Improved Perception of Aggression Under (un)Related Threat of Shock.

Anxiety shifts visual attention and perceptual mechanisms, preparing oneself to detect potentially threatening information more rapidly. Despite being demonstrated for threat-related social stimuli, such as fearful expressions, it remains unexplored if these effects encompass other social cues of danger, such as aggressive gestures/actions. To this end, we recruited a total of 65 participants and asked them to identify, as quickly and accurately as possible, potentially aggressive actions depicted by an agent. By introducing and manipulating the occurrence of electric shocks, we induced safe and threatening conditions. In addition, the association between electric shocks and aggression was also manipulated. Our result showed that participants have improved sensitivity, with no changes to criterion, when detecting aggressive gestures during threat compared to safe conditions. Furthermore, drift diffusion model analysis showed that under threat participants exhibited faster evidence accumulation toward the correct perceptual decision. Lastly, the relationship between threat source and aggression appeared to not impact any of the effects described above. Overall, our results indicate that the benefits gained from states of anxiety, such as increased sensitivity toward threat and greater evidence accumulation, are transposable to social stimuli capable of signaling danger other than facial expressions.

Exploring the use of visual predictions in social scenarios while under anticipatory threat.

One of the less recognized effects of anxiety lies in perception alterations caused by how one weighs both sensory evidence and contextual cues. Here, we investigated how anxiety affects our ability to use social cues to anticipate the others' actions. We adapted a paradigm to assess expectations in social scenarios, whereby participants were asked to identify the presence of agents therein, while supported by contextual cues from another agent. Participants (N = 66) underwent this task under safe and threat-of-shock conditions. We extracted both criterion and sensitivity measures as well as gaze data. Our analysis showed that whilst the type of action had the expected effect, threat-of-shock had no effect over criterion and sensitivity. Although showing similar dwell times, gaze exploration of the contextual cue was associated with shorter fixation durations whilst participants were under threat. Our findings suggest that anxiety does not appear to influence the use of expectations in social scenarios.

EXPRESS: Emotional anticipation for dynamic emotional faces is not modulated by schizotypal traits: A Representational Momentum study.

Schizotypy, a personality structure that resembles schizophrenia symptoms, is often associated with abnormal facial emotion perception. Based on the prevailing sense of threat in psychotic experiences, and the immediate perceptual history of seeing others' facial expressions, individuals with high schizotypal traits may exhibit a heightened tendency to anticipate anger. To test this, we used insights from Representational Momentum (RM), a perceptual phenomenon in which the endpoint of a dynamic event is systematically displaced forward, into the immediate future. Angry-to-ambiguous and happy-to-ambiguous avatar faces were presented, each followed by a probe with the same (ambiguous) expression as the endpoint, or one slightly changed to express greater happiness/anger. Participants judged if the probe was "equal" to the endpoint and rated how confident they were. The sample was divided into high (N=46) and low (N=49) schizotypal traits using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ). Firstly, a forward bias was found in happy-to-ambiguous faces, suggesting emotional anticipation solely for dynamic faces changing towards a potential threat (anger). This may reflect an adaptative mechanism, as it is safer to anticipate any hostility from a conspecific than the opposite. Secondly, contrary to our hypothesis, high schizotypal traits did not heighten RM for happy-to-ambiguous faces, nor did they lead to overconfidence in biased judgements. This may suggest a typical pattern of emotional anticipation in nonclinical schizotypy, but caution is needed due to the use of self-report questionnaires, university students, and a modest sample size. Future studies should also investigate if the same holds for clinical manifestations of schizophrenia.

Remote Emotion Recognition Using Continuous-Wave Bio-Radar System.

The Bio-Radar is herein presented as a non-contact radar system able to capture vital signs remotely without requiring any physical contact with the subject. In this work, the ability to use the proposed system for emotion recognition is verified by comparing its performance on identifying fear, happiness and a neutral condition, with certified measuring equipment. For this purpose, machine learning algorithms were applied to the respiratory and cardiac signals captured simultaneously by the radar and the referenced contact-based system. Following a multiclass identification strategy, one could conclude that both systems present a comparable performance, where the radar might even outperform under specific conditions. Emotion recognition is possible using a radar system, with an accuracy equal to 99.7% and an F1-score of 99.9%. Thus, we demonstrated that it is perfectly possible to use the Bio-Radar system for this purpose, which is able to be operated remotely, avoiding the subject awareness of being monitored and thus providing more authentic reactions.

Anaphylactic Shock After Cervical Conization Hemostasis With a Packing Soaked in Monsel's Solution.

Anaphylactic shock is a life-threatening medical emergency, and its successful approach depends on early recognition and treatment. We present a case report of a 54-year-old female, with the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) Physical Status Classification III, admitted for cervical conization. She presented with known allergies to paracetamol, diclofenac, and nimesulide, and a history of nickel contact dermatitis, with no reports of complicated anesthesia. During conization, adrenaline was infiltrated in the cervix, and hemostasis was performed with packing soaked in Monsel's solution. The immediate postoperative period in the post-anesthesia care unit was uneventful, and no drugs were administered during this period. Three hours after discharge to the ward, the patient had progressive dyspnea with desaturation and maculopapular exanthema. Anesthesia medical emergency was activated. Upon arrival of the emergency team, the patient presented: marked edema of the lips and tongue, respiratory distress, SpO2 82% (under non-rebreathing high concentration oxygen mask), audible vesicular murmur but diminished in all lung fields (without bronchospasm), blood pressure of 60/40 mmHg, increased capillary refill time (4-5 seconds), Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14, as well as generalized maculopapular exanthema and eyelid edema. Gas analysis revealed the following: pH 7.36, pO2 150, pCO2 33, HCO3 22, and lactate 2.2 mmol/L. Anaphylactic shock was immediately diagnosed without an identified causative agent. Intramuscular adrenaline (0.5mg), endovenous hydrocortisone (200 mg), clemastine (2 mg), and profuse fluid therapy were administered. There was an initial slight improvement followed by subsequent worsening. Additional administration of 0.5 mg intramuscular adrenaline and endovenous methylprednisolone (125 mg) provided similar results. Considering that no other drugs were administered in the ward, the emergency team and the attending gynecologist assumed an association between nickel allergy and the chemical composition of Monsel's solute. Thus, it was decided to remove the packing soaked in Monsel's solute from the vaginal cavity and wash it with saline solution. After removing the packing and further administration of 0.5 mg intramuscular adrenaline, there was progressive improvement in the blood pressure and SpO2. Tryptase samples collected one hour later were increased (23.9 ug/L; normal: <11.4 ug/L). The patient was shifted to the intensive care unit for surveillance, from which she was discharged after 2 days, with scheduled immunoallergology consultation, which is waiting. This case highlights the importance of causative agent identification as a key point for anaphylactic shock resolution, as well as a multidisciplinary discussion among professionals.

The impact of COVID-19 concerns on perceiving others' faces.

Unlike most infectious diseases, COVID-19 is characterised by an absence of facial disease-signalling cues. Yet, it is still unclear whether it has influenced face perception. Understanding this may help clarify if and how our motivation toward social interactions is conditional on situational pathogen threats. The present study investigated if priming disease concerns about COVID-19 would change people's perception of neutral faces on perceived disease, social discomfort and arousal elicited by such faces; this condition was compared with other infectious/non-infectious diseases and a non-disease priming condition. One-hundred sixty-six participants recruited nationally performed the online task. When compared with the non-disease condition, participants primed for COVID-19 perceived faces as sicker and tended to view them as eliciting more social discomfort; no difference occurred in arousal. No other difference was found between conditions. These findings suggest that the pandemic context can shape how we perceive others' apparent sickness. Overall, these might reflect adaptations intertwined with the behavioural immune system's defence mechanisms.

Emotional self-body odors do not influence the access to visual awareness by emotional faces.

A growing body of research suggests that emotional chemosignals in others' body odor (BO), particularly those sampled during fearful states, enhance emotional face perception in conscious and preconscious stages. For instance, emotional faces access visual awareness faster when presented with others' fear BOs. However, the effect of these emotional signals in self-BO, that is, one's own BO, is still neglected in the literature. In the present work, we sought to determine whether emotional self-BOs modify the access to visual awareness of emotional faces. Thirty-eight women underwent a breaking-Continuous Flash Suppression task in which they were asked to detect fearful, happy, and neutral faces, as quickly and accurately as possible, while being exposed to their fear, happiness, and neutral self-BOs. Self-BOs were previously collected and later delivered via an olfactometer, using an event-related design. Results showed a main effect of emotional faces, with happy faces being detected significantly faster than fearful and neutral faces. However, our hypothesis that fear self-BOs would lead to faster emotional face detection was not confirmed, as no effect of emotional self-BOs was found-this was confirmed with Bayesian analysis. Although caution is warranted when interpreting these results, our findings suggest that emotional face perception is not modulated by emotional self-BOs, contrasting with the literature on others' BOs. Further research is needed to understand the role of self-BOs in visual processing and emotion perception.

Think positive! Resolving human motion ambiguity in the presence of disease threat.

Recently, approach-avoidance tendencies and visual perception biases have been increasingly studied using bistable point-light walkers (PLWs). Prior studies have found a facing-the-viewer bias when one is primed with general threat stimuli (e.g. angry faces), explained by the "error management theory", as failing to detect a threat as approaching is riskier than the opposite. Importantly, no study has explored how disease threat - linked to the behavioural immune system - might affect this bias. This study aimed to explore whether disease-signalling cues can alter how we perceive the motion direction of ambiguous PLWs. Throughout 3 experiments, participants indicated the motion direction of a bistable PLW previously primed with a control or disease-signalling stimuli - that is, face with a surgical mask (Experiment 1), sickness sound (Experiment 2), or face with a disease cue (Experiment 3). Results showed that sickness cues do not significantly modulate the perception of approach-avoidance behaviours. However, a pattern emerged in Experiments 2 and 3, suggesting that sickness stimuli led to more facing away percepts. Unlike other types of threat, this implies that disease-related threat stimuli might trigger a distinct perceptual bias, indicating a preference to avoid a possible infection source. Nonetheless, this finding warrants future investigations.

Oral Manifestations: A Warning-Sign in Children with Hematological Disease Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent form of all childhood leukemias, mostly affecting children between 2 and 4 years old. Oral symptoms, such as mouth ulcers, mucositis, xerostomia, Herpes or Candidiasis, gingival enlargement and bleeding, petechiae, erythema, mucosal pallor and atrophic glossitis, are very common symptoms of ALL and can be early signs of the disease. Secondary and tertiary complications, a direct effect of chemo and radiotherapy, are associated with more severe bleeding, higher susceptibility to infections, ulcerations, inflammation of the mucous membranes, osteoradionecrosis, xerostomia, taste alterations, trismus, carious lesions and dental abnormalities. Immunotherapy, though less toxic, causes oral dysesthesia and pain. Overall, the effects in the oral cavity are transient but there are long-term consequences like caries, periodontal disease and tooth loss that impair endodontic and orthodontic treatments. Also, dental abnormalities resulting from disturbed odontogenesis are known to affect a child's quality of life. The medical dentist should identify these complications and perform appropriate oral care in tandem with other health professionals. Thus, poor oral hygiene can lead to systemic ALL complications. The aim of this review is to describe the oral complications in children with ALL who are undergoing chemo, radio or immunotherapy.

Clove volatile oil-loaded nanoemulsion reduces the anxious-like behavior in adult zebrafish.

BACKGROUND: Clove volatile oil (CVO) and its major compound, eugenol (EUG), have anxiolytic effects, but their clinical use has been impaired due to their low bioavailability. Thus, their encapsulation in nanosystems can be an alternative to overcome these limitations. OBJECTIVES: This work aims to prepare, characterize and study the anxiolytic potential of CVO loaded-nanoemulsions (CVO-NE) against anxious-like behavior in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). METHODS: The CVO-NE was prepared using Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides as stabilizing agent. The drug-excipient interactions were performed, as well as colloidal characterization of CVO-NE and empty nanoemulsion (B-NE). The acute toxicity and potential anxiolytic activity of CVO, EUG, CVO-NE and B-NE against adult zebrafish models were determined. RESULTS: CVO, EUG, CVO-NE and B-NE presented low acute toxicity, reduced the locomotor activity and anxious-like behavior of the zebrafish at 4 - 20 mg kg-1. CVO-NE reduced the anxious-like behavior of adult zebrafish without affecting their locomotor activity. In addition, it was demonstrated that anxiolytic activity of CVO, EUG and CVO-NE is linked to the involvement of GABAergic pathway. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this study demonstrates the anxiolytic effect of CVO, in addition to providing a new nanoformulation for its administration.

Emotional interference and attentional control in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: The special case of neutral faces.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD) are characterized by impaired emotion processing and attention. SSD patients are more sensitive to the presence of emotional distractors. But despite growing interest on the emotion-attention interplay, emotional interference in SSD is far from fully understood. Moreover, research to date has not established the link between emotional interference and attentional control in SSD. This study thus aimed to investigate the effects of facial expression and attentional control in SSD, by manipulating perceptual load. METHODS: Twenty-two SSD patients and 22 healthy controls performed a target-letter discrimination task with task-irrelevant angry, happy, and neutral faces. Target-letter was presented among homogenous (low load) or heterogenous (high load) distractor-letters. Accuracy and RT were analysed using (generalized) linear mixed-effect models. RESULTS: Accuracy was significantly lower in SSD patients than controls, regardless of perceptual load and facial expression. Concerning RT, SSD patients were significantly slower than controls in the presence of neutral faces, but only at high load. No group differences were observed for angry and happy faces. LIMITATIONS: Heterogeneity of SSD, small sample size, lack of clinical control group, medication. CONCLUSIONS: One possible explanation is that neutral faces captured exogenous attention to a greater extent in SSD, thus challenging attentional control in perceptually demanding conditions. This may reflect abnormal processing of neutral faces in SSD. If replicated, these findings will help to understand the interplay between exogenous attention, attentional control, and emotion processing in SSD, which may unravel the mechanism underlying socioemotional dysfunction in SSD.

Identifying knowledge gaps in understanding the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on fish behaviour.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants increasingly prescribed to treat patients with clinical depression. As a result of the significant negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population's mental health, its consumption is expected to increase even more. The high consumption of these substances leads to their environmental dissemination, with evidence of their ability to compromise molecular, biochemical, physiological, and behavioural endpoints in non-target organisms. This study aimed to provide a critical review of the current knowledge regarding the effects of SSRI antidepressants on fish ecologically relevant behaviours and personality-dependent traits. A literature review shows limited data concerning the impact of fish personality on their responses to contaminants and how such responses could be influenced by SSRIs. This lack of information may be attributable to a lack of widely adopted standardized protocols for evaluating behavioural responses in fish. The existing studies examining the effects of SSRIs across various biological levels overlook the intra-specific variations in behaviour and physiology associated with different personality patterns or coping styles. Consequently, some effects may remain undetected, such as variations in coping styles and the capacity to handle environmental stressors. This oversight could potentially result in long-term effects with ecological implications. Data support the need for more studies to understand the impact of SSRIs on personality-dependent traits and how they may impair fitness-related behaviours. Given the considerable cross-species similarity in the personality dimensions, the collected data may allow new insights into the correlation between personality and animal fitness.

Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides/alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend as dressings for wound healing.

Macromolecules with antioxidant properties such as polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom (PAbs) are an excellent option for manufacturing wound dressings. Based on this, this study aimed to analyze preparation, physicochemical characterization, and assessment of the potential wound-healing activity of films based on sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol loaded with PAbs. PAbs did not significantly alter the cell viability of human neutrophils in a concentration range of 1-100 µg mL-1. The Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) indicates that the components present in the films (PAbs/Sodium Alginate (SA)/Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)) present an increase in hydrogen bonds due to the increase of hydroxyls present in the components. Thermogravimetry (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) characterizations indicate a good miscibility between the components where PAbs increasing the amorphous characteristics of the films and that the addition of SA increased the mobility of the chains PVA polymers. The addition of PAbs to films significantly improves properties such as mechanical, thickness, and water vapor permeation. The morphological study evidenced good miscibility between the polymers. The wound healing evaluation indicated that F100 film presented better results from the fourth day onward compared to the other groups. It favored the formation of a thicker dermis (476.8 ± 18.99 µm), with greater collagen deposition and a significant reduction in malondialdehyde and nitrite/nitrate, markers of oxidative stress. These results indicate that PAbs is a candidate for wound dressing.

Pentacyclic triterpene-loaded emulsion stabilized by Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides: Factorial design and cytoprotection study.

In this study, pentacyclic triterpene-loaded emulsions were stabilized by polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom (PAb). The drug-excipient compatibility results by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed the absence of physicochemical incompatibilities. The use of these biopolymers at 0.75 % led to obtaining emulsions with droplets smaller than 300 nm, moderate polydispersity, and ζ-potential >30 mV in modulus. The emulsions presented high encapsulation efficiency, suitable pH for topical application, and absence of macroscopic signs of instability during 45 days. Morphological analysis suggested the deposition of thin layers of PAb around the droplets. The encapsulation of pentacyclic triterpene in emulsions, stabilized by PAb, improved the cytocompatibility of this drug against PC12 and murine astrocyte cells. There was a reduction in cytotoxicity, which resulted in a lower accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and maintenance of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Based on these results, it is estimated that PAb are promising biopolymers for the emulsions' stabilization by improving their physicochemical and biological properties.

Agaricus blazei Murill extract-loaded in alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) films prepared by Ca2+ cross-linking for wound healing applications.

This work aimed the development and evaluation of the wound healing activity of films based on sodium alginate, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Ca2+ loaded with Agaricus blazei Murill hydroalcoholic extract (AbE). Firstly, AbE was prepared using a previously standardized methodology. The films were prepared by casting technique and cross-linked with Ca2+ using CaCl2 as cross-linking agent. The physicochemical, morphological and water vapor barrier properties of the films were analyzed and the pre-clinical efficacy was investigated against the cutaneous wound model in mice. The films showed barrier properties to water vapor promising for wound healing. AbE showed physical and chemical interactions between both polymers, noticed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. The delivery of AbE in alginate/PVA films enhanced the antioxidant and wound healing properties of these polymers. Consequently, a reduction of malondialdehyde levels was observed, as well as an increase of the epidermis/dermis thickness and enhancement in collagen I deposition. Thus, these formulations are promising biomaterials for wound care and tissue repairing.

The angry versus happy recognition advantage: the role of emotional and physical properties.

Facial emotional expressions are pivotal for social communication. Their fast and accurate recognition is crucial to promote adaptive responses to social demands, for the development of functional relationships, and for well-being. However, the literature has been inconsistent in showing differentiated recognition patterns for positive vs. negative facial expressions (e.g., happy and angry expressions, respectively), likely due to affective and perceptual factors. Accordingly, the present study explored differences in recognition performance between angry and happy faces, while specifically assessing the role of emotional intensity and global/regional low-level visual features. 98 participants categorized angry and happy faces morphed between neutral and emotional across 9 levels of expression intensity (10-90%). We observed a significantly higher recognition efficiency (higher accuracy and shorter response latencies) for angry compared to happy faces in lower levels of expression intensity, suggesting that our cognitive resources are biased to prioritize the recognition of potentially harmful stimuli, especially when briefly presented at an ambiguous stage of expression. Conversely, an advantage for happy faces was observed from the midpoint of expression intensity, regarding response speed. However, when compensating for the contribution of regional low-level properties of distinct facial key regions, the effect of emotion was maintained only for response accuracy. Altogether, these results shed new light on the processing of facial emotional stimuli, emphasizing the need to consider emotional intensity and regional low-level image properties in emotion recognition analysis.

Autism traits dimensionality and multivariate relationship with alexithymia and anxiety in the general population.

BACKGROUND: Autism is characterized by social and non-social alterations observed beyond the clinical diagnosis. Research analyzing the expression of autism traits in the general population helps to unravel the relationship between autism dimensions and other associated variables, such as alexithymia and anxiety. The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) was developed to assess autism traits in the general population; however, inconsistent results regarding its dimensionality have emerged. AIMS: This study aimed to extend evidence about the AQ measurement model, and explore the multivariate relationship between autism traits, alexithymia, and trait anxiety. METHODS: 292 adults of the general population were recruited. An Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were performed to assess the factorial structure of AQ. A path analysis was carried out to explore the relationship between autism traits, alexithymia, and trait anxiety. RESULTS: The results supported a three-factor model of AQ. The path analysis model showed evidence of a significant role of alexithymia as a mediator of the relationship between autism traits and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The present study provides empirical support for a three-factor model of AQ in the general population. The association between autism traits, alexithymia, and anxiety dimensions highlights the multidimensional nature of these variables and the need to account for their distinct impact on autism-related variables.

Visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is mainly caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani and Leishmania (L.) infantum; however, other Leishmania species have been associated with VL. We report a case of a patient simultaneously diagnosed with VL caused by Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and Hodgkin's lymphoma. After treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and chemotherapy, the patient presented a clinical cure. This case report reinforces the hypothesis that other Leishmania species can cause visceral lesions mainly related to immunosuppression.

Oral Health Status and Multiple Sclerosis: Classic and Non-Classic Manifestations-Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system with neurological and motor symptoms that affect the orofacial region. The aim of this work is to present a patient that lacks the three classic orofacial manifestations but has other less common clinical alterations. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old female patient diagnosed with long-term relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis visited the dentist complaining of mild but persistent orofacial pain including the temporomandibular joint and pain not specific to any tooth. She presented mucosal irritation, xerostomia, halitosis, and localized gingivitis. There was excessive wear of the upper and lower incisal edges and the occlusal faces of the upper canines and loss of six teeth due to caries. After a clinical oral examination, the diagnosis was temporomandibular joint disorder, gingivitis, dental hypersensitivity, bruxism, hyposalivation, xerostomia, and halitosis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with multiple sclerosis present classic orofacial manifestations. Although these were not observed in this patient, she had others, such as gingivitis, tooth hypersensitivity, and bruxism. In addition, despite few studies associating a higher prevalence of caries with these patients, the number of carious and missing teeth in this patient highlight the evidence that multiple sclerosis has had a significant impact on the patient's dental status over the years.