Identifying emotional components of event-related potentials in the brain functioning of individuals with contamination obsessions and comparison with healthy control group

The present study aimed to examine the emotional components of event-related potentials (ERPs) in individuals with contamination OCD and compare them with a healthy control group. A convenience sample of 45 participants was included, consisting of 30 individuals diagnosed with contamination-type OCD and 15 individuals in a healthy control group. Both groups participated in an ERP study where they encountered a computer-based task presenting both contamination and neutral pictures, while their brain activity was recorded. The data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (RANOVA) with SPSS-24 and Matlab software. Findings suggest that in P3 amplitude, only individuals with OCD exhibited a larger positive amplitude (p < 0.05) in response to contaminated pictures compared to neutral pictures and in N2 amplitude, only individuals with OCD exhibited a larger negative amplitude (p < 0.05) in response to contaminated pictures compared to neutral pictures in the central vertex (Fz). These findings hold promising implications for the development of more targeted and effective treatments for contamination OCD, emphasizing the importance of emotion-oriented approaches to address the unique neural patterns observed in the frontal vertex

Predominance of Trichophyton tonsurans causing tinea capitis: A 12-year retrospective study in the north of Iran

Background and purpose: Among different clinical entities of dermatophytosis, tinea capitis (TC) is considered a major public health challenge in the world, especially in regions with poor health and low income. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a retrospective analysis of the patients suspected of TC who were referred to the medical mycology laboratory of Mazandaran, a northern province of Iran.Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the patients suspected of TC who were referred to the medical mycology laboratory from July 2009 to April 2022. Hair roots and skin scrapings were collected from the participants. The laboratory diagnosis was confirmed by direct microscopic examination and culture. Finally, 921 out of 11095 (8.3%) patients were suspected of TC.Results: Based on the findings, TC was confirmed in 209 out of 921 patients (22.7%). In terms of gender, 209 TC patients (75.1%) were male. Moreover, the male to female ratio of TC patients was 1:3.0. Trichophyton tonsurans (146/174, 83.91%) was the most etiological agent,followed by T. mentagrophytes (13/174, 7.47%), T. violaceum (9/174, 5.17%), Microsporum canis (3/174, 1.71%), T. verrucosum (2/174, 1.15%) and T. rubrum (1/174, 0.57%). Besides, endothrix (77.0%) was the most prevalent type of hair invasion.Conclusion: The results revealed the predominance of T. tonsurans, as a causative agent of TC. Despite the prevalence of TC, the absence of appropriate consideration highlights that it is a neglected complication among children

Transcranial electrical and magnetic stimulation (tES and TMS) for addiction medicine: A consensus paper on the present state of the science and the road ahead

There is growing interest in non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) as a novel treatment option for substance-use disorders (SUDs). Recent momentum stems from a foundation of preclinical neuroscience demonstrating links between neural circuits and drug consuming behavior, as well as recent FDA-approval of NIBS treatments for mental health disorders that share overlapping pathology with SUDs. As with any emerging field, enthusiasm must be tempered by reason; lessons learned from the past should be prudently applied to future therapies. Here, an international ensemble of experts provides an overview of the state of transcranial-electrical (tES) and transcranial-magnetic (TMS) stimulation applied in SUDs. This consensus paper provides a systematic literature review on published data – emphasizing the heterogeneity of methods and outcome measures while suggesting strategies to help bridge knowledge gaps. The goal of this effort is to provide the community with guidelines for best practices in tES/TMS SUD research. We hope this will accelerate the speed at which the community translates basic neuroscience into advanced neuromodulation tools for clinical practice in addiction medicine

The Mediation Role of Resiliency in the Relationship of Attribution Styles and Personality Dimensions with Job Burnout in Surgeons of Kerman City, Iran

Background & Aims: There is a high prevalence of burnout in modern societies and it encompasses all aspects of life. Thus, this study investigated the effects of personality dimensions and attribution styles variables on the dependent variable of job burnout with the mediating role of resiliency in surgeons in Kerman, Iran. Methods: The target population consisted of 127 surgeons of whom 90 surgeons were selected through census random technique and were interviewed. Data collection tools included the NEO personality dimensions with 60 items, Seligman Adult Attributional Styles with 48 items, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale with 20 items, and Maslach Burnout Inventory with 26 items. Results: Finding of path modeling showed that the conceptual model of the study had a suitable fit. Thus, optimistic attribution style had a significant direct positive effect on resiliency. In addition, pessimistic attribution style had a significant direct negative effect on resiliency. Resiliency had a significant direct positive effect on the frequency of personal inadequacy. Moreover, optimistic and pessimistic attribution styles had a significant indirect positive effect on the frequency of personal inadequacy through the mediating role of resiliency. Conclusion: Optimistic and pessimistic attribution styles were recognized as the most important variable predicting the frequency of personal inadequacy of surgeons through the variable of resiliency. Keywords: Dimensions of personality, Style attribution, Job burnout, Resiliency, Surgeons, Ira

Effect of Group Play Therapy based on Choice Theory on Anxiety, Depression, and Pain Symptoms in Children and Adolescents with Cancer

Background and purpose: Some problems that people face in childhood and adolescence remain throughout their lives. One of these problems is cancer. This study examined the effectiveness of group play therapy based on choice theory on anxiety, depression, and pain symptoms in children and adolescents with cancer. Materials and methods: An experimental study with intervention and control group and pre and post-tests was performed in 30 patients with cancer in Mashhad Dr.Sheikh Hospital, 2019. Demographic form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Chronic Pain Grade Questionnaire (CPGQ) were completed before and after the intervention. Participants were randomly assigned into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group, received eight hours of group play therapy based on choice theory in eight sessions. Data analysis was done in SPSS V24 applying Mixed model ANOVA. Results: The intervention was found to have a significant effect on anxiety level and pain intensity (P <0.05). Conclusion: According to this study, group play therapy based on choice theory could be of great help in reducing anxiety and pain intensity in children and adolescents with cancer

P300 Component Modulation During a Go/Nogo Task in Healthy Children

ABSTRACT Introduction: Several differences in the P300 component are observed when responses must be executed or inhibited in the Go/Nogo task. However, few studies were established by using well-controlled task with respect to the preparatory processing and stimulus probability. In the present study, we examined the peak amplitude and latency of Go-P300 (P300 evoked by visual Go stimuli) and Nogo-P300 (P300 evoked by visual Nogo stimuli) component in healthy children. Methods: High resolution EEG data were recorded from 13 children (7-11 years old) during a cued equiprobable Go/Nogo task. The P300 component was measured at frontal (F3, Fz, F4) and parietal (P3, Pz, P4) regions in response to both Go and Nogo stimuli. Data were analyzes using a three-way repeated measures ANOVA.Results: These children displayed higher P300 amplitude in the Go relative to Nogo condition at parietal region. In addition, decrease in P300 latency was observed at the frontal in comparison to parietal region.Discussion: The results might suggest that the P300 is related to different processes or arise from different generators in execution and inhibition conditions

P300 Component Modulation During a Go/Nogo Task in Healthy Children

ABSTRACT Introduction: Several differences in the P300 component are observed when responses must be executed or inhibited in the Go/Nogo task. However, few studies were established by using well-controlled task with respect to the preparatory processing and stimulus probability. In the present study, we examined the peak amplitude and latency of Go-P300 (P300 evoked by visual Go stimuli) and Nogo-P300 (P300 evoked by visual Nogo stimuli) component in healthy children. Methods: High resolution EEG data were recorded from 13 children (7-11 years old) during a cued equiprobable Go/Nogo task. The P300 component was measured at frontal (F3, Fz, F4) and parietal (P3, Pz, P4) regions in response to both Go and Nogo stimuli. Data were analyzes using a three-way repeated measures ANOVA.Results: These children displayed higher P300 amplitude in the Go relative to Nogo condition at parietal region. In addition, decrease in P300 latency was observed at the frontal in comparison to parietal region.Discussion: The results might suggest that the P300 is related to different processes or arise from different generators in execution and inhibition conditions

Transcranial direct current stimulation to modulate brain reactivity to food cues in overweight and obese adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial with fMRI (NeuroStim-Obesity)

BACKGROUND: With increasing obese populations worldwide, developing interventions to modulate food-related brain processes and functions is particularly important. Evidence suggests that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may modulate the reward–control balance towards facilitation of cognitive control and possible suppression of reward-related mechanisms that drive food cue-induced craving. This protocol describes a clinical trial that investigates the neurocognitive mechanisms of action for tDCS to modulate food cue-reactivity and cravings in people with obesity. METHOD: The NeuroStim-Obesity trial is a prospective, randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind single-session tDCS trial targeting food craving in those with obesity or overweighed. Once randomized, 64 adults with obesity or overweighed complete one session in which they receive either active or sham tDCS over the DLPFC (anode F4 and cathode F3, 2 mA intensity for 20 min). The primary outcome is change in neural response to the food cue-reactivity task in the ventral striatum after a single-session bilateral tDCS compared to sham stimulation. Secondary outcomes include changes in food craving evaluated by the Food Craving Questionnaire-State (FCQ-S). We will also explore the predictive role of brain structure and functional networks assessed by structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during both task performance and the resting-state that are acquired pre- and post-intervention to predict response to tDCS. DISCUSSION: The results will provide novel insight into neuroscience for the efficacy of tDCS and will advance the field towards precision medicine for obesity. Exploratory results will examine the potential predictive biomarkers for tDCS response and eventually provide personalized intervention for the treatment of obesity

Levels of Mental Health Continuum and Personality Traits

Mental health continuum, Subjective well-being, Big Five,