Three-month Follow-up Research Articles

Effects of percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects via the right internal jugular vein.

Percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure is the preferred treatment for patients with suitable ASD anatomy. The safety and effectiveness of transcatheter closure have been established. However, reports on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided percutaneous closure of ASD via the right internal jugular vein (RIJV) are limited. The study aims to discuss the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous trans-jugular vein closure of ASD. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients (n=103) with secondary ASD who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University between July 2015 to July 2022. The article is a cross-sectional study. Clinical data, including age, gender, weight, defect diameter, tricuspid regurgitation, left atrial (LA) size, and the operation results, were collected and evaluated. Nonparametric rank sum tests were used to assess tricuspid regurgitation before and after surgery, while paired sample t-tests were used to compare LA size before and after surgery. TEE-guided percutaneous closure of ASD via the RIJV was successfully performed in 97 out of 103 (94.2%) cases. The average procedure time was 34.48±13.06 min, and the mean age at the time of the procedure and ASD size were 36±18 years and 15.45±5.82 mm, respectively. On analyzing medical records and echocardiographic images, postoperative complications were found to occur in four (3.9%) patients. Among these, three patients had residual shunt as indicated by echocardiography during the operation, which subsequently disappeared at the three-month follow-up. One patient developed atrial fibrillation after surgery but returned to normal sinus rhythm with medication. Percutaneous closure of ASD via the RIJV was unsuccessful in 6 patients (5.8%), with 5 of them undergoing transthoracic ASD closure and achieving satisfactory results. One patient refused further surgical treatment. No pericardial effusion, thrombosis, atrioventricular block, or other complications were observed during the 3-month to 1-year follow-up period. ASD closure via the RIJV is a safe and effective therapeutic approach. The initial results are satisfactory, but further studies with large sample sizes and long-term follow-up are warranted to assess the long-term outcomes.

Efficacy and Safety of Spinal Collagen Mesotherapy in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain in a Three-Month Follow-Up—Retrospective Study

Background: Low back pain syndrome is associated with muscular and myofascial pain and is linked with muscle overstrain or a lack of regular physical activity as well as a habitual bad posture, which cause the overload of perispinal soft tissues. One of the forms of therapy of LBP is the mesotherapy of the spine, which consists of multi-point micro-injections of drugs or medicine mixtures, which include preparations of collagen type I. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of mesotherapy with collagen type I. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the results of the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain syndrome using mesotherapy was performed. A total of 130 patients (83 women and 47 men; mean age: 51 ± 14 years) were divided into two groups: group I (n = 65), treated with collagen type I, and group II (n = 65), treated with lignocaine 1%. Mesotherapy was performed weekly over five weeks. Patients were assessed using the following scales: the VAS, Laitinen Scale, and Revised Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Scale before the start of the treatment, after five treatments, and at the three-month follow-up visit. Results: A statistically significant improvement was observed after the use of spinal mesotherapy both with collagen type I and lignocaine, with the collagen treatment having better results at the three-month follow-up visit. No adverse effects were observed after the procedures. Conclusions: Spinal mesotherapy using collagen type I and lignocaine seems to be an effective method in the treatment of chronic LBP. Collagen mesotherapy gives better results in the long term. Mesotherapy is a safe form of therapy.

Dynamic Taping: A Promising Non-surgical Management Technique for Lactational Breast Abscess

Background Breastfeeding is crucial for maternal and child health. However, mastitis and lactational breast abscesses (LBAs), pose serious health risks for nursing mothers and are traditionally treated with minor surgery, that often separates mother and child, and causes significant maternal distress. This study investigates dynamic tape (DT) as a nonsurgical intervention for LBAs that will allow breastfeeding even during treatment in postpartum Indian women. Methods This prospective, observational cohort study was conducted at a tertiary maternity center (Karnataka, India) between October 2017 and December 2018 [CTRI Number/2018/05/013788]. Twenty postpartum women with mastitis and LBA were subjected to dynamic taping (using DT Beige Tattoo or DT Eco based on breast size and abscess location). LBA resolution was confirmed through ultrasonography and clinical examination. Results Twenty participants (median age = 30 years) completed the study without adverse reactions; 65% practiced exclusive breastfeeding. Lump sizes and pus volumes were significantly reduced after treatment; 60% experienced self-drainage, 35% experienced resolution without self-drainage, and only 5% did not experience resolution; average time to resolution was 13.95 days, with each taping session lasting 3.85 days. The mean lump measurement and pus volume significantly reduced post-treatment from 108.7 cm3 and 54.58 ml to 3.14 cm3 and 1.07 ml, respectively, with 95% experiencing abscess resolution. The positive outcomes were observed during the three-month follow-up, with no recurrence of LBAs. Conclusions Dynamic taping resolves LBAs without surgery, by aiding lymphatic flow, reducing inflammation, and supporting breastfeeding. Larger randomized studies are required to validate its efficacy and safety.

Diagnostic accuracy of the Clock Drawing Test in screening for early post-stroke neurocognitive disorder: the Nor-COAST study

BackgroundPost-stroke neurocognitive disorder, though common, is often overlooked by clinicians. Moreover, although the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) has proven to be a valid screening test for neurocognitive disorder, even more time saving tests would be preferred. In our study, we aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) for post-stroke neurocognitive disorder and the association between the CDT and MoCA.MethodsThis study is part of the Norwegian Cognitive Impairment After Stroke study, a multicentre prospective cohort study following patients admitted with acute stroke. At the three-month follow-up, patients were classified with normal cognition, mild neurocognitive disorder, or major neurocognitive disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria. Any neurocognitive disorder compromised both mild- and major neurocognitive disorder. The CDT at the three-month assessment was given scores ranging from 0 to 5. Patients able to complete the CDT and whose cognitive status could be classified were included in analyses. The CDT diagnostic accuracy for post-stroke neurocognitive disorder was identified using receiver operating characteristic curves, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The association between the MoCA and CDT was analysed with Spearman’s rho.ResultsOf 554 participants, 238 (43.0%) were women. Mean (SD) age was 71.5 (11.8) years, while mean (SD) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 2.6 (3.7). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the CDT for major neurocognitive disorder and any neurocognitive disorder was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.68–0.79) and 0.68 (95% CI, 0.63–0.72), respectively. A CDT cutoff of < 5 yielded 68% sensitivity and 60% specificity for any neurocognitive disorder and 78% sensitivity and 53% specificity for major neurocognitive disorder. Spearman’s correlation coefficient between scores on the MoCA and CDT was 0.50 (95% CI, 0.44–0.57, p < .001).ConclusionsThe CDT is not accurate enough to diagnose post-stroke neurocognitive disorder but shows acceptable accuracy in identifying major neurocognitive disorder. Performance on the CDT was associated with performance on MoCA; however, the CDT is inferior to MoCA in identifying post-stroke neurocognitive disorder.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02650531). Retrospectively registered January 8, 2016.

Telehealth dignity therapy for community-dwelling older adults: feasibility and potential efficacy

ABSTRACT Research investigating accessible positive psychology interventions for older adults is lacking. We examined the feasibility and potential efficacy of Telehealth dignity therapy (TDT), a brief psychotherapy involving life review, culminating in the creation of a transcribed life story. Feasibility was measured by participant satisfaction levels and attrition rates. In accordance with past dignity therapy research, we investigated changes in participants’ meaning in life (MiL) before TDT, after TDT, and at three-month follow-up. Other secondary wellbeing outcomes were assessed. Twenty participants completed the program and reported high levels of satisfaction. Participants’ MiL and life satisfaction significantly improved between before and after TDT, and MiL gains were maintained at three-month follow-up. The program was found to be a feasible, timely, and potentially efficacious positive psychology intervention for community-dwelling older adults. Future larger-scale, controlled research is required to consolidate these findings.

Effects of sarcopenia on in-hospital results and mid-term follow-up in patients with coronary artery disease and COVID-19

Objectives: Sarcopenia is associated with atherosclerosis, vascular dysfunction, and poor in-hospital prognosis in the general COVID-19 population. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is also associated with poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19, however, the influencing factors in this association have not yet been fully documented. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sarcopenia on both in-hospital acute-term and mid-term follow-up clinical results in patients with CAD and COVID-19. Methods: The study population was selected from the general COVID-19 population. It consisted of 50 patients with CAD (group I) and 80 age- and gender-matched patients without CAD (group II). In-hospital acute term endpoints were determined as intensive care unit (ICU) admission, intubation, mortality, and its combination. Mid-term follow-up was also made for three-month. Sarcopenia was assessed by indexed skeletal muscle mass at T12 vertebrae level (T12-SMI) on initial chest computed tomography. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to detect independently related factors to endpoints. Results: Group I had more severe COVID-19 disease and a higher rate of hospitalization, ICU admission, intubation as well as mortality compared to group II in acute-term. T12-SMI was lower and sarcopenia was more frequent in group I than in group II. During the three-month mid-term follow-up period, no additional adverse results occurred in both groups. In multivariate regression analysis; sarcopenia was independently related to in-hospital combined endpoint. Conclusions: Sarcopenia is associated with in-hospital combined endpoint in patients with CAD during acute-term of COVID-19. However, it has no effect on three-month mid-term follow-up.

Improving motivation and treatment uptake behaviors of patients with eating disorders using patient narrative videos: study protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPatients with eating disorders (ED) typically report delays between the onset of symptoms and engagement with treatment services. Personal barriers including stigma, shame, and guilt, as well as the availability of social support may influence patients’ decisions to engage with treatment services. Patient narratives are personalized stories discussing the illness and recovery of previously affected persons. Such narratives can reduce self-stigma and provide current patients with hope for their own recovery.MethodThis pilot study will examine the effects of patient narrative videos on the treatment motivation and uptake of treatment services for patients with ED. Three narrative videos were developed from the perspectives of (a) a former patient with an ED, (b) an ED specialist, and (c) the same former patient discussing a somatic condition unrelated to ED. Patients will be randomized into three video viewing and one treatment-as-usual group. Effects on treatment motivation will be assessed using the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA-S) immediately after viewing the videos, as well as one-week and three-month follow-ups. Treatment uptake will be assessed during follow-up using a questionnaire listing possible treatment interactions. A post-intervention questionnaire and semi-structured interviews will be used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of patient narrative videos for this population.DiscussionThere is an urgent need to encourage patients with ED to engage with specialized treatments as soon as possible. Patient narratives may be a pivotal approach to implementing cost effective and easy to disseminate early intervention programs to future patients with ED.

Evaluating the Efficacy of a Multifaceted Health Behavior Training Program on Psychological Distress

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive Health Behavior Training Program in reducing psychological distress among adults. The program, integrating cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, stress management, and health education, sought to provide participants with effective tools to manage distress and improve overall well-being. A randomized controlled trial design was employed, involving 50 participants with mild to moderate psychological distress, randomly assigned to either the experimental group receiving the Health Behavior Training Program or a control group receiving no intervention. The intervention consisted of 8 weekly sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. Psychological distress was measured at baseline, post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). The experimental group exhibited a significant reduction in psychological distress scores from pre-test (Mean = 33.81, SD = 4.19) to post-test (Mean = 27.44, SD = 4.42) and maintained these improvements at the three-month follow-up (Mean = 27.39, SD = 4.37). In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes in distress scores over time. Analysis of variance with repeated measurements indicated significant effects of time (F(2) = 6.33, p &lt; 0.01), group (F(1) = 7.10, p &lt; 0.01), and their interaction (F(2) = 6.40, p &lt; 0.01) on psychological distress scores, underscoring the effectiveness of the intervention. The Health Behavior Training Program significantly reduced psychological distress among participants compared to a control group, with sustained effects at a three-month follow-up. These findings support the implementation of multifaceted health behavior interventions as effective tools for managing psychological distress and enhancing mental health outcomes.

Effectiveness of an 8-week neck exercise training on pain, jaw function, and oral health-related quality of life in women with chronic temporomandibular disorders: a randomized controlled trial

To test the effectiveness of an 8-week exercise program targeted to the neck muscles compared to manual therapy, and placebo treatments on orofacial pain intensity, jaw function, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and jaw range of motion (ROM) in women with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). In this randomized controlled trial, fifty-four women (between 18–45 years old) with a diagnosis of myofascial or mixed TMD according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) were randomized into three groups: Neck motor control training (NTG), Manual Therapy Group (MTG), and Placebo Group (PG). All patients were evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale, Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire, Oral Health Impact Profile-14, and jaw Range of Motion (ROM) at baseline, immediately after treatment (after 8 weeks of treatment), one month, and three-month follow-up. For all outcomes, a mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures was conducted with a Bonferroni post hoc test. NTG was significantly better than the PG group on pain and jaw function at the end of treatment, one- and three-month follow-up (Effect Size (ES) &gt;0.7). For OHRQoL, NTG was significantly better than MTG and PG at the end of treatment and at three-month follow-up (ES &gt;0.7). The results of this project are encouraging, and they could be used to guide clinical practice in this field. Exercises targeted to the neck (which require low therapeutic supervision) could be a simple and conservative way to improve pain and disability for women with TMD with neck involvement.

Comparative Analysis of Peak Inspiratory Flow Rate at Discharge and Three-month Follow-up in Severe Acute Exacerbation of COPD Patients using Metered Dose Inhalers versus Dry Powder Inhalers: A Prospective Observational Study

Introduction: Patients discharged following hospitalisation for Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD) are prescribed Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI), Dry Powder Inhalers (DPI), or nebulisers. Drug dispersion from the inhaler and deposition in the lung depends on Peak Inspiratory Flow Rate (PIFR) among other factors. A low PIFR results in suboptimal drug delivery and is a risk factor for readmission. Aim: To estimate PIFR at discharge following AECOPD, assess the type of inhalers prescribed at discharge, and estimate the mean change in PIFR at three months follow-up in patients using MDI and DPI. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, Goa Medical College, Goa, India on 138 patients over 15 months from November 2018 to February 2020. A sample size of 138 was calculated, and the study duration was 15 months. Patients admitted with AECOPD were enrolled in the study after obtaining informed consent. At discharge, baseline characteristics and co-morbidities were recorded, and PIFR was measured using an in-check dial peak inspiratory flow meter without resistance. Inhalers prescribed by the treating physician were verified and checked for errors. PIFR was measured at three months of follow-up. Optimal PIFR was defined as PIFR of ≥60 L/min. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science Programs (SPSS) version 24.0 (IBM Corp, SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL). A paired t-test assessed the change in PIFR at discharge and three months follow-up, and Pearson’s correlation test was used to assess the correlation between continuous variables. Results: Total 138 were enrolled with a mean age of 69.8±7.5 years, 87 (63%) were males. The mean PIFR at discharge was 58.9±24.7 L/min. 85 (61.6%) had suboptimal PIFR and were older {71.9±7.8 versus 66.3±5.6, p-value=0.01}. A total of 59 (69.4%) with suboptimal PIFR received MDI. At three months, the suboptimal PIFR group receiving MDI showed a mean change in PIFR of 18.6±7.7, p-value&lt;0.001 while with DPI mean change was -3.8±6.3, p-value=0.005. Conclusion: 61.6% had suboptimal PIFR at discharge following hospitalisation with AECOPD. Patients with suboptimal PIFR receiving MDI showed improvement in PIFR at three months, while those with suboptimal PIFR using DPI showed significant deterioration. Identifying patients with suboptimal PIFR will aid appropriate prescription of inhaler devices.

Investigating the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Self-Compassion and Experiential Avoidance in Women Who Have Experienced Marital Infidelity

Objective: Marital infidelity is one of the most significant threats to the stability of marital relationships and a leading cause of divorce across various cultures. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on self-compassion and experiential avoidance in women who have experienced marital infidelity. Methods: The current research was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design, involving experimental and control groups and a three-month follow-up. All women who had experienced marital infidelity and attended psychotherapy and counseling clinics in Tehran during the year 2021-2022 constituted the statistical population of this study, from which 30 were selected via convenience sampling based on the inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to two equal groups of 15. Data were collected using the Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003) and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire - Second Version (Bond et al., 2007). Participants in the experimental group received 8 sessions of intervention. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance with SPSS version 26. Findings: The mean self-compassion score and its dimensions in the experimental group significantly improved post-intervention compared to the control group (p &lt; 0.05). Cognitive-behavioral therapy was beneficial in reducing experiential avoidance in the experimental group, unlike the control group (p &lt; 0.05). The effects of this therapeutic program on dependent variables continued during the three-month follow-up period (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral exercises can be used as an effective intervention method to improve the cognitive-emotional status of women who have experienced marital infidelity.

The Role of urinary kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) in monitoring the treatment response in Egyptian Lupus Nephritis Patients

Lupus nephritis (LN) affects almost two-thirds of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Despite initial aggressive therapy, up to 25% of patients with LN will progress to permanent renal damage. Conventional serum markers for LN lack the sensitivity of an ideal biomarker. Urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (UKIM-1) is an excellent biomarker for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury and predicting renal outcomes. This study intended to determine the predictive performance of UKIM-1 among LN patients in response to induction therapy by assessing and correlating its levels with renal disease activity. The study included 60 SLE patients divided into 20 SLE patients with active lupus nephritis, 20 SLE patients with inactive lupus nephritis, and 20 lupus patients without nephritis as controls. The study was completed after six months from induction treatment. UKIM-1 was measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay at baseline, three-month follow-up and after complete induction therapy. At baseline, the mean serum creatinine and mean UKIM-1 were 1.7 ±0.7 mg/dL and 10.3 ±1.2 ng/dL, respectively in active LN patients. The mean UKIM-1 levels of complete response and partial response groups were 9.8 ±0.9 ng/mL and 11.3 ±1.0 ng/mL respectively. Based on receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, we found a better diagnostic performance of UKIM-1 to predict response to induction treatment, outperforming conventional biomarkers. The sensitivity and specificity were 84.6% and 85.7 %, respectively at an area under the curve of 0.896 and the best cut-off level was ≤10.6 ng/mL. In conclusion, UKIM-1 performed better than conventional biomarkers in predicting response to treatment of active LN.

Overview of obesity and effect of bariatric surgery in Aljouf area, Saudi Arabia

Abstract Introduction: Studies have shown that obesity is increasingly prevalent in Saudi Arabia (SA). As the nation has witnessed economic growth and associated lifestyle changes, obesity has emerged as a significant problem, according to the findings of Salem et al. in 2022. Although obesity has reached a prevalence of 41.1% in males and 77.6% in females in SA,research on this topic has been lacking. Aim: To highlight the prevalence of obesity in Aljouf area and demonstrate the effect of bariatric surgery on patient health. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review using relevant demographic and clinical data from 2020 onward collected from the Arcus Air system. Statistical analysis: Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and numerical data were presented as median (interquartile range [IQR]) and categorical data as frequencies and percentages. Numerical variables were tested for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk normality test. Statistical significance was set at P&lt;0.05 were considered significant. STATA® 15.1 was employed for the analysis. Results: We included 196 patients who underwent bariatric surgery. Their median age was 34 years (range,17–52), and females constituted 65% . Approximately 80% of the study subjects had a baseline body mass index (BMI) of &gt;40kg/m2, and approximately 13% had diabetes mellitus (DM). Ten days after surgery, a significant decline was observed in the median BMI of 39.3 (37.3–41.4) compared to the pre-operative median BMI of 42 (40–44 ). A further significant decrease was observed in BMI three months later (median BMI: 33.7 [31–36.98]). This was paralleled by improvement in HbA1c levels in patients with DM or pre-diabetes, with a median value of 5.5% (5.4–6.6) three months after surgery compared to a baseline median of 6.6% (6.2–7.4). Discussion: The data demonstrated that obesity was more prevalent in females than males. We observed a statistically significant change in weight loss based on BMI in the first ten days following the procedure (39; 37.2–41.3) and again at the three-month follow-up (33.7; 31–36.98), P &lt;0.0001. Patients with comorbidities such as DM and hypertension showed significant health improvements, unlike those with high high-density or low-density lipoprotein levels. Conclusion: Bariatric surgery is an effective approach to weight reduction in patients with obesity. The study demonstrated significant reductions in comorbidities (DM and HTN), in addition to overall health improvements. There is a need to raise awareness of obesity’s effects on society. Further studies are required in northern regions.

Comparison of the efficacy of lumbar erector spinae plane block for chronic axial low back pain in geriatric and younger patients: Results of a retrospective study

Introduction: The lumbar erector spinae plane block is one of the interventional procedures for chronic low back pain. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of lumbar erector spinae plane block for chronic axial low back pain due to disc protrusion/bulging in geriatric and younger patients and to evaluate clinical, demographic, and radiological characteristics that may be associated with treatment success. Materials and Method: The clinical and demographic data of patients who underwent ultrasound-guided lumbar erector spinae plane block for chronic axial low back pain between November 2022 and July 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups, ≥65 and &lt;65 years of age, and treatment efficacy at the third month after the procedure was evaluated and compared. Results: A total of 147 patients (75 patients aged &lt;65 years and 72 patients aged ≥65 years) were included in the analysis, and a successful treatment response (at least 50% pain relief) was achieved in 44.4% of geriatric patients and 62.6% of younger patients (p=0.027). In addition BMI, comorbidity, opioid use, and lumbar paraspinal fatty infiltration were significantly higher in geriatric patients than in younger patients (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that lumbar erector spinae plane block for chronic axial low back pain provides significantly less pain relief in geriatric patients than in younger patients at three-month follow-up. Keywords: Lower back pain; Aged; Injection; Ultrasound imaging

Gut Microbiome Composition and Dynamics in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients and Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome.

The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in the modulation of host responses during viral infections, and recent studies have underscored its significance in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to investigate the dynamics and compositional changes in the gut microbiome of COVID-19 patients, addressing both the acute phase and the recovery process, with a particular focus on the emergence of post-COVID-19 conditions. Involving 146 COVID-19 patients and 110 healthy controls, this study employed a shotgun metagenomics approach for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses with one- and three-month follow-ups. We observed a decline in taxonomic diversity among hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls, while a subsequent increase in alpha diversity was shown during the recovery process. A notable contribution of Enterococcus faecium was identified in the acute phase of the infection, accompanied by an increasing abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria (e.g., Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae_unclassified) during the recovery period. We highlighted a protective role of the Prevotella genus in the long-term recovery process and suggested a potential significance of population-specificity in the early gut microbiome markers of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Our study represents distinctive gut microbiome signatures in COVID-19, with potential diagnostic and prognostic implications, pinpointing potential modulators of the disease progression.

Enhancing Social Responsiveness in Autism: The Impact of Art Therapy

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of art therapy in enhancing social responsiveness among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Given the challenges faced by individuals with ASD in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors, art therapy has been proposed as a promising therapeutic intervention to ameliorate these challenges. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was employed, involving 40 participants with ASD, aged between 8 and 16 years. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group that received a structured art therapy program or a control group that received no intervention. The art therapy program consisted of 10 sessions, each lasting 75 minutes, designed to encourage social interaction, emotional expression, and the development of social skills. The Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), was administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up to assess changes in social responsiveness. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements indicated a significant improvement in social responsiveness scores for the experimental group compared to the control group (p &lt; 0.01). The Bonferroni post-hoc test revealed significant improvements in social responsiveness from baseline to post-test and follow-up in the experimental group, with no significant difference observed between post-test and follow-up scores, indicating the sustainability of the intervention's effects. The findings suggest that art therapy is an effective intervention for enhancing social responsiveness among individuals with ASD. The structured art therapy program provided a beneficial impact on participants' social skills and behaviors, with improvements sustained over the three-month follow-up period. This study contributes to the evidence base supporting the use of art therapy in therapeutic interventions for individuals with ASD, highlighting its potential to improve social interaction and communication skills.

Reducing Relapse by Enhancing Reward Responsivity in Anorexia Nervosa: The VIBRANT (Virtual Interventions for Bolstering Recovery following Anorexia Nervosa Treatment) Trial †.

The post-acute phase of anorexia nervosa (AN) following discharge from higher-level care is a high-risk period in which relapse rates are high and many individuals lack access to effective treatment. Even after acute nutritional stabilization, AN is characterized by decreased biobehavioral sensitivity towards general rewards and elevated sensitivity towards weight-loss cues. These reward patterns may continue to maintain eating disorder and comorbid affective symptoms. To address these gaps in the treatment literature for post-acute AN, we propose a randomized controlled trial comparing Positive Affect Treatment for AN (PAT-AN), a neuroscience-informed therapy adapted to target these reward imbalances in AN, to more standard psychoeducational and behavioral treatment (PBT) for eating disorders following acute care. Adult participants (N = 80) with broad AN, including atypical AN, discharged from intensive treatment (e.g., residential, partial hospitalization) for AN within the past 6 months will be randomly assigned to 24 weeks of remotely-delivered PAT-AN or PBT. We will compare the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of each treatment to augment post-acute outpatient care for AN. A multimodal neurocognitive and self-report battery will assess eating pathology, comorbid symptom, and putative reward mechanism changes over the course of treatment (i.e., baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, three-month follow-up) and on a week-to-week basis. This trial will, for the first time, directly target observed reward disturbances in the post-acute period of AN. Thus, this investigation has the potential to simultaneously evaluate a novel, efficacious treatment for AN and to further evaluate the role of reward dysfunction in AN maintenance.

A naïve comparison to assess the success of ultra-short implants.

Conventional implants are associated with ridge augmentation/sinus lift procedures in vertically insufficient ridges, which increase morbidity and healing time. Short implants provided some hope in this context. The present study considered the use of ultra-short implants in vertically insufficient posterior mandibular ridges and evaluated their success. Hence, study was done to evaluate the success of ultra-short implants in partially edentulous posterior mandible clinically and radiographically. The study is a "Naïve direct comparison" of ultra-short implants to conventional implants for assessing their success in vertically insufficient posterior mandibular ridges. A total of 10 ultra-short implants were placed in a partially edentulous posterior mandibular ridge with at least 8-mm horizontal (at crest) and vertical dimensions. A delayed loading was done at three-month follow-up. Data acquisition was done at baseline (immediately after loading), 6-, 9-, 12-month intervals. Parameters assessed were marginal bone loss (MBL), probing pocket depth reduction (PPDR), modified plaque index (mPI), modified gingival index (mGI). All the placed 10 implants survived, and no failure was observed. "Independent sample t-test" and "paired sample t-test" was done for intergroup and intragroup analysis, respectively. Intergroup comparison between the ultra-short and conventional implants presented a statistically insignificant difference between all the parameters at all the follow-up visits (baseline, 6-, 9-, 12 months). Within the limitations, it was thus concluded that ultra-short implants may be considered as a viable treatment option for vertically insufficient mandibular ridge. Further, long-term randomized controlled trials are required to establish the evidence.

The effectiveness of Problem Management Plus at 1-year follow-up for Syrian refugees in a high-income setting.

Problem Management Plus (PM+) has been effective in reducing mental health problems among refugees at three-month follow-up, but there is a lack of research on its long-term effectiveness. This study examined the effectiveness of PM+ in reducing symptoms of common mental disorders at 12-month follow-up among Syrian refugees in the Netherlands. This single-blind, parallel, controlled trial randomised 206 adult Syrians who screened positive for psychological distress and impaired functioning to either PM+ in addition to care as usual (PM+/CAU) or CAU alone. Assessments were at baseline, 1 week and 3 months after the intervention and 12 months after baseline. Outcomes were psychological distress (Hopkins Symptom Checklist [HSCL-25]), depression (HSCL-25 subscale), anxiety (HSCL-25 subscale), posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PCL-5), functional impairment (WHODAS 2.0) and self-identified problems (PSYCHLOPS). In March 2019-December 2022, 103 participants were assigned to PM+/CAU and 103 to CAU of which 169 (82.0%) were retained at 12 months. Intention-to-treat analyses showed greater reductions in psychological distress at 12 months for PM+/CAU compared to CAU (adjusted mean difference -0.17, 95% CI -0.310 to -0.027; p = 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.28). Relative to CAU, PM+/CAU participants also showed significant reductions on anxiety (-0.19, 95% CI -0.344 to -0.047; p = 0.01, d = 0.31) but not on any of the other outcomes. PM+ is effective in reducing psychological distress and symptoms of anxiety over a period up to 1 year. Additional support such as booster sessions or additional (trauma-focused) modules may be required to prolong and consolidate benefits gained through PM+ on other mental health and psychosocial outcomes.

Improving Empathy and Peer Relationships in Adolescents: A Social Cognition Training Approach

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a social cognition training intervention in enhancing empathy and peer relationships among adolescents. By focusing on these critical social and emotional competencies, the research sought to provide empirical evidence supporting the utility of targeted interventions in developmental psychology. Methodology: Employing a randomized controlled trial design, the study involved 30 adolescents aged 13-16 years, randomly assigned to either an experimental group undergoing a structured social cognition training program or a control group receiving no intervention. The program comprised 10 sessions, each lasting 75 minutes, focusing on developing empathy, understanding peer dynamics, and enhancing interpersonal skills. Empathy and peer relationships were measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up using standardized tools, with data analysis conducted via SPSS-27 using ANOVA with repeated measurements and Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Findings: Significant improvements were observed in the experimental group, with empathy scores increasing from a pre-test mean of 55.92 (SD = 13.37) to a follow-up mean of 63.95 (SD = 14.44), and peer relationship scores rising from a pre-test mean of 51.71 (SD = 9.66) to a follow-up mean of 58.99 (SD = 10.21). The control group showed negligible changes. Statistical analysis revealed significant effects of time and group, as well as time × group interactions for both empathy (Time × Group: F = 8.30, p &lt; 0.01) and peer relationships (Time × Group: F = 7.33, p &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: The social cognition training intervention significantly enhanced empathy and peer relationships among adolescents, underscoring the potential of such programs to foster essential social skills and emotional understanding. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions in supporting adolescent social and emotional development.