Randomized clinical trial of ICECaP (Individualized Coordination and Empowerment for Care Partners of Persons with Dementia): Primary mental health and burden outcomes.

We examine the efficacy of the Individualized Coordination and Empowerment for Care Partners of Persons with Dementia (ICECaP), an intervention that involves one-on-one individualized support from a dementia care coordinator for a dementia care partner, compared to an active control group. At least once monthly contact is made from a dementia care coordinator to the dementia care partner by telephone, video conferencing, email, or in-person support at clinical visits for the person with dementia. In this pilot randomized unblinded control trial of ICECaP, n = 61 (n = 90 randomized) care partners completed 12-months of the ICECaP intervention and n = 69 (n = 92 randomized) care partners received routine clinical support (controls) in an outpatient memory care clinic at an academic medical center, from which the participants were recruited.

Hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal) and co-occurring psychiatric disorders and symptoms in adolescents and young adults: A scoping review.

Background: Hikikomori, or prolonged social withdrawal, is a clinical condition usually emerging during adolescence or young adulthood, characterized by severe self-isolation in one's home, and often associated with other psychiatric disorders and symptoms.

Objective: The study summarized evidence of hikikomori diagnostic criteria, clinical manifestations, and comorbidity with psychiatric disorders and symptoms in adolescents and young adults.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, with four electronic databases searched for original works in English, French, and Italian published since 2010.

Leveraging Synthetic Antibody-DNA Conjugates to Expand the CRISPR-Cas12a Biosensing Toolbox.

We report here the use of antibody-DNA conjugates (Ab-DNA) to activate the collateral cleavage activity of the CRISPR-Cas12a enzyme. Our findings demonstrate that Ab-DNA conjugates effectively trigger the collateral cleavage activity of CRISPR-Cas12a, enabling the transduction of antibody-mediated recognition events into fluorescence outputs. We developed two different immunoassays using an Ab-DNA as activator of Cas12a: the CRISPR-based immunosensing assay (CIA) for detecting SARS-CoV-2 spike S protein, which shows superior sensitivity compared with the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the CRISPR-based immunomagnetic assay (CIMA).

Laboratory validation of a simplified DNA extraction protocol followed by a portable qPCR detection of M. tuberculosis DNA suitable for point of care settings.

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a treatable and curable disease, and yet remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Diagnosis is essential to reducing the number of cases and starting treatment, but costly tests and equipments that require complex infrastructure hamper their widespread use as a tool to contain the disease in vulnerable populations as well countries lacking resources. Therefore, it becomes necessary to develop new technological approaches to molecular methods as well as screening tests that can be rapidly conducted among people presenting to a health facility to differentiate those who should have further diagnostic evaluation for TB from those who should undergo further investigation for non-TB diagnoses.

Physical activity interventions to improve cognition in first-episode psychosis: What we know so far.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a core feature of psychosis, which adversely affects global functioning and quality of life and has been consistently reported from the early stages of illness. Patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) exhibit deficits in processing speed, short-term memory, attention, working memory, and executive functioning, which respond poorly to psychotropic drugs. Among non-pharmacological approaches, physical activity has shown promise in improving cognitive functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.