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PloS One 2024Observational studies have previously shown a potential link between psycho-emotional disorders, such as mood swings, highly strung, anxious feelings, and...
BACKGROUND
Observational studies have previously shown a potential link between psycho-emotional disorders, such as mood swings, highly strung, anxious feelings, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the credibility of these associations could be influenced by various confounding factors. Consequently, our study sought to employ a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to elucidate a potential causal relationship between psycho-emotional disorders and GERD.
METHOD
Information on independent genetic variants linked to mood swings, highly strung, and anxious feelings was gathered from European populations participating in the IEU Open GWAS research. The FinnGen Consortium provided the genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for GERD. Our analysis employed the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method under the random effects model as the main analytical method. To further bolster our findings, we employed the weighted median and MR Egger methods. In addition, we conducted a series of sensitivity analyses.
RESULTS
Our study supports the existence of a causal relationship between psycho-emotional disorders and GERD. Mood swings, highly strung, and anxious feelings adversely affected GERD risk (mood swings: OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.19-5.59, p = 3.09 × 10-2; highly strung: OR 5.63, 95% CI 1.77-17.94, p = 3.42 × 10-3; anxious feelings: OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.08-4.33, p = 2.89 × 10-2).
CONCLUSION
This Mendelian randomization study provides robust support for the notion that mood swings, highly strung and anxious feelings, are associated with an increased risk of developing GERD.
Topics: Humans; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Genome-Wide Association Study; Anxiety; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Genetic Predisposition to Disease
PubMed: 38709755
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302469 -
Gait & Posture Jun 2024The vertical toe position at minimum toe clearance (MTC) in the swing phase is critical for walking safety. Consequently, the joints involved should be strictly...
BACKGROUND
The vertical toe position at minimum toe clearance (MTC) in the swing phase is critical for walking safety. Consequently, the joints involved should be strictly controlled and coordinated to stabilize the foot at MTC. The uncontrolled manifold (UCM) hypothesis framework has been used to determine the existence of synergies that stabilize relevant performance variables during walking. However, no study investigated the presence of a multi-joint synergy stabilizing the foot position at MTC and the effects of age and walking speed on this synergy.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Is there a multi-joint synergy stabilizing MTC during treadmill walking? Does it depend on the persons' age and walking speed?
METHODS
Kinematic data from 23 young and 15 older adults were analyzed using the UCM approach. The participants walked on a treadmill at three speeds: slow, self-selected, and fast. The sagittal and frontal joint angles from the swing and stance legs and pelvis obliquity were used as motor elements and the vertical toe position at MTC was the performance variable. The variances in the joint space that affected (V, 'bad' variance) and did not affect (V, 'good' variance) the toe position at MTC and the synergy index (ΔV) were computed.
RESULTS
The ΔV>0 was revealed for all subjects. Walking speed did not affect ΔV in older adults, whereas ΔV reduced with speed in young adults. ΔV was higher for older than for young adults at self-selected and fast speeds, owing to a lower V in the older group.
SIGNIFICANCE
The vertical toe position at MTC was stabilized by a strong multi-joint synergy. In older adults, this synergy was stronger, as they were better at limiting V than young adults. Reduced V in older adults could be caused by more constrained walking, which may be associated with anxiety due to walking on a treadmill.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Biomechanical Phenomena; Aged; Toes; Walking Speed; Adult; Young Adult; Walking; Gait; Exercise Test; Age Factors; Foot; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38703443
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2024.04.025 -
Scientific Reports May 2024The intricate hormonal and physiological changes of the menstrual cycle can influence health on a daily basis. Although prior studies have helped improve our...
The intricate hormonal and physiological changes of the menstrual cycle can influence health on a daily basis. Although prior studies have helped improve our understanding of the menstrual cycle, they often lack diversity in the populations included, sample size, and the span of reproductive and life stages. This paper aims to describe the dynamic differences in menstrual cycle characteristics and associated symptoms by age in a large global cohort of period-tracking application users. This work aims to contribute to our knowledge and understanding of female physiology at varying stages of reproductive aging. This cohort study included self-reported menstrual cycle and symptom information in a sample of Flo application users aged 18-55. Cycle and period length and their variability, and frequency of menstrual cycle symptom logs are described by the age of the user. Based on data logged by over 19 million global users of the Flo app, the length of the menstrual cycle and period show clear age-associated patterns. With higher age, cycles tend to get shorter (Cycle length: = 1.85 days, Cohen's D = 0.59) and more variable (Cycle length SD: = 0.42 days, Cohen's D = 0.09), until close to the chronological age (40-44) suggesting menopausal transition, when both cycles and periods become longer (Cycle length: = 0.86 days, t = 48.85, Cohen's D = 0.26; Period length: = 0.08, t = 15.6, Cohen's D = 0.07) and more variable (Cycle length SD: = 2.80 days, t = 111.43, d = 0.51; Period length SD: = 0.23 days, t = 67.81, Cohen's D = 0.31). The proportion of individuals with irregular cycles was highest in participants aged 51-55 (44.7%), and lowest in the 36-40 age group (28.3%). The spectrum of common menstrual cycle-related symptoms also varies with age. The frequency of logging of cramps and acne is lower in older participants, while logs of headache, backache, stress, and insomnia are higher in older users. Other symptoms show different patterns, such as breast tenderness and fatigue peaking between the ages of 20-40, or mood swings being most frequently logged in the youngest and oldest users. The menstrual cycle and related symptoms are not static throughout the lifespan. Understanding these age-related differences in cycle characteristics and symptoms is essential in understanding how best to care for and improve the daily experience for menstruators across the reproductive life span.
Topics: Humans; Female; Menstrual Cycle; Adult; Middle Aged; Adolescent; Young Adult; Cohort Studies; Reproduction; Self Report; Age Factors; Aging
PubMed: 38702411
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60373-3 -
Medicine May 2024This study aimed to investigate whether lower limb joints mutually compensate for each other, resulting in motor synergy that suppresses toe vertical position...
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to investigate whether lower limb joints mutually compensate for each other, resulting in motor synergy that suppresses toe vertical position fluctuation, and whether walking speeds affect lower limb synergy.
METHODS
Seventeen male university students walked at slow (0.85 ± 0.04 m/s), medium (1.43 ± 0.05 m/s) and fast (1.99 ± 0.06 m/s) speeds on a 15-m walkway while lower limb kinematic data were collected. Uncontrolled manifold analysis was used to quantify the strength of synergy. Two-way (speed × phase) repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to analyze all dependent variables.
RESULTS
A significant speed-by-phase interaction was observed in the synergy index (SI) (P < .001). At slow walking speeds, subjects had greater SI during mid-swing (P < .001), while at fast walking speeds, they had greater SI during early-swing (P < .001). During the entire swing phase, fast walking exhibited lower SI values than medium (P = .005) and slow walking (P = .027).
CONCLUSION
Kinematic synergy plays a crucial role in controlling toe vertical position during the swing phase, and fast walking exhibits less synergy than medium and slow walking. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of kinematic synergy in gait stability and have implications for the development of interventions aimed at improving gait stability and reducing the risk of falls.
Topics: Humans; Male; Biomechanical Phenomena; Young Adult; Walking Speed; Lower Extremity; Toes; Gait; Walking; Adult
PubMed: 38701268
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038024 -
Cadernos de Saude Publica 2024Characterized by symptoms that remain or appear for the first time within three months of SARS-CoV-2 infection, long COVID can manifest itself in different ways,...
Characterized by symptoms that remain or appear for the first time within three months of SARS-CoV-2 infection, long COVID can manifest itself in different ways, including in non-hospitalized or asymptomatic cases. Thus, this study offers an overview of long COVID in Brazil, especially of its diagnosis, symptoms, and challenges for new health management. Data from a study that investigated long COVID in people affected by COVID-19 were used. These original data stem from a survey with adult Brazilians (aged 18 years or older) who had COVID-19 that collected information from March 14 to April 14, 2022, by a questionnaire on social media. The questionnaire addressed sociodemographic characteristics, history of COVID-19 infections, vaccination against the disease, investigation of health status and quality of life before and after COVID-19, and search and access to treatment. Of the 1,728 respondents, 720 were considered eligible for analysis, of which 496 (69%) had long COVID. Individuals with long COVID reported clinical manifestations such as anxiety (80%), memory loss (78%), generalized pain (77%), lack of attention (75%), fatigue (73%), hair loss (71%), sleep changes (70%), mood swings (62%), malaise (60%), and joint pain (59%). Most sought health services during and after the acute phase of COVID-19 (94 and 80%, respectively), representing the need to structure the healthcare system for these patients.
Topics: Humans; Brazil; COVID-19; Adult; Female; Male; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Health Policy; Middle Aged; Surveys and Questionnaires; SARS-CoV-2; Quality of Life; Young Adult; Aged; Socioeconomic Factors; Adolescent
PubMed: 38695461
DOI: 10.1590/0102-311XPT094623 -
Genes Mar 2024The metritis complex (MC), a group of post-partum uterine diseases, is associated with increased treatment costs and reduced milk yield and fertility. The goal of this...
The metritis complex (MC), a group of post-partum uterine diseases, is associated with increased treatment costs and reduced milk yield and fertility. The goal of this study was to identify genetic variants, genes, or genomic regions that modulate MC disease. A genome-wide association study was performed using a single-locus mixed linear model of 1967 genotypes (624,460 SNPs) and metritis complex records. Then, in-silico functional analyses were performed to detect biological mechanisms and pathways associated with the development of MC. The , , , and genes, located on chromosomes 12, 10, and 21, were associated with MC at ≤ 0.0001. These genes are involved in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in the stromal tissue of the uterus, which can be directly associated with the mode of transmission for pathogens causing the metritis complex. The modulation of cholesterol abundance alters the efficiency of virulence factors and may affect the susceptibility of the host to infection. The , , and genes were also significantly associated with MC at ≤ 0.0001 and are involved in the PI3k-Akt pathway, responsible for activating the autophagic processes. Thus, the dysregulation of these genes allows for unhindered bacterial invasion, replication, and survival within the endometrium.
Topics: Animals; Female; Cattle; Genome-Wide Association Study; Cattle Diseases; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Endometritis; Uterine Diseases
PubMed: 38674374
DOI: 10.3390/genes15040439 -
PloS One 2024Gait impairments negatively affect the quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). Aerobic exercise (AE) is an alternative to alleviate these impairments...
Aerobic exercise on the treadmill combined with transcranial direct current stimulation on the gait of people with Parkinson's disease: A protocol for a randomized clinical trial.
Gait impairments negatively affect the quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). Aerobic exercise (AE) is an alternative to alleviate these impairments and its combination with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has demonstrated synergistic effects. However, the effect of multitarget tDCS application (i.e., motor, and prefrontal cortices simultaneously) combined with physical exercise on gait impairments is still little known. Thus, the proposed randomized clinical trial will verify the acute effects of AE combined with tDCS applied on motor and prefrontal cortices separately and simultaneously on gait (spatial-temporal and cortical activity parameters) in PwPD. Twenty-four PwPD in Hoehn & Yahr stages I-III will be recruited for this crossover study. PwPD will practice AE on treadmill simultaneously with the application of anodal tDCS during four intervention sessions on different days (∼ one week of interval). Active tDCS will be applied to the primary motor cortex, prefrontal cortex, and both areas simultaneously (multitarget), with an intensity of 2 mA for 20 min. For sham, the stimulation will remain at 2 mA for 10 s. The AE will last a total of 30 min, consisting of warm-up, main part (20 min with application of tDCS), and recovery. Exercise intensity will be controlled by heart rate. Spatial-temporal and cortical activity parameters will be acquired before and after each session during overground walking, walking with obstacle avoidance, and walking with a cognitive dual task at self-preferred velocity. An accelerometer will be positioned on the fifth lumbar vertebra to obtain the spatial-temporal parameters (i.e., step length, duration, velocity, and swing phase duration). Prefrontal cortex activity will be recorded from a portable functional near-infrared spectroscopy system and oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations will be analyzed. Two-way ANOVAs with repeated measures for stimulation and moment will be performed. The findings of the study may contribute to improving gait in PwPD. Trial registration: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (RBR-738zkp7).
Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Cross-Over Studies; Exercise; Exercise Test; Exercise Therapy; Gait; Motor Cortex; Parkinson Disease; Prefrontal Cortex; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
PubMed: 38662740
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300243 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2024The association between benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and various mental disorders is still controversial. This study used the Mendelian randomization (MR)...
BACKGROUND
The association between benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and various mental disorders is still controversial. This study used the Mendelian randomization (MR) method to clarify the correlation between BPPV and seven mental disorders (bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, suicidality, neuroticism, and mood swings) to aid in the exploration of BPPV complications and prevention and early treatment of mental disorders.
METHODS
The datasets for BPPV and seven mental disorders were obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Two-sample MR was used to analyze the correlation between exposure (BPPV) and various outcomes (bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, suicidality, neuroticism, and mood swings). A reverse MR study was also performed. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) method, the MR-Egger method, the simple mode method, the weighted mode method, and the weighted median method were selected.
RESULTS
The MR analysis and the reverse MR analysis results did not reveal significant associations between BPPV and bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, suicidal tendencies, neuroticism, and mood swings. Interestingly, neuroticism (IVW: OR = 1.142, 95% CI: 1.059-1.231, = 0.001; P-MR-PRESSO adjustment = 0.0002) and mood swings (IVW: OR = 3.119, 95% CI: 1.652-5.884, = 0.0004) may have a significant association with BPPV. After MR-PRESSO adjustment, there was no horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity, and a significant association between neuroticism, mood swings, and BPPV has still been suggested.
CONCLUSION
We conducted MR analysis on genetic data from European populations and discovered a causal relationship between BPPV and the seven mental disorders. Our research findings suggest that BPPV may not have a significant causal relationship with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, or suicidal tendencies. However, neuroticism and mood swings may be risk factors for BPPV.
PubMed: 38654741
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1310026 -
Neurological Sciences : Official... Apr 2024We present the case of a 6-year-old girl who initially presented with acute pelvic pain, ultimately diagnosed with imperforate hymen leading to hematocolpos....
We present the case of a 6-year-old girl who initially presented with acute pelvic pain, ultimately diagnosed with imperforate hymen leading to hematocolpos. Further investigation revealed additional clinical features including academic struggles, mood swings, and cutaneous findings, prompting consideration of a neurocutaneous syndrome. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed features consistent with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), including radial migration lines in the subcortical white matter and an incidental arachnoid cyst. Notably, this case exhibited a unique presentation with absence of typical TSC findings such as subependymal nodules or cortical tubers. Additionally, precocious puberty, rarely associated with TSC, was observed, suggesting a potential link between hypothalamic lesions and hormonal imbalance. This case underscores the importance of comprehensive evaluation in pediatric patients presenting with seemingly unrelated symptoms, as it may unveil underlying conditions necessitating tailored management strategies.
PubMed: 38637341
DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07523-7 -
BJPsych Open Apr 2024Many studies have found an association between mood-disorder-related traits and endometriosis and adenomyosis. However, the cause-effect relationship remains unclear.
BACKGROUND
Many studies have found an association between mood-disorder-related traits and endometriosis and adenomyosis. However, the cause-effect relationship remains unclear.
AIMS
We conducted Mendelian randomisation analyses to evaluate any causal relationship between mood disorders and endometriosis as well as different sites of endometriosis.
METHOD
Summary-level statistics for mood-disorder-related traits and endometriosis (8288 cases, 68 969 controls) in European populations were derived from large-scale data-sets of genome-wide association studies. A two-sample Mendelian randomisation was performed using the inverse-variance weighted and weight median methods. Further sensitivity analyses, including heterogeneity, pleiotropy and leave-one-out analyses, were conducted to test the consistency of the results.
RESULTS
Genetically determined mood swings (odds ratio = 2.557, 95% CI: 1.192-5.483, = 0.016) and major depression (odds ratio = 1.233, 95% CI: 1.019-1.493, = 0.031) were causally associated with an increased risk of endometriosis. Mood swings (odds ratio = 4.238, 95% CI: 1.194-15.048, = 0.025) and major depression (odds ratio = 1.512, 95% CI: 1.052-2.173, = 0.025) were also causally associated with the risk of adenomyosis. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the reliability of the results.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that mood-disorder-related traits increase the risk of endometriosis and adenomyosis. This study provides new insights into the potential pathogenesis of endometriosis and adenomyosis, and highlights the importance of preventing endometriosis and adenomyosis in patients with mood-disorder-related traits.
PubMed: 38622955
DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2024.46