Emotional contagion in a collective ritual.

Collective gatherings are often associated with the alignment of psychophysiological states between members of a crowd. While the process of emotional contagion has been studied extensively in dyads as well as at the population level, our understanding of its operation and dynamics as they unfold in real time in real-world group contexts remains limited. Employing a naturalistic design, we investigated emotional contagion in a public religious ritual by examining the relationship between interpersonal distance and autonomic arousal. We found that proximity in space was associated with heightened affective synchrony between participants in the context of the emotionally laden ritual (a Hindu procession) compared with an unstructured walk along the same route performed by the same group. Our findings contribute to the understanding of collective emotions and their underlying psychophysiological mechanisms, emphasizing the role of cultural practices in shaping collective emotional experiences.

Muscle Dysfunction and Functional Status in COVID-19 Patients during Illness and after Hospital Discharge.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pneumonia is associated with SIRS and hypercatabolism. The aim of this study was to determine muscle loss during the acute phase of COVID-19 pneumonia and evaluate long-term sequelae in discharged patients. METHODS: A total of 16 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and respiratory insufficiency were included in the study. Selected parameters (weight, BMI, LBM = lean body mass, albumin, CRP, NLR = neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, ultrasound measured thickness of rectus femoris muscle = US RF and rectus femoris + vastus intermedius = US RF + VI, handgrip strength, quality of life = EQ-5D questionnaire, and activities of daily living = Barthel's ADLs) were recorded on admission, discharge, and 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge. RESULTS: The most significant changes were between hospital admission and discharge: US RF and RF + VI (-1.28 ± 1.97 mm, p = 0.046; -1.76 ± 2.94 mm, p = 0.05), EQ-5D score (14.6 ± 19.2, p = 0.02), and ADLs (17.1 ± 22.6; p = 0.02). There was a significant positive correlation between US RF + VI and handgrip strength (p = 0.014) and a negative correlation between weight and Barthel index (p = 0.012). There was an association between muscle function with an EQ-5D score and ADLs during outpatient check-ups, most noticeably between handgrip strength, US RF+VI, and ADLs (p = 0.08; p = 0.1, respectively). Conclusions: In patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, there is a significant reduction of health-related quality of life, impaired even 6 months after hospital discharge, influenced mainly by muscle loss. During the hospital stay, there was a significant muscle mass reduction. Ultrasound measurement of thigh muscle thickness may be a useful method to monitor muscle loss.

Effects of predictable behavioral patterns on anxiety dynamics.

People face stressors that are beyond their control and that maladaptively perpetuate anxiety. In these contexts, rituals emerge as a natural coping strategy helping decrease excessive anxiety. However, mechanisms facilitating these purported effects have rarely been studied. We hypothesized that repetitive and rigid ritual sequences help the human cognitive-behavioral system to return to low-entropy states and assuage anxiety. This study reports a pre-registered test of this hypothesis using a Czech student sample (n = 268). Participants were exposed to an anxiety induction and then randomly assigned to perform one of three actions: ritualized, control, and neutral (no-activity). We assessed the effects of this manipulation on cognitive and physiological anxiety, finding that ritualized action positively affected anxiety decrease, but this decrease was only slightly larger than in the other two conditions. Nevertheless, the between-condition differences in the reduction of physiological anxiety were well-estimated in participants more susceptible to anxiety induction.

Levotyroxin.

Levothyroxine is a synthetic levoisomer of thyroxine. Currently, it is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs worldwide. The main indication for levothyroxine treatment is hypothyroidism of any type. It is also used for suppression therapy in patients with thyroid cancer. The therapeutic dose depends on the residual thyroid secretion, the weight of the patient, and the purpose of the treatment. The initial dose typically ranges from 25 to 50 μg daily, with further adjustment according to the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Initial dose titration is not recommended during postoperative replacement therapy and in pregnant women with hypothyroidism. Most of the plasma thyroxine is bound to transport proteins. However, only the free thyroxin is biologically active. Thyroxine is mainly a prohormone which is metabolized to the more active triiodothyronine. Properly managed levothyroxine treatment is safe with minimal adverse effects. Palpitations and other symptoms of hyperthyroidism may occur with overdose. For proper absorption, levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach, separately from other medications, at least 30 minutes before breakfast. Absorption may be impaired by other medications, especially by those increasing the pH of gastric acid.

Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer in women with positive thyroid screening in pregnancy: a double-centric, retrospective, cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Thyroid nodules are a common finding in the general population. The primary aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid nodules and cancer found by ultrasound (US) in women who underwent screening for thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy. DESIGN: A double-centric, retrospective, cohort study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We searched through medical records, including thyroid ultrasonography, of pregnant women who were positively screened for thyroid disorders (using thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroid antibodies) from an unselected population ('universal screening group', n = 690) and of women who underwent the testing based on the presence of clinical risk factors defined by American Thyroid Association ('case-finding group', n = 249). RESULTS: Prevalence of benign and malignant thyroid nodules was lower in the 'universal screening group' than in the 'case-finding group' (9.9% vs 17.7%, P= 0.002, and 0.9% vs 7.2%, P< 0.001, respectively). Consistently, the thyroid cancer rate was lower among the nodules in the 'universal screening group' than in the 'case-finding group' (8.1% vs 29.0%, P= 0.003). Ultrasound EU-TIRADS (European Thyroid Imaging and Reporting Data System) category ≥4 had a 95.8% sensitivity for thyroid cancer. In palpable nodules, the prevalence of cancer was significantly higher than in the non-palpable ones (44.0% vs 2.2%, P < 0.001). In a multivariate regression analysis, thyroid nodules were associated with a history of infertility and parity. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the data from cancer registries, universal screening allowed detecting thyroid cancer in pregnancy three to five times more frequently, but the cancer rate among nodules (8.1%) did not differ from the common population. US had very good sensitivity for thyroid cancer in pregnancy.

The importance of iodine nutrition during pregnancy - clinical aspect.

Iodine is an essential constituent of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones regulate brain development, growth and metabolism of the human body. Inadequately low iodine intake and decreased thyroid hormone synthesis can lead to iodine deficiency disorders. The severity of disorders depends not only on the degree of iodine deficiency, but also on the stage of the human development. Many areas of the world, including the Czech Republic, have been affected by natural iodine deficiency and the incidence of iodine deficiency disorders has been historically high. Fortification of food-grade salt was an effective step towards reduction of iodine deficiency impact. Although the Czech Republic has been considered to be an iodine sufficient area since 2004, iodine deficiency is still a threat to subgroups of population with an increased demand for iodine, such as pregnant women and newborns. Moreover, these groups are particularly sensitive to even mild iodine deficiency, because it could permanently affect the cognitive development of the fetus and have a negative effect on the course of pregnancy. Conversely, in other groups of the population steps taken to prevent iodine deficiency diseases may lead to excessive iodine intake with potential risks. It is necessary to control the iodine fortification and regularly monitor the iodine status of the population considering the individual risk groups.

Pharmacologically induced thyreopathy in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Thyroid gland function is mediated by thyreoideal hormones, in which iodine is very important structural part. High iodine intake, can initiate thyroid dysfunction. Amiodarone induced hypothyroidism is treated with levothyroxine and amiodarone taking is not interrupted. Amiodarone induced hyperthyroidism is divided into two subtypes, which differ by mechanism of origin and treatment strategy. In patients with cardiovascular disease is higher possibility of getting substances, with high content of iodine in diagnostic-therapeutic examination with contrast or treatment with amiodarone. In this group of patients is necessary to control thyroid function regularly and to hold preventive actions.

The Boundaries of Trust: Cross-Religious and Cross-Ethnic Field Experiments in Mauritius.

Several prominent evolutionary theories contend that religion was critical to the emergence of large-scale societies and encourages cooperation in contemporary complex groups. These theories argue that religious systems provide a reliable mechanism for finding trustworthy anonymous individuals under conditions of risk. In support, studies find that people displaying cues of religious identity are more likely to be trusted by anonymous coreligionists. However, recent research has found that displays of religious commitment can increase trust across religious divides. These findings are puzzling from the perspective that religion emerges to regulate coalitions. To date, these issues have not been investigated outside of American undergraduate samples nor have studies considered how religious identities interact with other essential group-membership signals, such as ancestry, to affect intergroup trust. Here, we address these issues and compare religious identity, ancestry, and trust among and between Christians and Hindus living in Mauritius. Ninety-seven participants rated the trustworthiness of faces, and in a modified trust game distributed money among these faces, which varied according to religious and ethnic identity. In contrast to previous research, we find that markers of religious identity increase monetary investments only among in-group members and not across religious divides. Moreover, out-group religious markers on faces of in-group ancestry decrease reported trustworthiness. These findings run counter to recent studies collected in the United States and suggest that local socioecologies influence the relationships between religion and trust. We conclude with suggestions for future research and a discussion of the challenges of conducting field experiments with remote populations.

Positive Antithyroid Antibodies and Nonsuppressed TSH Are Associated with Thyroid Cancer: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

The relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and thyroid cancer (TC) is a controversial topic; it remains unclear if HT acts as a risk factor of TC. The aim of our study was to compare the presence of HT and thyroid function in patients with TC and benign nodules. We analyzed 2571 patients after fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodule. Totally, 91 patients with primary TC and 182 sex- and age-matched controls were included. Positive antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and antithyroglobulin (anti-Tg) antibodies were associated with TC (anti-TPO 44% in TC vs. 27% in controls, P = 0.005, anti-TG 35% in TC group vs. 21% in controls, P = 0.018), and the TC group had significantly higher TSH (median 1.88 mIU/l vs. 1.21 mIU/l, P < 0.001). Using multiple logistic regression, positive anti-TPO was identified as an independent risk factor (OR 2.21, P = 0.018), while spontaneously suppressed TSH < 0.5 mIU/l was a protective factor (OR 0.3, P = 0.01) against TC. In conclusion, nodules in subjects with positive antithyroid antibodies could be considered to have a higher risk of malignancy. However, based on our results, it is not possible to declare that TC is triggered by HT.

CXCR3, CCR5, and CRTH2 Chemokine Receptor Expression in Lymphocytes Infiltrating Thyroid Nodules with Coincident Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Obtained by Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy.

Objective. To determine the expression of chemokine receptors in lymphocytes from thyroid nodules and peripheral blood in patients with and without Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Patients and Methods. The study included 46 women with thyroid nodules and HT and 60 women with thyroid nodules without HT (controls) who underwent a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Expression of chemokine receptors CXCR3, CCR5, and CRTH2 was assessed by flow cytometry in lymphocytes from FNAB samples and from peripheral blood. Results. The percentage of CRTH2+ lymphocytes was higher in nodules with HT in comparison with controls, both in FNAB samples (13.95 versus 6.7%, p = 0.008) and in peripheral blood (6.7 versus 5.13%, p = 0.047), and positively correlated with serum antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (r = 0.243; p = 0.026) and negatively correlated with thyroid volume (r = -0.346; p = 0.008). Lymphocytes from neoplastic nodules showed a higher expression of both CXCR3 and CCR5 than those from hyperplastic ones. Conclusion. Flow cytometry performed in FNAB samples may serve as a good tool in investigation of intrathyroidal expression of immunological parameters. In our study, the CRTH2 expression on thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes as well as on lymphocytes from peripheral blood was increased in HT as compared to controls.

Anxiety and ritualization: Can attention discriminate compulsion from routine?

Despite the wide occurrence of ritual behavior in humans and animals, much of its causal underpinnings, as well as evolutionary functions, remain unknown. A prominent line of research focuses on ritualization as a response to anxiogenic stimuli. By manipulating anxiety levels, and subsequently assessing their motor behavior dynamics, our recent study investigated this causal link in a controlled way. As an extension to our original argument, we here discuss 2 theoretical explanations of rituals-ritualized behavior and automated behavior-and their link to anxiety. We propose that investigating participant's locus of attention can discriminate between these 2 models.

It Depends Who Is Watching You: 3-D Agent Cues Increase Fairness.

Laboratory and field studies have demonstrated that exposure to cues of intentional agents in the form of eyes can increase prosocial behavior. However, previous research mostly used 2-dimensional depictions as experimental stimuli. Thus far no study has examined the influence of the spatial properties of agency cues on this prosocial effect. To investigate the role of dimensionality of agency cues on fairness, 345 participants engaged in a decision-making task in a naturalistic setting. The experimental treatment included a 3-dimensional pseudo-realistic model of a human head and a 2-dimensional picture of the same object. The control stimuli consisted of a real plant and its 2-D image. Our results partly support the findings of previous studies that cues of intentional agents increase prosocial behavior. However, this effect was only found for the 3-D cues, suggesting that dimensionality is a critical variable in triggering these effects in a real-world settings. Our research sheds light on a hitherto unexplored aspect of the effects of environmental cues and their morphological properties on decision-making.

[Autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid cancer]. / Chronická lymfocytární tyreoiditida a karcinom stítné zlázy.

Association between autoimmune thyroiditis (CLT) and thyroid cancer remains not clear. Although both diseases often occur simultaneously in histological samples, it is not yet clear whether CLT can be regarded as a risk factor for thyroid malignancy. This review focus on the known epidemiological and molecular genetics links between both diseases. Most studies have shown a significant association between thyroid cancer and positive antibodies to thyroglobulin and histological evidence of CLT, as well. Both disorders share some risk factors (greater incidence in women, in areas with adequate supply of iodine and in patients after radiotherapy of the neck) and molecular genetics linkage. For example: RET/PTC rearrangements could be more often found in carcinomas associated with CLT, but this mutation could be found in benign lesions such as CLT, as well. CLT seems to be a positive prognostic factor in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. It is associated with less invasive forms of tumor, lower occurrence of infiltrated lymphatic nodes and a lower risk of recurrence.

Effects of Anxiety on Spontaneous Ritualized Behavior.

Environmental uncertainty and uncontrollability cause psycho-physiological distress to organisms, often impeding normal functioning. A common response involves ritualization, that is, the limitation of behavioral expressions to predictable stereotypic and repetitive motor patterns. In humans, such behaviors are also symptomatic of psychopathologies like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Although these reactions might be mediated by different neural pathways, they serve to regain a sense of control over an uncertain situation by engaging in behavioral patterns characterized by redundancy (superfluous actions that exceed the functional requirements of a goal), repetitiveness (recurrent behaviors or utterances), and rigidity (emphasis on fidelity and invariance). We examined whether ritualized behavior will manifest spontaneously as a dominant behavioral strategy in anxiogenic situations. Manipulating anxiety, we used motion-capture technology to quantify various characteristics of hand movements. We found that induced anxiety led to an increase in repetitiveness and rigidity, but not redundancy. However, examination of both psychological and physiological pathways revealed that repetitiveness and rigidity were predicted by an increase in heart rate, while self-perceived anxiety was a marginally significant predictor of redundancy. We suggest that these findings are in accordance with an entropy model of uncertainty, in which anxiety motivates organisms to return to familiar low-entropy states in order to regain a sense of control. Our results might inform a better understanding of ritual behavior and psychiatric disorders whose symptoms include over-ritualization.

Mild iodine deficiency in women after spontaneous abortions living in an iodine-sufficient area of Czech Republic: prevalence and impact on reproductive health.

OBJECTIVE: Iodine deficiency is associated with thyroid dysfunction and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of our study was to investigate the status of iodine saturation in women after spontaneous abortion (SpA) residing in an iodine-sufficient area and to evaluate their subsequent reproductive health. DESIGN: Nonrandomized prospective follow-up study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in 171 women 2-8 weeks (median 4) after an early SpA with age-matched controls. Women with known thyroid diseases were excluded. We also analysed a relationship of UIC to serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, antibodies against thyroid peroxidase and thyroid ultrasound. Afterwards, we followed the women for a median of 38 months (range 12-47). We used a multivariate regression analysis to assess the influence of iodine status and other thyroid biochemical and ultrasound parameters on their subsequent reproductive health. RESULTS: Women after SpA were almost twice as likely to suffer from mild iodine deficiency and had lower median UIC as compared to age-matched controls [rate 105/181 (58·0%) vs 57/181 (31·5%), P < 0·001, medians UIC 92·00 vs 117·80 mcg/l, P < 0·001]. UIC was not influenced by the use of iodine supplements in the previous pregnancy. We did not find any association neither between UIC and thyroid dysfunction and/or thyroid antibodies, nor between UIC and rates of subsequent successful pregnancies or obstetric complications. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of women after SpA residing in an iodine-sufficient area are suffering from mild iodine deficiency. However, it does not seem to have a negative impact on their subsequent reproductive health.

Screening for autoimmune thyroid disorders after spontaneous abortion is cost-saving and it improves the subsequent pregnancy rate.

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism and/or autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD) may contribute to spontaneous abortions (SpA). Cost-effectiveness analyses of thyroid screening in women after SpA are lacking. Our aim was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of screening for AITD and/or hypothyroidism and their treatment in women after SpA with regard to their reproductive health. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional non-randomized study with follow-up in 2008-2011 in the settings of Departments of Endocrinology and Obstetrics/Gynecology of a university hospital. We enrolled 258 women after SpA before the 12th gestational week and followed them for a median of 3 years. At enrollment, serum concentrations of thyroid stimulatory hormone (TSH), antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) and free thyroxine (FT4) were measured and thyroid ultrasound performed. Women with overt hypothyroidism were treated with levothyroxine (n = 45; 61.6%) and women with subclinical hypothyroidism or euthyroid AITD were treated (n = 28; 38.4%) or left untreated (n = 38; 14.7%). Euthyroid women without signs of AITD served as controls (n = 147; 57.0%). RESULTS: Of the 38 untreated women with AITD and/or subclinical hypothyroidism, 8 (21.1%) reported secondary infertility as compared to 16/147 (10.9%) controls and 3/73 (4.1%) treated women (p = 0.021). Treatment was associated with an increased rate of successfully completed subsequent pregnancies (increment of 6 newborns/100 women) and a savings of €19,539/100 women. Total costs per successfully completed pregnancy were €1,189 in controls, €1,564 in the treated, and €2,488 in the untreated women. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for thyroid disorders in women after SpA and treatment with levothyroxine is cost-saving and it improves the subsequent pregnancy rate.