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Frontiers in Oncology 2024Primary brain neoplasms are associated with elevated mortality and morbidity rates. Brain tumour surgery aims to achieve maximal tumour resection while minimizing damage...
Primary brain neoplasms are associated with elevated mortality and morbidity rates. Brain tumour surgery aims to achieve maximal tumour resection while minimizing damage to healthy brain tissue. Research on Neuromodulation Induced Cortical Prehabilitation (NICP) has highlighted the potential, before neurosurgery, of establishing new brain connections and transfer functional activity from one area of the brain to another. Nonetheless, the neural mechanisms underlying these processes, particularly in the context of space-occupying lesions, remain unclear. A patient with a left frontotemporoinsular tumour underwent a prehabilitation protocol providing 20 sessions of inhibitory non-invasive neuromodulation (rTMS and multichannel tDCS) over a language network coupled with intensive task training. Prehabilitation resulted in an increment of the distance between the tumour and the language network. Furthermore, enhanced functional connectivity within the language circuit was observed. The present innovative case-study exposed that inhibition of the functional network area surrounding the space-occupying lesion promotes a plastic change in the network's spatial organization, presumably through the establishment of novel functional pathways away from the lesion's site. While these outcomes are promising, prudence dictates the need for larger studies to confirm and generalize these findings.
PubMed: 38826790
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1390542 -
Human Brain Mapping Jun 2024Multivariate techniques better fit the anatomy of complex neuropsychiatric disorders which are characterized not by alterations in a single region, but rather by...
Principal component analysis as an efficient method for capturing multivariate brain signatures of complex disorders-ENIGMA study in people with bipolar disorders and obesity.
Multivariate techniques better fit the anatomy of complex neuropsychiatric disorders which are characterized not by alterations in a single region, but rather by variations across distributed brain networks. Here, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to identify patterns of covariance across brain regions and relate them to clinical and demographic variables in a large generalizable dataset of individuals with bipolar disorders and controls. We then compared performance of PCA and clustering on identical sample to identify which methodology was better in capturing links between brain and clinical measures. Using data from the ENIGMA-BD working group, we investigated T1-weighted structural MRI data from 2436 participants with BD and healthy controls, and applied PCA to cortical thickness and surface area measures. We then studied the association of principal components with clinical and demographic variables using mixed regression models. We compared the PCA model with our prior clustering analyses of the same data and also tested it in a replication sample of 327 participants with BD or schizophrenia and healthy controls. The first principal component, which indexed a greater cortical thickness across all 68 cortical regions, was negatively associated with BD, BMI, antipsychotic medications, and age and was positively associated with Li treatment. PCA demonstrated superior goodness of fit to clustering when predicting diagnosis and BMI. Moreover, applying the PCA model to the replication sample yielded significant differences in cortical thickness between healthy controls and individuals with BD or schizophrenia. Cortical thickness in the same widespread regional network as determined by PCA was negatively associated with different clinical and demographic variables, including diagnosis, age, BMI, and treatment with antipsychotic medications or lithium. PCA outperformed clustering and provided an easy-to-use and interpret method to study multivariate associations between brain structure and system-level variables. PRACTITIONER POINTS: In this study of 2770 Individuals, we confirmed that cortical thickness in widespread regional networks as determined by principal component analysis (PCA) was negatively associated with relevant clinical and demographic variables, including diagnosis, age, BMI, and treatment with antipsychotic medications or lithium. Significant associations of many different system-level variables with the same brain network suggest a lack of one-to-one mapping of individual clinical and demographic factors to specific patterns of brain changes. PCA outperformed clustering analysis in the same data set when predicting group or BMI, providing a superior method for studying multivariate associations between brain structure and system-level variables.
Topics: Humans; Bipolar Disorder; Principal Component Analysis; Adult; Female; Male; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Middle Aged; Obesity; Schizophrenia; Cerebral Cortex; Cluster Analysis; Young Adult; Brain
PubMed: 38825977
DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26682 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) presents multifaceted challenges affecting women's reproductive, metabolic, and psychological systems, consequently impacting their... (Review)
Review
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) presents multifaceted challenges affecting women's reproductive, metabolic, and psychological systems, consequently impacting their psychological and emotional well-being. The utilization of meditation and mindfulness interventions (MMIs) is found to be increasing for the management of PCOS. This scoping review systematically explored the current literature to identify the type and application of MMIs for PCOS management. A systematic search of literature was conducted using CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, MEDLINE, and PubMed databases for identifying studies conducted on the usage of MMIs in women diagnosed with PCOS, irrespective of age. The comprehensive search identified 14 trials (comprising 17 citations) meeting inclusion criteria, involving 723 participants across various age groups. Among these, nine were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), while the remaining comprised non-RCTs. Several types of MMIs, including of , , OM cyclic meditation, unspecified forms of meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction programs, mindful yoga, and mindfulness-based activities, were used. Outcomes were predominantly assessed in psychological domains (n=11), followed by anthropometric (n=9), quality of life (n=7), and metabolic metrics (n=7). The review findings suggest the integration of meditation with conventional treatment modalities. Preliminary data indicate that MMIs have the potential to improve psychosocial well-being and quality of life among PCOS-affected women. However, adequately powered studies with extended follow-up periods are required to investigate the mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy of MMIs, particularly concerning reproductive outcomes and weight management. Furthermore, diligent monitoring and reporting of adverse events and adherence are essential for a comprehensive understanding of MMI utilization in PCOS management.
Topics: Humans; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Mindfulness; Female; Meditation; Quality of Life; Yoga
PubMed: 38818503
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1295705 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024Arts therapies offer effective non-pharmacological intervention for Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders (SIMDs), encompassing both passive and active modalities....
INTRODUCTION
Arts therapies offer effective non-pharmacological intervention for Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders (SIMDs), encompassing both passive and active modalities. This review assesses their effectiveness and ethical considerations, focusing on music therapy, meditation, and Tai Chi.
METHODS
Following PRISMA guidelines, a detailed search across PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CNKI identified 17 relevant RCTs. Utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality criteria and the PICO(S) framework for data extraction ensured methodological integrity.
RESULTS
Analysis shows arts therapies significantly improve sleep quality. Music therapy and meditation yield immediate benefits, while Tai Chi and Qigong require longer commitment for significant outcomes.
DISCUSSION
The link between SIMDs and mental health issues like anxiety, stress, and depression suggests arts therapies not only enhance sleep quality but also address underlying mental health conditions. The evidence supports a wider adoption of arts therapies in treating SIMDs due to their dual benefits.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO, ID: CRD42024506393.
PubMed: 38818021
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1386529 -
Scientific Reports May 2024The role of spirituality in health and disease is a complex and emerging area of research. Incorporating spirituality into the bio-psycho-social model of health and...
The role of spirituality in health and disease is a complex and emerging area of research. Incorporating spirituality into the bio-psycho-social model of health and disease leading to the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model provides a more comprehensive framework. In this context, chronic disorders like primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are of interest due to their intricate interactions between biological, psychological, and spiritual factors. This study explored the relationship between spirituality, immune parameters, and disease activity in pSS patients. Data from 108 patients were analyzed, including self-assessed spirituality (answering to direct questions and completing the Spiritual Transcendence Scale), immunological parameters and disease activity scores. The findings revealed several associations. Individuals with spiritual attitudes or engaged in regular prayer/meditation showed lower serum levels of autoantibodies specific to pSS and lower disease activity scores. Spiritual engagement was also linked to decreased perceived skin and tracheal dryness, suggesting potential benefits for physical symptoms. These findings suggest that spirituality may play a significant role in modulating immune responses and disease activity in pSS patients. The study underscores the importance of considering spirituality as an integral part of the holistic approach to health and disease, further expanding the understanding of the interconnectedness of biological, psychological, and spiritual dimensions.
Topics: Humans; Sjogren's Syndrome; Female; Spirituality; Middle Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Male; Adult; Aged; Autoantibodies
PubMed: 38816520
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62801-w -
Alternative Therapies in Health and... May 2024Nurses working in the operating room face high levels of work stress, leading to an increased prevalence of negative emotions and job burnout. These issues not only...
OBJECTIVE
Nurses working in the operating room face high levels of work stress, leading to an increased prevalence of negative emotions and job burnout. These issues not only affect the well-being of nurses, but may also affect the quality of patient care. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a special training method based on breathing meditation on negative emotions, job burnout, attention, and caring ability of operating room nurses.
METHODS
Taking special training time based on breathing meditation training for nurses in the operating room (June 2022) as the dividing point, operating room nurses with routine training from March 2022 to May 2022 were taken as a pre-training group, and operating room nurses who underwent special training of breathing meditation training from June 2022 to August 2022 were enrolled as a post-training group, special training consisted of breathing meditation training for 8 weeks, once a day, 5 days a week. The same group of nurses (n=35) were enrolled before and after training, and 53 patients in each group were included in the two intervention periods for cooperative study. The scores of nurses' negative emotions [Symptom Checklist (SCL-90), Self-Reporting Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20)], job burnout scores (emotional consumption, depersonalization and personal accomplishment), attention scores (visual attention, auditory attention and audio-visual combination attention) and caring ability (cognition, courage and patience) before and after training and satisfaction of nursing work were compared between the two groups of patients.
RESULTS
The data analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0, with chi-squared tests for categorical data, and t-tests (LSD or paired) for continuous data. The scores of SCL-90 and SRQ-20 of nurses in the post-training group were significantly lower than those in the pre-training group (P < .05). The scores of emotional consumption, depersonalization and, personal accomplishment and total score of job burnout of nurses were significantly lower in a post-training group than those in a pre-training group (P < .05). The visual attention, auditory attention, audio-visual combination attention and total attention score of nurses in the post-training group were significantly higher compared with those in a pre-training group (P < .05). The scores of cognition, courage and patience and total score of the caring ability of nurses in the post-training group were significantly higher than those in the pre-training group (P < .05). The satisfaction of nursing work in post-training group (98.11%) was significantly higher than that in the pre-training group (84.91%) (P < .05). The results indicate that the post-training group of nurses experienced significantly lower levels of emotional distress, reduced job burnout, and improved attention and caring abilities compared to the pre-training group. Additionally, their satisfaction with nursing work significantly increased. These findings suggest that the training program had a positive impact on nurses' mental well-being, job performance, and job satisfaction, which is highly relevant for enhancing the quality of patient care in clinical practice.
CONCLUSION
Our findings are consistent with existing literature on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness training in healthcare Settings. These results have practical implications for both operating room nurses and patient care, indicating that breathing meditation training can be used as an effective tool to improve nurses' mental health and work productivity. Although the study sample was limited, these preliminary results provide valuable directions for future research.
PubMed: 38814605
DOI: No ID Found -
PloS One 2024Astronauts (and recently businessmen) often express a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment, after observing the overwhelming beauty of...
Astronauts (and recently businessmen) often express a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment, after observing the overwhelming beauty of Earth from space. Despite recent attention for this "overview effect", it is unclear whether experiencing the effect directly impacts pro-environmental behaviour. Using a virtual reality experience, the current research tests in two experimental studies the direct impact of an immersive overview effect experience on both short-term and longer term subsequent pro-environmental behaviours (donating to an environmental NGO, consuming less diary and meat). Furthermore, it investigates whether the technological immersiveness of the VR experience amplifies the effect, and the mediating role of connectedness to nature. Results show no effects of the short (7 minutes) overview effect VR video on pro-environmental behaviour (Study 1). For the longer video (15 minutes, Study 2), the results showed that the most immersive experience (video featuring meditative music and voice-over) appeared to increase connection with nature and higher donation amounts to an eco-NGO, but not significantly. No effects were found for subsequent meat and dairy consumption behaviours (measured on day 2, 4, and 6). These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the specific features determining the effectiveness of the overview effect experiences on actual pro-environmental behaviour, providing important insights to businesses and educational institutions.
Topics: Virtual Reality; Humans; Male; Adult; Female; Earth, Planet; Astronauts; Young Adult; Environment; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38809878
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299883 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2024Amidst the ongoing global impact of COVID-19 on public health, there is an increasing focus on holistic strategies encompassing integrative therapies and rehabilitation...
INTRODUCTION
Amidst the ongoing global impact of COVID-19 on public health, there is an increasing focus on holistic strategies encompassing integrative therapies and rehabilitation techniques, particularly in addressing the challenges posed by Long-COVID-19. This review investigates the potential of Qigong, an ancient Chinese practice characterized by gentle movements, controlled breathing, and meditative elements, within the context of COVID-19.
METHODS
A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify pertinent clinical studies.
RESULTS
Following thorough database scrutiny, nine studies were identified as meeting the eligibility criteria. Across the spectrum of COVID-19 severity, individuals engaging in qigong practice exhibited notable enhancements in both physical and psychological wellbeing, evidenced by ameliorated respiratory symptoms, reduced anxiety levels, enhanced sleep quality, bolstered mental wellbeing, and augmented health-related quality of life. Moreover, qigong training, whether employed independently or in conjunction with other therapies, demonstrated beneficial effects on Long-COVID-19 symptoms, encompassing persistent respiratory issues, dizziness, sleep disturbances, and compromised health-related quality of life.
DISCUSSION
This review underscores the necessity for further investigation to quantify and standardize the contribution of Qigong to COVID-19 recovery and rehabilitation. Such endeavors aim to integrate this accessible and low-impact practice into public health strategies and comprehensive treatment regimens.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
The review protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework under the following doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/7K5X6 (URL: https://osf.io/7k5x6).
PubMed: 38807958
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1403130 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024Athletes, due to frequent physical interactions in competitive sports, are prone to impulsive behavior. Impulsive behavior is a prevalent psychological factor in sports,...
INTRODUCTION
Athletes, due to frequent physical interactions in competitive sports, are prone to impulsive behavior. Impulsive behavior is a prevalent psychological factor in sports, often leading to performance-affecting errors. This cross-sectional survey investigated the relationship between mindfulness and athletes' impulsive behavior.
METHODS
We sampled 403 athletes from youth training centers, universities, sports academies, and clubs in China using convenience and snowball sampling. Using AMOS v23, we analyzed the data with a structural equation model.
RESULTS
Our structural equation model confirmed that mindfulness and self-regulation inversely correlate with impulsive behavior, while social evaluation anxiety positively correlates with impulsive behavior. Furthermore, self-regulation and social evaluation anxiety serve as intermediaries in the link between mindfulness and impulsive behavior.
DISCUSSIONS
This research suggests introducing mindfulness meditation practices in competitive settings to improve athletes' social evaluation anxiety and enhance their self-regulation abilities, thereby boosting their psychological health and curbing impulsive behavior.
PubMed: 38807692
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1404680 -
Heliyon May 2024Meditation has been integral to human culture for millennia, deeply rooted in various spiritual and contemplative traditions. While the field of contemplative science... (Review)
Review
Meditation has been integral to human culture for millennia, deeply rooted in various spiritual and contemplative traditions. While the field of contemplative science has made significant steps toward understanding the effects of meditation on health and well-being, there has been little study of advanced meditative states, including those achieved through intense concentration and absorption. We refer to these types of states as advanced concentrative absorption meditation (ACAM), characterized by absorption with the meditation object leading to states of heightened attention, clarity, energy, effortlessness, and bliss. This review focuses on a type of ACAM known as jhana (ACAM-J) due to its well-documented history, systematic practice approach, recurring phenomenological themes, and growing popularity among contemplative scientists and more generally in media and society. ACAM-J encompasses eight layers of deep concentration, awareness, and internal experiences. Here, we describe the phenomenology of ACAM-J and present evidence from phenomenological and neuroscientific studies that highlight their potential applications in contemplative practices, psychological sciences, and therapeutics. We additionally propose theoretical ACAM-J frameworks grounded in current cognitive neuroscientific understanding of meditation and ancient contemplative traditions. We aim to stimulate further research on ACAM more broadly, encompassing advanced meditation including meditative development and meditative endpoints. Studying advanced meditation including ACAM, and specific practices such as ACAM-J, can potentially revolutionize our understanding of consciousness and applications for mental health.
PubMed: 38803854
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31223