bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing biomedical information retrieval with a keyword frequency-driven prompt enhancement strategy
Authors: Aftab Wasim , Apostolou Zivkos , Bouazoune Karim , Straub Tobias
Published: August 2024

Background

Mining the vast pool of biomedical literature to extract accurate responses and relevant references is challenging due to the domain's interdisciplinary nature, specialized jargon, and continuous evolution. Early natural language processing (NLP) approaches often led to incorrect answers as they failed to comprehend the nuances of natural language. However, transformer models have significantly advanced the field by enabling the creation of large language models (LLMs), enhancing question-answering (QA) tasks. Despite these advances, current LLM-based solutions for specialized domains like biology and biomedicine still struggle to generate up-to-date responses while avoiding “hallucination” or generating plausible but factually incorrect responses.

Results

Our work focuses on enhancing prompts using a retrieval-augmented architecture to guide LLMs in generating meaningful responses for biomedical QA tasks. We evaluated two approaches: one relying on text embedding and vector similarity in a high-dimensional space, and our proposed method, which uses explicit signals in user queries to extract meaningful contexts. For robust evaluation, we tested these methods on 50 specific and challenging questions from diverse biomedical topics, comparing their performance against a baseline model, BM25. Retrieval performance of our method was significantly better than others, achieving a median Precision@10 of 0.95, which indicates the fraction of the top 10 retrieved chunks that are relevant. We used GPT-4, OpenAI's most advanced LLM to maximize the answer quality and manually accessed LLM-generated responses. Our method achieved a median answer quality score of 2.5, surpassing both the baseline model and the text embedding-based approach. We developed a QA bot, WeiseEule (https://github.com/wasimaftab/WeiseEule-LocalHost), which utilizes these methods for comparative analysis and also offers advanced features for review writing and identifying relevant articles for citation.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the importance of prompt enhancement methods that utilize explicit signals in user queries over traditional text embedding-based approaches to improve LLM-generated responses for specialized queries in specialized domains such as biology and biomedicine. By providing users complete control over the information fed into the LLM, our approach addresses some of the major drawbacks of existing web-based chatbots and LLM-based QA systems, including hallucinations and the generation of irrelevant or outdated responses.
Facilitating and limiting factors of cultural norms influencing use of maternal health services in primary health care facilities in Kogi State, Nigeria; a focused ethnographic research on Igala women
Authors: Opara Uchechi Clara , Iheanacho Peace Njideka , Li Hua , Petrucka Pammla
Published: August 2024

Background

Facilitating factors are potential factors that encourage the uptake of maternal health services, while limiting factors are those potential factors that limit women’s access to maternal health services. Though cultural norms or values are significant factors that influence health-seeking behaviour, there is a limited exploration of the facilitating and limiting factors of these cultural norms and values on the use of maternal health services in primary health care facilities.

Aim

To understand the facilitating and limiting factors of cultural values and norms that influence the use of maternal health services in primary healthcare facilities.

Methods

The study was conducted in two primary healthcare facilities (rural and urban) using a focused ethnographic methodology described by Roper and Shapira. The study comprised 189 hours of observation of nine women from the third trimester to deliveries. Using purposive and snowballing techniques, data was collected through 21 in-depth interviews, two focus group discussions comprising 13 women, and field notes. All data was analyzed using the steps described by Roper and Shapira (Ethnography in nursing research, 2000).

Results

Using the enabler and nurturer constructs of the relationships and the expectations domain of the PEN-3 cultural model, four themes were generated: 1, The attitude of healthcare workers and 2, Factors within primary healthcare facilities, which revealed both facilitating and limiting factors. The remaining themes, 3, The High cost of services, and 4, Contextual issues within communities revealed factors that limit access to facility care.

Conclusion

Several facilitating and limiting factors of cultural norms and values significantly influence women’s health-seeking behaviours and use of primary health facilities. Further studies are needed on approaches to harness these factors in providing holistic care tailored to communities' cultural needs. Additionally, reinvigoration and strengthening of primary health facilities in Nigeria is critical to promoting comprehensive care that could reduce maternal mortality and enhance maternal health outcomes.
Mental issues, internet addiction and quality of life predict burnout among Hungarian teachers: a machine learning analysis
Authors: Feher Gergely , Kapus Krisztian , Tibold Antal , Banko Zoltan , Berke Gyula , Gacs Boroka , Varadi Imre , Nyulas Rita , Matuz Andras
Published: August 2024

Background

Burnout is usually defined as a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that affects people in various professions (e.g. physicians, nurses, teachers). The consequences of burnout involve decreased motivation, productivity, and overall diminished well-being. The machine learning-based prediction of burnout has therefore become the focus of recent research. In this study, the aim was to detect burnout using machine learning and to identify its most important predictors in a sample of Hungarian high-school teachers.

Methods

The final sample consisted of 1,576 high-school teachers (522 male), who completed a survey including various sociodemographic and health-related questions and psychological questionnaires. Specifically, depression, insomnia, internet habits (e.g. when and why one uses the internet) and problematic internet usage were among the most important predictors tested in this study. Supervised classification algorithms were trained to detect burnout assessed by two well-known burnout questionnaires. Feature selection was conducted using recursive feature elimination. Hyperparameters were tuned via grid search with 10-fold cross-validation. Due to class imbalance, class weights (i.e. cost-sensitive learning), downsampling and a hybrid method (SMOTE-ENN) were applied in separate analyses. The final model evaluation was carried out on a previously unseen holdout test sample.

Results

Burnout was detected in 19.7% of the teachers included in the final dataset. The best predictive performance on the holdout test sample was achieved by random forest with class weigths (AUC = 0.811; balanced accuracy = 0.745, sensitivity = 0.765; specificity = 0.726). The best predictors of burnout were Beck’s Depression Inventory scores, Athen’s Insomnia Scale scores, subscales of the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire and self-reported current health status.

Conclusions

The performances of the algorithms were comparable with previous studies; however, it is important to note that we tested our models on previously unseen holdout samples suggesting higher levels of generalizability. Another remarkable finding is that besides depression and insomnia, other variables such as problematic internet use and time spent online also turned out to be important predictors of burnout.
Identifying metabotypes of insulin resistance severity in children with metabolic syndrome
Authors: González-Domínguez Álvaro , Domínguez-Riscart Jesús , Savolainen Otto , Lechuga-Sancho Alfonso , Landberg Rikard , González-Domínguez Raúl
Published: August 2024

Background

Insulin resistance is a frequent precursor of typical obesity and metabolic syndrome complications. However, accurate diagnosis remains elusive because of its pathophysiological complexity and heterogeneity. Herein, we have explored the utility of insulin secretion dynamics in response to an oral glucose tolerance test as a surrogate marker to identify distinct metabotypes of disease severity.

Methods

The study population consisted of children with obesity and insulin resistance, stratified according to the post-challenge insulin peak timing (i.e., early, middle, and late peak), from whom fasting and postprandial plasma and erythrocytes were collected for metabolomics analysis.

Results

Children with late insulin peak manifested worse cardiometabolic health (i.e., higher blood pressure, glycemia, and HOMA-IR scores) than early responders. These subjects also showed more pronounced changes in metabolites mirroring failures in energy homeostasis, oxidative stress, metabolism of cholesterol and phospholipids, and adherence to unhealthy dietary habits. Furthermore, delayed insulin peak was associated with impaired metabolic flexibility, as reflected in compromised capacity to regulate mitochondrial energy pathways and the antioxidant defense in response to glucose overload.

Conclusions

Altogether, these findings suggest that insulin resistance could encompass several phenotypic subtypes characterized by graded disturbances in distinctive metabolic derangements occurring in childhood obesity, which serve as severity predictive markers.
Experience Sampling as a dietary assessment method: a scoping review towards implementation
Authors: Verbeke Joke , Matthys Christophe
Published: August 2024

Background

Accurate and feasible assessment of dietary intake remains challenging for research and healthcare. Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM) is a real-time real-life data capturing method with low burden and good feasibility not yet fully explored as alternative dietary assessment method.

Methods

This scoping review is the first to explore the implementation of ESM as an alternative to traditional dietary assessment methods by mapping the methodological considerations to apply ESM and formulating recommendations to develop an Experience Sampling-based Dietary Assessment Method (ESDAM). The scoping review methodology framework was followed by searching PubMed (including OVID) and Web of Science from 2012 until 2024.

Results

Screening of 646 articles resulted in 39 included articles describing 24 studies. ESM was mostly applied for qualitative dietary assessment (i.e. type of consumed foods) (n = 12), next to semi-quantitative dietary assessment (i.e. frequency of consumption, no portion size) (n = 7), and quantitative dietary assessment (i.e. type and portion size of consumed foods) (n = 5). Most studies used ESM to assess the intake of selected foods. Two studies applied ESM as an alternative to traditional dietary assessment methods assessing total dietary intake quantitatively (i.e. all food groups). ESM duration ranged from 4 to 30 days and most studies applied ESM for 7 days (n = 15). Sampling schedules were mostly semi-random (n = 12) or fixed (n = 9) with prompts starting at 8–10 AM and ending at 8–12 PM. ESM questionnaires were adapted from existing questionnaires, based on food consumption data or focus group discussions, and respond options were mostly presented as multiple-choice. Recall period to report dietary intake in ESM prompts varied from 15 min to 3.5 h.

Conclusions

Most studies used ESM for 7 days with fixed or semi-random sampling during waking hours and 2-h recall periods. An ESDAM can be developed starting from a food record approach (actual intake) or a validated food frequency questionnaire (long-term or habitual intake). Actual dietary intake can be measured by ESM through short intensive fixed sampling schedules while habitual dietary intake measurement by ESM allows for longer less frequent semi-random sampling schedules. ESM sampling protocols should be developed carefully to optimize feasibility and accuracy of dietary data.
Time-course analysis of cisplatin induced AKI in preclinical models: implications for testing different sources of MSCs
Authors: Ganguly Abantika , Chetty Shashank , Primavera Rosita , Levitte Steven , Regmi Shobha , Dulken Benjamin William , Sutherland Scott M. , Angeles Wendy , Wang Jing , Thakor Avnesh S.
Published: August 2024

Background

Kidneys are at risk from drug-induced toxicity, with a significant proportion of acute kidney injury (AKI) linked to medications, particularly cisplatin. Existing cytoprotective drugs for cisplatin-AKI carry side effects, prompting a search for better biological therapies. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are under consideration given their regenerative properties, yet their clinical application has not achieved their full potential, mainly due to variability in the source of MSC tested. In addition, translating treatments from rodent models to humans remains challenging due to a lack of standardized dosing and understanding potential differential responses to cisplatin between animal strains.

Method

In the current study, we performed a time-course analysis of the effect of cisplatin across different mouse strains and evaluated gender related differences to create a robust preclinical model that could then be used to explore the therapeutic efficacy of different sources of MSCs for their ability to reverse AKI.

Result

Our data indicated that different mouse strains produce differential responses to the same cisplatin dosing regimen. Despite this, we did not observe any gender-related bias towards cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, our time-course analysis identified that cisplatin-induced inflammation was driven by a strong CXCL1 response, which was used as a putative biomarker to evaluate the comparative therapeutic efficacy of different MSC sources in reversing AKI. Our data indicates that UC-MSCs have a stronger anti-inflammatory effect compared to BM-MSCs and AD-MSCs, which helped to ameliorate cisplatin-AKI.

Conclusion

Overall, our data underscores the importance of using an optimized preclinical model of cisplatin-AKI to test different therapies. We identified CXCL1 as a potential biomarker of cisplatin-AKI and identified the superior efficacy of UC-MSCs in mitigating cisplatin-AKI.

Graphical abstract
Cost-effectiveness analysis of proximal femoral nail versus bipolar hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture
Authors: Kutlu Gamze , Akbulut Yasemin
Published: August 2024

Background

Hip fractures are a serious public health problem with high rates of morbidity, mortality, disability and care costs. The aim of the research was to perform cost effectiveness analysis of hip fracture treatments using proximal femoral nail and bipolar hemiarthroplasty surgeries.

Methods

The analysis was completed based on the perspectives of the paying institution and patient. A decision tree model was used to determine whether proximal femoral nail or bipolar arthroplasty was most cost effective for the management of a femoral neck fracture in this patient population.

Results

The findings from the decision tree model suggested that ICERs for BHP were TRY 43,164.53 TL/QALY based on reimbursement and TRY 3,977.35 TL/QALY based on patient expenditures. Compared to the calculated threshold value of TRY 60.575 TL, we concluded BHP to be a cost-effective option. Moreover, all parameter changes yielded stable results on the one-way sensitivity analysis. When it comes to the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, BHP with specified threshold value was found to be cost-effective in all the comparisons. Currently available data the use of bipolar hemiarthroplasty as the more cost- effective treatment strategy in this specific population.

Conclusion

Overall, our findings showed HA as a cost-effective surgical technique at the calculated threshold in a population over 60 years of age. The impacts of HA on patients’ quality of life and costs are remarkable.
Improving oxygenation in severe ARDS treated with VV-ECMO: comparative efficacy of moderate hypothermia and landiolol in a swine ARDS model
Authors: Vincendeau Maud , Klein Thomas , Groubatch Frederique , Tran N’Guyen , Kimmoun Antoine , Levy Bruno
Published: August 2024

Background

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a significant challenge in critical care, with high mortality rates despite advancements in treatment. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is employed as salvage therapy for refractory cases. However, some patients may continue to experience persistent severe hypoxemia despite being treated with VV-ECMO. To achieve this, moderate hypothermia and short-acting selective β1-blockers have been proposed.

Methods

Using a swine model of severe ARDS treated with VV-ECMO, this study investigated the efficacy of moderate hypothermia or β-blockade in improving arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) three hours after VV-ECMO initiation. Primary endpoints included the ratio of VV-ECMO flow to cardiac output and arterial oxygen saturation before VV-ECMO start (H0) and three hours after ECMO start (H3). Secondary safety criteria encompassed hemodynamics and oxygenation parameters.

Results

Twenty-two male pigs were randomized into three groups: control (n = 6), hypothermia (n = 9) and β-blockade (n = 7). At H0, all groups demonstrated similar hemodynamic and respiratory parameters. Both moderate hypothermia and β-blockade groups exhibited a significant increase in the ratio of VV-ECMO flow to cardiac output at H3, resulting in improved SaO2. At H3, despite a decrease in oxygen delivery and consumption in the intervention groups compared to the control group, oxygen extraction ratios across groups remained unchanged and lactate levels were normal.

Conclusions

In a swine model of severe ARDS treated with VV-ECMO, both moderate hypothermia and β-blockade led to an increase in the ratio of VV-ECMO flow to cardiac output resulting in improved arterial oxygen saturation without any impact on tissue perfusion.
Subjective symptoms are triggers for the detection of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced interstitial lung disease and associate with disease severity: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Yokoi Mari , Yonezawa Atsushi , Hira Daiki , Handa Tomohiro , Tanizawa Kiminobu , Nakagawa Shunsaku , Tsuda Masahiro , Ikemi Yasuaki , Itotani Ryo , Yoshida Hironori , Nomura Motoo , Matsubara Junichi , Murakami Kosaku , Ozasa Hiroaki , Muto Manabu , Terada Tomohiro
Published: August 2024

Background

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most common fatal immune-related adverse events (irAEs). ILD development adversely affects the continuation of anticancer drug therapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy and prognosis. There are no established useful clinical indicators for the early detection of ILD. Furthermore, the factors that lead the attending physician to suspect ICI-induced ILD (ICI-ILD) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the ICI-ILD detection based on subjective symptoms and their relationship with disease severity in patients receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study. We enrolled the patients who received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody at Kyoto University Hospital between September 2014 and April 2021. Patients who developed ICI-ILD were stratified into two distinct groups based on factors that triggered the suspicion of ILD development. The “Subjective symptoms” group was defined as patients in whom ILD was detected based on subjective symptoms. Conversely, the “Routine examinations” group was defined as patients in whom ILD was suspected based on scheduled routine examinations. The severity of ILD in each group was assessed and its association with changes in the respiratory symptoms was examined.

Results

Of 926 patients who received anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody, 51 patients (5.5%) developed ICI-ILD. The incidence of ICI-ILD in patients with lung cancer was significantly higher than that in patients with other cancers (P < 0.001). Among the patients with ICI-ILD, 27 patients (52.9%) were classified into the “Subjective symptoms” group. The “Subjective symptoms” group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of Grade 3–5 ICI-ILD cases than the “Routine examinations” group (76.2% vs. 23.8%, P = 0.010). At the last visit, before the suspected onset of ILD, 21 of the 27 patients (77.8%) had no symptoms or no change in the respiratory symptoms.

Conclusion

Subjective symptoms triggered the suspicion of Grade 3–5 ICI-ILD. Enhanced monitoring and patient education could be essential for the early detection of ICI-ILD because ILD may develop rapidly. Our findings might help to manage ICI-ILD in clinical practice.
SUCCEED Africa: protocol for a multi-method pilot study of a community-based intervention for people with psychosis in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Malawi
Authors: Greenley Rachel , Tamambang Rita , Koroma Alhaji , Fasoranti Bisola , Munetsi Ephiphania , Chinoko Hilda , Stevens Nancy , Goba Nyaradzo , Kinyabo Philani Ama , Bella-Awusah Tolulope , Ryan Grace
Published: August 2024

Background

Recent reviews have highlighted the need for participatory research to design and evaluate inclusive, community-based interventions that address the diverse needs of people with lived experience of psychosis, within and beyond the health sector. The SUCCEED Africa consortium aims to co-produce a 6-year programme of research across four countries in West (Sierra Leone, Nigeria) and Southeast Africa (Zimbabwe and Malawi). This protocol describes the pilot study in which SUCCEED’s intervention, research tools and processes will be tested on a small scale in each country in preparation for future evaluation research.

Methods

The SUCCEED intervention comprises peer support, case management and livelihood activities for people with lived experience of psychosis. The pilot uses a before-and-after study design investigating change in subjective quality of life in adults diagnosed with a primary psychotic disorder or another mental disorder with psychotic symptoms who are offered the SUCCEED intervention over a 4-month period. Nested within this study are the following: a baseline assessment of the feasibility, acceptability and face validity of the selected measurement tool and validity of proxy versus self-completion; and a multi-method process evaluation examining key process indicators and implementation, service and client-level outcomes. Methods include the following: baseline cognitive interviews; semi-structed observation and routine monitoring and evaluation of service delivery; endline interviews and focus group discussions; and a comparison of provider competencies at endline. At each of the four pilot sites, participants will include the following: ten people with lived experience of psychosis, recruited from either health services or community settings using purposive sampling to maximise variation; up to ten adult family members (one per participant with lived experience) involved in their care; the peer support worker, community support worker and supervisor responsible for delivering the intervention; and the data collectors. Recruitment will take place in July and August 2023.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first study of a community-based intervention incorporating lay-delivered case management, formal peer support and livelihoods activities for people with lived experience of psychosis in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings will be relevant not only to SUCCEED but also to others interested in promoting rights-based approaches to community mental health in low-resource settings.

Trial registration

US National Library of Medicine (ClinicalTrials.gov), Protocol reference ID 28346. Initially registered retrospectively July 20/2023: In review.
Understanding Botrytis cinerea infection and gray mold management: a review paper on deciphering the rose's thorn
Authors: Ullah Ikram , Yuan Wenbin , Khalil Hala Badr , Khan Manzoor Raiees , Lak Farzaneh , Uzair Muhammad , Abbas Aqleem , Mirzadi Gohari Amir , Wu Hongzhi
Published: August 2024

Gray mold of roses, caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea, is an economically notorious disease and a well-known economic menace, leading to substantial annual losses estimated at no less than 30% of production. This disease takes a toll not only on the marketability of cut rose flowers but also on consumer and importer confidence due to the unsightly symptoms it induces. This fungus influences the rose foliage throughout cultivation, transportation, storage, and marketing. The interplay of conducive environmental conditions and genetic factors plays significant roles in developing the rose gray mold on rose flowers during the pre- and post-harvest phases. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying B. cinerea-rose interactions are poorly understood, and the knowledge of how rose plants defend themselves against B. cinerea infection is not comprehensively investigated. It is worth noting that breeding for resistance to discover genetically resistant roses toward gray mold was unsuccessful despite research conducted over the past century. Consequently, synthetic fungicides remain the primary approach to controlling Botrytis blight in roses during the pre- and post-harvest stages. However, this measure has several drawbacks, including the emergence of fungicide-resistant B. cinerea and endangering human and animal health due to chemical residues in the food chain. This review aims to offer a comprehensive update on recent research findings on the biology and management of B. cinerea infection in roses and to propose novel strategies for managing gray mold disease.
Wind-resistant design theory and safety guarantee for large oil and gas storage tanks in coastal areas
Authors: Huang Bin , Liu Xijie , Li Zhengnong , Xin Dabo , Liu Jinke , Qin Shujie , Xiao Tianyin , Dong Jinshuang
Published: August 2024

Large oil and gas storage tanks serve as crucial industrial energy infrastructures, which are usually thin-walled steel structures with large volumes and light weights, and they are sensitive to wind loads. Under the influence of strong winds or typhoons, large oil and gas storage tanks may suffer wind-induced damage, resulting in the leakage of gas or liquid inside the tanks, posing hazards to the ecological environment and public safety. Therefore, it is of great theoretical and engineering significance to research the wind resistance of large oil and gas storage tanks. This paper provides a comprehensive review of key issues in wind resistance for large oil and gas storage tanks, including characteristics of flow around circular cylinders, wind effects on structures with circular cross-sections, near-surface wind field characteristics, wind effects on large oil and gas storage tanks, wind-induced interference effects, structural dynamic characteristics, wind loads and wind-induced response calculations, multiple load effects, and wind-induced vibration control. The deficiencies of current research are summarized. The prospects for research on the design theory and safety assurance of large oil and gas storage tanks are presented through various methods, including field measurements of near-surface wind fields and wind effects, wind tunnel tests utilizing aeroelastic models, numerical simulations involving fluid–solid coupling, theoretical analysis, and machine learning.
A Study on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in Mental Health Professionals and the Psychosocial Factors Affecting This
Authors: Hong J.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

he present study investigates irritable bowel syndrome in mental health professionals and the characteristics of psychosocial factors that affect this.

Objectives

Methods

The present study selected an irritable bowel syndrome group among 291 mental health professionals based on the Rome III criteria, and investigated demographic variables. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), Psychosocial Well-being Index (PWI), and Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) were used to evaluate psychosocial factors. An independent t-test and chi-square test were used to determine differences between the groups, and a logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) of IBS based on occupational stress. SPSS 21.0 (IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 21.0) was utilized for all statistics.

Results

Differences in demographic variables based on IBS group were not statistically significant. Depressive symptoms (t = -4.767, p<0.001) and anxiety (t = -4.068, p<0.001) were higher in the IBS group, and psychosocial well-being was lower (t = 2.288, p<0.05). The OR of IBS based on depressive symptoms was 5.737 (95% CI = 2.24–14.69). There were significant differences in occupational stress based on IBS within the subordinate domains of physical environment (t = -3.160, p<0.01), job demand (t = -3.273, p<0.01), interpersonal conflict (t = -2.295, p<0.05), job security (t = -3.005, p<0.01), and lack of reward (t = -2.046, p<0.05). The OR of IBS based on the subordinate domains of occupational stress was 3.708 (95% CI = 1.20-11.41) in physical environment, and 3.759 (95% CI = 1.33-10.56) in job demand.

Conclusions

The results of the present study verify that psychosocial factors in mental health professionals have a close correlation with IBS. Accordingly, improvements in both IBS symptoms and quality of life should occur through proactive intervention in these variables.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The factor structure the PHQ-9 in Russian patients recovered from COVID-19
Authors: Zinchuk M. , Kustov G. , Popova S. , Razmakhnin A. , Zhuravlev D. , Akzhigitov R. , Guekht A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is the first choice for screening for depression in primary care and other medical settings. The PHQ-9 has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of depression symptoms, but there is disagreement among researchers about the factor structure of this questionnaire. Recent systematic reviews have found four different factor models of the PHQ-9, with one- and two-factor models being the most common. This discrepancy may be due to linguistic, cultural and clinical differences between the populations studied. The factor structure of the Russian version of the PHQ-9 during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been examined in any study to date.

Objectives

The aim of our study was to determine the factorial structure and internal consistency of the Russian version of the PHQ-9 in COVID-19 survivors.

Methods

Fourteen thousand 725 (female - 11479 (78.0%), age - 18-79 years (M - 47.09, SD - 12.70) participants completed an online survey including the PHQ-9 and an ad hoc questionnaire focusing on sociodemographic and COVID-related characteristics. McDonald’s omega coefficient was estimated to determine the internal consistency of the questionnaire. Exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) with weighted least squares mean and variance adjusted estimator and geomin rotation was performed in Mplus 7.

Results

ESEM provided evidence for a three-factor structure of the PHQ-9, representing affective (items 2, 6, 9), anergic (items 1, 3) and somatic (items 3, 5, 7, 8) dimensions of depression. These factors fit the data well (CFI - 0.998; TLI - 0.994; RMSEA (95% CI) - 0.028 (0.024 - 0.032)), better than a single factor (CFI - 0. 955; TLI - 0. 940; RMSEA (95% CI) - 0.089 (0.087 - 0.092)) and two-factor (CFI - 0.985; TLI - 0.971; RMSEA (95% CI) - 0.062 (0.059 - 0.065)). The McDonald’s omega was 0.82.

Conclusions

Our study revealed a three-factor structure of the Russian version of the PHQ-9 in COVID-19 survivors. COVID-19. A high internal consistency of the Russian version of the instrument was confirmed.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The quality of life for students pursuing humanities disciplines and individuals living with HIV during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
Authors: Titova V. V. , Rozhdestvenskiy V. I. , Gorkovaya I. A. , Ivanov D. O. , Aleksandrovich Y. S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s lives, affecting various aspects of society and potentially altering the quality of life of certain groups. The World Health Organisation defines quality of life as an individual’s physical, psychological, emotional, and social health as perceived by themselves in relation to society. It appears that the pandemic disproportionately affected the most susceptible societal segments, comprising university students who encountered significant stress due to the shift to remote learning, and individuals living with HIV who faced difficulties in accessing medical assistance.

Objectives

The study aimed to investigate the quality of life of students studying the humanities disciplines and HIV patients during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia.

Methods

Data collection was conducted from January to July 2021, using a Google form developed by the researchers. The study included 35 students from Russian universities studying humanities specialities and 59 HIV-positive patients. To check the quality of life, we used the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, adapted for use in Russia.

Results

We found that on the domains “physical and psychological well-being” (M = 20.26±3.89 - students, M = 21.43±3.62 - patients, p = 0.144) and “self-image” (M = 19.11±3.53 vs M = 19.52±2.92, p = 0.553) respondents from the two groups did not differ from each other. The domain “microsocial support” was more pronounced in students than patients (M = 10.71±2.48 vs M = 9.17±2.96, p = 0.011). A similar situation was observed in “social well-being” (M = 27.23±4.33 vs M = 24.97±5.24, p = 0.034).

Conclusions

During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, individuals living with HIV experienced a lower quality of life compared to students in humanities disciplines. Individuals living with HIV reported lower satisfaction with their relationships within their immediate environment, including family and friends, as well as their overall social well-being, encompassing factors like safety, material wealth, access to medical care, and transportation. In these pandemic conditions, it became evident that individuals with HIV required more extensive social support measures than students.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Comparison of perceptions about COVID-19 disease in patients and in medical professionals during the pandemic
Authors: Deshchenko E. V. , Koniukhovskaia J. E. , Stepanova O. B. , Shishkova I. M. , Pervichko E. I. , Mitina O. V. , Petrenko V. F.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to mental well-being both for patients who have suffered from coronavirus disease and for medical workers of this period. The difference in perceptions about COVID-19 in patients and those who care for them reflects the peculiarities of assessing the coronavirus pandemic and their own coping capabilities.

Objectives

The aim of the research was to compare the perceptions about COVID-19 in patients and medical professionals during the pandemic.

Methods

A Short questionnaire of Disease Perception (E. Broadbent) was used to study patients’ perceptions about COVID-19 disease. The same questionnaire was modified for the perceptions about the COVID-19 pandemic to study the peculiarities of the perceptions about COVID-19 by medical professionals.

The study was conducted from January 2021 to November 2022. The sample consisted of 314 medical workers (57 men and 255 women), whose average age was 36.97±11.93, and 390 patients (64 men and 326 women), whose average age was 28.58±10.74. 35 people (11%) of the surveyed medical workers worked in the red zone.

Results

Medical professionals and patients tend to assess the impact of the pandemic on life in the same way. However, according to medical professionals, the COVID-19 pandemic will last longer than according to patients (4.93±2.81 vs 3.18±2.29, p=0.000). Doctors assess their ability to control the pandemic significantly worse than patients assess their disease as a result of coronavirus infection (2.82±2.28 vs 5.30±2.88, p=0.000). Medical workers have a worse assessment of the effectiveness of the measures taken to combat the pandemic (4.75±2.63 vs 5.50±2.67, p=0.000). Doctors are less likely to find symptoms of coronavirus (2.88±2.32 vs 4.98±2.75, p=0.000) and less concerned about the spread of COVID-19 (3.75±2.55 vs 4.20±2.63, p=0.023). Whereas patients have a worse understanding of what COVID-19 is (6.32±2.87 vs 5.52±2.83, p=0.000), and they believe that COVID-19 affects their emotional state to a greater extent than doctors did (3.60±2.66 vs 4.39±2.90, p=0.000).

Conclusions

Thus, the specifics of the perceptions about COVID-19 may largely depend on whether a person is faced with a coronavirus in the role of a patient or a medical worker. The emotional state of patients is more affected by the pandemic combined with a worse understanding of COVID-19, while medical workers feel less control and tend to regard the measures taken to combat the pandemic as less effective.

Disclosure: Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Incipient schizophrenia: a case-based introduction to psychopathology and differential diagnosis - Clinical case
Authors: Maravic V. M.
Published: August 2024

The first psychotic episode is often a moment of utmost importance for the patients and their families, as well as for the treating professionals who need to address several dilemmas. Findings suggest that Self-Disorders (SD) specifically aggregate within schizophrenia spectrum disorders, pointing to the possibility that they could be a central phenotypic marker of schizophrenia spectrum disorders across the different severity of their clinical manifestations. We will present and discuss a case report involving a patient’s first admission, where diagnostic uncertainties exist. The goal is to enhance our comprehension of the significance of contemporary clinical and phenomenological psychopathology, with a specific focus on SD, in order to achieve a more accurate and precise assessment of incipient schizophrenia.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Urdu Translation and Validation of the Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity-Revised
Authors: Ghayas S. , Noureen S. , Lewis C. A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Scrupulosity is an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in which an individual experiences persistent doubts and fears about committing religious and moral sins. Researchers have extensively used the Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity-Revised (PIOS-R), which has been translated into various languages.

Objectives

The present study translated and validated the PIOS-R into Urdu.

Methods

The PIOS-R was translated using the forward-backwards translation method. A sample of 443 Muslim University students (male 224 and female 119) with an age range of 18 to 33 years (M = 21.56, SD = 2.02) completed the Urdu version of the PIOS-R. Cross-lingual validity was established on a further 60 participants.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the two-factor structure of the Urdu version of the PIOS-R. It provided an excellent model fit to the data with chi-square 238.72, CFI = .92, GFI = .93 and RMSEA = .03. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of total scale, Fear of God Subscale, and Fear of Sins Subscale was .84, .74, and .78 respectively were satisfactory. The convergent validity of the Urdu version of the PIOS-R was demonstrated with significant positive correlations with measures of anxiety (r = .21, p <.001) and depression (r = .26, p < .001).

Conclusions

The Urdu version of the PIOS-R is recommended for use by researchers and practitioners. The results indicated good reliability and validity information for the Urdu version of the PIOS-R, which supports the measure’s utility across cultures and faiths.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Attachment disturbance in women with depressive spectrum disorder, its connection with hostility
Authors: Enikolopov S. N. , Vorontsova O. U. , Medvedeva T. I. , Boyko O. M. , Oleichik I. V.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The results of the study of psychological factors of hostility in depression are presented. The topicality of the study is due to hostility considered, on the one hand, as a property of depression, and on the other hand, as a risk factor, associated with the likelihood of auto-aggressive behavior.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between hostility and attachment disorders in endogenous depression.

Methods

The study involved 49 patients with depressive disorder (mean age 19,8±4,5). All patients were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17 mean 21,03±6,02). All completed the following methods: Revised Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-R); Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90R); Aggression Questionnaire by Buss and Perry (BPAQ); I-structural test by G. Ammon (ISTA). According to the “depression” parameter of the SCL-90R, the group was divided into subgroups with high and medium severity of depression. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Mann-Whitney test were. Correlation analysis (Spearman) and stepwise multiple regression analysis were also used.

Results

At high levels of depression, the indicators of “hostility”, “destructive” and “deficit aggression” are statistically significantly higher. The severity of depression significantly correlates with the severity of “anxiety” in attachment (close relationships), as well as with pathological “narcissism”, “destructive external self-delimitation”, “deficient internal self-delimitation”.

For the measure of depression, regression analysis showed that the regression model explained more than 76% of the variance, with the measures of “interpersonal sensitivity”, “deficit narcissism”, and “avoidance” in attachment making significant contributions. For the “hostility” the regression model explains about 62% of the variance, while a significant contribution is made, as in the analysis of “depression”, by the indicators of “interpersonal sensitivity” and “avoidance”, however, unlike “depression”, the contribution of the “destructive narcissism” is noted in contrast to the “deficit narcissism”.

Conclusions

With severe depressive symptoms, indicators of hostility are increased. Hostility in depression is associated with factors caused by a violation of early interpersonal relationships (anxious attachment), which causes increased sensitivity in relations with others, “building a barrier” between oneself and the external environment perceived as hostile in the narcissistic pathology, problems in emotional regulation. One of the targets of psychotherapeutic work may be the ambivalence between desire for symbiotic dependence and the experienced hostility.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Readmission predictors at three years after a manic episode.
Authors: Giménez-Palomo A.
Published: August 2024

In this section, the speaker will present the results from a recent longitudinal study performed by the work group, in which a cohort of 265 patients admitted with a manic episode were followed up during three years after hospital discharge to identify acute readmissions due to affective relapses. The study of different sociodemographic and clinical variables potentially implicated in a higher risk of readmission over three years is presented, including adherence to treatment, substance use, number of previous episodes, family history, predominant polarity, treatments used and number of visits to the Emergency Department.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Assesment of Generative AI abilities to diagnose and propose treatment in comparison with psychiatrists from Poland and Tunisa
Authors: Sinica M. , Malec A. , Sghaier H. , Kalkowski P.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Increasing popularity of Generative AI systems such as GPT provides us with new dilemmas concerning the future of diagnosis and novel tools to improve daily psychiatrits’s work.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to assess the abilities of generative AI to diagnose and propose treatment in comparison with real psychiatrists and performing a Turing test.

Methods

We examined the ability to diagnose and propose treatment of various Generative AI versions (CHatGPT/CHATGPTpro etc.) and then compare the results with 10 clinicians performing the same task. Then a group of 10 psychiatry specialists not involved in the first evaluation assessed wether the diagnose and treatment were established by Generative AI or a clinician.

Results

The reults showed that the generative AI systems were able to provide valid diagnosis in most of the cases with favour to newer and most proficient version of CHATGPT. Proposed treatment results were less accurate. The comparison between human and AI group was hard to accurately acces, with tendency to favouring psychiatrists group assesment as the right decision.

There is huge need to further explore the possibilites and limitations of Generative AI use in psychiatry.

Conclusions

There is huge need to further explore the possibilites and limitations of Generative AI use in psychiatry.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Determining specific profiles of patients at risk of relapsing
Authors: Andreu Gracia H.
Published: August 2024

Based on the available literature and the studies presented by the previous speakers, Dr. Andreu will provide a summary of predictive and protective factors associated with mood relapse or recurrence in bipolar disorder, with a special focus on the distinction between modifiable and non-modifiable factors and on the identification of specific phenotypes at higher risk of relapse. The speaker will also mention the role of psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatments, and will summarize the available evidence regarding lithium response.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Anorexia nervosa and hyperphagic episodes : About five clinical cases
Authors: Belabbes I.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Eating disorders affect almost one million people in France. More than half of them have not been screened for the disorder, and are still unable to access treatment!

Objectives

To shed light on the clinical characteristics and management of patients with eating disorders

Methods

We report on a series of clinical situations involving patients presenting with binge eating disorder at the adolescent unit of the Gonesse hospital.

Results

Our sample included 5 patients, all female, aged between 13 and 16 years. They presented with anorexia nervosa with or without hyperphagia. Comorbidities included depression, anxiety disorders, chronic illness and suicidality.

In some cases, treatment is based on re-feeding via a nasogastric tube. In others, behavioral treatment was sufficient. Pharmacological treatment for comorbidities was prescribed.

Conclusions

Untreated eating disorders can be a source of deterioration in patients’ quality of life and high mortality. Early detection and diagnosis is essential for better patient management.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared