Groups Of Subjects Research Articles

Effects of Shugan Tiaoshen intradermal needling intervention on attentional networks in subthreshold depression: a randomized controlled trial

To analyze the effects of Shugan Tiaoshen (regulating liver and harmonizing spirit) intradermal needling protocol on the attentional networks of patients with subthreshold depression using the attention network test (ANT). Eighty patients with subthreshold depression were randomly divided into an intradermal needling group (40 cases) and a sham needling group (40 cases, 2 cases dropped out), with an additional 43 healthy subjects as a normal group. The intradermal needling group received intradermal needling treatment, while the sham needling group received sham intradermal needling, with the needle tip not penetrating the skin. The bilateral Xinshu (BL 15), Ganshu (BL 18), Shentang (BL 44) as well as auricular points Xin (CO15) and Gan (CO12) were selected alternately. Treatments were administered twice a week for a total of 6 weeks in the two groups. The patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7) scores were observed before treatment, after 3 weeks of treatment, after treatment, and at 1 month after the end of treatment (follow-up), and the ANT of the two groups of patients with subthreshold depression before and after treatment as well as the normal group of healthy subjects was compared. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores of the patients with subthreshold depression were decreased after 3 weeks of treatment, after treatment, and in follow-up in the two groups (P<0.05), the differences in PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores before and after treatment were greater in the intradermal needling group than those in the sham needling group (P<0.01). Before treatment, the executive control network reaction time of the subthreshold depression group (the intradermal needling group and the sham needling group) was higher than that of the normal group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, the executive control network reaction time of the patients in the intradermal needling group and the sham needling group was decreased after treatment (P<0.05), and the alerting network reaction time of the intradermal needling group was increased after treatment (P<0.05); the difference in alerting network reaction time before and after treatment was greater in the intradermal needling group than that of the sham needling group (P<0.01). Regulating liver and harmonizing spirit intradermal needling protocol could effectively improve depressive and anxious symptoms in patients with subthreshold depression, and enhance the efficiency of the alerting network.

How did COVID-19 pandemic impact on healthy behaviours among Polish professionally active physiotherapists aged 20–50?

BackgroundDue to the introduction of a number of changes to the health care system and the work nature of medical staff, theCOVID-19 pandemic still pose a public health challenge. The objective of the study was to characterize the health behaviours of Polish professionally active physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe study included 104 Polish licensed and professionally active physiotherapists in whom health behaviours were assessed using an original questionnaire contained, among others, questions from the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), available via social media platforms.ResultsAmong the physiotherapists, 34% worked directly with COVID-19 patients and 49% with those who had survived COVID-19. There were no statistically significant differences in most of the rates of physical activity undertaken by the physiotherapists surveyed (P > 0.05). Men were more likely to report taking up movement-related physical activity than women (P > 0.05). However, they spent more time sitting or lying down on a typical day (P > 0.05). The average time spent on the above-mentioned physical activities was also higher among the male participants than in the group of women (P > 0.05). There was an increase in the proportion of physiotherapists working over 40 h per week, from 29% before the pandemic to 38% during the pandemic. Statistically significant differences were observed for the products constituting the basison which of the diet of the examined physiotherapists was based (P < 0.05). The majority of the respondents reported no problems with falling asleep (p > 0.05). Stress related to the risk of contracting COVID-19, as well as concerns about the health of loved ones were more common and severe in the group of female subjects (P < 0.05).ConclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the health behaviours in some physiotherapists changed. Further studies are required to assess whether physiotherapists’ health behaviours returned to baseline levels or slightly improved compared to the initial results. Also, it is necessary to introduce health-promoting initiatives that would focus on physiotherapists, support their positive health behaviours and provide special recommendations helping them to maintain health during a pandemic.

How L2 Learners Process Different Means of Time Encoding in a Tenseless Language: An ERP Study of Mandarin.

In the past, research on the cognitive neural mechanism of second language (L2) learners' processing time information has focused on Indo-European languages. It has also focused on the temporal category expressed by morphological changes. However, there has been a lack of research on L2 learners' various time coding means, especially for Mandarin, which lacks morphological changes. Using event-related potentials (ERPs), we investigated the cognitive neural mechanism of L2 learners with native Indonesian background in processing two time coding means (time adverbs and aspect markers) in Chinese. Indonesian has time adverb encoding time information similar to that of Chinese, but there are no aspect markers similar to Chinese in Indonesian. We measured ERPs time locked to the time adverb " (cengjing)" and the aspect marker "verb + (verb + guo)" in two different conditions, i.e., a control condition (the correct sentence) and a temporal information violation. The experimental results showed that the native speaker group induced the biphasic N400-P600 effect under the condition of time adverb violation, and induced P600 under the condition of the aspect marker "verb + (verb + guo)" violation. Indonesian L2 learners of Chinese only elicited P600 for the violation of time adverbs, and there was no statistically significant N400 similar to that of Chinese native speakers. In the case of aspect marker violation, we observed no significant ERPs component for the Indonesian L2 learners of Chinese. Both groups of subjects induced elicited a widely distributed and sustained negativity on the post-critical words after "verb + (verb + guo)" and "(cengjing)". This showed that the neural mechanism of Indonesian L2 learners of Chinese processing Chinese time coding differs from that of Chinese native speakers.

Frequency of ABO and RhD Blood Groups in Patients with Celiac Disease

Celiac disease (CD) is a popular autoimmune disorder induced by gluten-containing foods and other environmental, and genetic factors. Every individual's red blood cell expresses over two million ABO blood-type antigens. Furthermore, the stomach and small intestine are major expression sites for the ABH antigens. This study was intended to assess the distribution of ABO and Rh blood types in Libyan patients with celiac disease as well as compare between CD and healthy control groups regarding complete blood count parameters. Samples from 250 CD patients and 45 healthy control groups represented by 80 males (27.1%) and 215 females (72.9%) were enrolled in the study. The samples of CD were collected from patients who attended the gastroenterology outpatient clinic at Tripoli University Hospital (TUH) for follow-up. Two hundred and fifty blood samples were serologically screened for ABO, and Rh antigens using a tube agglutination test. Another group of healthy subjects (n = 45) and CD patients (n = 45) were analyzed for CBC test. The findings showed that the most observed ABO blood group among celiac patients was blood group O 129 (51.6%), followed by blood group A 80 (32%), and Rh-positive 222 (88.8%). Furthermore, the heritable proportion was 33%, with 21% classified as first-degree and 12% as second-degree hereditary. Additionally, the result of the independent Sample (T) test to compare RBCs, HGB, HCT, and NUT levels in blood between CD patients and healthy control showed that there were significant differences in the RBCs, HGB, and HCT counts with p-value = 0.034, &lt;0.001, and &lt;0.001 respectively. In contrast, Mann-Whitney U test results revealed significant differences in the PLT, MCV, MCH, and MCHC counts with p-value = &lt;0.001, and for LYM with p-value = 0.003. Future studies on these simple inflammatory markers can guide us in predicting the diagnosis and prognosis.

Self-Reported Hypersensitivity to Smells: Objective Evidence for Hyposmia, not Hyperosmia.

To compare, using state-of-the-art psychophysical tests, the olfactory function of patients complaining and not complaining of olfactory hypersensitivity. Retrospective cross-sectional. The Smell and Taste Center at the University of Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) scores were obtained from 148 patients complaining of hyperosmia and 494 patients with no such complaints; detection threshold test scores were obtained from 77 and 483 patients of these respective groups. The effects of subject group, age, and sex on the test scores were assessed using analyses of variance. Categorical variables were evaluated by χ2. Responses to items within a detailed intake questionnaire, for example, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), were also evaluated. Unexpectedly, those complaining of hyperosmia had lower olfactory test scores than those with no such complaints (respective UPSIT means [95% confidence interval [CIs]] = 27.86 (26.85, 28.87) and 32.19 (31.67, 32.71); P < .001; respective threshold means (log vol/vol) = -4.49 (-4.89, -4.09) and -5.22 (-5.36, -5.06); P < .001). Remarkably, 70.95% of the self-identified hyperosmics exhibited mild to severe microsmia. The hyposmia complainers also exhibited elevated BDI scores (11.02 [9.53, 12.51] vs7.58[6.80, 8.34]). When objectively tested, many patients who complain of hypersensitivity to odors are actually less sensitive to them. The basis of this phenomenon is unclear. It could reflect the presence of emotionally disturbing altered smell sensations, or one or more comorbidities, such as hypochondria or osmophobia. These findings point to the importance of objective testing of persons with complaints of chemosensory dysfunction and reiterate the inaccuracy of self-reports.

Immunogenicity and Adverse Events after Covid-19 Vaccination in Patients with Systemic Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract Background The first cases of COVID-19 began in Wuhan, Hubei Province china, in December 2019. Since then, this disease caused by a highly pathogenic virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), has been labelled as a global pandemic. It is believed that the primary means of viral spread is via respiratory droplets during close-range, human-to-human contact. Aim of the Work To assess immunogenicity and to compare adverse effect following COVID-19 vaccinations in patients with systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases vs matched healthy controls. Patients and Methods This is a cross sectional study. Two groups of subjects were enrolled in the study after consideration of both inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group A: patients with systemic inflammatory auto immune disease (60 subjects) including (30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis) who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Group B: age-matched healthy controls who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (30 Subjects). All patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of department of Internal Medicine – Rheumatology division at Ain Shams University Hospital. Control group were recruited from medical and non-medical staff working at Ain Shams University Hospital. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the titre of anti-spikes antibodies with the use of different immune suppressive drugs in RA group such as methotrexate and leflunomide with p-value =0.935,0.257, respectively,also in SLE patients there was no statistically significant difference in the titre of anti-spikes antibodies with the use of different immune suppressive drugs in SLE group such as azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil and cyclophosphamide with p-value = 0.317, 1.000 and 0.513 respectively,(all patients in our study were on corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine). There was statistically significant difference as regarding disease activity in RA patients before and after covid-19 vaccine with p-value = 0.001,with a total percentage of 26.70% of patients developed mild disease activity,13.30% developed moderate disease activity while 3.3% of patients developed severe activity and as regarding SLE patients there was statistically significant difference as regarding disease activity in SLE patients before and after covid-19 vaccine with p-value = 0.002,with a total percentage of 23.3% of patients developed mild disease activity,6.7% developed moderate disease activity while 10% of patients developed severe activity. Conclusion Comparable side effects in both control and patients group with only minor side effects were reported. The Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine was immunogenic in the majority of patients in comparison to control group, with an acceptable safety profile. The use of different immune suppressive therapies (methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil,cyclophosphamide) didn’t affect humoral response after two doses of the vaccine. Apparent impact on disease activity of both SLE and RA patients but mainly in the form of mild disease activity.

Portable multi-focal visual evoked potential diagnostics for multiple sclerosis/optic neuritis patients

PurposeMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuro-inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS), where the immune system targets and damages the protective myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers, inhibiting axonal signal transmission. Demyelinating optic neuritis (ON), a common MS symptom, involves optic nerve damage. We’ve developed NeuroVEP, a portable, wireless diagnostic system that delivers visual stimuli through a smartphone in a headset and measures evoked potentials at the visual cortex from the scalp using custom electroencephalography electrodes.MethodsSubject vision is evaluated using a short 2.5-min full-field visual evoked potentials (ffVEP) test, followed by a 12.5-min multifocal VEP (mfVEP) test. The ffVEP evaluates the integrity of the visual pathway by analyzing the P100 component from each eye, while the mfVEP evaluates 36 individual regions of the visual field for abnormalities. Extensive signal processing, feature extraction methods, and machine learning algorithms were explored for analyzing the mfVEPs. Key metrics from patients’ ffVEP results were statistically evaluated against data collected from a group of subjects with normal vision. Custom visual stimuli with simulated defects were used to validate the mfVEP results which yielded 91% accuracy of classification.Results20 subjects, 10 controls and 10 with MS and/or ON were tested with the NeuroVEP device and a standard-of-care (SOC) VEP testing device which delivers only ffVEP stimuli. In 91% of the cases, the ffVEP results agreed between NeuroVEP and SOC device. Where available, the NeuroVEP mfVEP results were in good agreement with Humphrey Automated Perimetry visual field analysis. The lesion locations deduced from the mfVEP data were consistent with Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Optical Coherence Tomography findings.ConclusionThis pilot study indicates that NeuroVEP has the potential to be a reliable, portable, and objective diagnostic device for electrophysiology and visual field analysis for neuro-visual disorders.

Immunogenicity and Adverse Events after Covid-19 Vaccination in Patients with Systemic Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract Background The first cases of COVID-19 began in Wuhan, Hubei Province china, in December 2019. Since then, this disease caused by a highly pathogenic virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), has been labelled as a global pandemic. It is believed that the primary means of viral spread is via respiratory droplets during close-range, human-to-human contact. Aim of the Work To assess immunogenicity and to compare adverse effect following COVID-19 vaccinations in patients with systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases vs matched healthy controls. Patients and Methods This is a cross sectional study. Two groups of subjects were enrolled in the study after consideration of both inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group A: patients with systemic inflammatory auto immune disease (60 subjects) including (30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis) who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Group B: age-matched healthy controls who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (30 Subjects). All patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of department of Internal Medicine – Rheumatology division at Ain Shams University Hospital. Control group were recruited from medical and non-medical staff working at Ain Shams University Hospital. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the titre of anti-spikes antibodies with the use of different immune suppressive drugs in RA group such as methotrexate and leflunomide with p- value = 0.935,0.257, respectively,also in SLE patients there was no statistically significant difference in the titre of anti-spikes antibodies with the use of different immune suppressive drugs in SLE group such as azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil and cyclophosphamide with p-value = 0.317, 1.000 and 0.513 respectively,(all patients in our study were on corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine). There was statistically significant difference as regarding disease activity in RA patients before and after covid-19 vaccine with p-value = 0.001,with a total percentage of 26.70% of patients developed mild disease activity,13.30% developed moderate disease activity while 3.3% of patients developed severe activity and as regarding SLE patients there was statistically significant difference as regarding disease activity in SLE patients before and after covid-19 vaccine with p-value = 0.002,with a total percentage of 23.3% of patients developed mild disease activity, 6.7% developed moderate disease activity while 10% of patients developed severe activity. Conclusion Comparable side effects in both control and patients group with only minor side effects were reported. The Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine was immunogenic in the majority of patients in comparison to control group, with an acceptable safety profile. The use of different immune suppressive therapies (methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide) didn’t affect humoral response after two doses of the vaccine. Apparent impact on disease activity of both SLE and RA patients but mainly in the form of mild disease activity.

Pulmonary functions test in asymptomatic rheumatoid lung disease patients: a hospital-based study

BackgroundAs a common extra-articular symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pulmonary involvement affects 20–67% of patients and accounts for 10–20% of RA-related deaths. This study aimed to assess the impact of RA on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in Sudanese RA patients attending the rheumatology clinics of the Omdurman Military Hospital.MethodsThis was an analytical, cross-sectional, hospital-based study of 32 RA patients who met the 2010 Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (RA ACR/EULAR) and who were nonsmokers and free of known respiratory or chronic diseases. Pulmonary function parameters (PFTs), including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), the FEV1/FVC ratio, and the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), were measured for each participant using a digital spirometer. A control group of Sudanese subjects of similar age, sex, and height was matched, and the results were compared with normal reference values.ResultsA high prevalence of lung function abnormalities (93.8%) was observed in RA patients, and 6.2% of them had normal PFT parameters. Restrictive lung disease was recorded in 78.1% of the patients, and obstructive lung disease was observed in 15.7% of the patients. All measured PFT parameters in the RA patients were significantly lower than the published reference normal values for Sudanese subjects, except for the FEV1/FVC ratio. The mean values of FEV1, FVC, the FEV1/FVC ratio, and the PRFR in RA patients were 1.8 ± 0.3 L/min, 2.1 ± 0.4 L/min, 87.1 ± 12.2%, and 223.6 ± 86.2 L/min, respectively, compared to 2.4 ± 0.1 L/min, 2.7 ± 0.1 L/min, 90.81 ± 2.6%, and 345.4 ± 16.2 L/min, respectively, in the control group (P values of 0.001, 0.001, 0.299, and 0.001, respectively). There was no statistically significant correlation between PFT results and disease duration, age, or BMI.ConclusionsRegardless of the duration of RA, restrictive lung abnormalities are frequent in asymptomatic RA patients. The PFT can serve as an indicator of RA. Spirometry has been advised as a baseline examination and for follow-up and to promote the early detection and management of pulmonary involvement in RA patients.

The slowness of language, the speed of capital: conflicting temporalities of the “green transition” in the Swedish north

Abstract Following substantial investments in battery production and fossil-free steel, a few select places in northern Sweden are currently undergoing rapid economic and cultural changes. The aim of this article is to explore the role language education plays for three different groups of (im)mobile subjects – refugees, labor migrants, and cosmopolitan elites – in the ongoing social transformations. By using the time-consuming and ideologically charged social practice of teaching and learning languages as a lens, it is argued that although framed as a sustainability project, the pace of the transformation is set by the accelerating logic of capitalism, posing a challenge to the democratic planning of inclusive local communities, as well as to societal subsystems characterized by much slower temporal regimes. Hence, although Sweden is committed to a “just transition” as part of the Paris Agreement, some are obviously benefiting much more than others from this transition. This paper further highlights the potentially high costs for the local communities that “win” the bids for the new green industries. Apart from considerable economic costs in the present, another result might also be increased social stratification and weakening social cohesion in the long term.

Single-Nucleus Transcriptomic Atlas of Human Pericoronary Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Normal and Pathological Conditions.

Pericoronary epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a unique visceral fat depot that surrounds the adventitia of the coronary arteries without any anatomic barrier. Clinical studies have demonstrated the association between EAT volume and increased risks for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the association remain elusive. We performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing on pericoronary EAT samples collected from 3 groups of subjects: patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery for severe CAD (n=8), patients with CAD with concomitant type 2 diabetes (n=8), and patients with valvular diseases but without concomitant CAD and type 2 diabetes as the control group (n=8). Comparative analyses were performed among groups, including cellular compositional analysis, cell type-resolved transcriptomic changes, gene coexpression network analysis, and intercellular communication analysis. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to confirm the presence of CAD-associated subclusters. Unsupervised clustering of 73 386 nuclei identified 15 clusters, encompassing all known cell types in the adipose tissue. Distinct subpopulations were identified within primary cell types, including adipocytes, adipose stem and progenitor cells, and macrophages. CD83high macrophages and FOSBhigh adipocytes were significantly expanded in CAD. In comparison to normal controls, both disease groups exhibited dysregulated pathways and altered secretome in the primary cell types. Nevertheless, minimal differences were noted between the disease groups in terms of cellular composition and transcriptome. In addition, our data highlight a potential interplay between dysregulated circadian clock and altered physiological functions in adipocytes of pericoronary EAT. ANXA1 (annexin A1) and SEMA3B (semaphorin 3B) were identified as important adipokines potentially involved in functional changes of pericoronary EAT and CAD pathogenesis. We built a complete single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of human pericoronary EAT in normal and diseased conditions of CAD. Our study lays the foundation for developing novel therapeutic strategies for treating CAD by targeting and modifying pericoronary EAT functions.

Features of sensorimotor response of students with different types of attitude to the disease: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION. One of the key psychophysiological features of a subject who has lost his health is sensorimotor response, reflecting the features of neuroplasticity, and allowing us to understand how much a person is able to adapt to the changed living conditions that the disease inevitably imposes. In turn, achieving the desired result of rehabilitation will become more effective if, when building rehabilitation measures, it is taken into account how a person with certain health problems treats his changed condition, that is, to determine the type of attitude to the disease of a participant in rehabilitation measures. AIM. To study the features of simple and complex sensorimotor reactions in boys and girls with different types of attitudes to the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS. 160 subjects (average age — 21 ± 2.3 years) of both sexes were examined. The main criterion for the sample formation was the different level of health of the study participants. Respondents with 2 and 3 health groups were selected. The diagnosis of the types of attitude to the disease was carried out using the “Type of attitude to the disease” technique. The fixation of the sensorimotor response was performed using the Rebus computer technique, which allows recording a simple and complex sensorimotor reaction. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. It was revealed that harmonious (25 %), anosognosic (10.6 %) and ergopathic (20.6 %) types of attitude to the disease predominate in the group of subjects. Shown: 1) subjects with anosognosic type have the highest accuracy of a simple sensorimotor reaction (−0.12 ± 0.12), compared with the other two identified types of attitude to the disease (p 0.05); 2) subjects with anosognosic type have the lowest values of the average execution time of a complex sensorimotor reaction (361.51 ± 31.14), compared with subjects with a harmonious (386.19 ± 32.18) and ergopathic (396.50 ± 50.05) type of attitude to the disease; 3) the quality (R = 0.299, R2 = 0.090 at p = 0.020) and accuracy (R = 0.293, R2 = 0.086 at p = 0.023) of a simple sensorimotor reaction affect the type of attitude to the disease. CONCLUSION. In subjects with different types of attitude to the disease, the features of sensorimotor response differ from each other. The most effective sensorimotor reactions are performed by subjects with an anosognosic type of attitude to the disease. The type of attitude to the disease and the parameters of sensorimotor response, such as the quality and accuracy of a simple sensorimotor reaction are related to each other.

Computer vision for eye diseases detection using pre‐trained deep learning techniques and raspberry Pi

AbstractEarly diagnosis of eye diseases is very important to prevent visual impairment and guide appropriate treatment methods. This paper presents a unique approach that can detect numerous eye diseases automatically. Initially, this approach used the pre‐trained ImageNet models that provides various pre‐trained models for training the acquired data. The existing data sets are composed of 645 data images acquired clinically, represented by two groups of subjects as healthy and others holding the proposed eye defect like cataracts, foreign bodies, glaucoma, subconjunctival haemorrhage, and viral conjunctivitis. Followed by comparisons of the pre‐trained model's coefficients and prediction performance. Later, the first‐class execution model is integrated within the Raspberry Pi staging and the real‐time digital camera detection. The evaluation process used the confusion matrix, model accuracy, precision factor, recall coefficient, F1 score, and the Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC). Resulting in the performance of these pre‐trained ImageNet models used in this study represented by 93% (InceptionResNetV2), 90% (MobileNet), 86% (Residual Network ResNet50), 85% (InceptionV3), 78% (Visual Geometry Group VGG19), and 72% (Neural Architecture Search Network NASNetMobile). The results show that the InceptionResNetV2 achieved the highest performance. This proposed approach shows its efficiency and strength by early detection of the subject's unhealthy eyes through real‐time monitoring in the field of ophthalmology.

Do depressed people with subjective psychomotor retardation show a different symptomatic pattern? A network analysis approach using a cross-national sample

Background and objectivesPsychomotor retardation (PMR) has been associated with worse clinical course in depressed people. Explanations for this finding remain inconclusive. This study aimed to analyse whether depressed people with subjective PMR might show a different symptomatic pattern and to describe their clinical and sociodemographic profiles. MethodsA total of 1024 participants from Finland, Spain and Poland, part of the “COURAGE in Europe” Project who screened positive for a depressive episode according to International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) criteria using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 (CIDI 3.0), were included. Two group networks of depressive symptoms were estimated according to the presence (555 people) and absence (469 people) of subjective PMR. Measures of strength and betweenness of depressive symptoms were explored. ResultsPeople with subjective PMR showed a higher number of symptoms (11.30 (±2.67) versus 9.26 (±2.77)) and global disability score (38.30 (±26.41) versus 19.59 (±19.31) than people without subjective PMR. Although no difference was found in the global structure (M-Test=1.531; p = 0.994) nor the global strength (S-Test=0.248; p = 0.954) of depressed symptoms between depressed people with and without subjective PMR, differences were found in the type of central symptoms; “Restlessness/Jitters” (p = 0.01) and “Early Wake-Up” (p = 0.02) were relevant for the subjective PMR group. These two symptoms worked as bridge items between other depressive symptoms specifically for depressed people with subjective PMR. ConclusionsOur results confirm that subjective PMR in depression is associated with higher severity of symptoms and disability. Depressed People with subjective PMR might show a different pattern of nuclear symptoms. Suicidal attempt, early wake-up and restlessness could be high-priority targets in the treatment of depressed people with subjective PMR.

Metformin in diabetes management: expanding benefits. Review

We have conducted a narrative review based on a structured search strategy, focusing on the effects of metformin on the progression of non‑diabetic hyperglycemia to clinical type 2 diabetes mellitus. The principal trials that demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of diabetes in at‑risk populations randomized to metformin (mostly with impaired glucose tolerance) were published mainly from 1999 to 2012. Metformin reduced the 3‑year risk of diabetes by ‑31% in the randomized phase of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), vs.‑ 58% for intensive lifestyle intervention. Metformin was most effective in younger, heavier subjects. Diminishing but still significant reductions in diabetes risk for subjects originally randomized to these groups were present in the trial’s epidemiological follow‑up, the DPP Outcomes Study (DPPOS) at 10 years (‑18 and ‑34%, respectively), 15 years (‑18 and ‑27%), and 22 years (‑18 and ‑25%). Long‑term weight loss was also seen in both groups, with better maintenance under metformin. Subgroup analyses from the DPP/DPPOS have shed important light on the actions of metformin, including a greater effect in women with prior gestational diabetes, and a reduction in coronary artery calcium in men that might suggest a cardioprotective effect. Improvements in long‑term clinical outcomes with metformin in people with non‑diabetic hyperglycemia («prediabetes») have yet to be demonstrated, but cardiovascular and microvascular benefits were seen for those in the DPPOS who did not vs. did develop diabetes mellitus. Multiple health economic analyses suggest that either metformin or intensive lifestyle intervention is cost‑effective in a community setting. Long‑term diabetes prevention with metformin is feasible and is supported in influential guidelines for selected groups of subjects. Future research will demonstrate whether intervention with metformin in people with non‑diabetic hyperglycemia will improve long‑term clinical outcomes.

The Combination of Gardenia jasminoides, Boswellia serrata, Commiphora myrrha, Foeniculum vulgarae, and Daucus carota Essential Oil Blend Improved the Inflammatory and Clinical Status in Respiratory Tract Infection of COVID-19 Patients: A Multicentre, Randomized, Open-label, Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Essential oils (EO) are complex volatile, naturally synthesized compounds from aromatic plants. It considers as healthy, effective, and safe since they were coming from nature. Gardenia jasminoides, Boswellia serrata, Commiphora myrrha, Foeniculum vulgarae, and Daucus carota are known to have antimicrobials, antioxidants, antiinflammation properties against respiratory tract infection. However, despite its natural content, a safety profile needs to be observed. Therefore, in this study, EO blend (EOB) made from the combination of these 5 plants was assessed for its efficacy and safety for respiratory tract infection in human.METHODS: A multicentre, randomized, open-label, phase II controlled trial involving 80 hospitalized adults with COVID-19 was conducted. One group of subjects only received standard of care (SoC), while the other group receive SoC and EOB orally for 10 days.RESULTS: There were significant decrease in interleukin (IL)-6 level (p=0.016) and interferon (IFN)-γ level (p=0.012), as well as better respiratory rate (p=0.024) for the group receiving SoC and EOB compared to the group receiving SoC only. However, there was no significant differences in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, and the corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation value in both groups. All subjects with adverse effects were improved and recovered, and there were no serious adverse events found.CONCLUSION: The combination of G. jasminoides, B. serrata, C. myrrha, F. vulgarae, and D. carota EOB could improve the inflammatory and clinical status and safe to be used as adjuvant therapy for treating COVID-19 in adults.KEYWORDS: essential oils, COVID-19, inflammation, safety

Alterations in neural activation in the ventral frontoparietal network during complex magnocellular stimuli in developmental dyslexia associated with READ1 deletion

BackgroundAn intronic deletion within intron 2 of the DCDC2 gene encompassing the entire READ1 (hereafter, READ1d) has been associated in both children with developmental dyslexia (DD) and typical readers (TRs), with interindividual variation in reading performance and motion perception as well as with structural and functional brain alterations. Visual motion perception -- specifically processed by the magnocellular (M) stream -- has been reported to be a solid and reliable endophenotype of DD. Hence, we predicted that READ1d should affect neural activations in brain regions sensitive to M stream demands as reading proficiency changes.MethodsWe investigated neural activations during two M-eliciting fMRI visual tasks (full-field sinusoidal gratings controlled for spatial and temporal frequencies and luminance contrast, and sensitivity to motion coherence at 6%, 15% and 40% dot coherence levels) in four subject groups: children with DD with/without READ1d, and TRs with/without READ1d.ResultsAt the Bonferroni-corrected level of significance, reading skills showed a significant effect in the right polar frontal cortex during the full-field sinusoidal gratings-M task. Regardless of the presence/absence of the READ1d, subjects with poor reading proficiency showed hyperactivation in this region of interest (ROI) compared to subjects with better reading scores. Moreover, a significant interaction was found between READ1d and reading performance in the left frontal opercular area 4 during the 15% coherent motion sensitivity task. Among subjects with poor reading performance, neural activation in this ROI during this specific task was higher for subjects without READ1d than for READ1d carriers. The difference vanished as reading skills increased.ConclusionsOur findings showed a READ1d-moderated genetic vulnerability to alterations in neural activation in the ventral attentive and salient networks during the processing of relevant stimuli in subjects with poor reading proficiency.

PENGARUH MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN EDUCANDY TERHADAP MOTIVASI BELAJAR SISWA KELAS IV PADA MATA PELAJARAN PENDIDIKAN PANCASILA DI SD NEGERI 1 WONOBOYO

This study aims to determine whether there is an effect of Educandy learning media on the learning motivation of fourth grade students in Pancasila Education subjects at SD Negeri 1 Wonoboyo. This research is a quasi-experimental quantitative research, namely Non-Equivalent Control Group Design, which has two groups of subjects for the experimental class and the control class. Involving as many as 36 students. Data collection techniques were observation, questionnaires, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis is normality test, homogeneity test, and independent sample t-test. The use of learning motivation questionnaires to determine student learning motivation at the beginning and end. The results of the initial motivation questionnaire for the control and experimental classes respectively obtained an average value of 68.33 and 66.44, while the results of the final motivation questionnaire were 61.11 and 72.78. The hypothesis test conducted was obtained when the significance value (2-tailed) was 0.000. The conclusion obtained is if there is an effect of Educandy learning media on the learning motivation of SD Negeri 1 Wonoboyo students.

Dysrhythmic saliva microbiota in mobile phone addicts with sleep disorders and restored by acupuncture.

Mobile phone addiction (MPA) greatly affects the biological clock and sleep quality and is emerging as a behavioral disorder. The saliva microbiota has been linked to circadian rhythms, and our previous research revealed dysrhythmic saliva metabolites in MPA subjects with sleep disorders (MPASD). In addition, acupuncture had positive effects. However, the dysbiotic saliva microbiota in MPASD patients and the restorative effects of acupuncture are unclear. To probe the circadian dysrhythmic characteristics of the saliva microbiota and acupunctural restoration in MPASD patients. MPASD patients and healthy volunteers were recruited by the Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale (MPATS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Saliva samples were collected every 4 h for 72 h. After saliva sampling, six MPDSD subjects (group M) were acupuncturally treated (group T), and subsequent saliva sampling was conducted posttreatment. Finally, all the samples were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Significantly increased MPATS and PSQI scores were observed in MPDSD patients (p< 0.01), but these scores decreased (p<0.001) after acupuncture intervention. Compared with those in healthy controls, the diversity and structure of the saliva microbiota in MPASD patients were markedly disrupted. Six genera with circadian rhythms were detected in all groups, including Sulfurovum, Peptostreptococcus, Porphyromonas and Prevotella. There were five genera with circadian rhythmicity in healthy people, of which the rhythmicities of the genera Rothia and Lautropia disappeared in MPASD patients but effectively resumed after acupuncture intervention. This work revealed dysrhythmic salivary microbes in MPASD patients, and acupuncture, as a potential intervention, could be effective in mitigating this ever-rising behavioral epidemic.

The Effect of Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation on Coronary Artery Calcium Progression in Subjects With Diabetes and Coronary Artery Disease: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial

Higher coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores and progression of CAC are associated with higher mortality. We previously reported that subjects with coronary artery disease randomly allocated to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation or none had similar significant increases in CAC score over 30 months. Whether these findings are influenced by diabetes status is unknown. A total of 242 subjects with coronary artery disease who were on statin therapy were randomly allocated to to 1.86 g EPA and 1.5 g DHA daily or none (control). The CAC score was measured at baseline and 30-month follow-up using noncontrast, cardiac computed tomography. A significant interaction term between diabetes status and treatment arm was noted in the prediction of the CAC score (p <0.001). A total of 176 subjects (85.8% men) had no diabetes and 66 subjects (80.3% men) had diabetes. The mean age was 62.9 ± 7.9 versus 63.2 ± 7.1 years, respectively. The mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and median triglyceride levels were not significantly different between those without and with diabetes: 77.7 ± 25.9 versus 77.1 ± 30.2 mg/100 ml, respectively, and 117.0 (78.0 to 158.0) versus 119.0 (84.5 to 201.5) mg/100 ml, respectively. Subjects with diabetes on EPA+DHA had a greater increase in CAC score than subjects with diabetes in the control group (median 380.7 vs 183.5, respectively, p = 0.021). In contrast, no difference occurred between the EPA+DHA and control groups in subjects without diabetes (175.7 vs 201.1, respectively, p = 0.41). In conclusion, EPA+DHA supplementation was associated with greater CAC progression in subjects with diabetes than subjects with diabetes in the control group over a 30-month period; whether this indicates progression of the disease burden or plaque stabilization requires further study.