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Cureus Apr 2024Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health concern globally characterized by a spectrum of mood disturbances ranging from mild mood swings to...
Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health concern globally characterized by a spectrum of mood disturbances ranging from mild mood swings to severe depressive episodes initiating within four weeks post childbirth and potentially persisting up to 12 months. Besides affecting the mother, it also affects the mental health and development of the babies born to affected mothers. Despite its considerable burden and potential adverse effects on both maternal and child well-being, PPD often goes undetected and untreated. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2024 to March 2024 at a tertiary care center in Gorakhpur to assess PPD in 280 postpartum women. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ≥ 10 was used to confirm depression. Data collection involved a pretested, structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The prevalence of PPD was 12.14%. Age and education were significant sociodemographic risk factors (p < 0.05). In psychosocial factors, adverse life events (p < 0.001), wishing for a male child but giving birth to a female (p = 0.01), domestic violence (p = 0.005), relationship issues, an alcoholic spouse (p = 0.01), and poor in-law relations (p < 0.001) were found to be linked to PPD. Obstetric factors such as complicated antenatal history, physical illness, cesarean section, complicated intranatal history, and postpartum complications were also found to be important factors. Conclusion PPD affects many women, emphasizing the need for effective measures. Initiatives like the appointment of healthcare counselors and PPD screening programs in healthcare settings are essential to detect and support affected mothers.
PubMed: 38770470
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58653 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the core treatment for advanced prostate cancer (PCa), with a proven survival benefit. ADT lowers circulating testosterone levels...
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the core treatment for advanced prostate cancer (PCa), with a proven survival benefit. ADT lowers circulating testosterone levels throughout the body, but with it comes a variety of reported side effects including fatigue, muscle wastage, weight gain, hot flushes and importantly cognitive impairment, depression, and mood swings. Testosterone has a key role in brain masculinization, but its direct effects are relatively poorly understood, due both to the brain's extreme complexity and the fact that some of testosterone activities are driven via local conversion to oestrogen, especially during embryonic development. The exact roles, function, and location of the androgen receptor (AR) in the adult male brain are still being discovered, and therefore the cognitive side effects of ADT may be unrecognized or under-reported. The age of onset of several neurological diseases overlap with PCa, therefore, there is a need to separate ADT side effects from such co-morbidities. Here we analysed the activity and expression level of the AR in the adult mouse brain, using an ARE-Luc reporter mouse and immunohistochemical staining for AR in all the key brain regions via coronal slices. We further analysed our data by comparing to the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas. AR-driven luciferase activity and distinct nuclear staining for AR were seen in several key brain areas including the thalamus, hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, Purkinje cells of the cerebellum and the hindbrain. We describe and discuss the potential role of AR in these areas, to inform and enable extrapolation to potential side effects of ADT in humans.
Topics: Receptors, Androgen; Animals; Mice; Brain; Male
PubMed: 38750183
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61733-9 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2024Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by three main motor symptoms: bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor. PD is also associated with diverse non-motor symptoms that may...
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by three main motor symptoms: bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor. PD is also associated with diverse non-motor symptoms that may develop in parallel or precede motor dysfunctions, ranging from autonomic system dysfunctions and impaired sensory perception to cognitive deficits and depression. Here, we examine the role of the progressive loss of dopaminergic transmission in behaviors related to the non-motor symptoms of PD in a mouse model of the disease (the TIF-IA strain). We found that in the period from 5 to 12 weeks after the induction of a gradual loss of dopaminergic neurons, mild motor symptoms became detectable, including changes in the distance between paws while standing as well as the swing speed and step sequence. Male mutant mice showed no apparent changes in olfactory acuity, no anhedonia-like behaviors, and normal learning in an instrumental task; however, a pronounced increase in the number of operant responses performed was noted. Similarly, female mice with progressive dopaminergic neuron degeneration showed normal learning in the probabilistic reversal learning task and no loss of sweet-taste preference, but again, a robustly higher number of choices were performed in the task. In both males and females, the higher number of instrumental responses did not affect the accuracy or the fraction of rewarded responses. Taken together, these data reveal discrete, dopamine-dependent non-motor symptoms that emerge in the early stages of dopaminergic neuron degeneration.
PubMed: 38745938
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1375265 -
Skin Research and Technology : Official... May 2024Many studies have indicated that negative emotions and personality traits are related to psoriasis, though few have provided causal evidence.
BACKGROUND
Many studies have indicated that negative emotions and personality traits are related to psoriasis, though few have provided causal evidence.
METHODS
Our analysis utilized 15 genome-wide association study datasets to identify instrumental variables associated with negative emotions, personality traits and psoriasis vulgaris. Two-sample Mendelian randomization was conducted to identify the causal associations of negative emotions and personality traits with psoriasis vulgaris. To mitigate bias from multiple tests, we adjusted p-values using the Benjamini-Hochberg method.
RESULTS
Our study revealed causal links between negative emotions and psoriasis vulgaris, including depressed affect, worry too long, feeling hurt, guilty feelings, mood swings, unenthusiasm, miserableness, fed-up feelings. However, there was no significant evidence of a causal relationship between feeling lonely and psoriasis vulgaris. Additionally, personality traits including neuroticism and openness to experience were found to have causal effects on psoriasis vulgaris. However, no significant evidence supported a causal relationship between agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion with psoriasis vulgaris.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that experiencing negative emotions including depressed affect, worrying excessively, feeling hurt, guilty feelings, mood swings, lack of enthusiasm, miserableness and fed-up feelings may pose risks for psoriasis vulgaris. Additionally, neuroticism is associated with a risk of psoriasis vulgaris. Conversely, the openness trait may serve a protective role against psoriasis vulgaris.
Topics: Humans; Psoriasis; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Personality; Genome-Wide Association Study; Emotions; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
PubMed: 38743386
DOI: 10.1111/srt.13702 -
Clinical and Translational Allergy May 2024Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children and poses a significant threat to their health. This study aims to assess the relationship between various...
BACKGROUND
Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children and poses a significant threat to their health. This study aims to assess the relationship between various plasma proteins and childhood asthma, thereby identifying potential therapeutic targets.
METHODS
Based on publicly available genome-wide association study summary statistics, we employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to elucidate the causal relationship between plasma proteins and asthma. Mediation analysis was then conducted to evaluate the indirect influence of plasma proteins on childhood asthma mediated through risk factors. Comprehensive analysis was also conducted to explore the association between plasma proteins and various phenotypes using the UK Biobank dataset.
RESULTS
MR analysis uncovered a causal relationship between 10 plasma proteins and childhood asthma. Elevated levels of seven proteins (TLR4, UBP25, CBR1, Rac GTPase-activating protein 1 [RGAP1], IL-21, MICB, and PDE4D) and decreased levels of three proteins (GSTO1, LIRB4 and PIGF) were associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. Our findings further validated the connections between reported risk factors (body mass index, mood swings, hay fever or allergic rhinitis, and eczema or dermatitis) and childhood asthma. Mediation analysis revealed the influence of proteins on childhood asthma outcomes through risk factors. Furthermore, the MR analysis identified 73 plasma proteins that exhibited causal associations with at least one risk factor for childhood asthma. Among them, RGAP1 mediates a significant proportion (25.10%) of the risk of childhood asthma through eczema or dermatitis. Finally, a phenotype-wide association study based on these 10 proteins and 1403 diseases provided novel associations between these biomarkers and multiple phenotypes.
CONCLUSION
Our study comprehensively investigated the causal relationship between plasma proteins and childhood asthma, providing novel insights into potential therapeutic targets.
PubMed: 38730525
DOI: 10.1002/clt2.12357 -
PloS One 2024Previous cross-sectional studies have identified multiple potential risk factors for functional dyspepsia (FD). However, the causal associations between these factors...
BACKGROUND
Previous cross-sectional studies have identified multiple potential risk factors for functional dyspepsia (FD). However, the causal associations between these factors and FD remain elusive. Here we aimed to fully examine the causal relationships between these factors and FD utilizing a two-sample MR framework.
METHODS
A total of 53 potential FD-related modifiable factors, including those associated with hormones, metabolism, disease, medication, sociology, psychology, lifestyle and others were obtained through a comprehensive literature review. Independent genetic variants closely linked to these factors were screened as instrumental variables from genome-wide association studies (GWASs). A total of 8875 FD cases and 320387 controls were available for the analysis. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was employed as the primary analytical approach to assess the relationship between genetic variants of risk factors and the FD risk. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the consistency of the findings using the weighted median model, MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO methods.
RESULTS
Genetically predicted depression (OR 1.515, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.231 to 1.865, p = 0.000088), gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR 1.320, 95%CI 1.153 to 1.511, p = 0.000057) and years of education (OR 0.926, 95%CI 0.894 to 0.958, p = 0.00001) were associated with risk for FD in univariate MR analyses. Multiple medications, alcohol consumption, poultry intake, bipolar disorder, mood swings, type 1 diabetes, elevated systolic blood pressure and lower overall health rating showed to be suggestive risk factors for FD (all p<0.05 while ≥0.00167). The positive causal relationship between depression, years of education and FD was still significant in multivariate MR analyses.
CONCLUSIONS
Our comprehensive MR study demonstrated that depression and lower educational attainment were causal factors for FD at the genetic level.
Topics: Humans; Dyspepsia; Risk Factors; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Genome-Wide Association Study; Depression; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Genetic Predisposition to Disease
PubMed: 38718064
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302809 -
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 -
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