Search Results (4,212)

The objective was to evaluate the impact of a 3-month comprehensive rehabilitation program on functional outcomes and caregiver burden in a 73-year-old male with end-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD) following pallidotomy. Baseline evaluation included cardiorespiratory, digestive, and neuromusculoskeletal assessments, complemented by a multidomain geriatric assessment: activities of daily living (Barthel Index), cognition (MoCA), nutrition (MNA), mental health (GDS, UCLA Loneliness Scale), sarcopenia (AWGS criteria), frailty (Clinical Frailty Scale), fatigue (FSS), mobility (De Morton Mobility Index), fall risk (Morse Fall Scale), and caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Interview). The patient then underwent a structured 3-month rehabilitation program consisting of strengthening and flexibility training, cardiopulmonary endurance exercise, functional task practice, and psychological and nutritional counseling, with monthly evaluations. At baseline, the patient presented with generalized rigidity, fatigue, low cardiorespiratory endurance, total ADL dependence, malnutrition, sarcopenia, frailty, loneliness, and high caregiver burden, but intact cognition and mood. After rehabilitation, he achieved short distance walking, improved appetite and weight gain, and reduced scores in Zarit Burden, Fatigue Severity Scale, and MNA. Functional independence (Barthel Index) and respiratory capacity (single-breath count) improved, while frailty and sarcopenia remained stable without progression. In advanced PD, comprehensive rehabilitation can yield meaningful gains in mobility, nutrition, and functional independence while alleviating caregiver burden. Frailty and sarcopenia remain strongly associated with disease progression and highlight the need for sustained multidisciplinary care for both patients and caregivers. Full article

Background: Lumbosacral plexopathy (LSP) is characterized by severe neuropathic pain, motor weakness, and sensory deficits in the lumbosacral plexus region, often leading to significant functional impairment and reduced quality of life. Post-traumatic LSP is particularly challenging to treat due to its neuropathic nature and limited response to conventional pharmacologic therapies. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that has shown therapeutic potential for chronic neuropathic pain. Case Report: We report the case of a 16-year-old female who developed LSP following multiple pelvic fractures and subsequently exhibited disabling pain, depressive symptoms, and poor quality of life. High-frequency motor cortex rTMS resulted in meaningful clinical improvement in pain intensity (an NRS reduction from 8 to 2), mood, and daily functioning. Conclusions: This suggests the potential role of rTMS as an adjunctive treatment for refractory neuropathic pain secondary to traumatic LSP. Full article

Depression-related mood disturbances are increasingly recognized as nutrition-sensitive conditions associated with chronic stress-induced neuroinflammation and metabolic imbalance. Polygonatum sibiricum, Poria cocos, Lilium brownii, and Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata are edible medicinal plants commonly used in functional foods. In this study, we evaluated the antidepressant effects of a Polygonatum sibiricum-based functional formula (PSF) in a chronic restraint stress (CRS) mouse model. CRS induced prominent anhedonia and behavioral despair, accompanied by microglial overactivation, activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and dysregulated tryptophan metabolism. PSF supplementation significantly alleviated depressive-like behaviors and inhibited NLRP3–caspase-1–GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis, leading to reduced hippocampal IL-1β and IL-18 levels. Importantly, PSF restored tryptophan metabolism toward serotonin production, stabilized monoaminergic and glutamate/GABA neurotransmission, and protected hippocampal neurons. Moreover, PSF partially reversed stress-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis. Collectively, these results demonstrate that PSF acts as a neuroimmune–metabolic modulator that improves mood-related behaviors by regulating inflammatory signaling, tryptophan metabolism, and neurotransmitter homeostasis, supporting its potential development as a functional food intervention for stress-induced depression. Full article

Light is the primary zeitgeber for circadian rhythms, and also through these mechanisms, is closely related to mood regulation. Bright light therapy (BLT) is a therapeutic intervention that specifically exploits this physiological mechanism. This review summarizes the clinical procedures of BLT, the mechanisms through which light influences circadian rhythms and mood, and the evidence supporting BLT in psychiatric disorders. BLT is administered by considering device distance, treatment duration, and light intensity. Through pathways originating in the retina and projecting to the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN), light might generate signals within the central nervous system that influence not only circadian regulation but also mood, via connections involving the limbic system, the lateral habenula, and interactions with the hormonal system. At the clinical level, the strongest evidence for BLT concerns seasonal affective disorder, but data also indicate antidepressant efficacy in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, with an excellent tolerability profile. Emerging evidence further suggests benefits for insomnia, and sporadic and heterogeneous findings have explored its potential role in other conditions. Future studies are needed to better define the role of BLT in additional psychiatric disorders and in specific symptom domains that may not adequately respond to standard treatments, such as sexual dysfunction. Full article

Background: Neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), bipolar disorder (BD), and depression exhibit shared glutamatergic abnormalities, although their upstream molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined. Magnesium (Mg²⁺) serves as a key regulator of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor function; however, the role of Mg²⁺ transporters, particularly SLC41A1, has not been systematically investigated. As NMDA receptor dysregulation contributes to emotional and cognitive impairments, elucidating Mg²⁺-NMDA signaling may enable the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Methods: We integrated Mendelian randomization, locus colocalization, human brain transcriptomics, functional enrichment, and co-expression analyses to determine whether SLC41A1 functions as a cross-disorder molecular driver. In addition, in vitro electrophysiological experiments using field potential recordings in hippocampal Schaffer-CA1 synapses were conducted to validate its functional role in NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission. Results: Genetically elevated SLC41A1 expression increased the risk of AD, BD, depression, and alcohol dependence, with strong colocalization analyses supporting shared causal variants. Transcriptomic profiling revealed SLC41A1 upregulation in AD and BD, with enrichment in magnesium transport, mitochondrial function, and synaptic signaling pathways. Co-expression networks across GTEx brain regions demonstrated strong correlations with NMDA-related genes (e.g., GRINA, CAMK2G, GRIN2C). Under NMDAR-selective recording conditions, both imipramine treatment and SLC41A1 knockdown significantly reduced NMDAR-mediated fEPSP amplitudes, supporting a role for SLC41A1 in regulating NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic responses. Conclusions: This study identifies SLC41A1 as a magnesium-centered, transdiagnostic therapeutic target that links Mg²⁺ homeostasis to NMDA-dependent synaptic dysfunction. These findings provide a mechanistic foundation for developing SLC41A1-modulating or magnesium-based therapeutic approaches for mood and cognitive disorders. Full article

Background: Mood disorders such as postpartum blues, anxiety disorders, perinatal depression and posttraumatic stress disorder are common and can take various forms. For this reason, the assessment of emotional disorders and quality of life in women should be an integral part of health monitoring, and this was therefore adopted as the aim of the present study. Methods: The study was conducted using a diagnostic survey with questionnaires based on the authors’ survey, the SF-36, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 women in Poland, including 172 pregnant and 228 postpartum women. Results: Negative correlations were found between the PHQ-9 and SF-36 in pregnant and postpartum women. Selected obstetric factors were shown to significantly influence SF-36 and PHQ-9 scores (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The risk of mood disorders is associated with the duration of attempts to conceive, the course of pregnancy, and the number of hospitalizations. The presence of depressive symptoms affects the quality of life of women during the perinatal period. Full article

Objective: The present study aimed to verify two key hypotheses: (1) whether the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) can serve as a reliable indicator for workload monitoring in cricket and (2) to compare the injury risk sensitivity of sRPE-derived indicators—including the coupled and uncoupled acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR), exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA), and robust exponential decreasing index (REDI)—across three pre-specified latency periods (no latency, 7-day latency, and 14-day latency), and to identify the optimal indicator and latency period for cricket injury risk assessment. Material: Twenty-four elite female cricket athletes from the Chinese National Women’s Cricket Team were monitored during daily training throughout the Los Angeles Olympic Games preparation period. Methods: Correlation analysis, Kendall’s tau correlation coefficients, and Bland–Altman plots were employed to assess the relationships and consistency between sRPE and various workload indicators. ROC curves were constructed to compare the performance of sRPE-derived indicators for injury risk across the three pre-specified latency conditions. Results: sRPE and its derived indicators exhibited significant correlations with health status indicators (sleep, fatigue, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), stress, mood, and resting heart rate (RHR)) and physiological and biochemical indicators (testosterone, cortisol), with the majority of these correlations reaching the 0.01 significance level (p < 0.01). Kendall’s tau correlation coefficients and Bland–Altman plots revealed that sRPE and ACWR based on EWMA (hereafter referred to as EWMA) had moderate correlations with health status indicators, while ACWR based on REDI (hereafter referred to as REDI) showed a strong correlation with such indicators. sRPE and its derived indicators were strongly correlated with physiological and biochemical indicators (Kendall’s tau > 0.8) with good consistency, as the majority of scattered points fell within the limits of agreement (mean difference ± 1.96 × standard deviation, MD ± 1.96 × SD). Analysis of injury risk sensitivity indicated that the 7-day latency model yielded the highest average area under the curve (AUC = 0.85). Among all indicators, REDI and EWMA achieved the highest AUC values (AUC = 0.665 and 0.667, respectively; p < 0.001). Notably, EWMA exhibited optimal performance in the 7-day latency time series (AUC = 0.859, >0.80), followed by REDI under the 7-day latency condition (AUC = 0.857). Conclusion: EWMA with 7-day latency is a more sensitive indicator for detecting injury risk. Full article

Background: Exercise during pregnancy is known to benefit physical and mental health. However, pregnant women’s lived experiences of its psychological impact remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to explore pregnant women’s experiences and perceptions of how exercise influences mental health during pregnancy. Methods: A qualitative study design was employed. Pregnant women were recruited using purposive sampling from a clinical hospital setting between March and September 2025. Eligible participants met predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data saturation guided sample size (N = 38). Data were collected through semi-structured online interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Four major participant-derived themes emerged: emotional regulation and mood stabilization, reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms, enhanced self-confidence and body acceptance, and increased self-efficacy and sense of control. These themes illustrate the range of psychological benefits associated with maintaining exercise during pregnancy. Conclusions: This study highlights the psychological meanings pregnant women attribute to exercise, extending beyond its established physical benefits. These insights underscore the importance of integrating mental health perspective into prenatal physical activity counselling and support the development of more individualized, patient-centered prenatal care strategies. Full article

Little research has examined how often biomedical trainees encounter mistreatment in a single day or how such momentary experiences may undermine engagement in training. To address this gap, we investigated the prevalence and short-term consequences of daily sexual harassment, racial mistreatment, and incivility among graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in U.S. biomedical programs. In Study 1, 404 National Institutes of Health-funded trainees completed a two-wave survey assessing mistreatment, mood, and program attitudes across two 24 h periods separated by 10 days. On either day, 36.9% of participants experienced or observed at least one mistreatment episode, with no differences by gender or underrepresented minority status. Day 1 mistreatment was significantly negatively associated with program attitudes 10 days later, suggesting short-term derailment effects. In Study 2, 21 participants responded to true accounts of peers’ mistreatment to describe their emotional reactions and expectations of mentors. Trainees reported anger, disgust, and betrayal, and emphasized the need for mentors to acknowledge these harms, intervene appropriately, and offer support. This study provides the first evidence of single-day mistreatment prevalence among biomedical health trainees and demonstrates that even brief exposures can degrade training program attitudes. Findings underscore the need for improved mentor training and institutional resources to protect and support trainees. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mood disorders like depression, anxiety, and stress have increased steadily among adults, with growing interest in non-pharmaceutical treatments to improve symptomology. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and curcumin are polyphenols with evidence to support their positive impacts on mood disorder symptomology and potential mood-associated biomarkers like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This study examined the effects of combined EGCG and curcumin supplementation on mood disturbance symptomology and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in adults. Methods: An 8-week randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial was conducted in adults (n = 64, 18–50 years old). Participants were randomized to a supplement group (n = 32; 350 mg EGCG and 1330 mg curcumin daily) or a matched placebo group (n = 32). Mood disturbance (DASS-21, GAD-7), sleep disturbance (GSAQ), and physical activity (IPAQ) were assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8. Anthropometric measures, 24 h diet recalls, and fasted blood samples for serum BDNF were collected at baseline and Week 8. A multivariate ANOVA evaluated primary outcomes (DASS-21 composite score and BDNF), followed by repeated measures ANOVA for secondary outcomes (p < 0.05). Results: Significant improvements were observed across all participants for mood (DASS-21 composite and subscales, GAD-7, p < 0.001 for all), sleep (p < 0.001), and physical activity (p < 0.01), with no significant difference between supplement and placebo groups. Mean serum BDNF increased in both groups, but neither were statistically significant with no group-by-time interactions. Sugar intake (g/kg body weight) was positively correlated with mood symptoms at Week 8 in the supplement group. Baseline fruit and vegetable intake was associated with mood symptom severity at select time points; however, dietary changes during the intervention were not significantly related to changes in mood outcomes. Conclusions: Combined EGCG and curcumin supplementation did not show additional benefits beyond placebo for mood disturbance or serum BDNF over eight weeks. Observed improvements across both groups suggest that behavioral or lifestyle factors may play a larger role in short-term mood improvements than supplementation alone. Full article

With the acceleration of urbanization, opportunities for direct contact with nature have diminished, making mediated nature exposure a sustainable approach to promoting public health. Existing studies predominantly present natural stimuli from a first-person horizontal perspective, leaving it unclear whether different viewing perspectives lead to divergent restorative outcomes. To examine how environment type and perspective jointly influence cognitive and emotional restoration, this study employed a 2 (environmental type: forest vs. city) × 2 (perspective: first-person perspective (1PP) vs. third-person perspective (3PP)) × 2 (time: pre-test vs. post-test) mixed experimental design grounded in Attention Restoration Theory (ART). Results showed that viewing forest videos, compared to city videos, significantly improved directed attention and emotional state. More importantly, a functional decoupling of perspectives was observed: the first-person perspective primarily facilitated the restoration of directed attention, while the third-person perspective was more effective in alleviating negative mood. These findings provide empirical evidence for the design of sustainable interventions, guiding both the development of tailored digital nature solutions and the planning of green infrastructure that integrates multiple perspectives. Thereby, nature exposure can be transformed into an equitable public health resource, contributing to the development of resilient, sustainable cities. Full article

A behavioral and neuropsychological disorder that develops in young children during their early school years is called attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). When young children are diagnosed with ADHD, they have a tendency not to concentrate on academic and extracurricular activities. Moreover, children affected with ADHD suffer from mood swings, so it becomes quite difficult for them to establish good connections with teachers and friends. In the field of clinical research, deploying Electroencephalography (EEG) signals, a rapid and accurate diagnosis of ADHD is essential so that an effective treatment can be given to the children affected with ADHD. In this work, a unified framework is proposed for the detection of ADHD using EEG signals and some coherent models. The framework initially employs the concept of normalization of EEG signals, followed by the usage of dimensionality reduction techniques such as Local Linear Embedding (LLE), Sammon Mapping (SM) and Locally Linear Coordination (LLC). The dimensionally reduced EEG values are further clustered using four techniques such as spectral clustering, K-means clustering, Fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering, Hierarchical Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (HDBSCAN), and finally, silhouette coefficient analysis is used to analyze the clustering effectiveness. The features are then extracted from the clustered values using an Improved Wavelet Transform (IWT) and then the features are selected with four efficient techniques such as the chi-squared test, Mutual Information (MI), Mahalanobis analysis and Binary Horse Herd Optimization (BHHO) techniques. Finally, the selected values are fed into classifiers for classification with the help of ten traditional machine learning classifiers. The work is tested on a publicly available ADHD dataset and the analysis shows that the best results are obtained when the LLC dimensionality reduction is utilized with FCM clustering and IWT feature extraction, BHHO feature selection, and classified with LGBA classifier reporting a high classification accuracy of 98.12%. Full article

Human physiology is among the most complex systems in nature, characterized by intricate structural and functional networks and rich temporal dynamics. Electrophysiological signals produced by different tissues/organs reflect physiological activity, and are inherently non-stationary, non-linear, and noisy. This work focuses on fractal analysis, a framework that captures the self-similar and scale-free properties of electrophysiological signals, which is considered to act as an output of complex physiological structures that generate complex processes. Central to this approach is the principle of ‘decomplexification’, whereby aging and disease are associated with a loss of physiological complexity. We discuss key algorithms, particularly Higuchi’s fractal dimension, which is often combined with other nonlinear measures and machine-learning models for real-time analysis of electrophysiological signals. Evidence shows that fractal metrics enable the early detection and monitoring of neurological and psychiatric disorders, outperforming traditional spectral measures. In movement disorders and mood disorders, fractal and nonlinear features show high diagnostic accuracy. Beyond diagnostics, we discuss therapeutic applications, including the prediction of responsiveness to non-invasive brain stimulation. Here, we envisage the evolution of one fractal or nonlinear measure use, to several measures applied, then use it as a feature for machine learning, and then realize that a whole cluster of biomarkers must be used to reflect the state of autonomic profile, which then can be used for ontology-based application profiles that can be machine-actionable. In addition, we discuss the fractal and fractional description of transport processes, which offer innovative improvement for a much more accurate description of physiological reality as a prerequisite for further modeling: for example, this is needed for digital twins to support the clinical translation of fractal analysis for personalized medicine. In essence, if one is trying to mathematically describe or quantify structures or processes in human physiology, fractal and fractional are the supreme and adequate approach to accurately model that reality. Full article

Background: This study explores how healthcare staff perceptions of their physical work environment influence their satisfaction. Methods: A qualitative research design involving semi-structured interviews was adopted. The study sample comprised ten healthcare staff, including both clinical and nonclinical employees, working in a healthcare facility. The participants represented a range of professional roles and work areas, allowing for diverse perspectives on the physical environment. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The interview transcripts were systematically coded, and recurring patterns and themes were identified through an iterative analytical process reflecting participants’ perceptions and experiences of the physical work environment. Results: The analysis revealed seven main themes: impact of spatial layout on workflow; need for relaxation and break spaces; connection to nature, furniture and comfort; influence of color on mood; ambient features and environmental control; and natural light and well-being. Conclusions: This study highlights the critical role of the healthcare physical environment in shaping employee satisfaction and offers practical recommendations for healthcare facility design, emphasizing the need for ergonomic workspaces, greenspaces, and safe workplaces. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how the physical environment can be optimized to support employees in healthcare settings. Full article

Introduction: Psychosocial functioning and body image are key dimensions of mental well-being and performance. Among professional dancers, competitive environments, aesthetic demands, and physical–emotional overload contribute to increased anxiety, stress, and mood disturbances, potentially impairing performance and heightening injury risk. Objective: To investigate longitudinal variations in psychosocial and emotional indicators among professional dancers throughout a season of rehearsals and performances. Methods: Thirteen dancers (9 women and 4 men) from a professional company were assessed across eight time points using the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State), Recovery–Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (REST-Q 76 Sport), and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Data was analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results: Negative mood dimensions progressively increased (p < 0.01; η²p = 0.46, large), while vigor decreased (p = 0.03; η²p = 0.29, medium), indicating an inversion of the typical “iceberg” profile. Overall stress levels increased (p = 0.02; g = 0.53, power = 0.81) and perceived recovery declined (p = 0.04; g = 0.41, power = 0.78). State anxiety rose consistently (p < 0.01; η²p = 0.42), and body dissatisfaction, assessed via the BSQ, increased from “no concern” to “high concern” classifications (p = 0.03; g = 0.59, power = 0.84). Conclusions: Overall, the findings indicating a longitudinal pattern of increased psychometric strain indicators, inferred exclusively from psychometric trends, and conceptually consistent with a possible imbalance between perceived demands and perceived recovery, rather than reflecting objectively measured workload or recovery processes. Full article