Significant Reduction In Scores Research Articles

Safety and effectiveness of integrative Korean medicine for the management of patients sustaining injuries in traffic accidents during pregnancy: A retrospective chart review and questionnaire survey.

The number of traffic accidents (TAs) is rising each year, and the severity of injuries can vary. Many people experience limitations in activities of daily living following TAs, affecting their quality of life. In pregnant women, even simple injuries caused by a TA could lead to unfavorable obstetric outcomes. Thus, we conducted a retrospective chart review and follow-up questionnaire survey to assess the safety and effectiveness of integrative Korean medicine (KM) treatment for pregnant women injured in TAs. To assess integrative KM effectiveness, the numeric rating scale (NRS) for TA-related symptoms, neck disability index (NDI) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score, shoulder pain and disability index score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index score, EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) score, and patient global impression of change score were investigated for pregnant women injured in TAs. Additionally, for safety evaluation, obstetric and neonatal outcomes, as well as symptoms related to pregnancy, were assessed. At the end of treatment and follow-up, there were significant reductions in NDI and ODI scores, as well as NRS for neck pain, lower back pain, and headache, compared to scores at baseline. EQ-5D-5L scores significantly increased. A follow-up of 50 patients showed no major differences in obstetric and neonatal outcomes compared to the typical outcomes that occur in pregnant women and neonates. Major improvements were observed in the symptoms of patients who underwent integrative KM treatment after being injured in TAs. The symptoms occurred at a rate similar to those in typical pregnant women, while causality with integrative KM treatment was assessed to be unlikely or unclear. Therefore, integrative KM treatment may be considered an alternative treatment option for pregnant women who currently have limited treatment options.

#2121 The Kidney-specific Psychosocial ASSessment and support (Kidney PASSPORT) feasibility trial

Abstract Background and Aims Psychosocial interventions for depressive and anxiety symptoms are effective in CKD, but studies mainly focus on people on dialysis. Little is known about the role of screening and prevention of common mental health difficulties in early CKD. This trial assessed the research feasibility of an intervention to screen for psychological distress in CKD and deliver prevention approaches for sub-threshold symptoms. The intervention was facilitated by an Assistant Wellbeing Practitioner (AWP), a Band 3 healthcare assistant familiar with renal services and upskilled with specific competency-based training. Method We conducted a mixed-methods, one-year, single-centre, prospective, single-blind, wait-list, randomised controlled feasibility trial. We anticipated screening 250 individuals to identify 100 eligible, with a 40% screening positivity rate, a 45% participation rate and 20% attrition rate, to give 36 participants in the feasibility study. Primary outcomes are shown in Table 1. Potential participants were screened using an online self-completion questionnaire. Participants were randomised to 6 months of immediate or wait-list intervention. Data was collected using online self-report surveys, clinical research forms and semi-structured qualitative interviews. The trial was overseen by a steering committee and received the relevant ethics approvals. Funders included Kidney Care UK, the British Renal Society, the Royal Devon and Exeter Research Capacity Awards and the Exeter Kidney Unit development fund. Results We approached n = 233 people. Feasibility outcomes are shown in Table 2. Due to logistical issues an extension was obtained and in total n = 24 participants were recruited, agreed by the steering committee. All clinical research forms were completed. The most common intervention components were self-management and liaison with the clinical team. The median (interquartile range) difference in baseline and post intervention PHQ-9 score was −5 (−7, 0), n = 19, p = 0.003) and GAD-7 score was −7 (−8, −2), n = 19, p = 0.0002). Qualitative findings showed the AWP was seen as filling in the gaps left by other parts of the service. Key themes were accessibility, time availability, empathy, patient empowerment, and ability to empower the individual. Balance—especially family, work and health—was noted to be a challenge for participants. Importantly, the AWP was able to help participants overcome previous negative experiences. The trial provided valuable learning regarding role implementation, including recruitment, training, work patterns, everyday practicalities, and supervision arrangements. Conclusion We propose a novel intervention for screening and addressing early mental health problems in people with CKD. A single-centre feasibility design was appropriate. The screening positivity rate was lower than anticipated, informing samples for future trials. Outcome data collection via self-report surveys was not feasible. The intervention was well received, with the AWP being valued and self-help and clinical liaison being core elements. Significant reductions in depression and anxiety screening scores were observed. Despite the rigorous design, limitations included slow initial recruitment impacting the sample size and AWP role vulnerability. Future work includes adapting the AWP training and role based on trial learning and considering suitability for other long-term conditions. In conclusion, the AWP role shows promise in routine screening for and prevention of common mental health difficulties in CKD.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of nutritional and dietary interventions in randomized controlled trials for skin symptoms in children with atopic dermatitis and without food allergy: An EAACI task force report.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to consolidate evidence on dietary interventions for atopic eczema/dermatitis (AD) skin symptoms in children without food allergies, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Systematic review updates were conducted in May 2022 and June 2023, focusing on randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) involving children with AD but without food allergies. Specific diets or supplements, such as vitamins, minerals, probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, or postbiotics, were explored in these trials. Exclusions comprised descriptive studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, letters, case reports, studies involving elimination diets, and those reporting on food allergens in children and adolescents. Additionally, studies assessing exacerbation of AD due to food allergy/sensitization and those evaluating elimination diets' effects on AD were excluded. Nutritional supplementation studies were eligible regardless of sensitization profile. Evaluation of their impact on AD clinical expression was performed using SCORAD scores, and a meta-analysis of SCORAD outcomes was conducted using random-effect models (CRD42022328702). The review encompassed 27 RCTs examining prebiotics, Vitamin D, evening primrose oil, and substituting cow's milk formula with partially hydrolyzed whey milk formula. A meta-analysis of 20 RCTs assessing probiotics, alone or combined with prebiotics, revealed a significant reduction in SCORAD scores, suggesting a consistent trend in alleviating AD symptoms in children without food allergies. Nonetheless, evidence for other dietary interventions remains limited, underscoring the necessity for well-designed intervention studies targeting multiple factors to understand etiological interactions and propose reliable manipulation strategies.

CHANGES IN LEFT ATRIAL VOLUME DURING ECHOSTRESS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING MITRAL VALVE PLASTIC CARDIAC SURGERY

Abstract Mitral Regurgitation (MR) is characterized by a high morbidity and mortality that often finds a solution only in the reparative surgical treatment, in particular in presence of myxomatous degeneration that cause the prolapse of one or both leaflets. This results in an increase in diastolic pressure that leads to a progressive dilation of the left atrium. The increase in Left Atrium Volume Index (LAVI) during stress test represents a negative prognostic factor in the clinical evolution of many pathologies, such as ischemic heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, heart failure. An increase in peak/rest LAVI >6.8 ml/m2 correlates with a higher incidence of heart failure decompensation, reduced left ventricular contractile reserve (LVCR), pulmonary congestion. We evaluate the effect of MR reparative surgery on the changes of LAVI during stress–echo. We enrolled 19 patients, 11 females and 8 males, affected by MR candidate to cardiac surgery. We performed a physical stress–echo test by using the ABCDE protocol suggested by the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SIECVI), before and after 12 weeks from surgery. During each test, the changes in LAVI (ΔLAVI) expressed as peak/rest difference in ml/m2 was measured. In addition, the prognostic score deriving from the sum of the ABCDE criteria was calculated, such as the LVCR (C parameter of the score) that represents a parameter of the force deriving from the hemodynamic changes during the test. In all patients we observed a significant reduction in ΔLAVI (8.4+0.5 mL/m2 vs 9.7+0.7 mL/m2; p<0.0001). In addition, there was a significant reduction in the ABCDE prognostic score (from 4.19+0.43 to 3.48+0.37; p=0.002), secondary to the increase in the LVCR observed approximately 3 months after surgery (from 1.77 mmHg/ml to 2.44 mmHg/ml, p<0.0001), as well as a significant reduction in pulmonary congestion during stress (B parameter). There were no significant changes in ejection fraction, wall motion score index–WMSI (A parameter), coronary reserve (D parameter) and heart rate reserve (E parameter). These data demonstrate for the first time that mitral valve plastic surgery is able to reduce the ΔLAVI during stress echocardiography in patients with severe MR. The surgical procedure also resulted in both an improvement in the LVCR and a reduction in the degree of pulmonary congestion, that ultimately led to an improvement in the ABCDE prognostic score.

Effectiveness of a Behavioral Activation Intervention for Peripartum Women with Opioid Use Disorder.

Pregnant women with opioid use disorder show elevated rates of comorbid mental health problems, both of which are associated with negative health outcomes for mothers and children. There is substantial evidence supporting the benefits of treatment of perinatal opioid use disorder, as well as perinatal depression and anxiety, but there are gaps in knowledge about the effectiveness of perinatal behavioral health interventions in the context of co-occurring substance use disorder. The current study seeks to address this gap by examining outcomes of a behavioral activation treatment in a group of peripartum women with opioid use disorder (N = 68). Behavioral activation has shown promise in treating co-occurring depression and substance use problems. The intervention was delivered as part of an integrated care treatment model, in which patients received co-located obstetric, substance use, and mental health care in a hospital-based clinic. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to assess change in symptoms over time. Results suggest that the group behavioral activation intervention was associated with reduced depression and anxiety symptoms, demonstrated by significant reductions in PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores over the course of treatment. Moreover, there were indications that increased attendance was associated with further reductions in depressive symptoms. Results contribute to understanding the effectiveness of behavioral activation in the context of peripartum opioid use disorder. Findings also add to the evidence supporting integrated care models and offer a potential blueprint for improving outcomes and reducing barriers to care in this population.

Effectiveness of Shel (purgation) with Tshawa-suum (herbal medicine paste) on Langshu: an observational study

Introduction: Skin disease is one of the most common diseases treated at the National Traditional Medicine Hospital in Bhutan. Since the establishment of Inpatient Department in 2018, Shel (purgation) with Tshawa-suum paste application is used as the treatment for Langshu skin disorders. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of Shel with Tshawa-suum paste on Langshu. Methods: It was an observational study conducted among patients admitted with Langshu at the National Traditional Medicine Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the sociodemographic details of the patients and Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score was used to assess the severity and extent of skin lesions. Patients were assessed at three time points: before the treatment, after 7 days of treatment and on day 30 when the patients reported for follow-up care. Results: The mean age of the patients (±SD) was 38.81 (±17.63) years and 57.14% were male. The majority of the patients were farmers (42.43%). At baseline, there were 6 patients with very severe Langshu lesion, 44 with severe and 20 with moderate condition. By day 30, only 3 had severe, 34 had mild and 33 had moderate condition. The study found statistically significant reduction in the mean EASI score from 30.12 on Day 0 to 17.25 on Day 7 and 8.46 on Day 30 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study shows that the use of Shel with Tshawa-suum paste resulted in decrease in size and severity of Langshu skin lesions.

Age- and sex-related changes in motor functions: a comprehensive assessment and component analysis

Age-related motor impairments often cause caregiver dependency or even hospitalization. However, comprehensive investigations of the different motor abilities and the changes thereof across the adult lifespan remain sparse. We, therefore, extensively assessed essential basic and complex motor functions in 444 healthy adults covering a wide age range (range 21 to 88 years). Basic motor functions, here defined as simple isolated single or repetitive movements in one direction, were assessed by means of maximum grip strength (GS) and maximum finger-tapping frequency (FTF). Complex motor functions, comprising composite sequential movements involving both proximal and distal joints/muscle groups, were evaluated with the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTT), and the Purdue Pegboard Test. Men achieved higher scores than women concerning GS and FTF, whereas women stacked more pins per time than men during the Purdue Pegboard Test. There was no significant sex effect regarding JTT. We observed a significant but task-specific reduction of basic and complex motor performance scores across the adult lifespan. Linear regression analyses significantly predicted the participants’ ages based on motor performance scores (R2 = 0.502). Of note, the ratio between the left- and right-hand performance remained stable across ages for all tests. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed three motor components across all tests that represented dexterity, force, and speed. These components were consistently present in young (21–40 years), middle-aged (41–60 years), and older (61–88 years) adults, as well as in women and men. Based on the three motor components, K-means clustering analysis differentiated high- and low-performing participants across the adult life span. The rich motor data set of 444 healthy participants revealed age- and sex-dependent changes in essential basic and complex motor functions. Notably, the comprehensive assessment allowed for generating robust motor components across the adult lifespan. Our data may serve as a reference for future studies of healthy subjects and patients with motor deficits. Moreover, these findings emphasize the importance of comprehensively assessing different motor functions, including dexterity, force, and speed, to characterize human motor abilities and their age-related decline.

Magnesium citrate monotherapy improves RLS symptoms and multiple suggested immobilization test scores in an open-label pilot study.

An estimated 3% of the population suffers from clinically significant restless legs syndrome. Given the limited pharmacological options in the arsenal, there is a need for a therapeutic agent with a better side effect profile. Twelve treatment naïve adults (10 women and 2 men with a median age of 41.5 [32-48.5] years) with primary RLS were recruited in our open-label pilot study; magnesium citrate 200 mg was administered daily for eight weeks. Serum magnesium levels, IRLS, Kohnen QOL scale, and multiple suggested immobilization tests were performed before and after supplementation. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for data analysis. Pearson and Spearman's analyses assessed the association between magnesium levels and RLS variables. Participants had a significant reduction in IRLS scores (- 6.67 [2.33-11] p=0.006) and improved Kohnen QOL scores (-8.5 [2.09-14], p=0.014) without notable differences in serum magnesium levels (p=0.3). Average PLMW across all SIT trials (30.40 [5.20, 122.40] to 8.63 [0.32, 17.47] p=0.043) and subjective measures on mSIT also demonstrated improvement. Serum magnesium levels negatively correlated with m-SIT self-reported scores and the PLMW indices. Despite the limitations of open-label design, our study's positive results indicate the need for a placebo-controlled trial with a larger sample size. clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04462796).

Rapid and sustained improvement of psoriasis with Bimekizumab: A real‐world case series

AbstractThis retrospective case series examines the efficacy and safety of Bimekizumab in 22 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in a real‐world clinical setting. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants, including a mean age of 43.7 years and a gender distribution of 60% male and 40% female, are summarised. Notably, 70% of the patients had previously received systemic therapy, and 50% had concurrent psoriatic arthritis. The evaluation over a 12‐week treatment period revealed a significant reduction in psoriasis area and severity index scores from a baseline mean of 11.5−1.0 at Week 4 and further down to 0.3 by Week 12. Similar improvements were observed in body surface area, physician's global assessment and dermatology life quality index scores. Bimekizumab was well‐tolerated with no reported adverse events, leading to no treatment discontinuations. These findings highlight the potential of Bimekizumab to provide rapid and sustained improvements in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, underlining its value in clinical practice.

Effects of 12 weeks of functional and resistance training on stress perception and sleep quality in Bra-zilian older people

The study investigated the effects of a 12-week functional and resistance training program on the perception of stress and sleep quality in Brazilian older people, involving 49 participants. The Perceived Stress in older adults and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used. The training protocol included a general warm-up, resistance and functional training sessions, followed by a cool-down phase, held twice a week, lasting an average of 60 minutes over the 12 weeks. Data analysis was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, bootstrapping, t-tests and Pearson correlation, with a significance level of p < 0.05. The results showed a significant reduction in sleep disturbance and total sleep quality score after the intervention. Men initially had lower stress and better sleep quality in some aspects compared to women, while older people between 60 and 69 years old had improvements in sleep quality in certain aspects before and after the intervention, compared to older people aged 70 and over. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between the perception of stress and several components of sleep quality, such as subjective quality, duration and total score. In short, the study demonstrated that the exercise program had varying impacts on sleep quality, but not on the perception of stress among the older people, highlighting a significant improvement in sleep quality after the intervention. Keywords: Aging. Exercise Therapy. Sleep Quality. Psychological stress. Physical education.

Measurement and analysis of change in research scholars’ knowledge and attitudes toward statistics after PhD coursework

BackgroundKnowledge of statistics is highly important for research scholars, as they are expected to submit a thesis based on original research as part of a PhD program. As statistics play a major role in the analysis and interpretation of scientific data, intensive training at the beginning of a PhD programme is essential. PhD coursework is mandatory in universities and higher education institutes in India. This study aimed to compare the scores of knowledge in statistics and attitudes towards statistics among the research scholars of an institute of medical higher education in South India at different time points of their PhD (i.e., before, soon after and 2–3 years after the coursework) to determine whether intensive training programs such as PhD coursework can change their knowledge or attitudes toward statistics.MethodsOne hundred and thirty research scholars who had completed PhD coursework in the last three years were invited by e-mail to be part of the study. Knowledge and attitudes toward statistics before and soon after the coursework were already assessed as part of the coursework module. Knowledge and attitudes towards statistics 2–3 years after the coursework were assessed using Google forms. Participation was voluntary, and informed consent was also sought.ResultsKnowledge and attitude scores improved significantly subsequent to the coursework (i.e., soon after, percentage of change: 77%, 43% respectively). However, there was significant reduction in knowledge and attitude scores 2–3 years after coursework compared to the scores soon after coursework; knowledge and attitude scores have decreased by 10%, 37% respectively.ConclusionThe study concluded that the coursework program was beneficial for improving research scholars’ knowledge and attitudes toward statistics. A refresher program 2–3 years after the coursework would greatly benefit the research scholars. Statistics educators must be empathetic to understanding scholars’ anxiety and attitudes toward statistics and its influence on learning outcomes.

Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Muscular Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Prospective Case-Control Study.

Muscular temporomandibular joint disorders (M-TMDs) encompass a wide range of painful muscular conditions, which can provoke functional limitation and severely affect quality of life. The aim of the present study was to assess the treatment outcomes in patients affected by M-TMDs in terms of pain scores assessed with pressure pain threshold (PPT). The levels of depression, anxiety, and the Oral Health Impact Profile were also assessed and compared to healthy controls. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of M-TMDs and a control group of healthy subjects were enrolled. At baseline, OHIP-14, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 were administered. PPT was registered at the level of masseter and temporalis muscles. The patients affected by M-TMDs were then treated with oral splints and physio-kinesiotherapy following a standardized treatment protocol. At the 6-month follow-up of M-TMD-affected patients, PPT was registered, and the questionnaires were re-administered to evaluate treatment outcomes. In total, sixty patients and sixty controls were enrolled. The treatment of M-TMDs produced a significant improvement in PPT at the level of the masseter muscle. OHIP-14 at baseline in the M-TMD group was significantly higher compared to the control group (p < 0.05). At the 6-month follow-up, a significant reduction in OHIP-14 scores was registered, although with higher scores compared to the control group (p < 0.05). PHQ-9 was significantly higher at baseline in the M-TMD group (p < 0.05) and decreased to values comparable to the control group after treatment. GAD-7 presented statistically significant differences between the control group and M-TMD patients at baseline (p < 0.05) and between pre- and post-treatment in the M-TMD group. Following treatment, the GAD-7 scores were comparable to the control group. The symptom burden associated with M-TMDs negatively affects quality of life, with higher oral health impairment and a tendency towards depression and anxiety compared to healthy subjects. Following treatment, an improvement in both PPT and quality of life was observed.

Effectiveness of hydrotherapy and balneotherapy for anxiety and depression symptoms: a meta-analysis

AbstractDepression and anxiety are common mental health problems that negatively affect the quality of life. Functioning, social relationships, daily activities, and physical health are negatively affected. Therefore, it is very important to manage these problems and to investigate effective treatments for individuals to lead a healthy life. This study aims to evaluate the effect of hydrotherapy and balneotherapy on anxiety and depression. Randomized controlled trials published in the last 20 years comparing hydrotherapy and balneotherapy with active control or waiting lists in adults with anxiety and depressive symptoms were included. Pubmed, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases were searched until August 2023. The random effects model and fixed effects model were used for data analysis. The heterogeneity of the study was assessed using the I2 index, and publication bias was assessed using Egger and Begg tests and funnel plots. Seventeen eligible studies with a sample size of 977 participants were selected. After data analysis, the results showed that hydrotherapy and balneotherapy led to a statistically significant reduction in anxiety scores (SMD: 0.46 95% CI: 0.27, 0.65), depression scores (SMD: 0.53 95% CI: 0.38, 0.67). Subgroup analysis based on intervention type showed that balneotherapy reduced anxiety scores (SMD: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.65) but not depression scores. Evidence suggests that hydrotherapy and balneotherapy can reduce anxiety and depression in adults. Based on these findings, hydrotherapy and balneotherapy can be applied as an adjunct to standard treatments to improve the mental health of adults.Registration: The study protocol was registered in the International Register of Prospective Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with accession number CRD42023448993.

Pediatric arterial ischemic stroke; Risk factors, clinical presentation and short-term outcome of patients presenting at a tertiary care hospital.

Objective: To determine the risk factors, clinical presentation and short term outcome in children presenting with arterial ischemic stroke at a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Prospective Observational study. Setting: Medical Units of National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, Pakistan. Period: November 2022 October 2023. Methods: Children of either gender aged between 1 month to 12 years and admitted with the diagnosis of pediatric arterial ischemic stroke during the study duration were analyzed. Detailed medical and neurological examinations were performed. Routine work up and laboratory investigations were done. Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) scores at the time of enrollment, discharge and after 3 month follow-up were recorded. Results: In a total of 35 children, 21 (60.0%) were boys the mean age was 6.89±3.63 years. The most frequent presenting clinical features were focal neurological deficits noted in 29 (82.9%) children whereas fever, and fits were reported in 26 (74.3%), and 22 (62.9%) children, respectively. Right hemiplegia was observed in 15 (42.9%) children. Stroke was secondary to moyamoya 8 (22.9%), infections in 6 (17.1%) children. Mortality was reported among 3 (8.6%) children while 3 others lost during the follow ups. Comparison of mean mRS scores at the time of admission, discharge and after 3 months showed significant reduction (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Focal neurological deficits were the predominant clinical features, with a significant incidence of associated fever and seizures. Moyamoya and infections emerged as primary causative factors. Despite a mortality rate of 8.6%, there was an overall improvement in outcomes, as evidenced by a significant reduction in Modified Rankin Scale scores at admission, discharge, and after three months.

Impact of personality style changes on CBT and PDT treatment responses in major depression

This study examines the influence of depressive personality styles on treatment responses in patients with major depression receiving cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic therapy. We assessed changes in personality styles, including dependency, self-criticism, sociotropy, and autonomy, and their association with treatment response. Both treatment modalities led to significant reductions in self-criticism and sociotropy scores. Depressive symptom severity decreased overall, with a more pronounced reduction observed in the cognitive behavioural therapy group. Notably, reduced self-criticism and sociotropy were associated with better treatment outcomes in the cognitive behavioural therapy group. Our findings highlight the role of personality styles in influencing treatment outcomes for major depression. The study suggests an association between changes in personality styles and the reduction of symptoms. Our results support the idea that unique pathways of change are activated depending on the therapeutic intervention. These insights are critical in tailoring treatments to individual needs, addressing the central question of ‘what works for whom’.

The impact of early surgical intervention on aniseikonia in patients with epiretinal membrane: A prospective cohort study

Purpose: to investigate the efficacy of early surgical intervention in ameliorating aniseikonia among patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM). Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled patients underwent surgery for ERM. Patients were divided into early (symptom onset within 1 year) and late (symptom onset ≥ 1 year) treatment groups. Changes in aniseikonia, best-corrected visual acuity, and tangential retinal displacement were assessed and compared at postoperative 6- and 12-months. Results: Of the 56 patients, 30 (53.6%) belonged to the early treatment group and 26 (46.4%) to the late treatment group. The early treatment group demonstrated a significant reduction in aniseikonia score at 6- and 12-month follow-up visits, (-1.10 ± 1.50 [P = 0.002] and -1.18 ± 1.79 [P = 0.003], respectively); however, no improvement was observed in the late treatment group (0.98 ± 4.62 [P = 0.310] and 1.52 ± 4.35 [P = 0.124], respectively). The early treatment group showed larger tangential retinal displacement at postoperative 12-month follow-up visit. In addition, the amount of tangential retinal displacement was associated with postoperative changes in aniseikonia. Conclusions: Early surgical intervention is helpful in improving aniseikonia in patients with ERM. The degree of recovery in inner retinal displacement was associated with the improvement of aniseikonia.

Formation of chronic morphine withdrawal memories requires C1QL3-mediated regulation of PSD95 in the mouse basolateral amygdala

Chronic morphine withdrawal memory formation is a complex process influenced by various molecular mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the contributions of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and complement component 1, q subcomponent-like 3 (C1QL3), a secreted and presynaptically targeted protein, to the formation of chronic morphine (repeat dosing of morphine) withdrawal memory using conditioned place aversion (CPA) and chemogenetic methods. We conducted experiments involving the inhibition of the BLA during naloxone-induced withdrawal to assess its impact on CPA scores, providing insights into the significance of the BLA in the chronic morphine memory formation process. We also examined changes in C1ql3/C1QL3 expression within the BLA following conditioning. Immunofluorescence analysis was employed to reveal the co-localization of C1QL3 and the G-protein coupled receptor, brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 3 (BAI3) in the BLA, supporting their involvement in synaptic development. Moreover, we downregulated C1QL3 expression in the BLA to investigate its role in chronic morphine withdrawal memory formation. Our findings revealed that BLA inhibition during naloxone-induced withdrawal led to a significant reduction in CPA scores, confirming the critical role of the BLA in this memory process. Additionally, an upregulation of C1ql3 expression within the BLA post-conditioning suggested its participation in withdrawal memory formation. Co-localization of C1QL3 and BAI3 in the BLA further supported their involvement in synaptic development. Furthermore, downregulation of C1QL3 in BLA effectively hindered chronic morphine withdrawal memory formation, emphasizing its pivotal role in this process. Notably, we identified postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) as a potential downstream effector of C1QL3 during chronic morphine withdrawal memory formation. Blocking PSD95 led to a significant reduction in CPA scores, and it appeared that C1QL3 modulated the ubiquitination degradation of PSD95, resulting in decreased PSD95 protein levels. This study underscores the importance of the BLA, C1QL3 and PSD95 in chronic morphine withdrawal memory formation. It provides valuable insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms, emphasizing their significance in this intricate process.

Xiao-Yao-San improves sleep quality in insomnia patients with and without moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea-A pilot polysomnography study

IntroductionThis single-arm pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of a 1-month Xiao-Yao-San (XYS) treatment with on objective and subjective sleep parameters among insomnia patients with and without moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). MethodsThis single-arm pre-post study included fourteen participants (average age, 48.2±15.5 years). All participants received XYS (3 g × 3 times/day, after meals) for 28 days. Among them, 7 participants had an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥15 events/hour and were classified as having moderate-to-severe OSA, while 7 patients had an AHI <15 events/hour. Polysomnography was performed to evaluate the AHI, sleep stage, sleep efficiency, and sleep latency at the beginning and after 28 days of usage. Subjective questionnaires were also administered, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A and HADS-D), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The Wilcoxon test was used to compare the pre-treatment and post-treatment differences. ResultsOur 14 insomnia participants, with an average AHI of 21.2 events/hour at baseline, who were taking XYS, exhibited a statistically significant reduction in PSQI scores (reduction of -3.0; p=0.002) compared to the corresponding baseline values. The objective sleep evaluations did not show differences between participants with or without moderate-to-severe OSA after receiving XYS treatment. For subjective sleep parameters, only participants without moderate-to-severe OSA exhibited statistically significant improvements in sleep quality (PSQI score pretest/posttest: 10.0±3.5/7.0±3.5; p=0.012). ConclusionsXYS treatment may significantly improve sleep quality in participants without moderate-to-severe OSA. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations are needed.

Bilateral Sutureless Application of Human Dehydrated Amniotic Membrane with a Specialised Bandage Contact Lens for Moderate-to-Severe Dry Eye Disease: A Prospective Study with 1-Month Follow-Up

Bilateral Sutureless Application of Human Dehydrated Amniotic Membrane with a Specialised Bandage Contact Lens for Moderate-to-Severe Dry Eye Disease: A Prospective Study with 1-Month Follow-Up

Exploring the synergistic potential of probiotics and vitamin D to ameliorate acute TNBS-induced colitis in mice

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), either Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis, are diseases characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, disruption of mucosal barrier, gut dysbiosis and vitamin D deficiency. The use of probiotics or vitamin D supplements have been studied individually in different colitis models to determine their beneficial effects by increasing tight junction proteins such as occludin. However, the synergistic effects of combining these treatments to target tight junction expression are still unknown. Therefore, the objective of this research was to demonstrate the effcacy of probiotics and high dietary vitamin D to ameliorate colonic inflammation by increasing mucosal barrier integrity. We hypothesized that co-administration of a probiotic mixture with vitamin D would reduce colitis-induced inflammation by increasing tight junction expression. For the methodology, male and female C57BL/6 mice were divided into four treatment groups: Colitis+Vehicle (n=10), Colitis+Probiotic (n=10), Colitis+Vitamin D (n=11), Colitis+Probiotic+Vitamin D (n=7). Animals received seven days of pretreatment with Vivomixx probiotics in water, high vitamin D (5IU/g) in food, or both. On day 7, animals were anesthetized lightly, and colitis induction was done by intracolonic administration of 0.1mL of 4mg TNBS in 30% ethanol. Water, food, and body weight were monitored daily. Animals were sacrificed on day ten, the colonic tissue was removed and assessed for inflammation then stained for occludin expression by immunofluorescence, and probiotic colonization was confirmed within fecal samples by RT-PCR amplification of S. Thermophilus gene. Results indicate that all animals decreased weight after colitis induction, but only animals receiving probiotic had a slight recovery by day 10. Animals receiving the probiotic mixture had higher S. Thermophilus expression in fecal samples compared to vehicle (p&lt;0.001) indicating appropriate colonization. A significant reduction in macroscopic damage score (3.92 vs. 7.42, p&lt;0.05) and microscopic score (3.42 vs 7.20, p&lt;0.01) was found in animals with Probiotic+Vitamin D compared to vehicle. Although an increase in occludin expression was observed with probiotic administration it did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, findings indicate a beneficial effect of combining probiotics and vitamin D on colonic tissue damage in an animal model of acute colitis but this did not impact the tight junction protein occludin. This work was supported by RISE (R25GM082406), G-RISE (T32GM144896), PRI MD Summer Program and Porter Physiology Development Fellowship. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.