Feasibility and efficacy of an acceptance and mindfulness-based group intervention for young people with early psychosis (Feel-Good group)

Background: Over the last decade, researchers have sought for alternative interventions that have better treatment effects than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) when treating psychotic symptoms. Mindfulness-based interventions have been a proposed alternative to CBT, yet research regarding its feasibility, acceptance and effectiveness is lacking when treating individuals with early psychosis in inpatient settings. Objective: Before conducting a large-scale randomized-controlled trial (RCT), this pilot study evaluated the feasibility and the potential efficacy of a mindfulness-based inpatient group intervention that targets emotion regulation in patients with early psychosis, and thus indirectly improving psychotic symptoms. Methods: A pre–post study was performed. Thirty-six patients with early psychosis treated at the specialized inpatient treatment “Frühinterventionsund Therapiezentrum; FRITZ” (early intervention and therapy center) received eight group therapy sessions. Assessments were performed at baseline, after 8 weeks post treatment and at follow-up after 16 weeks. Results: Rates of patients who participated in the study suggests that a mindfulness-based group therapy is highly accepted and feasible for patients with early psychosis being treated in an inpatient ward. Friedman analyses revealed significant changes in the primary outcomes of emotional goal attainment (Goal 1: W = 0.79; Goal 2: W = 0.71) and psychotic symptoms (PANSS-T: W = 0.74). Significant, albeit small, effect sizes were found in patients’ self-perception of emotion regulation skills (ERSQ: W = 0.23). Discussion: We found favorable findings regarding the feasibility and acceptance of the Feel-Good mindfulness-based intervention. Results of the study provide a basis for an estimation of an adequate sample size for a fully powered RCT that needs to be conducted to test whether Feel-Good is effective in the inpatient treatment of psychotic symptoms for individuals with early psychosis

The association between metformin administration and non-Hodgkin lymphoma; a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies

Introduction: Metformin, a blood sugar-lowering agent, has the potential to be an anti-cancer agent. However, its role in lymphoma remains uncertain. Objectives: This study sought to examine the correlation between the utilization of metformin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma through the application of a systematic review and meta-analysis methodology. Materials and Methods: This investigation was carried out in the form of a methodical examination and meta-analysis in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and the Google Scholar search engine were thoroughly explored without any temporal limitations until September 20, 2023. The data was analyzed utilizing the STATA 14 software, and the level of significance for the tests was established at P<0.05. Results: The results, obtained by combining six observational studies (five cohort studies and one case-control study) with a total sample size of 2 330 787 individuals, showed that the odds ratio (OR) for the association between metformin use and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in all studies was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.78, 1.07). In cohort studies, the OR was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.74, 1.11), and in the case-control study, it was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.79, 1.10). None of these relationships were statistically significant. The odds ratio between metformin uses and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic leukemia was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.71, 1.21), and the odds ratio between metformin use and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was 1.06 (95% CI: 0.61, 1.83), both of which were not statistically significant. Conclusion: This investigation’s findings indicated no statistically noteworthy correlation exists between the utilization of metformin and the probability of contracting non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic leukemia, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Registration: This study was conducted following the PRISMA checklist. Its protocol was registered on the PROSPERO (CRD42023469100) and Research Registry (UIN: reviewregistry1721) websites

Comparison of Human Amniotic, Chorionic, and Umbilical Cord Multipotent Mesenchymal Stem Cells Regarding Their Capacity for Differentiation Toward Female Germ Cells

Placenta harbors a plentiful source of various cells with stem cells or stem-like cell properties, which can be used in therapeutic procedures and research. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted much attention due to their specific differentiation potential and tolerogenic properties. MSCs have been isolated from different parts of placenta; however, in this study, we isolated MSCs from amnion and chorion membrane, as well as umbilical cord (Wharton's jelly [WJ]) and compared their capacity regarding differentiation toward female germ cells under influence of 10 ng/mL BMP4. All placenta samples were collected from delivering mothers by normal cesarean section and cells were isolated by different methods. Results showed that all isolated cells were mostly positive for the MSC markers CD73, CD166, and CD105, and minimally reacted with CD34 and CD45 (hematopoietic markers). After differentiation induction using third passage cultured cells, immunocytochemistry staining showed that cells were positive for germline cell-related genes Ssea4, Oct4, and Ddx4, and oocyte-related gene Gdf9. RT-qPCR results indicated that human chorion MSCs (hCMSCs) had a greater potential to be differentiated into female germline cells. Moreover, the results of this study indicate that human umbilical cord MSCs originated from either male or female umbilical cord have the same differentiation potential into female germline cells. We recommend that for presumptive application of MSCs for infertility treatment and research, hUMSCs are best candidates due to their higher differentiation potential, ease of proliferation and expansion, and low immunogenicity. Copyrigh

Table_1_Feasibility and efficacy of an acceptance and mindfulness-based group intervention for young people with early psychosis (Feel-Good group).DOCX

BackgroundOver the last decade, researchers have sought for alternative interventions that have better treatment effects than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) when treating psychotic symptoms. Mindfulness-based interventions have been a proposed alternative to CBT, yet research regarding its feasibility, acceptance and effectiveness is lacking when treating individuals with early psychosis in inpatient settings.ObjectiveBefore conducting a large-scale randomized-controlled trial (RCT), this pilot study evaluated the feasibility and the potential efficacy of a mindfulness-based inpatient group intervention that targets emotion regulation in patients with early psychosis, and thus indirectly improving psychotic symptoms.MethodsA pre–post study was performed. Thirty-six patients with early psychosis treated at the specialized inpatient treatment “Frühinterventions- und Therapiezentrum; FRITZ” (early intervention and therapy center) received eight group therapy sessions. Assessments were performed at baseline, after 8 weeks post treatment and at follow-up after 16 weeks.ResultsRates of patients who participated in the study suggests that a mindfulness-based group therapy is highly accepted and feasible for patients with early psychosis being treated in an inpatient ward. Friedman analyses revealed significant changes in the primary outcomes of emotional goal attainment (Goal 1: W = 0.79; Goal 2: W = 0.71) and psychotic symptoms (PANSS-T: W = 0.74). Significant, albeit small, effect sizes were found in patients’ self-perception of emotion regulation skills (ERSQ: W = 0.23).DiscussionWe found favorable findings regarding the feasibility and acceptance of the Feel-Good mindfulness-based intervention. Results of the study provide a basis for an estimation of an adequate sample size for a fully powered RCT that needs to be conducted to test whether Feel-Good is effective in the inpatient treatment of psychotic symptoms for individuals with early psychosis.Clinical trial registration[https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04592042], identifier [NCT04592042].</p