Advances in experimental medicine and biology最新文献

Introduction: Mental health nursing can be highly rewarding but at the same time overwhelmingly stressful or even traumatizing. Spirituality constitutes a central element of mental health nurses' resilience while personal trauma may be activated during exposure to beneficiaries' trauma.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, spirituality, and history of trauma on compassion fatigue (CF) and compassion satisfaction among psychiatric nurses in Greece.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study with a total of 91 mental health nurses selected by convenience sampling and required to complete the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-V), the FACIT-Spiritual Well-Being Scale-12 non-illness scale, and the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ).

Results: More than a quarter (25.3%) of participants reported high compassion fatigue risk, while 76% expressed high to moderate potential for compassion satisfaction. Secondary traumatic stress (STS) as expected was found to correlate positively with traumatic life events and negatively with the spirituality dimension of meaning. Spiritual well-being, good physical health, high levels of cooperation, respect for teamwork and positive work climate were positively related to higher levels of compassion satisfaction.

Conclusion: The findings of this study shed light on the significant prevalence of compassion fatigue and personal trauma history among nursing staff, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve the mental health of front-line health care nurses. Mental health care organizations must recognize the importance of fostering compassionate work environments that prioritize mental health professionals' spiritual and psychological well-being.

Hashimoto's disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland. The pathophysiology of the disorder is characterized by an increased volume of the thyroid gland, infiltration of the parenchyma by lymphocytes, and the presence of antibodies specific for thyroid antigens. The diagnosis of Hashimoto thyroiditis is based on the presence of clinical symptoms, anti-thyroid antibodies, and certain histologic features. The present study aimed to collect biomarkers and create a web-based application for detecting the disease through machine learning. The web application was created using Python and Random Forest algorithm was selected to train the existing dataset. Taking advantage of machine learning algorithms, the application provides users with a practical means for predicting immortality based on their blood tests. Although there are limitations that need to be addressed, representing a valuable tool for early diagnosis and management of the disease is required.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and Huntington's disease pose a growing global health challenge due to their prevalence in aging populations and their devastating impact on cognitive and motor functions. Current treatments focus on symptom management, with no options available to reverse neuronal damage. Emerging evidence highlights the potential role of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) polyphenols in neuroprotection, particularly in the context of the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with lower rates of neurodegenerative disorders. EVOO's rich polyphenolic compounds, including hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, tyrosol, and oleocanthal, exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. These bioactive molecules have shown potential in modulating disease-specific pathways, such as reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting abnormal protein aggregation, and regulating neuroinflammation. This paper explores the therapeutic potential of olive oil polyphenols for neurodegenerative diseases, detailing their mechanisms of action across different conditions. Our findings suggest that incorporating EVOO into dietary and medical interventions could serve as a promising strategy for mitigating neurodegenerative disease progression and enhancing cognitive health.

Background: The measures taken to protect public health during the pandemic had a significant impact on the mental, social, and physical well-being of children and adolescents. Restrictive measures had affected their development, behavior, school life, family, and friendships.

Aim: To explore the psychological impact on children and adolescents after the withdrawal of COVID-19 restrictions.

Methods and materials: This study was a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample. The sample consisted of 100 children and adolescents, and it was conducted in the outpatient department of the pediatric population of the Regional Unit of Trikala. The scale used in the present study explores post-pandemic coping strategies upon life returning to normal for children and teenagers, "PPCSRN-CT." The data were analyzed with the SPSS-12 statistical package, and multiple linear regression was performed. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: In the study, nearly 60% of the participants were girls, and over 80% of the children and adolescents lived in urban areas in Trikala Prefecture. Half of them (50%) were 12 years old or older. The statistical analysis found that children and adolescents worry significantly more about the health of their loved ones when they are alone and don't have anyone to share their concerns with (p = 0.008). Furthermore, children and adolescents who lived with both parents believe that their parents have become less strict with them after the withdrawal of restrictions due to the pandemic (p = 0.001). Additionally, children and adolescents living with both parents believe that their parents care for them more after the withdrawal of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.013). The study also revealed that the desire of children and teenagers to learn more about COVID-19 is positively affected by whether someone close to them has been sick with SARS-CoV-2 (p = 0.009). Furthermore, children and adolescents who want to learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic and whose parents are less strict with them expect their lives to return to normal immediately after the removal of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.016 and p = 0.006, respectively). Finally, the study found that children and adolescents' belief that they will move on in life together with friends is positively influenced by whether they are less emotionally burdened (p = 0.024) and by whether they are more positive about their daily life (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: It is important to evaluate the perceptions of children and adolescents post-pandemic in order to implement interventions to empower this group.

Introduction: Healthcare professionals working with individuals who have experienced trauma are at risk of experiencing secondary trauma.

Purpose: To explore the perspectives and experiences of addiction nurses working in substitution treatment units and harm reduction services regarding the physical or psychological trauma of individuals coping with the dual burden of addiction and trauma.

Methodology: A mixed-method study (quantitative and qualitative) involving 111 addiction nurses. For the collection of quantitative data, the Greek version of the Professional Quality of Life Scale was used, which assesses compassion satisfaction, professional burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, as well as a questionnaire capturing demographic, individual, and professional characteristics. Eight nurses participated in semistructured interviews.

Results: The majority of participants reported (96.4%) moderate to high levels of compassion satisfaction while more than half (54.4%) of the participants reported low levels of professional burnout, and about half (49.5%) reported low levels of secondary traumatic stress. Considering Stamm's interpretation of the triad of high compassion satisfaction, moderate-to-low professional burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, the results of this study fall into the positive results category. Good physical health, participants' readiness to care for individuals with trauma, high levels of cooperation, respect for teamwork, positive work climate, and seamless colleague support were positively related to higher levels of compassion satisfaction.

Conclusions: Recognizing, reflecting on, and understanding trauma processes protected participants from mirroring the helplessness, frustration, and feelings of incompetence they encountered on the trauma responses of the individuals and families they cared for.

Childhood and adolescent obesity is a growing health concern with complex multifactorial origins, encompassing genetic, environmental, physiological, and psychosocial factors. In Greece, the prevalence of childhood obesity is among the highest in Europe, indicating an urgent need to understand its underlying mechanisms. Herein, we explore the genetic basis of obesity, focusing on both monogenic and polygenic factors, and how early life stressors contribute to obesity's onset and progression. Genetic predispositions, such as mutations in leptin-melanocortin pathways, and the role of epigenetic modifications influenced by environmental factors, are examined to understand obesity's complexity. Moreover, stress-related hormonal dysregulation impacts metabolic pathways, exacerbating weight gain and obesity-related complications. Through advanced algorithms like neural networks, decision trees, and clustering techniques, ML/AI approaches have demonstrated high accuracy in predicting obesity, identifying genetic markers, and analyzing interactions between genetic and lifestyle factors. These technologies hold promise for early detection, personalized interventions, and the development of targeted prevention strategies. The integration of ML/AI with genomic, epigenomic, and clinical data offers a comprehensive understanding of childhood obesity, paving the way for more effective management and treatment. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the genetic and environmental factors in childhood obesity and highlights the potential of AI-driven approaches in addressing this critical public health challenge.

Introduction: The attitudes of healthcare providers towards people with mental illness have caused significant concern for the research community.

Aim: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the literature on the attitudes of healthcare professionals working in primary care settings towards people with mental illness.

Methodology: A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed database, focusing on cross-sectional articles published between 2017 and 2024. The search used the concepts of 'healthcare professionals', 'primary health care', 'attitudes', 'stigma', and 'mental illness'. Articles that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were summarized.

Results: A total of 214 studies were identified in the initial search, with 12 studies included in the final review. Eleven of the 12 studies were conducted in Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Africa, and one study in Europe. Negative attitudes towards people with mental illness were a common finding among primary healthcare professionals in these studies. Contributing factors included low educational levels, older age, cultural influences, personal contact with people with mental illness, and insufficient mental health training. Educational and training interventions were recommended in all studies to improve these attitudes.

Conclusions: Healthcare professionals working in primary care often hold negative attitudes towards people with mental illness. The need for further education and training for healthcare professionals should be comprehensively addressed in future research.

Purpose: This study investigates the rates and causes of treatment discontinuation in one of the two public residential inpatient therapeutic programs for alcohol use disorder in Greece. Both programs are managed by the Department for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder at the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica. The program examined in this study lasts 3 months and is followed by a Comprehensive Community Reintegration phase.

Methods: The study analyzed reasons for treatment discontinuation among 402 consecutive admissions to the residential program. Data were collected from the Patient Registry and participants' Medical and Clinical Records.

Results: Of the 402 consecutive admissions, 156 participants (38.8%) discontinued the program during the residential phase. Among these, 37.82% left voluntarily against medical advice, 6.4% left due to physical health issues, and 3.84% left due to a relapse of comorbid psychiatric disorders. The remaining participants were discharged and referred to other care facilities for reasons including forming intimate relationships (13%), verbal abuse (5.12%), unauthorized use of benzodiazepines (11.5%), and testing positive for drugs or alcohol (7.68%).

Conclusions: A significant proportion of participants in the residential inpatient therapeutic program for alcohol use disorder discontinue treatment, with over a half leaving voluntarily despite thorough preadmission preparation. This highlights ongoing clinical challenges, including addressing emerging psychopathological issues within the program's structured environment and enhancing participants' motivation for treatment.

Patients with hemoglobinopathies have both acute and chronic complications of the disease, which negatively affect their quality of life. The assessment of quality of life and mental resilience in these patients is an important tool to document both the degree of their burden and the important role of mental resilience as a tool to improve quality of life. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life of people with hemoglobinopathies in Greece, their mental resilience, and their satisfaction with life. A cross-sectional study involving 96 adult patients with hemoglobinopathies was conducted. The instruments used were the "Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale," the "Life Satisfaction Scale (Satisfaction With Life Scale)," and the "Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF)." According to the results, increased mental resilience and good adaptation to the stress of the disease, fairly high life satisfaction, and a fairly good level of quality of life were recorded. Little difference in quality of life was observed between thalassemia patients and sickle cell anemia patients.

This research examines the effectiveness of combining psychometric tests with computational models for diagnosing neurodegenerative and vascular forms of dementia. The goal is to enhance diagnostic accuracy using tools such as the Hachinski Ischemic Score (HIS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), in conjunction with machine learning technologies. The research framework integrates computational models to better analyze psychometric test data, aiming for early disease detection and more accurate differential diagnosis. The results suggest that this combined approach can reduce misdiagnosis rates and contribute to personalized patient treatment by creating an innovative diagnostic framework based on each patient's unique profile.