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The reactivity of an electroencephalogram (EEG) to external stimuli is impaired in comatose patients showing burst-suppression (BS) patterns following hypoxic–ischemic brain injury (HIBI). We explored the reactivity of BS induced by isoflurane in rat models of HIBI and controls using intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) delivered to one eye. The relative time spent in suppression referred to as the suppression ratio (SR) was measured on the contralateral fronto-occipital cortical EEG channel. The BS reactivity (BSR) was defined as the decrease in the SR during IPS from the baseline before stimulation (SRPRE). We found that BSR increased with SRPRE. To standardize by anesthetic depth, we derived the BSR index (BSRi) as BSR divided by SRPRE. We found that the BSRi was decreased at 3 days after transient global cerebral ischemia in rats, which is a model of brain injury after cardiac arrest. The BSRi was also reduced 2 months after experimental perinatal asphyxia in rats, a model of birth asphyxia, which is a frequent neonatal complication in humans. Furthermore, Oxytocin attenuated BSRi impairment, consistent with a neuroprotective effect in this model. Our data suggest that the BSRi is a promising translational marker in HIBI which should be considered in future neuroprotection studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an improved method for obtaining spheroids microwell arrays for histological processing and analysis, focusing on glioblastoma (U87 MG) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) tumor models. By transitioning from traditional 2D cell cultures to 3D systems, this approach overcomes the limitations of 2D cultures by more accurately replicating the tumor microenvironment. The method consists of producing homotypic and heterotypic spheroids using low-adherence agarose-coated wells, embedding these spheroids in agarose microwell arrays, and conducting immunohistochemistry (IHC) to analyze cellular and molecular profiles. Morphological analyses were performed using OrganoSeg software, and IHC staining confirmed marker expressions consistent with respective tumor types. The study details the workflow from 2D cell culture to IHC analysis, including agarose well coating, spheroid embedding, and IHC staining for markers such as EMA, p53, Ki-67, ER, PR, and HER2. Results demonstrated compact, round U87 MG spheroids and fibroblast-stabilized MCF-7 spheroids, with both types exhibiting specific marker expressions. This innovative approach significantly enhances the efficiency of producing and analyzing large volumes of spheroids, making it both quick and cost-effective. It offers a robust drug screening and cancer research platform, maintaining spheroid traceability even in bulk workflow conditions. Furthermore, this methodology supports advances in personalized medicine by providing a more physiologically relevant model than 2D cultures, which is crucial for investigating tumor behavior and therapeutic responses through IHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a first-line intervention in the psychological treatment of obesity and eating disorders. Hypnosis, on the other hand, has the potential to enhance the effects of CBT, but this combination has not been sufficiently explored in previous studies. Aims. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of a CBT intervention combined with hypnosis in reducing BMI (Body Mass Index) and improving some psychological factors associated with obesity. Methods. The intervention was applied to a group of 50 overweight or presenting various degrees of obesity (BMI>26) people and consisted of 12 sessions conducted online. The intervention group was evaluated before the intervention, after the intervention and at 6 months. The DASS-21R, TFEQ (Three Factor Eating Questionnaire) and EDI-3 low self-esteem scale were used. Results. The results of the study showed that the outcome of the intervention was a reduction in BMI, uncontrolled eating, depression and low self-esteem. There were also decreases in emotional eating, stress and anxiety, which were close to the statistical significance threshold. Conclusion. The present study thus supports the effectiveness of the applied intervention, combining CBT with hypnosis, in improving BMI and partly associated psychological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We proposed that the brain's electrical activity is composed of a sequence of alternating states with repeating topographic spectral distributions on scalp electroencephalogram (EEG), referred to as oscillatory macrostates. The macrostate showing the largest decrease in the probability of occurrence, measured as a percentage (reactivity), during sensory stimulation was labelled as the default EEG macrostate (DEM). This study aimed to assess the influence of awareness on DEM reactivity (DER). We included 11 middle cerebral artery ischaemic stroke patients with impaired awareness having a median Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 6/15 and a group of 11 matched healthy controls. EEG recordings were carried out during auditory 1 min stimulation epochs repeating either the subject's own name (SON) or the SON in reverse (rSON). The DEM was identified across three SON epochs alternating with three rSON epochs. Compared with the patients, the DEM of controls contained more posterior theta activity reflecting source dipoles that could be mapped in the posterior cingulate cortex. The DER was measured from the 1 min quiet baseline preceding each stimulation epoch. The difference in mean DER between the SON and rSON epochs was measured by the salient EEG reactivity (SER) theoretically ranging from −100% to 100%. The SER was 12.4 ± 2.7% (Mean ± standard error of the mean) in controls and only 1.3 ± 1.9% in the patient group (P < 0.01). The patient SER decreased with the Glasgow Coma Scale. Our data suggest that awareness increases DER to SON as measured by SER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Globally, the tendency to obesity shows an alarming increase, turning into a health problem with multiple and serious implications. Thus, it is necessary to find effective solutions and approaches to solve or prevent it. Aims. The present study aims to investigate the mediating role of emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, and cognitive restriction in the relationship between conscientiousness, neuroticism, and self-esteem on the one hand and BMI on the other. Methods. For this, data were collected from 166 people from a non-clinical population and statistically analyzed. Results. The results we obtained show that neuroticism, conscientiousness and low self-esteem are not directly associated with BMI. However, we found that emotional eating mediates the relationship between the three traits and BMI, in all the analyses. Also, uncontrolled eating mediates these relationships only when tested independently of emotional eating. Cognitive restriction does not mediate these relationships. Conclusions. Thus, our study supports the idea that there are indirect relationships between personality traits and BMI, mediated by emotional eating. As regards uncontrolled eating, we cannot draw definitive conclusions. These conclusions are of interest both for theoretical models, as they may contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between personality traits and body weight, and for practical interventions, as they may indicate which mechanisms can be utilized to reduce the weight problems faced by an increasing number of people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free will designates the possibility of conscious and free choice of the subject, as well as his real possibility to act. The topic has a special medical and social relevance as it is directly connected to how the subject’s responsibility (moral, legal, medical) for his own actions are understood, but also the possibility (real or illusory) of intervention in his own life. Free will has received various philosophical, psychological, legal and interdisciplinary approaches in recent decades. In this article we shall inventory some results from the area of neuroscience that we consider relevant in the analysis of free will, research and clinical studies that highlight various effects caused by voluntary actions, consciously repeated by the subject. Some psychotherapeutic interventions, the process of awareness, learning, attention monitoring, visualization, some forms of meditation, and the changes that these practices produce in the processes of neurogenesis, neuroplasticity and epigenetics, in terms of health and quality of life are analysed. Since these interventions involve the conscious participation of the subject and his voluntary action, we consider that the discussed results are relevant in the debate on free will. The study also highlights the importance of education and social knowledge, as well as the need to promote participatory prevention and therapy, involving the subject in increasing the quality of life and health, through public messages that emphasize the responsibility of each person for their own choices and actions and the impact they have on his life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of the fatigue caused by medical care brings to attention the emotional reactions to suffering and their possible effects on caregivers. In this study, we shall discuss empathy and compassion. Linguistic analyses and psychological evaluations fail to differentiate between empathy and compassion. We shall therefore make an inventory of the contribution of neuroscientific studies that we consider important. We shall present some research and clinical studies that support the discrimination between compassion and empathy, at the psycho-behavioural level, in terms of vagal and cerebral patterns and in terms of the effects that these emotional states have at the psycho-emotional level. Unlike the interventions aimed at empathic training, cultivating compassion among caregivers produces beneficial effects, decreasing fatigue and increasing resilience. We believe that the differences found between compassion and empathy support the replacement of the phrase “compassion fatigue”, widely used today, with “empathic distress”. We consider the prophylactic and therapeutic capitalization of compassion in health care, by developing training programs to cultivate compassion for specialized staff for patients, to avoid fatigue (empathic distress) and to improve the emotional, humanistic dimension of the doctor-patient relationship, both urgent and necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of nonapeptides in the modulation of sleep has been described by several studies; yet, little evidence is found on the effects on sleep of oxytocin (OT), a nonapetide involved in human social behaviour and in the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. The aim of the present study is to examine whether intranasal administration of OT has any effect on sleep architecture. Ten healthy male volunteers were included in a double-blind, cross-over study and were randomly administered nasal instillations of either placebo or OT. A one-month washout period was allowed between the administrations of each substance. Polysomnographic recordings were performed: before the beginning of drug administration, after seven days and after one month. We found that long-term administration of OT influences sleep architecture by reducing sleep latencies, increasing the sleep efficiency and increasing the percent of REM sleep episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Acta Medica Transilvanica is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Medica Transilvanica is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. Stress, a phenomenon which has turned into an epidemic, is a major health concern because it affects the general population, having a strong negative impact on the psychoemotional, physical and social health. Aims. The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of Health&Wellness Coaching (HWC) intervention on stress levels, as evidenced by physical/mental/psychological changes, and to identify non-invasive ways of early detection of high stress levels, which may play an essential role in the prophylaxis of chronic diseases often associated with stress. Methods. The HWC intervention was carried out on 24 subjects, and consisted in 8 online sessions for each of them. The sessions were mixed training and coaching sessions, held once every two weeks, and lasted for approximately 60 min/session. In the training sessions, useful medical information related to stress was provided (info training), while in the coaching sessions subjects were guided and empowered to reduce their stress levels. Results. The results showed an optimization of physical/mental/psychological parameters, with a simultaneous decrease in perceived stress levels, and a favorable impact on the subjects’ quality of life, as evidenced by psychometric measurements (DASS_21R, Decisional Capacity and QOLI) and mental/brain measurements using fNIRS technology (Functional Near- Infrared Spectroscopy, with the Mendi device). Conclusion. The present research confirms that HWC is an effective intervention in reducing the level of perceived stress and we believe that it can be a promising alternative for the prophylaxis of chronic diseases, and that DASS-21R could be a useful tool for the detection of a high degree of psycho/emotional/mental impairment, which can negatively influence the level of stress in the body, i.e. QOLI can detect the most affected areas of satisfaction with life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to highlight possible changes that the practice of prayer (in the Christian Orthodox Tradition) - PCOT - after a pattern of 30 minutes of daily practice, for 8 weeks - can induce in the electrical activity of the brain. The participants (n=33) were divided into two groups: Study Group (SG), n=16, with an average age of 39.2 years and Control Group (CG) n=17, with an average age of 38.6 years). The Study Group included Orthodox Christian faithful who do not pray daily, being trained in a 3-hour session on the psycho-emotional, behavioural and spiritual specifics of PCOT. No intervention was performed on the subjects of the Control Group. The study included, before and after the period of 8 weeks of daily practice of PCOT, EEG measurements according to a measurement protocol. Applying the Wilcoxon signed rank test revealed significant differences in median value in the case of SG subjects, pre/post-experience, in the alpha and gamma2 registers, but not in the beta and gamma1 registers. Further research and changes in the experimental design are needed so as to allow for more accurate assessments. Results are discussed in the context of similar studies, highlighting some specific limitations of studies that evaluate the physiological changes induced by spiritual/religious experiences, especially of those that use EEG, while also formulating some recommendations for increasing the methodological quality of future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the possible psychological changes in the sphere of stress/anxiety induced by the practice of prayer (in the Orthodox Christian Tradition) - POCT, after an individual practice of 30 minutes daily, for 8 weeks. Participants (n=34) were divided into two groups (Study Group, n=16, average age 39.2 years and Control Group n=17, average age 38.6 years). The subjects of the Study Group – faithful Orthodox Christians without the practice of daily prayer, were trained, in a 3-hour session, with a view to the psycho-emotional, cognitive, spiritual and behavioural peculiarities of POCT. No intervention was performed on subjects in the Control Group. Before and after the interval of 8 weeks of daily practice of OCT, 30 min, five psychometric instruments were applied. Afterwards, the results obtained at the intra- and inter-group pre- and post-test evaluations were comparatively analyzed. The obtained results showed that POCT practice, according to the experimental scheme, did not produce statistically significant differences between the global scores on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale both recorded at SG in relation to CG, pre- and post-testing. For both groups of subjects there was a decrease in the Hamilton scale score, suggesting that, in the case of GS subjects, it cannot be said with certainty that the decrease in the Hamilton score occurred as a result of POCT practice. On the contrary, the statistically significant differences in CG subjects, post-test, regarding a9 item ("cardiovascular symptoms"), suggest that other factors may have contributed to improve the responses of CG subjects, which necessitates the introduction of additional conditions for more careful administration of POCT practice among SG subjects during the experimental interval. However, some significant results were obtained, regarding the SG subjects, at post-test, regarding item a3 ("fears/phobias"), of the Hamilton scale, suggesting that POCT practice according to the experimental plan could have reduced the intensity of fears/phobias among subjects in SG. Also, the change appearing in the post-testing SG regarding a14 item ("appreciation of the anxious mood at the interview") is significant, suggesting a possible influence of the POCT practice. We also note, in the list of results, the averages of some coping mechanisms, which were significantly higher in SG compared to CG. These are e act ("active coping") and e res ("refrain/control/unwillingness") - among SG subjects at pre-test, and e pos ("positive interpretation and growth") and e rel ("religious approach/religious coping") at post-test compared to CG subjects, indicating a possible influence of POCT practice. The results need further studies that more closely correlate the changes in these items, but also in other psychometric ones, with those of a physiological nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. At present, the quality of life occupies a privileged place within society, representing an essential barometer both at the social and individual level. It comprises several dimensions, including interpersonal relationships, physical wellbeing and mental or emotional well-being, which are evidenced by a series of indicators, such as self-esteem, avoidance of excessive stress, health, the number of social contacts, the presence of clearly defined goals, etc. Aims. The purpose of this research is to highlight the increasing presence of psycho-emotional disturbances, most often related to stress, which lead to the alteration of the quality of personal life, as well as to introduce new methods of intervention, in the hope of increasing the degree of awareness about them. Methods. In this work we will present the favorable evolution of a 40-year-old woman suffering from a marked deterioration in the quality of her personal life, as well as a high level of stress, with pathological personal antecedents in the psycho-emotional sphere, and who followed a type of Health & Wellness Coaching (HWC) intervention between 2018-2019, with a view to assess the effects on the quality of life. The effect of the intervention was documented through the initial and final evaluations. Results. The results showed a significant improvement in the subject’s quality of life, brought about by a change in lifestyle, with a positive impact at the physical, psycho-emotional and social level, evidenced by the increase in self-esteem and the levels of communication and socialization. Conclusion. The study demonstrates that HWC is an effective method in the process of lifestyle reorganization, in the case of people with stress-related conditions, resulting in the improvement of their quality of life, the positive impact of this technique extending to physical, psychoemotional and social levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we follow possible physiological changes induced by the practice of prayer (in the Christian Orthodox Tradition), PCOT, after a daily individual practice of 30 minutes, for 8 weeks. The participants (n=33) were divided into two groups (Study Group, n=16, with an average age of 39.2 years and Control Group, n=17, with an average age of 38.6 years). The subjects of the Study Group - faithful Orthodox Christian without the habit of daily prayer being instructed during a 3-hour session on the psycho-emotional, behavioral and spiritual specifics of PCOT. On subjects in the Control Group did not receive any training. Before and after the 8 week period of daily PCOT practice, 30 min, saliva samples were collected in the morning, one hour after waking up, pre- and post-test levels of the following salivary markers: Cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), Immunoglobulin A (IgA), Oxytocin, Testosterone and the cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) being analyzed comparatively. The results indicate a statistically significant decrease in salivary Cortisol and a post-test increase of IL-6 in the subjects of the Study Group in comparison to the levels measured at pre-test, suggesting that POCT may improve the physiological response to stress and the inflammatory response. No statistically significant results were obtained for the other salivary markers. We discuss results in the context of similar studies, highlighting some specific limitations of the studies that evaluate the physiological changes induced by spiritual/religious experiences, especially those that use salivary markers, while also formulating some recommendations for increasing the methodological quality of future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence suggesting a bidirectional interaction between the central nervous system, the enteric nervous system, and the gastrointestinal tract. Recent studies show that a pivotal factor for these gut-brain interactions is the gut microbiota. The microbiome was recently associated with modulation of behavior, cognition, and mental health. Multiple mechanisms, including nervous, endocrine, immune, and metabolic pathways are involved in the gut microbiota-brain axis, and conversely, the brain can also regulate the gut microenvironment. A more thorough understanding of the relationship between gut microbiota and the brain could advance our knowledge about the physiopathology of neurological diseases and help identify new target therapies via modulation of the microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cerebellum is well known for its role in movement coordination, but its impact on cognitive function has been recently emerged. The cerebellum has an intricate organization system with subunits with a sagittal disposition. The classic view over the cerebellum functions places its role as a regulator of the cerebral cortex's motor areas through the cerebellothalamic network. Recently, studies conducted in animal models by electrophysiological and histological methods, and in humans by magnetic resonance imaging, have been suggested that the cerebrocerebellar circuit is also a regulator of the non-motor regions of the brain. The involvement of the cerebellum in motor adaptation has been partly studied using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. The cerebellum lesions cause movement incoordination syndromes such as ataxia and dystonia. Functional neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies revealed new data regarding cerebellumrelated pathologies and justified a careful reconsideration of the traditional cerebellar organization model. We summarize here the research on potential mechanisms of neurological and behavioral abnormalities, providing novel insight into how cerebellum functions. The physiologic mechanisms of cerebellar functioning are still the object of ongoing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The belief that the cerebellum is involved only in the motor function has been lately changed, as new research data supports its participation also in high cognitive functions and affection. A dysfunctional cerebellum has been proven to be associated with the existence of abnormal cerebral networks that communicate with the limbic system. Therefore, this organization can offer the cerebellum the ability to influence several higher functions of the cerebral cortex and the regulation of emotions. Functional neuroimaging, histological, and electrophysiological studies revealed surprising details regarding cerebellumrelated pathologies and justified a careful reconsideration of the traditional cerebellar organization model. This paper has identified and summarized potential mechanisms facilitating the occurrence of neurological and behavioral abnormalities, providing new perspectives regarding cerebellum functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) are obtained by recording electrical currents generated in the primary visual cortex in response to flash-light stimulation of the retina. VEPs evaluate the functional integrity of the optic pathways. The VEP waveform is altered under anesthesia, with the pattern of variation depending on the type of anesthetic used. Materials and methods. We studied 18 male rats aged 3 month, randomly divided into a sevofluran study group and control chloral hydrate group. Anesthetic depth was evaluated by median frequency (MF). VEP latencies, interpeak latencies and amplitudes were considered eight epochs 0.5 Hz length within interval of anesthetic depth 2-6 Hz. Latencies were expressed as average latencies for each interval of anesthetic depth. Conclusions. Most reliable parameter of VEP is the value of latency peaks. Overall variability is reduced under sevofluran and thus allows the establishment of a variation pattern that can allow VEP changes in morphology to be differentiated from VEP changes induced by other mechanisms, such as diabetes or trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]