55 research outputs found

    A systematic review and meta-analysis of neurological soft signs in relatives of people with schizophrenia

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neurological soft signs are subtle but observable impairments in motor and sensory functions that are not localized to a specific area of the brain. Neurological soft signs are common in schizophrenia. It has been established that soft signs meet two of five criteria for an endophenotype, namely: association with the illness, and state independence. This review investigated whether soft signs met a further criterion for an endophenotype, namely familial association. It was hypothesized that if familial association were present then neurological soft signs would be: (a) more common in first-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia than in controls; and (b) more common in people with schizophrenia than in their first-degree relatives.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>A systematic search identified potentially eligible studies in the EMBASE (1980-2011), OVID - MEDLINE (1950-2011) and PsycINFO (1806-2011) databases. Studies were included if they carried out a three-way comparison of levels of soft signs between people with schizophrenia, their first-degree relatives, and normal controls. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers and cross-checked by double entry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After screening 8678 abstracts, seven studies with 1553 participants were identified. Neurological soft signs were significantly more common in first-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia than in controls (pooled standardised mean difference (SMD) 1.24, 95% confidence interval (c.i) 0.59-1.89). Neurological soft signs were also significantly more common in people with schizophrenia than in their first-degree relatives (SMD 0.92, 95% c.i 0.64-1.20). Sensitivity analyses examining the effects of age and group blinding did not significantly alter the main findings.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Both hypotheses were confirmed, suggesting that the distribution of neurological soft signs in people with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives is consistent with the endophenotype criterion of familial association.</p

    The prevalence of psychological co-morbidity in people with vitiligo: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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    Background: Vitiligo is a chronic disorder causing skin depigmentation with global prevalence varying from 0.2 to 1.8%. UK guidelines recommend assessment of psychological state during clinical evaluation of vitiligo. However, the prevalence of psychological co-morbidity in people with vitiligo has not been described. Objectives: We aimed to establish the prevalence of psychological symptoms or disorders in people with vitiligo and describe the outcome measures used. Methods: We performed a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsychInfo to identify observational studies assessing the prevalence of psychological symptoms or disorders (December 2016). DerSimonian and Lard random-effects models were utilized to estimate the overall pooled prevalence. Results: We identified 29 studies with 2530 people with vitiligo. Most studies included a measure of either depression (n=25) or anxiety (n=13).The commonest tools were the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Centre for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale. Ten studies provided information on thirteen other psychological outcomes. Pooled prevalence using depression-specific and anxiety-specific questionnaires was 0.29 (95%CI 0.21, 0.38) and 0.33 (95%CI 0.18, 0.49) respectively. Prevalence was lower for clinically diagnosed depression (0.21; 95%CI 0.15, 0.28) and anxiety (0.15; 95%CI 0.06, 0.24). When non-specific tools were used the prevalence remained similar for depression (0.27; 95%CI 0.08, 0.46) but increased for anxiety (0.46; 95% CI 0.39, 0.52). High heterogeneity was observed. Conclusions: A range of psychological outcomes are common in people with vitiligo. The prevalence of anxiety was influenced by type of screening tool, suggesting validation of psychological outcome screening tools in the field of dermatology

    Soil–strain compatibility: the key to effective use of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculants?

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    Consistency of response to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation is required for efficient use of AM fungi in plant production. Here, we found that the response triggered in plants by an AM strain depends on the properties of the soil where it is introduced. Two data sets from 130 different experiments assessing the outcome of a total of 548 replicated single inoculation trials conducted either in soils with a history of (1) high input agriculture (HIA; 343 replicated trials) or (2) in more pristine soils from coffee plantations (CA; 205 replicated trials) were examined. Plant response to inoculation with different AM strains in CA soils planted with coffee was related to soil properties associated with soil types. The strains Glomus fasciculatum-like and Glomus etunicatum-like were particularly performant in soil relatively rich in nutrients and organic matter. Paraglomus occultum and Glomus mosseae-like performed best in relatively poor soils, and G. mosseae and Glomus manihotis did best in soils of medium fertility. Acaulospora scrobiculata, Diversispora spurca, G. mosseae-like, G. mosseae and P. occultum stimulated coffee growth best in Chromic, Eutric Alluvial Cambisol, G. fasciculatum-like and G. etunicatum-like in Calcaric Cambisol and G. manihotis, in Chromic, Eutric Cambisols. Acaulospora scrobiculata and Diversispora spurca strains performed best in Chromic Alisols and Rodic Ferralsols. There was no significant relationship between plant response to AM fungal strains and soil properties in the HIA soil data set, may be due to variation induced by the use of different host plant species and to modification of soil properties by a history of intensive production. Consideration of the performance of AM fungal strains in target soil environments may well be the key for efficient management of the AM symbiosis in plant production

    Decreased glutathione levels and impaired antioxidant enzyme activities in drug-naive first-episode schizophrenic patients

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to determine glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in the drug-naive first-episode patients with schizophrenia in comparison with healthy control subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>It was a case-controlled study carried on twenty-three patients (20 men and 3 women, mean age = 29.3 ± 7.5 years) recruited in their first-episode of schizophrenia and 40 healthy control subjects (36 men and 9 women, mean age = 29.6 ± 6.2 years). In patients, the blood samples were obtained prior to the initiation of neuroleptic treatments. Glutathione levels: total glutathione (GSHt), reduced glutathione (GSHr) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and antioxidant enzyme activities: superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) were determined by spectrophotometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>GSHt and reduced GSHr were significantly lower in patients than in controls, whereas GSSG was significantly higher in patients. GPx activity was significantly higher in patients compared to control subjects. CAT activity was significantly lower in patients, whereas the SOD activity was comparable to that of controls.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is a report of decreased plasma levels of GSHt and GSHr, and impaired antioxidant enzyme activities in drug-naive first-episode patients with schizophrenia. The GSH deficit seems to be implicated in psychosis, and may be an important indirect biomarker of oxidative stress in schizophrenia early in the course of illness. Finally, our results provide support for further studies of the possible role of antioxidants as neuroprotective therapeutic strategies for schizophrenia from early stages.</p

    Body appreciation around the world: Measurement invariance of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age.

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    The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is a widely used measure of a core facet of the positive body image construct. However, extant research concerning measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across a large number of nations remains limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset - with data collected between 2020 and 2022 - to assess measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that full scalar invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional BAS-2 model has widespread applicability. There were large differences across nations and languages in latent body appreciation, while differences across gender identities and age groups were negligible-to-small. Additionally, greater body appreciation was significantly associated with higher life satisfaction, being single (versus being married or in a committed relationship), and greater rurality (versus urbanicity). Across a subset of nations where nation-level data were available, greater body appreciation was also significantly associated with greater cultural distance from the United States and greater relative income inequality. These findings suggest that the BAS-2 likely captures a near-universal conceptualisation of the body appreciation construct, which should facilitate further cross-cultural research. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

    Nanophononics: state of the art and perspectives

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    Body appreciation around the world: Measurement invariance of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age

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    Abstract The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is a widely used measure of a core facet of the positive body image construct. However, extant research concerning measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across a large number of nations remains limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset – with data collected between 2020 and 2022 – to assess measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that full scalar invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional BAS-2 model has widespread applicability. There were large differences across nations and languages in latent body appreciation, while differences across gender identities and age groups were negligible-to-small. Additionally, greater body appreciation was significantly associated with higher life satisfaction, being single (versus being married or in a committed relationship), and greater rurality (versus urbanicity). Across a subset of nations where nation-level data were available, greater body appreciation was also significantly associated with greater cultural distance from the United States and greater relative income inequality. These findings suggest that the BAS-2 likely captures a near-universal conceptualisation of the body appreciation construct, which should facilitate further cross-cultural research

    Body appreciation around the world: Measurement invariance of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age

    Get PDF
    The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is a widely used measure of a core facet of the positive body image construct. However, extant research concerning measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across a large number of nations remains limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset - with data collected between 2020 and 2022 - to assess measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that full scalar invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional BAS-2 model has widespread applicability. There were large differences across nations and languages in latent body appreciation, while differences across gender identities and age groups were negligible-to-small. Additionally, greater body appreciation was significantly associated with higher life satisfaction, being single (versus being married or in a committed relationship), and greater rurality (versus urbanicity). Across a subset of nations where nation-level data were available, greater body appreciation was also significantly associated with greater cultural distance from the United States and greater relative income inequality. These findings suggest that the BAS-2 likely captures a near-universal conceptualisation of the body appreciation construct, which should facilitate further cross-cultural research

    Emergent balloon mitral valvotomy in pregnant women presenting with refractory pulmonary edema

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    Mitral stenosis is the most common valvular heart lesion found in pregnancy. When severe, it leads to significant risk of mortality for both mother and fetus, since the hemodynamic adaptations to pregnancy are badly tolerated. Many pregnant women with mitral stenosis present in a critically ill condition. The role of balloon mitral valvotomy (BMV) in such patients is ill-defined. Objectives: We sought to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of emergent BMV in pregnant patients with refractory pulmonary edema and to determine maternal and fetal outcome. Methods: Of 88 patients undergoing BMV during pregnancy from January 1990 to December 2011 in Cardiology A Department of Monastir Hospital, 28 women were in New York Heart Association functional class IV and underwent emergent BMV. During the procedure, radiation exposure was minimized by means of total abdominal and pelvic shielding. Results: The mothers’s mean age at the time of BMV was 28.86 ± 5.7 (range 19–43) years, and the gestation period was 30 ± 5.1 (range 20 –39) weeks. Ten patients were primiparas. Mitral valve (MV) was assessed using the Wilkins score which averaged 7.4 ± 1.8 (range 4–14). Fluoroscopy time was 7.8 ± 1.9 min. The BMV procedure was successful in 25 (89.3%) patients with a dramatic improvement in patient symptoms. The mitral valve area increased from 0.8 ± 0.2 cm2 to 2.2 ± 0.42 cm2 (p < 0.0001). The mitral valve pressure gradient decreased from 22.2 ± 9.3 to 5.7 ± 4 mmHg (p < 0.0001). The left atrial pressure decreased from 29.4 ± 9.3 to 15.4 ± 7.3 mmHg (p < 0.0001). The pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 58.8 ± 21.1 to 37.2 ± 14.3 mmHg (p < 0.0001). One patient developed severe mitral regurgitation and required urgent mitral valve replacement. There was no maternal mortality or significant foetal morbidity. Pregnancy was uneventful in all patients, all babies were born at full term by spontaneous vaginal delivery in 24 cases (85.7%) and by cesarian section for obstetrical reasons in 4 (14.3%), with no obvious malformations (4 of them were twin babies). None of the babies needed intensive care monitoring. The average Apgar scores at 1 min were 8.6 ± 1. The mean birth weight was 3.1 Kilograms (Kg) ranged from 1.9 to 3.8 kg. Conclusion: During pregnancy, emergent BMV is safe and feasible in patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis and severe pulmonary edema. There is marked symptomatic relief, along with excellent maternal and fetal outcomes

    Open Microvascular Thrombectomy for Acute Intracranial Large Vessel Occlusion: Microsurgery in the Endovascular Thrombectomy Era

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    Background: Open microsurgical thrombectomy for acute intracranial large vessel occlusion (LVO) has been the subject of dozens of case reports and series. However, no clear indications exist to define its role in the management of acute ischemic stroke. Our aim was to review all the available data on open microsurgical thrombectomy, for both spontaneous as well as iatrogenic intracranial vessel occlusion, in terms of indication and results. Methods: Of the 390 articles screened, 33 were included after full text screening. Results: A total of 232 patients were reported, of whom 208 received microsurgical thrombectomy and 24 received bypass for large vessel occlusion. Patients were divided into a historic cohort (before 2002) and a recent cohort (articles published after 2002). Patients from the historic cohort were younger: median age, 55 years (interquartile range, 34–57 years) versus 69 years (interquartile range, 63–75 years) in the recent cohort (P < 0.01). The procedure was successful more often in the recent cohort (65% of patients in the historic cohort vs. 98% of patients in the recent cohort) and more patients experienced neurologic improvement (56% of patients in the historic cohort vs. 69% in the recent cohort). Conclusions: In the era of endovascular thrombectomy, open microsurgical techniques might still play a role in highly selected patients. The reported patients show that microsurgical thrombectomy seems efficient and effective in improving patient outcome. Ideally, a multidisciplinary approach with vascular neurosurgeons trained and skilled in microvascular techniques is recommended
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