The Role of Catastrophizing in Enhancing Pain Interference and Depressive Symptoms in Endometriosis: A Longitudinal Examination

ABSTRACT Background Endometriosis is a prevalent condition characterised by chronic pelvic pain, significantly impacting women's quality of life and well‐being. Pain catastrophizing is a cognitive tendency of exaggerated worrying, a sense of helplessness, and amplification of distressing thoughts in response to pain. According to the Fear‐Avoidance Model, catastrophizing contributes to prolonged pain interference and mood disorders. This longitudinal study examines the relationship between pain catastrophizing, pain interference, and depressive symptoms in patients with endometriosis. Methods A sample of 128 cisgender women with endometriosis recruited from online patient associations completed self‐report measures assessing pain catastrophizing, pain interference, and depressive symptoms at baseline (T1) and after 6 months (T2). A mediation model examining the indirect effect of pain catastrophizing on depressive symptoms through pain interference was tested. The pelvic pain level was considered as a covariate in the model. Results More than half of the sample reported depressive symptoms above the cut‐off. Pain catastrophizing at T1 significantly predicted depressive symptoms at T2. Pain interference partially mediated this relationship. Conclusions Our findings indicate that heightened levels of catastrophizing correlate with increased pain interference, which, in turn, predicts elevated depressive symptoms over time. Findings suggest that by targeting catastrophizing tendencies, clinicians may help mitigate depressive symptomatology. Significance Statement This longitudinal study investigates for the first time the impact of pain catastrophizing on pain interference and depressive symptoms over time in cisgender women with endometriosis. Findings indicated both a direct influence of pain catastrophizing on depressive symptomatology and an indirect effect via increased pain interference, in line with the Fear‐Avoidance Model. These findings underscore the importance of targeting pain catastrophizing tendencies in interventions aimed at improving the well‐being of patients affected by endometriosis.

Plasticity‐Inducing Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Treating Neck Pain: A Blinded, Randomised Clinical Trial

ABSTRACT Background Percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (pPNS) protocols that induce synaptic plasticity in animals were recently shown to produce hypoalgesia in humans. However, whether they can relieve pain in a clinical population remains unexplored. Here we investigated the effects of these pPNS protocols in pain symptoms of participants suffering from non‐specific neck pain. Methods 45 participants were divided into three groups: percutaneous Sensory‐Threshold burst High‐Frequency Stimulation (ST‐bHFS), percutaneous Motor‐Threshold Theta‐Burst Stimulation (MT‐TBS) or an active control group receiving 80 Hz TENS. A verbal numerical rating scale (VRNS) was used to assess spontaneous and movement‐induced pain. Pain was also evaluated during the week before and the week after treatment, along with maximal strength and electromyography of the upper trapezius. Results ST‐bHFS produced a clinically relevant and significant reduction in spontaneous pain (1.8 ± 1.6 VRNS, p  < 0.001), not detected in MT‐TBS (0.8 ± 1.9, p  = 0.105) or TENS (0.5 ± 1.3, p  = 0.185). All protocols reduced movement‐induced pain (MT‐TBS 1.9 ± 1.6, p  < 0.001; ST‐bHFS 1.7 ± 2.2, p  = 0.009; TENS 1.4 ± 1.5, p  = 0.002), although the reduction in the TENS group did not reach clinical relevance. One week post‐treatment, a clinically relevant and significant pain reduction was still present in the pPNS groups (MT‐TBS 2.0 ± 1.3, p  < 0.001; ST‐bHFS 1.7 ± 2.6, p  = 0.041), but not in the TENS group (0.7 ± 1.9, p  = 0.350). Maximal strength increased significantly in TENS (3.5 ± 5.1 kg, p  = 0.019) and MT‐TBS groups (2.8 ± 4.2, p  = 0.021), without electromyographic changes. Conclusions pPNS protocols reduced pain symptomatology in patients with non‐specific neck pain. Contrary to TENS, ST‐bHFS reduced spontaneous pain and pain reduction lasted for a week in both pPNS groups. These results hold promise for improving the use of pPNS through translation of fundamental pain neuroscience. Significance Statement Plasticity‐inducing protocols applied through percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation are an effective non‐pharmacological treatment. They represent a clinically relevant option for pain management that could influence clinical practice as well as future fundamental and clinical research. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06153875

Alignment and Differentiation: How Language and Network Proximity Drive Opinion‐Based Group Formation Online

ABSTRACT This study examines the interplay between language and social connectedness in forming opinion‐based groups on social media. Drawing on small‐world theory and social identity theory, we propose a dual‐layer approach that combines semantic and network analysis to investigate the dynamics of group formation on X/Twitter during the 2021 COVID‐19 vaccination campaign in South Africa. Our findings reveal a nuanced process of social sorting, where users actively align with like‐minded individuals and differentiate from opposing viewpoints, shaping the formation of distinct online communities. Although a weak correlation exists between network distance and semantic similarity, our parallel examination highlights a clear trend of clustering around shared opinions. Notably, we find evidence that distance and proximity are not opposites but qualitatively different social psychological processes. Language becomes a more prominent marker of group membership over time, especially among pro‐vaccination users. This suggests a dynamic process where opinion alignment is solidified through linguistic differentiation. Such sorting mechanism leads to the creation of social barriers and group boundaries. Our findings underscore the necessity of considering both structural and symbolic aspects in understanding the complex dynamics of opinion‐based groups on social media. We propose a multilayer design to understand how individuals sort themselves and others within the complexities of online information flows. This approach unveils how people align with and differentiate from others, shaping the formation of opinion‐based groups on social media.

Solid‐Phase Extraction of Pb 2+ on Multicomponent Oxide Coupled to Portable 3D‐Printed Electrochemical Microcell Using Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode

In this article, a solid‐phase preconcentration method using the multicomponent oxide SiO 2 /TiO 2 /Sb 2 O 5 as a chelating agent‐free solid‐phase extractor for the determination of Pb 2+ at trace levels, employing a portable 3D‐printed electrochemical cell, was developed. The optimization of the preconcentration parameters was carried out using a 2 4–1 fractional factorial design. The most effective conditions were pH 5.0, elution volume 600 µL, eluent (H 2 SO 4 ) concentration 1.5 mol L −1 , and preconcentration flow rate 6.0 mL min −1 of 20.0 mL of the sample. Electrochemical parameters were also optimized, establishing ideal values for deposition time (60 s), deposition potential (–1.5 V), potential step (6 mV), pulse amplitude (60 mV), and frequency optimal (10 Hz). The developed method exhibited high precision and sensitivity, with limits of detection and quantification of 0.98 and 3.30 µg L −1 , respectively, and showed tolerance to different metal ions (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Ni 2+, and Co 2+ ). When applied to real samples, such as mineral and tap water, as well as Korean ginseng, the method demonstrated satisfactory recovery values (90%–108%), attesting to the method's applicability and accuracy without interference.

Sustainability in Analytical Chemistry Illustrated by Pharmaceutical Nitrosamine Testing

ABSTRACT Following the valsartan scandal in 2018, the testing of drug substances and drug products for N ‐nitrosamines has become a critical and mandatory quality control measure. The European Pharmacopoeia chapter 2.5.42 currently describes three analytical methods for this purpose: HPLC–MS/MS, GC–MS, and GC–MS/MS. The US Pharmacopeia monograph 〈1469〉 adds four other methods, LC–high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), headspace GC–MS, LC–MS/MS, and GC–MS/MS. In addition, our group has developed a universal method on the basis of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), capable of separating 16 different N ‐nitrosamines within just 4 min. These eight methods differ significantly in terms of sustainability, with particular emphasis on the reagents used, the separation techniques employed, and their performance characteristics. When assessing the sustainability of such analytical methods, it is essential to consider not only ecological but also economic factors.

Achieving Unprecedent Coulombic Efficiency with Prelithiated Porous Si@C Anodes and Polymeric Electrolytes

As an alternative to lithium metal, this article employs porous silicon‐graphite (Si@C) composite anodes in combination with polymeric solid electrolytes made entirely of Poly(ethylene oxide) and  (Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide), and LiFePO 4 composite cathodes. The low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of the full cells is improved via prelithiation of the anode. In fact, anodes with a prelithiation degree of 50% achieve the highest ICE reported in the literature (99.88%) up to date. However, these cells experience a faster capacity loss. The differential capacity plots reveal the different alloying and intercalation processes. The degree of anode prelithiation is responsible of sustaining the activity of the Fe 2+ / 3+ redox couple, which directly impacts the cell capacity and its retention. This Si‐solid‐state batterie. concept has the potential to revolutionize the transportation sector and bring us closer to a fully sustainable future.

Effect of Preheating on Phase Distribution and Orientation of 2D Halide Perovskite for Indoor Photovoltaics

2D Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) perovskites are a promising candidate for photovoltaics and indoor light harvesting. In this study we investigate the low‐dimensional RP perovskite [CH 3 (CH 2 ) 3 NH 3 ] 2 (CH 3 NH 3 ) 3 Pb 4 I 13 ( n  = 4) for indoor photovoltaics, and optimize the phase distribution by the method of substrate preheating. Enhancements in the photovoltaic device performance from thickness optimization and processing conditions yield quasi‐2D halide perovskites with champion power conversion efficiency of 23.1% (RV) under indoor lighting conditions.

Modeling Spatio‐Temporal Transport: From Rigid Advection to Realistic Dynamics

ABSTRACT Stochastic models for spatio‐temporal transport face a critical trade‐off between physical realism and interpretability. The advection model with a single constant velocity is interpretable but physically limited by its perfect correlation over time. This work aims to bridge the gap between this simple framework and its physically realistic extensions. Our guiding principle is to introduce a spatial correlation structure that vanishes over time. To achieve this, we present two distinct approaches. The first constructs complex velocity structures, either through superpositions of advection components or by allowing the velocity to vary locally. The second is a spectral technique that replaces the singular spectrum of rigid advection with a more flexible form, introducing temporal decorrelation controlled by parameters. We accompany these models with efficient simulation algorithms and demonstrate their success in replicating complex dynamics, such as tropical cyclones and the solutions of partial differential equations. Finally, we illustrate the practical utility of the proposed framework by comparing its simulations to real‐world precipitation data from Hurricane Florence.

Abdominal clonic seizures: A rare form of vascular focal motor status epilepticus

Vigabatrin‐associated reversible MRI signal changes