Influence of physical activity on endothelial function in people living with HIV.

INTRODUCTION: Decreased physical activity is a major cardiovascular risk factor that is particularly pronounced in people living with HIV (PLHIV), who are more susceptible to endothelial dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis than the general population due to multiple mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to analyse whether regular physical activity is capable of improving endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in PLHIV. METHODS: We performed FMD measurement in 38 PLHIV, along with the assessment of their regular physical activity level using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: Flow-mediated dilatation results in PLHIV were 0.31 ± 0.06 mm and 7.34% ± 1.41% for absolute and relative FMD, respectively. IPAQ results showed that the average weekly level of physical activity was 3631.1 ± 1526.7 MET-min/week, whereas the average daily sitting time was 287.3 ± 102.7 min/day. Predictors jointly accounted for 48% (adjusted value 42%) of FMD variance. Bootstrapped confidence levels revealed that physical activity had a statistically significant effect on the outcome [beta = 0.517, 2.5% confidence interval (CI) = 0.205, 97.5% CI = 0.752]. CONCLUSION: Physical activity represents a widely available and uncostly tool that is capable of improving endothelial function and overall cardiovascular health in PLHIV.

Quantitative behavioral genetic and molecular genetic foundations of the approach and avoidance strategies.

Two studies examined genetic and environmental influences on traits proposed by the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (rRST) of personality. Both quantitative and molecular behavioral genetic methods were applied considering the effects of COMT, DRD2, HTR1A and TPH2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Study one included 274 monozygotic and 154 dizygotic twins for the quantitative behavioral study; and in study two there were 431 twins for the molecular genetic study. The Reinforcement Sensitivity Questionnaire was used to assess basic personality traits defined by the rRST. Univariate biometric modeling suggested that genetic influences accounted for 34-44% of variance of Behavioral Approach System (BAS), Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) and Fight-Fligh-Freeze System. Molecular genetic analyses proposed the significant main effect of COMT SNP on the BAS and TPH2 SNP on the BIS, and pointed out epistatic effects of COMT x DRD2 on BAS and HTR1A x TPH2 on Fight. Results demonstrated substantial heritability for all rRST constructs, as well as for differences in the molecular genetic basis of both approach-related and avoidance-related dimensions.

The HEXACO-100 Across 16 Languages: A Large-Scale Test of Measurement Invariance.

The HEXACO Personality Inventory-Revised (HEXACO-PI-R) has become one of the most heavily applied measurement tools for the assessment of basic personality traits. Correspondingly, the inventory has been translated to many languages for use in cross-cultural research. However, formal tests examining whether the different language versions of the HEXACO-PI-R provide equivalent measures of the 6 personality dimensions are missing. We provide a large-scale test of measurement invariance of the 100-item version of the HEXACO-PI-R across 16 languages spoken in European and Asian countries (N = 30,484). Multigroup exploratory structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analyses revealed consistent support for configural and metric invariance, thus implying that the factor structure of the HEXACO dimensions as well as the meaning of the latent HEXACO factors is comparable across languages. However, analyses did not show overall support for scalar invariance; that is, equivalence of facet intercepts. A complementary alignment analysis supported this pattern, but also revealed substantial heterogeneity in the level of (non)invariance across facets and factors. Overall, results imply that the HEXACO-PI-R provides largely comparable measurement of the HEXACO dimensions, although the lack of scalar invariance highlights the necessity for future research clarifying the interpretation of mean-level trait differences across countries.

Convergent and Discriminant Validity of the Serbian Version of the Central Sensitization Inventory.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of the present study was to explore additional evidence of validity of the Serbian version of the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), a patient-reported outcome measure of symptoms that have been found to be associated with central sensitization (CS). The CSI has been found to be psychometrically sound, and has demonstrated evidence of convergent and discriminant validity in numerous published studies and in multiple languages. METHODS: CSI data were collected from 399 patients with chronic pain who had various diagnoses and from 146 pain-free controls. In addition, the patient sample completed a battery of validated patient-reported outcome measures of sleep problems, cognitive problems, pain catastrophizing, pain-related fear-avoidance, decreased quality of life, and decreased perception of social support. Six patient subgroups were formed, with presumably different levels of CS (including those with fibromyalgia, multiple pain sites, and localized pain sites). RESULTS: Significant differences were found in total CSI scores among the controls and patient subgroups. Those with fibromyalgia and multiple pathologies scored highest and the control subjects scored lowest. Other patient-reported CS-related symptom dimensions were significantly correlated with total CSI scores. When the patients were divided into CSI severity subgroups (from subclinical to extreme), the severity of these other symptom dimensions increased with the severity of CSI scores. CONCLUSIONS: The current study successfully demonstrated additional evidence of the convergent and discriminant validity of the Serbian version of the CSI.

The HEXACO Personality Inventory: Validation and Psychometric Properties in the Serbian Language.

The aim of this research is to validate the HEXACO model of personality in the Serbian language through psychometric validation of the 100-item version of the HEXACO-PI-R. The research was conducted on 2 independent samples, the first comprising 1,217 participants from a community sample (55.5% females; average age = 31.77 years), and the second 345 undergraduate students (65% females; average age = 21 years). Besides the HEXACO-PI-R, 2 questionnaires were applied for the purposes of convergent validation: the Big Five Plus Two (BF+2), measuring 7 lexical personality dimensions (applied in Sample 1), and the Big Five Inventory (BFI; applied in Sample 2). Factor structure of the HEXACO-PI-R is in line with model assumptions. Convergent validity is good, whereby Extraversion, Openness to Experience, and Conscientiousness are highly correlated to their BFI and BF+2 counterparts. Honesty-Humility is most closely related to Negative Valence (BF+2), Emotionality to BFI Neuroticism, and Agreeableness to BF+2 Aggressiveness and BFI Agreeableness. The results point to the satisfactory validity of the HEXACO model and its measure in the Serbian language.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of the Serbian Version of the Central Sensitization Inventory.

OBJECTIVES: It has been increasingly recognized that many chronic pain conditions are associated with central sensitization (CS). The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) is a potentially useful tool for screening patients whose presenting symptoms are suspected of being related to CS, so that additional diagnostic evaluation can be performed and appropriate treatment can be initiated. The original English version is currently not available in Serbian. METHODS: The CSI was translated into Serbian (CSI-Serb) and then psychometrically evaluated in a sample of 363 chronic pain subjects. RESULTS: The CSI-Serb showed a high degree of internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.909), excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient type 2.1 = 0.947), and a significant goodness of fit test result (χ2  = 888.44; P < 0.001). A factor analysis confirmed a 4-factor solution, as found by the original authors of the CSI, with all items retained. Higher CSI-Serb scores were associated with higher pain severity and longer pain duration. Total CSI scores distinguished between 3 subject groups with presumably different levels of CS, including fibromyalgia (53.3, SD = 11.2), chronic regional pain only (29.7, SD = 11.6), and a pain-free control group (20.9, SD = 9.1). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate strong psychometric properties, including evidence of convergent and discriminant validity, of the CSI-Serb. These results correspond with those of other translated versions of the CSI that have been psychometrically evaluated and published. Due to the current interest in CS, and its relationship with many chronic pain conditions, it is anticipated that the CSI-Serb will benefit Serbian-speaking clinicians in the evaluation of patients with chronic pain conditions.

Is the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) associated with quantitative sensory testing (QST)? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Central sensitization (CS) involves an amplification of neural processing within the central nervous system that can result in widespread pain patterns and hypersensitivity to stimuli. The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) and various quantitative sensory testing (QST) methods purport to assess clinical markers of CS. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize and quantify the associations between total CSI scores and QST measures from previous studies. A systematic search identified 39 unique studies that were deemed eligible for the systematic review and 33 studies for meta-analyses (with 3314 subjects and 154 effect sizes), including five QST modalities: conditioned pain modulation, temporal summation, pressure pain threshold, heat pain threshold, and cold pain threshold. The meta-analysis yielded statistically significant CSI-QST correlations in total subject samples for all five QST modalities. The strongest associations were identified between CSI scores and pain threshold testing, especially pressure pain threshold, in which 51% of effects sizes, from 29 studies and 3071 subjects, were determined to be in a medium to large range.

Convalescent plasma and all-cause mortality of COVID-19 patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Insight into the clinical potential of convalescent plasma in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is important given the severe clinical courses in unvaccinated and seronegative individuals. The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is a survival benefit of convalescent plasma therapy in COVID-19 patients. The authors independently assessed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified by the search strategy for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. The binary primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Risk ratio (RR) of the convalescent plasma treatment (vs. best standard care) and its associated standard error (effect size) were calculated. A random-effects model was employed to statistically pool the effect sizes of the selected studies. We included 19 RCTs with 17,021 patients. The random-effects model resulted in an estimated pooled RR of 0.94 (95% CI 0.81-1.08, p = 0.33), showing no statistical evidence of the benefit of convalescent plasma therapy on all-cause mortality. Convalescent plasma therapy was not found to be effective in reducing all-cause mortality in COVID-19 patients. Further studies are needed to determine in which patients convalescent plasma therapy may lead to a reduction in mortality.

Assessing the Functional Status of Patients with Chronic Pain-Cross Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Serbian Version of the Pain Disability Questionnaire.

The Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) has established itself as a leading patient-reported outcome measure for assessing both mental and physical components of pain-related disability. The current study aimed to translate the PDQ into Serbian and validate its psychometric properties. Following a standard translation process, a total of 554 chronic pain patients (average age 55.37 ± 12.72 years; 375 (67.5%) females) completed the PDQ-Serb, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short Form-36 (SF-36), pain intensity rating and a six-minute walk test (6MWT). Responsiveness was examined in a subsample of 141 patients who completed an inpatient rehabilitation program. The internal consistency of the PDQ-Serb was excellent (Cronbach α = 0.92) and test-retest reliability was favorable (ICC = 0.87). Factor analyses found a bifactor model to be the best fit (CFI = 0.97: TLI = 0.96: RMSEA = 0.05; SRMR = 0.03). Statistically significant Pearson's coefficient correlations (p < 0.001) were found between the PDQ-Serb and ODI (r = 0.786), SF-36 Physical Components summary (r = -0.659), SF-36 Mental Components summary (r = -0.493), pain intensity rating (r = 0.572), and 6MWT (r = -0.571). Significant post-treatment improvements following inpatient rehabilitation were found with the PDQ-Serb (p < 0.001; effect size 0.431) and other clinical variables (p < 0.001; effect sizes from 0.367 to 0.536). The PDQ-Serb was shown to be a reliable and valid self-report instrument for the evaluation of pain-related disability.

A Short Measure of the Revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory - RSQ17.

The need for a research and practical tool, such as a short, reliable, and valid personality assessment test, suggests researchers to create shortened versions of original instruments. Reinforcement sensitivity questionnaire (RSQ) was created in line with some basic premises of revised Reinforcement sensitivity theory, which proposes three motivational and emotional systems: Behavioral inhibition system (BIS), responsible for scanning environment for potential threats, Behavioral activation system (BAS), responsible for aproaching behavior, and the Fight/Flight/Freeze system (FFFS), responsible for behavior in the present threat. RSQ comprises five scales: BIS, BAS, Fight, Flight, and Freeze. The aim of this study was to develop a short version of RSQ, which would be beneficial to both research and practical purposes. Item response theory analyses were used for item selection. The study comprised two samples of participants, whereby Sample 1 (N = 837, 34.6% male, aged 18 - 82, M = 31.63, SD = 13.54) served as the derivation sample, while Sample 2 (818 participants, 43.6% male, 18-75 years, M = 29.65, SD = 12.52) served as validation sample. Factorial validity of the short RSQ was examined on both Sample 1 and Sample 2. Convergent and divergent validity of the short RSQ was examined using RST-PQ, Jackson-5, BIS/BAS scales, and Big Five Inventory. The results point to satisfactory internal consistency, factorial validity, and construct validity of the short RSQ, suggesting that it is an adequate measure for research settings or other contexts which require the use of short personality questionnaires.

School bullying in adolescence and personality traits: a person-centered approach.

This study examined the differences in personality traits between the clusters reflecting the roles in violent interactions among high school students. The sample included 397 students (51.1% male) of Serbian nationality from the first to the fourth grades of different high schools. Based on scores of five dimensions related to peer violence (Physical Aggression, Psychological Aggression, Victimization, Adapted Behavior, and Risky Behavior), three clusters were extracted: Adapted Adolescents, Victims, and Bullies. These three clusters were compared with respect to lexical Big Seven personality traits, and the results indicate that the clusters differ significantly on Aggressiveness, Neuroticism, and Negative Valence. The Adapted Adolescents have the lowest scores on all three dimensions, while the Victims score highest on Neuroticism, and the Bullies on Aggressiveness. The potential importance of certain Extraversion facets for the roles in violent interaction was discussed.