Common Consequence Research Articles

Standardized Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Extract Improves Short- and Long-Term Cognitive Performances in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Cognitive decline, a common consequence of aging, detrimentally affects independence, physical activity, and social interactions. This decline encompasses various cognitive functions, including processing speed, memory, language, and executive functioning. This trial aimed to investigate, with a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on 96 healthy older adults, the efficacy of once-daily 250 mg of a standardized grape (Vitis vinifera L.) juice extract (Cognigrape®) in improving short- and long-term cognitive functions. The results revealed significant improvements across multiple cognitive domains, notably immediate and delayed memory, visuospatial abilities, language, and attention, with improvements occurring within just 14 days, which continued to improve after 84 days of supplementation. The extract exhibited statistically significant enhancements in the Mini-Mental State Evaluation (MMSE), assessment of neuropsychological status (RBANS), "Esame Neuropsicologico Breve 2 (ENB-2), and Modified Bells Test (MBT) scores, with the latter test revealing a significant improvement in selective attention within just 90 min of the first dose. These positive results highlight the potential this natural grape extract has on improving cognitive function both acutely and chronically in a healthy aging population, which in turn supports a longer health span, at least cognitively.

Molecular consequences of SCA5 mutations in the spectrin-repeat domains of β-III-spectrin.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 5 (SCA5) mutations in the protein β-III-spectrin cluster to the N-terminal actin-binding domain (ABD) and the central spectrin-repeat domains (SRDs). We previously reported that a common molecular consequence of ABD-localized SCA5 mutations is increased actin binding. However, little is known about the molecular consequences of the SRD-localized mutations. It is known that the SRDs of β-spectrin proteins interact with α-spectrin to form an α/β-spectrin dimer. In addition, it is known that SRDs neighbouring the β-spectrin ABD enhance actin binding. Here, we tested the impact of the SRD-localized R480W and the E532_M544del mutations on the binding of β-III-spectrin to α-II-spectrin and actin. Using multiple experimental approaches, we show that both the R480W and E532_M544del mutants can bind α-II-spectrin. However, E532_M544del causes partial uncoupling of complementary SRDs in the α/β-spectrin dimer. Further, the R480W mutant forms large intracellular inclusions when co-expressed with α-II-spectrin in cells, supporting that R480W mutation grossly disrupts the α-II/β-III-spectrin physical complex. Moreover, actin-binding assays show that E532_M544del, but not R480W, increases β-III-spectrin actin binding. Altogether, these data support that SRD-localized mutations alter key interactions of β-III-spectrin with α-II-spectrin and actin.

The efficacy of the Novel Hybrid Passive Spring Damper Ankle Foot Orthosis regard to kinetic and kinematic parameters of patients with Multiple Sclerosis: An intervention study

ABSTRACT Drop foot is a common consequence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which may be improved somewhat by an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO). This study aimed to examine the immediate effect of using the recently developed Novel Hybrid Passive Spring Damper AFO (the novel HPSDAFO) on the kinetic and kinematic parameters of patients with MS (PwMS) in the sagittal plane. Twelve PwMS who suffered a unilateral drop foot participated in this study and fitted with the novel HPSDAFO. They walked with the novel HPSDAFO on the affected side and shoe on the affected side at a self-selected speed. Walking by the novel HPSDAFO, the symmetry of all of the evaluated sagittal kinetic and kinematic parameters improved noticeably. The range of ankle plantarflexion and knee flexion increased significantly at the stance phase. Power generation increased at all three joints. The peak of ankle dorsiflexion at early stances and the first peak of knee extension moments increased significantly but decreased at the hip joint. Changes in sagittal ROM, moment, and power generation in the plane and the improved symmetry revealed a more normal walking by using the novel HPSDAFO on the affected limb of PwMS.

Interpersonal Difficulties Arising from Child Sexual Abuse: Differences Between Intra-familial and Extra-familial Abuse Victims.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) often has serious implications for the victims. The scientific literature reflects a diversity of sequelae that may appear in the short and long term. Interpersonal difficulties have been shown to be one of the most common consequences. However, studies comparing these sequelae between victims of intra-familial (IF) and extra-familial (EF) CSA are scarce. The aim of this research was to analyze differences in dyadic satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and attachment patterns in adulthood between Spanish IF victims, EF victims, and non-victims of CSA. The Sexual Victimization Subscale of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, the Relationship Assessment Scale, the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale, and the Adult Attachment Questionnaire were administered to 140 adults (94 CSA victims and 46 non-victims) aged 18 to 54 years. CSA victims scored lower than the non-victims on the personal sexual satisfaction factor and attachment factors characterized by the need for approval, hostile resolution of conflicts, and emotional self-sufficiency. Statistically significant differences were also found between the victim groups in the factors characterized by the need for approval and communication of feelings and comfort with relationships showing the IF group to have more impairment in these areas than the EF group. In conclusion, CSA may have serious implications for the development of victims' interpersonal relationships. The context of sexual abuse and the relationship between victim and offender appears to play a role in the development of relational problems. These findings highlight the need to implement specific strategies in the psychological treatment of victims depending on their relationship with the offender and the environment in which the abuse occurred.

Asuhan Keperawatan Pada Nn. S dengan Post Operasi Hernioraphy : Hernia Inguinalis Lateralis Dextra di Ruang Mawar 2 RSUD dr. Soeselo Kabupaten Tegal

Inguinal hernia is a condition where an organ protrudes into a cavity through a thin or weak part of the wall. The small intestine is usually the organ that enters the cavity, causing the protrusion. In 2018, hernia ranked 8th in Indonesia with a total of 18,145 cases or around 1.05%. The number of hernia cases in Central Java is estimated to be over 500, or approximately 1.01% of cases. If an inguinal hernia is not treated promptly, it will continue to grow and exert significant pressure on the surrounding tissues. A common consequence of untreated hernia is that it will enlarge and interfere with the patient's daily activities. One of the complications of hernia is swelling around the lump. One of the treatments for hernia is surgery. The writer is expected to provide optimal nursing care for patient. S, who has experienced a right lateral inguinal hernia post- operatively following herniorraphy in Mawar 2 ward of dr. Soeselo Regional Hospital, Tegal Regency.

EP620 - Incidence of Perioperative hypothermia in elective surgeries at a district hospital in NHS - loop completion

Abstract Aim To investigate the incidence of peri-operative hypothermia (core temperature ≤ 36 ⁰C) in all elective surgical patients at a district hospital in NHS and compare the results to the previous study. To understand the contributing factors to hypothermia in the elective surgical patients. Methods Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) is defined as a core body temperature <36.0°C. It is a common consequence of anaesthesia, which increases morbidity and potentially increases mortality. National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guideline 65 which summarises best practice for the prevention and treatment of hypothermia in adults undergoing surgery. Prospective analysis of 100 electively listed surgical patients at NMGH. We prospectively studied all the electively listed general surgery, breast, gynaecology, urology, orthopaedics patients from 1 July 2023 to 1 September 2023. Exclusion criteria – All emergency cases. Pre-operative temperature, pre-induction temperature, intra-operative, post-procedure, temperature in recovery and temperature post recovery were recorded. Temperature measurement was via tympanic or temporal thermometers. All statistical calculations were performed on the StatsDirect3 software. Results Preoperative 36.55, Pre-induction 36.55, Intra-operative 36.5, Postoperative is 36.5, Recovery 36.5 Post recovery is 36.6, Theatre temperature 19.5 Conclusion Statistically significant correlation was observed between the intraoperative temperature and the pre-induction temperature as well as the theatre ambient temperature (p < 0.0001). A theatre temperature of 18 °C has a predicted intraoperative temperature of 34.4 °C and a temperature of 19 °C has a predicted temperature of 36.3 °C. Median pre-induction temperature at NMGH is 36.5 °C and the predicted intraop temp is 36 °C. If the pre-induction temperature raises to 37.2 °C the predicted intraop temperature is 36.6 °C.

Cognitive vulnerabilities and depressed mood in acquired brain injury

ABSTRACT Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), an important cause of long-term disability, is associated with increased rates of depression in addition to common cognitive and physical consequences. Past research has linked post-ABI depression to injury severity (e.g., extent of physical or cognitive impairment) and premorbid mood problems. In the general (non-ABI) population, depression is associated with cognitive vulnerabilities that have informed the development of psychological interventions. In this observational study in a heterogeneous sample of individuals with chronic stage ABI, we examine two cognitive vulnerabilities – dysfunctional attitudes (DAs) and autobiographical memory specificity – and explore whether these are linked to depression symptoms and ongoing cognitive difficulties as in the general population. Compared to control participants, individuals with an ABI demonstrated increased endorsement of DAs and reduced specificity of autobiographical memory recall. Within the ABI group, cognitive vulnerability–depression symptom correlations were detected for an explicit measure of DAs, but not for a more implicit DA measure or for autobiographical memory specificity. While individual differences in injury severity and other factors likely obscured subtle relationships between mood and cognitive vulnerabilities, evidence of these vulnerabilities may be relevant to changes in identity and psychological interventions that target low mood in ABI.

Neural response to monetary incentives in acquired adolescent depression after mild traumatic brain injury: Stage 2 Registered Report.

Depression is a common consequence of traumatic brain injury. Separately, spontaneous depression-arising without brain injury-has been linked to abnormal responses in motivational neural circuitry to the anticipation or receipt of rewards. It is unknown if post-injury and spontaneously occurring depression share similar phenotypic profiles. This issue is compounded by the fact that nearly all examinations of these psychiatric sequelae are post hoc: there are rarely any prospective assessments of mood and neural functioning before and after a brain injury. In this Stage 2 Registered Report, we used the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Consortium dataset to examine if a disruption in functional neural responses to rewards is present in patients with depression after a mild traumatic brain injury. Notably, this study provides an unparalleled opportunity to examine the trajectory of neuropsychiatric symptoms longitudinally within-subjects. This allowed us to isolate mild traumatic brain injury-specific variance independent from pre-existing functioning. Here, we focus on a case-control comparison between 43 youth who experienced a mild traumatic brain injury between MRI visits, and 43 well-matched controls. Contrary to pre-registered predictions (https://osf.io/h5uba/), there was no statistically credible increase in depression in mild traumatic brain injury cases relative to controls. Mild traumatic brain injury was associated with subtle changes in motivational neural circuit recruitment during the anticipation of incentives on the Monetary Incentive Delay paradigm. Specifically, changes in neural recruitment appeared to reflect a failure to deactivate 'task-negative' brain regions (ventromedial prefrontal cortex), alongside blunted recruitment of 'task-positive' regions (anterior cingulate, anterior insula and caudate), during the anticipation of reward and loss in adolescents following mild brain injuries. Critically, these changes in brain activity were not correlated with depressive symptoms at either visit or depression change scores before and after the brain injury. Increased time since injury was associated with a recovery of cognitive functioning-driven primarily by processing speed differences-but depression did not scale with time since injury. These cognitive changes were also uncorrelated with neural changes after mild traumatic brain injury. This report provides evidence that acquired depression may not be observed as commonly after a mild traumatic brain injury in late childhood and early adolescence, relative to findings in adult cases. Several reasons for these differing findings are considered, including sampling enrichment in retrospective cohort studies, under-reporting of depressive symptoms in parent-report data, and neuroprotective factors in childhood and adolescence.

Muscle synergies in upper limb stroke rehabilitation: a scoping review.

Upper limb impairment is a common consequence of stroke, significantly affecting the quality of life and independence of survivors. This scoping review assesses the emerging field of muscle synergy analysis in enhancing upper limb rehabilitation, focusing on the comparison of various methodologies and their outcomes. It aims to standardize these approaches to improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions and drive future research in the domain. Studies included in this scoping review focused on the analysis of muscle synergies during longitudinal rehabilitation of stroke survivors' upper limbs. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, until September 2023, and was guided by the PRISMA for scoping review framework. Fourteen studies involving a total of 247 stroke patients were reviewed, featuring varied patient populations and rehabilitative interventions. Protocols differed among studies, with some utilizing robotic assistance and others relying on traditional therapy methods. Muscle synergy extraction was predominantly conducted using Non-Negative Matrix Factorization from electromyography data, focusing on key upper limb muscles essential for shoulder, elbow, and wrist rehabilitation. A notable observation across the studies was the heterogeneity in findings, particularly in the changes observed in the number, weightings, and temporal coefficients of muscle synergies. The studies indicated varied and complex relationships between muscle synergy variations and clinical outcomes. This diversity underscored the complexity involved in interpreting muscle coordination in the stroke population. The variability in results was also influenced by differing methodologies in muscle synergy analysis, highlighting a need for more standardized approaches to improve future research comparability and consistency. The synthesis of evidence presented in this scoping review highlights the promising role of muscle synergy analysis as an indicator of motor control recovery in stroke rehabilitation. By offering a comprehensive overview of the current state of research and advocating for harmonized methodological practices in future longitudinal studies, this scoping review aspires to advance the field of upper limb rehabilitation, ensuring that post-stroke interventions are both scientifically grounded and optimally beneficial for patients.

481. STRONG SYMPTOMATIC IMPROVEMENT AT 1 YEAR AND BEYOND FOLLOWING REFLUXSTOP SURGERY FOR GASTRO-ESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE: A 40-PATIENT COHORTT

Abstract Background Despite well-established medical and surgical options for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), there remains a high unmet need for a treatment that improves symptoms without adverse effects. Symptoms of bloating, inability to belch or vomit, and dysphagia are among the more common side effects of standard anti-reflux surgery. RefluxStop is a novel device for the treatment of GERD that does not encircle the food passageway to avoid such side effects. The surgical technique is based on restoration of the normal anatomy of the gastroesophageal junction and maintaining the lower esophageal sphincter within the abdomen. Methods This study presents a case series of 40 patients who underwent RefluxStop surgery between July 2021 and November 2022 reaching at least 12 months of follow-up. A retrospective review of medical records was conducted. Baseline GERD Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) score was reported in addition to demographic and clinical characteristics. At follow-up, GERD-HRQL score, patient-reported GERD symptoms, and proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) use were reported. Peri-operative procedure-related and device-related adverse events (AEs) were recorded. Results Baseline patient characteristics are presented in Table 1. Mean follow-up was 14.5 (range 12-19) months. Mean GERD-HRQL score decreased dramatically from 19.5±3.8 at baseline to 1.1±2.2 at follow-up, reflecting a 91.9% improvement. At follow-up, reflux was reported as a symptom in only two patients (5%) (described as mild and occasional in one of them). None reported regurgitation or dysphagia. Only two patients (5%) reported bloating. The necessity for PPI therapy decreased from 97.5% (n=40) at baseline to 2.5% at follow-up. There were no intra-operative AEs or reoperations. Conclusion These data provide real-world evidence on the performance of RefluxStop in clinical practice. In this series of patients, the outcomes at 1 year and beyond indicate excellent effectiveness in reducing or eliminating GERD symptoms, as demonstrated by spontaneously reported symptoms and the validated, disease-specific, quality-of-life questionnaire. The discontinuation of PPI therapy is an additional indicator of effective symptomatic improvement. Importantly, this treatment did not induce dysphagia, a common consequence of established anti-reflux surgical techniques. RefluxStop is a promising option for patients with chronic GERD seeking definitive treatment while minimizing AEs.

Recovery of Visuospatial Neglect With Standard Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Visuospatial neglect is a common consequence of stroke and is characterized by impaired attention to contralesional space. Currently, the extent and time course of recovery from neglect are not clearly established. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the recovery trajectory of poststroke neglect with standard treatment. PsycInfo, Embase, and MEDLINE were searched for articles reporting recovery rates of neglect after stroke. Time since stroke was categorized into early (0-3 months), mid (3-6 months), and late (>6 months) recovery phases. Random-effects models for pooled prevalence were generated for each phase, and potential sources of heterogeneity were explored with metaregressions. Methodological quality of each study was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist, with low-quality studies excluded in sensitivity analyses. The search captured 4130 articles including duplicates, and 111 full-text reviews were undertaken. A total of 27 studies reporting data from 839 stroke survivors with neglect were included for review. Meta-analyses indicated a recovery rate of 42% in the early phase, which increased to 53% in the mid-recovery phase. Additional recovery in the late phase was minimal, with an estimated 56% recovery rate. Heterogeneity of studies was high (I2>75%) in all 3 phases of recovery. Estimates were robust to sensitivity analyses. Metaregressions showed significantly greater recovery in studies that included patients with left-hemisphere lesions (β=0.275, P<0.05, I2=84%). Most recovery from neglect occurs in the first 3 months, although additional gains can be expected up to 6 months poststroke. While a large proportion of patients recover from neglect, over 40% show persistent symptoms. Further research is needed on effective rehabilitation interventions, particularly focusing on patients most at risk of chronic visuospatial neglect. URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/; Unique identifier: CRD42023388763.

Pervasive mislocalization of pathogenic coding variants underlying human disorders.

Widespread sequencing has yielded thousands of missense variants predicted or confirmed as disease causing. This creates a new bottleneck: determining the functional impact of each variant-typically a painstaking, customized process undertaken one or a few genes and variants at a time. Here, we established a high-throughput imaging platform to assay the impact of coding variation on protein localization, evaluating 3,448 missense variants of over 1,000 genes and phenotypes. We discovered that mislocalization is a common consequence of coding variation, affecting about one-sixth of all pathogenic missense variants, all cellular compartments, and recessive and dominant disorders alike. Mislocalization is primarily driven by effects on protein stability and membrane insertion rather than disruptions of trafficking signals or specific interactions. Furthermore, mislocalization patterns help explain pleiotropy and disease severity and provide insights on variants of uncertain significance. Our publicly available resource extends our understanding of coding variation in human diseases.

Multidisciplinary Delphi Panel on Rehabilitation Approaches and Unmet Needs for Chronic Stroke Walking Impairment and the Role of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation.

Walking or gait impairment is a common consequence of stroke that persists into the chronic phase of recovery for many stroke survivors. The goals of this work were to obtain consensus from a multidisciplinary panel on current practice patterns and treatment options for walking impairment after stroke, to better understand the unmet needs for rehabilitation in the chronic phase of recovery and to explore opportunities to address them, and to discuss the potential role of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) in gait rehabilitation. A panel of eight experts specializing in neurology, physical therapy, and physiatry participated in this three-part, modified Delphi study. Survey 1 focused on gathering information to develop statements that were discussed and polled during Survey 2 (interactive session), after which revised and new statements were polled in Survey 3. Consensus was defined as ≥75% (6/8 of panelists) agreement or disagreement with a statement. Consensus agreement was ultimately reached on all 24 statements created and polled during this process. The panelists agreed that individuals with gait or walking impairment in the chronic phase of stroke recovery can achieve meaningful improvement in walking by utilizing various evidence-based interventions. Barriers to treatment included cost, access, participation in long-term treatment, and safety. Consensus was achieved for interventions that have the following features challenging, personalized, accessible, and engaging. Improvement of gait speed and quality, durability of effect, safety, affordability, and ability for home or community use also emerged as important treatment features. In addition to conventional treatments (e.g., physical therapy, including mobility-task training and walking/exercise therapy), RAS was recognized as a potentially valuable treatment modality. Discussion: This panel highlighted limitations of current treatments and opportunities to improve access, participation, and outcomes through a consideration of newer treatment strategies and patient/healthcare provider education and engagement.

Novel Biomarkers in Early Prediction of Diabetic Nephropathy: A Systematic Review

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic illness that is highly prevalent and intricate. Because of the high incidence of diabetic complications and disease mortality, the condition is one of the biggest medical and social issues in the world. Due to its rising prevalence, diabetes mellitus (DM), which raises blood glucose levels, is one of the world's health challenges and is anticipated to impact 495 million people. Diabetic kidney disease, or DKD, is a widespread ailment all over the world. It is the main cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and one of the most common consequences of diabetes mellitus (DM). Three essential elements play a role in its pathogenesis: the inflammatory, metabolic, and hemodynamic axis. Clinically, DKD is characterized by persistent albuminuria and a gradual reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). These changes, however, are not unique to DKD, emphasizing the necessity to find new biomarkers originating from the disease's pathophysiology to support diagnosis, monitoring, treatment response, and prognosis. Cystatin C, also known as CysC, is a member of the cysteine protein inhibitor family and is a low-molecular-weight protein with 122 amino acids. The CST3 housekeeping gene, which is found on chromosome 20 (20pl1. 2, encodes it. Protein turnover, pro-protein processing, bone remodeling, antigen presentation, and apoptosis are among the physiological processes in which cysteine cathepsins are involved.

A general framework for regression with mismatched data based on mixture modelling

Abstract The advent of the information age has revolutionized data collection and has led to a rapid expansion of available data sources. Methods of data integration are indispensable when a question of interest cannot be addressed using a single data source. Record linkage (RL) is at the forefront of such data integration efforts. Incentives for sharing linked data for secondary analysis have prompted the need for methodology accounting for possible errors at the RL stage. Mismatch error is a common consequence resulting from the use of nonunique or noisy identifiers at that stage. In this paper, we present a framework to enable valid postlinkage inference in the secondary analysis setting in which only the linked file is given. The proposed framework covers a variety of statistical models and can flexibly incorporate information about the underlying RL process. We propose a mixture model for linked records whose two components reflect distributions conditional on match status, i.e. correct or false match. Regarding inference, we develop a method based on composite likelihood and the expectation-maximization algorithm that is implemented in the R package pldamixture. Extensive simulations and case studies involving contemporary RL applications corroborate the effectiveness of our framework.

Infant neural sensitivity to affective touch is associated with maternal postpartum depression

Classic attachment theory emphasizes the sensitivity of the parent to perceive and appropriately respond to the infant’s cues. However, parent-child attachment is a dyadic interaction that is also dependent upon the sensitivity of the child to the early caregiving environment. Individual differences in infant sensitivity to parental cues is likely shaped by both the early caregiving environment as well as the infant’s neurobiology, such as perceptual sensitivity to social stimuli. Here, we investigated associations between maternal postpartum depression and infant neurological sensitivity to affective touch using brain signal entropy – a metric of the brain’s moment-to-moment variability related to signal processing. We recruited two independent samples of infants aged 0–5 months. In Sample 1 (n = 79), we found increased levels of maternal postpartum depression were associated with diminished perceptual sensitivity – i.e. lower entropy – to affective tactile stimulation specifically within the primary somatosensory cortex. In Sample 2 (n = 36), we replicated this finding and showed that this effect was not related to characteristics of the touch administered during the experiment. These results suggest that decreased affective touch early in life – a common consequence of postpartum depression – likely impacts the infant’s perceptual sensitivity to affective touch and ultimately the formation of experience-dependent neural networks that support the successful formation of attachment relationships.

Realizing computer vision rehabilitation assessment tests & evaluation applications for mobile devices

Upper extremity impairments are a common consequence of stroke, necessitating thorough rehabilitation monitoring and kinematic assessments to facilitate motor recovery. The Box and Block Test (BBT) and Sollerman Hand Function Test (SHFT) are two widely utilized and recommended tools for objectively measuring upper limb dexterity and evaluating fine motor skill rehabilitation in patients. However, these tests rely on specific equipment and therapist attendance, making the process time-consuming and clinic-dependent. This paper introduces a computer vision-based hand rehabilitation assessment suite specifically designed for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, which serves as a virtual alternative to traditional methods while also incorporating an interactive exergame. Our application faithfully integrates the original tests’ guidelines and procedures into an engaging computer vision experience, utilizing advanced technologies like MediaPipe Hands for precise hand and finger tracking. This innovative solution obviates the need for additional computer peripherals such as smart gloves or VR headsets, as well as physical equipment like wooden boxes and blocks, relying solely on the built-in camera of everyday mobile devices. In addition, we address several technical challenges encountered in our approach and outline future directions for score normalization and feature expansion, ensuring the continued improvement and efficacy of our hand rehabilitation assessment suite.

Infant neural sensitivity to affective touch is associated with maternal postpartum depression.

Classic attachment theory emphasizes the sensitivity of the parent to perceive and appropriately respond to the infant's cues. However, parent-child attachment is a dyadic interaction that is also dependent upon the sensitivity of the child to the early caregiving environment. Individual differences in infant sensitivity to parental cues is likely shaped by both the early caregiving environment as well as the infant's neurobiology, such as perceptual sensitivity to social stimuli. Here, we investigated associations between maternal postpartum depression and infant neurological sensitivity to affective touch using brain signal entropy - a metric of the brain's moment-to-moment variability related to signal processing. We recruited two independent samples of infants aged 0-5 months. In Sample 1 (n=79), we found increased levels of maternal postpartum depression were associated with diminished perceptual sensitivity - i.e. lower entropy - to affective tactile stimulation specifically within the primary somatosensory cortex. In Sample 2 (n=36), we replicated this finding and showed that this effect was not related to characteristics of the touch administered during the experiment. These results suggest that decreased affective touch early in life - a common consequence of postpartum depression - likely impacts the infant's perceptual sensitivity to affective touch and ultimately the formation of experience-dependent neural networks that support the successful formation of attachment relationships.

Post-COVID cognitive impairment, level of depression and anxiety in university students

Recently, a significant amount of research has focused on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. One of the increasingly common long-term consequences of COVID-19 is its effect on cognitive function, even in patients with an initially mild course of the acute illness. The article presents the results of a study of cognitive impairment and anxiety and depression levels among students of a higher medical educational institution. The study consisted of a continuous screening survey of students who had and had not experienced COVID-19 using an original questionnaire, as well as psychometric scales: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Based on the screening results, two groups were formed (those who had COVID-19 and those who did not), and a comparative analysis was carried out. It was found that a third (32.4%) of young people who had COVID-19 developed cognitive impairment. In students who were not ill, cognitive impairment was detected half as often – 16.8%. It was revealed that regardless of the fact of having suffered an infectious disease, a quarter of students experienced increased anxiety and decreased mood. Affective experiences, in turn, negatively affected cognitive functioning and caused young people to be more attentive to their health, including mental health, which was accompanied by a large number of positive responses when using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screening questionnaires.

Pre-Emptive Acetaminophen for Postoperative Pain (PAPP): An Updated Meta-Analysis

PurposePostoperative pain is a common consequence of surgery. Pre-emptive analgesia involves the initiation of analgesics prior to surgical incision. This has been proposed as a simple method to help reduce postoperative pain, which may be more effective in higher-risk populations such as cervical spine surgery. A previous meta-analysis has demonstrated that pre-emptive acetaminophen may be effective in reducing postoperative pain although the certainty of evidence was limited. This present paper is an updated meta-analysis comparing pre-emptive acetaminophen versus postincision acetaminophen in adult patients undergoing surgery. DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis with the inclusion of an unpublished randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. MethodsAn updated meta-analysis was conducted which searched electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials with the same interventions. FindingsWe included 845 participants and 12 studies in the updated meta-analysis. The meta-analysis (including our trial) found reduced 24-hour morphine consumption in the pre-emptive group (mean difference −2.42 mg; 95% confidence interval −4.26 to −0.59 mg), as well as reduced postoperative vomiting (risk ratio 0.56; 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.88). There was no difference between pre-emptive acetaminophen and control groups for time to analgesic request, pain scores at 6 and 24 hours or pruritis. For all outcomes assessed, there was very low certainty of evidence. ConclusionsThis meta-analysis found pre-emptive acetaminophen reduced 24-hour opioid consumption and postoperative vomiting.