Prevalence Of Symptoms Research Articles

Unmasking mental health symptoms in female professional football players: a 12-month follow-up study

ObjectiveTo calculate the prevalence rates of mental health symptoms among female professional football players over a 12-month period and to explore the associations of severe injury and related surgery with...

Assessment of depressive symptoms among post stroke patients attending a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Post Stroke Depression (PSD) occurs in a significant number of patients and constitutes an important complication of stroke, leading to greater disability as well as increased mortality. This study examined depressive symptoms among post stroke patients attending neurology clinic in a tertiary hospital in Northwest Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 83 stroke survivors. Participants were administered socio-demographic, clinical characteristics pro-forma questionnaire and depression subscale of the Hospital and Anxiety Depressive Scale (HADS). Results: The 83 participants recruited for study had a mean age of 56.8 years (s.d. = 10.2) and 62.7 % were female. Majority (60.2%) had formal education, 83.1% were employed, and 73.5% were married. Overall, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 34.9% while 2.4% were rated as having severe depressive symptoms. Unemployment, having disabilities and post stroke complications were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The presence of depressive symptoms among stroke patients supports the need to consider routine screen for psychiatry morbidity among patients with medical condition that causes disabilities. Disability has been identified as the main predictor of depressive symptoms. In view of this, psychosocial evaluation and intervention should be integrated into clinical care of stroke patients for early detection of depressive symptoms.

Psychopathological characteristics in ultra-high risk for psychosis with and without comorbid ADHD.

This study investigates the psychopathological characteristics of a sample of individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis with and without comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Twenty-eight subjects (aged 13-21 years; 13 females) with attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS) were recruited in a cross-sectional study and divided into two groups, each with 14 patients, according to the presence or absence of ADHD. The APS group showed a significantly higher prevalence of negative symptoms than the APS + ADHD group. Other characteristics investigated (positive symptoms, aberrant salience, psychotic-like experiences and prodromal symptoms) did not differ between groups. The different profiles of negative symptoms in the APS with or without ADHD might suggest the presence of a specific subtype among individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis. Longitudinal studies with larger samples will provide information about the role of negative symptoms in determining conversion to full psychosis in those people with 'pure' APS and those with APS + ADHD.

Prevalence of Autonomic Symptoms in a Mexican Population with Parkinson's Disease

Prevalence of Autonomic Symptoms in a Mexican Population with Parkinson's Disease

Trajectories of Mental Distress Among US Women by Sexual Orientation and Racialized Group During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives. To describe longitudinal trends in the prevalence of mental distress across the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020‒April 2021) among US women at the intersection of sexual orientation and racialized group. Methods. Participants included 49 805 cisgender women and female-identified people from the COVID-19 Sub-Study, a cohort of US adults embedded within the Nurses' Health Studies 2 and 3 and the Growing Up Today Study. We fit generalized estimating equation Poisson models to estimate trends in depressive and anxiety symptoms by sexual orientation (gay or lesbian, bisexual, mostly heterosexual, completely heterosexual); subsequent models explored further differences by racialized group (Asian, Black, Latine, White, other or unlisted). Results. Relative to completely heterosexual peers, gay or lesbian, bisexual, and mostly heterosexual women had a higher prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms at each study wave and experienced widening inequities over time. Inequities were largest for sexual minority women of color, although confidence intervals were wide. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated already-glaring mental health inequities affecting sexual minority women, especially those belonging to marginalized racialized groups. Future research should investigate structural drivers of these patterns to inform policy-oriented interventions. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(5):511-522. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307601).

Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression and Associated Factors Among Internally Displaced Persons in Al-Galgala, Sudan.

Conflict and war can have profound psychological and physical consequences, including the displacement of civilians. Sudan currently has the greatest child displacement crisis and the highest number of displaced individuals worldwide. Stressors, such as unemployment, poor socioeconomic conditions, and lack of social integration can increase the risk of developing mental health conditions and worsen pre-existing ones. This study aims to determine the prevalence of PTSD and depression and to investigate the association of sociodemographic and displacement characteristics with both PTSD and depression. An observational descriptive cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among 143 IDPs, in Al-Galgala village, Sudan. The data was collected by seven, well-trained individuals over 2 weeks. The PTSD Checklist - Civilian version (PCL-C) scale was used for PTSD symptoms, and the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) scale was used for depression symptoms. The diagnostic criteria for PTSD and depression symptoms were based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV). Descriptive statistics and Binary Logistic Regression analysis were adopted to determine the predictors for PTSD and depression symptoms. A P-value of 0.05 or lower was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms was found to be 25% based on DSM-IV symptoms' criteria and that of depression was 62%. Moreover, 23.1% of the participants had comorbid depression and PTSD symptoms. Being female (AOR = 8.434, 95% CI [1.026-69.325]), and having depression increased the risk of developing PTSD (AOR = 45.631, 95% CI [7.125-292.232]). Whereas, being older (40-59 years) (AOR = 6.473, 95% CI [1.054-39.766]) and having PTSD (AOR = 24.736, 95% CI [4.928 -124.169]) increased the risk of developing depression. The estimated prevalence of PTSD and depression among IDPs in Al-Galgala, Sudan was found to be relatively high. This study revealed that depression, gender, occupation, education, and with whom you are currently staying were significantly associated with PTSD. In contrast, factors associated with depression were PTSD, age, and the duration of exposure to the armed conflict. The mental health among IDPs needs to be prioritized by implementing effective programs and providing psychosocial support to civilians residing in post-conflict regions.

Prevalence of perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesTo systematically synthesise the evidence on prevalence of perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesMEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Global...

Prevalence of Ear-Related Problems in Individuals Recovered From COVID-19.

The aim was to assess prevalence of tinnitus, hyperacusis, hearing and balance problems among patients recovered from COVID-19 infection. Self-reported ear and hearing symptoms were compared in three groups comprising: confirmed COVID-19, possible COVID-19, and non-COVID-19. 1649 participants completed the survey in this cross-sectional study. The mean age was 34 years and 65% were female. Participants with confirmed and possible COVID-19 were asked if after their infection (compared to the past) they experienced hearing loss, ringing or whistling noises, fullness or blockage in their ears, loudness of the sounds that are normal to other people bother them more (an indication of hyperacusis), dizziness, giddiness, or imbalance. Among participants with confirmed COVID-19, 16% reported that compared to the past their hearing has decreased, 21.5% noticed tinnitus, 22.5% aural fullness, 26.1% hyperacusis and 17.3% balance problems. Regression models showed that compared to the non-COVID-19 group, participants with confirmed COVID-19 had odds ratios (ORs) of significantly greater than 1 in predicting presence of self-reported symptoms of hearing loss, tinnitus, aural fullness, hyperacusis and balance problems, OR=1.96 (p=0.001), OR=1.63 (p=0.003), OR=1.8 (p<0.001), OR=2.2 (p<0.001), and OR=2.99 (p<0.001), respectively. There seem to be higher prevalence of self-report symptoms of ear-related problems among individuals with confirmed COVID-19 infection compared to a non-COVID-19 group during the pandemic.

Association of clinical variables and thyroid-stimulating hormone with psychotic symptoms in patients with first-episode and drug-naïve major depressive disorder with elevated fasting blood glucose: preliminary exploratory study with a large sample.

Psychotic symptoms and elevated fasting blood glucose (FBG) are frequently observed in people with major depressive disorder (MDD), but there is a lack of research into this relationship within this cohort. This study aimed to preliminarily explore the prevalence of psychotic symptoms and their predictors among patients with MDD and elevated FBG. This study enrolled 1718 patients with first-episode and drug-naïve (FEDN) MDD. Sociodemographic data and physical and biochemical indicators were collected. Clinical symptoms were assessed with tools such as the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale positive subscale. The odds ratio for psychotic symptoms in those with MDD and elevated FBG (18.7%) was 2.33 times higher than those with MDD without elevated FBG. Presence of psychotic symptoms was significantly correlated with HRSD score, suicide attempts, and total cholesterol and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. The combination of HRSD score, suicide attempts and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels among patients with MDD and elevated FBG effectively distinguished between individuals with and without psychotic symptoms, achieving an area under the curve of 0.87. Psychotic symptoms are frequently observed among FEDN MDD patients with elevated FBG, and depressive symptoms, suicide attempts and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels are related to psychotic symptoms in this cohort.

Prevalence of GIT symptoms in patients of COVID 19 and role of rectal PCR in detecting COVID 19 with GIT symptoms

BackgroundIn December 2019, a cluster of patients with pneumonia of undetermined etiology was recognized in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Subsequently, a novel coronavirus (Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome- related Coronavirus) (SARS-CoV-2) was identified from lower respiratory tract samples obtained from affected patients. The clinical manifestation of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) is broad and ranges from asymptomatic and mild upper respiratory tract symptoms to severe illnesses with multi-organ failure and death. Furthermore, it is challenging to predict the clinical course or determine patients at risk of deterioration.Aim of the workThe aim of our study is to assess prevalence of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) symptoms in COVID 19 infected patients and to assess significance of rectal PCR in detecting COVID 19 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.Patients and methodsThis study was conducted on 100 adult COVID 19 patients recently diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All patients were submitted to clinical examination, laboratory testing for Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-Reactive Protein,(CRP), Complete Blood Count (CBC), and D-dimer. Radiological investigations in the form of Computed Tomography Chest were reported by radiologist for all patients (High resolution computed tomography). Nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and rectal swabs were collected for COVID-19 (PCR) test. All patients received COVID-19 treatment according to protocols of World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt.ResultsWe found that GI symptoms are prevalent among COVID-19 Egyptian patients (64%). The most common GIT symptoms were Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. We observed that 25 patients (25%) had positive viral RiboNucleic Acid (RNA) in rectal swab. Nausea was manifested in 38 patients (38%), Vomiting was manifested in 24 patients (24%), diarrhea was manifested in 21 patients (21%), pain was manifested in 22 patients (22%), hematemesis was manifested in 3 patients (3%) and melena was manifested in 2 patients (2%).ConclusionThe results of current study demonstrated that GIT symptoms are prevalent among COVID-19 Egyptian patients (64%) with Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea to be most common symptoms. Rectal PCR was found in 25 patients, all of them had GIT symptoms but it was statistically non-significant result when compared to the overall number of COVID-19 infected patients. Severe COVID-19 was more frequent in older age.

Olfactory Dysfunction in COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital; A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Sudden onset of olfactory dysfunction (OD) manifesting as hyposmia and/or anosmia occurred in many COVID-19 patients, with a frequency as high as 85.6%. Given the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19, it is important to recognize the symptoms early so that the infected person can be diagnosed, isolated and treated early. Hence, this study was undertaken to know the prevalence of Sino-nasal symptoms with special reference to olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. It is a cross sectional observational study involving 160 COVID-19 patients aged 18 to 100 years selected by universal sampling. OD was analyzed and compared with various inflammatory markers and Sino-nasal symptoms. Patients were followed up until their discharge from the hospital or until death due to COVID-19 related health issues. Out of 160 subjects included in the study, 61.88 % of the study participants were males and 38.13% were females. The mean age was 44.50 ± 16.43 years. A total of 51 patients (31.87%) developed OD. Fifty one (31.87%) patients developed OD (anosmia/hyposmia). Among the individuals with anosmia/hyposmia, majority of patients (n=26) (50.98%) complained of more than 75% loss of smell sensation. Mean duration of anosmia/hyposmia was 9.92 ± 3.71 days. OD correlated with serum ferritin levels (p=0.0453). Anosmia/hyposmia was found in significant proportion of patients with covid-19 which correlated with the disease severity and serum ferritin levels and hence can serve as surrogate marker of disease severity.

Associations of sleep disorders with serum neurofilament light chain levels in Parkinson’s disease

BackgroundSleep disorders are a prevalent non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD), although reliable biological markers are presently lacking.ObjectivesTo explore the associations between sleep disorders and serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in individuals with prodromal and early PD.MethodsThe study contained 1113 participants, including 585 early PD individuals, 353 prodromal PD individuals, and 175 healthy controls (HCs). The correlations between sleep disorders (including rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)) and serum NfL levels were researched using multiple linear regression models and linear mixed-effects models. We further investigated the correlations between the rates of changes in daytime sleepiness and serum NfL levels using multiple linear regression models.ResultsIn baseline analysis, early and prodromal PD individuals who manifested specific behaviors of RBD showed significantly higher levels of serum NfL. Specifically, early PD individuals who experienced nocturnal dream behaviors (β = 0.033; P = 0.042) and movements of arms or legs during sleep (β = 0.027; P = 0.049) showed significantly higher serum NfL levels. For prodromal PD individuals, serum NfL levels were significantly higher in individuals suffering from disturbed sleep (β = 0.038; P = 0.026). Our longitudinal findings support these baseline associations. Serum NfL levels showed an upward trend in early PD individuals who had a higher total RBDSQ score (β = 0.002; P = 0.011) or who were considered as probable RBD (β = 0.012; P = 0.009) or who exhibited behaviors on several sub-items of the RBDSQ. In addition, early PD individuals who had a high total ESS score (β = 0.001; P = 0.012) or who were regarded to have EDS (β = 0.013; P = 0.007) or who exhibited daytime sleepiness in several conditions had a trend toward higher serum NfL levels.ConclusionSleep disorders correlate with higher serum NfL, suggesting a link to PD neuronal damage. Early identification of sleep disorders and NfL monitoring are pivotal in detecting at-risk PD patients promptly, allowing for timely intervention. Regular monitoring of NfL levels holds promise for tracking both sleep disorders and disease progression, potentially emerging as a biomarker for evaluating treatment outcomes.

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in COVID-19 survivors with post-COVID symptoms 2 years after hospitalization: The VIPER study.

The SARS-CoV-2 VIrus PERsistence (VIPER) study investigated the presence of long-lasting SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma, stool, urine, and nasopharyngeal samples in COVID-19 survivors. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) were analyzed within plasma, stool, urine, and nasopharyngeal swab samples in COVID-19 survivors with post-COVID symptoms and a comparison group of COVID-19 survivors without post-COVID symptoms matched by age, sex, body mass index and vaccination status. Participants self-reported the presence of any post-COVID symptom (defined as a symptom that started no later than 3 months after the initial infection). Fifty-seven (57.9% women, age: 51.1, standard deviation [SD]: 10.4 years) previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors with post-COVID symptoms and 55 (56.4% women, age: 50.0, SD: 12.8 years) matched individuals who had a past SARS-CoV-2 infection without post-COVID symptoms were evaluated 27 (SD 7.5) and 26 (SD 8.7) months after hospital discharge, respectively. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was identified in three nasopharyngeal samples of patients with post-COVID symptoms (5.2%) but not in plasma, stool, or urine samples. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not identified in any sample of survivors without post-COVID symptoms. The most prevalent post-COVID symptoms consisted of fatigue (93%), dyspnea, and pain (both, 87.7%). This study did not find SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma, stool, or urine samples, 2years after the infection. A prevalence of 5.2% of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in nasopharyngeal samples, suggesting a potential active or recent reinfection, was found in patients with post-COVID symptoms. These results do not support the association between SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma, stool, urine, or nasopharyngeal swab samples and post-COVID symptomatology in the recruited population.

Revisiting the symptom iceberg based on the Danish symptom cohort – Symptom experiences and healthcare-seeking behaviour in the general Danish population in 2022

IntroductionHealthcare-seeking behaviour may change over time, and some groups are more likely to avoid relevant help seeking, which possibly contributes to social inequity in health. Thus, we developed an expansion of and follow-up to the Danish Symptom Cohort (DaSC) from 2012 and formed the DaSC II, which encompassed a population-based questionnaire study investigating symptoms and healthcare-seeking behaviour. In this paper, we describe the conceptual framework, development and content validity of the questionnaire and a responder analysis of the participants in the DaSC II. We present the symptom iceberg in the Danish general population by estimating the prevalence of symptoms and proportion of contacts to general practitioners (GPs) in 2022. Moreover, we discuss differences in healthcare-seeking behaviour with reference to the 2012 DaSC. Methods100,000 randomly selected Danish citizens aged ≥20 years, along with the 44,713 respondents from the 2012 cohort, were invited to participate in a survey. The questionnaire was pilot and field tested prior to distribution. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate symptom prevalence and proportion of GP contacts, and to execute the respondent analysis. ResultsNine out of ten respondents reported at least one symptom within the preceding four weeks and reported an average of 4.6 symptoms. One in four symptoms were presented to a GP. The highest proportion of GP contacts was found for haematuria (63.3 %) and shortness of breath (51.8 %). For several symptoms, differences between the sexes were found in relation to both prevalence and GP contacts. The proportion of GP contacts was higher in 2022 than in 2012 and was most pronounced for general, frequently experienced symptoms and to a lesser extent for cancer alarm symptoms. ConclusionMany symptoms go unreported, which may delay relevant diagnosis; more research on certain symptom categories and population subgroups is needed. Future studies based on the DaSC II form a basis for interventions targeting symptom awareness, healthcare-seeking behaviour and social equity in society and health.

Insomnia symptom prevalence in England: a comparison of cross-sectional self-reported data and primary care records in the UK Biobank

ObjectivesWe aimed to use a large dataset to compare self-reported and primary care measures of insomnia symptom prevalence in England and establish whether they identify participants with similar characteristics.DesignCross-sectional study...

Temporomandibular joint and cervical spine disability assessment in people with hypermobility joint syndrome.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and cervical spine problems are a growing public health issue, as they increase the risk of disability in people with hypermobility joint syndrome (HJS). The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of TMD symptoms, and cervical spine and TMJ disability in HJS patients. A survey was conducted among physical therapy students (mean age: 21 years). The study comprised 2 stages. The 1st one was HJS assessment (the Beighton scale and the Brighton criteria). Based on the assessment, 56 HJS subjects were enrolled for the study. The control group (CG) consisted of 60 HJS-free subjects, according to the aforementioned criteria. The 2nd stage of the study involved conducting a self-administered questionnaire on the prevalence of TMD symptoms. Both the TMD disability questionnaire (TMD-Q) and the neck disability index (NDI) scores were recorded. Pain intensity was assessed using the numeric rating scale (NRS). The HJS group showed higher NRS scores (p < 0.001). Headache, neck and shoulder girdle pain, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain were found to be more severe in almost each patient from the HJS group as compared to CG. Those individuals had a greater degree of disability on the TMD-Q and the NDI scales (p < 0.001). The HJS group showed significant positive correlations between the TMD-Q and NDI scores (p = 0.0035), and between the TMD-Q and TMJ symptom questionnaire scores (p = 0.0047). A significant positive correlation between the NDI and TMJ symptom questionnaire scores was found both in the HJS group (p < 0.001) and CG (p < 0.001). The HJS bearers tended to obtain higher TMJ and cervical spine disability scores, at the same time reporting increased headache, neck and shoulder girdle pain, and TMJ pain intensity. Therefore TMJs should be carefully examined for possible signs of dysfunction in HJS subjects prior to dental or prosthetic treatment. According to our data, TMJ and cervical spine disability assessment should be included as a routine practice in the case of HJS patients, who should remain under the long-term care of a multidisciplinary team of doctors and therapists.

Pilot study to determine asthma-like symptoms in the Sverdlovsk region

Introduction. Bronchial asthma (BA) occupies one of the leading places in the structure of chronic nonspecific lung diseases in children. At an early age it develops in a relationship between genetic and environmental factors and often does not have a characteristic clinical picture. Allergic rhinitis (AR) increases the risk of developing and severity of asthma. Assessing the risk of developing BA and AR in children is necessary for timely diagnosis. Purpose of the study. To identify the prevalence of symptoms of bronchial asthma in children in the Sverdlovsk region using the example of Yekaterinburg and Nizhny Tagil using Russian versions of the Asthma Prediction Tool and ISAAC questionnaires and analyze the data obtained. Materials and methods. 64 children aged 6-8 years who did not have chronic lung diseases were studied: 30 people - in the Children's Hospital No. 8 of Yekaterinburg and 34 - in kindergarten No. 201 of Nizhny Tagil using Russified versions of the “Asthma Prediction Tool” and ISAAC questionnaires, filled out official representatives of children after informed consent to conduct the study. 64 correctly completed questionnaires were analyzed. Results. The proportion of children with an average and high risk of developing asthma: in Yekaterinburg 26.67%, in Nizhny Tagil - 35.29%. Symptoms of AR were detected in 60% of children from Yekaterinburg and in 82.35% from Nizhny Tagil, which is 2.5 and 1.6 times more common than the established diagnosis of AR, respectively. In Yekaterinburg, a high risk of asthma is associated with an allergic phenotype based on the frequency of concomitant atopic dermatitis (16.67% compared with 10% in the low-risk group, p = 0.0159) or its absence (63.33% and 10%, respectively, p= 0.0159), in Nizhny Tagil this relationship was not confirmed when tested by a two-sided Fisher test. The frequency of cases of hereditary predisposition to allergic pathology does not have significant differences between high (medium) and low risk groups in both cities. Conclusion. In Russia, 4.8 additional cases of asthma and status asthmaticus per 100 thousand children are associated with air quality. In 2021, the Sverdlovsk region is noted as one of the priority subjects of the Russian Federation in terms of the number of asthma diseases associated with the aerogenic factor in the environment of children. Although the observed trend in the predominance of cumulative symptoms of asthma and AR in children in Nizhny Tagil, in comparison with Yekaterinburg, is not statistically significant, it correlates with a higher level of aerogenic air pollution, this indirectly confirms the absence of a statistically significant relationship with a family history of allergic pathology. However, the connection with man-made pollutants is not taken into account in the ISAAC questionnaires. To confirm that the prevalence of asthma and AR symptoms is higher than those obtained in multicenter studies among children of a similar age, a survey of at least 350 people will be required. In any case, it is necessary to study the role of priority pollutants in the formation of airway hyperresponsiveness, asthma and AR, in order to find effective preventive measures.

Different genes involved in the amelioration of chronic neuropathic pain and comorbid anxiety by electroacupuncture with different intensities

BackgroundWith its complex and prevalent symptoms, chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is frequently combined with negative emotions. Electroacupuncture (EA) is a widely-used and effective treatment for CNP and pain-induced comorbid anxiety-like behaviors (PABs). Although different effects may result from EA with different intensities, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. ObjectiveThe study aimed to investigate the effects of EA with different intensities on CNP and PABs and the underlying mechanisms, by exploring the different genes through RNASeq in the spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) and periaqueductal gray (PAG). MethodsA spared nerve injury (SNI) model was established using male C57BL/6 J mice, and treated with EA of different intensities (0.1 mA or 0.3 mA, both at 100 Hz). The von-Frey tests, open field tests and elevated plus maze tests were used to measure the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and PABs of the mice. The tissues of SCDH and PAG regions were extracted to identify the changes in gene expression, and biofunctional analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was further performed by RNA-seq analysis. The expression of key DEGs and corresponding proteins was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and protein immunofluorescence detection, respectively. ResultsBoth 0.1 mA and 0.3 mA EA at 100 Hz alleviated PABs compared with the SNI group. Furthermore, 0.3 mA EA was effective in increasing PWT in SNI mice, whereas 0.1 mA EA was not. A total of 108 DEGs was identified in the SCDH, and 254 DEGs were identified in the PAG. Specifically, the expression of Tnr in SNI mice decreased after the treatment with 0.3 mA EA at 100 Hz, and the expression of Ptprb, Net1, Abcb1a and Adgrf5 in SNI mice decreased in the PAG after the treatment with 0.1 mA EA at 100 Hz. ConclusionThe effect of 0.3 mA EA on chronic pain may be related to the decrease of Tnr expression in SCDH, and the effect of 0.1 mA EA on PABs may be achieved by decreased expression of Ptprb and Net1 in PAG.

Overview of Concussion Related to Long-term Cognitive Impairment Among Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract. Background: Discovering if the cognitive decline in later life is related to concussion. This systematic review aims to summarize the research on the link between concussion and long-term cognitive damage. Methods We offer systematic reviews that follow a standardized review methodology and are reported using the recommended reporting standards for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). From conception until March 2023, we conducted searches in the databases of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and British Medical Journals using the following search method. Results: Six studies were included for further analysis, which mostly showed individuals with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) with a GCS of 13–15 revealed that cognitive impairment is a prevalent symptom with the primary cause of traffic collision. Studies on patients with mTBI demonstrated that they performed poorer in verbal memory, attention, and executive function. It has been shown in earlier investigations that microglia may be involved in ongoing neurodegeneration. Microglia response in the subcortical regions carries out the critical information and processing of spatial learning, memory, and relaying sensory and motor signals. Conclusion Concussions are one of the most frequent but also one of the hardest to recognize; in fact that even mild trauma has the potential to affect the brain's architecture and has no outward signs. Reduced cognitive function is one of the concussion's side effects, when cognitive impairment is correlated with a lower health-related quality of life.

Genomic surveillance and serological profile of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Macaé and nearby cities, southeastern Brazil.

A characteristic of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the sequential emergence and global dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 variants, noted for their enhanced transmission efficiency. These variants with mutations in the Spike glycoprotein (S-glycoprotein), which interacts with ACE2 receptors in human cells is critical for infection, affects the transmissibility of the virus, which is a matter of great concern for public health. This research analyses the effects these variants on a cohort of vaccinated and naturally infected individuals from the cities of Macaé-RJ, Rio das Ostras-RJ, and Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ, Brazil, from March 2021 to March 2023. This investigation encompasses the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2, B.1.671.3), and Omicron (BQ.1, BQ.1.1 sublines, and BF.7) variants, focusing on their genomic surveillance and implications for the disease's epidemiology. The experimental analysis included a control group (vaccinated and uninfected subjects), and an infected group (post-vaccinated subjects). Samples from nasopharyngeal swabs underwent viral detection via RT-qPCR for diagnosis confirmation. RNase H-dependent RT-qPCR (rhAmp-PCR) and third-generation sequencing were used to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants. Anti-S-glycoprotein immunoglobulins were also evaluated for vaccinated infected and noninfected volunteers. Symptoms from infected individuals were compiled in order to reveal patterns of clinical signs associated with viral infection. The study included 289 participants, with infections identified by Gamma (n = 44), Delta (n = 189), and Omicron (n = 56) variants. The prevalent symptoms among the naturally infected participants were cough, fever, sore throat, headache, and runny nose. For Omicron, cognitive symptoms such as memory loss and concentration issues were reported. Interestingly, the infected vaccinated group had higher anti-S-glycoprotein IgM production (n = 28, 0.2833 ± 0.09768 OD) compared to the uninfected vaccinated group (n = 14, 0.1035 ± 0.03625 OD). Conversely, anti-S-glycoprotein IgG production was higher in the control group (n = 12, 1.770 ± 0.1393 OD) than in the infected vaccinated group (n = 26, 1.391 ± 0.1563 OD). This comprehensive study enables monitoring of predominant variants and their correlation with clinical cases, providing valuable insights for public health. Our research group continues to survey circulating variants, contributing to the global understanding of the pandemic.