Conceptualizing Personality as Individualized Allostasis: Exploring a Balanced Measure of Personality for Psychotherapy/Psychophysiology Integration.

Homeostatic balance provides a conceptual foundation for personality, and balance is a key concept in psychotherapy and psychophysiology. For example, both extreme fear and the absence of fear are considered pathological in both psychotherapy and psychophysiology, whereas a moderate, balanced fear response predicts healthier outcomes. In terms of measurement, however, personality is typically measured using a unipolar approach with more extreme scores (typically higher) indicative of better functioning.

Can Electroencephalography-Based Neurofeedback Treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder? A Meta-analysis Study.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains a significant clinical challenge with limited treatment options. Although electroencephalogram (EEG) neurofeedback has garnered attention as a prospective treatment modality for PTSD, no comprehensive meta-analysis has been conducted to assess its efficacy and compare different treatment protocols. This study aims to provide a multi-variable meta-regression analysis of EEG neurofeedback's impact on PTSD symptoms, while also assessing variables that may influence treatment outcomes.

Photoaging: Current Concepts on Molecular Mechanisms, Prevention, and Treatment.

Photoaging is the consequence of chronic exposure to solar irradiation, encompassing ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared wavelengths. Over time, this exposure causes cumulative damage, leading to both aesthetic changes and structural degradation of the skin. These effects manifest as rhytids, dyschromia, textural changes, elastosis, volume loss, telangiectasias, and hyperkeratosis, collectively contributing to a prematurely aged appearance that exceeds the skin's chronological age.

Inadequate sleep increases stroke risk: evidence from a comprehensive meta-analysis of incidence and mortality.

The link between abnormal sleep duration and stroke outcomes remains contentious. This meta-analysis quantifies how both short and long sleep durations impact stroke incidence and mortality. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar up to November 1, 2024, to identify cohort studies evaluating sleep duration and stroke outcomes.

Imbalanced sleep increases mortality risk by 14-34%: a meta-analysis.

Sleep duration is a crucial factor influencing health outcomes, yet its relationship with mortality remains debated. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to investigate the association between short and long sleep duration and all-cause mortality in adults, including sex-specific differences. A systematic search was performed in multiple databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Central, and Web of Science, up to October 2024.

Long-term dietary allyl isothiocyanate, a TRPA1 agonist, ameliorates cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction in aged mice.

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a sensory channel expressed in vagal afferent nerves that detect noxious stimuli. Trpa1 knockout accelerates age-related cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction in mice. This study investigated whether TRPA1 activation with its selective agonist, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), prevents cardiac aging.

Exploring the Evolution of Altruistic Punishment with a PDE Model of Cultural Multilevel Selection.

Two mechanisms that have been used to study the evolution of cooperative behavior are altruistic punishment, in which cooperative individuals pay additional costs to punish defection, and multilevel selection, in which competition between groups can help to counteract individual-level incentives to cheat. Boyd, Gintis, Bowles, and Richerson have used simulation models of cultural evolution to suggest that altruistic punishment and pairwise group-level competition can work in concert to promote cooperation, even when neither mechanism can do so on its own. In this paper, we formulate a PDE model for multilevel selection motivated by the approach of Boyd and coauthors, modeling individual-level birth-death competition with a replicator equation based on individual payoffs and describing group-level competition with pairwise conflicts based on differences in the average payoffs of the competing groups.

Psychometric validation of the Chronic Ocular Pain Questionnaire (COP-Q).

Background: The Chronic Ocular Pain Questionnaire (COP-Q) is a newly developed patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure intended to assess symptoms and impacts associated with Chronic Ocular Surface Pain (COSP). This study assessed the psychometric properties of the COP-Q to determine the adequacy of the COP-Q as a 'fit-for-purpose' instrument to derive trial endpoints for future clinical studies in COSP.

Methods: Patients with COSP completed the COP-Q daily for four weeks on an electronic, touch-screen, tablet device as part of a longitudinal, observational study in the United States (N = 124).

Market and Non-Market Productivity Losses Associated with Invasive Meningococcal Disease in the USA.

Background And Objective: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is an uncommon but serious disease associated with a risk of death and severe long-term sequelae, impacting both patients and their caregivers. Productivity losses due to IMD have not previously been comprehensively evaluated in the USA. This study evaluated both market and non-market productivity losses to better estimate the economic burden of IMD in the USA.

Revumenib: First Approval.

Revumenib (Revuforj) is an oral, first-in-class menin inhibitor developed by Syndax Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of KMT2A-rearranged (KMT2Ar) acute leukaemia, NPM1-mutated (NPM1m) acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and solid tumours. The interaction between menin and the KMT2A protein complex leads to aberrant gene expression, driving leukaemogenic transcription. By blocking this interaction, revumenib promotes differentiation and exerts antileukaemic activity in KMT2Ar acute leukaemias and other menin inhibition-sensitive leukaemias.

Nurses, Chaplains, Clergy and Measurement Scales.

Much of the research in this issue relates to the long-standing profession of nursing and, secondly, the even longer established professions of chaplaincy and the clergy. This issue also provides evidence of the ever-increasing number of religious and spirituality measurement scales, as well as various other forms of religious and/or spiritual evaluations and the associated psychometric properties. Several articles researching religiosity/spirituality, however, identify common research limitations, in particular the error of using contaminated scales and the need to avoid tautological and uninterpretable results.

Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit extracts ameliorate pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures as well as ensuing cognitive deficit and oxidative stress.

Kindling is an experimental-induced seizure consistent with epilepsy disease, a chronic neurological disorder characterised by spontaneous and repeated seizures. This disease is associated with oxidative stress, and most therapeutic strategies against epilepsy aim at improving the antioxidant defence mechanism in the brain. However, prolonged usage and associated adverse side effects limit antiepileptics, warranting natural antioxidant patronage.

The Role of Tranexamic Acid (TXA) on Postoperative Bleeding in Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Recent research highlights TXA's potential in managing postoperative bleeding in bariatric surgery, prompting us to evaluate its effectiveness for treatment and prophylaxis. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central, SciElo, and LILACS were searched for TXA studies in bariatric surgery, excluding those without control groups or with overlapping populations. Outcome analysis focused on postoperative bleeding, length of hospital stay (LOS), TXA side effects, mortality, transfusion needs, and thromboembolic complications.

Brain Health Attitudes, Awareness and Actions in Middle-Aged Latinos.

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) disproportionately impact Latinos in the US. Interventions that promote engagement in established protective behaviors throughout the life course may offer an opportunity to address disparities. To inform brain health promotion efforts, this study aimed to examine current brain health-related attitudes, awareness, and actions of middle-aged Latinos.

Assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary health behavior outcomes of a community-based virtual group health coaching for cancer survivors program.

Purpose: The primary purpose was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a group health coaching (GHC) program with cancer patients and survivors; secondarily, to determine the preliminary effects of GHC on several behavioral lifestyle factors.

Methods: GHC was provided to people diagnosed with cancer via videoconference by trained health coaches across six GHC sessions over a 3-month period. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected.

Mind the gap: pre-operative diastasis recti increases trocar site hernia risk after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Purpose: Trocar site hernias impact 1-10% of patients undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, typically at the 10 mm port site. Risk factors identified for trocar site hernias include obesity and age; however, little is known about the impact of pre-existing diastasis rectus abdominus (DRA) on trocar site hernia rates. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative DRA on trocar site hernia rates after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Naldemedine Use and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Patients treated with Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: Results of a Real-world Study in the USA.

Introduction: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common side effect of chronic opioid therapy that significantly impacts quality of life and healthcare costs. Naldemedine, a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, has shown efficacy in treating OIC. However, real-world evidence on naldemedine use in the United States is limited, particularly in older adults.

Guanfacine Use in the ICU for Management of Sedation Weaning.

Recent evidence highlights the increasing utilization of guanfacine in the intensive care unit. While dexmedetomidine is a widely used sedative and anti-anxiety agent in the intensive care unit, prolonged use can lead to withdrawal effects when attempting to reduce the dosage. This has generated interest in using guanfacine to manage agitation in patients being weaned off dexmedetomidine.

Tongue Coating: a Clinical Case for Healthcare Provider Education.

A patient who had undergone radiation therapy for cancer developed a white coating on their tongue. This was initially misdiagnosed as a fungal infection, leading to unnecessary treatment. The actual cause was dry mouth, a common side effect of radiation therapy.

Near-Peer Mentorship in a Medical-Student Led Oncology and Regenerative Medicine Research Education Program Increases STEM Interest in Underrepresented High School Students.

Students from underrepresented backgrounds are less likely to pursue careers in healthcare and research. Despite the existence of many pipeline programs to reduce this disparity, there is still a need to effectively increase the diversity of the STEM workforce. Our research education program for underrepresented high school students attempts to bridge this gap by implementing the near-peer mentorship strategy by incorporating medical students in roles as program leaders and mentors.

In memoriam: Carl J. Carrano : July 14, 1950-January 26, 2022.

This article is a celebration of the life and work of Carl J. Carrano who, from a childhood in Long Island, New York, built a career in bioinorganic chemistry, especially in the context of metal uptake and halogen metabolism in microbes and marine organisms.

Identification of effect modifiers using a stratified Mendelian randomization algorithmic framework.

Mendelian randomization (MR) is a technique which uses genetic data to uncover causal relationships between variables. With the growing availability of large-scale biobank data, there is increasing interest in elucidating nuances in these relationships using MR. Stratified MR techniques such as doubly-ranked MR (DRMR) and residual stratification MR have been developed to identify nonlinearity in causal relationships.