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A Comprehensive Overview of Neurophysiological Correlates of Cognitive Impairment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
No full textAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to the gradual loss of motor control, typically resulting in paralysis and death within 3 to 5 years of diagnosis. ALS shares neuropathological and genetic associations with fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), a neurodegenerative condition primarily impacting cognitive functions. These two conditions are increasingly viewed as manifestations of a single molecular disease process that affects distinct brain systems, impacting motor neuronal pathways in ALS and fronto-cortical functions in FTD. However, this simple dichotomy belies the complexity of these conditions. In particular, patients with primary motor ALS can also experience significant cognitive deficits. Investigating the pathobiological and neurophysiological underpinnings of these impairments is essential for a comprehensive understanding of ALS and may open avenues for targeted therapies to alleviate these debilitating symptoms. Moreover, the biophysical correlates of cognitive deficits in ALS may serve as sensitive biomarkers for evaluating potential therapeutics. In this narrative review, we begin with an overview of the clinical features and genetics of ALS, followed by a review of the associated cognitive deficits that are adjunctive to motor decline. We then highlight neuroimaging studies from our laboratory and the broader literature, using EEG and other modalities that are beginning to uncover systems-level brain disruptions potentially underlying cognitive impairment in motor-dominant ALS
Kindra McDonald Greene
No full textPublicity photo submitted by author/presenter for ODU\u27s Annual Literary Festival 2025.https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/litfest_images/1005/thumbnail.jp
Tim Seibles
No full textPublicity photo submitted by author/presenter for ODU\u27s Annual Literary Festival 2025.https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/litfest_images/1011/thumbnail.jp
Advances and Challenges in Digitally Connected Point-of-Care Biosensing
No full textPoint-of-care (POC) biosensors are undergoing a paradigm shift from isolated diagnostic tools to digitally connected, intelligent platforms that enable continuous and decentralized healthcare delivery. This review critically examines recent advances in wearable, implantable, and portable biosensors, highlighting how integration with wireless communication, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), and artificial intelligence is transforming their functionality and clinical utility. Particular attention is given to innovations such as smartphone-enabled interfaces, cloud-based analytics, and machine learning-assisted analysis, which collectively enhance sensitivity, specificity, and user accessibility across diverse healthcare settings, from personalized home monitoring and bedside diagnostics to deployment in resource-limited regions. The review also considers regulatory, ethical, interoperability, and cybersecurity challenges that influence their adoption. By synthesizing recent technological breakthroughs with systemic barriers, this article provides a comprehensive perspective on how connected POC biosensors are redefining the future of biosensing and decentralized healthcare
Associations Between Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sleep Duration and Health Indicators in Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
No full textObjective
This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized available studies to explore relationships between accelerometer-measured physical activity (PA) levels or sleep duration and health-related outcomes in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methods
Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses guidelines, the six databases APA PsychInfo, CINAHL Ultimate, Embase, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus with Full Text and Web of Science were searched from inception through July 2024. The correlation coefficient (r) was employed to determine the effect size in the meta-analysis. A random-effects model was utilised to estimate the potentially heterogeneously distributed effect sizes with a 95 % confidence interval (CI) between groups. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using I², with a p-value derived from Q statistics.
Results
Thirteen eligible studies were included, involving 738 children and adolescents with ADHD (71.1 % boys). The health indicators assessed were executive functions (EFs), motor development, psychological health, and core ADHD symptoms. We found that higher PA levels (i.e., moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]) (k = 9, r = 0.36, 95 %CI 0.22 to 0.49) with medium heterogeneity (Q = 13.006, I² = 38 %, p = 0.112), and longer sleep duration (k = 6, r = 0.20, 95 %CI 0.06 to 0.35) with medium heterogeneity (Q = 7.495, I² = 33 %, p = 0.186), were significantly correlated with better overall EFs. Additionally, MVPA was negatively associated with psychopathology (k = 5, r = −0.19, 95 %CI -0.35 to −0.03) with medium heterogeneity (Q = 8.058, I² = 50 %, p = 0.089) in children and adolescents with ADHD.
Conclusion
The findings provide support for significant relationships between PA levels (i.e., MVPA) and sleep duration with overall EFs and MVPA with psychopathology in children and adolescents with ADHD. It is recommended that future studies conduct moderation analyses to examine factors that affect the generalisability of the findings, such as age, sex, and ADHD subtypes. However, these analyses could not be conducted in the current meta-analysis due to the limited number of included studies
Directional Association Between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Dermatological Disease: A Large-Scale Retrospective Study
No full textBackground/Objectives: Microbial dysbiosis is implicated with a pathogenic role in both irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and several dermatological conditions. Yet, few studies have assessed a potential overlapping epidemiologic association. We aimed to assess the 1-year prevalence of common dermatologic conditions following an initial IBS diagnosis and to evaluate the reverse association using reciprocal analyses. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using TriNetX. Patients aged 18–50 with no history of inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or infectious intestinal disease were matched 1:1 to healthy controls by demographics and comorbidities. The primary outcome was the prevalence of acne vulgaris, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, rosacea, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and urticaria 1 year after IBS diagnosis, measured using Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. To confirm bidirectionality, reciprocal analyses were performed. Results: Over a 1-year period, IBS patients were less likely to have acne vulgaris (OR: 0.78, CIs: 0.75–0.80) and vitiligo (OR: 0.78, CIs: 0.64–0.95) compared to those without. IBS patients were more likely to have psoriasis (OR: 1.14, CIs: 1.08–1.21), hidradenitis suppurativa (OR: 1.11, CIs: 1.03–1.20), rosacea (OR: 1.10, CIs: 1.03–1.18), and urticaria (OR: 1.27, CIs: 1.21–1.34) compared to healthy controls. No association was found for atopic dermatitis or alopecia areata. In the reciprocal analysis, alopecia areata patients (OR: 0.76, CIs: 0.64–0.90) had a lower prevalence of IBS compared to healthy controls. IBS was shown to occur more frequently in patients with psoriasis (OR: 1.15, CIs: 1.07–1.23), rosacea (OR: 1.23, CIs: 1.15–1.31), and urticaria (OR: 1.06, CIs: 1.01–1.12) compared to healthy controls. No association was seen in patients with acne, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and vitiligo. Conclusions: IBS shows a bilateral positive overlapping association with psoriasis, rosacea, and urticaria. Hidradenitis suppurativa showed a positive association only among IBS patients, with no reciprocal relationship. Moreover, our findings suggest that acne and vitiligo were inversely associated with IBS; however, this was not supported in our reciprocal analysis. Although no association was initially found between IBS and alopecia areata, the reciprocal analysis suggests a potential inverse association. No association was seen with atopic dermatitis bilaterally. Clinicians who treat these disorders should be aware of the potential bidirectional association
Understanding the Impact of Psychosocial Barriers on Colorectal Cancer Knowledge in Emerging Black Men
No full textIn the United States, Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and the third leading cause of death among non-Hispanic African American/Black (henceforth Black) men. Inadequate CRC knowledge leads to missing early warning signs, delaying prevention and increasing risk. Emerging adulthood (18-25) is a key period for building healthy behaviors and addressing barriers to CRC knowledge in addition to understanding attitudes and practices to CRC screening. Psychosocial barriers - including social support, medical mistrust, and perceived racial discrimination - contribute to the lack of CRC knowledge among older Black men, yet emerging adult Black men remain understudied. The present study examined psychosocial barriers to CRC knowledge among emerging adult Black men. Additionally, although not screening eligible, a secondary aim was to examine how these psychosocial barriers play a role CRC attitudes and preventive practices. One hundred sixty-eight men (Mage = 20.4, SD = 1.73) were recruited in Petersburg, Virginia. Participants completed a survey assessing social support, medical mistrust, and perceived racial discrimination, CRC knowledge, and CRC practice items. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.29. A hierarchical regression, controlling for age, public assistance status, and masculinity, examined social support, medical mistrust, and perceived racial discrimination. Contrary to hypothesis, higher medical mistrust predicted greater CRC knowledge, p = 0.003, while increased social support also predicted greater CRC knowledge, p \u3c .001. Perceived racial discrimination did not significantly predict CRC knowledge. Logistic regressions showed that higher masculinity health problem minimization and perceived racial discrimination predicted significantly lower odds of considering early CRC screening. No variables significantly predicted early detection. Findings provide critical understanding of barriers and facilitators of CRC knowledge among emerging adult Black men. Addressing barriers during emerging adulthood may encourage healthier behaviors and foster motivation to seek CRC knowledge, ultimately supporting prevention in this high-risk population. Results are critical for informing culturally age-tailored prevention strategies