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Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The sexual health of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people with endometriosis has been overlooked, and important emotional experiences, such as sexual distress and...
The Need to Look at Transgender and Gender Diverse People's Health: A Preliminary Descriptive Report on Pain, Sexual Distress, and Health Profile of Five Transmasculine People and One Non-Binary Person with Endometriosis.
The sexual health of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people with endometriosis has been overlooked, and important emotional experiences, such as sexual distress and its correlates, have been ignored. This has prevented a more comprehensive look at the health experiences of TGD individuals. This descriptive online survey study preliminarily explored the experiences of pain symptoms, sexual distress, and mental health of N = 6 TGD individuals diagnosed with endometriosis. Descriptive results showed a mean delay of 10 years from the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis. Endometriosis-related pain was a common symptom, although with low to moderate intensity. Results also showed higher mean levels of pain impact, powerlessness and lack of control, somatization, depression, anxiety, and sexual distress, and lower mean levels of emotional well-being, social support, and worse self-image compared to reports on cisgender women with endometriosis in the literature. These results suggested that sexual and mental health in the context of TGD people with endometriosis has specificities and may be associated with factors that need to be accounted for to provide comprehensive and socially just healthcare, such as the recognition of the impact of endometriosis treatment on symptoms of gender dysphoria. To achieve sexual health equity for TGD people, continuous and updated professional training and inclusive research with multiple informants are necessary.
PubMed: 38921344
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12121229 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024(1) Background: Auditory processing (AP) disorder is associated with learning difficulties and poses challenges to school-aged children in their daily activities. This... (Review)
Review
(1) Background: Auditory processing (AP) disorder is associated with learning difficulties and poses challenges to school-aged children in their daily activities. This scoping review identifies interventions and provides audiologists with protocol insights and outcome measures. (2) Methods: A systematic search of both peer-reviewed and grey literature (January 2006 to August 2023) covered ten databases. Studies included had the following characteristics: (i) published in French or English; (ii) participants were school-aged, and had a normal audiogram, AP difficulties or disorder, and no cognitive, developmental, congenital or neurological disorder (with the exception of learning, attention, and language disabilities); (iii) were intervention studies or systematic reviews. (3) Results: Forty-two studies were included, and they predominantly featured auditory training (AT), addressing spatial processing, dichotic listening, temporal processing and listening to speech in noise. Some interventions included cognitive or language training, assistive devices or hearing aids. Outcome measures listed included electrophysiological, AP, cognitive and language measures and questionnaires addressed to parents, teachers or the participants. (4) Conclusions: Most interventions focused on bottom-up approaches, particularly AT. A limited number of top-down approaches were observed. The compiled tools underscore the need for research on metric responsiveness and point to the inadequate consideration given to understanding how children perceive change.
PubMed: 38921276
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12121161 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024This narrative review examines the intricate psychophysiological interplay between cognitive functions and physical responses within military personnel engaged in...
This narrative review examines the intricate psychophysiological interplay between cognitive functions and physical responses within military personnel engaged in combat. It elucidates the spectrum of responses elicited by symmetric and asymmetric warfare alongside specialised combat scenarios, including close-quarters and subterranean warfare. Central to this discourse is the emphasis on integrating training programs beyond physical conditioning to encompass psychological resilience and decision-making efficacy under duress. The exploration further ventures into applying advanced technologies such as virtual reality and wearable devices, highlighting their pivotal role in augmenting training outcomes and supporting soldier health. Through a detailed analysis of psychophysiological variations across different military branches of service, the narrative review advocates for bespoke training regimens and support frameworks tailored to address the unique exigencies of each service branch. Concluding observations stress the importance of evolving military training paradigms, advocating for adopting realistic, immersive training simulations that mirror the complexities of the contemporary battlefield. This synthesis aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on optimising military training protocols and enhancing the operational readiness and well-being of armed forces personnel. This narrative review is essential for military psychologists, trainers, and policymakers, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation in military training programs.
PubMed: 38921275
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12121160 -
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Reward has been shown to influence selective attention, yet previous research has primarily focused on rewards associated with specific locations or features, with...
Reward has been shown to influence selective attention, yet previous research has primarily focused on rewards associated with specific locations or features, with limited investigation into the impact of a reward object on object-based attention (OBA). Therefore, it remains unclear whether objects previously associated with rewards affect OBA. To address this issue, we conducted two experiments using a paradigm that combined a reward training phase with a modified two-rectangle paradigm. The results indicate that a reward object modulates both space-based attention (SBA) and OBA. When cues appear on a reward object, the effects of both SBA and OBA are amplified compared to when cues appear on a no-reward object. This finding supports the value-driven attentional capture (VDAC) theory, which suggests that a reward object gain enhanced saliency to capture attention, thereby providing a theoretical support for the treatment of conditions such as drug addiction.
PubMed: 38920837
DOI: 10.3390/bs14060505 -
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of extended bridge expertise on rapid perceptual processing and brain functional plasticity in early adulthood,...
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of extended bridge expertise on rapid perceptual processing and brain functional plasticity in early adulthood, utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In this investigation, we compared 6 high-level college bridge players with 25 college students lacking bridge experience, assessing their intelligence and working memory. Additionally, we scrutinized behavioral performance and whole-brain activation patterns during an image perceptual judgment task. Findings indicated significant group and interaction effects at the behavioral level. Bridge players exhibited prolonged reaction times and enhanced accuracy on card tasks. At the neural level, the activation level of bridge players in the occipital lobe exceeded that of ordinary college students, with more pronounced group effects in the motor area and inferior parietal lobule during card tasks. This implies that bridge expertise in early adulthood induces functional plasticity changes in regions associated with visual processing and automated mathematical computation.
PubMed: 38920802
DOI: 10.3390/bs14060469 -
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Data-driven modeling methods are studied for turbulent dynamical systems with extreme events under an unambiguous model framework. New neural network architectures are...
Data-driven modeling methods are studied for turbulent dynamical systems with extreme events under an unambiguous model framework. New neural network architectures are proposed to effectively learn the key dynamical mechanisms including the multiscale coupling and strong instability, and gain robust skill for long-time prediction resistive to the accumulated model errors from the data-driven approximation. The machine learning model overcomes the inherent limitations in traditional long short-time memory networks by exploiting a conditional Gaussian structure informed of the essential physical dynamics. The model performance is demonstrated under a prototype model from idealized geophysical flow and passive tracers, which exhibits analytical solutions with representative statistical features. Many attractive properties are found in the trained model in recovering the hidden dynamics using a limited dataset and sparse observation time, showing uniformly high skill with persistent numerical stability in predicting both the trajectory and statistical solutions among different statistical regimes away from the training regime. The model framework is promising to be applied to a wider class of turbulent systems with complex structures.
PubMed: 38920531
DOI: 10.3390/e26060522 -
Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Addressing informal caregivers' needs is essential for ensuring quality healthcare and promoting citizen-centred care. This systematic review assessed current knowledge... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Addressing informal caregivers' needs is essential for ensuring quality healthcare and promoting citizen-centred care. This systematic review assessed current knowledge about programmes aimed at meeting the needs of informal caregivers of adults who are dependent on others for daily life activities.
METHODS
Following the PRISMA guidelines, the electronic databases EBSCOhost Research Platform, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science and The Virtual Health Library were searched for randomized experimental studies published between 2012 and 2022 that implemented programmes addressing informal caregivers' needs to improve their experiences, health, and well-being. Quality was assessed using the standardized critical evaluation tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Two independent investigators performed the eligibility assessment and data extraction. Quantitative data on the effectiveness of interventions were collected, and the content of each intervention was synthesized and aggregated into categories, through narrative synthesis.
RESULTS
The majority of the included studies (n = 16) were conducted in European countries and implemented a structured intervention programme compared to the provision of usual care. The studies were of fair to high methodological quality, with a higher risk of bias related to blinding. The results supported the achievement of favourable health outcomes among informal caregivers, namely improvements in mental health (n = 3) and quality of life (n = 3) and a decrease in psychological symptomatology (n = 5) and burden (n = 3). None of the interventions reported adverse outcomes; however, five studies did not describe significant differences in the outcomes assessed after the implementation of the programmes. Interventions focusing on training and educating caregivers (n = 14) and cognitive-behavioural strategies (n = 7) were the most common, while programmes focusing on emotional and psychological support as a resource to improve caregivers' psychological outcomes were scarce.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review adds to the growing body of evidence and insight showing that programmes that address informal caregivers' needs seem to contribute to better physical and psychological health outcomes through the promotion of caregivers' educational support and the implementation of cognitive-behavioural strategies. Future research should implement methodologically robust cross-country programmes tailored to informal caregivers' physical, emotional, psychosocial, societal, and educational needs throughout the care trajectory.
PubMed: 38920427
DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics9030071 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2024Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) can arise from a diverse range of congenital and acquired factors. Detecting it early is pivotal for nurturing speech, language, and...
INTRODUCTION
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) can arise from a diverse range of congenital and acquired factors. Detecting it early is pivotal for nurturing speech, language, and cognitive development in children with SNHL. In our study, we utilized synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI) to assess alterations in both gray and white matter within the brains of children affected by SNHL.
METHODS
The study encompassed both children diagnosed with SNHL and a control group of children with normal hearing {1.5-month-olds ( = 52) and 3-month-olds ( = 78)}. Participants were categorized based on their auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold, delineated into normal, mild, moderate, and severe subgroups.Clinical parameters were included and assessed the correlation with SNHL. Quantitative analysis of brain morphology was conducted using SyMRI scans, yielding data on brain segmentation and relaxation time.Through both univariate and multivariate analyses, independent factors predictive of SNHL were identified. The efficacy of the prediction model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, with visualization facilitated through the utilization of a nomogram. It's important to note that due to the constraints of our research, we worked with a relatively small sample size.
RESULTS
Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NH) and children with inner ear malformation (IEM) were associated with the onset of SNHL both at 1.5 and 3-month groups. At 3-month group, the moderate and severe subgroups exhibited elevated quantitative T1 values in the inferior colliculus (IC), lateral lemniscus (LL), and middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) compared to the normal group. Additionally, WMV, WMF, MYF, and MYV were significantly reduced relative to the normal group. Additionally, SNHL-children with IEM had high T1 values in IC, and LL and reduced WMV, WMF, MYV and MYF values as compared with SNHL-children without IEM at 3-month group. LL-T1 and WMF were independent risk factors associated with SNHL. Consequently, a prediction model was devised based on LL-T1 and WMF. ROC for training set, validation set and external set were 0.865, 0.806, and 0.736, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The integration of T1 quantitative values and brain volume segmentation offers a valuable tool for tracking brain development in children affected by SNHL and assessing the progression of the condition's severity.
PubMed: 38919907
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1365141 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2024Metacognitive Training (MCT) is widely used and effective in reducing positive symptoms in psychosis. Physical exercise, such as Water Aerobics (WA), improves general...
Efficacy of the combination of water aerobics and metacognitive training on psychological and physical health variables and their relationship with SP1 and SP4 biomarkers in people with psychosis: a study protocol.
BACKGROUND
Metacognitive Training (MCT) is widely used and effective in reducing positive symptoms in psychosis. Physical exercise, such as Water Aerobics (WA), improves general health, quality of life and symptoms as a low impact activity that allows social interactions. Preliminary results suggest a relationship between dopamine and psychotic symptoms, through SP transcription factors, SP1 and SP4 biomarkers. The aims of the project are to evaluate the efficacy of a combined intervention (WA and MCT) for psychosis to improve psychotic symptoms, physical health, and transcription levels of SP biomarkers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This is a unicentric randomized controlled trial of three parallel intervention groups: MCT, WA and combined intervention. The estimated sample will be 48 patients with a psychotic spectrum disorder diagnosis. The assessment will be performed at baseline and at 2-months' follow-up. Instruments used in the assessment will include clinical, cognitive, metacognitive, social cognitive and psychosocial variables.
DISCUSSION
This will be the first study investigating the impact of the combination of MCT and WA in psychosis. Moreover, it will be the first study analyzing changes in the transcriptional biomarkers SP1 and SP4 after interventions. The results of this study may have clinical implications contributing to the improvement of treatment selection.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier: NCT05455593.
PubMed: 38919799
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1360004 -
BMC Nursing Jun 2024The incidence of clinically avoidable enteral nutrition interruptions is high. ICU nurses, as the implementers and monitors of enteral nutrition, have a close...
BACKGROUND
The incidence of clinically avoidable enteral nutrition interruptions is high. ICU nurses, as the implementers and monitors of enteral nutrition, have a close relationship between their cognitive level of enteral nutrition interruption and the incidence of enteral nutrition interruption. The level of ICU nurses' cognition of enteral nutrition interruption and the key factors influencing the level of ICU nurses' cognition of enteral nutrition interruption are not known.
OBJECTIVES
This study aims to explore the cognitive level of ICU nurses on enteral nutrition interruption and delve into the key factors that affect their cognitive level from the perspective of management.
DESIGN
A sequential explanatory mixed methods research design was used.
METHODS
With the convenience sampling method, an online survey questionnaire was distributed to ICU nurses in Chongqing, and 336 valid questionnaires were collected. After the survey, ICU managers were invited to participate in qualitative interviews, in which 10 participants from five hospitals completed face-to-face individual semi-structured interviews and were analyzed with thematic analysis.
RESULTS
The survey found that ICU nurses had a good level of cognition towards enteral nutrition interruption but poor knowledge about the definition, causes, and consequences of enteral nutrition interruption, as well as negative attitudes toward active learning, assessment, and communication. And the longer work time in the ICU, joining the nutrition team, receiving systematic training, and acquiring relevant knowledge from academic journals more frequently were favorable to improving ICU nurses' knowledge level of enteral nutrition interruption. Personal interviews further identified the key factors affecting their cognitive level, including (1) lack of knowledge, (2) lack of proactive thinking, (3) lack of enteral nutrition management programs, and (4) lack of quality management tools for enteral nutrition interruption.
CONCLUSION
Although ICU nurses demonstrate a relatively high level of cognition, there is still room for improvement. ICU administrators must take specific measures to improve the knowledge of ICU nurses, especially in non-tertiary hospitals, in order to prevent nurse-induced enteral nutrition interruption in all ICUs and improve medical quality.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Not applicable.
PubMed: 38918841
DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-02098-2