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People resort to various questionable health practices to preserve or regain health - they intentionally do not adhere to medical recommendations (e.g., self-medicate or modify the prescribed therapies;iNAR), or use traditional/complementary/alternative (TCAM) medicine. As retrospective reports overestimate adherence and suffer from recall and desirability bias, we tracked the variations in daily questionable health behaviors and compared them to their retrospectively reported lifetime use. We also preregistered and explored their relations to a wide set of psychological predictors - distal (personality traits and basic thinking dispositions) and proximal (different unfounded beliefs grouped under the term irrational mindset). A community sample (N=224) tracked daily engagement in iNAR and TCAM use during 14 days via experience sampling. We observed a high rate of questionable health practices over the 14 days; daily engagement rates roughly corresponded to lifetime ones. iNAR and TCAM were weakly, but robustly positively related. Independent of the assessment method, an irrational mindset was the most important predictor of TCAM use. For iNAR, however, psychological predictors emerged as relevant only when assessed retrospectively. Our study offers insight into questionable health behaviors from both a within and between-person perspective, and highlights the importance of their psychological roots.

Niemann Pick type C is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in NPC1 and NPC2 genes. It is a neuro-visceral disease with a heterogeneous phenotype. Clinical features depend on the age at onset. Visceral manifestations are more prominent in the early onset (infantile) form, while neuro-psychiatric symptoms are more prominent in the late disease onset (juvenile and adult forms).A total number of 150 patients have been screened for changes in NPC1 and NPC2 gene at the Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia in the period 2012-2020. Clinical data were extracted for patients with biallelic mutations.Fifteen patients carried biallelic mutations in the NPC1. Out of eight different reported NPC1 variants, four are novel (c.1204_1205TTGC, p.F402A; c.2486TG, p.L829R; c.2795+5 GC; c.3722TA, p.L1241*). The mean age at the disease onset was 20.3 ± 11.9 years with the average diagnostic delay of 7.7 ± 4.3 years. Movement disorders and psychiatric or cognitive disturbances were the most common initial symptoms (in 33% and 28% patients, respectively). The average age at the first neurological manifestation was 21 ± 12.0 years. At the last examination, eye movement abnormalities (vertical slow saccades or vertical supranuclear gaze palsy), and ataxia were present in all patients, while dystonia was common (in 78.6% of patients). Presence of c.2861CT, p.S954L mutation in homozygous state was associated with older age at the neurological symptom onset.Clinical findings were in line with the expected, but the diagnostic delay was common. We hypothesize that the presence of c.2861CT, p.S954L mutation may contribute to the phenotype attenuation.

Abstract. The aim of this research was to validate the dual conception of envy in Serbian culture, measured by the Benign and Malicious Envy Scale (BeMaS). In Study 1 ( N = 404), the results confirmed cross-cultural invariance of the Malicious Envy scale across Serbian and US samples, with the US sample obtaining higher scores. However, two items in the Benign Envy scale showed significant differential item functioning across samples. Nonetheless, both scales in Serbian showed adequate measurement precision (information) and the expected distinction in relations with narcissistic admiration, narcissistic rivalry, and self-esteem, with more aversive characteristics associated with Malicious Envy. In Study 2 ( N = 404), Malicious Envy showed a negative relation with Conscientiousness and Openness, as well as higher negative correlations with Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness, psychopathy, and sadism compared to Benign Envy. Furthermore, Malicious Envy showed higher positive correlations with psychological distress, while Benign Envy showed negative correlations with some aspects of distress. The results support good psychometric properties of BeMaS scores of the Serbian adaptation and add to the cross-cultural validity of the dual conception of envy.

Patients with hematologic malignancies are at increased risk of severe forms of COVID-19 and have higher mortality, compared to patients with COVID-19 in the general population. The reasons for this include immunosuppression caused by the underlying hematologic disease and/or anticancer therapy received by these patients, advanced age, but also low levels of seroconversion after vaccination. These patients are also at a higher risk of getting infected because of frequent visits to health care facilities and high exposure to other patients. Results from published studies highlight the importance of prevention strategies in these patients, based on infection control measures and physical distancing, but also on well-timed vaccination. Risk factors which have proven to be crucial for severe forms of COVID-19 are age, the presence of comorbidities, malignancy type, progressive disease, and the type of oncologic therapy that these patients receive. Therefore, patients with hematologic malignancies represent a priority group for vaccination, which is recommended by all international professional associations. Considering that these patients are at risk of not developing an adequate immune response to the vaccine, the issues of determining the optimal time period for receiving the vaccine, the optimal dose, and the capacity of developing an immune response to the vaccine in specific groups of patients with hematologic malignancies, are questions that remain unresolved. Studies have shown that, despite the weak immune response to the vaccine, the mortality of vaccinated patients with hematologic malignancies is significantly lower than the mortality of unvaccinated patients. This article provides a review of relevant studies which analyze the characteristics, morbidity and mortality of patients with hematologic malignancies and COVID-19 and the role of vaccination in these patients.

Despite global commitments and efforts, a gender-based division of paid and unpaid work persists. To identify how psychological factors, national policies, and the broader sociocultural context contribute to this inequality, we assessed parental-leave intentions in young adults (18–30 years old) planning to have children (N = 13,942; 8,880 identified as women; 5,062 identified as men) across 37 countries that varied in parental-leave policies and societal gender equality. In all countries, women intended to take longer leave than men. National parental-leave policies and women’s political representation partially explained cross-national variations in the gender gap. Gender gaps in leave intentions were paradoxically larger in countries with more gender-egalitarian parental-leave policies (i.e., longer leave available to both fathers and mothers). Interestingly, this cross-national variation in the gender gap was driven by cross-national variations in women’s (rather than men’s) leave intentions. Financially generous leave and gender-egalitarian policies (linked to men’s higher uptake in prior research) were not associated with leave intentions in men. Rather, men’s leave intentions were related to their individual gender attitudes. Leave intentions were inversely related to career ambitions. The potential for existing policies to foster gender equality in paid and unpaid work is discussed., SSHRC Insight Development Grant 430-2018-00361 SSHRC Insight Grant 435-2014-1247 SSHRC doctoral fellowship, Basic Research Program at HSE University, RF, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) ES/S00274X/1, State Research Agency PID2019--111549GB-I00/10.13039/501100011033, Guangdong 13th-five Philosophy and Social Science Planning Project GD20CXL06, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 31600912 research infrastructure HUME Lab Experimental Humanities Laboratory, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) P1ZHP1_184553 P500PS_206546 P2LAP1_194987, Center for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies (ANID/FONDAP) 15130009 Center for Intercultural and Indigenous Research (ANID/FONDAP) 15110006, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship 756-2017-0249, Slovak Research and Development Agency project APVV 20--0319, Canada Research Chairs CGIAR CRC 152583, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) 140649, Ministry of Research and Innovation, Ontario 152655

Despite insufficient evidence base for some of its practices, traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM) use is rapidly growing; psychological roots of this trend are still under-studied. Based on previous research, input from TCAM practitioners, and content analysis of online media, we developed a comprehensive instrument to measure the use of TCAM and administered it to an online community sample (N=583). Factor analysis indicated four domains of TCAM use, in line with theoretical taxonomies: Alternative medical systems, Natural product-based practices, New age medicine, and Rituals/Customs, all converging toward a common tendency. Irrational beliefs and cognitive biases, especially magical health beliefs and naturalness bias, predicted unique variance in both TCAM attitudes and overall TCAM use, above socio-demographic variables, reported health status, and ideological beliefs. Furthermore, each domain of TCAM use, although differing slightly in sociodemographic/psychological profile, was consistently associated with an irrational mindset, even after controlling for other factors. This provides strong evidence for exploring psychological susceptibility to the use of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent endocrine disease in women during the reproductive period. It is considered a complex metabolic disorder with long-term metabolic, as well as reproductive consequences. Main pathophysiological pathways are related to the increased androgen levels and insulin resistance. Nowadays, genetic origins of PCOS are acknowledged, with numerous genes involved in the pathogenesis of hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance, inflammation, and disturbed folliculogenesis. Rotterdam diagnostic criteria are most widely accepted and four PCOS phenotypes have been recognized. Metabolic abnormalities are more common in phenotypes 1 and 2. Women with classic PCOS are more obese and typically have the central type of obesity, more prevalently displaying dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome that could be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications during life. Heterogeneity of phenotypes demands an individualized approach in the treatment of women with PCOS. Metabolic therapies involve a lifestyle intervention followed by the introduction of insulin sensitizers including metformin and inositols, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), as recently sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. The addition of an insulin sensitizer to the standard infertility therapy such as clomiphene citrate improves ovulation and pregnancy rates. Our current review analyzes the contemporary knowledge of PCOS etiology and etiopathogenesis, its cardiometabolic risks and their outcomes, as well as therapeutic advances for women with PCOS.

Background: The World Health Organization recognizes non-adherence to treatment recommendations as a growing global problem. Questionnaires typically focus on only one non-adhering behavior, e.g., medication-taking, and target people with specific health conditions. In this preregistered study, we aimed to (1) develop a novel instrument suitable to the general population, consisting of non-adherence to prescribed therapy, self-medication, and avoidance to seek medical treatment, capturing intentional non-adherence (iNAR), (2) differentiate it from habitual non-adherence, such as smoking, and (3) relate iNAR to patient-related factors, such as sociodemographics, health status, and endorsement of irrational beliefs (conspiratorial thinking and superstitions), and to a set of healthcare-related beliefs and experiences. Methods: First, medical doctors provided a list of non-adherence behaviors in a focus group. To this list we added behaviors that fitted our definition of intentional non-adherence, identified in a thorough literature search. This initial list of 22 behaviors was further refined by a public health expert. The instrument was then tested on a sample of 583 participants, sufficiently powered to detect effects for all preregistered statistical analysis. Participants were recruited using an online snowballing procedure and via social networks. Results: Factor analysis yielded a one-factor solution, and the final 12-item iNAR questionnaire had satisfactory internal reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = .72). A hierarchical linear regression showed that, as expected, health condition variables and healthcare-related beliefs and experiences accounted for 14% of the variance of iNAR behaviors, whereas sociodemographics and irrational beliefs did not additionally contribute. In comparison, the same regression model with smoking (representative of habitual non-adherence) as a criterion variable, accounted for less than 3% of the variance, with education as the only significant predictor. Conclusions: We have constructed a brief, comprehensive, and reliable measure of iNAR behaviors. Normalization of patients’ passivity and, in particular, negative experiences with the healthcare system contributed to intentional, but not habitual non-adherence. We believe that public health interventions designed to discourage intentional non-adherence should foremost attempt to improve all patients' experiences with the system and build trust with their healthcare practitioners rather than aim at specific demographic groups or at correcting patients' unfounded beliefs.

Collective action is a powerful force driving social change but often sparks contention about what actions are acceptable means to effect social change. In five studies (total N = 2,979), we investigated double standards in judging collective action—that is, whether observers will judge the same protest actions as more acceptable if the protesters are ingroup members and their cause aligns with the ingroup's interests (identity-based double standards) or if the protesters' cause aligns with the observers' ideological positions (ideology-based double standards). In two studies, we developed an instrument of 25 controversial protest actions, based in item response theory, to measure where people draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable forms of collective action. In three preregistered experiments, we used this instrument to test for double standards in judging collective action for workers' rights in the United Kingdom and for or against defunding the police and for or against restricting abortion in the United States. We found evidence for ideology-based, but not for identity-based, double standards: Participants judged the same protest actions to be more acceptable when the protesters' cause aligned with their own ideological position—but showed no consistent ingroup bias in terms of class, race, and gender. Our findings have theoretical and practical implications for understanding the often divided response to prominent social movements.

Objective: We aimed to describe how Serbian online media cover the topic of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TM/CAM). Methods: We conducted a content analysis of 182 articles from six news and six magazine websites, published July–December 2021. Results: Biologically based treatments, predominantly herbal products framed as Serbian or Russian folk medicine, were the most common. The practices were often presented as general health enhancers; other common reasons given for the use of TM/CAM were to alleviate respiratory problems, boost the immunity, and detox. The tone was overwhelmingly positive, with most of the positive articles neglecting to present information on potential harms of TM/CAM use. Few articles provided a recommendation to speak with a healthcare provider; in contrast, the recommended dosage was often explained. TM/CAM practitioners and conventional medicine practitioners were most commonly cited sources. Articles tended to appeal to TM/CAM’s tradition of use, naturalness, and convenience, used pseudoscientific jargon, and failed to cite sources for the claims that TM/CAM use is supported by science. Conclusion: Much of the information provided in Serbian online media seems to be uncritical, with a potential for misleading consumers.

Rapid and efficient diagnostics is crucial for newborns with congenital heart defects (CHD) in intensive care unit (ICU) but is often challenging. Given that genetic factors play a role in 20–30% cases of CHD, it is likely that genetic tests could improve both its speed and efficiency. We aimed to analyze the utility of rapid and cost-effective multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification analysis (MLPA) for chromosomal analysis in newborns with critical CHD. One hundred consecutive newborns admitted with critical CHD to the ICU were included in the study. Those with normal MLPA findings were further tested by chromosomal microarray and clinical exome sequencing. Overall, pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were determined in ten (10%) newborns by MLPA, three (3%) by chromosomal microarray, and three (3%) by clinical exome sequencing. The most common variant detected was deletion of 22q11.2 region. Conclusion: MLPA is fast and cost-effective analysis that could be used as the first-tier test in newborns with critical CHD admitted to the ICU.

Current research supports the idea that attitudes toward animals, including their rights and treatment, relate to other social and ideological views. In this study, I explored whether attitudes tow...

Previous studies showed that being unemployed is associated with lower quality of life in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A (CMT1A). The aim of this study was to assess the differences between CMT1A patients capable of working and CMT1A patients incapable of working due to CMT1A. Forty-four patients with genetically confirmed CMT1A were included. Medical Research Council (MRC) Sum Score, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Score (CMTNS), CMT Examination Score (CMTES), Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale (ONLS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Krupp’s Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Falls Efficacy Score (FES) were used. Whole cohort was divided into two groups: 1. CMT1A patients capable of working (employed and unemployed not due to CMT) and 2. CMT1A patients incapable of working due to CMT1A (unemployed due to CMT and retired due to CMT). At time of testing, 38.6% patients were employed, 13.6% were unemployed due to CMT, 6.8% were unemployed but not due to CMT, and 40.9% were retired early due to disability caused by CMT. Patients retired due to CMT1A at the age of 43 ± 10 years. ONLS total score and physical work appeared as significant independent predictors of being incapable of working due to CMT1A. Patients incapable of working were almost four times more likely to have fatigue (OR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.0–13.1, p

Although, in the beginning, it was considered a respiratory infection with bilateral pneumonia as its main manifestation, COVID-19 is more of a multisystemic disease with various extrapulmonary manifestations. Cardiovascular manifestations are caused by direct viral involvement or by the effects of different cytokines on the myocardium and can occur during the acute phase of the disease or in the post-acute stadium. The most common cardiovascular symptoms in the post-acute COVID-19 stadium are fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and palpitations. Routine cardiovascular diagnostics in these patients is usually without significant findings, although underlying myocardial inflammation may be present. Myocardial damage can also be the substrate for the worsening of heart failure and different potentially life-threatening arrhythmias, which is extremely important for further treatment and prognosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is a sophisticated, non-radiating imaging modality that can provide important information regarding left and right ventricle volumes and function, tissue characterization, and scar quantification. It is the golden standard in non-invasive diagnostics of myocarditis. In patients with prior COVID-19 infection and cardiovascular symptoms, typical signs of myocarditis, including myocardial edema, necrosis, and myocardial scarring, may be seen in cardiac magnetic resonance. Also, there are sophisticated cardiac magnetic resonance imaging modalities that can register subtle changes in the myocardium, in terms of myocardial inflammation, without visible signs in standard sequences. We present a case series of patients with different myocardial inflammation patterns, followed by a comprehensive review of potential pathophysiological mechanisms, complications, treatment and prognosis of patients with myocarditis or pericarditis after COVID-19.

The gastrointestinal tract and liver are not spared, when it comes to the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), as it doesn't only affect the respiratory tract, but it is also a systemic disease that causes multiple organ damage. In this review, we have united all information that is clinically significant for physicians dealing with this infection, especially for gastroenterologists. One must bear in mind that gastrointestinal symptoms can be the first and/or only indicators of COVID-19, so this infection needs to be suspected when a patient at risk presents with diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, and/or vomiting. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in the COVID-19 pandemic is a major issue, as transmission of this airborne infection happens very easily during this procedure, and it should be performed only in cases of gastrointestinal emergencies. With regard to patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), they are often on immunosuppressive therapy, but recommendations are that no change in therapy should be made, as these patients do not fall under the category of patients who are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19. In addition, liver lesion caused by this infection develops as the result of a multifactorial mechanism and is a definite cause for concern, especially in patients with pre-existing chronic liver conditions, who should be closely monitored.

Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) is a rare neuromuscular disorder, mostly caused by PMP22 deletion. To determine a yield of the genetic analysis of PMP22 gene deletion in patients with compression neuropathies. We included 112 patients with clinical suspicion of HNPP diagnosis. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were performed for motor and sensory nerves bilaterally. Number of the PMP22 gene copies was determined using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). PMP22 deletion was found in 34 (30.3%) patients. Patients with genetically confirmed HNPP had 12 years earlier disease onset compared to other patients with compression neuropathies (p

Intergroup contact is repeatedly proven to lead to better intergroup attitudes. We sought to explore a new path through which this happens. We propose that contact can enhance inclusiveness of social identity, the recognition of common features needed to perceive someone as an in-group member even though not all characteristics are shared. This, in turn, leads to more favorable attitudes. We investigated this among young people from majority and minority ethnic groups from two Western Balkans countries with a recent history of conflict: Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The relation between the frequency and quality of contact and prejudice reduction was partially mediated by social identity inclusiveness. We discuss the opportunities and pitfalls related to constructing inclusive social identities in post-conflict societies, as well as the similarities and differences between minority and majority perspectives.

To date, only one study assessed quality of life (QoL) in patients with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP). We aimed to fill in this gap by investigating QoL in a cohort of patients with HNPP compared to Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 1A (CMT1A) patients, as well as to analyze sociodemographic and clinical features associated with QoL in HNPP. Eighteen genetically confirmed HNPP patients were age-and gender-matched with 18 CMT1A patients. SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess QoL. Medical Research Council (MRC) Sum Score, CMT Neuropathy Score (CMTNS), Overall Neuropathy Limitation Scale Score (ONLS), Falls Efficacy Score (FES), Visual Analog Pain Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were also used in our study. Although HNPP patients were less clinically impaired, no difference was observed in these two cohorts regarding SF-36 scores. Worse QoL in HNPP patients was associated with lower education (p

Background: Clinical-related risk factors to freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been iden- tified. Still, the influence of genetic variations on the FOG occurrence has been poorly studied thus far. Aim: We aimed to evaluate the association of six selected polymorphisms of DRD2, ANKK1, and COMT genes with the FOG occurrence and explore the influence of ANNK1/DRD2 haplotypes on the onset of FOG in the group of PD patients. Method: PD patients (n = 234), treated with levodopa for at least two years, were genotyped for the rs4680 in COMT, rs6277, rs1076560, and rs2283265 in DRD2, and rs1800497 and rs2734849 polymorphisms in ANKK1 genes. FOG was evaluated by posing a direct question. In addition, a comprehensive set of clinical scales was applied to all patients. Results: FOG occurred in 132 (56.4%) PD patients in our cohort. Freezers were younger at PD onset, had longer disease duration, used higher levodopa daily doses and dopaminergic agents, and had higher motor and non- motor scales scores than non-freezers. FOG was more frequent among AA rs4680 COMT carriers than AG and GG rs4680 COMT carriers. Independent predictors of FOG were: disease duration of more than ten years, levodopa daily dose higher than 500 mg/day, motor status, and COMT AA genotype. AGGAA and GGAAA haplotypes were revealed as protective and vulnerability factors for FOG occurrence. Conclusion: In addition to previously identified disease- and therapy-related risk factors, our results suggested a possible contribution of dopamine-related genes to the FOG occurrence.

What role does intergroup contact play in promoting support for social change toward greater social equality? Drawing on the needs-based model of reconciliation, we theorized that when inequality between groups is perceived as illegitimate, disadvantaged group members will experience a need for empowerment and advantaged group members a need for acceptance. When intergroup contact satisfies each group's needs, it should result in more mutual support for social change. Using four sets of survey data collected through the Zurich Intergroup Project in 23 countries, we tested several preregistered predictions, derived from the above reasoning, across a large variety of operationalizations. Two studies of disadvantaged groups (Ns = 689 ethnic minority members in Study 1 and 3,382 sexual/gender minorities in Study 2) support the hypothesis that, after accounting for the effects of intergroup contact and perceived illegitimacy, satisfying the need for empowerment (but not acceptance) during contact is positively related to support for social change. Two studies with advantaged groups (Ns = 2,937 ethnic majority members in Study 3 and 4,203 cis-heterosexual individuals in Study 4) showed that, after accounting for illegitimacy and intergroup contact, satisfying the need for acceptance (but also empowerment) is positively related to support for social change. Overall, findings suggest that intergroup contact is compatible with efforts to promote social change when group-specific needs are met. Thus, to encourage support for social change among both disadvantaged and advantaged group members, it is essential that, besides promoting mutual acceptance, intergroup contact interventions also give voice to and empower members of disadvantaged groups. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved). ispartof: JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY vol:122 issue:4 pages:634-658 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Background: Recent studies explored polymorphisms of multiple genes as contributing to genetic susceptibility to psychosis in Parkinson’s disease (PDP). Objective: We aimed to examine the association of seven selected polymorphisms of genes related to dopamine pathways with PDP development. At the same time, demographic and clinical correlates of PDP were assessed. Methods: PD patients (n = 234), treated with levodopa for at least two years, were genotyped for the rs4680 in COMT, rs6277, rs1076560, and rs2283265 in DRD2, and rs1800497 and rs2734849 polymorphisms in ANKK1 genes. Also, variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism in the DAT gene was examined. Each patient underwent comprehensive neurological examination, assessment of psychosis, as defined by the NINDS/NIMH criteria, as well as screening of depression, anxiety, and cognitive status. Results: Diagnostic criteria for PDP were met by 101 (43.2%) patients. They had longer disease duration, were taking higher doses of dopaminergic agents, and had higher scores of the motor and non-motor scales than the non-PDP group. Multivariate regression analysis revealed LEDD≥900 mg, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale III part score, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score≥7, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale score > 14,and GG homozygotes of rs2734849 ANKK1 as independent predictors of the onset of PDP. Conclusion: Besides previous exposure to dopaminergic drugs, impairment of motor status, depression and anxiety, as well-established clinical risk factors for the development of PDP, GG rs2734849 ANKK1 could also be a contributing factor, which requires addressing by future longitudinal studies.

Only several studies analyzed the characteristics of neuropathic pain (NeP) more extensively in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A (CMT1A). Therefore, we sought to determine the frequency and features of NeP in CMT1A patients and to assess the association between NeP and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with CMT1A. Our research included 51 genetically diagnosed CMT1A patients. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) criteria were used for diagnosis of NeP. PainDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q) was used to assess NeP features. The Medical Research Council (MRC) Sum Score, CMT Neuropathy Score (CMTNS), Overall Neuropathy Limitation Scale (ONLS) score, and Beck Depression Inventory were also used. NeP was present in 15 (29.4%) patients with CMT1A. The average intensity of pain was 5.7 ± 2.2 out of 10. The most sensitive neuropathic symptoms were numbness, then tingling, and burning sensations, while the most specific symptom was allodynia. Patients with NeP more frequently reported pain in the back (p < 0.01) and the trunk (p < 0.05). Patients with NeP had more pronounced disability of the upper extremities and overall disability, as assessed by the ONLS score (p < 0.05). Depression was more frequent in patients with NeP compared with patients without NeP (66.7 to 13.9%, p < 0.01). NeP was present in almost one-third of the patients with CMT1A and it was moderate on average. Presence of NeP was associated with worse functional disability and depression.

Abstract. Gateway Groups are characterized by a unique social categorization which enables them to be identified with two or more groups within the context of intergroup relations. Due to their strategic situation, Gateway Groups have been found to have the potential to improve the relations between their distinct social counterparts. In this paper we attempted to replicate the Gateway Group line of research in the Western Balkan context with two different kinds of Gateway Groups: Children of mixed Serb(s) and Bosniak families, and Bosniak citizens of Serbia. As in previous Gateway Group studies, we found that in both cases the exposure to a dually identified Gateway Group lead to a more complex perception of the Gateway Group itself, a higher belief in the potential of the Gateway Group to bridge the relations between the ingroup and the outgroup, and a greater sense of closeness between the ingroup and the outgroup.

To date, there are only several reports on body composition in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and there are no data for myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2). The aim was to analyze body composition of patients with DM1 and DM2, and its association with socio-demographic and clinical features of the diseases. There were no statistical differences in sociodemographic features between 20 DM1 patients and 12 DM2 patients. Body composition was assessed by DEXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). A three-compartment model was used: bone mineral content (BMC), fat mass (FM), and lean tissue mass (LTM). Patients with DM1 and DM2 had similar total body mass (TBM), BMC, FM, and LTM. Patients with DM1 had higher trunk-limb fat index (TLFI) in comparison to DM2 patients which indicates visceral fat deposition in DM1 (1.16 ± 0.32 for DM1 vs. 0.87 ± 0.23 for DM2, p

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a syndrome mostly diagnosed by subjective patients’ symptoms after excluding organic, systemic and metabolic diseases. Aim: The goal of this study is to evaluate gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia, by measuring the antral area (cm2) after the intake of a test meal using ultrasonography as an objective and widely applicable method. Material and Methods: This study included 30 patients (mean age of 46.53 ±9.73 years) with symptoms of FD according to the ROMA IV criteria and 30 healthy individuals (mean age of 42.87 ±4.42 years). A 5 MHz ultrasound probe was used to measure the stomach antral area at 6 different time points: in the fasting state, following the meal intake at 5, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min postprandially. Results: The antral area was statistically significantly larger after a 30-minute postprandial period in patients with FD comparing to healthy controls (p

Introduction. Risk stratification is an important aspect of COVID-19 management, especially in patients admitted to ICU as it can provide more useful consumption of health resources, as well as prioritize critical care services in situations of overwhelming number of patients. Materials and Methods. A multivariable predictive model for mortality was developed using data solely from a derivation cohort of 160 COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe ARDS admitted to ICU. The regression coefficients from the final multivariate model of the derivation study were used to assign points for the risk model, consisted of all significant variables from the multivariate analysis and age as a known risk factor for COVID-19 patient mortality. The newly developed AIDA score was arrived at by assigning 5 points for serum albumin and 1 point for IL-6, D dimer, and age. The score was further validated on a cohort of 304 patients admitted to ICU due to the severe form of COVID-19. Results. The study population included 160 COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU in the derivation and 304 in the validation cohort. The mean patient age was 66.7 years (range, 20–93 years), with 68.1% men and 31.9% women. Most patients (76.8%) had comorbidities with hypertension (67.7%), diabetes (31.7), and coronary artery disease (19.3) as the most frequent. A total of 316 patients (68.3%) were treated with mechanical ventilation. Ninety-six (60.0%) in the derivation cohort and 221 (72.7%) patients in the validation cohort had a lethal outcome. The population was divided into the following risk categories for mortality based on the risk model score: low risk (score 0–1) and at-risk ( score > 1 ). In addition, patients were considered at high risk with a risk score > 2 . By applying the risk model to the validation cohort ( n = 304 ), the positive predictive value was 78.8% (95% CI 75.5% to 81.8%); the negative predictive value was 46.6% (95% CI 37.3% to 56.2%); the sensitivity was 82.4% (95% CI 76.7% to 87.1%), and the specificity was 41.0% (95% CI 30.3% to 52.3%). The C statistic was 0.863 (95% CI 0.805-0.921) and 0.665 (95% CI 0.598-0.732) in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively, indicating a high discriminative value of the proposed score. Conclusion. In the present study, AIDA score showed a valuable significance in estimating the mortality risk in patients with the severe form of COVID-19 disease at admission to ICU. Further external validation on a larger group of patients is needed to provide more insights into the utility of this score in everyday practice.

Stereotypes about vegetarians and vegans influence behavior toward these groups, as well as decisions about consumption of animal products in general, affecting the health and wellbeing of humans and other animals, as well as the environment. We extend the existing research with a study of stereotypes in a non-WEIRD meat-eating culture based on content analysis of open-ended responses (Study 1) and ratings on the competence and warmth dimensions (Study 2). We also sought to predict the positivity of stereotypes by the general attitude to animals, perception of vegetarianism as a threat to local traditions, and the anticipated moral reproach of vegetarians toward meat-eaters. We found that stereotypes about vegetarians are ambivalent, while stereotypes about vegans are more clearly negative, both to a greater extent among meat-eaters compared with vegetarians/vegans and among men compared with women. The open-ended responses were most frequently related to health, both good and poor health, and secondly to moral values, empathy, and commitment as well as unfavorable social traits. References to masculinity/femininity were not prominent in the spontaneous responses and neither was the general domain of competence, although both groups are ascribed relatively high competence when explicitly asked. While meat-eaters mostly relate vegetarianism and veganism to health, those who themselves are vegetarian or vegan most readily relate these choices to empathy and moral values, as well as free-mindedness. Perceptions of vegetarianism as a threat, as well as one’s general level of speciesism predicted stereotype positivity. We discuss how future cross-cultural research can benefit from the categories of traits we derived from the open-ended analysis and the implications of the findings for shaping public communications.

The present study examines the question of whether certain humor styles predict self-esteem. Men and women in 15 countries (NTOTAL = 4701) completed self-report measures assessing self-esteem and the four humor styles of affiliative, aggressive, self-defeating, and self-enhancing. Each of the country samples had self-esteem averages at or above the midpoint of the scale, but did vary. The samples from Colombia and Serbia had the highest self-esteem values and Russia had the lowest. For all of the country samples, with the exception of Russia, the multiple regression results demonstrated that a greater level of the self-enhancing humor style positively predicted higher self-esteem scores. As the self-enhancing humor style involves improving one’s mood with humor, the results suggest that for the majority of the participants, self-enhancing humor styles also help to increase self-esteem. The results are discussed both within countries and across the samples. In particular, the unique finding that not a self-enhancing humor style but an aggressive humor style predicts self-esteem in the Russian sample is discussed. The chapter ends with a discussion of how humor styles correlate with mental health indicators and how the understanding of humor style profiles are related to well-being across countries adds to the global understanding of individual differences.

Introduction. Mortality among critically ill COVID-19 patients remains relatively high despite different potential therapeutic modalities being introduced recently. The treatment of critically ill patients is a challenging task, without identified credible predictors of mortality. Methods. We performed an analysis of 160 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection admitted to the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit between June 23, 2020, and October 2, 2020, in University Hospital Center Bezanijska kosa, Belgrade, Serbia. Patients on invasive, noninvasive ventilation and high flow oxygen therapy with moderate to severe ARDS, according to the Berlin definition of ARDS, were selected for the study. Demographic data, past medical history, laboratory values, and CT severity score were analyzed to identify predictors of mortality. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess potential predictors of mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Results. The mean patient age was 65.6 years (range, 29–92 years), predominantly men, 68.8%. 107 (66.9%) patients were on invasive mechanical ventilation, 31 (19.3%) on noninvasive, and 22 (13.8%) on high flow oxygen therapy machine. The median total number of ICU days was 10 (25th to 75th percentile: 6–18), while the median total number of hospital stay was 18 (25th to 75th percentile: 12–28). The mortality rate was 60% (96/160). Univariate logistic regression analysis confirmed the significance of age, CRP, and lymphocytes at admission to hospital, serum albumin, D-dimer, and IL-6 at admission to ICU, and CT score. Serum albumin, D-dimer, and IL-6 at admission to ICU were independently associated with mortality in the final multivariate analysis. Conclusion. In the present study of 160 consecutive critically ill COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe ARDS, IL-6, serum albumin, and D-dimer at admission to ICU, accompanied by chest CT severity score, were marked as independent predictors of mortality.

What role does intergroup contact play in promoting support for social change toward greater equality? Drawing on the needs-based model of reconciliation, we theorized that when inequality between groups is perceived as illegitimate, disadvantaged groups members will experience a need for empowerment and advantaged groups members a need for acceptance. When intergroup contact satisfies each group’s needs, it should result in more mutual support for social change. Using four sets of survey data collected through the Zurich Intergroup Project in 23 countries, we tested several preregistered predictions derived from the above reasoning across a large variety of operationalizations. Two studies of disadvantaged groups (Ns=689 ethnic minority members in Study 1 and 3,382 sexual/gender minorities in Study 2) support the hypothesis that, after accounting for the effects of intergroup contact and perceived illegitimacy, satisfying the need for empowerment (but not acceptance) during contact is positively related with support for social change. Two studies with advantaged groups (Ns=2,937 ethnic majority members in Study 3 and 4,203 cis-heterosexual individuals in Study 4) showed that, after accounting for illegitimacy and intergroup contact, satisfying the need for acceptance (but also empowerment) is positively related with support for social change. Overall, these findings suggest that intergroup contact is compatible with efforts to promote social change when group-specific needs are met. Thus, to encourage support for social change among both disadvantaged and advantaged group members, it is essential that besides promoting mutual acceptance, intergroup contact interventions also give voice to and empower members of disadvantaged groups.