Physicochemical, structural, and in-vitro release properties of carboxymethyl cellulose-based cryogel beads incorporating resveratrol-loaded microparticles for colon-targeted delivery system

The objective of this study was to investigate the physicochemical, structural, and in vitro release properties of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based cryogel beads incorporating resveratrol-loaded microparticles (MP) for colon-targeted delivery system. CMC-based cryogel beads were produced by ionic cross-linking with different concentrations (2%, 3%, and 4%) of AlCl3. Based on FE-SEM images, CMC-based cryogel beads showed a smoother surface and more compact internal structure with increasing AlCl3 concentrations, which was proven to be due to the new cross-linking between the -COO- group of CMC and Al3+ by FT-IR analysis. The encapsulation efficiency of the cryogel beads was significantly increased from 79.48% to 85.74% by elevating the concentrations of AlCl3 from 2% to 4%, respectively. In vitro release study showed that all CMC-based cryogel beads had higher stability for resveratrol than MP in simulated gastric conditions and can efficiently deliver resveratrol to colon without the premature release.

Correction to: Toxigenic diversity of Bacillus cereus isolated from fresh produce and effects of various factors on the growth and the cytotoxicity of B. cereus

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s10068-023-01330-0.].

The use of ecological momentary assessment for family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions: A systematic review

Background

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) as a real-time data collection method can provide insight into the daily experiences of family caregivers.

Purpose

This systematic review aimed to synthesize studies involving EMA completed by family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted within six databases for articles published from the inception of the database through September 2023. We extracted the characteristics of the included studies and data on EMA-specific methods to determine the quality of the included studies.

Results

A total of 12 studies involving EMA completed by family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions were identified, with almost all studies focused on caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's or dementia-related conditions. The average compliance rate across the included studies was 75%, below the recommended rate. In addition, most of the included studies did not collect the family caregivers' daily activities and care contexts in their responses (i.e., affect, stress, well-being, care demand, and fatigue) to the EMA prompts.

Discussion

This review showed that using EMA to collect information on family caregivers of adults with chronic health conditions appeared feasible and acceptable. However, the methodology or design of using EMA to collect caregiver information in this population is still preliminary. The limited number of existing studies that have used EMA to capture the daily experiences of family caregivers does not provide key information that could improve understanding of caregivers' emotional experiences and well-being in real-life situations. We identified gaps in the literature that warrant additional EMA studies for this population.

Toxigenic diversity of Bacillus cereus isolated from fresh produce and effects of various factors on the growth and the cytotoxicity of B. cereus

This study analyzed the virulence, growth characteristics, and cytotoxicity of Bacillus cereus strains isolated from fresh produce, including romaine lettuce, sesame leaf, tomato, and cucumber grown by different methods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess the toxigenic potential, and the cytotoxicity of B. cereus was estimated using cell-free supernatant in HEp-2 cells. The study found that hblD was the predominant diarrheal enterotoxin in the 59 isolated B. cereus strains, followed by nheB and hblC. The optimal temperatures for growth ranged from 42 to 44 °C, with the highest growth rates and shortest lag times. Cytotoxicity varied greatly depending on abiotic factors, including NaCl, pH, and medium, and was not always correlated with cell population. The study highlights the importance of establishing control measures to prevent B. cereus intoxication in fresh vegetables.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01330-0.

The Impact of Raising Children with Barth Syndrome on Parental Health-Related Quality of Life and Family Functioning: Preliminary Reliability and Validity of the PedsQL™ Family Impact Module

Objective

This study examined the preliminary reliability and validity of the PedsQL™ Family Impact Module (PedsQL FIM) in families of children with Barth syndrome (BTHS).

Method

A total of 72 parents with children or youth between the ages of 5 and 19 participated in this study. Thirty-three parents of children with BTHS and 39 parents of unaffected children completed the PedsQL FIM and a demographic information form. Internal consistency reliability and item-total correlations were calculated to test the reliability of the PedsQL FIM. Construct validity was examined using the known-groups method. We estimated the mean score differences of the PedsQL FIM between the two groups using three different models, including unadjusted, multivariate regression, and propensity score matching with inverse probability of treatment weighting (PS-IPTW) models.

Results

The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were greater than 0.70 for all scales of the PedsQL FIM, except for the communication scale. The item-total correlations were significant for all scales with moderate to high correlations (p < .05). In construct validity, the mean scores of the PedsQL FIM between the two groups were significantly different (p < .05) for all scales and total score in the unadjusted and PS-IPTW models. However, in the multivariate regression model, the family relationships scale was not significant between the two groups.

Conclusion

The PedsQL FIM demonstrated adequate measurement properties of preliminary reliability and validity in assessing the impact of children with BTHS on parental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and family functioning. Further research needs to be conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the PedsQL FIM with a large sample of BTHS and with other pediatric rare diseases.

Clinical Course of Patients With Mediastinal Lymph Node Tuberculosis and Risk Factors for Paradoxical Responses

BACKGROUND

Paradoxical responses (PR) occur more frequently in lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB) than in pulmonary tuberculosis and present difficulties in differential diagnosis of drug resistance, new infection, poor patient compliance, and adverse drug reactions. Although diagnosis of mediastinal LNTB has become much easier with the development of endosonography, limited information is available. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical course of mediastinal LNTB and the risk factors associated with PR.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with mediastinal LNTB via endosonography were evaluated retrospectively between October 2009 and December 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to evaluate the risk factors associated with PR.

RESULTS

Of 9,052 patients who underwent endosonography during the study period, 158 were diagnosed with mediastinal LNTB. Of these, 55 (35%) and 41 (26%) concurrently had pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis other than mediastinal LNTB, respectively. Of 125 patients who completed anti-tuberculosis treatment, 21 (17%) developed PR at a median of 4.4 months after initiation of anti-tuberculosis treatment. The median duration of anti-tuberculosis treatment was 6.3 and 10.4 months in patients without and with PR, respectively. Development of PR was independently associated with age < 55 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.81-18.14; P = 0.003), lymphocyte count < 800/μL (aOR, 8.59; 95% CI, 1.60-46.20; P = 0.012), and short axis diameter of the largest lymph node (LN) ≥ 16 mm (aOR, 5.22; 95% CI, 1.70-16.00; P = 0.004) at the time of diagnosis of mediastinal LNTB.

CONCLUSION

As PR occurred in one of six patients with mediastinal LNTB during anti-tuberculosis treatment, physicians should pay attention to patients with risk factors (younger age, lymphocytopenia, and larger LN) at the time of diagnosis.

An overview of various methods for in vitro biofilm formation: a review

Biofilms are widely present in the natural environment and are difficult to remove as they are a survival strategy of microorganisms. Thus, the importance of studying biofilms is being increasingly recognized in food, medical, dental, and water quality-related industries. While research on biofilm detection methods is actively progressing, research on biofilm formation is not progressing rapidly. Moreover, there are few standardized methods because biofilm formation is affected by various factors. However, comprehensive knowledge of biofilm formation is essential to select a suitable method for research purposes. To better understand the various in vitro biofilm formation methods, the principles and characteristics of each method are explained in this review by dividing the methods into static and dynamic systems. In addition, the applications of biofilm research based on various assays are also discussed.

Effects of a coach-guided video-conferencing expressive writing program on facilitating grief resolution in adults with SCI

OBJECTIVE

To examine effects of a videoconferencing coach-guided expressive writing program on facilitating grief resolution in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI).

DESIGN

One group pretest - posttest design with a 1-month follow-up.

SETTING

Home-based videoconferencing.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-four adults with SCI.

INTERVENTIONS

10 weekly 1-hour videoconferencing sessions in which participants engaged in expressive writing guided by writing coaches, either individually or in small groups.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Self-report questionnaires on measures of grief, emotional distress, depression, stress, trouble falling asleep, meaning and purpose, self-efficacy for managing chronic conditions, ability to participate in social roles and activities, and satisfaction with social roles and activities.

RESULTS

Immediately after completing the program, participants showed significant reductions in measures of severity of grief, trouble falling asleep, and trouble participating in social roles and activities and significant increases in self-efficacy for managing chronic conditions and satisfaction with social roles and activities. Participants maintained benefits at 1-month follow-up, showing significant reductions in measures of severity of grief, trouble falling asleep, and distress related to different difficulties and significant increases in feelings of meaning and purpose in life compared to their scores at pre-program. Post-hoc analysis showed that participants whose injury was sustained within 5 years of study enrollment had significant reductions in change scores of distress and trouble participating in social roles and activities compared to those whose injuries were sustained more than 5 years before the study began.

CONCLUSION

The videoconferencing coach-guided expressive writing program helps adults with SCI reduce grief intensity and trouble falling asleep and produces a sustained effect. People who sustained a more recent injury seemed to gain more benefits from the program than those whose injuries occurred less recently.Trial Registration: NCT04721717.

Exploring the Relationships Among (COVID)-19 Stress, Leisure Constraints, and Happiness for Adults During the (COVID)-19 Pandemic in Korea

Objectives: The emergence of COVID-19 and its consequences has led to fears, worries, discomfort, depression, and anxiety for human beings worldwide. In this study, we examined the relationships among COVID-19 stress, leisure constraints, and happiness of Korean adults. Methods: We employed on-line convenience sampling to recruit participants. The sample consisted of Korean adults. A total of 600 surveys were distributed, we retained 293 responses for analysis. Results: COVID-19 stress subcomponents significantly impacted on individual happiness. Our findings align with research focusing on positive correlates between perceived COVID-19 stress and leisure constraints subcomponents. We also found that as COVID-19 stress decreased, perceived happiness increased. Conclusions: Future research is proposed to explore the mechanism of how leisure constraints influence the engagement of physical activities and strategies of leisure constraints negotiation to gain the benefits of happiness in the pandemic crisis. Managerial implications and future research are discussed from the perspectives of constraint negotiation and happiness.

Effects of Self-Compassion Interventions on Reducing Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and Stress: A Meta-Analysis

Objectives

A growing body of evidence shows self-compassion can play a key role in alleviating depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress in various populations. Interventions fostering self-compassion have recently received increased attention. This meta-analysis aimed to identify studies that measured effects of self-compassion focused interventions on reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted within four databases to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The quality of the included RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk-of-bias tool. Either a random-effects model or fixed-effects model was used. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to types of control groups, intervention delivery modes, and the involvement of directly targeted populations with psychological distress symptoms.

Results

Fifty-six RCTs met the eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses showed self-compassion focused interventions had small to medium effects on reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress at the immediate posttest and small effects on reducing depressive symptoms and stress at follow-up compared to control conditions. The overall risk of bias across included RCTs was high.

Conclusions

Fewer studies were conducted to compare effects of self-compassion interventions to active control conditions. Also, fewer studies involved online self-compassion interventions than in-person interventions and directly targeted people with distress symptoms. Further high-quality studies are needed to verify effects of self-compassion interventions on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress. As more studies are implemented, future meta-analyses of self-compassion interventions may consider conducting subgroup analyses according to intervention doses, specific self-compassion intervention techniques involved, and specific comparison or control groups.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12671-023-02148-x.

Relationships Between Types of Leisure Activities and Mental Health among Older Adults With Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: Three types of leisure activities such as sedentary, social, and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) have been identified as essential factors that influence mental health outcomes among older adults with diabetes. In this study, we aimed to investigate what types of leisure activities are associated with mental health outcomes among older adults with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We used 2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data. We extracted 310 records from 3266 individuals diagnosed with diabetes and conducted a hierarchical regression analysis to investigate the research question. Results: LTPA was the strongest predictor of reduced loneliness and stress and increased happiness and life satisfaction among older adults with diabetes. Discussion: Our findings highlight the relationship between different types of leisure activities and mental health for older adults with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data suggest that LTPA, social leisure, and sedentary leisure reduce loneliness and stress and improve happiness and life satisfaction.

A time-dependent subdistribution hazard model for major dental treatment events in cancer patients: a nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Dental care in cancer patients tends to be less prioritized. However, limited research has focused on major dental treatment events in cancer patients after the diagnosis. This study aimed to examine dental treatment delays in cancer patients compared to the general population using a national claims database in South Korea.

METHOD

The Korea National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort version 2.0, collected from 2002 to 2015, was analyzed. Treatment events were considered for stomatitis, tooth loss, dental caries/pulp disease, and gingivitis/periodontal disease. For each considered event, time-dependent hazard ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals were calculated by applying a subdistribution hazard model with time-varying covariates. Mortality was treated as a competing event. Subgroup analyses were conducted by type of cancer.

RESULTS

The time-dependent subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs) of stomatitis treatment were greater than 1 in cancer patients in all time intervals, 2.04 within 30 days after cancer diagnosis, and gradually decreased to 1.15 after 5 years. The SHR for tooth loss was less than 0.70 within 3 months after cancer diagnosis and increased to 1 after 5 years. The trends in SHRs of treatment events for other dental diseases were similar to those observed for tooth loss. Subgroup analyses by cancer type suggested that probability of all dental treatment event occurrence was higher in head and neck cancer patients, particularly in the early phase after cancer diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Apart from treatments that are associated with cancer therapy, dental treatments in cancer patients are generally delayed and cancer patients tend to refrain from dental treatments. Consideration should be given to seeking more active and effective means for oral health promotion in cancer patients.

Antimicrobial activities of Asian plant extracts against pathogenic and spoilage bacteria

This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial effects of 300 Asian plant extracts (PEs) against pathogenic and spoilage bacteria. The antimicrobial activities were examined using agar well or agar disc diffusion, and micro-titer methods. Results revealed that PEs exhibited higher antimicrobial effects against Gram-positive bacteria compared than against Gram-negative bacteria. With few exceptions, PEs delayed the lag time (LT) of pathogenic bacteria (1.17-3.75 times). Among PEs tested, Alchornea trewioides (AT) and Erodium stephanianum (ES) were the most effective in inhibiting pathogenic and spoilage bacteria. In the study evaluating the effect on the growth inhibition in the broth, Acetobacter aceti was inhibited at 2.77 and 3.02 log CFU/mL by the combination treatment of AT+nisin and ES+nisin after storage for 7 days, respectively. Although further investigations are needed to clarify the antimicrobial mechanism of PEs, this study demonstrated that antimicrobial efficacy varied with PE types, solvents, and bacteria.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01182-0.

Effects of a coach-guided videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy intervention combined with psychoeducation on distressed individuals living with spinal cord injury: a preliminary mixed-methods study

PURPOSE

This study examined effects of coach-guided videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) accompanied by psychoeducation on distressed individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and explored participants' experiences in the intervention.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten people with SCI participated in 8 individual videoconferencing sessions delivered by trained coaches. Data using self-reported questionnaires and individual interviews was collected at pretest and posttest and analyzing using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and interpretative phenomenological analysis (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04670406).

RESULTS

Statistically significant improvements were found in depression, anxiety, stress, grief, engagement in meaningful activities, and self-compassion with medium to large effect sizes. There was no significant change in quality of life, resilience, and ACT processes. Participants gained a new way of thinking by: being aware of thoughts and emotions; exploring perceptions of others; and focusing on the present. Also, the intervention equipped participants to deal with challenges by: improving coping with SCI-related conditions; practicing self-compassion, acceptance, and meditation; and acquiring skills of value-based decision making and committed action.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings contribute to the limited evidence as the first study that measured effects of videoconferencing ACT on people with SCI. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to measure efficacy of internet-delivered ACT for people with SCI.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONGuided videoconferencing ACT may reduce depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and grief and increase engagement in meaningful activities and self-compassion in people with SCI.Professionals may consider ACT as a supportive or adjunct service for people with SCI who experience psychological distress.

The feasibility and preliminary effects of a pilot randomized controlled trial: Videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy in distressed family caregivers of people with dementia

This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) examined preliminary effects of an 8-week videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) program supplemented with psychoeducation materials on distressed family caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) compared to the control group provided with psychoeducation materials only. Nineteen family caregivers of PLWD in the USA were randomly assigned to the ACT group or the control group. Data was collected at pretest, posttest, and 1-month follow-up (F/U). Compared to the control group, the ACT group showed a significantly larger reduction in grief at posttest, with a medium effect size. Small effects of ACT were found in anxiety, psychological quality of life, and engagement in meaningful activities at posttest and grief, engagement in meaningful activities, and psychological flexibility at F/U compared to the control group. These promising findings warrant a full-scale RCT with adequate power to measure the efficacy of videoconferencing ACT for caregivers of PLWD.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the decomposer Ptecticus tenebrifer Walker, 1849 (Insecta: Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Ptecticus tenebrifer (Walker, 1849), which is endemic in East Asia, plays a critical role in natural processing of organic waste. In this study, we found that the complete mitochondrial genome of P. tenebrifer is 15681 bp in length obtained from the MGIseq system (MGI) with 150 bp paired-end reads. As with typical animal mitochondrial genomes, it contains 13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis was performed using the maximum likelihood method with a bootstrap value of 500 and the Tamura-Nei model and reveals the close relationship with P. aurifer.

Efficacy of Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, Stress, Psychological Distress, and Quality of Life: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported transdiagnostic approach that involves mindfulness processes and behavior change processes for valued living.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to assess the efficacy of internet-based ACT (iACT) for depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, psychological distress, and quality of life (QoL).

METHODS

PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS databases were searched to identify relevant RCTs published up to June 5, 2021. The included RCTs were assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk-of-bias tool. The use of either a random effects model or fixed effects model was determined using I2 statistic values for heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to the type of control group, the use of therapist guidance, delivery modes, and the use of targeted participants, when applicable.

RESULTS

A total of 39 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses found small effects of iACT on depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, psychological distress, and QoL at the immediate posttest and follow-up. There was no significant effect of iACT on stress at follow-up. Subgroup analyses showed small to medium effects of iACT on all the outcomes at the immediate posttest and follow-up compared with the passive control groups. In contrast, subgroup analyses that compared iACT with active control groups found no differences between groups on stress, psychological distress, and QoL at the immediate posttest or on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress at follow-up. In addition, subgroup analyses conducted according to the use of therapist guidance, delivery modes, and the use of targeted participants found no statistically significant subgroup differences among studies in all the outcomes, except for the subgroup difference among studies according to the use of targeted participants for depressive symptoms at the immediate posttest (ie, a statistically significant, larger effect of iACT when studies targeted people with depressive symptoms). The overall risk of bias across the studies was unclear.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study contribute to the body of evidence regarding the effects of iACT on depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, psychological distress, and QoL and may be applicable in any population, as ACT is a transdiagnostic approach. Few studies have compared iACT with active control conditions, especially for stress and psychological distress at the immediate posttest and follow-up. In addition, the active control conditions varied among the included studies. Further high-quality studies are needed to better understand whether iACT is comparable or superior to other evidence-based interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, in decreasing depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and psychological distress and improving QoL.

A Quasi-experimental Study Measuring the Effectiveness of Two Empathy Enhancement Programs on Caregivers Working with Older Adults Living Alone

Objectives: This quasi-experimental study assessed the effectiveness of two empathy enhancement programs on direct care workers of older adults living alone in South Korea.Methods: A total of 104 direct care workers participated in either a simulation-based program or a lecture-based program. Data were collected prior to and 2 weeks after the program implementation using self-reported questionnaires.Results: The lecture-based group had significantly higher levels of empathy compared to the simulation-based group. Pretest-posttest differences were found in the lecture-based group only, including higher levels of empathy and caring efficacy and lower levels of secondary traumatic stress and burnout.Conclusions: More studies are needed to identify helpful components of empathy enhancement programs to direct care workers working with older adults living alone. Also, a further randomized controlled trial study is needed to assess programs' effectiveness on older adults living alone and direct care workers.Clinical implications: A lecture-based empathy enhancement program can increase levels of empathy and caring efficacy of direct care workers working with older adults and decrease care workers' levels of burnout and stress. Training for direct care workers of older adults is needed to improve the empathy of direct care workers while reducing their stress and burnout.

EZH1 repression generates mature iPSC-derived CAR T cells with enhanced antitumor activity

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide a potentially unlimited resource for cell therapies, but the derivation of mature cell types remains challenging. The histone methyltransferase EZH1 is a negative regulator of lymphoid potential during embryonic hematopoiesis. Here, we demonstrate that EZH1 repression facilitates in vitro differentiation and maturation of T cells from iPSCs. Coupling a stroma-free T cell differentiation system with EZH1-knockdown-mediated epigenetic reprogramming, we generated iPSC-derived T cells, termed EZ-T cells, which display a highly diverse T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and mature molecular signatures similar to those of TCRαβ T cells from peripheral blood. Upon activation, EZ-T cells give rise to effector and memory T cell subsets. When transduced with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), EZ-T cells exhibit potent antitumor activities in vitro and in xenograft models. Epigenetic remodeling via EZH1 repression allows efficient production of developmentally mature T cells from iPSCs for applications in adoptive cell therapy.

Effects of internet-delivered behavioral activation on individuals with depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Behavioral activation is recognized as a stand-alone, evidence-based therapy for depression. Internet-delivered psychological interventions are easy to access and low cost. Therefore, it is important to determine whether internet-delivered behavioral activation (iBA) is an effective option for improving depressive symptoms and other health-related outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effects of iBA on individuals with depressive symptoms.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted within four databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that involved iBA for people with depressive symptoms. The quality of the included RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk-of-bias tool. Depending on I² statistic values for heterogeneity, either a random effects model or fixed effects model was used. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to the type of control groups.

RESULTS

Twenty RCTs met the eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses showed iBA had small to medium effects on depressive symptoms, anxiety, quality of life, functioning, perceived social support, and behavioral activation (BA) in people suffering from depressive symptoms at the immediate posttest and follow-up compared to control conditions.

LIMITATIONS

Relatively fewer studies were conducted to compare effects of iBA on outcomes other than depressive symptoms and BA process measures compared to comparison or control conditions. The overall risk of bias across the included RCTs was unclear.

CONCLUSIONS

Further high-quality studies are needed to verify the effects of iBA on varied health outcomes and BA process measures for individuals with depressive symptoms.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Older Adults with Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on psychological symptoms, cognitive functions, and quality of life in older adults with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted within four databases to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. Depending on I² statistic values, either a random effects model or fixed effects model was used.

RESULTS

10 RCTs published in 11 articles met the eligibility criteria. The present meta-analysis study found no significant effect of MBIs on depressive symptoms, anxiety, quality of life, memory, and overall cognitive functions compared to control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Future high-quality studies involving different types of MBIs are needed to better understand the effects of MBIs on psychological symptoms, quality of life, and cognitive functions in older adults with MCI and dementia and examine effective intervention features.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

There is insufficient evidence to determine whether or not practitioners should be routinely providing MBIs to older adults with MCI and dementia due to the lack of studies currently.