The effects of neighborhood disadvantage and adverse childhood experiences on conditioned pain modulation in adults with chronic low back pain.

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) remains a major health crisis worldwide. Current conceptualizations of cLBP utilize the biopsychosocial model, yet research on social factors remains limited. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a risk factor for a variety of chronic health problems, including cLBP.

The self-efficacy for regular meditation practice scale (SERMS): Development and psychometric validation.

The health benefits of meditation are well-documented, yet people struggle to practice regularly. Domain-specific self-efficacy is an important modifiable driver of health behavior change that is poorly understood in the meditation context. As such, the present study developed the Self-Efficacy for Regular Meditation Practice Scale (SERMS) assessing confidence in one's capacity to meditate frequently and in a way that favorably impacts well-being, including securing the psychological, social, and structural supports needed for ongoing practice.

Understanding Risk of Chronic Pain Development and Related Mental Health Disparities Among Transgender People: A Review of Current Literature and Future Directions.

Biomedical and clinical research has traditionally focused on binary sex assignments as opposed to gender identity. This oversight has resulted in other gender minority populations being understudied. As a result, there is limited literature on chronic pain and mental health in transgender populations.

Antimalarial resistance risk in Mozambique detected by a novel quadruplex droplet digital PCR assay.

While the malaria parasite continues to cause severe disease globally, Mozambique is disproportionally represented in malaria case totals. Acquisition of copy number variations (CNVs) in the parasite genome contributes to antimalarial drug resistance through overexpression of drug targets. Of interest, piperaquine resistance is associated with plasmepsin 2 and 3 CNVs ( and respectively), while CNVs in the multidrug efflux pump, multidrug resistance-1 (), increase resistance to amodiaquine and lumefantrine.

Preliminary Validation of the Pain Relief Motivation Scales.

Objectives: Pain typically prompts individuals to seek relief. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate the Pain Relief Motivation Scales, applying revised "reinforcement sensitivity theory" to measure the neuropsychological systems underlying motivation for pain relief. We hypothesized a 6-factor structure based on previous work, including one Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) factor, one Fight-Flight-Freeze System factor, and 4 Behavioral Activation System (BAS) factors.

Severe snakebites in northern KwaZulu-Natal: treatment modalities and outcomes.

Objective: We aimed to study the outcomes of severe snakebites in patients admitted to Ngwelezana Hospital in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, the seasonal variations, and the effectiveness and complications of antivenom.

Design: A prospective observational outcomes study was conducted over one year (1 June 2007 to 31 May 2008). The study group was from the north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa, with a population of approximately 3 million people, and included all patients bitten by snakes and admitted to the Ngwelezana Hospital Emergency Medicine Unit (EMU).