and Ustun UD
The impact of free time management and leisure satisfaction on quality of life is distinct, however, the role of satisfaction in enhancing quality of life through free time management remains uncertain. Hence, the objective of this research is to explore how leisure satisfaction acts as a mediator between free time management and the levels of quality of life among university students. Additionally, this study aims to analyse these concepts in relation to gender, age and the number of days of activity participation. Within this particular framework, a total of 213 university students willingly participated in the survey, which included the administration of the "Free Time Management Scale," "Leisure Satisfaction Scale," and "Quality of Life Scale." The analyses employed the Independent T-Test, Pearson Correlation, and Linear Regression methods. The mediating effect was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling. The study found significant relationships between gender, free time management, and life quality. There was a significant relationship between free time management, leisure satisfaction, and quality of life (p < 0.05). Leisure satisfaction partially mediated the quality of life-free time management relationship. As age and physical activity grow, males have a higher standard of living, and time allocation and quality of life improve. Furthermore, it was found that students who effectively managed their time experienced an enhanced quality of life, as evidenced by their increased satisfaction with leisure activities. Notably, the level of satisfaction with well-managed time was identified as a crucial factor in this association.
The relationship between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behavior in adolescents: the mediating role of future self-continuity and the moderating role of green self-efficacy
Qin Z, Wu Q, Bi C, Deng Y and Hu Q
Climate change is seriously affecting human survival and development, and the anxiety caused by it is becoming increasingly prominent. How to alleviate people's climate change anxiety, improve the ecological environment, and promote the formation of green lifestyles among people, especially young people, is an important topic that deserves to be explored. This study examined the relationship between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviors and the underlying psychological mechanism in the adolescents.
Chronic immunosuppression across 12 months and high ability of acute and subacute CNS-injury biomarker concentrations to identify individuals with complicated mTBI on acute CT and MRI
Clarke GJB, Follestad T, Skandsen T, Zetterberg H, Vik A, Blennow K, Olsen A and Håberg AK
Identifying individuals with intracranial injuries following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), i.e. complicated mTBI cases, is important for follow-up and prognostication. The main aims of our study were (1) to assess the temporal evolution of blood biomarkers of CNS injury and inflammation in individuals with complicated mTBI determined on computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); (2) to assess the corresponding discriminability of both single- and multi-biomarker panels, from acute to chronic phases after injury.
Forensic Aftercare Facilities and Their Impact on the Releasability of Persons Who Committed Sexual Offenses: A Three Group Comparison
Sauter J, Mauzaite A, Voß T and Vogel J
Partly due to a lack of release options for individuals who committed sexual offenses, forensic follow-up treatment has been strengthened latest since 2007. The current study investigates whether the foundation of a professionalized follow-up-treatment has actually improved release options for individuals who committed sexual offenses. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the difference in criminogenic needs and recidivism relevant characteristics (e.g., index offense, criminal history, psychiatric diagnoses and risk assessment) between three groups who had been released from forensic psychiatry at different times or under different outpatient follow-up modalities: (1) individuals released prior the foundation of professionalized follow-up-treatment, (2) individuals released after the foundation and received treatment, and (3) individuals released after the foundation but not receiving this special treatment. It was found that with the availability of professionalized forensic followup treatment, persons with higher scores in common risk assessment tools and a longer duration of implacement had been released. Indeed, this indicates an increased risk tolerance among decision makers. However, it was not those who were released after the foundation of the professionalized forensic follow-up treatment but without this specific treatment who showed the lowest initial risk, but those who were released prior to the foundation. Results are discussed in terms of possible explanations and methodological issues.
[A study on the dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes among adolescents in Shandong Province]
Zhou PJ, Wang LS, Liu WL, Yang XG, Liu JJ, Wei X and Leng Y
To understand the current status and its associated factors of dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes among adolescents in Shandong Province and explore the reasons for dual use behavior. A self-administered survey was conducted among 7 999 middle school students who were selected by stratified multi-stage cluster sample method. Data were weighted and analyzed by the SPSS 25.0 complex program. In Shandong Province, the prevalence rates of attempting and current dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes among adolescents appeared as 7.7% and 1.3%, respectively. Male, friends smoking, and secondhand smoke exposure in the past 7 days were risk factors for dual use. Compared with cigarette smokers, dual users have no differences in cognition and behavior in quitting smoking (>0.05). The main reason for dual users to smoke e-cigarettes was curiosity. Dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes is common among adolescents in Shandong Province, and its influencing factors are similar to traditional cigarettes. Dual use is not a transitional stage for smoking cessation. Dual users are more likely to continue smoking in the future, which should be paid attention and concern.
[Analysis of prevalence status and influencing factors of e-cigarette use among secondary school students in Heilongjiang Province]
Wang Y, Jiang LL and Di XB
To describe the current situation and influencing factors of e-cigarette use among secondary school students in Heilongjiang Province to provide evidence for formulating provincial youth e-cigarette prevention and control strategies. A multi-stage stratified cluster probability sampling method was adopted in 2021, with 8 340 students in 180 classes from 56 primary and high schools in 10 monitoring districts and counties in Heilongjiang Province. The students in the selected classes filled out a unified questionnaire by themselves. SAS 9.4 software was used for data cleansing, sample weighting, and analysis. Chi-squared tests were used to compare the differences between groups, and a two-level logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of e-cigarette use among secondary school students. A total of 8 329 survey questionnaires were included in the analysis. The prevalence rates of ever and current e-cigarette use among secondary school students in Heilongjiang Province were 18.27% and 5.46%, respectively. In terms of ever e-cigarette use, the rate of boys (23.94%) was higher than that of girls (12.35%). The rate of vocational high school students (39.18%) was higher than that of general high school students (24.11%) and than that of junior school students (11.27%). In terms of current e-cigarette use, the rate of boys (7.08%) was higher than that of girls (3.76%). The rate of vocational high school students (14.56%) was higher than that of general high school students (7.70%) and than that of junior school students (2.67%). The rates of ever and current e-cigarette use were relatively higher in each subgroup, including "weekly allowance more than 40 Yuan" "one of the student's parents, friends or teachers was smoker" "smoked cigarettes now" and "saw e-cigarette advertisements". A two-level logistic regression model showed that the following factors were the influencing factors of current use of e-cigarettes among secondary school students, including gender, whether they were current cigarette smokers, the smoking status of their close friends, if they saw teachers smoked in the school, noticed e-cigarette advertisements, and e-cigarette addictive cognition. The prevalence rates of ever and current e-cigarette use among secondary school students in Heilongjiang Province were high. E-cigarette advertisements, the smoking status of their close friends, and whether they saw teachers smoking in the school were the main factors affecting e-cigarette use among secondary school students in Heilongjiang Province. It is necessary to focus on constructing smoke-free environments and increase health education related to e-cigarette knowledge on risk in developing a smoke-free campus in the whole province.
Developments of possible clinical diagnostic methods for parkinson's disease: event-related potentials
Yavuz B, Rusen E, Duman T and Bas B
In this study, Event-Related Potential (ERP) analyzes were performed to detect cognitive impairments in PD with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). A total of 85 volunteers underwent ERP analysis and neuropsychological testing (NPT) to determine cognitive level. In ERP analyses, prolonged latencies were observed in PD groups. However, patients implanted with DBS showed a decrease in latencies, a decrease in symptoms and statistical improvements in both cognitive and attention skills. Considering all these data, ERP results are promising as a noninvasive method that can be used in both disease status and diagnosis of PD.
Multisensory perceptual distortion including auditory distortions in Alice in Wonderland syndrome: a case report
Saito G and Takagi G
Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a rare perceptual disorder characterized mainly by perceptual distortions of visual objects and one's own body. While there are many case reports of visual and somatosensory distortions associated with AIWS, little is known about auditory distortion. Therefore, we present the case of a 22-year-old right-handed woman who described having auditory as well as visual and somatosensory distortion experiences and a family history of AIWS. The subject reported experiencing multisensory perceptual distortions, where she sees other people's faces as larger and hears their voices as louder at the same time. This particular case suggests that auditory distortion - which contributes to constructing the perception of the surrounding space and the body - may also be characterized as a perceptual symptom of AIWS.
Exploring health care providers' engagement in prevention and management of multidrug resistant Tuberculosis and its factors in Hadiya Zone health care facilities: qualitative study
Lajore BA, Aweke YH, Ayanto SY and Ayele M
Engagement of healthcare providers is one of the World Health Organization strategies devised for prevention and provision of patient centered care for multidrug resistant tuberculosis. The need for current research question rose because of the gaps in evidence on health professional's engagement and its factors in multidrug resistant tuberculosis service delivery as per the protocol in the prevention and management of multidrug resistant tuberculosis.
Opening the black box of registration practice for self-harm and suicide attempts in emergency departments: a qualitative study
Jakobsen SG, Andersen PT, Lauritsen J, Larsen CP, Stenager E and Christiansen E
The World Health Organization has called for improved surveillance of self-harm and suicide attempts worldwide to benefit suicide prevention programs. International comparisons of registrations are lacking, however, and there is a need for systematically collected, high-quality data across countries. The current study investigated healthcare professionals' perceptions of registration practices and their suggestions for ensuring high-quality registration of self-harm and suicide attempts.
A novel pyroptosis-related gene signature exhibits distinct immune cells infiltration landscape in Wilms' tumor
Guo Y, Lu W, Zhang Z, Liu H, Zhang A, Zhang T, Wu Y, Li X, Yang S, Cui Q and Li Z
Wilms' tumor (WT) is the most common renal tumor in childhood. Pyroptosis, a type of inflammation-characterized and immune-related programmed cell death, has been extensively studied in multiple tumors. In the current study, we aim to construct a pyroptosis-related gene signature for predicting the prognosis of Wilms' tumor.
Supportive and non-supportive social experiences following suicide loss: a qualitative study
Marek F and Oexle N
Suicide bereavement entails profound social stressors, including stigma and communication barriers, which can impair social support for suicide loss survivors (SLS). Despite recognized benefits of empathetic interactions, social support, and self-disclosure in mitigating adverse mental health outcomes after suicide loss, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing perceived social support among SLS within their broader social environments. To address this gap, our study explores the diverse social experiences of SLS beyond their immediate circles. Specifically, we identify characteristics that define both supportive and non-supportive social experiences of SLS, as well as the facilitators and barriers to social support in the context of suicide bereavement.
Factors influencing fever care-seeking for children under five years of age in The Gambia: a secondary analysis of 2019-20 DHS data
Arntson L, McLaughlin KR and Smit E
Malaria contributes to excess child mortality in The Gambia. Children under five are at risk of severe malaria and death if not treated promptly and appropriately. It is crucial that a child with fever receive appropriate care from a trained provider. The aim was to identify influences on child fever care-seeking in The Gambia to inform malaria control strategies.
ESCAP statement on the care for children and adolescents with gender dysphoria: an urgent need for safeguarding clinical, scientific, and ethical standards
Drobnič Radobuljac M, Grošelj U, Kaltiala R, , , Vermeiren R, Crommen S, Kotsis K, Danese A, Hoekstra PJ and Fegert JM
Cancer-related fatigue and activities of daily living: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic
Urbano Chamorro I and de la Torre-Montero JC
Cancer-related fatigue is a prevalent condition in all stages of oncologic disease that is poorly diagnosed, with a negative impact on physical function to perform activities of daily living. Fatigue is also one of the main manifestations in post-COVID-19 syndrome, and few studies have explored the functionality of cancer patients after infection by the new coronavirus. This study was designed to assess cancer-related fatigue symptoms and their implications on physical function and quality of life during the pandemic.
Cell-type and sex-specific rhythmic gene expression in the nucleus accumbens
DePoy LM, Petersen KA, Zong W, Ketchesin KD, Matthaei RC, Yin R, Perez MS, Vadnie CA, Becker-Krail D, Scott MR, Tseng GC and McClung CA
Circadian rhythms are critical for human health and are highly conserved across species. Disruptions in these rhythms contribute to many diseases, including psychiatric disorders. Previous results suggest that circadian genes modulate behavior through specific cell types in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), particularly dopamine D1-expressing medium spiny neurons (MSNs). However, diurnal rhythms in transcript expression have not been investigated in NAc MSNs. In this study we identified and characterized rhythmic transcripts in D1- and D2-expressing neurons and compared rhythmicity results to homogenate as well as astrocyte samples taken from the NAc of male and female mice. We find that all cell types have transcripts with diurnal rhythms and that top rhythmic transcripts are largely core clock genes, which peak at approximately the same time of day in each cell type and sex. While clock-controlled rhythmic transcripts are enriched for protein regulation pathways across cell type, cell signaling and signal transduction related processes are most commonly enriched in MSNs. In contrast to core clock genes, these clock-controlled rhythmic transcripts tend to reach their peak in expression about 2-h later in females than males, suggesting diurnal rhythms in reward may be delayed in females. We also find sex differences in pathway enrichment for rhythmic transcripts peaking at different times of day. Protein folding and immune responses are enriched in transcripts that peak in the dark phase, while metabolic processes are primarily enriched in transcripts that peak in the light phase. Importantly, we also find that several classic markers used to categorize MSNs are rhythmic in the NAc. This is critical since the use of rhythmic markers could lead to over- or under-enrichment of targeted cell types depending on the time at which they are sampled. This study greatly expands our knowledge of how individual cell types contribute to rhythms in the NAc.
Barriers to accessing care for cardiometabolic disorders in Malawi: partners as a source of resilience for people living with HIV
Ogugu EG, Bidwell JT, Ruark A, Butterfield RM, Weiser SD, Neilands TB, Mulauzi N, Rambiki E, Mkandawire J and Conroy AA
People living with HIV (PLWH) are at increased risk of cardiometabolic disorders (CMD). Adequate access to care for both HIV and CMD is crucial to improving health outcomes; however, there is limited research that have examined couples' experiences accessing such care in resource-constrained settings. We aimed to identify barriers to accessing CMD care among PLWH in Malawi and the role of partners in mitigating these barriers.
Prediction-error-dependent processing of immediate and delayed positive feedback
Weber C and Bellebaum C
Learning often involves trial-and-error, i.e. repeating behaviours that lead to desired outcomes, and adjusting behaviour when outcomes do not meet our expectations and thus lead to prediction errors (PEs). PEs have been shown to be reflected in the reward positivity (RewP), an event-related potential (ERP) component between 200 and 350 ms after performance feedback which is linked to striatal processing and assessed via electroencephalography (EEG). Here we show that this is also true for delayed feedback processing, for which a critical role of the hippocampus has been suggested. We found a general reduction of the RewP for delayed feedback, but the PE was similarly reflected in the RewP and the later P300 for immediate and delayed positive feedback, while no effect was found for negative feedback. Our results suggest that, despite processing differences between immediate and delayed feedback, positive PEs drive feedback processing and learning irrespective of delay.
Factors influencing breast cancer screening practices among women worldwide: a systematic review of observational and qualitative studies
Tavakoli B, Feizi A, Zamani-Alavijeh F and Shahnazi H
The variation in breast cancer incidence rates across different regions may reflect disparities in breast cancer screening (BCS) practices. Understanding the factors associated with these screening behaviors is crucial for identifying modifiable elements amenable to intervention. This systematic review aims to identify common factors influencing BCS behaviors among women globally.
Horizontal mapping of time-related words in first and second language
Malyshevskaya A, Fischer MH, Shtyrov Y and Myachykov A
The existence of a consistent horizontal spatial-conceptual mapping for words denoting time is a well-established phenomenon. For example, words related to the past or future (e.g., yesterday/tomorrow) facilitate respective leftward/rightward attentional shifts and responses, suggesting the visual-spatial grounding of temporal semantics, at least in the native language (L1). To examine whether similar horizontal bias also accompanies access to time-related words in a second language (L2), we tested 53 Russian-English (Experiment 1) and 48 German-English (Experiment 2) bilinguals, who classified randomly presented L1 and L2 time-related words as past- or future-related using left or right response keys. The predicted spatial congruency effect was registered in all tested languages and, furthermore, was positively associated with higher L2 proficiency in Experiment 2. Our findings (1) support the notion of horizontal spatial-conceptual mapping in diverse L1s, (2) demonstrate the existence of a similar spatial bias when processing temporal words in L2, and (3) show that the strength of time-space association in L2 may depend on individual L2 proficiency.
Impact of primary care posttraumatic stress disorder (PC-PTSD) on fertility problem of Iranian women with infertility during the COVID-19 pandemic
Faramarzi M, Shafierizi S, Pasha H, Basirat Z, Amiri FN and Kheirkhah F
Infertility continued to be a major stressor among women with infertility during COVID-19pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of primary care posttraumatic stress disorder (PC-PTSD) on fertility problem of Iranian women with infertility during COVID-19 pandemic.
Effects of CB1 receptor negative allosteric modulator Org27569 on oxycodone withdrawal symptoms in mice
Scicluna RL, Everett NA, Badolato CJ, Wilson BB and Bowen MT
Targeting cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) has shown promise for treating opioid withdrawal symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a specific CB1R negative allosteric modulator (NAM), Org27569, in reducing both naloxone-precipitated and protracted withdrawal symptoms in oxycodone-dependent mice.
Emotion regulation unveiled through the categorical lens of attachment
Domic-Siede M, Guzmán-González M, Sánchez-Corzo A, Álvarez X, Araya V, Espinoza C, Zenis K and Marín-Medina J
Emotion regulation, the process by which individuals manage and modify their emotional experiences, expressions, and responses to adaptively navigate and cope with various situations, plays a crucial role in daily life. Our study investigates the variations in emotion regulation strategies among individuals with different attachment styles (AS). Specifically, we examine how individuals with secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful attachment styles effectively utilize cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression to regulate their emotions.
Back from the sideline, but back to baseline? A pediatric case study examining neuropsychological functioning after sustaining multiple sport-related concussions
Thompson RC, Vaughn D, Hirst RB, Murley R and Baldini D
Most individuals recover quickly from a concussion; however, youth who sustain multiple concussions may be at risk for long-term cognitive impairments. This case study examines the neuropsychological performance of a 13-year-old malewith five head injuries. After his first concussion during study participation (fourth injury overall), several improvements were observed, likely due to practice effects, yet after sustaining another concussion <2 years later,declines were observed in visuoconstruction, verbal memory, and intellectual functioning. Across serial re-evaluation, his vocabulary knowledge declined, and fewer improvements were observed than anticipated when accounting for serial practice effects, highlighting the possible cumulative impact of multiple concussions.
The anatomical structure of sex differences in trust propensity: A voxel-based morphometry study
Safari N, Fang H, Veerareddy A, Xu P and Krueger F
Trust is a key component of human relationships. Sex differences in trust behavior have been elucidated by parental investment theory and social role theory, attributing men's higher trust propensity to their increased engagement in physically and socially risky activities aimed at securing additional resources. Although sex differences in trust behavior exist and the neuropsychological signatures of trust are known, the underlying anatomical structure of sex differences is still unexplored. Our study aimed to investigate the anatomical structure of sex differences in trust behavior toward strangers (i.e., trust propensity, TP) by employing voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in a sample of healthy young adults. We collected behavioral data for TP as measured with participants in the role of trustors completing the one-shot trust game (TG) with anonymous partners as trustees. We conducted primary region of interest (ROI) and exploratory whole-brain (WB) VBM analyses of high-resolution structural images to test for the association between TP and regional gray matter volume (GMV) associated with sex differences. Confirming previous studies, our behavioral results demonstrated that men trusted more than women during the one-shot TG. Our WB analysis showed a greater GMV related to TP in men than women in the precuneus (PreC), whereas our ROI analysis in regions of the default-mode network (dorsomedial prefrontal cortex [dmPFC], PreC, superior temporal gyrus) to simulate the partner's trustworthiness, central-executive network (ventrolateral PFC) to implement a calculus-based trust strategy, and action-perception network (precentral gyrus) to performance cost-benefit calculations, as proposed by a neuropsychoeconomic model of trust. Our findings advance the neuropsychological understanding of sex differences in TP, which has implications for interpersonal partnerships, financial transactions, and societal engagements.
Gynecological health and uptake of gynecological care after domestic or sexual violence: a qualitative study in an emergency shelter
Iraola E, Menard JP, Buresi I and Chariot P
Domestic and sexual violence have been linked to adverse gynecological and obstetric outcomes. Survivors often find it difficult to verbalize such violence due to feelings of shame and guilt. Vulnerable or socially excluded women are frequently excluded from research, particularly qualitative studies on violence. This study aimed to characterize the perceived impact of domestic or sexual violence on the gynecological health and follow-up among women with complex social situations.
[Theoretical models for influenza vaccination behavior at the individual level]
Qu K, Miao YL, Fan SM, Liu YZ, Yang XK, Zhao HT, Qin Y, Zheng JD, Zhang YP, Peng ZB and Feng ZJ
Influenza imposes a significant disease burden on society and individuals annually, and influenza vaccination is considered a significant public health measure to prevent influenza and reduce influenza-related severe disease and death. The low influenza vaccination rate in China is partly due to certain factors affecting the willingness and behavior of individuals to receive them. Scientific research and targeted interventions on these factors can effectively improve the vaccination situation. Commonly used individual-level theoretical models for influenza vaccination behavior include the health belief model, protection motivation theory, and theory of planned behavior. This study reviews theoretical models commonly employed in researching influenza vaccination willingness and behavior. An overview of these practical applications and challenges models is presented to provide references for relevant research and intervention programs in China.
Thriving from work questionnaire: Spanish translation and validation
Peters SE, Gundersen DA, Neidlinger SM, Ritchie-Dunham J and Wagner GR
Thriving from Work is a construct that has been highlighted as an important integrative positive worker well-being indicator that can be used in both research and practice. Recent public discourse emphasizes the important contributions that work should have on workers' lives in positive and meaningful ways and the importance of valid and reliable instruments to measure worker well-being. The Thriving from Work Questionnaire measures how workers' experiences of their work and conditions of work contributes in positive ways to their thriving both at and outside of work.
Men of Mexican ethnicity, alcohol use, and help-seeking: "I can quit on my own."
Robles EH, Castro Y, Najera S, Cardoso J, Gonzales R, Mallonee J, Segovia J, Hinojosa-Salazar L, De Vargas C and Field C
Hispanics report higher rates of problematic alcohol use compared to non-Hispanic Whites while also reporting lower rates of alcohol treatment utilization compared to non-Hispanics. The study employs Anderson's Behavioral Model of Healthcare Utilization Model to guide the exploration of alcohol use, help-seeking and healthcare utilization.
Courage in Decision Making: A Mixed-Methods Study of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Women of Reproductive Age in the U.K
Magee LA, Brown JR, Bowyer V, Horgan G, Boulding H, Khalil A, Cheetham NJ, Harvey NR, Covid Symptom Study Biobank Consortium , Resilient Study Group , Mistry HD, Sudre C, Silverio SA, von Dadelszen P and Duncan EL
COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower in women of reproductive age (WRA), including pregnant/postpartum women, despite their poorer COVID-19-related outcomes. We evaluated the vaccination experiences of 3568 U.K. WRA, including 1983 women (55.6%) experiencing a pandemic pregnancy, recruited through the ZOE COVID Symptom Study app. Two staggered online questionnaires (Oct-Dec 2021: 3453 responders; Aug-Sept 2022: 2129 responders) assessed reproductive status, COVID-19 status, vaccination, and attitudes for/against vaccination. Descriptive analyses included vaccination type(s), timing relative to age-based eligibility and reproductive status, vaccination delay (first vaccination >28 days from eligibility), and rationale, with content analysis of free-text comments. Most responders (3392/3453, 98.2%) were vaccinated by Dec 2021, motivated by altruism, vaccination supportiveness in general, low risk, and COVID-19 concerns. Few declined vaccination (by Sept/2022: 20/2129, 1.0%), citing risks (pregnancy-specific and longer-term), pre-existing immunity, and personal/philosophical reasons. Few women delayed vaccination, although pregnant/postpartum women (vs. other WRA) received vaccination later (median 3 vs. 0 days after eligibility, < 0.0001). Despite high uptake, concerns included adverse effects, misinformation (including from healthcare providers), ever-changing government advice, and complex decision making. In summary, most women in this large WRA cohort were promptly vaccinated, including pregnant/post-partum women. Altruism and community benefit superseded personal benefit as reasons for vaccination. Nevertheless, responders experienced angst and received vaccine-related misinformation and discouragement. These findings should inform vaccination strategies in WRA.
The Stress of Measuring Plantar Tissue Stress in People with Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers: Biomechanical and Feasibility Findings from Two Prospective Cohort Studies
Hulshof CM, Page M, van Baal SG, Bus SA, Fernando ME, van Gemert-Pijnen L, Kappert KDR, Lucadou-Wells S, Najafi B, van Netten JJ and Lazzarini PA
Reducing high mechanical stress is imperative to heal diabetes-related foot ulcers. We explored the association of cumulative plantar tissue stress (CPTS) and plantar foot ulcer healing, and the feasibility of measuring CPTS, in two prospective cohort studies (Australia (AU) and The Netherlands (NL)). Both studies used multiple sensors to measure factors to determine CPTS: plantar pressures, weight-bearing activities, and adherence to offloading treatments, with thermal stress response also measured to estimate shear stress in the AU-study. The primary outcome was ulcer healing at 12 weeks. Twenty-five participants were recruited: 13 in the AU-study and 12 in the NL-study. CPTS data were complete for five participants (38%) at baseline and one (8%) during follow-up in the AU-study, and one (8%) at baseline and zero (0%) during follow-up in the NL-study. Reasons for low completion at baseline were technical issues (AU-study: 31%, NL-study: 50%), non-adherent participants (15% and 8%) or combinations (15% and 33%); and at follow-up refusal of participants (62% and 25%). These underpowered findings showed that CPTS was non-significantly lower in people who healed compared with non-healed people (457 [117; 727], 679 [312; 1327] MPa·s/day). Current feasibility of CPTS seems low, given technical challenges and non-adherence, which may reflect the burden of treating diabetes-related foot ulcers.
Interprofessional supervision among allied health professionals: a systematic scoping review
McGuinness S and Guerin S
Clinical supervision typically occurs between clinicians who are trained in the same discipline, and this assumption is present across much of the relevant literature. However, the use of interprofessional supervision (IPS), wherein clinicians do not share the same discipline, has increased in recent years. As IPS increases in usage, it is key that the implications of this approach are explored. In order to map the existing evidence, a scoping review was conducted to explore what is known about the use of IPS across five allied health professions (psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and social work). A systematic literature search of four electronic databases was conducted, with 27 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using thematic synthesis. Six key themes were identified relating to factors impacting the appropriateness of IPS, necessary steps in the IPS process, and impacts of IPS for clinicians. Limited application of standardized tools and theoretical frameworks within the existing research was highlighted. The findings identified within this review present a broad overview of the existing research relating to IPS, which can be used to inform future research in this area.
Supporting parents while their child is receiving neurocritical care
Farias-Moeller R and Wong N
The post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) concept whereby the ICU experience of the patient as well as their family can have long-term deleterious health outcomes in both the patient and the family provides a rationale and impetus for modifying the ICU experience for the parents of patients receiving pediatric neurocritical care. This article uses the PICS framework to provide insight to that parental experience. Included are the words of parents who tell what they felt and what they most needed from their children's doctors while their children were receiving neurocritical care. Based on their and many other ICU parents' advice and the PICS research, we identify a short list of specific steps the medical team can take immediately to support these parents.
The Inhibition of Gag-Pol Expression by the Restriction Factor Shiftless Is Dispensable for the Restriction of HIV-1 Infection
Jäger N, Ayyub SA, Peske F, Liedtke D, Bohne J, Hoffmann M, Rodnina MV and Pöhlmann S
The interferon-induced host cell protein Shiftless (SFL) inhibits -1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting (-1PRF) required for the expression of HIV-1 Gal-Pol and the formation of infectious HIV-1 particles. However, the specific regions in SFL required for antiviral activity and the mechanism by which SFL inhibits -1PRF remain unclear. Employing alanine scanning mutagenesis, we found that basic amino acids in the predicted zinc ribbon motif of SFL are essential for the suppression of Gag-Pol expression but dispensable for anti-HIV-1 activity. We have shown that SFL inhibits the expression of the murine leukemia virus (MLV) Gag-Pol polyprotein and the formation of infectious MLV particles, although Gag-Pol expression of MLV is independent of -1PRF but requires readthrough of a stop codon. These findings indicate that SFL might inhibit HIV-1 infection by more than one mechanism and that SFL might target programmed translational readthrough as well as -1PRF signals, both of which are regulated by mRNA secondary structure elements.
Personalized Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Wellbeing and Empathy in Healthcare Professionals
Nan J, Herbert MS, Purpura S, Henneken AN, Ramanathan D and Mishra J
Healthcare professionals are known to suffer from workplace stress and burnout, which can negatively affect their empathy for patients and quality of care. While existing research has identified factors associated with wellbeing and empathy in healthcare professionals, these efforts are typically focused on the group level, ignoring potentially important individual differences and implications for individualized intervention approaches. In the current study, we implemented N-of-1 personalized machine learning (PML) to predict wellbeing and empathy in healthcare professionals at the individual level, leveraging ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) and smartwatch wearable data. A total of 47 mood and lifestyle feature variables (relating to sleep, diet, exercise, and social connections) were collected daily for up to three months followed by applying eight supervised machine learning (ML) models in a PML pipeline to predict wellbeing and empathy separately. Predictive insight into the model architecture was obtained using Shapley statistics for each of the best-fit personalized models, ranking the importance of each feature for each participant. The best-fit model and top features varied across participants, with anxious mood (13/19) and depressed mood (10/19) being the top predictors in most models. Social connection was a top predictor for wellbeing in 9/12 participants but not for empathy models (1/7). Additionally, empathy and wellbeing were the top predictors of each other in 64% of cases. These findings highlight shared and individual features of wellbeing and empathy in healthcare professionals and suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing modifiable factors to improve wellbeing and empathy will likely be suboptimal. In the future, such personalized models may serve as actionable insights for healthcare professionals that lead to increased wellness and quality of patient care.
Interventions to prevent and treat delirium: an umbrella review of randomized controlled trials
Veronese N, Solimando L, Bolzetta F, Maggi S, Fiedorowicz JG, Gupta A, Fabiano N, Wong S, Boyer L, Fond G, Dragioti E, Dominguez LJ, Barbagallo M, Romagnoli S, Bellelli G and Solmi M
Delirium is a common condition across different settings and populations. The interventions for preventing and managing this condition are still poorly known. The aim of this umbrella review is to synthesize and grade all preventative and therapeutic interventions for delirium. We searched five databases from database inception up to March 15, 2023 and we included meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to decrease the risk of/the severity of delirium. From 1,959 records after deduplication, we included 59 systematic reviews with meta-analyses, providing 110 meta-analytic estimates across populations, interventions, outcomes, settings, and age groups (485 unique RCTs, 172,045 participants). In surgery setting, for preventing delirium, high GRADE evidence supported dexmedetomidine (RR=0.53; 95%CI: 0.46-0.67, k=13, N=3,988) and comprehensive geriatric assessment (OR=0.46; 95%CI=0.32-0.67, k=3, N=496) in older adults, dexmedetomidine in adults (RR=0.33, 95%CI=0.24-0.45, k=7, N=1,974), A2-adrenergic agonists after induction of anesthesia (OR= 0.28, 95%CI= 0.19-0.40, k=10, N=669) in children. High certainty evidence did not support melatonergic agents in older adults for delirium prevention. Moderate certainty supported the effect of dexmedetomidine in adults and children (k=4), various non-pharmacological interventions in adults and older people (k=4), second-generation antipsychotics in adults and mixed age groups (k=3), EEG-guided anesthesia in adults (k=2), mixed pharmacological interventions (k=1), five other specific pharmacological interventions in children (k=1 each). In conclusion, our work indicates that effective treatments to prevent delirium differ across populations, settings, and age groups. Results inform future guidelines to prevent or treat delirium, accounting for safety and costs of interventions. More research is needed in non-surgical settings.
Inflammation as a mediator between adverse childhood experiences and adult depression: A meta-analytic structural equation model
Zagaria A, Fiori V, Vacca M, Lombardo C, Pariante CM and Ballesio A
Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) confers a higher risk of developing depression in adulthood, yet the mediation of inflammation remains under debate. To test this model, we conducted a systematic review and two-stage structural equation modelling meta-analysis of studies reporting correlations between ACEs before age 18, inflammatory markers and depression severity in adulthood. Scopus, Pubmed, Medline, PsycInfo, and CINAHL were searched up to 2 October 2023. Twenty-two studies reporting data on C-reactive protein (CRP, n = 12,935), interleukin-6 (IL-6, n = 4108), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α, n = 2256) and composite measures of inflammation (n = 1674) were included. Unadjusted models revealed that CRP (β = 0.003, 95 % LBCI 0.0002 to 0.0068), IL-6 (β = 0.003, 95 % LBCI 0.001 to 0.006), and composite inflammation (β = 0.009, 95 % LBCI 0.004 to 0.018) significantly mediated the association between ACEs and adult depression. The mediation effects no longer survived after adjusting for BMI; however, a serial mediation model revealed that BMI and IL-6 sequentially mediated the association between ACEs and depression (β = 0.002, 95 % LBCI 0.0005 to 0.0046), accounting for 14.59 % and 9.94 % of the variance of IL-6 and depressive symptoms, respectively. Due to the cross-sectional nature of assessment of inflammation and depression findings should be approached with caution; however, results suggest that complex interactions of psychoneuroimmunological and metabolic factors underlie the association between ACEs and adulthood depression.
Emotion Classification Based on Pulsatile Images Extracted from Short Facial Videos via Deep Learning
Talala S, Shvimmer S, Simhon R, Gilead M and Yitzhaky Y
Most human emotion recognition methods largely depend on classifying stereotypical facial expressions that represent emotions. However, such facial expressions do not necessarily correspond to actual emotional states and may correspond to communicative intentions. In other cases, emotions are hidden, cannot be expressed, or may have lower arousal manifested by less pronounced facial expressions, as may occur during passive video viewing. This study improves an emotion classification approach developed in a previous study, which classifies emotions remotely without relying on stereotypical facial expressions or contact-based methods, using short facial video data. In this approach, we desire to remotely sense transdermal cardiovascular spatiotemporal facial patterns associated with different emotional states and analyze this data via machine learning. In this paper, we propose several improvements, which include a better remote heart rate estimation via a preliminary skin segmentation, improvement of the heartbeat peaks and troughs detection process, and obtaining a better emotion classification accuracy by employing an appropriate deep learning classifier using an RGB camera input only with data. We used the dataset obtained in the previous study, which contains facial videos of 110 participants who passively viewed 150 short videos that elicited the following five emotion types: amusement, disgust, fear, sexual arousal, and no emotion, while three cameras with different wavelength sensitivities (visible spectrum, near-infrared, and longwave infrared) recorded them simultaneously. From the short facial videos, we extracted unique high-resolution spatiotemporal, physiologically affected features and examined them as input features with different deep-learning approaches. An EfficientNet-B0 model type was able to classify participants' emotional states with an overall average accuracy of 47.36% using a single input spatiotemporal feature map obtained from a regular RGB camera.
A cognitive script perspective on how early caregiving experiences inform adolescent peer relationships and loneliness: A 14-year longitudinal study of Chinese families
Yang R, Gu Y, Cui L, Li X, Way N, Yoshikawa H, Chen X, Okazaki S, Zhang G, Liang Z and Waters TEA
Leveraging data from a longitudinal study of Chinese families (n = 364), this research aims to understand the role of secure base script knowledge as a cognitive mechanism by which early caregiving experiences inform adolescents' friendship quality and feelings of loneliness. Results showed that observed maternal sensitivity at 14 and 24 months old was negatively associated with adolescents' self-reported conflicts with close friends (β = -0.17, p = 0.044) at 15 years old, and this association was partially mediated by their secure base script knowledge assessed at 10 years old. Further, secure base script knowledge moderated the link between adolescents' friend conflict and feelings of loneliness (β = -0.15, p = 0.037). The results support a cognitive script perspective on the association between early caregiving experiences and later socio-emotional adjustment. Furthermore, this study adds to the developmental literature that has previously focused on more stringent and authoritarian aspects of parenting in Chinese families, thereby contributing to our understanding of how sensitive and supportive parenting practices contribute to socio-emotional development outside of Western contexts. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Maternal sensitivity during infancy and toddlerhood has a long-term association with adolescents' friendship quality and adolescents' secure base script partially explains the association. First evidence to demonstrate that the secure base script in attachment relationships mediates the association between early maternal caregiving and socio-emotional development in Chinese adolescents. Adolescents lacking secure base script knowledge are particularly vulnerable to feelings of loneliness when facing high levels of conflict in close friendships.
Large walking and wellbeing behaviour benefits of co-designed sustainable park improvements: A natural experimental study in a UK deprived urban area
Anderson J, Benton JS, Ye J, Barker E, Macintyre VG, Wilkinson J, Rothwell J, Dennis M and French DP
There is little robust evidence of how sustainable park interventions impact on physical activity and other behaviours important for wellbeing. This controlled natural experimental study aimed to examine the effects of co-designing a sustainable park intervention, in a deprived UK urban area, on walking and other wellbeing behaviours. Behaviour observations were conducted at two intervention sites and two matched comparison sites (n = 4,783). Walking observations (primary outcome), wellbeing behaviours (vigorous, sedentary, social and take notice activities) and demographic characteristics were assessed at pre-intervention, and post-intervention (3 and 15 months). Outcomes were compared between intervention and comparison groups, controlling for pre-intervention using multilevel negative binomial regression models. Additional behaviour observations were conducted in two unchanged nearby sites to assess changes in general local activity. Intercept surveys (n = 623) assessed change in self-reported outdoor space usage at intervention and control areas. Post-intervention, walking increased 203 % at 3 months (IRR 2·03, 95 % CI 1·01-4·09) and 351 % at 15 months (IRR 3·51, 95 % CI 2·07-5·93), for intervention sites relative to comparison sites. Large increases for other wellbeing behaviours were also observed. The proportion of non-white persons increased substantially post-intervention, compared to comparison sites. Nearby unchanged sites showed little evidence of general increased activity. Self-reported outdoor usage increased more in the intervention sites (p=<0·001). Sustainable solutions can yield large increases in walking and wellbeing in deprived areas, especially where interventions are co-designed with residents. More collaborative and robust natural experimental studies like this are needed to better inform decision-makers how to maximise health and wellbeing outcomes from sustainable interventions.
Differences in educational opportunity predict white matter development
Roy E, Van Rinsveld A, Nedelec P, Richie-Halford A, Rauschecker AM, Sugrue LP, Rokem A, McCandliss BD and Yeatman JD
Coarse measures of socioeconomic status, such as parental income or parental education, have been linked to differences in white matter development. However, these measures do not provide insight into specific aspects of an individual's environment and how they relate to brain development. On the other hand, educational intervention studies have shown that changes in an individual's educational context can drive measurable changes in their white matter. These studies, however, rarely consider socioeconomic factors in their results. In the present study, we examined the unique relationship between educational opportunity and white matter development, when controlling other known socioeconomic factors. To explore this question, we leveraged the rich demographic and neuroimaging data available in the ABCD study, as well the unique data-crosswalk between ABCD and the Stanford Education Data Archive (SEDA). We find that educational opportunity is related to accelerated white matter development, even when accounting for other socioeconomic factors, and that this relationship is most pronounced in white matter tracts associated with academic skills. These results suggest that the school a child attends has a measurable relationship with brain development for years to come.
Anticipating noxious stimulation rather than afferent nociceptive input may evoke pupil asymmetry
Drummond PD
Unilateral nociceptive stimulation is associated with subtle signs of pupil asymmetry that may reflect lateralized activity in the locus coeruleus. To explore drivers of this pupil asymmetry, electrical stimuli, delivered alone or 200 ms before or after an acoustic startle stimulus, were administered to one ankle under four experimental conditions: with or without a 1.6 s anticipatory period, or while the forearm ipsilateral or contralateral to the electrical stimulus was heated tonically to induce moderate pain (15 healthy participants in each condition). Pupil diameter was measured at the start of each trial, at stimulus delivery, and each second for 5 s after stimulus delivery. At the start of the first trial, the pupil ipsilateral to the side on which electric shocks were later delivered was larger than the contralateral pupil. Both pupils dilated robustly during the anticipatory period and dilated further during single- and dual-stimulus trials. However, pupil asymmetry persisted throughout the experiment. Tonically-applied forearm heat-pain modulated the pupillary response to phasic electrical stimuli, with a slight trend for dilatation to be greater contralateral to the forearm being heated. Together, these findings suggest that focusing anxiously on the expected site of noxious stimulation was associated with dilatation of the ipsilateral pupil whereas phasic nociceptive stimuli and psychological arousal triggered bilateral pupillary dilatation. It was concluded that preparatory cognitive activity rather than phasic afferent nociceptive input is associated with pupillary signs of lateralized activity in the locus coeruleus.
Decreased exercise-induced natural killer cell redistribution in multiple sclerosis
Munteis E, Vera A, Llop M, Moreira A, Oviedo GR, Javierre C and Martínez-Rodríguez JE
Exercise may have beneficial effects in MS, remaining controversial its possible disease-modifying effects and which mechanisms might be involved. We evaluated whether exercise-induced lymphocyte redistribution differ in MS patients as compared to controls.
A smoking cessation smartphone app that delivers real-time 'context aware' behavioural support: the Quit Sense feasibility RCT
Naughton F, Hope A, Siegele-Brown C, Grant K, Notley C, Colles A, West C, Mascolo C, Coleman T, Barton G, Shepstone L, Prevost T, Sutton S, Crane D, Greaves F and High J
During a quit attempt, cues from a smoker's environment are a major cause of brief smoking lapses, which increase the risk of relapse. Quit Sense is a theory-guided Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention smartphone app, providing smokers with the means to learn about their environmental smoking cues and provides 'in the moment' support to help them manage these during a quit attempt.
Reading instruction causes changes in category-selective visual cortex
Yeatman JD, McCloy DR, Caffarra S, Clarke MD, Ender S, Gijbels L, Joo SJ, Kubota EC, Kuhl PK, Larson E, O'Brien G, Peterson ER, Takada ME and Taulu S
Education sculpts specialized neural circuits for skills like reading that are critical to success in modern society but were not anticipated by the selective pressures of evolution. Does the emergence of brain regions that selectively process novel visual stimuli like words occur at the expense of cortical representations of other stimuli like faces and objects? "Neuronal Recycling" predicts that learning to read should enhance the response to words in ventral occipitotemporal cortex (VOTC) and decrease the response to other visual categories such as faces and objects. To test this hypothesis, and more broadly to understand the changes that are induced by the early stages of literacy instruction, we conducted a randomized controlled trial with pre-school children (five years of age). Children were randomly assigned to intervention programs focused on either reading skills or oral language skills and magnetoencephalography (MEG) data collected before and after the intervention was used to measure visual responses to images of text, faces, and objects. We found that being taught reading versus oral language skills induced different patterns of change in category-selective regions of visual cortex, but that there was not a clear tradeoff between the response to words versus other categories. Within a predefined region of VOTC corresponding to the visual word form area (VWFA) we found that the relative amplitude of responses to text, faces, and objects changed, but increases in the response to words were not linked to decreases in the response to faces or objects. How these changes play out over a longer timescale is still unknown but, based on these data, we can surmise that high-level visual cortex undergoes rapid changes as children enter school and begin establishing new skills like literacy.
The impact of depression and childhood maltreatment experiences on psychological adaptation from lockdown to reopening period during the COVID-19 pandemic
Herpertz J, Goltermann J, Gruber M, Blitz R, Taylor J, Brosch K, Stein F, Straube B, Meinert S, Kraus A, Leehr EJ, Repple J, Redlich R, Gutfleisch L, Besteher B, Ratzsch J, Winter A, Bonnekoh LM, Winter NR, Emden D, Kircher T, Nenadić I, Dannlowski U, Hahn T and Opel N
Parent attention-orienting behavior is associated with neural entropy in infancy
Williams CL, Belkowitz AR, Nance MG, Mortman ET, Bae S, Ahmed SB and Puglia MH
Parents use joint attention to direct infants to environmental stimuli. We hypothesized that infants whose parents provide more bids for joint attention will display a more complex neural response when viewing social scenes. Sixty-one 8-month-old infants underwent electroencephalography (EEG) while viewing videos of joint- and parallel-play and participated in a free play interaction. EEG data was analyzed using multiscale entropy, which quantifies neural variability. Free play interactions assessed parent alternating gaze, a behavioral mechanism for directing attention to environmental cues. We found a significant positive association between parent alternating gaze and neural entropy in frontal and central regions. These results suggest a relationship between parent behavior and infant neural mechanisms that regulate social attention, underlying the importance of parental cues in forming neural networks.
EQ-5D-5L population norms for China derived from a national health survey
Li D, Wang Z, Nie X, Luo N, Wu Y, Pan C and Wang P
To develop the EQ-5D-5L (5L) population norms for China; and to assess the relationship between various factors and 5L data.
Increase in Functional Tic Presentations in Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Minority Youth During Coronavirus Disease 2019
Armstrong-Javors A, Realbuto E, Dy-Hollins ME and Scharf JM
Functional tic disorders are among the least common functional movement disorders, but their prevalence rose during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although female adolescents develop functional neurological disorders at higher rates than males, investigations into sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) status of these patients are limited.
Dichotic listening and interhemispheric integration after callosotomy: A systematic review
Westerhausen R
The right-ear advantage (REA) for recalling dichotically presented auditory-verbal stimuli has been traditionally linked to the dominance of the left cerebral hemisphere for speech processing. Early studies on patients with callosotomy additionally found that the removal of the corpus callosum leads to a complete extinction of the left ear, and consequently the today widely used models to explain the REA assume a central role of callosal axons for recalling the left-ear stimulus in dichotic listening. However, later dichotic-listening studies on callosotomy patients challenge this interpretation, as many patients appear to be able to recall left-ear stimuli well above chance level, albeit with reduced accuracy. The aim of the present systematic review was to identify possible experimental and patient variables that explain the inconsistences found regarding the effect of split-brain surgery on dichotic listening. For this purpose, a systematic literature search was conducted (databases: Pubmed, Web of Knowledge, EBSChost, and Ovid) to identify all empirical studies on patients with surgical section of the corpus callosum (complete or partial) that used a verbal dichotic-listening paradigm. This search yielded k = 32 publications reporting patient data either on case or group level, and the data was analysed by comparing the case-level incidence of left-ear suppression, left-ear extinction, and right-ear enhancement narratively or statistically considering possible moderator variables (i.a., extent of the callosal surgery, stimulus material, response format, selective attention). The main finding was an increased incidence of left-ear suppression (odds ratio = 7.47, CI: [1.21; 83.49], exact p = .02) and right-ear enhancement (odds ratio = 21.61, CI: [4.40; 154.11], p < .01) when rhyming as compared with non-rhyming stimuli were used. Also, an increase in left-ear reports was apparent when a response by the right hemisphere was allowed (i.e., response with left hand). While the present review is limited by the overall small number of cases and a lack of an appropriate control sample in most of the original studies, the findings nevertheless suggest an adjustment of the classical dichotic-listening models incorporating right-hemispheric processing abilities as well as the perceptual competition of the left- and right-ear stimuli for attention.
The Power of Coaches' Emotions: A Case Study on How Coaches' Facial Expressions Impact Performance of Female Synchronized Ice-Skaters
Decarli G, Vitali F, Zasso S and Franchin L
The present study aimed to investigate the impact of coaches' pleasant and unpleasant facial expressions on affects and team performance of elite female synchronized ice-skaters.
Coaching Dynamics in Elite Volleyball: The Role of a Need-Supportive and Need-Thwarting Coaching Style during Competitive Games
Morbée S, Haerens L, Soenens B, Thys J and Vansteenkiste M
Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, this game-to-game study among Flemish volleyball coaches and athletes had two primary objectives. First, we examined how variations in need-supportive and need-thwarting coaching styles related to variations in athletes' basic psychological needs, motivation, and coach-rated performance. Second, we examined whether athletes who perceived their coach as need-thwarting during a specific game would experience different outcomes based on the overall need-supportive or need-thwarting coaching style they encountered across games. Linear mixed modeling on data from 190 elite volleyball athletes (M = 23.95, 32.6% male) and their 26 coaches (M = 48.12, 95.7% male) indicated positive associations between game-specific need-supportive coaching and athletes' reports of game-specific basic psychological need experiences and motivation, as well as coach-rated performance, whereas game-specific need-thwarting coaching showed opposite trends. Athlete perceptions of a coaching style were more predictive of the outcomes than coach perceptions. Second, the lack of systematic cross-level interactions between game-specific coaching and team-level coaching indicated that the observed correlates of game-specific need-thwarting and need-supportive coaching hold regardless of the perceived overall need-thwarting or need-supportive style of the coach across games.
N-oleoyl alanine attenuates nicotine reward and spontaneous nicotine withdrawal in mice
Karin KN, Mustafa MA, Poklis JL, Buzzi B, Schlosburg JE, Parker L, Damaj MI and Lichtman AH
As nicotine dependence represents a longstanding major public health issue, new nicotine cessation pharmacotherapies are needed. Administration of N-oleoyl glycine (OlGly), an endogenous lipid signaling molecule, prevents nicotine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) through a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) dependent mechanism, and also ameliorated withdrawal signs in nicotine-dependent mice. Pharmacological evidence suggests that the methylated analog of OlGly, N-oleoyl alanine (OlAla), has an increased duration of action and may offer translational benefit. Accordingly, OlAla was assessed in nicotine CPP and dependence assays as well as its pharmacokinetics compared to OlGly.
The reliability and validity of the brief measures of perceived childhood harshness and unpredictability: A revised Chinese version for emerging adults
Lin X, Wang R and Chen J
Childhood harshness and unpredictability significantly shape life history strategies, as well as downstream psychological and behavioral patterns. However, prior research involving Chinese populations has suffered from inconsistent metrics and limited measurement items.
Parental burnout during COVID-19: The moderating role of anxiety and family functioning
Pereira MG, Fraga J, Santos M, Ferraz A and Vilaça M
Parental burnout (PB) is characterised by parental exhaustion resulting from exposure to chronic parental stress. Due to the social and economic changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted families, there is a significant scientific interest in identifying factors related to PB within the pandemic context. This study aimed to analyse the relationships between parental stress (parental concerns, parental satisfaction, lack of control, and fears and anxieties), family functioning, psychological morbidity (anxiety and depression), and burnout in parents. The sample consisted of 253 parents, legal guardians or primary caregivers of children aged between 0 and 6 years. Results revealed that the child's age, psychological morbidity (depression), and parental stress were significant predictors of PB. Anxiety and family functioning played a moderating role in the relationship between parental satisfaction and PB. According to the results, intervention programs should focus on anxiety symptoms and family functioning to mitigate the effects of parental stress on PB.
Menopause experiences in sexual minority women and non-binary people
Sobel T, Derakshani D and Vencill JA
Sexual minority women (lesbian/gay, bisexual, and queer-identified cisgender women) as well as non-binary people have unique experiences in menopause but remain underrepresented in the scientific literature as compared with cisgender, heterosexual women. This review provides an overview of their experiences with menopause, including menstrual cessation, menopause symptoms, experiences with healthcare systems, and sexual health. The end of menstruation comes with mixed emotions for many sexual minority women, including sadness, grief, relief, and a sense of freedom. Sexual and gender minority individuals often experience discrimination and bias in healthcare encounters. So, too, do sexual minority women and non-binary people report negative experiences with the healthcare system while navigating menopause. In particular, this includes challenges locating inclusive menopause resources and culturally competent clinicians who create safe, trusting healthcare environments. In contrast to heterosexual women, sexual minority women have more open communication with partners regarding sexual function during menopause, and often have greater sexual satisfaction due to more expansive definitions of sex and pleasure. Non-binary individuals can experience distress, isolation, and gender dysphoria during the menopause transition, though research on their experiences remains extremely limited. To better care for sexual and gender minorities, more inclusive menopause education resources and healthcare environments are sorely needed, as are culturally competent healthcare clinicians. Increasing representation of sexual and gender minorities in the scientific literature on menopause is also crucial to improve understanding and clinical care.
Cognitive and everyday functioning after bacterial brain abscess: a prospective study of functional recovery from 8 weeks to 1 year post-treatment
Rogne AG, Sigurdardottir S, Raudeberg R, Hassel B and Dahlberg D
A bacterial brain abscess may damage surrounding brain tissue by mass effect, inflammatory processes, and bacterial toxins. The aim of this study was to examine cognitive and functional outcomes at 8 weeks and 1 year following acute treatment.
Prevalence of comorbid substance use disorders among people with opioid use disorder: A systematic review & meta-analysis
Santo T, Gisev N, Campbell G, Colledge-Friday S, Wilson J, Tran LT, Lynch M, Martino-Burke D, Taylor S and Degenhardt L
Comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs) among people with opioid use disorder (OUD) contribute to poor clinical outcomes, including overdose and mortality. We present the first systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of specific non-opioid SUDs among people with OUD.
Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Clinical Trials: A Questionnaire-Based Study of 179 Male Third- and Fourth-Year PharmD Undergraduates from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Syed W, Al-Rawi MBA and Bashatah A
BACKGROUND Clinical Trials (CTs) are essential for the formation of a new medicine. This questionnaire-based study included 179 male third- and fourth-year PharmD undergraduate students from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 18 and 23 years of age, was conducted in 2022, and aimed to evaluate student knowledge and attitudes toward CTs. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaires. The data was collected using convenience sampling. Part 1 of the study collected demographics, with 6 items; part 2 measured knowledge about CTs (9 items); part 3 measured attitudes (5 items) measured on a 5-point Likert scale. A score of 1 was given for correct, and a score of 0 for each incorrect response. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the determinants of knowledge and attitudes about CTs. RESULTS A total of 108 (60.3%) undergraduates reported having heard about CTs, 15% of undergraduates had heard about institutional review boards, while 74.3% of the undergraduates believed that CTs have direct benefits to society. The mean knowledge score of the CTs among the students was 5.75±2.32 (median 6.00), while the mean attitude score of CTs was 16.45±4.56 (median 16.00). However, the results of the simple regression model revealed that age, year of study, and chronic disease status were not predictors of the knowledge and attitude score (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study indicated that half of undergraduates were aware of CTs, were knowledgeable, and showed positive attitudes. Furthermore, the study identified potential misunderstandings about the benefits of CTs.
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Van Asbroeck S, Köhler S, van Boxtel MPJ, Lipnicki DM, Crawford JD, Castro-Costa E, Lima-Costa MF, Blay SL, Shifu X, Wang T, Yue L, Lipton RB, Katz MJ, Derby CA, Guerchet M, Preux PM, Mbelesso P, Norton J, Ritchie K, Skoog I, Najar J, Sterner TR, Scarmeas N, Yannakoulia M, Dardiotis T, Rolandi E, Davin A, Rossi M, Gureje O, Ojagbemi A, Bello T, Kim KW, Han JW, Oh DJ, Trompet S, Gussekloo J, Riedel-Heller SG, Röhr S, Pabst A, Shahar S, Rivan NFM, Singh DKA, Jacobsen E, Ganguli M, Hughes T, Haan M, Aiello AE, Ding D, Zhao Q, Xiao Z, Narazaki K, Chen T, Chen S, Ng TP, Gwee X, Gao Q, Brodaty H, Trollor J, Kochan N, Lobo A, Santabárbara J, Gracia-Garcia P, Sachdev PS, Deckers K and
The LIfestyle for BRAin Health (LIBRA) index yields a dementia risk score based on modifiable lifestyle factors and is validated in Western samples. We investigated whether the association between LIBRA scores and incident dementia is moderated by geographical location or sociodemographic characteristics.
The Functional Vision for Communication Questionnaire (FVC-Q): Exploring Parental Report of Non-Speaking Children's Fixation Skills Using a Structured History-Taking Approach
Sargent J, Griffiths T, Clarke MT, Bates K, Macleod K and Swettenham J
This paper explores whether a structured history-taking tool yields useful descriptions of children's looking skills. Parents of 32 children referred to a specialist communication clinic reported their child's looking skills using the Functional Vision for Communication Questionnaire (FVC-Q), providing descriptions of single object fixation, fixation shifts between objects and fixation shifts from object to person. Descriptions were compared with clinical assessment. 24/32 children were reported to have some limitation in fixation. Limitation was subsequently seen in 30/32 children. Parental report and assessment agreed fully in 23/32 (72%). The largest area of discrepancy was object-person fixation shifts, with five children not observed to show this behavior despite its being reported. Findings indicate a structured questionnaire yields description of fixations, which correspond well with clinical assessment. Descriptions supported discussion between parents and clinicians. It is proposed that the FVC-Q is a valuable tool in supporting clinicians in eliciting information about fixation skills.
Life in the fast lane: the role of temporal processing in risk-taking behaviors
Schiros A and Antshel KM
An existing theoretical framework proposes that aberrant temporal processing and a fast internal clock, denoted by overestimation and under-reproduction of time, increases the likelihood of engagement in risky behaviors (ERB). The primary aim of this project was to improve our understanding of the relationship between temporal processing and ERB in college students. The present study used the Wittmann and Paulus (2008) theoretical framework to examine the associations between temporal processing and ERB in college students. College student participants ( = 215) completed self-report measures of ERB, delay aversion, inhibitory control, ADHD symptoms and objective cognitive time estimation and time reproduction tasks. Time estimation accuracy was significantly associated with lower engagement in sexual risk behaviors (OR = .988; 95% CI: .979, .996; .006) and aggressive behaviors (OR = .989; 95% CI: .980, .998; .018). Time reproduction was not significantly associated with ERB. The present study established preliminary support for the associations between aberrant temporal processing, namely aberrant time estimation, and ERB among college students.
Establishing a research partnership to investigate functional loss and rehabilitation towards the end of life
Maddocks M, Brighton LJ, Connell L, Cowley A, Laird B, Peryer G, Petrasso C, Ziegler L and Harwood R
Functional loss, the inability to perform necessary or desired tasks, is a common consequence of life-limiting illnesses and associated symptoms (pain, fatigue, breathlessness, etc.) and causes suffering for patients and families. Rehabilitation, a set of interventions designed to address functional loss, is recognised as essential within palliative care, as it can improve quality of life and reduce care costs. However, not everyone has equal access to rehabilitation. Despite limited life expectancy or uncertain ability to benefit from interventions, palliative rehabilitation services are often absent. This is partly due to a lack of high-quality research around optimal models of rehabilitation. Research in this area is methodologically challenging and requires multidisciplinary and cross-speciality collaboration.
Interindividual differences in mindfulness are linked to sleep-EEG characteristics
Wunderlin M, Studler M, Gianotti LRR, Züst MA and Knoch D
Mindfulness describes the ability to focus on the presence, including one's thoughts and feelings. Trait mindfulness - a person's inherent tendency to be mindful - has been connected to increased subjective sleep quality, but evidence from objective EEG-based sleep measures is lacking. Here, we investigate whether objective EEG-based sleep parameters explain interindividual differences in trait mindfulness.
A social psychology of climate change: Progress and promise
Clayton S
Social psychologists have conducted research relevant to environmental problems for many decades. However, the climate crisis presents a new problem with distinctive aspects and distinctive urgency. This paper reviews some of the principal ways in which social psychological research and theory have approached the topic, looking at perceptions, behaviour, and impacts linked to climate change. Each of these areas is becoming more sophisticated in acknowledging the diversity of experience among groups that vary in demographics and social roles. I close by identifying three important facets for future research: a focus on social justice, an effort to participate in interdisciplinary efforts, and an emphasis on maximizing our impact.
Why did peri-pandemic suicide death rates decrease among non-Hispanic white people while increasing among most people of color?
Robison M, Robertson L and Joiner TE
While suicides in the United States decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, statistically significant decreases have been limited to White people throughout a large portion of 2020.
Measuring perceived utility of genomic sequencing: Development and validation of the GENEtic Utility (GENE-U) scale for pediatric diagnostic testing
Smith HS, Rubanovich CK, Robinson JO, Levchenko AN, Classen SA, Malek J, Biesecker B, Brothers KB, Wilfond BS, Rini C, Knight SJ, McGuire AL and Bloss CS
Measuring effects of genomic sequencing (GS) on patients and families is critical for translational research. We aimed to develop and validate an instrument to assess parents' perceived utility of pediatric diagnostic GS.
PROACT 2.0: A new open-source tool to improve patient-doctor communication in clinical trials
Agnelli L, Villa A, Butt F, Duca M, Guidi A, Carapezza M, Addante M, Lenoci G, O'Regan P, Russo L, Cresta S, Castano A, Ebrahem E, Alfieri S, Patil A, Carter L, Dive C, De Braud FG and Damian S
The use of Digital Healthcare Products is leading to significant improvements in clinical practice. Herein, we discuss the development of PROACT 2.0 (Patient Reported Opinions About Clinical Tolerability v2.0), a novel open-source mobile and web application developed at Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Milan. It was developed in collaboration with The Christie, Manchester, in the context of work package 2 of the UpSMART Accelerator project, involving a consortium of referral cancer centers from the UK, Spain and Italy. PROACT 2.0 enhances communication between patients and healthcare providers in cancer clinical trials, allowing patients to report adverse events and side effects, and healthcare teams to collect valuable patient-reported outcome measures for treatment management. PROACT 2.0 supports text, audio, and video messaging, offering a secure, non-urgent communication channel that integrates with, or replaces, traditional methods. Its user-friendly and multilingual interface provides a new route for patient engagement and streamlines the handling of logistical information. Positive feedback from initial testing warrants future enhancements for broader applicability in cancer research and treatment.
Race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status as predictors of outcome following family therapy in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis
Ruiz-Yu B, Le TP, Weintraub MJ, Zinberg J, Addington J, O'Brien MP, Walsh BC, Friedman-Yakoobian M, Auther A, Cornblatt , Domingues I, Cannon TD, Miklowitz DJ and Bearden CE
There is limited research on the effects of sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors on treatment outcomes in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHRp). This study examined sociodemographic factors that may affect functional outcomes within this population. Specifically, we investigated the influence of race/ethnicity (dichotomized as non-Hispanic whites [NHW] vs. people of colour [POC]), socioeconomic status (SES; operationalized as parental years of education), and their interaction on change in psychosocial functioning and symptoms over 6 months in a randomized trial of family-focused therapy.
The emotion paradox in the aging body and brain
Mather M
With age, parasympathetic activity decreases, while sympathetic activity increases. Thus, the typical older adult has low heart rate variability (HRV) and high noradrenaline levels. Younger adults with this physiological profile tend to be unhappy and stressed. Yet, with age, emotional experience tends to improve. Why does older adults' emotional well-being not suffer as their HRV decreases? To address this apparent paradox, I present the autonomic compensation model. In this model, failing organs, the initial phases of Alzheimer's pathology, and other age-related diseases trigger noradrenergic hyperactivity. To compensate, older brains increase autonomic regulatory activity in the pregenual prefrontal cortex (PFC). Age-related declines in nerve conduction reduce the ability of the pregenual PFC to reduce hyperactive noradrenergic activity and increase peripheral HRV. But these pregenual PFC autonomic compensation efforts have a significant impact in the brain, where they bias processing in favor of stimuli that tend to increase parasympathetic activity (e.g., stimuli that increase feelings of safety) and against stimuli that tend to increase sympathetic activity (e.g., threatening stimuli). In summary, the autonomic compensation model posits that age-related chronic sympathetic/noradrenergic hyperactivity stimulates regulatory attempts that have the side effect of enhancing emotional well-being.
Pathways to care in youth and young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis in Switzerland: Current situation and clinical implementation of the PsyYoung project
Bailey B, Solida A, Andreou C, Plessen KJ, Conus P, Mercapide M, Kasparidi A, Conchon C, Sprüngli-Toffel E, Genoud D, Caron C, Golay P, Curtis L, Herbrecht E, Huber CG, Alameda L and Armando M
We aim to give an insight into the current situation in Switzerland concerning the pathways to care of young people with clinical high risk of psychosis. In a second step we propose a procedure of optimizing pathways to care developed within the project PsyYoung.
Differential Effect of 4H-Benzo[d] [1, 3]oxazines on the Proliferation of Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Fraire-Soto I, Araujo-Huitrado JG, Granados-López AJ, Segura-Quezada LA, Ortiz-Alvarado R, Herrera MD, Gutiérrez-Hernández R, Reyes-Hernández CA, López-Hernández Y, Tapia-Juárez M, Negrete-Díaz JV, Chacón-García L, Solorio-Alvarado CR and López JA
A family of 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazines were obtained from a group of N-(2-alkynyl)aryl benzamides precursors via gold(I) catalysed chemoselective 6-exo-dig C-O cyclization.
Association between non-penetrative sexual activities and depression in women with vaginismus: a cross-sectional study
Yavuzkir Ş, Aslan M, Yurt N and Baykara S
This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between non-penetrative sexual activities (NPSA) and depression levels in women diagnosed with vaginismus.
Is self-awareness necessary to have a theory of mind?
Calmette T and Meunier H
Forty years ago, Gallup proposed that theory of mind presupposes self-awareness. Following Humphrey, his hypothesis was that individuals can infer the mental states of others thanks to the ability to monitor their own mental states in similar circumstances. Since then, advances in several disciplines, such as comparative and developmental psychology, have provided empirical evidence to test Gallup's hypothesis. Herein, we review and discuss this evidence.
Validation of a Simple Clinical Tool for Screening of Acute Lacunar Stroke - a substudy of the WAKE-UP trial
Arba F, Rinaldi C, Jensen M, Endres M, Fiebach JB, Lemmens R, Muir KW, Nighoghossian N, Pedraza S, Simonsen C, Thijs V, Gerloff C, Wardlaw J and Thomalla G
Lacunar stroke represents around a quarter of all ischemic strokes, however, their identification with Computed Tomography in the hyperacute setting is challenging. We aimed to validate a clinical score to identify lacunar stroke in the acute setting, independently, with data from the WAKE-UP trial using magnetic resonance imaging.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Tenecteplase Versus Standard of Care for Minor Ischemic Stroke With Proven Occlusion (TEMPO-2): Rational and design of a multicenter, randomized open-label clinical trial
Singh N, Kenney C, Butcher K, Buck B, Barber PA, Field TS, Choi P, Yu AYX, Kleinig T, Appireddy R, Molina CA, Muir KW, Hill MD and Coutts SB
Almost half of acute ischemic stroke patients present with mild symptoms and there are large practice variations in their treatment globally. Individuals with an intracranial occlusion who present with minor stroke are at an increased risk of early neurological deterioration and poor outcomes. Individual patient data meta-analysis in the subgroup of patients with minor deficits showed benefit of alteplase in improving outcomes, however, this benefit has not been seen with intravenous alteplase in published randomized trials.
The Role of State Versus Trait Anxiety on Cognition in Older Adults With Major Depressive Disorder
Persaud UD, Manning KJ, Wu R, Springate BA and Steffens DC
Anxiety superimposed on late life depression (LLD) results in greater changes to prefrontal and medial temporal brain regions compared to depression alone. Yet, the combined impact of anxiety and depression on cognition in LLD has not been thoroughly investigated. The current study investigated whether annual changes in state and trait anxiety were associated with cognitive changes in older adults with major depression. We hypothesized that the presence of anxiety among older depressed adults would be associated with worse cognitive performance in the domains of memory and executive functioning over time.
Investigating the relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure and children's behavioural and emotional development: analysis of the Growing Up in New Zealand study
Chu JTW, McCormack J, Jiang Y, Walsh D, Wilson H, Marsh S, Langridge F and Bullen C
To examine the relationship between prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and children's behavioural and emotional development in a large generalizable sample of women and their children in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Differential impact of prenatal PTSD symptoms and preconception trauma exposure on placental and methylation
Stroud LR, Jao NC, Ward LG, Lee SY and Marsit CJ
Perinatal stress is associated with altered placental methylation, which plays a critical role in fetal development and infant outcomes. This proof-of-concept pilot study investigated the impact of lifetime trauma exposure and perinatal PTSD symptoms on epigenetic regulation of placenta glucocorticoid signaling genes ( and Lifetime trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms during pregnancy were assessed in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of pregnant women ( = 198). Participants were categorized into three groups: (1) No Trauma (-T); (2) Trauma, No Symptoms (T - S); and (3) Trauma and Symptoms (T + S). Placental tissue was analyzed via bisulfite pyrosequencing for degree of methylation at the promoter and regulatory regions. Analyses of covariance were used to test group differences in percentages of and methylation overall and at each CpG site. We found a significant impact of PTSD symptoms on placental methylation. Compared to the -T group, the T + S group had greater methylation overall and at CpG6, CpG8, CpG9, and CpG13, but lower methylation at CpG5. The T + S group had significantly higher N methylation overall and at CpG8 compared to the T - S group. There were no differences between the T - S group and - T group. Additionally, no group differences emerged for methylation. Pregnant trauma survivors with PTSD symptoms exhibited differential patterns of placental methylation compared to trauma survivors without PTSD symptoms and pregnant women unexposed to trauma. Results highlight the critical importance of interventions to address the mental health of pregnant trauma survivors.
On the Feasibility of Using Behavioral Listening Effort Test Methods to Evaluate Auditory Performance in Cochlear Implant Users
Hendrikse MME, Dingemanse G and Goedegebure A
Realistic outcome measures that reflect everyday hearing challenges are needed to assess hearing aid and cochlear implant (CI) fitting. Literature suggests that listening effort measures may be more sensitive to differences between hearing-device settings than established speech intelligibility measures when speech intelligibility is near maximum. Which method provides the most effective measurement of listening effort for this purpose is currently unclear. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of two tests for measuring changes in listening effort in CI users due to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) differences, as would arise from different hearing-device settings. By comparing the effect size of SNR differences on listening effort measures with test-retest differences, the study evaluated the suitability of these tests for clinical use. Nineteen CI users underwent two listening effort tests at two SNRs (+4 and +8 dB relative to individuals' 50% speech perception threshold). We employed dual-task paradigms-a sentence-final word identification and recall test (SWIRT) and a sentence verification test (SVT)-to assess listening effort at these two SNRs. Our results show a significant difference in listening effort between the SNRs for both test methods, although the effect size was comparable to the test-retest difference, and the sensitivity was not superior to speech intelligibility measures. Thus, the implementations of SVT and SWIRT used in this study are not suitable for clinical use to measure listening effort differences of this magnitude in individual CI users. However, they can be used in research involving CI users to analyze group data.
Impression life with pulmonary hypertension: clinically relevant characteristics and quality of life among patients in Gansu, China
Zhang J, Wen Y, Yin Y, Zhang Y, Zhang R, Zhang X, Ye J, Feng Y and Meng H
The adverse effects of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) on physical, emotional, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remain primarily unrecognized, especially in resource-limited settings.
[Better identifying and understanding post-traumatic stress disorder in the elderly]
Roche J, Vaillant-Ciszewicz AJ and Guerin O
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is particularly common in the elderly, including those with cognitive impairments. We need to stress the importance of early detection to better understand the specific signs of this disorder in the elderly. Psychotherapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing are being explored for their effectiveness and adaptability with the elderly. Identifying post-traumatic stress disorder should be a shared responsibility, for the mental health of the elderly.
[Features of the clinical picture of affective disorders in women during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause]
Akhmedova AA and Gorobets LN
To determine the clinical and psychopathological features of affective disorders in women in the perimenopausal and early postmenopausal periods.
[The supportive environment in SRH: characteristics that promote self-determination]
Souesme G
Hospitalization is an important stage in the life of the elderly. All too often, this experience is accompanied by both physical and psychological decline. Based on self-determination theory, the aim was to qualitatively characterize support for self-determination in follow-up care and rehabilitation services (behaviours and attitudes of healthcare professionals, and patients' perception of them).
[Sexuality among the elderly: understanding the weight of stereotypes]
Quin C, Soriano D and Bereder I
Sexuality is an integral part of health and accompanies human beings throughout their lives. It contributes to well-being and improves quality of life. The social representations conveyed by Western society modulate sexuality and can play a decisive role in the expression of seniors' sexuality.
[Supporting psychobehavioral disorders at home and in institutions: a systemic approach]
Jouatel L and Charras K
Caring for people with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders is a complex process, that of a chronic illness. Psychological and behavioral symptoms associated to dementia can appear in all neuro-degenerative diseases to varying degrees, and depend on numerous factors that need to be understood in order to take appropriate action. We propose a systemic approach to psychological and behavioral symptoms, with a view to preventing their onset or reducing their severity.
[Preventing emotional disorders in the elderly with programs based on cognitive-behavioral therapies]
Palazzolo J
The cognitive-behavioral approach is particularly well-suited to older people who are looking for a short-term therapeutic solution to many emotional problems, without necessarily resorting to psychotropic drugs. One of the major advantages of this type of psychological treatment is that it helps seniors develop coping skills that can be beneficial in both the short and long term. However, some adjustments are sometimes necessary to achieve this goal.
[Clinical and psychopathological characteristics of patients with late-onset schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like psychoses in clusters identified by biological parameters]
Prokhorova TA, Androsova LV, Tereshkina EB, Boksha IS, Savushkina OK, Pochueva VV, Sheshenin VS, Burbaeva GS and Klyushnik TP
To assess clinical and psychopathological characteristics of late-aged female patients with late-onset psychoses in clusters formed on the basis of biochemical and immunological blood parameters.
[A post-Covid-19 approach to loneliness and isolation in old age]
Assor M and Lantermino L
The Covid-19 pandemic has accentuated loneliness and isolation among the elderly, affecting their physical and mental health. The post-Covid-19 approach needs to strengthen early detection of loneliness and isolation while promoting social engagement.
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