Mood Scores Research Articles

Association of lifestyle and disease characteristics with self-rated wellness/health score in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectiveTo study the relationship of self-rated wellness/health and lifestyle in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.MethodsSelf-rated wellness/health, demographics, smoking, mood, sleep, physical activity, diet, symptoms/signs, body mass index and laboratory findings in 142 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were collected in the current cross-sectional study. Multivariable generalized additive model (GAM) was employed to study the association of self-rated wellness/health score and lifestyle factors.ResultsFemale/male ratio was 116/26 and the mean (SD) age of sample was 52 (13) years. Mean (SD) self-rated wellness/health score out of 10 was 7.2 (1.63). Mean (SD) number of tender joints and swollen joints were 4.42 (4.55) and 4.00 (4.26), respectively. The mean sleep score was 29.5 out of 70. Patients went to bed more than one hour earlier during the weekdays compared to weekends (22:45 vs. 23:52 PM, respectively, p < 0.0001). They also woke up more than one hour earlier during the weekdays compared to the weekends (6:08 vs. 7:20 AM, respectively, p < 0.0001). Their nap duration during weekdays was about half an hour shorter than the nap duration on weekends (19.75 vs. 48.02 minutes, respectively, p < 0.0001). The mean mood and diet scores were 18.5/35 and 22.5/42, respectively. By backward elimination in multivariable regression model (GAM), disease duration, mood, sleep quality, weekdays sleep characteristics (sleep duration, time to go to bed, wake-up time, time to fall asleep and nap duration), and sleep duration on weekends remained in the final model (R2 = 0.225, p = 0.01). Sleep quality, nap duration on weekdays, night sleep duration on weekends and mood status were the significant variables associated with self-rated wellness/health score.ConclusionIn patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the low self-rated wellness/health score was associated with the low sleep quality, long sleep duration on weekends, and long nap duration on weekdays.

Reliability and validity of the novel Italian version of the 14-item Resilience Scale (RS-14) in adults

BackgroundThe aims of this explore the psychometric properties of the novel Italian version of the 14-item Resilience Scale (RS-14) and to assess the relationship between RS-14, mood and quality of life.MethodThe original English version of the RS-14 was translated into Italian, and the Italian version was confirmed with back-translation. Three-hundred healthy volunteers (M = 122) aged > 18 years, completed the RS-14 as well as different scales to measure depression, anxiety and quality of life. Statistical analyses were used to measure the reliability, validity and key factors of RS-14. We measured the differences in socio-demographic subgroups, the relationship between mood and RS-14 score and the impact of RS-14 on mental health.ResultsThe RS-14 showed good acceptability, reliability and validity. Factor analysis indicated a two-factor structure: ‘Self-confidence’ and ‘Self-control’, with the former having a more significant impact on mental health. The RS-14 score was not significantly different for sex, age and education, but there was significant difference for marital status. Lower resilience correlated with higher levels of anxiety and depression and with lower quality of life.ConclusionWe propose the novel Italian version of the RS-14 which has good reliability and validity. Our results stress the influence of resilience on mental health.

Effect of Hierarchical Nursing Management in Patients with Hypertension Complicated with Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Risk Factors.

Hierarchical management is an essential component of nurse post management and an unavoidable tendency in nursing education. According to their existing condition, various hospitals around the country have actively tested the hierarchical usage and management model of clinical nurses, with some success. The application impact of hierarchical nursing care in patients with hypertension complicated by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors is the focus of this research. In a hospital, 300 patients with hypertension complicated by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors were chosen. All patients were split into two groups using the coin-throwing random method: the observation group received hierarchical nurse management and the control group received regular nursing management, with 150 cases in each group. The two groups' blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose, poor habits, rehospitalization rate, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular problems were also examined. At the same time, the patients' poor mood and quality of life were assessed before and after the intervention. In the control group followed up for 1 year, the blood pressure compliance rate was 44.88%, the blood lipid compliance rate was 28.65%, the blood glucose compliance rate was 45.00%, the smokers with bad lifestyle habits were 26.57%, the overweight and obese were 23.5%, the high sodium was 31.67%, the rehospitalization rate was 15.48%, and the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications was 43.00%. The observation group's blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar compliance rates rose substantially (P = 0.05) as compared to the control group. The occurrence of poor luck living habits, the rate of rehospitalization, and the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Before nursing intervention, there was no significant difference in the bad mood scores SAS, SDS, and quality of life between the two groups of patients (P > 0.05); after nursing intervention, compared with the control group, the observation group's bad mood scores were significantly reduced, physical factors, psychological factors, and total scores all increased significantly, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Intranasal oxytocin administration improves mood in new mothers with moderate low mood but not in mothers with elevated symptoms of postnatal depression: A randomised controlled trial

Background: Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide hormone that has anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, and positive effects on social affiliation and behaviour, particularly in parenting and attachment relationships. In women with postnatal depression (PND), each of these are reduced. This study investigated if OT administration reduces low mood in new mothers with PND and across the low mood spectrum. Design: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised controlled-trial, within-subjects, cross-over design was conducted. Participants: Mothers (N = 58) between 3 and 9 months postpartum. Participants were screened for traits of PND on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and assigned into 2 groups: probable PND cases (N = 26, scoring ≥9) and controls (N = 32, scoring ≤9). Method: Participants rated their current mood on the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) at Baseline (before nasal administration), Condition 1 (after first OT/Placebo administration) and Condition 2 (after second OT/Placebo administration). Results: OT administration did not affect mood in women with PND scores above the cut-off point but significantly reduced negative mood in those scoring below the cut-off point. To explore if a subgroup was driving this, we compared participants with mild, moderate and severe scores on the EPDS. OT administration significantly reduced negative mood in women with moderate low mood scores on the EPDS. Limitations: PND was assessed by the EPDS, rather than a clinical diagnosis. Conclusion: These results illustrate individual differences in response to OT administration and suggest that OT administration may offer treatment benefit to new mothers who report moderate sub-clinical levels of depression.

Perceiving Positive Facial Expression Can Relieve Depressive Moods: The Effect of Emotional Contagion on Mood in People With Subthreshold Depression.

Emotional contagion is a phenomenon by which an individual’s emotions directly trigger similar emotions in others. We explored the possibility that perceiving others’ emotional facial expressions affect mood in people with subthreshold depression (sD). Around 49 participants were divided into the following four groups: participants with no depression (ND) presented with happy faces; ND participants presented with sad faces; sD participants presented with happy faces; and sD participants presented with sad faces. Participants were asked to answer an inventory about their emotional states before and after viewing the emotional faces to investigate the influence of emotional contagion on their mood. Regardless of depressive tendency, the groups presented with happy faces exhibited a slight increase in the happy mood score and a decrease in the sad mood score. The groups presented with sad faces exhibited an increased sad mood score and a decreased happy mood score. These results demonstrate that emotional contagion affects the mood in people with sD, as well as in individuals with ND. These results indicate that emotional contagion could relieve depressive moods in people with sD. It demonstrates the importance of the emotional facial expressions of those around people with sD such as family and friends from the viewpoint of emotional contagion.

The course of bipolar disorder in pregnant versus non-pregnant women

Background and rationaleAlthough it has been suggested that pregnancy may influence the course of bipolar disorder (BD), studies show contradictory results. Until now, no studies included a finegrained validated method to report mood symptoms on a daily basis, such as the lifechart method (LCM). The aim of the present study is to investigate the course of BD during pregnancy by comparing LCM scores of pregnant and non-pregnant women.MethodsStudy design: Comparison of LCM scores of two prospective observational BD cohort studies, a cohort of pregnant women (n = 34) and a cohort of non-pregnant women of childbearing age (n = 52). Main study parameters are: (1) proportions of symptomatic and non-symptomatic days; (2) symptom severity, frequency, and duration of episodes; (3) state sequences, longitudinal variation of symptom severity scores.ResultsNo differences in clinical course variables (symptomatic days, average severity scores, frequency, and duration of episodes in BD were found between pregnant and non-pregnant women. With a combination of State Sequence Analysis (SSA) and cluster analysis on the sequences of daily mood scores three comparable clusters were found in both samples: euthymic, moderately ill and severely ill. The distribution differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women were significant, with a majority of the pregnant women (68%) belonging to the moderately ill cluster and a majority of the non-pregnant women (46%) to the euthymic cluster. In pregnant women the average daily variation in mood symptoms as assessed with Shannon’s entropy was less than in non-pregnant women (respectively 0.43 versus 0.56).ConclusionsAlthough the use of daily mood scores revealed no difference in overall course of BD in pregnant versus non-pregnant women, more pregnant than non-pregnant women belonged to the moderately ill cluster, and during pregnancy the variation in mood state was less than in non-pregnant women. Further research is necessary to clarify these findings.

Adherence to treatment in Parkinson's disease: A multicenter exploratory study with patients from six Latin American countries

BackgroundAdherence to treatment in Parkinson's disease (PD) is compromised due to the need for multiple therapies, comorbidities related to aging, and the complexity of therapeutic schemes. In the present study, we aimed to explore adherence to treatment in groups of PD patients from six Latin-American (LA) countries and identify its associated demographic and clinical parameters. MethodsA multicenter, cross-sectional, exploratory study was conducted from September 2016 to March 2017. Treatment adherence was assessed using the simplified medication adherence questionnaire (SMAQ), applied to patients and caregivers. Sociodemographic and clinical variables (MDS-UPDRS Part III-IV, MMSE, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)) were recorded. ResultsEight hundred patients from six LA countries were evaluated. Nonadherence was reported in 58.25% of the population, according to patients. The most frequent issues were forgetfulness and correct timing of doses. A high level of agreement in adherence prevalence and most SMAQ items were observed between patients and their caregivers. The nonadherent population had a significantly higher proportion of unemployment, free access to medication, troublesome dyskinesias and off-periods, lesser years of education, and worse motor, cognitive, and mood scores. In multiple logistic and linear regression analyses, MDS-UPDRS Part III, BDI-II, gender, free access to medication, treatment with dopamine agonists alone, years of education, excessive concerns about adverse effects, and beliefs about being well-treated remained significant contributors to adherence measures. ConclusionEducational strategies, greater involvement of PD patients in decision-making, and consideration of their beliefs and values might be of great need to improve medication adherence in this PD population.

Psychological Adaptive Mechanism Maturity, Age, and Depression Symptoms in Advanced-Stage Cancer Patients.

Background: Previously, we reported that the maturity of Psychological Adaptive Mechanism (PAM; alternatively, ego defense mechanism) endorsement, but not depression symptom severity, predicted 5-year survival rates in adult cancer patients and that study controlled for age as a significant variable. In this investigation, we hypothesized that greater PAM maturity would correlate significantly with age and with fewer depression symptoms in a larger sample.Methods: In this cross-section study, adult cancer outpatients (N=293) completed the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and provided additional clinical data. Spearman’s correlation and multiple regression modeling provided statistical tests of the study hypotheses.Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, DSQ PAM maturity endorsement did not correlate significantly with increasing age. Greater PAM maturity ratio on the DSQ (p<0.0001) and current antidepressant use (p<0.05), however, both provided inverse associations with total BDI symptom frequency (p<0.01). Age was inversely associated with BDI mood (p<0.0001) and somatic scores (p<0.04). Items that worsened BDI symptom frequency included self-reported mood-altering anti-cancer medications and any psychiatric history. Cancer stage, time since diagnosis, and chemotherapy treatment did not correlate with DSQ or BDI scores. Multiple regression analysis found that the correlated items accounted for 17.2% of the variance in mood symptoms and 4.9% in somatic symptoms. Specifically, adaptive maturity and age associated with fewer depression symptoms, while cancer medications affecting mood, and a previous psychiatric history each predicted higher frequency of depression scores.Conclusion: The results suggest that PAM maturity likely predicts fewer depression symptoms while younger age associates with more depression symptoms in this clinical sample. Centrally, acting cancer medications, such as glucocorticoids, and any history of psychiatric disorder correlated with increased depression symptom frequencies. In this cross-section study, antidepressant medications indicated higher frequencies of depressive symptoms, likely reflecting their use in persons previously diagnosed with depression. Further research should target factors that improve PAM maturity as a potential treatment target, especially in younger age groups.

Circulating microRNAs and Molecular Oxidative Stress in Older Adults with Neuroprogression Disorders.

Background circulating microRNAs are potential blood biomarkers differentially expressed in many diseases including neuro depression disorders. It controls the expression of human genes and associated cellular and physiological processes in normal and diseased cells. We aimed to evaluate the potential role of circulating miRNAs and their association with both stress hormones and cellular oxidative stress in neuro depression disorders occurred among older adults. Methods a total of 70 healthy subjects were included in this study. Based upon the profile of mood states (POMS-32 score), the participants classified into two groups; healthy subjects (n =30) and depression (n =40). The expression of microRNAs; miR-124, miR-34a-5p, miR-135, and miR-451-a and their correlation with cellular oxidative stress parameters; cellular NO, genes of SOD2, CAT and iNOS, and hormones; cortisol and serotonin were estimated by a quantitative real-time RT-PCR, high-performance liquid chromatography, and ELISA Immunoassay techniques, respectively. Results depression was reported in 57.14% of the participants. The results showed a significant increase (p =0.01) in the total mood scores, and relative depression domains in older adults with depression compared to healthy controls. The relative expression levels of miR-124, miR-34a-5p significantly increased and the expression levels of miR-135, and miR-451-a significantly decreased in older adults with depression compared to healthy controls. In addition, the levels of cortisol significantly increased and serotonin (5HT) significantly reduced in all participants with depression. Cellular oxidative stress analysis for depressed subjects showed that serum NO levels and the expression of iNO gene significantly increased conversely with a decline in the molecular expression antioxidative genes; SOD2, CAT, respectively. The results showed that cellular oxidative stress parameters correlated positively with depression scores, cortisol, and negatively with cellular serotonin levels. In depressed subjects, the relative expression of microRNAs correlated positively with depression score, NO, iNOS, cortisol, and negatively associated with SOD2, CAT, and serotonin. Conclusion The combination of cellular oxidative stress and hormonal levels strongly supports a role for circulating miRNAs; miR-124, miR-34a-5p, miR-135, and miR-451-a in the regulation of depression and mood disorders among older adults. The expressed microRNAs with their related association to cellular oxidative stress and adrenal hormones are a step towards understanding the role of these small RNA molecules in the progression of depression among older adults. Thus, cellular miRNAs might have a prognostic role in the diagnosis and as a target for treatment strategies in depressed subjects.

Prefrontal Physiomarkers of Anxiety and Depression in Parkinson's Disease.

Objective: Anxiety and depression are prominent non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), but their pathophysiology remains unclear. We sought to understand their neurophysiological correlates from chronic invasive recordings of the prefrontal cortex (PFC).Methods: We studied four patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for their motor signs, who had comorbid mild to moderate anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. In addition to their basal ganglia leads, we placed a permanent prefrontal subdural 4-contact lead. These electrodes were attached to an investigational pulse generator with the capability to sense and store field potential signals, as well as deliver therapeutic neurostimulation. At regular intervals over 3–5 months, participants paired brief invasive neural recordings with self-ratings of symptoms related to depression and anxiety.Results: Mean age was 61 ± 7 years, mean disease duration was 11 ± 8 years and a mean Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, with part III (UPDRS-III) off medication score of 37 ± 13. Mean Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score was 14 ± 5 and Beck Anxiety Index was 16.5 ± 5. Prefrontal cortex spectral power in the beta band correlated with patient self-ratings of symptoms of depression and anxiety, with r-values between 0.31 and 0.48. Mood scores showed negative correlation with beta spectral power in lateral locations, and positive correlation with beta spectral power in a mesial recording location, consistent with the dichotomous organization of reward networks in PFC.Interpretation: These findings suggest a physiological basis for anxiety and depression in PD, which may be useful in the development of neurostimulation paradigms for these non-motor disease features.

O048 The CF elephant in the adolescent room: a cross sectional study of sleep and mood in adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Abstract Background Mental health issues are of increasing burden within the adolescent CF population, with known impacts from sleep disturbance. There are limited studies examining mediators of this relationship. We aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and mood in adolescents with CF alongside a range potential mediating factors including socioeconomic and family influences in adolescents. Study Design Adolescents with CF aged 10–18 and their parents at a Victorian tertiary paediatric CF centre were eligible. Adolescents-parent pairs cross sectionally completed age appropriate online questionnaires assessing sleep (Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale, Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children), mood (Global Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Beck’s Depression Inventory, Brigid Jordan CF screen), health-related quality of life (CF Questionnaire-Revised), family dynamics (Family Assessment Device, Family Management Measure), CF respiratory symptoms (CF Respiratory Symptom Score), and treatment adherence. Socioeconomic status and impacts from pandemic lockdowns were also surveyed. Progress to date 45 CF adolescents-parent pairs have been recruited. Questionnaires have been distributed and awaiting return of results for analysis. Intended outcome and impact We anticipate demonstrating the known association between impaired sleep quality and elevated mood scores. We will also make commentary on associations with a range of social factors (family dynamics, socioeconomic status) as well as parental mental health. Discussion will also include impacts on treatment adherence, HRQOL and respiratory symptom scores. Results from this pilot will inform the upcoming AREST CF prospective longitudinal study where the bidirectional relationships between factors studied can be further explored.

Naturalistic smartphone keyboard typing reflects processing speed and executive function.

ObjectiveThe increase in smartphone usage has enabled the possibility of more accessible ways to conduct neuropsychological evaluations. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using smartphone typing dynamics with mood scores to supplement cognitive assessment through trail making tests.MethodsUsing a custom‐built keyboard, naturalistic keypress dynamics were unobtrusively recorded in individuals with bipolar disorder (n = 11) and nonbipolar controls (n = 8) on an Android smartphone. Keypresses were matched to digital trail making tests part B (dTMT‐B) administered daily in two periods and weekly mood assessments. Following comparison of dTMT‐Bs to the pencil‐and‐paper equivalent, longitudinal mixed‐effects models were used to analyze daily dTMT‐B performance as a function of typing and mood.ResultsComparison of the first dTMT‐B to paper TMT‐B showed adequate reliability (intraclass correlations = 0.74). In our model, we observed that participants who typed slower took longer to complete dTMT‐B (b = 0.189, p < .001). This trend was also seen in individual fluctuations in typing speed and dTMT‐B performance (b = 0.032, p = .004). Moreover, participants who were more depressed completed the dTMT‐B slower than less depressed participants (b = 0.189, p < .001). A practice effect was observed for the dTMT‐Bs.ConclusionTyping speed in combination with depression scores has the potential to infer aspects of cognition (visual attention, processing speed, and task switching) in people's natural environment to complement formal in‐person neuropsychological assessments that commonly include the trail making test.

The effects of mood and cognition on daily functioning and quality of life in older people living with HIV and people with Parkinson’s disease.

In light of the increased longevity of people living with HIV infection (PLWH) undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART), the present study aimed to determine the effects of mood disturbances alongside cognitive and motor symptoms on activities of daily living (ADLs) and quality of life (QOL) in older PLWH in comparison to an aging control sample without notable medical history (CTL) and individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Forty-one PLWH, 41 individuals with PD, and 37 CTL, aged 45-79 years, underwent neuropsychological, psychological, and neurological assessment including depressive and anxiety symptoms, physical (ADL-p) and instrumental (ADL-i) daily activities, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor ADLs (ADL-UPDRS-II), QOL, and cognitive and motor functions. Hierarchical regression analyses assessed the relative contribution of predictors including demographics, disease-related factors, comorbid conditions, and mood-related factors for ADL and QOL scales. PLWH and PD participants reported more depressive symptoms and higher anxiety and worse QOL and ADL-i than CTL. The PD group had greater ADL-p and motor-related ADL-UPDRS-II difficulties than PLWH and CTL groups. In PLWH, medical comorbidities and alcohol use disorder (AUD)/substance use disorder (SUD) histories significantly contributed to poor physical and motor ADLs. Mood scores, particularly depressive symptoms, were independent predictors of poor QOL and most ADLs in both clinical groups, above the contribution of cognitive compromise. Mood symptoms contribute significantly to poor ADLs and QOL in people aging with chronic diseases such as long-term HIV infection and PD. Comprehensive assessment and treatment of mood symptoms are recommended for ensuring optimal functional independence and life quality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

P-150: Quality of life, psychological distress, and prognostic awareness in patients with Multiple Myeloma

<h3>Background</h3> Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematologic malignancy requiring long-term, continuous therapy. Despite its chronic and unrelenting course, studies examining quality of life (QOL), psychological distress, and prognostic awareness by line of therapy are lacking. <h3>Methods</h3> We conducted a cross-sectional, multi-site study of patients undergoing treatment for MM (excluding maintenance therapy) between 6/2020-1/2021. To capture the full spectrum of treatment, we conducted purposeful sampling and recruited patients to 3 cohorts based on lines of therapy: 1) newly diagnosed receiving first-line therapy; 2) 2-3 lines; and 3) ≥ 4 lines. Patients completed validated questionnaires to assess their QOL, symptom burden, fatigue, psychological distress, and perceptions of prognosis. We used multivariate linear regression models to examine the association between lines of therapy, QOL, psychological distress, with patient's perception of their prognosis. <h3>Results</h3> We enrolled 180 patients with MM (newly diagnosed (n=60), 2-3 lines (n=60), and ≥4 lines of therapy (n=60)). QOL, symptom burden, mood, and fatigue scores did not differ by lines of therapy. The rate of clinically significant depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms were 23.9% (43/180), 23.9% (43/180), and 24.4% (44/180), respectively. Overall, 84% (147/175) of patients reported that it is "extremely" or "very" important to know about their prognosis, and the majority (66.1%, 117/177) stated that they had received adequate information regarding their prognosis. Most patients, 84.7% (149/176) reported that their oncologist told them their cancer was incurable but only 30.6% (53/173) acknowledged that they were terminally ill and only 42.0% (73/174) reported that they thought their cancer was incurable. Patients receiving 2-3 lines of therapy were more likely to acknowledge their terminal illness (36.7% vs. 19.6%, p=0.045) and that their MM was incurable (90.0% vs. 75.9%, p=0.047) compared to those receiving first-line therapy. QOL and psychological distress were not associated with patient's perception that their MM was incurable. However, patients who acknowledged their terminal illness reported higher depression (B=1.52, P=0.009), anxiety (B=1.52, P=0.0037), symptom burden (B=7.42, P=0.007), and lower QOL (B=-14.78, p=0.001). <h3>Conclusions</h3> MM patients undergoing treatment experience impaired QOL and elevated psychological distress across the disease continuum, irrespective of their line of therapy. Although the majority reported that their oncologist has told them that their cancer is incurable, a substantial proportion still have significant misperceptions of their prognosis. Interventions are needed to improve patients' QOL, reduce their psychological distress, and enhance patients' perceptions of their prognosis to facilitate informed decision-making.

Cognitive remediation for women during the menopausal transition: a pilot study

The menopausal transition is associated with physical and emotional symptoms as well as subjective perceptions of cognitive difficulty that is generally not borne out on objective cognitive measures. This discrepancy suggests that a psychological rather than biological mechanism likely mediates the cognitive concerns of women in menopause. The current study assessed the feasibility of a cognitive remediation intervention (consisting of psychoeducation, cognitive compensatory strategies, and lifestyle modification) with the goal of reducing subjective perceptions of cognitive difficulty during the menopause. Participants (N=27, M age=53.74, SD=4.14) completed a five-week group-based intervention (with a one-month post-group booster) consisting of 2-hour weekly sessions. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention measures capturing subjective cognitive ability, mood, anxiety, stress, personality, and a comprehensive battery of objective cognitive tests. The primary variable of interest was self-reported cognitive confidence measured by the Memory and Cognitive Confidence Scale (MACCS). All but one MACCS subscale decreased over the course of treatment (with lower scores associated with higher confidence) and effect sizes ranged from small to large (d=-.39 to -.91) with gains maintained at one-month follow-up. Interestingly, no change in objective cognitive test performance was observed, indicating increases in subjective cognitive confidence in the absence of objective cognitive improvement. There was also no change in mood, anxiety, or stress scores. Two-level HLM analyses revealed that those with higher baseline neuroticism, as measured by the NEO Personality Inventory, had smaller decreases in post-group MACCS High Standards subscale relative to those with lower baseline neuroticism (p=.027, d=-.45). Further, those with higher baseline depression scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) had a smaller decrease in post-intervention MACCS Total Score relative to those with lower ratings of depression. To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind in targeting perceptions of cognitive impairment and associated functional difficulties during menopause. This intervention holds the promise of improving quality of life for women in menopause that might also translate to reduced healthcare burden, as many women worry that perceived cognitive changes may signal the onset of dementia rather than reflect normal hormonal changes.

Endu combined with concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy for stage IIB-IVA cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUNDIn recent years, the incidence of cervical cancer has increased with increasing life pressures and changes in women's social roles, posing a serious threat to women's physical and mental health.AIMTo explore the clinical effect of Endo combined with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma.METHODSA total of 120 patients admitted to the oncology department of our hospital were selected as the research subjects. They were equally divided into the test group and the control group (60 patients each) with a random number table. The test group was treated with Endo combined with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and the control group was treated with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We compared the serum thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen (SCC-Ag) levels, the clinical effects and survival before and after radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the quality score, and the 3-year follow-up outcomes between the two groups.RESULTSAfter chemotherapy, the complete remission + partial remission rate was 85.00% in the test group and 68.33% in the control group; the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Before chemotherapy, the serum TK1, HE4, VEGF, and SCC-Ag levels of the two groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05). After chemotherapy, the levels of serum TK1 (1.27 ± 0.40 pmol/L), HE4 (81.4 ± 24.0 pmol/L), VEGF (235.1 ± 38.0 pg/mL), and SCC-Ag (1.76 ± 0.55 ng/mL) were lower than those in the control group [TK1 (1.58 ± 0.51 pmol/L), HE4 (98.0 ± 28.6) pmol/L, VEGF (284.2 ± 54.1 pg/mL), and SCC-Ag (2.34 ± 0.78 ng/mL)]. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Before chemotherapy, there were no significant differences in the physical, role, mood, cognition, social and symptom scale scores of the two groups (P > 0.05). After chemotherapy, the physical, role, mood, cognitive and social scores were higher in the test group than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The symptom scale scores of the test group were all lower than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 43.33% in the test group and 26.67% in the control group; the overall survival (OS) rate was 48.33% in the test group and 33.33% in the control group; the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The 3-year PFS time of the test group was 20.0 mo, which was longer than that of the control group (15.0 mo), and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The OS time of the test group was 30.0 mo, which was longer than that of the control group (18.0 mo), and the difference was significant (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONEndo combined with concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma has a positive effect on reducing the level of tumor markers in patients, prolonging the PFS and OS times of patients, and improving the quality of life.

Oral health and emotional well-being in premenopausal and postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional cohort study

BackgroundMenopause, the absence of ovarian sex steroids, is frequently accompanied by emotional and physiological changes in a woman´s body, as well as oral health changes. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between the periodontal health status and emotional and physical well-being among postmenopausal women (PMW) in comparison with regularly menstruating premenopausal women (RMPW).MethodsA total of 115 women (PMW, n = 56, mean age ± SD: 54 ± 5; RMPW, n = 59, mean age ± SD: 41 ± 4) received a comprehensive medical assessment and a full-mouth oral examination. All completed the Women’s Health Questionnaire (WHQ) to measure emotional and physical well-being. The corresponding bone mineral density (BMD) scores were obtained from participants´ medical records.ResultsTooth loss was significantly higher in PMW than RMPW after adjusting for age (3.88 ± 2.41 vs 2.14 ± 2.43, p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the prevalence of periodontitis between the two groups (PMW: 39.2%, RMPW: 32.2%, p > 0.05). The prevalence of periodontitis was associated with fewer daily brushing sessions in PMW (p = 0.021). Based on the WHQ, both PMW and RMPW with periodontitis had higher ‘’depressed mood’’ scores compared to periodontally healthy women (p = 0.06 and p = 0.038, respectively). The women who reported fewer daily toothbrushing sessions found to have higher depressive mood scores (p = 0.043).ConclusionsPresence of periodontitis is associated with the emotional and physical well-being of women and reinforcement of oral healtcare is recommended at different stages of a woman’s life including menopause to reduce the risk for early tooth loss in women.

The effect of Pregabalin on morphine consumption, sleep, mood and ability to change position after colorectal cancer surgery

Introduction Pregabalin is a co-analgesia to improve the pain control after colorectal cancer surgeries. But, the effect of Pregabalin on the sleep and ability to change position of patients in postoperative period is less well known. This study aimed to assess the effect of Pregabalin on postoperative morphine consumption, and effect of pain on sleep, mood and ability to change position after colorectal cancer surgery. Methods This double-blind, randomized, controlled, single-center clinical trial was conducted in Imam Khomeini hospital, Tehran, Iran from June 2017 to June 2018. Seventy patients were included for colorectal cancer surgery randomly divided into two groups. Group A received two doses of 150 mg Pregabalin preoperatively and postoperatively and group B placebo was administered at the same scheme. The two groups had same analgesia and anesthesia regimens otherwise. The pain score by a numerical rating scale (NRS); disturbance in sleep, mood and daily activity scores based on a scoring system like the BPI questionnaires; and, nausea- vomiting, fatigue headache, and morphine consumption were assessed 48 hours post-operatively. Results Morphine consumption was lower in the Pregabalin group 24 h postoperatively (P=0.01). The two groups were similar in terms of sleep interference scores and side effects (P>0.05). But, Mood and actions interference scores in the Pregabalin group showed a significant improvement in 48 h postoperative (P<0.05) (Table 3). Conclusion The results showed that Pregabalin could reduce postoperative morphine consumption and improve mood and actions interference scores after colorectal cancer surgery. However, there was no difference between Pregabalin and placebo in postoperative pain management and sleep interference scores after colorectal cancer surgery.

Evaluating the Effect of Positive Touch on Moods of Mothers of Premature Infants Hospitalized in NICU: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: The birth and hospitalization of a premature infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can cause mood swings in mothers. Improving these mothers’ moods and reducing their stress is a care priority, which can be achieved by applying some innovative = strategies like using positive touch. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of positive touch on mood states of mothers of premature infants hospitalized in the NICU. Methods: The present randomized clinical trial was conducted on 80 mothers whose premature infants were hospitalized in the NICU of two hospitals in northern Iran in 2018. The participants were divided into two equal groups (n = 40) of experimental and control. All participants received a Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire both at the time of admission and discharge. The experimental group received positive touch from the beginning of admission to the NICU until the time of discharge, while the control group only received the routine care. Results: The mean and standard deviation of mothers’ mood scores before the intervention (74.35 ± 36.27) were significantly higher compared to after the intervention (48.63 ± 16.02) (P = 0.001). Moreover, the mean and standard deviation for the sub-components were as follows: (1) tension before intervention (13.6 ± 7.49) vs. after intervention (7.45 ± 4.107) (P &lt; 0.001); (2) depression before intervention (15.73 ± 13.11) vs. after intervention (7.5 ± 8.85) (P &lt; 0.001); (3) fatigue before intervention (7.5 ± 6.47) vs. after intervention (3.95 ± 2.88) (P &lt; 0.001); (4) confusion before intervention (9.63 ± 4.65) vs. after intervention (6.73 ± 2.42) (P &lt; 0.001); (5) anger before intervention (12.97 ± 9.58) vs. after intervention (6.07 ± 4.42) (P &lt; 0.001); and (6) vigor before intervention (14.93 ± 4.59) vs. after intervention (16.93 ± 3.21) (P = 0.001). As the figures show, there were significant differences in all of the sub-components before and after the intervention. Conclusions: It is recommended that mothers be given more opportunities in the NICU to employ positive touch and establish a closer interaction with their infants.

Effects of Zembrin® (Sceletium tortuosum) Supplementation on Mood, Soreness, and Performance Following Unaccustomed Resistance Exercise: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate acute Zembrin® (Sceletium tortuosum) supplementation on muscle soreness, markers of muscle damage, mood, and exercise performance following unaccustomed resistance exercise. Untrained females (n = 16) were divided into two groups with a different three-day treatment regimen: (1) placebo (PL) and (2) Zembrin® (ZEM). During the initial visit, baseline perceived soreness, range of motion (ROM), mood state (profile of mood states (POMS) questionnaire), and plasma lactate dehydrogenase concentrations (LDH) were measured followed by the performance of an eccentric bicep curl protocol with their non-dominant arm. The total repetitions and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded throughout the exercise. The participants then supplemented with the corresponding treatment immediately following, the subsequent day, and 30 min prior to completing a 48 h follow-up visit. For the 48 h visit, all procedures were repeated and comparisons were drawn for perceived soreness, ROM, LDH, mood scores, total repetitions, and RPE. The findings indicate that short-term ZEM supplementation resulted in lower perceived soreness (p = 0.020) and a greater preservation of ROM (p = 0.028) at 48 h versus the PL group. Mood worsened from the baseline to 48 h regardless of the treatment (p = 0.043) but the decrements were exacerbated in the PL group compared with the ZEM group (p &lt; 0.001). LDH levels (p = 0.019) and RPE (p = 0.008) were higher and total repetitions were lower (p &lt; 0.001) at 48 h irrespective of the treatment. Although short-term dietary enrichment with ZEM did not alter the exercise performance or biomarkers of muscle damage, the current results suggest ZEM supplementation may be effective in reducing the markers of soreness and preserve mood following unaccustomed eccentric exercise.