Association between depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality among pregnant women in Northern Rural Bangladesh: a community-based cross-sectional study

Mood and anxiety symptoms following pediatric mild traumatic brain injury: a scoping review

Background

Thousands of children sustain mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) worldwide each year. Multiple physical and somatic symptoms can occur following pediatric mTBI, including new-onset mood symptoms, headaches, and pain.

Objective

This scoping review examined the existing literature pertaining to mood and anxiety symptoms following pediatric mTBI, in order to summarize the current evidence and identify areas for future research.

Methods

The Pubmed, EMBase, and APA PsycINFO databases were searched to identify articles that examined mood and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents following mTBI.

Results

A total of 20 published articles were included in the review. The existing research suggests that mood and anxiety symptoms are more common in children and adolescents with mTBI, when compared to orthopedically injured or healthy controls. Several factors may contribute to the development of these symptoms: injury characteristics, older age at injury, female sex, and psychosocial variables including lower socioeconomic status and family history of psychiatric disorders.

Conclusion

The findings of this review highlight the need for additional research on the relationship between pediatric mTBI and subsequent mood and anxiety symptoms. We particularly recommend long-term prospective cohort studies which include appropriate control groups as well as a neuroimaging component to distinguish complicated from uncomplicated mTBI.

Sleep deprivation disturbs uterine contractility and structure in pregnant rats: role of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and transforming growth factor-β

Sleep deprivation (SD) during pregnancy can impact the delivery procedure, with prolongation of the labor duration. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) are regulators of uterine remodeling. Their dysregulation is vital for abnormal placentation and uterine enlargement in complicated pregnancies. Therefore, this study aims to explore the outcome of SD throughout pregnancy on ex vivo uterine contractility, MMP9 and TGF-β, and uterine microscopic structure. A total of 24 pregnant rats were divided into two groups. From the first day of pregnancy, animals were exposed to partial SD/6 h/day. Uterine in vitro contractile responses to oxytocin, acetylcholine, and nifedipine were assessed. Additionally, uterine levels of superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde and uterine mRNA expression of MMP9, TGF-β, and apoptotic biomarkers were analyzed. The results showed that SD significantly reduced uterine contractile responses to oxytocin and acetylcholine, while it augmented the relaxing effect of nifedipine. In addition, it significantly increased oxidative stress status, MMP9, TGF-β, and apoptotic biomarkers' mRNA expression. All were accompanied by degeneration of endometrial glands, vacuolization with apoptotic nuclei, and increased area% of collagen fibers. Finally, increased uterine MMP9 and TGF-β mRNA expression during SD clarified their potential role in modulating uterine contractility and structure.

Exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with poor sleep quality among non-smoking university students in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey

Although secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is predominant in Bangladesh, the adverse effect of SHS exposure on health-related behaviors, such as sleep quality, have remained an under-investigated area of the country's public health landscape. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between SHS exposure and poor sleep quality among non-smoking university students in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was carried out between May and September 2022. SHS exposure (main predictor variable) and other covariates (e.g., age, sex, etc.) were measured using a self-reported questionnaire and sleep quality (outcome variable) was measured via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Multiple logistic regression models investigated the association between SHS exposure and poor sleep quality. The study included 390 students (mean age: 22 years, 53.8% male). Approximately 41.8% of the participants reported SHS exposure, and 50.5% had poor sleep quality. Students exposed to SHS were more likely to have poor sleep quality compared to their counterparts (AOR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.01, 2.58). Subgroup analysis revealed poor sleep quality was 2-times higher among male students exposed to SHS than those male students without SHS exposure (AOR = 2.03; 95% CI 1.05, 3.93). No association was found in female students. Findings from this study warrant increased awareness and public health initiatives on the implications of SHS on health behaviors, such as sleep quality, in non-smoking Bangladeshi university students.

Poor sleep quality and suicidal ideation among pregnant women during COVID-19 in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

COVID-19 has profoundly impacted the mental health and well-being of pregnant women worldwide. In Ethiopia, the poor sleep quality and suicidal ideation among pregnant women has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to provide comprehensive evidence on the prevalence and associated factors of poor sleep quality and suicidal ideation among pregnant women during COVID-19 in Ethiopia.

Materials and Methods

This study is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendation. Data were searched from PubMed, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online from the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic to February 2023. Two researchers extracted the data and performed the methodological quality assessment independently. Random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled effect size and I2was used to check heterogeneity. Stata 14.0 (StataCorp, Collage Station, Texas, USA) was used for statistical analysis.

Results

From six studies the pooled prevalence of poor sleep quality was 55% (95% CI [0.42-0.69], I2 = 98.1%, p < 0.001). Age ≥ 30 years pooled AOR = 1.95, 95% CI (0.85, 3.06), 3rd trimester pooled AOR = 3.20, 95% CI (1.82, 4.58), substance use pooled AOR = 2.51, 95% CI (0.99, 4.04), depression pooled AOR = 2.97, 95% CI (0.92, 5.02) and stress pooled AOR 2.14, 95% CI (0.24, 4.03) were associated factors of poor sleep quality. Three studies reported about suicidal ideation and pooled prevalence was 11% (95% CI: 0.09, 0.13, I2 = 48.2%, p = 0.145). Depression pooled AOR = 3.19, 95% CI (1.68, 4.71) was the only associated factor of suicidal ideation.

Conclusion

Due to COVID-19 pregnant women in Ethiopia were affected by poor sleep quality and suicidal ideation. Thus, suitable and well designed programs proposing awareness of COVID-19, mental health counseling and involvement should be designed to improve the general mental health of pregnant women.

Trial registration

PROSPERO registration number CRD42023389896.

A two-mediator serial mediation chain of the association between social isolation and impaired sleep in old age

Poor sleep is a long-term public health issue that has become increasingly prevalent among socially isolated older adults. However, research on the mechanisms explaining the link between social isolation and impaired sleep (IS) remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study explored the serial mediating effects of loneliness and mental distress on the association of social isolation with IS among Ghanaian older adults. We analyzed data from 1201 adults aged ≥ 50 from Ghana's AgeHeaPsyWel-HeaSeeB study (mean age = 66.14, SD = 11.85, age range = 50-111; women = 63.28%). Measures included the UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale, modified Berkman-Syme Social Network Index, Sleep Quality Scale, and Mental Distress Questionnaire. We used bootstrapping techniques from Hayes' PROCESS macro program to estimate the hypothesized serial mediation. Social isolation was significantly associated with IS (β = 0.242, p < 0.001). Crucially, social isolation indirectly predicted IS via three significant mediating pathways. Loneliness accounted for 17.6% (β = 0.054, CI = 0.096, 0.016), mental distress accounted for 6.5% (β = 0.020, 95% CI = 0.004, 0.040), and loneliness and mental distress accounted for 32.2% (β = 0.099, 95% CI = 0.065, 0.138) of the overall effect. The total mediating effect was 56.4%. These findings suggest that the social isolation-sleep link is respectively and serially explained by loneliness and mental distress. Social integrative interventions for sleep quality in old age should target mental and emotional well-being.