Playing Kioku Reduces Loneliness in Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Playing together increases social connectedness, and it may be a tool to reduce loneliness. Research into the mental health benefits of board games is underdeveloped. Objectives: The study aims to examine the effects of the Kioku board game on well-being outcomes. The Kioku board game was developed in order to enable small group interactions with a focus on encouraging participants to create stories through mutual attention and interaction. We hypothesized that following a weekly intervention for 12 weeks, players would report a decrease in loneliness and an increase in well-being, compared with nonplayers. Methods: During the summer of 2022, participants in groups of 4-5 players, chose a cube word and narrated a story. A sample of 151 older adults (Mean age = 75.05 ± 6.46 years) recruited from seven community activity centers in Israel was assigned by block randomization to an intervention (n = 72) or a control group (n = 79), awaiting 4-6 weeks for future participation. Loneliness (UCLA loneliness scale) and well-being (World Health Organization 5-item scale) were evaluated at baseline and at 12 weeks. Results: A two-way repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) (Group × Time) controlling for age, country of origin, and marital status revealed significant interaction effects for loneliness [F(1, 146) = 178.04, n2 = 0.549, P < 0.001] and well-being [F(1, 146) = 69.14, n2 = 0.321, P < 0.001]. Loneliness decreased in the intervention group (mean difference: 0.62 points, P < 0.001), and increased in the control group (mean difference: 0.18 points, P = 0.001). Well-being increased in the intervention group (mean difference: 0.79 points, P < 0.001) and decreased in the control group (mean difference: 0.20 points, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings support the effectiveness of the Kioku board game intervention for decreasing loneliness and promoting well-being in older adults, who might still be coping with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reevaluation of ethylene role in Arabidopsis cauline leaf abscission induced by water stress and rewatering.

It was previously reported that cauline leaf abscission in Arabidopsis is induced by a cycle of water stress and rewatering, which is regulated by the complex of INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA), HAESA (HAE), and HAESA-LIKE2 (HSL2) kinases. However, the involvement of ethylene in this process was ruled out. Because this conclusion contradicts the well-established role of ethylene in organ abscission induced by a cycle of water stress and rewatering, our present study was aimed to reevaluate the possible involvement of ethylene in this process. For this purpose, we examined the endogenous ethylene production during water stress and following rewatering, as well as the effects of exogenous ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), on cauline leaf abscission of Arabidopsis wild type. Additionally, we examined whether this stress induces cauline leaf abscission in ethylene-insensitive Arabidopsis mutants. The results of the present study demonstrated that ethylene production rates increased significantly in cauline leaves at 4 h after rewatering of stressed plants and remained high for at least 24 h in plants water-stressed to 40 and 30% of system weight. Ethylene treatment applied to well-watered plants induced cauline leaf abscission, which was inhibited by 1-MCP. Cauline leaf abscission was also inhibited by 1-MCP applied during a cycle of water stress and rewatering. Finally, no abscission occurred in two ethylene-insensitive mutants, ein2-1 and ein2-5, following a cycle of water stress and rewatering. Taken together, these results clearly indicate that ethylene is involved in Arabidopsis cauline leaf abscission induced by water stress and rewatering. Our results show that ethylene is involved in Arabidopsis cauline leaf abscission induced by water stress and rewatering, similar to leaf abscission in other plants.

Sublingual Flumazenil for the Residual Effects of Hypnotics: Zolpidem and Brotizolam.

Residual morning drowsiness is a frequent side effect of hypnotics. This study examined the safety and efficacy of sublingual Flumazenil in reversing the residual hypnotic effect. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover study with 20 healthy subjects who slept for 1.5 hours following sleep induction was conducted. Upon awakening, they underwent neurocognitive tests including immediate word recall test (iWRT), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and mood/performance questionnaires. They were then treated by Flumazenil or placebo and were reevaluated after 20 and 60 minutes. A week later, the same procedures were performed (placebo/Flumazenil accordingly). All 20 volunteers completed the study. Flumazenil was superior to placebo by 59% to 93% (P < .05-.001) in improving performance in the various neurocognitive tasks. Subjects reported a significant improvement in vigilance with Flumazenil, both at 20 minutes and 60 minutes. iWRT improved with Flumazenil vs placebo at 20 minutes (4.2 ± 0.8 vs 1.3 ± 0.9 words, P < .005) and 60 minutes (5.4 ± 1.1 vs 1.2 ± 1.2 words, P < .02). Sublingual administration of Flumazenil is safe and effective in reversing the hypnotic effects of Zolpidem and Brotizolam. This may offer a comprehensive and safer treatment for insomniac patients.