Recent Articles

This narrative review is organized around the primary symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) including physical and cognitive symptoms and the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in reducing these symptoms in youth with an OCD diagnosis. These are followed by sections on the comorbidities of OCD including anxiety and depression, the effective delivery of CBT via both internet and in-person, the greater effectiveness of CBT versus pharmacotherapy, the use of alternative therapies and the negative effects of COVID-19 on both OCD and CBT. The review concludes with limitations of the literature and suggested future directions

Spirituality and self-care have been associated with life satisfaction and health throughout the COVID literature but rarely as protective factors against psychological symptoms of stress, depression, and fatigue. The current study examined the relationships between spirituality, self-care, work, and the psychological problems of stress, depression and fatigue in the COVID-19 Lockdown Activities Survey archival database (N = 260 participants). Feelings of spirituality were reported by 72% of the study participants. Correlation analyses and ANOVAs revealed that spirituality was associated with self-care, caregiving and housekeeping and negatively correlated with stress, depression and fatigue The results suggested that spirituality may buffer negative mental health symptoms associated with COVID-19. The generalizability of these findings is limited by the homogeneity of the sample that is predominantly comprised of white, non-Hispanic women. Nonetheless, the results highlight the importance of including spirituality in psychological interventions for stress, depression, and fatigue.

Background: Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) following percutaneous lung mass biopsy is a very rare but challenging complication. We describe percutaneous fibrin injection as safe and successful in the treatment of BPF. Additionally, we present a thorough literature review of the reported treatment options of iatrogenic BPF. Summary: A 68-year-old man with a lung cancer, COPD, and multiple other comorbidities underwent an image-guided percutaneous biopsy of an enlarging right-upper lobe lung nodule that was complicated by a large iatrogenic right-sided pneumothorax requiring an image-guided placement of a drainage catheter. Four days after the catheter placement, he was diagnosed with a BPF after developing a continuous air leak, pneumomediastinum, and extensive subcutaneous emphysema. Because patient wished to avoid placement of a chest tube, endobronchial interventions, or any other invasive procedures for management of his BPF, he underwent an image-guided, percutaneous fistula closure by injection of fibrin sealant in the fistula tract. Conclusion: BPF represents a significant challenge requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Percutaneous fibrin injection in the fistula tract represents a less invasive option for patients who have small fistulae, are not operative candidates, or wish to avoid the morbidity of a major surgical interventions.

Babinski-Nageotte Syndrome (BNS) is a rare variant of lateral medullary infarction, and only a few cases have been reported. In this case, a 52-year-old African-American gentleman presented with acute onset weakness on the left side of the body. On examination, there was a palpable right supraclavicular lymph node. Neurological examination showed right-sided gaze-evoked nystagmus and left hemiparesis with grade 3/5 power. Reflexes were normal except for extensor plantar responses on the left. MRI showed a subacute right-sided lateral brainstem infarct just below the pontomedullary junction with minimal progression in a repeat MRI after 24 hours. Workup for supraclavicular adenopathy with CT chest and CT abdomen and pelvis revealed neither neoplastic nor metastatic disease. Biopsy of supraclavicular lymph node was planned as an outpatient but was deferred as it was presumed to be reactive. He was conservatively managed with daily physiotherapy, aspirin, atorvastatin, and optimal blood pressure control. Babinski-Nageotte syndrome includes all symptoms of the Wallenberg syndrome with contralateral hemiparesis due to a spread of the lateral lesion to the pyramidal tract. Atherosclerotic occlusion and lipohyalinosis of the vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery have been identified as the most common causes.

This narrative review on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in youth briefly summarizes research on physical and cognitive symptoms of OCD based on facial, olfactory, sleep, orthorexia, social cognition, attentional bias and brain studies. Secondly, it focuses on risk factors for OCD including genetic factors, comorbidities, family prevalence, vitamin deficiencies, infection and Covid-19 effects. Treatments are focused on attention bias modification, cognitive behavior therapy, exercise and medications. This literature, while very extensive, is limited to some seemingly uninteresting laboratory paradigms and youth and parent questionnaire data as well as a few effective therapy and medication protocols.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), being a key transcription factor in mitochondrial biogenesis, interacts as a coactivator of several mitochondrial nuclear transcription factors, such as nuclear respiratory factor (NRF) 1 and 2, estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα), as well as non-nuclear receptor myocyte-enhancing factor 2 (MEF-2). Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP) is a plant used in many countries, mainly in Asia, having strong activity in PGC-1α. A wide range of GP pharmacological properties has been reported, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, lipid metabolism modulator, and neuroprotective activity. The activation of PGC-1α by exogenous factors has become a promising strategy in the treatment of various pathologies, especially when focused on mitochondria. In our review, we found numerous benefits of GP in controlling age-associated metabolic diseases, mainly in diabetes type 2, fat liver, and obesity. Some studies have also reported that, due to the strong phosphorylation of AMP protein kinase (AMPK) exerted by GP, GP-treated mice showed a significant increase in Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) mRNA expression, a protein that acts directly on cellular aging processes. However, further studies in humans could provide more proof of its efficiency in diseases such as metabolic syndrome as well as any other pathology that involves changes in mitochondrial functions.

A health crisis context is an extraordinary situation that requires the individual to make appropriate decisions in order to be able to overcome and protect others. This study explored the relationships between social beliefs, emotional intelligence, and health-specific decision style in the health crisis context. With a sample of 291 students (120 males) averaging 25.5 years old, we administered the Conspiracy Theory Belief Scales, Social Beliefs, and Health-Specific Decision Style Scales during the semi-lockdown period due to covid-19 in Cameroon. The results showed that (1) irrational beliefs are positively associated with intuitive style; (2) emotional intelligence is positively associated with the deliberative style and (3) conspiracy belief is positively associated with both modes of thinking. The health-specific decision style in the context of health crisis is linked to the cognitive and emotional processes involved in the situation. These results have been discussed and future avenues raised.

This narrative review of recent literature on school shootings includes studies suggesting that the three salient predictors of school shootings include mental illness that is untreated, estrangement from friends, families and classmates and accessibility to guns. Other issues in this literature include the communication of an intent to harm suggesting a “cry for help” and contagiousness of school shootings. Several studies document the relationship between the lack of gun control and school shootings. The mental health of those exposed to school shootings has been the subject of research suggesting that those especially who had close exposure to the shooting or had a relationship with the shooter have experienced psychiatric problems including depression, anxiety, PTSD and suicidal ideation. Extremely high prevalence figures have been reported for exposure to violence by students at 42% witnessing a shooting, 18% a murder and 54% a murder of someone who is close. And as many as 21% have experienced depression, 46% lifetime PTSD and 27% current PTSD. Although a significant number of students have been injured during school shootings, no attention has been given to those students. This review highlights the mental health issues experienced not only by the shooters but by those who have been exposed to the shootings and the need for interventions as well as more effective gun legislation.

With the rapid development of social economy, people’s life on the increasing demand for water resources, surface water resources have been unable to meet the needs of human, and groundwater has stable water supply capacity and good water quality, so the development of groundwater resources has become a topic of concern from all walks of life. If we fail to pay attention to the rationality and appropriateness of resource development, it will inevitably cause certain environmental pollution. This paper first expounded the ecological and environmental problems caused by the overexploitation of groundwater resources, and then put forward reasonable solutions, hoping to help people to rationally use and protect groundwater resources.

Purpose: to detect the mechanisms for shoulder pain and injury during forehand overhead stroke using the questionnaire and 2D video analysis. Methods and Materials: Participants were 48 university badminton players (aged 18-22) with national tournament level who had no current shoulder injuries. A questionnaire investigation and a forehand overhead clear test were performed. The angle of arm slot at the moment of hit was calculated from 2D videos analysis using Image J software. Data were compared between badminton players with shoulder problems and those without. Results: There were 6 badminton players reported a history of shoulder injury that all of them were offensive players. 11 badminton players (8 offensive players and 3 defensive players) reported present shoulder pain that offensive players showed 7.33 times more likely to sustain present shoulder pain than defensive players (OR = 7.33, 95%CI: 1.55-34.70, p = 0.007; Fisher’s Exact test: p = 0.012). Moreover, offensive players with present shoulder pain had significantly greater score of VAS (visual analog scale) than defensive players (74.0 mm ± 14.2 mm vs 44.6 mm ± 24.4 mm, p = 0.04). Significant differences of arm slot angle were found among badminton players with shoulder pain free, history of shoulder injury and present shoulder pain (35.74o ± 4.85o vs 42.90o ± 11.89 o vs 37.81o ± 6.40o, F = 3.27, p = 0.047). Conclusion: Offensive badminton players are more likely to suffer from shoulder injury and strong intensity of shoulder pain. Greater arm slot angle of hit phase might be the mechanism leading to shoulder problems in badminton players. For improving shoulder re-injury prevention and rehabilitation protocols, our findings should be taken into consideration by physiotherapists, physicians and coaches.