Is Physical Activity an Effective Factor for Modulating Pressure Pain Threshold and Pain Tolerance after Cardiovascular Incidents?

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether regular physical activity can alter the pressure pain threshold, pain tolerance, and subjective pain perception in individuals who have experienced a cardiovascular event. The study involved 85 individuals aged 37 to 84 years (M = 65.36) who qualified for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation, which consisted of 24 physical training sessions. The patients were all tested twice: on the first and last day of the outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program. Assessments of the pressure pain threshold and pain tolerance were performed with an algometer. To assess the pain coping strategies, the Pain Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) and parenting styles were measured retrospectively with subjective survey questions. The main results of the study showed that patients achieved significantly higher pressure pain thresholds after a physical training cycle (ps < 0.05, η2 = 0.05-0.14), but found no differences in the pain tolerance (ps > 0.05). A lower preference for the better pain coping strategy explanation (ß = -0.42, p = 0.013) and growing up in a family with a less neglectful atmosphere (ß = -0.35, p = 0.008) were associated with increased pressure pain threshold after physical training. The results suggest that physical activity is an important factor in modulating the pressure pain threshold.

Obesity in Polish Children and Parents' Perception of Their Children's Weight Status: The Results of the SOPKARD-Junior Study.

One way to counteract the spread of obesity in children is its early recognition by parents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether parents' perception of their children's BMI category was consistent with their actual BMI assessment and to determine potential influential factors. The study was conducted as part of the "A program for the early detection of risk factors for lifestyle diseases SOPKARD-Junior" (SOPKARD-Junior), a preventive health program implemented in public elementary schools from 2017 to 2019. The results from 381 children with a mean age of 11.67 (SD = 1.52) were analyzed. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Surveys were conducted to assess parents' perceptions of their child's weight, along with their sociodemographic status. Nearly one in three parents were unable to correctly identify their children's weight; 25.0% underestimated it, and 6.0% overestimated it. Underestimation was observed along with an increase in the children's BMI weight category, with as many as 57.1% of parents of obese children misclassifying their weight. The child's BMI was the only significant predictor of incorrect assessment. Polish parents cannot properly assess their children's BMI, especially when their child is overweight or obese. In children, weight and height measurements should be taken regularly, rather than allowing weight category to be dependent upon parental weight assessments.

Insensitive Players? A Relationship Between Violent Video Game Exposure and Recognition of Negative Emotions.

An ability to accurately recognize negative emotions in others can initiate pro-social behavior and prevent anti-social actions. Thus, it remains of an interest of scholars studying effects of violent video games. While exposure to such games was linked to slower emotion recognition, the evidence regarding accuracy of emotion recognition among players of violent games is weak and inconsistent. The present research investigated the relationship between violent video game exposure (VVGE) and accuracy of negative emotion recognition. We assessed the level of self-reported VVGE in hours per day and the accuracy of the recognition using the Facial Expressions Matching Test. The results, with adolescents (Study 1; N = 67) and with adults (Study 2; N = 151), showed that VVGE was negatively related to accurate recognition of negative emotion expressions, even if controlled for age, gender, and trait empathy, but no causal direction could be assessed. In line with the violent media desensitization model, our findings suggest that higher self-reported VVGE relates to lower recognition of negative emotional expressions of other people. On the one hand, such lower recognition of negative emotions may underlie inaccurate reactions in real-life social situations. On the other hand, lower sensitivity to social cues may help players to better focus on their performance in a violent game.

A Multilab Replication of the Ego Depletion Effect.

There is an active debate regarding whether the ego depletion effect is real. A recent preregistered experiment with the Stroop task as the depleting task and the antisaccade task as the outcome task found a medium-level effect size. In the current research, we conducted a preregistered multilab replication of that experiment. Data from 12 labs across the globe (N = 1,775) revealed a small and significant ego depletion effect, d = 0.10. After excluding participants who might have responded randomly during the outcome task, the effect size increased to d = 0.16. By adding an informative, unbiased data point to the literature, our findings contribute to clarifying the existence, size, and generality of ego depletion.

Assessing Repetitive Negative Thinking Using Categorical and Transdiagnostic Approaches: A Comparison and Validation of Three Polish Language Adaptations of Self-Report Questionnaires.

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic process involved in the risk, maintenance, and relapse of serious conditions including mood disorders, anxiety, eating disorders, and addictions. Processing mode theory provides a theoretical model to assess, research, and treat RNT using a transdiagnostic approach. Clinical researchers also often employ categorical approaches to RNT, including a focus on depressive rumination or worry, for similar purposes. Three widely used self-report questionnaires have been developed to assess these related constructs: the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ), and the Mini-Cambridge Exeter Repetitive Thought Scale (Mini-CERTS). Yet these scales have not previously been used in conjunction, despite useful theoretical distinctions only available in Mini-CERTS. The present validation of the methods in a Polish speaking population provides psychometric parameters estimates that contribute to current efforts to increase reliable replication of theoretical outcomes. Moreover, the following study aims to present particular characteristics and a comparison of the three methods. Although there has been some exploration of a categorical approach, the comparison of transdiagnostic methods is still lacking. These methods are particularly relevant for developing and evaluating theoretically based interventions like concreteness training, an emerging field of increasing interest, which can be used to address the maladaptive processing mode in RNT that can lead to depression and other disorders. Furthermore, the translation of these measures enables the examination of possible cross-cultural structural differences that may lead to important theoretical progress in the measurement and classification of RNT. The results support the theoretical hypothesis. As expected, the dimensions of brooding, general repetitive negative thinking, as well as abstract analytical thinking, can all be classified as unconstructive repetitive thinking. The particular characteristics of each scale and potential practical applications in clinical and research are discussed.

The role of implicit affective responses and trait self-control in ego resource management.

Exertion of self-control requires reliance on ego resources. Impaired performance typically results once those resources have been depleted by previous use. Yet the mechanism behind the depletion processes is little understood. Beliefs, motivation, and physiological changes have been implicated, yet the source behind these remains unknown. We propose that implicit may form the fundamental building blocks that these processes rely upon to operate. Implicit affective responses to energy may trigger management of ego resources after depletion. Findings suggest that inhibitory trait self-control may interact with the depletion effect, indicating the importance of taking individual differences in chronic availability of ego-resources into account. After depletion, individuals high in trait self-control may be less motivated to conserve remaining resources than those low in self-control. This mechanism may also help explain the conservation of resources observed when expecting multiple tasks requiring self-control.

Expression of TNF-α, OPG, IL-1ß and the presence of the measles virus RNA in the stapes of the patients with otosclerosis.

Persistent measles virus infections play a crucial role in the pathomechanism of otosclerosis. The study was undertaken to investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in otosclerotic bone remodeling and to assess the relation of TNF-α, OPG and IL-1ß expression levels in otosclerotic stape footplates to the occurrence of measles virus infection. 61 patients with otosclerosis were treated surgically. Thirty-one stapes obtained from cadavers of people, who had died from a sudden cause were used as a control group. The presence of measles virus RNA and the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and OPG in otosclerotic foci were assessed using one-step RT-PCR. The presence of measles virus RNA was noted in 80.3 % of otosclerotic stapes (49 out of 61) and 9.7 % of normal tissues (3 out of 31). Transcript of TNF-α, IL-1ß and OPG was detected in 40, 46 and 18 virus-positive stapes, respectively. The transcript level of TNF-α and IL-1ß was significantly higher in otosclerotic tissues comparing to normal tissue. The OPG expression level was significantly lower in otosclerotic tissues comparing to controls. The presence of measles virus RNA in the stapes may indicate its role in the pathogenesis of otosclerosis. The presence of TNF-α and IL-1ß mRNA in the virus-positive stapes could be the result of viral antigen stimulation and may be a marker of inflammation the otosclerotic focus. The lack of OPG mRNA and the presence of TNF-α and IL-1ß mRNA in the majority of otosclerotic tissues reflect the bone remodeling process occurring in the stapes.

Evaluation of changes in the parameters of brain tissue perfusion in multi-slice computed tomography in patients after carotid artery stenting.

BACKGROUND: CT perfusion of the brain allows functional evaluation of cerebral blood flow. Patients with chronic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis may suffer from malperfusion. Improvement of cerebral blood flow and remission of neurological symptoms indicate the effectiveness of treatment of internal carotid artery stenosis. MATERIAL/METHODS: The aim of the study was to analyze alterations within cerebral perfusion parameters in CT brain perfusion examination in patients who were scheduled for endovascular therapy due to ICA stenosis. Forty patients with ICA stenosis of over 79% who were included in this prospective study underwent perfusion CT examination twice - 24 hours prior to stenting and after 6-8 weeks following the procedure. CBF, CBV, MTT and TTP were evaluated. RESULTS: Prior to endovascular therapy, an increase in MTT and TTP, and a decrease in CBV and CBF were observed within arterial supply of the hemisphere ipsilateral to stenosis. After the procedure, a decrease in MTT and TTP was seen in all cases, while no statistically significant changes of CBF or CBV were observed. MTT proved to be the most sensitive indicator of ICA stenosis, as its values allowed differentiation between critical and non-critical stenosis. No correlation between the degree of ICA stenosis and TTP values was found. Mild cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) was observed in only one patient and the difference between pre-treatment MTT values calculated for both hemispheres was shown to be a prognostic factor for CHS incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular stent placing in patients with hemodynamically significant internal carotid artery stenosis results in alteration of perfusion parameters, especially concerning TTP and MTT.