ABSTRACTS FROM THE 1ST BALKANS CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE SYMPOSIUM

ABSTRACTS FROM THE 1ST BALKANS CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE SYMPOSIU

Correlations between autonomic dysfunction and circadian changes and arrhythmia prevalence in women with fibromyalgia syndrome

WOS: 000265395700007PubMed: 19357052Objective: It is known that increased sympathetic activity and decreased parasympathetic activity are present in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). This study aims to investigate the correlations of autonomic dysfunction and differences in autonomic circadian activity with arrhythmia prevalence in women with FMS. Methods: Fifty female patients with FMS and 30 healthy female controls were included in this cross-sectional, case-controlled study. A 12-lead electrocardiogram and 24-hour Holter monitoring were performed in all patients to evaluate arrhythmias and autonomic function tests. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were utilized to detect autonomic dysfunction in patients with FMS. HRV measurements were performed in total 24-hour, day time (06:00-22:59), night time (23:00-05:59) periods and during autonomic tests (stand - supine, inspiration-expiration and Valsalva tests) using 24-hour Holter monitoring recordings. Student t-test, Mann-Whitney U and Pearson Chi-square tests were used for comparisons of the data between groups. The correlation of data was tested by using Spearman correlation analysis. Results: The mean ages of the patient and control groups were 38 +/- 7.4 and 36 +/- 8.1 years, respectively. In HRV measurements, high frequency (HF) power, was significantly decreased in the patient group as compared with control group (167.4 msec(2) (107.0-312.0) vs.314.5 msec(2) (124.0-905.0), p=0.017). The low frequency/HF ratio (LF/HF) values for total 24 hours (2.22 +/- 0.18 vs. 1.22 +/- 0.12, p<0.001) and in the night time period (2.78 +/- 1.97 vs.1.15 +/- 0.77, p<0.001) were found to be significantly higher in the patient group than in control one. The ratio of LF/HFDay/LF/HFNight was markedly higher in the control group (2.67 (1.22-5.65) vs. 1.45 (0.83-2.05), p=0.004). The prevalence (p=0.028) and total number (127.1 +/- 21.4 vs. 187.3 +/- 62.3, p=0.019) of supraventricular extrasystoles in 24-hour period was higher in the patient group. Conclusion: The sympathetic activity was significantly increased and parasympathetic activity significantly decreased in FMS patients. Additionally, significant autonomic circadian activity changes were also detected in these patients. These autonomic changes might be linked to increased arrhythmia prevalence. (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2009, 9: 110-7

COVID-19 pandemic effect on female sexual function

Objectives: To determine the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on female sexual functions among Turkish women. Material and methods: The present study was performed by using the previous study data that was conducted before the pandemic to detect female sexual function by using questionnaires. Comparison of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores in women during and before the pandemic. Participants were asked to fill questionnaire forms again. Results: FSFI scores of the participants were higher before the pandemic, however, this finding was not statistically significant (21.8 vs 21.0, p = 0.27). BAI and BDI scores with high scores accompanied by anxiety and depression were found statistically significantly higher in the study (11.2 vs 13.3, p &lt; 0.01; 10.0 vs 13.7, p &lt; 0.01; respectively). BAI scores had a negative correlation with FSFI scores, however, BDI scores had not a significant correlation with FSFI scores in the present study (p &lt; 0.01, correlation coefficient = –0.302; p = 0.07; correlation coefficient = –0.183; respectively). Conclusions: Pandemic seems not to affect female sexual behavior. However, the pandemic is associated with anxiety and depression

Does the Use of Multiplex PCR Contribute to the Management of Paediatric Emergency Physicians in <2-Year-old Children with Acute Respiratory Infections?

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to detect respiratory viruses in pediatric emergency departments, but its indications and interpretation of results must still be clear. In the present study, we examined the effect of detecting a viral agent with multiplex PCR on patient management. Infants and toddlers, aged between 1-24 months, who presented to the pediatric emergency department with respiratory tract infection complaints and underwent multiplex-PCR between 1 January 2014 and 28 February 2020 were included in the study. Patients with at least one agent detected were considered as the study group, and patients without detection were considered as the control group. The same design was implemented only for patients with chronic diseases. A total of 1106 patients were recruited [median age: 6.7 months (range: 2.9-13.0 months)]. Seven hundred and eighty-nine in the study group and 317 in the control group. There were no significant differences between the groups in hospital admissions (study group: 271 admissions; control group: 89 admissions; p=0.055), length of hospital stay duration [mean ± standard deviation: 3.09±7.87 days (study group) and 2.6±7.79 days (control group); p=0.045], or antibiotic use [234 patients (study group) and 77 patients (control group); p=0.078]. When these variables were examined only for those with chronic diseases, there was no difference again. Although multiplex PCR is an ideal method with high sensitivity, specificity, and cost-effectiveness, the limits of its clinical application need to be clarified. We did not observe significant differences in the treatment of patients with detected viral agents

Utility investigation of automated techniques in hematopoietic progenitor cell count and viability assessment in the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) settingg

Aim: To compare our parameters as regards: i) cell count via two different automated cell count techniques, and ii) viability via automated trypan blue exclusion and 7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD) staining. Method: We used the trypan blue exclusion technique and an automated cell counter and for viability testing, and the trypan blue exclusion technique and the 7-AAD evaluation by flow cytometry. The trypan blue exclusion and the radio frequency techniques were used for automated cell counting. Flow cytometric analysis was performed by evaluating the yielded cellular products for 7-AAD uptake during the cell count of CD34+ cells. Results: The mean values for cell count were estimated as 3.44±1.22x106/ml (range, 2.48-5.71x106/ml) and 4.14±1.94x106/ml (range, 1.77-7.43x106/ml) for the trypan blue exclusion and radio frequency techniques, respectively. Additionally, the mean values for viability analyses via the automated trypan blue exclusion and 7-AAD were 93.38±6.09% (range, 79.00-98.00%) and 99.49±0.60% (range, 98.40-100.00%), respectively. Conclusions: Our study has responded to two fundamental questions: whether the results of both of the automated techniques for cell count correspond with each other, and whether the results of the automated viability assessment conform those of the 7-AAD technique during the manufacturing processes of cellular therapy products intended for clinical use. Even though we have the opportunity to use the hemocytometer in our laboratory setting, the automated trypan blue exclusion technique gives cell count results in concordance within the range of the expectations of our Quality Management System (QMS)

Investigating the relationship between specific negative symptoms and metacognitive functioning in psychosis: a systematic review

Background: Disrupted metacognition is implicated in development and maintenance of negative symptoms, but more fine-grained analyses would inform precise treatment targeting for individual negative symptoms. Aims: This systematic review identifies and examines datasets that test whether specific metacognitive capacities distinctly influence negative symptoms. Materials and Methods: PsycINFO, EMBASE, Medline and Cochrane Library databases plus hand searching of relevant articles, journals and grey literature identified quantitative research investigating negative symptoms and metacognition in adults aged 16+ with psychosis. Authors of included articles were contacted to identify unique datasets and missing information. Data were extracted for a risk of bias assessment using the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool. Results: 85 published reports met criteria and are estimated to reflect 32 distinct datasets and 1623 unique participants. The data indicated uncertainty about the relationship between summed scores of negative symptoms and domains of metacognition, with significant findings indicating correlation coefficients from 0.88 to −0.23. Only eight studies investigated the relationship between metacognition and individual negative symptoms, with mixed findings. Studies were mostly moderate-to-low risk of bias. Discussion: The relationship between negative symptoms and metacognition is rarely the focus of studies reviewed here, and negative symptom scores are often summed. This approach may obscure relationships between metacognitive domains and individual negative symptoms which may be important for understanding how negative symptoms are developed and maintained. Conclusion: Methodological challenges around overlapping participants, variation in aggregation of negative symptom items and types of analyses used, make a strong case for use of Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis to further elucidate these relationships

Vortioxetine treatment for major depressive disorder with the co-morbidity of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea: a case report

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex condition that involves problems with bowel movements and belly pain, bloating, and gas. It is not life threatening, but can be a long-lasting problem that changes life quality. Several studies have shown that up to 70–90% of patients with IBS who seek treatment have psychiatric co-morbidity, most notably mood and anxiety disorders. There are different approaches in the medication for IBS. Antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are shown to be useful in the treatment. Vortioxetine may become a possible new agent in the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder and IBS with diarrhoea co-morbidity

Prospective Teachers’ Social Cognition, Metacognition, and Academic Performance: a Path Analysis Approach

No abstract available