scholarly journals Tripping over the other: Could psychedelics increase empathy?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Blatchford ◽  
Stephen Bright ◽  
Liam Engel
Keyword(s):  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Neural Connectivity ◽  
Psychological Conditions ◽  
Psychedelic Drug ◽  
Prosocial Attitudes ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThere is increasing evidence that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is effective for a range of psychological conditions. There are likely numerous mechanisms of action that contribute to these clinical effects. One such mechanism of action might involve psychedelics increasing levels of empathic functioning. This paper synthesises research concerning the relationship between psychedelics and empathy, emphasising neuroscientific and clinical contexts. We conclude that neuropsychological and clinical evidence imply psychedelics could lead to increased empathic functioning. The effects of psychedelics on the 5-HT system, default mode network, neural connectivity and ego dissolution are implicated in these changes. Changes in empathic functioning also likely relate to increases in the personality trait of openness associated with psychedelic drug use, which is well documented. Increased empathic function likely has clinical implications, leading to increased social connectedness as well as prosocial attitudes and behaviours more broadly.

Interpersonal Stress and Poor Health

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette M. Aanes ◽  
Maurice B. Mittelmark ◽  
Jørn Hetland
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Total Effect ◽  
Subjective Feeling ◽  
Interpersonal Stress ◽  
The Relationship

This paper investigated whether the lack of social connectedness, as measured by the subjective feeling of loneliness, mediates the well-known relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological distress. Furthermore, a relationship between interpersonal stress and somatic symptoms was hypothesized. The study sample included 3,268 women and 3,220 men in Western Norway. The main findings were that interpersonal stress was significantly related to psychological distress as well as to somatic symptoms, both directly and indirectly via paths mediated by loneliness. The size of the indirect effects varied, suggesting that the importance of loneliness as a possible mediator differs for depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and somatic symptoms. In the case of depressive symptoms, more than 75% of the total effect was mediated through loneliness, while in the case of somatic symptoms just over 40% of the total effect was mediated through loneliness. This study supports the hypotheses that social connectedness mediates a relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological distress. The study also provides the first link between interpersonal stress, as measured by the Bergen Social Relationships Scale, and somatic symptoms, extending earlier research on the relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological distress.

Interoception, categorization, and symptom perception

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omer Van den Bergh ◽  
Nadia Zacharioudakis ◽  
Sibylle Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Medical Practice ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Symptom Perception ◽  
Symptom Reports ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Accurate Reflection

Medical practice and the disease model importantly rely on the accuracy assumption of symptom perception: patients’ symptom reports are a direct and accurate reflection of physiological dysfunction. This implies that symptoms can be used as a read-out of dysfunction and that remedying the dysfunction removes the symptoms. While this assumption is viable in many instances of disease, the relationship between symptoms and physiological dysfunction is highly variable and, in a substantial number of cases, completely absent. This chapter considers symptom perception as a form of unconscious inferential somatic decision-making that compellingly produces consciously experienced symptoms. At a mechanistic level, this perspective removes the categorical distinction between symptoms that are closely associated with physiological dysfunction and those that are not. In addition, it brings symptom perception in accordance with general theories of perception. Some clinical implications to understand and treat symptoms poorly related to physiological dysfunction are discussed.

scholarly journals The correlation between lncRNAs and Helicobacter pylori in gastric cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Narges Dastmalchi ◽  
Seyed Mahdi Banan Khojasteh ◽  
Mirsaed Miri Nargesi ◽  
Reza Safaralizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Molecular Pathways ◽  
Gastric Diseases ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori infection performs a key role in gastric tumorigenesis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have demonstrated a great potential to be regarded as effective malignancy biomarkers for various gastrointestinal diseases including gastric cancer (GC). The present review highlights the relationship between lncRNAs and H. pylori in GC. Several studies have examined not only the involvement of lncRNAs in H. pylori-associated GC progression but also their molecular mechanisms of action. Among the pertinent studies, some have addressed the effects of H. pylori infection on modulatory networks of lncRNAs, while others have evaluated the effects of changes in the expression level of lncRNAs in H. pylori-associated gastric diseases, especially GC. The relationship between lncRNAs and H. pylori was found to be modulated by various molecular pathways.

scholarly journals Cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis: is there a link between lipids and bone?

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R Burnett ◽  
Samuel D Vasikaran
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Bone Density ◽  
Vascular Calcification ◽  
Cholesterol Biosynthesis ◽  
Hormone Replacement ◽  
Plasma Lipid ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
The Relationship

Atherosclerotic heart disease and osteoporosis are both diseases of old age. Evidence is accumulating for a link between vascular and bone disease. Calcification is a common feature of atherosclerotic plaques, and osteoporosis is associated with both atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. However, the relationship of vascular calcification to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis remains incompletely understood. Hormone replacement therapy has beneficial effects in the prevention of both atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and are used in the treatment of osteoporosis, whereas the statins inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and are used for the treatment of atherosclerosis. We have reviewed recent advances in the knowledge of the actions of bisphosphonates and statins at the cellular, molecular and end-organ levels in order to examine the relationship between cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis and to explore the link between lipids and bones. These studies suggest that the mechanism of actions of these two classes of drugs at the cellular level may not be mutually exclusive. There are some early clinical data to complement these findings, suggesting that statins increase bone density and bisphosphonates may have a beneficial effect in vivo on plasma lipid levels and on the atherosclerotic process. Properly designed prospective studies that examine the effect of statins on bone density and fractures, as well as the effects of bisphosphonates on lipid profiles, atherosclerotic progression and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are needed to define clearly the clinical effects and potential new roles for these agents.

scholarly journals Vitamin K and D Supplementation and Bone Health in Chronic Kidney Disease—Apart or Together?

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 809
Author(s):  
Marta Ziemińska ◽  
Beata Sieklucka ◽  
Krystyna Pawlak
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Bone Health ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Preclinical Studies ◽  
Normal Bone ◽  
Combined Supplementation

Vitamin K (VK) and vitamin D (VD) deficiency/insufficiency is a common feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to impaired bone quality and a higher risk of fractures. CKD patients, with disturbances in VK and VD metabolism, do not have sufficient levels of these vitamins for maintaining normal bone formation and mineralization. So far, there has been no consensus on what serum VK and VD levels can be considered sufficient in this particular population. Moreover, there are no clear guidelines how supplementation of these vitamins should be carried out in the course of CKD. Based on the existing results of preclinical studies and clinical evidence, this review intends to discuss the effect of VK and VD on bone remodeling in CKD. Although the mechanisms of action and the effects of these vitamins on bone are distinct, we try to find evidence for synergy between them in relation to bone metabolism, to answer the question of whether combined supplementation of VK and VD will be more beneficial for bone health in the CKD population than administering each of these vitamins separately.

scholarly journals Media attention, dependency, self-efficacy, and prosocial behaviours during the outbreak of COVID-19: A constructive journalism perspective

2021 ◽  
pp. 205943642110213
Author(s):  
Jiankun Gong ◽  
Hasmah Zanuddin ◽  
Weipeng Hou ◽  
Jinghong Xu
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Survey Questionnaire ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Media Dependency ◽  
Media Attention ◽  
Prosocial Attitudes ◽  
Effects Of Media ◽  
Prosocial Behaviours ◽  
The Relationship

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption not only in the global health and economic sectors, but also in the field of journalism. As media has played and continues to play a pivotal role in disseminating information during the pandemic crisis, it is critical to examine how media influences the behaviour of their target audience. Subsequently, this study aimed to examine the relationship between media attention, dependency, self-efficacy, and prosocial behaviours amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 905 participants from China responded to the survey questionnaire, the data from which was analysed via SPSS-AMOS v.23. The results indicated a significant correlation between media attention and self-efficacy. Likewise, media dependency is correlated with self-efficacy. Media attention, dependency, and self-efficacy demonstrated significant effects on prosocial attitudes and behaviours. Subsequently, this study showed that self-efficacy mediates the effects of media attention and dependency on prosocial behaviour. At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings of this study could serve as a guide to media practitioners in shaping the behaviour of their audience through meaningful and responsible information dissemination.

Lifestyle in urology: Benign diseases

2021 ◽  
pp. 039156032199438
Author(s):  
Riccardo Bientinesi ◽  
Carlo Gandi ◽  
Luigi Vaccarella ◽  
Emilio Sacco
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Prostatic Hyperplasia ◽  
Benign Diseases ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Urological Diseases

Modifiable lifestyle-related risk factors are the object of increasing attention, with a view to primary and tertiary prevention, to limit the onset and development of diseases. Also in the urological field there is accumulating evidence of the relationship between urological diseases and lifestyle-related risk factors that can influence their incidence and prognosis. Risk factors such as nutrition, physical activity, sexual habits, tobacco smoking, or alcohol consumption can be modified to limit morbidity and reduce the social impact and the burdensome costs associated with diagnosis and treatment. This review synthesizes the current clinical evidence available on this topic, trying to satisfy the need for a summary on the relationships between the most important lifestyle factors and the main benign urological diseases, focusing on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), infections urinary tract (UTI), urinary incontinence (UI), stones, erectile dysfunction, and male infertility.

scholarly journals MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES AND IRON CHELATION THERAPY

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e2017021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuele Angelucci ◽  
Silvana Anna Maria Urru ◽  
Federica Pilo ◽  
Alberto Piperno
Keyword(s):  
Iron Overload ◽  
Myelodysplastic Syndromes ◽  
Tissue Damage ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Organ Damage ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Toxic Damage ◽  
The Relationship

Over recent decades we have been fortunate to witness the advent of new technologies and of an expanded knowledge and application of chelation therapies to the benefit of patients with iron overload. However, extrapolation of learnings from thalassemia to the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has resulted in a fragmented and uncoordinated clinical evidence base. We’re therefore forced to change our understanding of MDS, looking with other eyes to observational studies that inform us about the relationship between iron and tissue damage in these subjects. The available evidence suggests that iron accumulation is prognostically significant in MDS, but levels of accumulation historically associated with organ damage (based on data generated in the thalassemias) are infrequent. Emerging experimental data have provided some insight into this paradox, as our understanding of iron-induced tissue damage has evolved from a process of progressive bulking of organs through high-volumes iron deposition, to one of ‘toxic’ damage inflicted through multiple cellular pathways. Damage from iron may therefore occur prior to reaching reference thresholds, and similarly, chelation may be of benefit before overt iron overload is seen. In this review, we revisit the science and clinical evidence for iron overload in MDS to better characterise the iron overload phenotype in these patients, which is distinct from the classical transfusional and non-transfusional iron overload syndrome. We hope this will provide a conceptual framework to better understand the complex associations between anemia, iron and clinical outcomes, to accelerate progress in this area.

scholarly journals Beyond the Usual Suspects: Hepatitis E Virus and Its Implications in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 5867
Author(s):  
Mara Klöhn ◽  
Jil Alexandra Schrader ◽  
Yannick Brüggemann ◽  
Daniel Todt ◽  
Eike Steinmann
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Viral Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Clinical Spectrum ◽  
Immunocompromised Patients ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Liver Infection

Hepatitis E virus infections are the leading cause of viral hepatitis in humans, contributing to an estimated 3.3 million symptomatic cases and almost 44,000 deaths annually. Recently, HEV infections have been found to result in chronic liver infection and cirrhosis in severely immunocompromised patients, suggesting the possibility of HEV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. While HEV-associated formation of HCC has rarely been reported, the expansion of HEV’s clinical spectrum and the increasing evidence of chronic HEV infections raise questions about the connection between HEV and HCC. The present review summarizes current clinical evidence of the relationship between HEV and HCC and discusses mechanisms of virus-induced HCC development with regard to HEV pathogenesis. We further elucidate why the development of HEV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma has so rarely been observed and provide an outlook on possible experimental set-ups to study the relationship between HEV and HCC formation.

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