Changes In Mental State Research Articles

Teacher‐Student Rapport: An Essential Mediator in Creating a Learning Climate Conducive to Psychological Well‐Being of Chinese Students

ABSTRACTThe success of students is closely tied to their well‐being and those students with high degrees of well‐being are more likely to excel in academic environments. Accordingly, the internal and external factors that cause positive changes in students' mental states and lead them to higher levels of psychological well‐being (PWB) need to be divulged. In response to this necessity, many scholars have explored the internal and external predictors of students' PWB such as teacher–student rapport (TSR) and learning climate in different educational domains. To narrow these gaps, this research inspects the role of TSR as a mediator in creating a learning climate conducive to PWB of Chinese Students. To do so, three scales were given to 588 Chinese students, among them 560 were valid. Then, structural equation modelling (SEM) was performed to analyse participants' answers. The results disclosed strong and close connections between TSR, learning climate and students' PWB. The results also uncovered that TSR was a significant mediator between learning climate and PWB. The outcomes of this investigation might be illuminating for teachers, teacher trainers and educational managers.

Influence of slow and rapid weight loss periods on physiological performance, mood state and sleep quality in male freestyle wrestlers: a study from Sichuan Province, China.

This study aims to investigate the changes in physiological performance, mental state and sleep quality during the weight reduction phase prior to competition in male freestyle wrestlers. This study included 16 male freestyle wrestlers from Sichuan Province, China. Participants were evaluated at three time points: the first day of slow weight reduction (T1, March 26), the first day of rapid weight reduction (T2, April 26) and the day before the competition (T3, May 3), and measurements were taken for physiological performance, mood state and sleep quality. The most relevant findings indicated the following: Morning heart rate, creatine kinase and fatigue scores increased by 12.6, 64.6, and 19.0%, respectively, from T1 to T2 (p < 0.05), and decreased by 14.1, 36.6, and 16.8%, respectively, from T2 to T3 (p < 0.05). Hemoglobin and testosterone levels decreased by 3.0 and 16.8%, respectively, from T1 to T3 (p < 0.05), and by 2.9 and 18.2%, respectively, from T2 to T3 (p < 0.05); The secondary findings revealed the following: The total mood disturbance scores decreased by 3.8% from T2 to T3 (p = 0.072), positive mood scores decreased by 9.0% from T1 to T2 (p = 0.090), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total scores increased by 14.4% from T1 to T2 (p = 0.323) and total work output and average power output decreased by 7.3 and 7.8%, respectively, from T1 to T3 (p = 0.067, p = 0.052); Regression analyses predicted negative mood (Y 1 = 62.306-0.018 × maximum power output) and sleep quality (Y 2 = 2.527 + 0.278 × Immunoglobulin G) during the weight reduction period. The combined slow and rapid weight reduction approach effectively minimized body fat in athletes with limited effect on their physiological performance and sleep quality. However, the effects were adverse on certain health variables and anaerobic power in Chinese male freestyle wrestlers. The identified correlations between negative mood and maximum power, and between sleep quality and immunoglobulin G, shed new light on factors influencing athletes' well-being during weight reduction, and underscored the need for careful monitoring of physiological variables in future weight management strategies.

People make mistakes: Obtaining accurate ground truth from continuous annotations of subjective constructs.

Accurately representing changes in mental states over time is crucial for understanding their complex dynamics. However, there is little methodological research on the validity and reliability of human-produced continuous-time annotation of these states. We present a psychometric perspective on valid and reliable construct assessment, examine the robustness of interval-scale (e.g., values between zero and one) continuous-time annotation, and identify three major threats to validity and reliability in current approaches. We then propose a novel ground truth generation pipeline that combines emerging techniques for improving validity and robustness. We demonstrate its effectiveness in a case study involving crowd-sourced annotation of perceived violence in movies, where our pipeline achieves a .95 Spearman correlation in summarized ratings compared to a .15 baseline. These results suggest that highly accurate ground truth signals can be produced from continuous annotations using additional comparative annotation (e.g., a versus b) to correct structured errors, highlighting the need for a paradigm shift in robust construct measurement over time.

Динамика взаимосвязи ментальных структур и эффективности саморегуляции положительных состояний в ходе учебных занятий студентов

This study describes the results of a research that was aimed at studying the dynamics of changes in positive mental states during the educational activities of students at a higher educational institution, their relationship with mental structures and the effectiveness of self-regulation of states. The relationships between mental structures (reflexive, semantic, self-system) and positive mental states were studied and subsequently analyzed during the course of the lesson (the beginning of the lesson, the middle, where the peak of students’ activity is observed, and the end of the lesson). The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between the structures of consciousness and the effectiveness of self-regulation of positive states in the dynamics of students' educational activities. The study of the characteristics of mental states and the effectiveness of their self-regulation was carried out during the students' performance of a group assignment at a seminar. Separately, outside of educational activities, we diagnosed the severity of mental structures. In our work, we used both well-known questionnaires for diagnosing mental structures and mental states, and specially developed methods for studying the effectiveness of self-regulation and the severity of positive states. As a result, we found that by the middle of the lesson, there is an increase in the activity of experiencing positive states, and by the end, there is a decrease in its intensity. We found that positive states in the classroom are interconnected with the expression of mental structures and a high level of self-regulation efficiency. We found that the effectiveness of self-regulation of states at the beginning of the lesson is associated with semantic structures, in the middle - with value-semantic structures and the self-system, and at the end of the lesson reflexive structures acquire special importance. The results obtained can be used to update and maintain positive states during educational activities and they are novel.

Nitrous oxide myelopathy: a case series.

To describe the clinical features and outcomes of patients with myelopathy and neuropathy due to recreationally inhaled nitrous oxide. We identified patients presenting with nitrous oxide-associated myelopathy from an electronic database of all discharges in a large tertiary hospital between 2016 and 2023. Demographics, clinical features and the results of investigations were recorded. The primary outcome was modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) at least 3 months after hospital discharge where available. There were 12 patients identified, six women, mean (SD) age 27.5 (5.1) years, range 19-47 years. The most common symptoms were numbness, weakness and mental state changes. Four patients used large amounts of inhaled nitrous oxide and also took over-the-counter vitamin B12 supplements. The median (range) hospital length of stay was 8.5 (2-56) days. Functional independence at last assessment (median [range] of 3 [1-34] months after discharge) was achieved in nine of the patients, with three requiring ongoing support for activities of daily living (mRS ≥3). Nitrous oxide abuse and its neurological complications are an important public health issue. Clinicians should be aware that some patients who use large amounts of nitrous oxide may self-supplement vitamin B12.

FIRST RESPONDERS’ CRISIS: HOW AI CAN HELP TO BRING MORE INTERNAL WORKFORCE FOR EMERGENCIES AND SEASONAL WORK FASTER AND AT LOWER COST

This article focuses on analyzing crisis situations in emergency response services and the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing their efficiency. The study aims to examine the challenges faced by emergency services and determine how artificial intelligence can help mobilize more internal resources for responding to emergencies and seasonal work. Methodology and methods: the study employed general scientific methods of cognition, such as analysis, synthesis, modeling, and forecasting. The research results indicate that natural and man-made disasters, such as floods, accidents, and terrorist acts, lead to loss of life, suffering, and infrastructure destruction. The main causes of challenges include a wide range of conditions such as weakness, unspecified injuries, changes in mental state, acute pain, general abdominal pain, and other less defined conditions requiring medical assistance. The increase in calls for psychological help points to an escalation of mental health issues among the population. During seasonal changes, there is a rise in the number of calls. In winter, due to harsh weather conditions, dangerous situations related to snowstorms and avalanches occur more frequently. Artificial intelligence can significantly improve the efficiency of emergency response services by allowing for more productive use of available resources. Utilizing specialized mobile applications, chatbots, volunteer training, and AI-powered drones can enhance coordination, resource allocation, and response speed to emergencies. Additionally, AI-based technologies such as predictive systems and route optimization can help overcome geographical challenges.The practical significance of the study lies in identifying ways to enhance the efficiency of emergency response services through modern technologies.

Applying dynamic systems theory and complexity theory methods in psychotherapy research: A systematic literature review

Objective Dynamic systems theory and complexity theory (DST/CT) is a framework explaining how complex systems change and adapt over time. In psychotherapy, DST/CT can be used to understand how a person's mental and emotional state changes during therapy incorporating higher levels of complexity. This study aimed to systematically review the variability of DST/CT methods applied in psychotherapy research. Methods A primary studies search was conducted in the EBSCO and Web of Knowledge databases, extracting information about the analyzed DST/CT phenomena, employed mathematical methods to investigate these phenomena, descriptions of specified dynamic models, psychotherapy phenomena, and other information regarding studies with empirical data (e.g., measurement granularity). Results After screening 38,216 abstracts and 4,194 full texts, N = 41 studies published from 1990 to 2021 were identified. The employed methods typically included measures of dynamic complexity or chaoticity. Computational and simulation studies most often employed first-order ordinary differential equations and typically focused on describing the time evolution of client-therapist dyadic influences. Eligible studies with empirical data were usually based on case studies and focused on data with high time intensity of within-session dynamics. Conclusion This review provides a descriptive synthesis of the current state of the proliferation of DST/CT methods in the psychotherapy research field.

The extrastriate symmetry response is robust to alcohol intoxication.

Visual symmetry activates a network of regions in the extrastriate cortex and generates an event-related potential (ERP) called the sustained posterior negativity (SPN). Previous work has found that the SPN is robust to experimental manipulations of task, spatial attention, and memory load. In the current study, we investigated whether the SPN is also robust to alcohol-induced changes in mental state. A pilot experiment (N = 13) found that alcohol unexpectedly increased SPN amplitude. We followed this unexpected result with two new experiments on separate groups, using an alcohol challenge paradigm. One group completed an Oddball discrimination task (N = 26). Another group completed a Regularity discrimination task (N = 26). In both groups, participants consumed a medium dose of alcohol (0.65 g/kg body weight) and a placebo drink, in separate sessions. Alcohol reduced SPN amplitude in the Oddball task (contrary to the pilot results) but had no effect on SPN amplitude in the Regularity task. In contrast, the N1 wave was consistently dampened by alcohol in all experiments. Exploratory analysis indicated that the inconsistent effect of alcohol on SPN amplitude may be partly explained by individual differences in alcohol use. Alcohol reduced the SPN in light drinkers and increased it in heavier drinkers. Despite remaining questions, the results highlight the automaticity of symmetry processing. Symmetry still produces a large SPN response, even when participants are intoxicated, and even when symmetry is not task relevant.

Adolescent suicide risk factors and the integration of social-emotional skills in school-based prevention programs.

Adolescents are considered one of the most vulnerable groups affected by suicide. Rapid changes in adolescents' physical and mental states, as well as in their lives, significantly and undeniably increase the risk of suicide. Psychological, social, family, individual, and environmental factors are important risk factors for suicidal behavior among teenagers and may contribute to suicide risk through various direct, indirect, or combined pathways. Social-emotional learning is considered a powerful intervention measure for addressing the crisis of adolescent suicide. When deliberately cultivated, fostered, and enhanced, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, interpersonal skills, and responsible decision-making, as the five core competencies of social-emotional learning, can be used to effectively target various risk factors for adolescent suicide and provide necessary mental and interpersonal support. Among numerous suicide intervention methods, school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence have shown great potential in preventing and addressing suicide risk factors in adolescents. The characteristics of school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence, including their appropriateness, necessity, cost-effectiveness, comprehensiveness, and effectiveness, make these interventions an important means of addressing the crisis of adolescent suicide. To further determine the potential of school-based interventions based on social-emotional competence and better address the issue of adolescent suicide, additional financial support should be provided, the combination of social-emotional learning and other suicide prevention programs within schools should be fully leveraged, and cooperation between schools and families, society, and other environments should be maximized. These efforts should be considered future research directions.

Situational Factors of Mental States Questionnaire

This article describes the process of creating diagnostic tools aimed at assessing the degree of influence of internal and external factors, as well as key parameters included in them, on the change in a person's mental state. The main stages of the questionnaire creation and modification are described in detail. The main psychometric indicators of the questionnaire are given: results of convergent and constructive validity, assessment of the internal consistency of the questionnaire and reliability. 520 respondents took part in the testing of the questionnaire, mainly students, whose average age was 23 years. At the first stage of the questionnaire, the sample was 105 people, at the second  137, at the third stage  278. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire ‟Situational factors of mental states” make it possible to use it to assess the degree of influence of internal and external factors, key parameters included in them, on the change in the current mental state of a person. The practical guilt lies in the fact that on the basis of the conducted phenomenological research, the author’s questionnaire “Situational factors of medical conditions” was developed, which can complement the objective picture of the study of a person’s biological conditions, his personality characteristics, as well as the level of various factors of the human condition on changes in condition. The results indicate that this questionnaire is a convenient psychodiagnostic tool, does not require long time to fill out, process and has the necessary psychometric characteristics.

Психическое состояние родителей при заболеваниях детей раннего возраста

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objectives. &lt;/strong&gt;Children&amp;rsquo;s illnesses negatively affect their mental and physical development, causing anxiety and psychological discomfort to parents, since increased demands are placed on parental care. In turn, the discomfort of the parents increases the risk for the normal development of the child. In the Yaroslavl region, about 7% of all younger aged children are hospitalized annually. Of these, 97% are initial, 8% are in serious condition. Researchers describe relatively stable psychological characteristics of parents of sick children. In order to psychologically optimize the treatment process, the previously undescribed psychological state of mothers of infants hospitalized with their children in the Yaroslavl Oblast Children&amp;rsquo;s Clinical Hospital health care institution was investigated.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;The sample consisted of 34 women hospitalized with their children under 3 years of age. Using the &amp;ldquo;Layout of the mental state&amp;rdquo; method by A.O. Prokhorov, three mental states were assessed: the actual state at the time of the research, the habitual state and the state at the onset of the child&amp;rsquo;s disease. The state of health of the child was also assessed by the respondents on a scale from 0 to 10. The data covering the period of 2019&amp;mdash;2023 hospitalizations of the children of early age were used.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;The actual mental states reported by respondents were significantly worse than their habitual ones, according to descriptor groups Psychic Processes and Feeling. The actual mental states were better than the ones at the onset of disease, according to descriptor groups Psychic Processes, Physiological Reactions, Feeling and Behavior. The evaluation of a child&amp;rsquo;s health is associated only with a change in the state of the group of Mental processes descriptors (Kendall&amp;rsquo;s Tau 0.30; z = 2.4; p-value = 0.02).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;Two opposite changes in the mental state of mothers during hospitalization of children were revealed: the worsening compared with the usual state, improvement in the mental state compared to the onset of the child&amp;rsquo;s disease. Changes in mental state in seven of the eight groups of descriptors are independent of the parents&amp;rsquo; assessment of the child&amp;rsquo;s health at the time of the examination. A small sample implies a special assessment of the sustainability of the results.&lt;/p&gt;

Your blush gives you away: detecting hidden mental states with remote photoplethysmography and thermal imaging.

Multimodal emotion recognition techniques are increasingly essential for assessing mental states. Image-based methods, however, tend to focus predominantly on overt visual cues and often overlook subtler mental state changes. Psychophysiological research has demonstrated that heart rate (HR) and skin temperature are effective in detecting autonomic nervous system (ANS) activities, thereby revealing these subtle changes. However, traditional HR tools are generally more costly and less portable, while skin temperature analysis usually necessitates extensive manual processing. Advances in remote photoplethysmography (r-PPG) and automatic thermal region of interest (ROI) detection algorithms have been developed to address these issues, yet their accuracy in practical applications remains limited. This study aims to bridge this gap by integrating r-PPG with thermal imaging to enhance prediction performance. Ninety participants completed a 20-min questionnaire to induce cognitive stress, followed by watching a film aimed at eliciting moral elevation. The results demonstrate that the combination of r-PPG and thermal imaging effectively detects emotional shifts. Using r-PPG alone, the prediction accuracy was 77% for cognitive stress and 61% for moral elevation, as determined by a support vector machine (SVM). Thermal imaging alone achieved 79% accuracy for cognitive stress and 78% for moral elevation, utilizing a random forest (RF) algorithm. An early fusion strategy of these modalities significantly improved accuracies, achieving 87% for cognitive stress and 83% for moral elevation using RF. Further analysis, which utilized statistical metrics and explainable machine learning methods including SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), highlighted key features and clarified the relationship between cardiac responses and facial temperature variations. Notably, it was observed that cardiovascular features derived from r-PPG models had a more pronounced influence in data fusion, despite thermal imaging's higher predictive accuracy in unimodal analysis.

Psychological freedom, rationality, and the naive theory of reasoning.

To make sense of the social world, people reason about others' mental states, including whether and in what ways others can form new mental states. We propose that people's judgments concerning the dynamics of mental state change invoke a "naive theory of reasoning." On this theory, people conceptualize reasoning as a rational, semi-autonomous process that individuals can leverage, but not override, to form new rational mental states. Across six experiments, we show that this account of people's naive theory of reasoning predicts judgments about others' ability to form rational and irrational beliefs, desires, and intentions, as well as others' ability to act rationally and irrationally. This account predicts when, and explains why, people judge others as psychologically constrained by coercion and other forms of situational pressure. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The influence of situational factors on changes in mental state, depending on the level of development of reflection (using the example of students’ educational activities)

When considering the determinants of mental state, the most relevant research appears to be the study of the “situation — mental state” relationship, since this relationship opens up opportunities for understanding the underlying mechanisms of determination and regulation of mental states in situations of life. In this context, the consideration of the category of situation as an element in the structure of mental phenomena remains poorly studied. At the same time, the success of student learning depends on a well-structured educational situation, as a structural unit of educational activity, which includes: diverse factors, mental states of students, their characterological characteristics, etc. Studying the role of the influence of situational factors on the mental states of students in the learning process, it is noted that in different educational situations, factors influencing the mental state are given indirect significance. Based on this, the purpose of this article was to consider the influence of situational factors on changes in state, depending on the level of development of reflection, using the example of students’ educational activities. The empirical study was conducted in two real learning situations (lecture and exam), where the lesson was interrupted and respondents were asked to answer Вестник СПбГУ. Психология. 2024. Т. 14. Вып. 3 559 methodological questions. 130 respondents took part in the study: 98 girls and 32 boys. All students are 1st and 2nd year psychologists whose average age was 21 years. Research methods included logical-theoretical analysis of scientific literature, a testing method and, at the stage of processing the results, methods of mathematical statistics. It was revealed that in a lecture situation states of low levels of mental activity are experienced; in an exam situation — highlevel states. It has been established that in a lecture situation, the following factors influence the change in the mental state of low-reflective and highly reflective respondents: “Social interaction”, “Action and behavior”. In an exam situation respondents with a high level of reflection are influenced by the “Bodily manifestations” factor.

Ментальная регуляция динамики психических состояний в профессиональной деятельности (на примере специалистов помогающих профессий)

The study of mental regulation of the dynamics of mental states in professional activity is significant for understanding the mechanisms and patterns of self-regulation of mental states in various work situations, the role of mental structures in dynamic changes in mental states experienced during the performance of professional tasks. Target. To characterize the condition of self-regulation of mental states by mental structures in professional activity, to identify patterns of dynamics of mental regulation. Methods. Content analysis, frequency, correlation, regression analyses, structural and factor analyzes of data. Sample. The study involved 53 female helping professionals, ages 23 to 45 years. Results. Typical mental states in professional activity (calmness, concentration, activity, fatigue) were identified. Changes in the correlation structure of mental regulation of mental states in the current and long-term time intervals (daily and weekly dynamics) were described: by the end of the working day, the connection of mental states with mental structures and characteristics of self-regulation rebuilt itself, due to changes in the content characteristics of states. In the current and long-term time intervals, the largest number of correlations occurred in the middle of the working week. It was revealed that experience as a structure of consciousness is leading in the mental regulation of mental states at the end of the working day and at the end of the working week. Regression and factor analyzes demonstrated that experience, coupled with self-regulation, semantic characteristics and reflection, have the greatest influence on mental states in professional activity, determining their dynamics. Conclusions. The influence of mental structures on the dynamics of mental states in professional activity at different time periods of the day and week was shown. The specificity of mental regulation has been established depending on the time of the subject’s activity. Temporal features of the functional structure “mental states - self-regulation - mental structures” were discovered. The leading factors of mental regulation of mental states were identified: experience, self-regulation, semantic structures, reflection.

Effects of liposomal bupivacaine in preoperative fascia iliac block on postoperative pain and delirium in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery: a study protocol for a randomised, parallel controlled prospective clinical study

IntroductionPostoperative delirium (POD) is the most common acute fluctuating mental state change after hip fractures in older adults. Postoperative pain is a Grade A risk factor for POD and is...

Delirium education for family caregivers of patients in the intensive care unit: A pilot study.

Delirium, an acute change in mental state, seen in hospitalized older adults is a growing public health concern with implications for both patients and caregivers; however, there is minimal research on educating caregivers about delirium. Utilizing family caregivers to assist with delirium management in acute care settings demonstrates improved health outcomes supporting the need for patient and family centered care. The primary aims of the study were to determine feasibility of implementing a delirium education video for caregivers of patients in an adult oncology intensive care unit and compare delirium knowledge to caregivers in a control group. A quasi-experimental design comprised of 31 family caregivers of adult patients in an oncology intensive care unit to determine feasibility of implementing a delirium education video. The results demonstrate feasibility of implementing a caregiver education video in-person and virtually. While total delirium knowledge scores were not statistically significant, knowledge gained within the delirium presentation subgroup was significant (p=.05). This study demonstrates feasibility of implementing a caregiver education video and findings support further research in this area. Collaborating with caregivers to develop virtual video education for delirium allows for a versatile approach to connect with caregivers to support their caregiving role.

Association between depressive mood and body image and menopausal symptoms and sexual function in perimenopausal women

BACKGROUND Perimenopausal is the period when women's ovarian function begins to decline before and after menopause. During this period, women experience a series of mental state changes, such as decreased hormone levels, decreased libido, and even female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in severe cases, which reduces their quality of life. Factors affecting the occurrence of FSD include physiological and non-physiological factors, among which physiological factors are uncontrollable. Therefore, it is particularly important to ascertain the related non-physiological factors that affect the occurrence of FSD for improving the quality of sexual life of perimenopausal women. AIM To investigate the mediating effect of depressive mood and body image on menopausal symptoms and sexual function in perimenopausal women. METHODS A total of 186 perimenopausal women were enrolled between January 2019 and January 2021 and divided into the FSD (134 cases) and control (52 cases) groups based on the presence and absence of FSD. Clinical data were compared between the two groups. FSD-related factors were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Body Image Scale (BIS), and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) scores were compared among women with different FSD scores. The correlation of the MRS score with the BIS and HAMD scores and the mediating effect of the BIS and HAMD scores on the MRS score and female sexual function index (FSFI) were analyzed. RESULTS The HAMD and BIS scores were higher in the FSD group than in the control group, and the difference in monthly income between the two groups was statistically significant (all P &lt; 0.05). Monthly income of &lt; 2000 yuan [odds ratio (OR) = 26.586, P = 0.000], BIS score (OR = 1.590, P = 0.000), and HAMD score (OR = 1.884, P = 0.000) were independent risk factors for FSD. MRS scores were positively correlated with BIS and HAMD scores (r = 0.358 and 0.244, P = 0.000 and 0.001, respectively) and negatively correlated with FSFI scores (r = -0.433, P = 0.000). Body image and depressive mood had partial mediating effects, accounting for 39.90% of the total effect. CONCLUSION Depression and body image play mediating roles between menopausal symptoms and sexual function in perimenopausal women.

Actinomyces meyeri-induced brain abscess in pregnancy: a case report

BackgroundBrain abscesses can occur when suppurative, bacterial or protozoan infections spread to the brain. Here, we report a rare case of Actinomyces meyeri-induced brain abscess in a pregnant woman.Case presentationWe present the case of a 38-years-old primipara admitted to the emergency department at our hospital with a 4-day history of fever and vomiting. The symptoms worsened rapidly during the 8 h prior to admission, and the patient experienced a sudden loss of consciousness 4 h before arrival to the unit. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal signals in the right parietal–temporal lobe, suggesting the possibility of abscess rupture into the ventricle and sulcus. Right lateral ventricle compression and midline structure deviation to the left were noted. A right temporal–occipital mass with midline shift was detected. Emergency procedures were promptly performed, including craniotomy, removal of the right temporal–occipital mass, decompressive craniectomy, implantation of an intracranial pressure monitoring device, and external ventricular drainage. Cerebrospinal fluid culture indicated infection with Actinomyces meyeri. After administration of antibiotics, including linezolid and meropenem injections, along with treatments to decrease intracranial pressure, the patient’s vital signs stabilized. However, the patient developed hydrocephalus, requiring placement of a hydrocephalus shunt several months later. Throughout this period, the patient remained in a coma vigil state, and labor was induced for the fetus.ConclusionsAlthough the patient did not present with any apparent predisposing causes for brain abscess, a scout view of CT revealed dental caries. In addition, the occurrence of the brain abscess may have been influenced by the hormonal changes during pregnancy, including increased secretion of estrogen and progesterone, as well as decreased immune function. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial in such cases. Therefore, it is recommended to seek early medical attention if symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and changes in mental state occur during pregnancy, as the prognosis for both the mother and infant is poor once the abscess ruptures.

Forests are chill: The interplay between thermal comfort and mental wellbeing

As global warming and urbanisation intensify unabated, a growing share of the human population is exposed to dangerous heat levels. Trees and forests can effectively mitigate such heat alongside numerous health co-benefits like improved mental wellbeing. Yet, which forest types are objectively and subjectively coolest to humans, and how thermal and mental wellbeing interact, remain understudied. We surveyed 223 participants in peri-urban forests with varying biodiversity levels in Austria, Belgium and Germany. Using microclimate sensors, questionnaires and saliva cortisol measures, we monitored intra-individual changes in thermal and mental states from non-forest baseline to forest conditions. Forests reduced daytime modified Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (mPET; an indicator for perceived temperature) by an average of 9.2 °C. High diversity forests were the coolest, likely due to their higher stand density. Forests also lowered thermal sensation votes, with only 1 % of participants feeling ‘warm’ or ‘hot’ compared to 34 % under baseline conditions. Despite the desire for a temperature increase among 47 % participants under cool forest conditions, approximately two-thirds still reported feeling very comfortable, in contrast to only one-third under baseline conditions. Even at a constant perceived temperature, participants were 2.7 times more likely to feel warmer under baseline conditions compared to forests. A forest-induced psychological effect may underlie these discrepancies, as supported by significant improvements in positive and negative affect (emotional state), state anxiety and perceived stress observed in forests. Additionally, thermal and mental wellbeing were significantly correlated, indicating that forest environments might foster a synergy in wellbeing benefits.