Affective dysfunction mediates the link between neuroimmune markers and the default mode network functional connectivity, and the somatic symptoms in somatic symptom disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is characterized by physical symptoms and associated functional impairments that are often comorbid with depression and anxiety disorders. In this study, we explored relationships between affective symptoms and the functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) in SSD patients, as well as the impact of peripheral inflammation. We employed mediation analyses to investigate the potential pathways between these factors. METHODS: We recruited a total of 119 individuals (74 unmedicated SSD patients and 45 healthy controls), who were subjected to comprehensive psychiatric and clinical evaluations, blood tests, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. We assessed neuroimmune markers (interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), tryptophan, serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)), clinical indicators of somatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, anger, alexithymia, and functional connectivity (FC) within the DMN regions. Data were analyzed using correlation and mediation analysis, with a focus on exploring potential relations between clinical symptoms, blood indices, and DMN FCs. RESULTS: Patients with SSD had higher clinical scores as well as IL-6 and TNF-α levels compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). The SSD group exhibited lower FC strength between the left inferior parietal lobule and left prefrontal cortex (Pfalse discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05). Exploratory correlation analysis revealed that somatic symptom scores were positively correlated with affective symptom scores, negatively correlated with the FC strength between the intra prefrontal cortex regions, and correlated with levels of IL-6, TNF- α, and tryptophan (uncorrected P < 0.01). Mediation analysis showed that levels of anxiety and trait anger significantly mediated the relations between DMN FC strength and somatic symptoms. In addition, the DMN FC mediated the level of trait anger with respect to somatic symptoms (all PFDR < 0.05). The levels of depression and trait anger exhibited significant mediating effects as suppressors of the relations between the level of 5-HIAA and somatic symptom score (all PFDR < 0.05). Further, the level of 5-HIAA had a mediating effect as a suppressor on the relation between DMN FC and state anger. Meanwhile, the levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 had full mediating effects as suppressors when explaining the relations of DMN FC strengths with the level of depression (all PFDR < 0.05). The patterns of valid mediation pathways were different in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Affective symptoms may indirectly mediate the associations between DMN connectivity, somatic symptoms, and neuroimmune markers. Inflammatory markers may also mediate the impact of DMN connectivity on affective symptoms. These results emphasize the importance of affective dysregulation in understanding the mechanisms of SSD and have potential implications for the development of tailored therapeutic approaches for SSD patients with affective symptoms. Furthermore, in SSD research using DMN FC or neuroimmune markers, considering and incorporating such mediating effects of affective symptoms suggests the possibility of more accurate prediction and explanation.

Psychosocial Factors Associated with dizziness and chronic dizziness: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Dizziness is a common symptom in adults, and chronic dizziness, such as persistent postural-perceptual dizziness, is also frequently reported and affects the quality of life of patients. This study aimed to identify psychosocial factors related to dizziness and chronic dizziness in a large-scale nationwide cohort. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional study used the database of the Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2020. Data from 4,147 adults over 40 years old were analyzed, and 1,102 adults who experienced dizziness were included in the dizziness cohort. Demographic data, medical conditions, comorbidities, functional status variables, nutritional variables and psychological variables were collected. The pattern of depressive symptoms according to the severity of dizziness was analyzed by network analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of dizziness was 24.6% in the general population, and chronic dizziness (≥ 3 months) developed in 210 of 1,102 (17.1%) individuals who experienced dizziness. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex, stress, and depression were associated with dizziness. Chronic dizziness was related to tympanic abnormalities, diabetes, short sleep duration, and higher levels of stress and depression. Psychomotor retardation/agitation was a central symptom of depression in patients with chronic dizziness. CONCLUSIONS: This study found sex differences in factors associated with dizziness and identified psychosocial factors linked to chronic dizziness. Focusing on somatic factors rather than depressive symptoms may benefit patients with chronic dizziness.

Associations Between COVID-19, Delirium, and 1-Year Mortality: Exploring Influences on Delirium Incidence in COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), delirium, and 1-year mortality. Factors associated with delirium in COVID-19 patients were identified, along with the influence of psychotropic medications on delirium. METHODS: The study used the South Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Adult COVID-19 patients diagnosed between October 2020 and December 2021 were included, with a propensity score-matched control group. Time-dependent Cox regression assessed associations among COVID-19, delirium, and mortality. Logistic regression analyzed the impact of psychotropic medications on delirium incidence. RESULTS: The study included 832,602 individuals, with 416,301 COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 (hazard ratio [HR], 3.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.92-3.13) and delirium (HR, 2.33; 95% CI, 2.06-2.63) were independent risk factors for 1-year mortality. Comorbidities, insurance type, and residence were also related to mortality. Among COVID-19 patients, antipsychotic use was associated with lower delirium incidence (odds ratio [OR], 0.38; 95% CI, 0.30-0.47), while mood stabilizers (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.40-2.21) and benzodiazepines (OR, 8.62; 95% CI, 7.46-9.97) were linked to higher delirium incidence. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 and delirium are risk factors for 1-year mortality. Some factors associated with delirium in COVID-19 patients are modifiable and can be targeted in preventive and therapeutic interventions.

Hospital space interpreted according to Heidegger's concepts of care and dwelling.

Modern hospitals have succeeded in saving humans from numerous diseases owing to the rapid development of medical technology. However, modern medical science, combined with advanced technology, has developed a strong tendency to view human beings as mere targets of restoration and repair, with modern hospitals characterised as spaces centred on technology-focused treatment. This results in a situation where human beings are reduced to objects and alienated. This study, integrating Heidegger's concepts of dwelling and care, contends that 'care' is a vital concept in terms of the fundamental spatiality of hospitals and needs to be restored as the key guiding principle affecting hospital space. The loss of the caring spirit in the development of modern hospitals affects how hospitals are conceived, built and managed, as well as how human experiences within hospitals are dealt with or allowed for appropriately. This study offers critical reflection on how future planning of hospital spaces can be better conducted to ensure that human experiences, and the care needed to appropriately value such experiences, are adequately expressed, and the complexity of human existence is suitably considered.

Moral Distress Regarding End-of-Life Care Among Healthcare Personnel in Korean University Hospitals: Features and Differences Between Physicians and Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals often experience moral distress while providing end-of-life care. This study explored how physicians and nurses experienced moral distress when they cared for critically and terminally ill patients in tertiary hospitals in South Korea. METHODS: This study used semi-structured in-depth interviews. A total of 22 people in two tertiary hospitals were interviewed, nine (40.9%) of which were physicians and 13 (59.1%) were nurses. The recorded interview files and memos were analyzed using grounded theory. RESULTS: Most physicians and nurses encountered similar feelings of anger, helplessness, and burden owing to a lack of appropriate resources for end-of-life care. However, the factors and contexts of their moral distress differed. Nurses mainly addressed poorly organized end-of-life care, intensive labor conditions without support for nurses, and providing care without participation in decision-making. Meanwhile, physicians addressed the prevailing misperceptions on end-of-life care, communication failure between physicians owing to hierarchy and fragmented disciplines, the burden of responsibility in making difficult decisions, and the burden of resource allocation. CONCLUSION: Differences in moral distress between physicians and nurses leave them isolated and can affect communication regarding healthcare. Mutual understanding between job disciplines will enhance their communication and help resolve conflicts in end-of-life care.

A machine-learning model to predict postoperative delirium following knee arthroplasty using electronic health records.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium is a challenging complication due to its adverse outcome such as long hospital stay. The aims of this study were: 1) to identify preoperative risk factors of postoperative delirium following knee arthroplasty, and 2) to develop a machine-learning prediction model. METHOD: A total of 3,980 patients from two hospitals were included in this study. The model was developed and trained with 1,931 patients from one hospital and externally validated with 2,049 patients from another hospital. Twenty preoperative variables were collected using electronic hospital records. Feature selection was conducted using the sequential feature selection (SFS). Extreme Gradient Boosting algorithm (XGBoost) model as a machine-learning classifier was applied to predict delirium. A tenfold-stratified area under the curve (AUC) served as the metric for variable selection and internal validation. RESULTS: The incidence rate of delirium was 4.9% (n = 196). The following seven key predictors of postoperative delirium were selected: age, serum albumin, number of hypnotics and sedatives drugs taken preoperatively, total number of drugs (any kinds of oral medication) taken preoperatively, neurologic disorders, depression, and fall-down risk (all p < 0.05). The predictive performance of our model was good for the developmental cohort (AUC: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.77-0.84). It was also good for the external validation cohort (AUC: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.80-0.83). Our model can be accessed at https://safetka.connecteve.com . CONCLUSIONS: A web-based predictive model for delirium after knee arthroplasty was developed using a machine-learning algorithm featuring seven preoperative variables. This model can be used only with information that can be obtained from pre-operative electronic hospital records. Thus, this model could be used to predict delirium before surgery and may assist physician's effort on delirium prevention.

Depression and Long-Term Survival Among South Korean Sepsis Survivors: A Nationwide Cohort Study From 2011 to 2014.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the prevalence of pre- and postsepsis depression and examined the association between diagnosis of pre- and postsepsis depression and 5-year all-cause mortality among survivors of sepsis. DESIGN: A population-based cohort study. SETTING: Data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Service database in South Korea. PATIENTS: Sepsis survivors were defined as those who were admitted with a main diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock and had survived for over 365 days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sepsis survivors who were diagnosed with depression before sepsis were defined as the presepsis depression group, whereas those who had no history of depression but were newly diagnosed with depression within 1 year of diagnosis of sepsis were defined as the postsepsis depression group. All other participants comprised the control group. A total of 45,826 sepsis survivors were included in the final analysis. Among the survivors, 1,105 (2.4%) were in the postsepsis depression group, whereas 9,626 (21.0%) were in the presepsis depression group. The 5-year all-cause mortality rate in the pre- and postsepsis depression group was 44.1% and 46.2%, whereas that in the control group was 30.4%. Multivariable Cox regression modeling revealed that the risk of 5-year all-cause mortality rate in the postsepsis depression group was 1.29-fold (hazard ratio = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.18-1.41; p < 0.001) higher than that of the control group, whereas the presepsis depression group was not significantly associated with 5-year all-cause mortality (p = 0.509). CONCLUSIONS: Among sepsis survivors in South Korea, 2.4%% were newly diagnosed with depression within 1 year after their sepsis diagnosis. In addition, postsepsis depression was independently associated with higher 5-year all-cause mortality among sepsis survivors. Our results suggest that patients with a history of sepsis and associated depression may be a high-risk group that interventions may be directed toward.

Factors associated with delirium among survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of delirium, its associated factors, and its impact on long-term mortality among survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is unclear. METHODS: Since this was a population-based study, data were extracted from the National Health Insurance database in South Korea. All adults who were admitted to intensive care units with a diagnosis of ARDS between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019, and who survived for ≥ 60 days were included. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, tenth revision code of delirium (F05) was used to extract delirium cases during hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 6809 ARDS survivors were included in the analysis, and 319 patients (4.7%) were diagnosed with delirium during hospitalization. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis after covariate adjustment, male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23, 2.08; P < 0.001), longer duration of hospitalization (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01, 1.03; P < 0.001), neuromuscular blockade use (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.12, 2.01; P = 0.006), benzodiazepine (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.13, 2.13; P = 0.007) and propofol (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.01, 2.17; P = 0.046) continuous infusion, and concurrent depression (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.01, 1.71; P = 0.044) were associated with a higher prevalence of delirium among ARDS survivors. In the multivariable Cox regression analysis after adjustment for covariates, the occurrence of delirium was not significantly associated with 1-year all-cause mortality, when compared to the other survivors who did not develop delirium (hazard ratio: 0.85, 95% CI 1.01, 1.71; P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: In South Korea, 4.7% of ARDS survivors were diagnosed with delirium during hospitalization in South Korea. Some factors were potential risk factors for the development of delirium, but the occurrence of delirium might not affect 1-year all-cause mortality among ARDS survivors.

The relationships between cognitive control and psychological symptoms in patients with somatic symptom disorder: a pilot longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION: The present study explored how neurocognitive function correlated with the clinical symptoms of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) by evaluating changes in cognitive abilities according to differences in relevant factors. METHODS: A total of 44 patients with SSD and 30 healthy controls completed tests assessing various neurocognitive domains, including verbal memory, psychomotor speed, executive function, working memory, and sustained and divided attention. They also completed questionnaires for psychological assessment. The same tests and questionnaires were completed by 26 SSD patients 6 months later. RESULTS: The SSD patients had significantly lower scores on the attentional and verbal memory tests than did the healthy controls. Performance on the attentional test was significantly associated with the level of somatic symptoms and anxiety. The follow-up assessment results of the SSD patients revealed improved performance on the verbal learning and fluency tests as well as improvements in somatic symptoms, anxiety, and depression. It was also observed that changes in verbal learning and attentional functions were significantly associated with improvements in somatic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that neurocognitive dysfunctions are subtle and not specific to SSD, but certain cognitive functions may be related to the clinical symptoms and improvements of patients with SSD.

Psychological Consequences of Survivors of COVID-19 Pneumonia 1 Month after Discharge.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread worldwide, there are growing concerns about patients' mental health. We investigated psychological problems in COVID-19 patients assessed with self-reported questionnaires including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised Korean version. Ten patients who recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia without complications underwent self-reported questionnaires about 1 month after discharge. Of them, 10% reported depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while 50% had depression during the treatment. Perceived stigma and history of psychiatric treatment affected PTSD symptom severity, consistent with previous emerging infectious diseases. Survivors also reported that they were concerned about infecting others and being discriminated and that they chose to avoid others after discharge. Further support and strategy to minimize their psychosocial difficulties after discharge should be considered.

Effects of topical autologous serum on the ocular surface in patients with toxic corneal epitheliopathy induced by anti-glaucoma drugs.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of topical autologous serum application on the ocular surface in patients with toxic corneal epitheliopathy induced by anti-glaucoma drugs. METHODS: The patients who had corneal epitheliopathy because of preservative-containing anti-glaucoma eye drops were prospectively enrolled. The epitheliopathy was refractory to preservative-free artificial tear treatment. The patients topically applied 20% autologous serum to the eye eight times per day for 1 month. Baseline and one-month change in symptoms and signs were assessed by the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear film break-up time (TFBUT), Schirmer I values, corneoconjunctival staining scores, corneal sensitivity, InflammaDry® tear immunoassay, and tear cytokine profiles using a bead-based multiplex assay. RESULTS: A total of ten consecutive patients were enrolled between January and August 2018 and evaluated after one-month treatment with 20% autologous serum eye drops. Significant improvement was observed in symptoms (OSDI scores from 25.5 ± 20.9 to 10.5 ± 12.0; P = .039), TFBUT (from 3.1 ± 1.8 s to 5.4 ± 2.3 s; P = .025), corneoconjunctival staining scores (from 7.7 ± 1.8 to 1.8 ± 1.9 NEI scale; P = .005), corneal sensitivity (from 4.6 ± .9 cm to 5.8 ± .5 cm; P = .013), and metalloproteinase-9 levels (P = .013). There were no significant changes in Schirmer I values and tear cytokine levels on multiplex assays. Treatment-related side effects were not detected. CONCLUSIONS: Topical instillation of 20% autologous serum is an effective treatment for toxic corneal epitheliopathy associated with anti-glaucoma eye drops. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: KCT0003827.

Delirium and its consequences in the specialized palliative care unit: Validation of the Korean version of Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale.

OBJECTIVES: Delirium is highly prevalent in patients with advanced cancer. This study aimed to investigate delirium rates and potential associated factors such as mortality in patients admitted to an acute palliative care unit (APCU). Our second aim was to validate the Korean version of the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (K-MDAS). METHODS: A total of 102 patients with advanced cancer, and who were admitted to the APCU, were assessed. Demographic data were collected alongside clinical diagnosis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, clinical symptoms according to the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, history of smoking, alcohol use, hypnotic use, and daily dose of morphine were collected. The Confusion Assessment Method, the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised 98, and the K-MDAS were measured at admission and 1 week later. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (23.52%) were diagnosed with delirium, and associated factors were old age (P = 0.007), higher ECOG (P = 0.011), and drowsiness (P < 0.001). The presence of delirium was an independent predictor of 1-month mortality; male gender, higher body mass index, and hypnotic use were also related to 1-month mortality. The K-MDAS had reliable internal consistency (α = 0.942) and showed sensitivity of 0.958 and specificity of 0.921 at the optimal cutoff score for diagnosing delirium of 9. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium was prevalent in patients admitted to the APCU and was associated with 1-month mortality. The K-MDAS showed acceptable reliability and validity and can be used to screen for delirium in a palliative care setting.

Suicide Risk in Persons with HIV/AIDS in South Korea: a Partial Test of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide.

PURPOSE: The high disease burden associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is linked to the elevated suicide risk in this population. Informed by the interpersonal theory of suicide, this study examined how and under which conditions depression is related to suicide risk in people living with HIV/AIDS. METHODS: A total of 202 outpatients with HIV/AIDS participated in a cross-sectional and multi-center survey involving four university hospitals in South Korea. This self-reported survey included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview suicidality module. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 48.6 (SD = 13.4) and the majority was male (89.1%). The proportions of those at high, medium, and low suicide risk were 18.5%, 20%, and 15.4%, respectively. Depression was associated with suicide risk directly and indirectly by increasing perceived burdensomeness (PB) and the indirect effect of depression on suicide risk mediated by PB was contingent on the level of thwarted belongingness (TB). PB was associated with suicide risk even after controlling for depression, suggesting its independent effect on suicide risk. CONCLUSIONS: PB and TB are potential mechanisms through which depression is associated with suicide risk, supporting the applicability of the interpersonal theory of suicide to understanding a complex interplay of risk factors in people with HIV/AIDS. Moreover, given the independent association of PB with suicide risk, as well as a protective effect of TB in suicide risk, monitoring and management of these factors should be included in the care of people with HIV/AIDS.

Psychometric properties of the Korean version of the medical outcomes study HIV health survey: results from a multicenter survey in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Precise assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) with a reliable and valid measure is a prerequisite to the enhancement of HRQOL. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (K-MOS-HIV). METHODS: The reliability and validity of the K-MOS-HIV were examined in a multicenter survey involving 201 outpatients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) from four teaching hospitals throughout Korea. RESULTS: Ceiling effects were observed in six subscales scores, particularly, for the role functioning (71.1%), social functioning (63.2%), and pain (48.8%) scores. The Cronbach's α for the physical health summary and mental health summary were 0.90 and 0.94, respectively, and it ranged from 0.78 to 0.95 for the subscales. The results of the exploratory structural equation modeling supported the two-factor structure of the K-MOS-HIV (physical health summary and mental health summary). An examination of the mean square statistics values from the Rasch analysis showed that the information-weighted fit and outlier-sensitive fit statistics were within the acceptable ranges of 0.6-1.4 except for two items in the mental health summary. The convergent validity of the K-MOS-HIV was supported by its significant positive correlations with the World Health Organization Quality of Life-HIV-BREF subscale scores. Its known-group validity was proven with its ability to detect significant differences in several K-MOS-HIV subscale scores among participants with different sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: The K-MOS-HIV health survey appears to be a reliable and valid measure of HRQOL.

The Role of Perioperative Statin Use in the Prevention of Delirium After Total Knee Replacement Under Spinal Anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between statin use and incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) is controversial. We investigated the association between perioperative statin use and occurrence of delirium after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who underwent TKA under spinal anesthesia at a single tertiary care hospital between January 2005 and October 2017. POD incidence was recorded for patients who received statins continuously from 1 month before surgery until discharge and for patients who did not receive any statins. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate an association between occurrence of POD and perioperative statin use. RESULTS: In total, 6020 procedures were included, and 992 (16.4%) were associated with perioperative statin use. POD was confirmed for 304 (5.0%) procedures. The statin group showed a 1.7% significant lower incidence (P = .017) of POD (35/992, 3.5%) than the no statin group (1420/5,028, 5.4%). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the POD incidence in the statin group was 34% lower than that in the no statin group (odds ratio [OR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45-0.97, P = .036]. Moreover, the POD incidence was decreased by 37% (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.40-0.99, P = .047) and 79% (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.88, P = .033) respectively, when atorvastatin and simvastatin were administered. CONCLUSION: Continuous perioperative statin use may be associated with a significantly lower risk of delirium after TKA under spinal anesthesia; simvastatin was the most effective statin for POD prevention.

Respiratory outcomes of ultrafine particulate matter (UFPM) as a surrogate measure of near-roadway exposures among bicyclists.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown a consistent association between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and adverse health effects. In particular, exposure can be high for cyclists who travel near roadways. The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between short-term exposure of near-road traffic emissions and acute changes in lung function among individuals who frequently bike in the Sacramento and Davis areas in California. Ultrafine particulate matter (UFPM) was used as a surrogate for near-roadway exposure in this study since the main source of this pollutant is from motor vehicle exhaust. METHODS: Thirty-two bicyclists were recruited and completed two rides on separate days during the study period of March-June, 2008. One ride was on a high traffic route paralleling a section of Interstate 80 (I-80)/Interstate Business 80 (I-80B), and a second one was on a low traffic route, such as bike paths away from major highways. The participant's lung function was measured before and after each ride, and UFPM exposure was measured during the rides using a condensation particle counter (CPC). RESULTS: In the final linear mixed-effect model using median UFPM concentrations as the main exposure, we observed that lung function change (post-ride minus baseline measurements) shifted in the negative direction. Lung function changed by 216 mL for FVC and 168 mL for FEV1, respectively, for an interquartile range (IQR: 12,225 to 36,833 number of particles/cm3) increase of UFPM concentration after adjusting for other covariates of age, sex, wind direction, and day of the week. CONCLUSIONS: This study found significant associations between increased levels of UFPM concentrations as a proxy for near road traffic pollution, and decrements in lung function measurements. Our results are related to short-term exposures, and the long-term health effects of cycling near heavy traffic require further research. Our study suggests the need to reduce traffic pollution, particularly near roads. Cyclists should plan their route to reduce their exposure where possible and further research on built environment designs may help urban planners to reduce the potential health concerns of cyclists' exposure to traffic-related air pollution.

Association of long-term PM2.5 exposure with mortality using different air pollution exposure models: impacts in rural and urban California.

Most PM2.5-associated mortality studies are not conducted in rural areas where mortality rates may differ when population characteristics, health care access, and PM2.5 composition differ. PM2.5-associated mortality was investigated in the elderly residing in rural-urban zip codes. Exposure (2000-2006) was estimated using different models and Poisson regression was performed using 2006 mortality data. PM2.5 models estimated comparable exposures, although subtle differences were observed in rate ratios (RR) within areas by health outcomes. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), and cardiopulmonary disease (CPD), mortality was significantly associated with rural, urban, and statewide chronic PM2.5 exposures. We observed larger effect sizes in RRs for CVD, CPD, and all-cause (AC) with similar sizes for IHD mortality in rural areas compared to urban areas. PM2.5 was significantly associated with AC mortality in rural areas and statewide; however, in urban areas, only the most restrictive exposure model showed an association. Given the results seen, future mortality studies should consider adjusting for differences with rural-urban variables.

Exploring the experiences of dancers who have achieved peak performance: on-stage, pre-stage, and post-stage.

The aim of this study is to identify and classify the different attributes that contribute to peak performance among professional dancers, and to understand how these attributes change over time. We conducted an analysis using inductive content analysis on open-ended survey data collected from 42 formally trained professional dancers. Additionally, we analyzed interview data from seven professional dancers who demonstrated outstanding achievements in the field among the survey participants. The main themes that emerged were related to various temporal events of peak performance experience: pre-stage, on-stage, and post-stage. During the on-stage, peak performance was perceived by both internal and external factors. During the pre-stage, emphasis was placed on technical, cognitive, and artistic strategies during practice, whereas just before going on the stage, attention shifted to psychological and physical strategies. During the post-stage, dancers reported immediate changes in their psychological and physical states following the peak performance experience, and thereafter, the peak performance experience was noted to influence psychological, technical, and cognitive aspects. These findings provide valuable insights into the key characteristics that emerge throughout a series of peak performance experiences and are consistent with previous research.

Predicting delirium and the effects of medications in hospitalized COVID-19 patients using machine learning: A retrospective study within the Korean Multidisciplinary Cohort for Delirium Prevention (KoMCoDe).

Objective: Delirium is commonly reported from the inpatients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. As delirium is closely associated with adverse clinical outcomes, prediction and prevention of delirium is critical. We developed a machine learning (ML) model to predict delirium in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and to identify modifiable factors to prevent delirium. Methods: The data set (n = 878) from four medical centers was constructed. Total of 78 predictors were included such as demographic characteristics, vital signs, laboratory results and medication, and the primary outcome was delirium occurrence during hospitalization. For analysis, the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm was applied, and the most influential factors were selected by recursive feature elimination. Among the indicators of performance for ML model, the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was selected as the evaluation metric. Results: Regarding the performance of developed delirium prediction model, the accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and the AUROC were calculated (0.944, 0.581, 0.421, 0.485, 0.873, respectively). The influential factors of delirium in this model included were mechanical ventilation, medication (antipsychotics, sedatives, ambroxol, piperacillin/tazobactam, acetaminophen, ceftriaxone, and propacetamol), and sodium ion concentration (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: We developed and internally validated an ML model to predict delirium in COVID-19 inpatients. The model identified modifiable factors associated with the development of delirium and could be clinically useful for the prediction and prevention of delirium in COVID-19 inpatients.

Efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation and its facilitating and hindering factors from real-world clinical data.

Background and purpose: Customized vestibular rehabilitation improved dizziness and imbalance in several randomized controlled trials. In the present study, we determined the efficacy of customized vestibular rehabilitation using real-world observational data. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we recruited 64 patients (median age = 60, interquartile range = 48-66.3) who completed the customized vestibular rehabilitation from January to December 2022. The outcomes of rehabilitation were evaluated using the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) or vestibular disorders activities of daily living scale (VADL). The factors associated with outcomes were assessed with a generalized linear model, of which covariates included patients' age, sex, duration of illness, type of vestibular disorders, initial DHI and VADL scores, exercise compliance, and initial hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) scores. Results: After the median of 6 (4-6) weeks of rehabilitation, DHI and VADL scores significantly improved in patients with either peripheral or central vestibular disorders (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p < 0.05). The initial DHI and VADL scores showed a positive while the sum of HADS scores showed a negative correlation with the outcome. In contrast, the age, sex, duration of illness, types of vestibular disorders, and exercise compliance did not affect the outcome. Discussion and conclusion: Customized vestibular rehabilitation is effective for central as well as peripheral disorders, especially when the symptoms are severe and the psychological distress is mild.