The impact of a training intervention on knowledge, confidence and attitudes of professionals in a Community Acquired Brain Injury Service about assistive technology for cognition: a before and after survey.

Assistive Technology for Cognition (ATC) can help people to compensate for cognitive impairments following Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Examples include mainstream devices such as smartphones, watches and environmental controls, and bespoke devices such as medication devices or specific educational software. Evidence suggests that professional support is key to people successfully adopting ATC, yet low confidence amongst clinicians and perceptions about barriers are often cited as reasons for not recommending ATC in practice. The objectives of this service evaluation were to evaluate the impact of an ATC training opportunity on the knowledge and confidence of staff and to explore staff perspectives of the barriers and enablers to implementation of ATC in practice. A survey was completed by 21 members of a Community Acquired Brain Injury Service before and after participating in an ATC training workshop. Survey findings highlighted that attitudes toward, and confidence with ATC, showed positive change after the training, whilst perceptions about barriers to implementation in practice reduced. Responses also highlighted the perceived importance of education for health professionals, service users and families as key enablers to successful implementation. Multi-professional training is therefore an important part of an implementation strategy for ATC.

Risk and resilience factors associated with college students' psychological distress and PTSD symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: College students are experiencing pronounced mental health difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known, however, about underlying risk and resilience factors contributing to students' psychological health during this time. The current study examined mindfulness, resilience, coping, emotion regulation, and daily hassles as possible predictors of COVID-19 concern, psychological distress, and PTSD symptoms in a sample of college students. Participants: One hundred and thirty-five undergraduate college students participated in this study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Participants completed a series of self-report questionnaires. Results: Risk and resilience factor hierarchical regression models were run separately to predict the three outcomes. Daily hassles, ethnicity, and first-generation college student status predicted greater COVID-19 concern; daily hassles and difficulties with emotion regulation predicted greater psychological distress; daily hassles, difficulties with emotion regulation, avoidant coping, and problem-focused coping positively predicted PTSD symptoms. Acting with awareness mindfulness and continuing-generation college student status predicted lower COVID-19 concern; acting with awareness mindfulness, nonjudging mindfulness, and resilience predicted lower psychological distress; acting with awareness mindfulness, nonjudging mindfulness, and resilience also predicted lower PTSD symptomatology. Conclusions: Identifying underlying factors associated with college students' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic may facilitate the development and implementation of targeted preventative interventions aimed at promoting well-being in this uniquely vulnerable population.

A Framework for the Development of Living Practice Guidelines in Health Care.

BACKGROUND: Living practice guidelines are increasingly being used to ensure that recommendations are responsive to rapidly emerging evidence. OBJECTIVE: To develop a framework that characterizes the processes of development of living practice guidelines in health care. DESIGN: First, 3 background reviews were conducted: a scoping review of methods papers, a review of handbooks of guideline-producing organizations, and an analytic review of selected living practice guidelines. Second, the core team drafted the first version of the framework. Finally, the core team refined the framework through an online survey and online discussions with a multidisciplinary international group of stakeholders. SETTING: International. PARTICIPANTS: Multidisciplinary group of 51 persons who have experience with guidelines. MEASUREMENTS: Not applicable. RESULTS: A major principle of the framework is that the unit of update in a living guideline is the individual recommendation. In addition to providing definitions, the framework addresses several processes. The planning process should address the organization's adoption of the living methodology as well as each specific guideline project. The production process consists of initiation, maintenance, and retirement phases. The reporting should cover the evidence surveillance time stamp, the outcome of reassessment of the body of evidence (when applicable), and the outcome of revisiting a recommendation (when applicable). The dissemination process may necessitate the use of different venues, including one for formal publication. LIMITATION: This study does not provide detailed or practical guidance for how the described concepts would be best implemented. CONCLUSION: The framework will help guideline developers in planning, producing, reporting, and disseminating living guideline projects. It will also help research methodologists study the processes of living guidelines. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on anhedonia, reward exposure and responsiveness, and sleep in college students.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic's effects on college student mental health and its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Although necessary, physical distancing abruptly restricts interaction with environmental rewards and disrupts sleep patterns, both of which may contribute to psychological symptoms (eg, depression and anhedonia). This study explored differences in psychological symptoms, reward exposure and responsiveness, and sleep before versus during the pandemic. Methods: Eighty-seven college students completed baseline questionnaires and a one-week daily diary paradigm. The sample was divided into two groups based on data collection before (pre-) or after (post-COVID-19) implementation of state-wide COVID-19 physical distancing measures. Results: Findings highlight higher anhedonia, decrements in exposure to social, professional, and exercise related rewards, lower aniticipatory reward responsiveness, and lower sleep efficiency among college students during the initial months of the pandemic. Conclusions: Findings suggest anhedonia, reward system functioning, and sleep may be important targets to mitigate against college student mental health sequelae during COVID-19.

Relationships Among Sleep Disturbance, Reward System Functioning, Anhedonia, and Depressive Symptoms.

Recent models propose reward system dysfunction as a key mediator of the relationship between sleep and depression and anhedonia. This study explored interrelationships among sleep disturbance, depressive symptoms, anhedonia, and reward responsiveness. Two-hundred and sixty undergraduate students completed questionnaires and a daily diary paradigm assessing sleep, reward responsiveness, depression, anhedonia, and positive affect over 1 week. Baseline sleep disturbance was associated with depressive symptoms, anhedonia, and reward responsiveness. Daily diary sleep parameters showed differential associations with anticipatory versus consummatory reward responsiveness and positive affect. Poorer sleep quality, shorter sleep duration, and longer awakening after sleep onset predicted blunted anticipatory and consummatory reward responsiveness, while increased sleep onset latency and lower sleep efficiency predicted only decreased consummatory reward responsiveness. All sleep indices, except sleep onset latency, were associated with positive affect. Findings demonstrate unique associations between disparate sleep disturbance and reward responsiveness elements, highlighting new treatment mechanisms for anhedonia and depression.

Low-Dose Vitamin D3 Supplementation Does Not Affect Natural Regulatory T Cell Population but Attenuates Seasonal Changes in T Cell-Produced IFN-γ: Results From the D-SIRe2 Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Seasonal variations have been reported for immune markers. However, the relative contributions of sunlight and vitamin D variability on such seasonal changes are unknown. Objective: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial tested whether daily 400 IU vitamin D3 supplementation affected short-term (12 weeks) and long-term (43 weeks) natural regulatory T cell (nTreg) populations in healthy participants. Design: 62 subjects were randomized equally to vitamin D versus placebo in March and assessed at baseline, April (4w), June (12w), September (25w) and January (43w). Circulating nTregs, ex vivo proliferation, IL-10 and IFN-γ productions were measured. Vitamin D metabolites and sunlight exposure were also assessed. Results: Mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) increased from 35.8(SD 3.0) to 65.3(2.6) nmol/L in April and remained above 75 nmol/L with vitamin D supplementation, whereas it increased from 36.4(3.2) to 49.8(3.5) nmol/L in June to fall back to 39.6(3.5) nmol/L in January with placebo. Immune markers varied similarly between groups according to the season, but independently of 25(OH)D. For nTregs, the mean (%CD3+CD4+CD127lo cells (SEM)) nadir observed in March (2.9(0.1)%) peaked in September at 4.0(0.2)%. Mean T cell proliferation peaked in June (33156(1813) CPM) returning to the nadir in January (17965(978) CPM), while IL-10 peaked in June and reached its nadir in September (median (IQR) of 262(283) to (121(194) pg/ml, respectively). Vitamin D attenuated the seasonal increase in IFN-γ by ~28% with mean ng/ml (SEM) for placebo vs vitamin D, respectively, for April 12.5(1.4) vs 10.0(1.2) (p=0.02); June 13.9(1.3) vs 10.2(1.7) (p=0.02) and January 7.4(1.1) vs 6.0(1.1) (p=0.04). Conclusions: Daily low dose Vitamin D intake did not affect the nTregs population. There were seasonal variation in nTregs, proliferative response and cytokines, suggesting that environmental changes influence immune response, but the mechanism seems independent of vitamin D status. Vitamin D attenuated the seasonal change in T cell-produced IFN-γ, suggesting a decrease in effector response which could be associated with inflammation. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.isrctn.com, identifier (ISRCTN 73114576).

Mesoscale and wind-driven intra-annual variability in the East Auckland Current.

Intra-annual variability in the East Auckland Current (EAuC) was studied using a year-long timeseries of in situ and remotely-sensed velocity, temperature and salinity observations. Satellite-derived velocities correlated well ([Formula: see text]) with in situ observations and well-represent the long-term ([Formula: see text] days) variability of the upper ocean circulation. Four mesoscale eddies were observed during the year (for 260 days) which generated distinct flows between the continental slope and rise. The EAuC dominated the circulation in the continental shelf break, slope and rise for 110 days and generated the most energetic events associated with wind forcing. Current variability on the continental slope was coherent with along-slope wind stress (wind stress curl) at periods between 4 and 12 days (16 and 32 days). We suggest that along-slope winds generated offshore Ekman transport, uplift on the shelf-break, and a downwind geostrophic jet on the slope. In contrast, positive wind stress curl caused convergence of water, downwelling, and increased the current speed in the region. Bottom Ekman transport, generated by the EAuC, was suggested to have caused the largest temperature anomaly ([Formula: see text]) at the continental shelf-break.

Measuring the success of blinding in placebo-controlled trials: Should we be so quick to dismiss it?

'Blinding' involves concealing knowledge of which trial participants received the interventions from participants themselves and other trial personnel throughout the trial. Blinding reduces bias arising from the beliefs and expectations of these groups. It is agreed that where possible, blinding should be attempted, for example by ensuring that experimental and control treatments look the same. However, there is a debate about if we should measure whether blinding has been successful, this manuscript will discuss this controversy, including the benefits and risks of measuring blinding within the randomised controlled trial.

A living WHO guideline on drugs to prevent covid-19.

CLINICAL QUESTION: What is the role of drugs in preventing covid-19? WHY DOES THIS MATTER?: There is widespread interest in whether drug interventions can be used for the prevention of covid-19, but there is uncertainty about which drugs, if any, are effective. The first version of this living guideline focuses on the evidence for hydroxychloroquine. Subsequent updates will cover other drugs being investigated for their role in the prevention of covid-19. RECOMMENDATION: The guideline development panel made a strong recommendation against the use of hydroxychloroquine for individuals who do not have covid-19 (high certainty). HOW THIS GUIDELINE WAS CREATED: This living guideline is from the World Health Organization (WHO) and provides up to date covid-19 guidance to inform policy and practice worldwide. Magic Evidence Ecosystem Foundation (MAGIC) provided methodological support. A living systematic review with network analysis informed the recommendations. An international guideline development panel of content experts, clinicians, patients, an ethicist and methodologists produced recommendations following standards for trustworthy guideline development using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. UNDERSTANDING THE NEW RECOMMENDATION: The linked systematic review and network meta-analysis (6 trials and 6059 participants) found that hydroxychloroquine had a small or no effect on mortality and admission to hospital (high certainty evidence). There was a small or no effect on laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (moderate certainty evidence) but probably increased adverse events leading to discontinuation (moderate certainty evidence). The panel judged that almost all people would not consider this drug worthwhile. In addition, the panel decided that contextual factors such as resources, feasibility, acceptability, and equity for countries and healthcare systems were unlikely to alter the recommendation. The panel considers that this drug is no longer a research priority and that resources should rather be oriented to evaluate other more promising drugs to prevent covid-19. UPDATES: This is a living guideline. New recommendations will be published in this article and signposted by update notices to this guideline. READERS NOTE: This is the first version of the living guideline for drugs to prevent covid-19. It complements the WHO living guideline on drugs to treat covid-19. When citing this article, please consider adding the update number and date of access for clarity.

A living WHO guideline on drugs to prevent COVID-19

Clinical question What is the role of drugs in preventing covid-19? Why does this matter?There is widespread interest in whether drug interventions can be used for the prevention of covid-19, but there is uncertainty about which drugs, if any, are effective. The first version of this living guideline focuses on the evidence for hydroxychloroquine. Subsequent updates will cover other drugs being investigated for their role in the prevention of covid-19. The guideline development panel made a strong recommendation against the use of hydroxychloroquine for individuals who do not have covid-19 (high certainty). How this guideline was created This living guideline is from the World Health Organization (WHO) and provides up to date covid-19 guidance to inform policy and practice worldwide. Magic Evidence Ecosystem Foundation (MAGIC) provided methodological support. A living systematic review with network analysis informed the recommendations. An international guideline development panel of content experts, clinicians, patients, an ethicist and methodologists produced recommendations following standards for trustworthy guideline development using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Understanding the new recommendation The linked systematic review and network meta-analysis (6 trials and 6059 participants) found that hydroxychloroquine had a small or no effect on mortality and admission to hospital (high certainty evidence). There was a small or no effect on laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (moderate certainty evidence) but probably increased adverse events leading to discontinuation (moderate certainty evidence). The panel judged that almost all people would not consider this drug worthwhile. In addition, the panel decided that contextual factors such as resources, feasibility, acceptability, and equity for countries and healthcare systems were unlikely to alter the recommendation. The panel considers that this drug is no longer a research priority and that resources should rather be oriented to evaluate other more promising drugs to prevent covid-19. Updates This is a living guideline. New recommendations will be published in this article and signposted by update notices to this guideline.

Predicting habitat suitability of filter-feeder communities in a shallow marine environment, New Zealand.

The distribution of benthic ecosystems, dominated by filter-feeding communities, is highly influenced by the seabed geomorphology. However, the spatial variation in settlement of these species is also affected by near-bottom currents and any changes in light, nutrient concentration and food quality often associated with increases of suspended sediment concentrations within the water column. Detailed predictions of the geographic distribution of filter-feeder species and a deeper understanding of the physical processes influencing their distribution patterns is key for effective management and conservation. To date, predictive distribution modelling has been derived essentially from geomorphological parameters, mainly using spatially limited observations. In this study, seabed mapping, oceanographic modelling, hydrographic records and biological observations are integrated to provide high-resolution prediction of filter-feeder habitat distribution within Queen Charlotte Sound/Totaranui and Tory Channel/Kura Te Au, South Island of New Zealand. The aim is to evaluate potential suitable habitat areas for filter-feeders to inform where habitat restoration management should focus efforts to recover communities such as the horse mussel (Atrina zelandica) or the green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), both of which have high economic impact in New Zealand. To accomplish this, Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) predictive modelling was used to produce Habitat Suitability (HS) maps, using geomorphological parameters and seafloor classification information. Final HS maps also incorporated oceanographic and sediment dynamic information, showing that filter-feeder habitat distribution is highly influenced by the hydrodynamics and sedimentary processes apart from the seafloor geomorphology. Filter-feeder communities inhabit quiescent areas, limited by depth, slope and sediment type; and coincide with regions presenting low near-bottom currents and low turbidity levels. Additionally, the obtained results reveal the effects of the coastal settlements and major marine traffic routes, limiting the suitable habitats to areas with less human impact. This study demonstrates that a multidisciplinary approach is crucial to better predict the spatial distribution of benthic communities, which is key to improve benthic habitat restoration and recovery assessments.

Associations of Five Facets of Mindfulness With Self-Regulation in College Students.

Mindfulness has been associated with positive mental health functioning across a range of constructs, including self-regulation. Most of this research, however, has investigated mindfulness as a unidimensional domain. Few studies have examined the relationships between specific facets of mindfulness and particular dimensions of self-regulation, including delay of gratification and emotion regulation, despite relevance for mindfulness-based interventions. Two hundred and seventy-eight undergraduate college student participants completed a series of questionnaires examining dispositional mindfulness, difficulties with emotion regulation, and delay of gratification skills. Linear regressions investigated the associations between five facets of mindfulness and each of the two components of self-regulation. Findings revealed that describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreacting mindfulness facets were negatively associated with difficulties with emotion regulation, and that observing, acting with awareness, and nonjudging mindfulness facets were positively associated with delay of gratification skills, after accounting for the effects of the other mindfulness subscales. These preliminary findings may have important clinical relevance, as greater self-regulation has critical implications for social, emotional, and academic functioning.

TIDieR-Placebo: A guide and checklist for reporting placebo and sham controls.

BACKGROUND: Placebo or sham controls are the standard against which the benefits and harms of many active interventions are measured. Whilst the components and the method of their delivery have been shown to affect study outcomes, placebo and sham controls are rarely reported and often not matched to those of the active comparator. This can influence how beneficial or harmful the active intervention appears to be. Without adequate descriptions of placebo or sham controls, it is difficult to interpret results about the benefits and harms of active interventions within placebo-controlled trials. To overcome this problem, we developed a checklist and guide for reporting placebo or sham interventions. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We developed an initial list of items for the checklist by surveying experts in placebo research (n = 14). Because of the diverse contexts in which placebo or sham treatments are used in clinical research, we consulted experts in trials of drugs, surgery, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and psychological interventions. We then used a multistage online Delphi process with 53 participants to determine which items were deemed to be essential. We next convened a group of experts and stakeholders (n = 16). Our main output was a modification of the existing Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist; this allows the key features of both active interventions and placebo or sham controls to be concisely summarised by researchers. The main differences between TIDieR-Placebo and the original TIDieR are the explicit requirement to describe the setting (i.e., features of the physical environment that go beyond geographic location), the need to report whether blinding was successful (when this was measured), and the need to present the description of placebo components alongside those of the active comparator. CONCLUSIONS: We encourage TIDieR-Placebo to be used alongside TIDieR to assist the reporting of placebo or sham components and the trials in which they are used.