Visual Schema Displacement Therapy versus Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy versus waitlist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: results of a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Visual Schema Displacement Therapy (VSDT) is a novel approach showing promise in mitigating distressing memories, akin to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of VSDT in individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), comparing it to EMDR therapy and a waitlist control condition (WLCC). It was hypothesized that the application of VSDT would be safe and PTSD symptoms significantly be reduced from both baseline to post-treatment and from baseline to follow-up in the VSDT and EMDR therapy conditions. Furthermore, we expected both treatments to be significantly more effective than the waitlist control. Moreover, we hypothesized that VSDT and EMDR therapy would be associated with significant improvements in symptoms of depression and general psychopathology. Method: Forty-six adults with PTSD were randomly assigned to VSDT, EMDR therapy, or WLCC, receiving six 90-minute sessions. Assessments included the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 (CAPS-5), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) before, during, and 3 months post-treatment. Results: Bayesian analysis found no differences between VSDT and EMDR in PTSD symptom reduction but both outperformed WLCC. EMDR was superior to the WLCC in reducing symptoms of depression and general psychopathology. At 3-month follow-up, 58.3% of the participants in the VSDT condition no longer met the PTSD diagnostic criteria (41.2% EMDR therapy and 15.4% WLCC) with no difference between the two therapy conditions. Self-reported PTSD symptom reduction was significant in VSDT (d = 1.38) and EMDR (d = 1.40) but modest in WLCC (d = 0.39). Dropout rate was 19.3%, with no adverse events. Conclusion: This study supports VSDT's efficacy in treating PTSD, offering a valuable therapeutic option comparable to EMDR, with significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and no difference with EMDR or the control condition for depressive symptoms and general psychopathology, and no reported adverse events.

Periodic limb movement disorder in children: A systematic review.

This systematic review evaluates the scientific literature on pediatric periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), adhering to PRISMA guidelines and utilizing PICOS criteria. The search across PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus yielded 331 articles, with 17 meeting inclusion criteria. Diagnostic criteria evolved, with polysomnography and PLMS index ≥5 required since 2003. Also, PLMD diagnosis mandates clinical consequences like insomnia, hypersomnia, and fatigue, excluding comorbidities causing sleep disruption. Prevalence in children is low (0.3%), emphasizing the need for meticulous investigation. Comorbidities, particularly the bidirectional relationship with ADHD, were explored. Challenges in diagnosis and understanding arise from overlapping conditions such as sleep disordered breathing, psychotropic medication, and criteria non-adherence. Despite generally good study quality, weaknesses include sample size justification and biases. The periodic leg movement index shows high sensitivity but low specificity, underscoring strict diagnostic criteria adherence. Diverse metrics for symptoms necessitate standardized approaches. Family history of RLS in children with PLMD suggests unexplored aspects. Treatment, mainly iron supplementation, lacks standardized assessment metrics. The review emphasizes diagnostic and treatment challenges, recommending unbiased studies with precise techniques. Comprehensive research, quantifying PLMS and objectively assessing sleep parameters, is crucial for advancing understanding in pediatric PLMD. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021251406.

EMDR Flash Technique in adolescents with depression: A twelve-week follow-up study.

This study aims to investigate the specific effects of the EMDR Flash Technique on adolescents with depression. This follow-up study consists of 32 adolescents, 12-17 years of age (M = 14.34, SD = 1.56), including 7 males and 25 females. They were evaluated with Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children Present, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Children Revised Impact of Event Scale-8 (Cries-8). These were administered at baseline, at the end of the 4th and 12th weeks of treatment. The EMDR Flash Technique which can be utilized in the preparation phase of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to reduce the intensity of highly distressing memories rapidly and relatively painlessly was applied for 12 weeks, one session per week as a free-standing intervention. Also, the EMDR Flash Technique can be effective in decreasing the rate of noncompliance and drop-outs of adolescents. The baseline means of total BDI scores decreased from 48.19 to 2.16 at the end of the 12th week of treatment. Also, the CRIES scores decreased from 31.78 to 0.44 at the end of the 12th week of treatment. In addition, the baseline means of SUD scores decreased from 9.53 to zero at the end of the 12th week of treatment. Overall, our results underscore the effectiveness of the EMDR-Flash Technique in adolescents with depression.

Depression is a significant mental health concern for adolescents due to its early onset and chronic nature. Depression can be observed in conjunction with PTSD, and sometimes, depressive symptoms may transform into traumatic experiences. EMDR is an 8-stage protocol that includes history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation, used to alleviate the effects of traumatic experiences. It is hypothesized that unpleasant and traumatic events are stored in a dysfunctional way, and it promotes an adaptive processing and resolution of the traumatic experience. The goal of EMDR is to achieve an adequate processing of negative experiences and to create new adaptive information. The EMDR Flash Technique (FT) is utilized in the preparation phase of EMDR to reduce the intensity of highly distressing memories rapidly and relatively painlessly. Although a few studies have shown that the FT is effective in adults, there is only one study to investigate the effectiveness of the FT in children and adolescents. This research, in determining the efficacy of the EMDR FT on adolescents with depression, particularly focused on depression symptoms and assessed the observed changes in these symptoms. It aims to evaluate the specific effects of EMDR-FT on adolescents with depression, providing a unique perspective compared to previous research that has mainly focused on broader mental health disorder indicators. It is hypothesized that EMDR-FT is an effective therapy for treating adolescents with Depression. In the present study, adolescents with depression showed significant improvements in symptom severity and their traumatic events impact levels decreased. As a result of our study, a 12-week EMDR-FT treatment was observed to be effective for adolescents with depression and in reducing and improving traumatic stress levels and depression. Our results underscore the effectiveness of the EMDR-FT in adolescents with depression.

Accelerated Orthodontic Treatment Using Photobiomodulation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Orthodontic treatment (OT) aims to align and correct teeth positions. However, conventional treatment methods often require a considerable amount of time. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has emerged as a potential solution to OT. Materials and Methods: The study included 60 patients, divided equally into two groups: the PBM group and the control group. Patients in the PBM group received light therapy sessions applied directly to the OT area during each visit. Both groups underwent regular orthodontic adjustments. Treatment duration, changes in tooth alignment, and patient discomfort were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the outcomes between the groups. Results: The results of the study indicated that the PBM group experienced a statistically significant reduction in treatment duration compared to the control group. Moreover, there were noticeable improvements in tooth alignment in both groups. Patients in the PBM group reported minimal discomfort during the treatment process. These findings suggest that PBM has the potential to expedite OT without compromising its effectiveness. Conclusion: In conclusion, this randomized clinical trial demonstrates that PBM can be an effective approach to accelerate OT. The technique led to a significant reduction in treatment duration and was well-tolerated by patients.

Let's do it: Response times in Mental Paper Folding and its execution.

Action imagery is the ability to mentally simulate the execution of an action without physically performing it. Action imagery is assumed to rely at least partly on similar mechanisms as action execution. Therefore, we expected that imagery and execution durations would be constrained by the number of folds in a Paper Folding Task. Analogously, individual differences in execution durations were expected to be reflected in imagery durations. Twenty-eight participants performed two imagery conditions (computer vs. paper) and one execution condition (paper) where two-dimensional grids of a three-dimensional cube were (mentally) folded to determine whether two selected edges overlapped or not. As expected, imagery performance and execution performance were strongly correlated and decreased with the number of folds. Further, the number of folds influenced imagery durations even more than execution durations. This may be due to the additional cognitive load in imagery that emerges when tracking the folds to follow up with the next ones. The results indicate that Mental Paper Folding predominantly involves dynamic visual representations that are not functionally associated with one's own movements as in action imagery.

Effectiveness of dance movement therapy and dance movement interventions on cancer patients' health-related outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This review examined the effectiveness of using dance movement therapy (DMT) and dance movement interventions (DMIs) with cancer and palliative care patients. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Six databases were searched from inception to July 9, 2022, without limits on year or age. Searching was updated on July 10, 2023. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane (RoB 2) and ROBINS-I tools. Meta-analyses were conducted to pool estimates of the effects of DMT and DMI on patients' health-related outcomes. A narrative synthesis of outcomes was performed where meta-analysis was not appropriate. RESULTS: Among a total of 16 studies included in this review, nine were randomized controlled trials and seven were non-randomized trials, with a total of 893 participants. Only six of these studies were fully or partially described as true DMTs (some with less clarity than others), whereas the majority (n = 10) were DMIs with unclear therapeutic alignment. Most studies focused on female patients with breast cancer. Cancer patients undergoing palliative care received little attention. The overall risk of bias from the evaluated studies was high. Meta-analysis of two trials revealed that DMTs had no effect on QOL in cancer patients (SMD - 0.09, 95% CI - 0.21-0.40, P = 0.54), while narrative analysis and non-randomized trials showed no overall effect of DMTs on anxiety, depression, body image, self-esteem, or sleep disturbance but significant positive effects on perceived stress, pain severity, and pain interference. DMIs had significant positive effects on cancer patients' depression (SMD - 0.53, 95% CI - 0.93 to - 0.14, P = 0.008) and fatigue (SMD - 0.42, 95% CI - 0.70 to - 0.14, P = 0.003). DMI trials synthesized narratively showed an effect on patients' body image, self-esteem, physical function, right and left handgrip strength, life satisfaction, and the mental component of QOL. CONCLUSION: Both DMT and DMIs had promising effects on several health outcomes, but results were inconsistent, and the evidence was weak. The reviewed studies' low evidence quality and small sample sizes affected the findings' robustness and reliability. Large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials with sufficient sample sizes, and clear and veracious DMT and DMI protocols and data are required to provide more credible research evidence and influence practice.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation based on the theory of "qi ascending and descending movement" on autonomic nervous system and gastrointestinal function in patients after general anesthesia laparoscopic cholecystectomy. / 基于"气机升降"ç†è®ºç»çš®ç©´ä½ç”µåˆºæ¿€å¯¹å ¨éº»è ¹è ”é•œèƒ†å›Šåˆ‡é™¤æœ¯åŽæ‚£è€ è‡ªä¸»ç¥žç»å’Œèƒƒè‚ åŠŸèƒ½çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the therapeutic effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) based on the theory of "qi ascending and descending movement" in patients after general anesthesia laparoscopic cholecystectomy, so as to explore the impact of TEAS on the autonomic nervous system and gastrointestinal function of patients. METHODS: A total of 204 patients scheduled to undergo general anesthesia laparoscopic cholecystectomy were selected and randomly divided into control, double acupoints and multiple acupoints groups, with 68 cases in each group. For patients in the multiple acupoints group, TEAS was applied at Zusanli (ST36), Tiantu (CV22), Danzhong (CV17), Zhongwan (CV12), Taichong (LR3), and Neiguan (PC6) 30 min before anesthesia induction until the end of the surgery. In the double acupoints group, TEAS was applied only at ST36 and PC6. No electrical stimulation was applied in the control group. The postoperative bloating, bowel sound recovery time, first farting time, first defecation time, length of hospital stay, nausea and vomiting were compared among the three groups. Heart rate variability was monitored by twelve-lead electrocardiogram to evaluate the autonomic nervous function of the patients, including the low frequency power/high frequency power ratio (LF/HF), the standard deviation of all sinus RR intervals (SDNN), and the root mean square of difference between successive normal RR intervals (RMSSD). RESULTS: At 6 h and 24 h after surgery, the symptoms of bloating, nausea and vomiting in the multiple acupoints group and double acupoints group were significantly improved compared to the control group (P<0.05), and the multiple acupoints group was superior to the double acupoints group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the bowel sound recovery time, first farting time, first defecation time, and length of hospital stay were significantly shorter (P<0.05) in the multiple acupoints group and double acupoints group, and the multiple acupoints group was superior to the double acupoints group (P<0.05). At 1 d and 2 d after surgery, compared with the control group, LF/HF was decreased (P<0.05) while SDNN and RMSSD were increased (P<0.05) in the multiple acupoints group and double acupoints group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TEAS treatment based on the theory of "qi ascending and descending movement" can relieve gastrointestinal dysfunction, reduce early postoperative sympathetic nerve excitement and maintain parasympathetic nerve tension in patients after general anesthesia laparoscopic cholecystectomy, thereby promoting gastrointestinal function recovery.

The mechanistic effects of acupuncture in rodent neurodegenerative disease models: a literature review.

Neurodegenerative diseases refer to a battery of medical conditions that affect the survival and function of neurons in the brain, which are mainly presented with progressive loss of cognitive and/or motor function. Acupuncture showed benign effects in improving neurological deficits, especially on movement and cognitive function impairment. Here, we reviewed the therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture at the neural circuit level in movement and cognition disorders, summarizing the influence of acupuncture in the dopaminergic system, glutamatergic system, γ-amino butyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) system, serotonergic system, cholinergic system, and glial cells at the circuit and synaptic levels. These findings can provide targets for clinical treatment and perspectives for further studies.

Associations of meeting 24-hour movement behavior guidelines with prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses among children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Vision health is crucial for many aspects of life especially in developing populations such as children and adolescents. However, there is a high proportion of children and adolescents who suffer from visual impairments. Notably, accumulating evidence indicates that meeting the 24-hour movement behaviors (24-HMB) guidelines is associated with positive physical and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents. However, the relationship between being prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses and meeting the 24-HMB guidelines has yet to be investigated. Thus, this study aimed to address this gap in the existing literature by using the 2021 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) dataset. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data was retrieved from the 2021 NSCH. A total of 14,193 U.S. children and adolescents aged between 6 and 17 years were included for data analyses. We used items of the NSCH concerning the 24-HMB guidelines (i.e., physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration) and prescription of eyeglasses/contact lenses that were answered by the legal guardian of the children. Binary logistic regression was performed to investigate whether meeting the 24-HMB guidelines is associated with prescription eyeglasses/contact lenses and whether wearing eyeglasses/contact lenses predicts adherence to the 24-HMB guidelines among children and adolescents. RESULTS: More than half of the participants (59.53%) wore eyeglasses/contact lenses and only 8.40% of them met all three of the 24-HMB guidelines. Compared to meeting none of the 24-HMB guidelines, meeting one (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.62-0.93, p = 0.008), two (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.43-0.67, p < 0.001), and all three 24-HMB guidelines (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.34-0.64, p < 0.001) were associated with a lower risk of being prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses among children and adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the current study provided evidence that the prevalence of U.S. children and adolescents aged between 6 and 17 years who wore eyeglasses/contact lenses was relatively high. Furthermore, meeting the 24-HMB guidelines was associated with a lower risk of being prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses. Future studies focusing on the effects of 24-HMB interventions on vision health among children and adolescents are needed to better inform public health actions.

Group eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in chronic pain patients.

The prevalence of chronic pain is increasing, and conventional pain therapies often have limited efficacy in individuals with high levels of psychological distress and a history of trauma. In this context, the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidence-based psychotherapy approach for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, is becoming increasingly important. EMDR shows promising results, particularly for patients with pain and high levels of emotional distress. Although group therapy is becoming increasingly popular in pain management, EMDR has mainly been studied as an individual treatment. However, a systematic review suggests that group therapy can be an effective tool for improving mental health outcomes, especially when trauma is addressed together. Based on these findings, an outpatient EMDR group program was developed for patients with chronic pain. The program consists of a total of four treatment days with 5-5.5 h therapy sessions each day and provides patients with a supportive environment in which they can learn effective pain management strategies and interact with other patients with similar experiences. Initial pilot evaluations indicate high efficacy and adequate safety for patients with chronic pain.

Randomized controlled trial investigating web-based, therapist delivered eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with suicidal ideation.

Introduction: Promising preliminary evidence suggests that EMDR may reduce suicidal ideation (SI) when used to treat Major Depressive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and trauma symptoms in the context of acute mental health crises. EMDR has never been tested specifically for treating SI, and there is a lack of data regarding the safety and effectiveness of web-based, therapist-delivered EMDR in populations with known SI. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of web-based, therapist-delivered EMDR, targeting experiences associated with suicidal thinking. Secondary objectives included examining the effect of EMDR treatment on symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, emotional dysregulation, and dissociation, as well as safety and attrition. Methods: This randomized control trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID number: NCT04181047) assigned adult outpatients reporting SI to either a web-based EMDR intervention or a treatment as usual (TAU) group. TAU included primary and mental health services available within the Canadian public health system. Participants in the EMDR group received up to 12 web-based EMDR desensitization sessions, delivered twice weekly during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021-2023). The Health Research Ethics Board at the University of Alberta approved the protocol prior to initiation of data collection for this study (protocol ID number: Pro00090989). Results: Forty-two adult outpatients received either EMDR (n=20) or TAU (n=22). Participants reported a high prevalence of early onset and chronic SI, and there was a high rate of psychiatric comorbidity. In the EMDR group, median SI, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic symptom scale scores decreased from baseline to the four month follow-up. In the TAU group, only the median SI and posttraumatic symptom scale scores decreased from baseline to four month follow up. Although sample size precludes direct comparison, there were numerically fewer adverse events and fewer dropouts in the EMDR group relative to the TAU group. Conclusion: Study results provide promising preliminary evidence that web-based EMDR may be a viable delivery approach to address SI. In this complex population, a short treatment course was associated with reductions of SI and other symptoms across multiple diagnostic categories. Further investigation is warranted to verify and extend these results. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04181047?id=NCT04181047&rank=1, identifier NCT04181047.

An evaluation of root resorption associated with the use of photobiomodulation during orthodontic treatment with clear aligners: a retrospective cohort pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the change in tooth root volume using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in a group of patients treated concurrently with clear aligners and an adjunctive photobiomodulation (PBM) device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort pilot study included the records of 32 consecutively treated clear aligner patients (23 female, 9 male) from the private practice of one orthodontist. The PBM group (n = 16) used the device once per day for 5 minutes per arch and was compared with a matched control group (n = 16). A semiautomated segmentation technique was used to obtain tooth volume of anterior teeth from CBCT imaging prior to (T0) and during or immediately following (T1) orthodontic treatment with clear aligners. The change in root volume between time points was assessed. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the pre- and posttreatment root volumes of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth, regardless of which intervention group the patient belonged to (P > .05). There was also no difference in the mean percentage change in root volume between clear aligner patients in this study who were treated with the PBM device compared with a matched control group (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Clear aligner patients in this study who changed their aligners every 3 to 5 days and used adjunctive photobiomodulation therapy did not experience clinically relevant orthodontically induced external root resorption. Due to the small sample size and measurement error in the root segmentation process, the results should be interpreted with caution.

Vitamin D supplementation in later life: a systematic review of efficacy and safety in movement disorders.

Introduction: Nutrition plays a pivotal role in the multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitating middle to old-aged patients with neurological diseases including movement disorders (MDs). Despite the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in many patients with MDs, data supporting supplementation's effectiveness and safety is sparse and conflicting, therefore, our explicit objective was to provide an all-encompassing review of the subject. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and other scientific databases was conducted up to November 1 2023. The searches included RCTs in all languages with human participants aged 35 and above and not meeting these requirements led to exclusion. Results: Four studies on Parkinson's disease (PD) and one on restless legs syndrome (RLS) including 369 MD patients, however, none in a rehabilitation context, were found. Although three of the four PD studies showed better outcomes, such as decreasing levodopa-induced dyskinesia or enhancing physical performance in some or all domains, the RLS study did not identify symptom improvement. The one serious adverse effect observed, cerebral infarction, aroused safety concerns, however its relationship to vitamin D consumption is questionable. Structurally the studies can be characterized by large variations in patient populations, in primary outcomes, and disease severity, but typically a relatively short duration of therapy in most cases. With other limitations such as the small number of studies, major trial design heterogeneity, limited sample sizes, and a greatly variable Cochrane risk of bias (RoB) evaluation, only a qualitative synthesis was feasible. Discussion: Two main implications can be inferred from these results, which we interpret as cautiously promising but overall insufficient for firm recommendations. First, there is an urgent need for more research on the role of vitamin D in MDs in the middle- to older-aged population, particularly during rehabilitation. Second, given the benefits of vitamin D supplementation for those who are deficient, we recommend routine screening and supplementation for MD patients.

Effects of a full-body electrostimulation garment application in a cohort of subjects with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and stroke on upper motor neuron syndrome symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Dysfunction of the central nervous system may inflict spastic movement disorder (SMD). Electrical stimuli were identified as promising therapeutic option. Electrical stimulation provided by a 58-electrode full body garment was investigated based on data from regular trial fittings. METHODS: Data from 72 testees were investigated. Age averages 36.6 (19.8) ys with 44 females. The cohort spans infantile cerebral paresis (CP) (n=29), multiple sclerosis (MS) (n=23) and stroke (n=20). Data were stratified by etiology and an entry BBS Score<45. RESULTS: Effect sizes (Cohen`s d) related BBS, TUG, FGA, 10mWT, WMFT, EQ5D5L and Pain. Significance levels are indicated by *: p<0.05, **: p<0.01, ***: p<0.001, (t): p<0.1: CP: 1.64***, 0.29*, 1.59***, 0.76(t), 1.00***, 0.5*, 1.28***; MS: 1.83***, 0.83***, 1.28**, 1.07***, 0.93*, 1,11**, 0.78*; Stroke: 1.28**, 0.78**, 0.89, 0.92**, 0.71, 1.26*, 0.78*. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-site transcutaneous electrical stimulation may increase ambulation related skills in subjects with SMD stemming from CP, MS and stroke. The results indicate effects on static and dynamic balance, fall risk, mobility, upper extremity improvement and an overall increase in health utility and a reduction in spasticity related pain. Effects are immediate as well as sustained. These results may inspire individual trial fittings and inform further controlled trials.

The effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing on fibromyalgia: A multiple-baseline experimental case study across ten participants.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and stiffness in muscles and joints. Traumatic life experiences and post-traumatic stress symptoms play a role in its development and persistence. Although previous research suggests that pain and FM symptoms decrease after eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, its effectiveness has not been investigated in a controlled manner. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a six-session, 90-minute EMDR therapy using a multiple baseline single-case experimental design (SCED) across ten adult females with FM. The SCED involved a baseline, intervention, one- and three-month follow-up phase. The primary outcome was pain. Secondary outcomes included post-traumatic stress symptoms, other FM symptoms (fatigue, stiffness in muscles and joints), and the impact of FM on daily activities and sleep. Data were statistically analyzed by primarily testing means across phases on an individual and group level. Post-traumatic stress symptoms improved significantly in seven participants. Pain severity decreased significantly in six participants, with three of them maintaining significant improvement three months later. One participant showed clinically relevant change one month later. Furthermore, improvements were observed in secondary outcome measures. The findings support the efficacy of EMDR in reducing FM symptoms.

Vicuña antipredator diel movement drives spatial nutrient subsidies in a high Andean ecosystem.

Large animals could be important drivers of spatial nutrient subsidies when they ingest resources in some habitats and release them in others, even moving nutrients against elevational gradients. In high Andean deserts, vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) move daily between nutrient-rich wet meadows, where there is abundant water and forage but high risk of predation by pumas (Puma concolor), and nutrient-poor open plains with lower risk of predation. In all habitats, vicuñas defecate and urinate in communal latrines. We investigated how these latrines impacted soil and plant nutrient concentrations across three habitats in the Andean ecosystem (meadows, plains, and canyons) and used stable isotope analysis to explore the source of fecal nutrients in latrines. Latrine soils had higher concentrations of nitrogen, carbon, and other nutrients than did nonlatrine soils across all habitats. These inputs corresponded with an increase in plant quality (lower C:N) at latrine sites in plains and canyons, but not in meadows. Stable isotope mixing models suggest that ~7% of nutrients in plains latrines originated from vegetation in meadows, which is disproportionately higher than the relative proportion of meadow habitat (2.6%) in the study area. In contrast, ~68% of nutrients in meadow latrines appear to originate from plains and canyon vegetation, though these habitats made up nearly 98% of the study area. Vicuña diel movements thus appear to concentrate nutrients in latrines within habitats and to drive cross-habitat nutrient subsidies, with disproportionate transport from low-lying, nutrient-rich meadows to more elevated, nutrient-poor plains. When these results are scaled up to the landscape scale, the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus subsidized in soil at plains latrines was of the same order of magnitude as estimates of annual atmospheric nitrogen and phosphorus deposition for this region (albeit far more localized and patchy). Thus, vicuña-mediated nutrient redistribution and deposition appears to be an important process impacting ecosystem functioning in arid Andean environments, on par with other major inputs of nutrients to the system.

Brain-wide neural activity underlying memory-guided movement.

Behavior relies on activity in structured neural circuits that are distributed across the brain, but most experiments probe neurons in a single area at a time. Using multiple Neuropixels probes, we recorded from multi-regional loops connected to the anterior lateral motor cortex (ALM), a circuit node mediating memory-guided directional licking. Neurons encoding sensory stimuli, choices, and actions were distributed across the brain. However, choice coding was concentrated in the ALM and subcortical areas receiving input from the ALM in an ALM-dependent manner. Diverse orofacial movements were encoded in the hindbrain; midbrain; and, to a lesser extent, forebrain. Choice signals were first detected in the ALM and the midbrain, followed by the thalamus and other brain areas. At movement initiation, choice-selective activity collapsed across the brain, followed by new activity patterns driving specific actions. Our experiments provide the foundation for neural circuit models of decision-making and movement initiation.

Correlation of salivary cytokine IL-17A and 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.

The management of malocclusion has developed greatly in terms of treatment simulation and biomechanics, but treatment duration has been a great concern to the clinician as well as the patient. 1-25dihydroxycholecalciferol (biologically active form of Vitamin D) stimulates both osteoclasts and osteoblasts and was found to be the most significant in Orthodontic Tooth Movement acceleration. Inflammatory cytokines like IL-17A also play an important role in osteoclastogenesis and can enhance the rate of Orthodontic Tooth Movement.To perform a simultaneous evaluation of pro-inflammatory salivary cytokine IL-17A and salivary 1-25dihydroxycholecalciferol and to correlate their role on orthodontic tooth movement.A prospective cohort study was conducted among n = 97 patients. Saliva samples were collected from the patients at three phases of the orthodontic treatment, centrifuged and stored at 4℃ for evaluation of salivary 1-25dihydroxycholecalciferol levels and Pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17A using ELISA.The mean salivary 1-25dihydoxycholecalciferol levels were 41.250 ng/ml, 33.246 ng/ml and 35.043 ng/ml during the initial phase, lag phase and post lag phase of orthodontic treatment. The mean pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17 A levels were 107.79 pg/ml, 102.98 pg/ml and 66.156 pg/ml during the initial phase, lag phase and post lag phase of orthodontic treatment. There was a correlation between the salivary 1-25dihydroxycholecalciferol level and salivary cytokine IL-17A levels during the various phases of orthodontic treatment using Spearman's correlation rho test and linear regression analysis. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between 1-25dihydroxycholecalciferol levels and gender during the various phases (initial phase, lag phase and post lag phase) of Orthodontic treatment.There was a negative correlation between salivary 1-25dihydroxycholecalciferol level and salivary cytokine IL-17A levels during the various phases of orthodontic treatment. The level of 1-25dihydroxycholecalciferol and salivary cytokine IL-17A have been quantified during the various phases of Orthodontic treatment and this can be used clinically for the supplementation of Vitamin D in patients with low vitamin D levels and can enhance the treatment duration for the patient with less damaging effects to the surrounding tissues.