Nevin Manimala

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:351-359. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_34.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Patients with neurological diseases frequently experience anxiety that may exacerbate during the COVID-19 pandemic due to social isolation and prevailing conditions in every society. The purpose of this research study was to explore state and trait anxiety among patients with neurological diseases during the period of COVID-19.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: In the present study were enrolled 100 patients with neurological diseases who visited for regular re-evaluation the outpatient clinics of a private hospital in Attica. Data were collected by the method of interview using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale-STAI, which included patients’ characteristics. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Of the 100 participants, 62% were female, while 52% of the sample was over 60 years old. In terms of anxiety, 50% had scores less than 34.5 and 38 (median) on the scale of state and trait anxiety, respectively (range 20-80). These values indicate moderate to low levels of state and trait anxiety. Statistically significantly higher state and trait anxiety was experienced by patients who were less informed about their disease (p = 0.008 and p = 0.014, respectively) and those who wished to receive information about the pandemic via mass media (p = 0.027 and p = 0.035, respectively). Statistically significantly higher trait anxiety was reported by single patients (p = 0.037), and those experiencing intra-family conflicts (p = 0.008), while higher state anxiety was reported by patients who had mobility problems and other illnesses (p = 0.050 and p = 0.044, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health issue of global interest and a challenge to address anxiety.

PMID:41273576 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_34

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:263-274. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_27.

ABSTRACT

Stress has negative effects on University students’ mental health and academic progress. The aim of this study was to investigate Greek University students’ stress. Specifically, the levels of students’ stress, the reactions to stressors, the management strategies, and the impact of stress on student well-being were investigated. The study sample was recruited from the student community of Greek public Universities (all levels of study and from different academic fields). Students were invited to participate in online research on social media and were given the hyperlink leading to a Google Form. Data collection was carried out in November 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown in Greece. Participating students were asked to complete the following five questionnaires: 1. Questionnaire of demographic and other characteristics (gender, age, level/year of study, smoking habits, marital status, if they work, if they live alone), 2. Student-Life Stress Inventory (Revised-SSI-R), 3. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), 4. World Health Organisation-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and 5. Brief COPE (an abbreviated version of the COPE Inventory).The study involved 610 students (433 women, 71.0%), aged 18-65 years (average age 23.29 years, SD 6.77 years). Specifically, 478 were undergraduate students (78.4%), 101 Master’s students (16.5%), and 31 PhD students (5.1%), 94.1% were unmarried, 9.5% worked, 35.2% were living alone, and 18.4% were smokers. Overall, students’ stress was assessed as mild for 149 of the students (24.4%), moderate for 313 students (51.3%), and severe for 148 students (24.3%). Results demonstrated that stressors, such as the feeling of pressure, changes in life, and self-imposed factors threaten normal student life. Also, differences were found in the perception of stress, the reaction to it, its management according to students’ gender/year/level of study/work/living conditions, and the negative impact of stress on students’ well-being. Linear regression analysis showed that well-being, as measured by the WHO-5, could be predicted by the overall scale of the SSI-R, and more specifically, this impact was negative. A statistically significant function was found [F (1,609) = 104.263, p < 0.001], R² = 0.146. These findings highlight the need for competent counseling and psychological support bodies in the Universities, to reduce the negative stressors, and build students’ resilience and stress management skills.

PMID:41273569 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_27

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:253-261. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_26.

ABSTRACT

Electronic media such as mobile phones, social media, computers, televisions, and video games are dominant in adolescents’ lives. There is a growing concern that rising rates of electronic media use may be related to behavioral and emotional problems. The aim of the present study was to examine associations of adolescents’ electronic media use with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Study participants were 99 adolescents (39 males, 60 females), 12-18 years old, as well as 93 parents (12 fathers and 81 mothers). Internet addiction was evaluated by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and behavioral/emotional problems by the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment. Parents reported on their adolescent’s attention and hyperactivity problems on the ADHD Rating Scale-5. Electronic media used by the adolescents were computer (40.4%), tablet (44.4%), PlayStation (40.4%), Facebook (43.4%), whereas 72.7% had an account on social networks. They watched TV from 0 to over 4 h every day; specifically, 51.5% from 0 to 2 h, while only 1% over 4 h. Most of them (78.8%) used internet daily, 28.3% used internet about 6-10 h, and 24.2% used it over 20 h to watch videos on YouTube (20,2%), searched for school information (14,1%), connected with social media (13.1), played games (12.1%), looked for information on products and services (12.1%), etc. Eighty respondents (80.8%) were average internet users (IAT < 40), 19 (19.2%) had possible addiction (IAT 40-69), while no one (0%) had severe addiction (IAT ≥ 70). The Internet Αddiction scale was found to have statistically significant correlations with many of the subscales of the Achenbach questionnaire and the attention-deficit subscale of the ADHD questionnaire.Statistically significant positive correlations were found between possible internet addiction with rule-breaking behavior, problems like thought, externalization, behavioral, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and post-traumatic stress. Results suggest that misuse of electronic media may be related to ADHD traits among Greek adolescents. As rates of electronic media use among teenagers are increasing, these findings should be taken into account to protect the social, cognitive, and psychological health of adolescents. Effective interventions are needed to target specific types of electronic media use in adolescence.

PMID:41273568 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_26

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:223-238. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_23.

ABSTRACT

Urolithiasis, as defined by the presence of one or more stones in the urinary tract, is a common disease, affecting up to 20% of the global population. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a minimal invasive intervention for the medical management of urolithiasis. Despite the short duration of this noninvasive procedure, patients may experience anxiety.Purpose of the study was to explore state and trait anxiety before and after ESWL as well as the associated factors.

METHODS AND MATERIAL: In the present cross-sectional study, 100 patients who underwent ESWL (60 men and 40 women) in a public hospital during the period 2023-2024 were enrolled. The data collection was carried out via interviews using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scale which included patients’ characteristics.

RESULTS: Of the 100 participants, the majority were men (60%), over 60 years of age (41%) and of secondary education level (47%). The mean value of the two scores was 50.9 for state and 56.1 for trait anxiety before ESWL which indicates moderate anxiety levels. After ESWL, no statistically significant change in state and trait anxiety scores was observed (p = 0.186 and p = 0.387, respectively). A statistically significant association was observed between state anxiety before ESWL and gender (p = 0.048), whether patients had other diseases (p = 0.042), and how well they were informed about ESWL (p = 0.043). Regarding trait anxiety, a statistically significant association was observed with gender (p = 0.018), their profession (p = 0.050), and how well they were informed about ESWL (p = 0.041). In terms of trends, a statistically significant interaction was observed between time and the profession of patients (p = 0.002) for the state anxiety and patients’ family history of lithiasis (p = 0.002) for the trait anxiety.

CONCLUSION: Before ESWL, patients experience moderate anxiety (state, trait) with no statistically significant changes after. Reducing the anxiety of patients undergoing ESWL is beneficial.

PMID:41273565 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_23

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:213-221. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_22.

ABSTRACT

Variable selection is crucial in statistical problems involving functional data, as it enhances prediction accuracy by filtering out irrelevant features. While selecting the most relevant variables is important, focusing solely on relevance can result in redundancy, negatively affecting model efficiency. The minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance (mRMR) method addresses this by balancing relevance and redundancy using mutual information to evaluate variable relationships. Herein, we evaluate the mRMR method on a dataset of a single-cell RNA sequencing from Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. We analyze and compare two different classification algorithms in terms of their performance in predicting the target variable and the computational time required. Additionally, we investigate the performance of these algorithms on the same dataset without feature selection, analyzing and comparing the results.

PMID:41273564 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_22

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:181-199. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_20.

ABSTRACT

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a frequently occurring and impairing mental health condition marked by cognitive deficits in several areas, such as attention, executive functions, information processing speed, and memory. It is noteworthy that while affective symptoms of MDD tend to subside when the depressive episode is resolved, cognitive impairment frequently persists and increases the risk of relapse. The present study systematically collected and assessed evidence from the past 10 years of randomized controlled clinical trials targeting cognitive deficiencies in adults with MDD through the implementation of psychological interventions, specifically cognitive remediation therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy. A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed and Web of Science databases from January 1, 2013, to July 31, 2023. A total of 520 studies were initially identified, and six of them met the inclusion criteria, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Participants in the intervention groups were 187, and 125 in the control groups. Most studies showed significant improvements in attention and self-assessed everyday performance. Findings pertaining to executive function and verbal learning and memory varied, with some studies conveying significant improvements in those domains post-intervention, and others failing to demonstrate any statistically significant effects. The results showcased the need to conduct larger, meticulously designed, double-blind randomized controlled trials with standardized measurement tools to more accurately evaluate the efficacy of those non-pharmaceutical interventions. Future research is warranted to investigate deficits in verbal memory, verbal learning, and executive function, since these domains seem to be the most resistant to change.

PMID:41273562 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_20

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:173-180. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_19.

ABSTRACT

Although menopause is a normal process, it causes a number of symptoms that affect women’s health and quality of life (QoL). Furthermore, mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, in peri- and postmenopausal women are a major public health concern. The aim of this research study was to investigate menopausal symptoms and their association with mental health and quality of life. A cross-sectional study involving 78 women aged 36-58 years who were in the perimenopause or menopause was conducted. The instruments used were the Greek versions of the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS), the Depression, Stress and Anxiety Assessment Scale (DASS-21), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQoL-BREF). According to the results, menopausal symptoms were found to be of low overall severity, a small proportion (7.8%) have mild depressive symptoms and mild anxiety symptoms (9.1%), and all scales of women’s quality of life show high mean values, indicating a good to fairly good quality of life. The most important findings of the study are the statistically significant negative correlations between almost all dimensions of the DASS-21 scale and the WHOQoL-BREF dimensions, and between almost all dimensions of the MRS scale and the dimensions of the WHOQOL-BREF scale. In our study, menopause was not associated with poor quality of life at a general level; however, it was confirmed to have a statistically significant negative effect on quality of life, depending on the severity of symptoms and the coexistence of other complications such as depression.

PMID:41273561 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_19

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:163-172. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_18.

ABSTRACT

Conservative treatment with a brace has shown significant improvement in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Initial in-brace correction can serve as a predictive factor for the treatment outcome. Additionally, significant data highlight the effectiveness of Schroth exercises. There is also evidence that the combination of Schroth and Bracing can provide a better treatment outcome. The study aimed to investigate the effect of a Schroth exercise program on the initial in-brace correction and in a 6-month follow-up in-brace radiological evaluation. Fifty children aged 10-17 years, diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis were divided into two groups: a treatment group (n = 25) and a control group (n = 25). The treatment group used a brace combined with a specialized Schroth exercise program. The control group used only bracing. Schroth-compatible braces were used by all the participants and bracing was prescribed for 18-22 hours daily. Schroth exercise was performed twice a week under supervision and 4 times at home. For the statistical analysis, 2-way ANOVA and paired t-test were used. The statistical analysis has shown a statistically significant group * time interaction (p = 0.015). According to the findings, a significant improvement was demonstrated in in-brace correction in the intervention group over a 6-month period. This indicates the effect of Schroth exercises in enhancing in-brace correction values over time.

PMID:41273560 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_18

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:141-153. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_16.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is a serious chronic neurological disorder affecting more than 50 million people globally. Social support has been consistently linked to improved health outcomes in a variety of chronic illnesses.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of perceived social support on anxiety/depression among persons with epilepsy (PWE).

METHODS AND MATERIAL: The sample of the study consisted of 100 PWE visiting an outpatient clinic of a public hospital in Greece. Data were collected via interviews using the scales “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MPSS)” and “The Hospital Anxiety And Depression Scale (HADs)” for the evaluation of social support and anxiety/depression, respectively, which also included participants’ characteristics.

RESULTS: According to the results, at least 50% of the sample scored over 19, 18, and 19 (median) in perceived social support from significant ones, family, and friends, respectively. These values in relation to the possible range of scores (4-28) indicate moderate social support of participants. There was a statistically significant association between social support either by significant ones or family or friends and participants’ anxiety-depression (p < 0.001). Participants who reported anxiety or depression had lower support scores than patients who did not. Furthermore, anxiety and depression were statistically significant associated with PWE who reported not to receive their medicine strictly (p = 0.002, p = 0.002), concealed epilepsy (p = 0.044, p = 0.025), faced financial difficulties due to epilepsy (p = 0.034, p = 0.001), and had insomnia (p = 0.001, p = 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION: Findings underscore the need to enhance social support as an important component of PWE management. It is essential for health professionals to encourage PWE to express their feelings and address their needs, in order to enjoy social support and confront with the psychological burden of the disease.

PMID:41273558 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_16

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:125-128. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_14.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The uncoupling of cerebral oxygenation is interconnected with brain hydration dynamics and is essential for understanding the characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage pathomorphosis. The aim was to study the brain hydration and cerebral oxygen saturation status changes in perilesional penumbra foci (PPF) in moderate isolated traumatic brain injury (moiTBI) patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven moiTBI patients (women 35 and men 42, median age 37 years) with unilateral lesions (Marshall Score II-III) were included in this study. Net water uptake was measured in PPF using non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) 2 days after admission. NWU in hypoattenuated zones of PPF was calculated using NCCT. Cerebral oxygen saturation (SctO₂) was measured in the frontal lobes. Data are shown as a median [interquartile range]. Statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric statistics.

RESULTS: In PPF, SctO₂ was 64.03% [60.1;67.0], and NWU was 4.98% [2.21;7.39]. Increased NWU values in PPF were significantly inversely correlated with SctO₂ (r = -0.608, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Brain edema parameters in PPF were significantly associated with cerebral O₂ saturation disturbances in moiTBI.

PMID:41273556 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_14