Racism's (un)worthiness trap: The mediating roles of self-compassion and self-coldness in the link between racism and distress in African Americans.

Objectives: Racism is a key determinant of mental health for African Americans. Although research has started to uncover moderators and mediators of the racism-health link, additional research in this area is warranted. Constructs that have yet to be examined in this link are self-compassion and self-coldness-two distinct ways of relating to oneself during adversity.

Evaluation and recommendations for effective data visualization for seizure forecasting algorithms.

Objective: Seizure forecasting algorithms have become increasingly accurate and may reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by seizure unpredictability. Translating these benefits into meaningful health outcomes for people with epilepsy requires effective data visualization of algorithm outputs. To date, no studies have investigated patient and physician perspectives on effective translation of algorithm outputs into data visualizations through health information technology.

The Giscombe Superwoman Schema Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties and Associations with Mental Health and Health Behaviors in African American Women.

The purpose of this research was to examine the psychometric properties of the Giscombe Superwoman Schema Questionnaire. Three separate studies conducted with 739 African American women provided preliminary evidence that the Questionnaire's factor structure aligns with the Superwoman Schema Conceptual Framework and has good reliability. In addition, it is positively associated with perceived stress, depressive symptoms, using food to cope with stress, poor sleep quality, and physical inactivity.

Postoperative Pain and 14-Day Recovery in Children Undergoing Adenotonsillectomy: Low Thermal Damage Device Versus Electrosurgery.

This was a randomized controlled trial of low thermal damage device versus traditional electrosurgery in children 3 to 17 years old with a clinical diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing, obstructive sleep apnea with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, or recurrent adenotonsillitis. Pain score (Wong-Baker FACES pain scale) was recorded each morning before eating, drinking, or administering pain medication for 14 days postoperatively. Seventy-five children were enrolled.

Recommendations for a culturally-responsive mindfulness-based intervention for African Americans.

Background: African Americans are at increased risk for stress-related disparities. Mindfulness-based interventions are effective in reducing adverse outcomes; yet, racial/ethnic minorities are underrepresented in these interventions. Also, the development of culturally-responsive interventions has been mostly non-existent.

Biopsychosocial impact of prostate cancer and androgen-deprivation therapy.

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the most non-cutaneous malignancy in men, and androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is a cornerstone of management in advanced disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of ADT with changes in depression and mental and physical quality of life (QoL) within a prospective patient cohort design.

Methods: Patients were prospectively recruited and consented at a single academic health sciences centre in Ontario, Canada.

Effects of androgen-deprivation therapy on hypercoagulability in prostate cancer patients: A prospective, longitudinal study.

Introduction: Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is the mainstay of systemic therapy for advanced prostate cancer (PCa), but has significant adverse effects, including increasing concern for cardiovascular (CV) and thromboembolic (TE) complications. This study carefully investigates any relationship between ADT use and hypercoagulability as a possible mechanism of these adverse effects.

Methods: We performed a prospective, longitudinal study in a cohort of patients with advanced PCa initiating ADT (n=18).

Serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels predict time to development of castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Introduction: Treatment of advancing prostate cancer focuses on blocking the activation of the androgen receptor with resultant prolonged perturbation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is marked, however, by eventual progression to castration- resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Emerging evidence has postulated that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) may lead to proliferative and mutagenic responses of prostate cancer.

Bone conduction noise exposure via ventilators in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objectives/hypothesis: To demonstrate that neonatal ventilators can expose patients to high noise levels through bone conduction (BC) as well as air conduction (AC).

Study Design: Observational study.

Methods: Three ventilators and various settings on a positive airway pressure machine (continuous, high bilevel, and low bilevel pressure) were tested.

Slide tracheoplasty for the treatment of tracheoesophogeal fistulas.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the surgical outcome of slide tracheoplasty for the treatment of tracheoesophageal (TE) fistula in pediatric patients.

Methods: After internal review board approval, the charts of pediatric patients (0-18years old) who had undergone slide tracheoplasty for tracheoesophageal fistula were retrospectively reviewed. Patient information and surgical outcomes were reviewed.

Thromboelastography identifies hypercoagulablilty and predicts thromboembolic complications in patients with prostate cancer.

Cancer patients are at higher risk for thromboembolism compared to the normal population. This may be related to tumour burden and/or enhanced by systemic therapy. While there is ample evidence regarding venous thromboembolism, systematic studies investigating arterial thrombotic events are scarce.

Performance evaluation of the next-generation sequencing approach for molecular diagnosis of hereditary hearing loss.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based targeted resequencing genetic test, OtoSeq, to identify the sequence variants in the genes causing sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary children's hospital.

Applying the Stress and 'Strength' Hypothesis to Black women's breast cancer screening delays.

Associations between stress and breast cancer highlight stressful life events as barriers to breast cancer screening, increased stress due to a breast cancer scare or diagnosis, or the immunosuppressive properties of stress as a risk factor for breast cancer occurrence. Little is known, however, about how women's reactions to stressful life events impact their breast health trajectory. In this study, we explore how reactions to stressors serve as a potential barrier to breast cancer screening among Black women.

Breathing easy: implementing a bronchiolitis protocol.

In 2005, a protocol for patients with bronchiolitis in the pediatric unit was created, but compliance was less than desired. Therefore, revisions based on staff feedback and current literature were implemented in 2007. A pre- and post-implementation design was used.

Mind-Body Interventions to Reduce Risk for Health Disparities Related to Stress and Strength Among African American Women: The Potential of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Loving-Kindness, and the NTU Therapeutic Framework.

In the current article, the authors examine the potential role of mind-body interventions for preventing or reducing health disparities in a specific group-African American women. The authors first discuss how health disparities affect this group, including empirical evidence regarding the influence of biopsychosocial processes (e.g.

The impact of parent advocacy groups, the Internet, and social networking on rare diseases: the IDEA League and IDEA League United Kingdom example.

The development of the Internet and subsequent evolution of social networking has significantly changed the effectiveness of patient advocacy groups for rare diseases. The greatest degree of change has occurred at the patient level, with an increased ability of affected individuals to share experiences and support, and to raise public awareness. Other changes have occurred, not only in the way rare diseases are diagnosed, studied, and treated, but also in how they are addressed at the level of legislation and public policy.

Pleasing the masses: messages for daily life management in African American women's popular media sources.

Objectives: Using African American women's insights on their own health experiences, we explored how their daily life management was linked to the "strong Black woman" (SBW) script, and the health implications of that script.

Methods: Using the search term "strong Black woman," we identified 20 articles from African American women's magazines and 10 blog sites linked to the SBW script and analyzed their content. We created thematic categories (role management, coping, and self-care) and extracted issues relevant to African American women's health.

The significance of biological variation in the diagnosis of testosterone deficiency, and consideration of the relevance of total, free and bioavailable testosterone determinations.

Purpose: The diagnosis of testosterone deficiency syndrome is based on clinical manifestations and documentation of low testosterone. Which biochemical tests to use and the importance of morning sampling are still controversial. Biological variation (including interindividual and intraindividual biological variation) must be considered when interpreting individual results as it determines the usefulness of reference intervals and the change (reference change value) necessary for a significant difference between results.

Androgens and sexual function: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study of testosterone vs. dehydroepiandrosterone in men with sexual dysfunction and androgen deficiency.

Purpose: Supplemental administration of androgens has been advocated for men with sexual dysfunction (SD) and hypoandrogenism. The preponderance of evidence indicates that most delivery forms of testosterone (T) are effective but the role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is controversial. A placebo-controlled, randomized trial of oral androgen (T versus DHEA) supplementation was carried out to determine their efficacy.

Multiple roles, multiple lives: the protective effects of role responsibilities on the health functioning of African American mothers.

Using data from 747 rural African American mothers, this study incorporated role accumulation theory to test direct and indirect effects of stressors, coping behaviors, and role responsibilities on health functioning. Results indicated that demands emerging from financial strain were related to compromised mental health and decreases in mothers' use of effective coping strategies and role responsibility engagement. Conversely, mothers who effectively responded to stressors and fulfilled responsibilities to their children and communities experienced enhanced mental health, which in turn promoted optimal physical health.

A novel approach to premature ejaculation: extracorporeal functional magnetic stimulation.

Introduction: Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction. Treatment ranges from behavior modification to systemic and topical pharmacological treatments. Results to date have been generally inconsistent and of limited effectiveness.

Testosterone administration to men with testosterone deficiency syndrome after external beam radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer: preliminary observations.

Objective: To assess the effects of testosterone supplementation in men with testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for localized prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: Five men with significant signs of TDS after treatment for localized prostate cancer with EBRT were treated with testosterone once their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level had reached the nadir. RESULTS The mean (range) level of testosterone before supplementation was 5.