Efficacy of a single-session online ACT-based mindfulness intervention among undergraduates in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Introduction COVID-19 has trickle-down psychological effects on multiple strata of society, particularly university students. Apart from the worry of contracting or spreading COVID-19, Malaysian university students were also locked down on their campuses, suffering significant psychological distress. Hence, an online mindfulness intervention was proposed to alleviate psychological distress and improve psychological flexibility and mindfulness. Methods This was a quasi-experimental study with university students as participants. Intervention group participants were instructed to complete online questionnaires which covered basic demographics and instruments assessing depression, anxiety, stress, mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and fear of COVID-19 before and after the one-hour intervention. The control group also completed before and after questionnaires and were subsequently crossed over to the intervention group. Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to assess time*group effects. Results 118 participants were involved in this study. There were significant differences in anxiety (F(1,116) = 34.361, p < 0.001, partial eta-squared = 0.229) and psychological flexibility between the two groups (F(1,116) = 11.010, p = 0.001, partial eta-squared = 0.087), while there were no differences in depression, stress, mindfulness, or fear of COVID-19. Conclusion The results of this study corroborate the efficacy of online single-session mindfulness therapy as a viable short-term psychological intervention under financial and time constraints. Since university students are in the age group with the highest incidence of depressive and anxiety disorders, it is crucial to utilize resources to address as many students as possible to ensure maximum benefit.

Safety and Utility of Single-Session Endoscopic Ultrasonography and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography for the Evaluation of Pancreatobiliary Diseases

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are essential for diagnosing and treating pancreatobiliary diseases. Single-session EUS and ERCP are considered to be essential in reducing the duration of hospital stays; however, complications are a primary concern. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of single-session EUS and ERCP. Sixty-eight patients underwent single-session EUS and ERCP at a tertiary referral center between June 2008 and December 2012. We retrospectively reviewed patient data from a prospectively maintained EUS-ERCP database and evaluated the procedural characteristics and complications. Thirty-eight patients (56%) underwent diagnostic EUS, and 30 patients (44%) underwent EUS fine-needle aspiration, which had an overall accuracy of 100%. Sixty patients (89%) underwent therapeutic ERCP, whereas the remaining eight procedures were diagnostic. Thirteen patients underwent biliary stone extraction, and 48 underwent biliary drainage. The median total procedural time was 75 minutes. Complications were observed in seven patients (10%). Six complications were post-ERCP pancreatitis, which were resolved using conservative management. One patient developed Mallory-Weiss syndrome, which required endoscopic hemostasis. No sedation-related cardiopulmonary complications were observed. Single-session EUS and ERCP provided accurate diagnosis and effective management with a minimal complication rate.

Single-session Coil Embolization of Multiple Intracranial Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: There is no clear treatment strategy for the management of multiple intracranial aneurysms because of variable anatomical distribution, difficult identification of the aneurysm ruptured, and poor overall outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of single-session coil embolization for multiple intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Between September 2008 and December 2012, 209 aneurysms in 117 patients were treated at our institute. Twenty eight among the 117 patients had multiple aneurysms with a total of 71, and 60 of the 71 aneurysms underwent coil embolization in a single-session. RESULTS: A total of 60 aneurysms were treated with a single-session coil embolization, of which the most frequent locations were in the posterior communicating artery, followed by the middle cerebral artery. Immediate post-embolization angiographies showed total occlusion in 49 (81.7%) aneurysms, remnant neck in 6 (10%), and body-filling in 5 (8.3%). Procedure-related complications had developed in 2 (3.3%) of the 60 embolized aneurysms: an asymptomatic thromboembolic event, and a partial coil protrusion without a subsequent thromboembolic complication. CONCLUSION: With careful evaluation of individual aneurysm characteristics and configuration, multiple intracranial aneurysms previously thought to require multimodality therapy can be safely treated in a single-session coil embolization.

Single-session Coil Embolization of Multiple Intracranial Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: There is no clear treatment strategy for the management of multiple intracranial aneurysms because of variable anatomical distribution, difficult identification of the aneurysm ruptured, and poor overall outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of single-session coil embolization for multiple intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Between September 2008 and December 2012, 209 aneurysms in 117 patients were treated at our institute. Twenty eight among the 117 patients had multiple aneurysms with a total of 71, and 60 of the 71 aneurysms underwent coil embolization in a single-session. RESULTS: A total of 60 aneurysms were treated with a single-session coil embolization, of which the most frequent locations were in the posterior communicating artery, followed by the middle cerebral artery. Immediate post-embolization angiographies showed total occlusion in 49 (81.7%) aneurysms, remnant neck in 6 (10%), and body-filling in 5 (8.3%). Procedure-related complications had developed in 2 (3.3%) of the 60 embolized aneurysms: an asymptomatic thromboembolic event, and a partial coil protrusion without a subsequent thromboembolic complication. CONCLUSION: With careful evaluation of individual aneurysm characteristics and configuration, multiple intracranial aneurysms previously thought to require multimodality therapy can be safely treated in a single-session coil embolization.

Effect of Body Iron Stores on Indices of Biosynthesis and Destruction of Red Blood Cells after a Single Session of Cycling Exercise / 体力科学

Objectives : The present study investigates the effects of body iron stores upon indices of biosynthesis and destruction of red blood cells (RBC) induced by a single session of cycling exercise.<BR>Design : Eight sedentary female students were divided into groups depending on their body iron stores : normal (C group, n=5) and iron deficient (D group, n=3) . Blood samples were collected at five time points of before (pre), immediately after (0 hours), then 1, 3 and 6 hours after exercise (248±31 kcal, 70% V0<SUB>2</SUB> peak level) . Osmotic fragility and serum haptoglobin (hp) concentration served as of for degradation, and δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALAD) activity, erythropoietin concentration and number of reticulocytes served as indices of RBC biosynthesis.<BR>Results : A single session of cycling exercise did not affect the level of RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation, hp and osmotic fragility in either groups. The δ-ALAD activity increased at 3 (p<0.05) and 6 hours (p<0.01) after exercise compared with that at 0 hours in the C group. In contrast, δ -ALAD activity in the D group was significantly lower at 3 hours after exercise than that of C group (p<0.001) . Reticulocytes and erythropoietin concentration increased gradually in the C group after exercise, but not in the D group.<BR>Conclusions : A single session of cycling exercise under our experimental conditions enhanced RBC biosynthesis indicated by δ -ALAD activity, whereas exercise-induced hemolysis was not evident. Body iron stores affect the δ -ALAD activity induced by a single bout of cycling exercise.