Hypertension at diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta as a risk factor for recoarctation.

Background: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a narrowing of the aorta that affects 5-8% of congenital heart defects. Treatment options include surgical repair or transcatheter management with endovascular stenting or balloon dilatation. Late complications after operative repair include systemic hypertension, aortic valve abnormalities, aortic aneurysm, and recoarctation.

Stochastic Filtering of the Attitude Quaternion.

Several stochastic H∞ filters for estimating the attitude of a rigid body from line-of-sight measurements and rate gyro readings are developed. The measurements are corrupted by white noise with unknown variances. Our approach consists of estimating the quaternion while attenuating the transmission gain from the unknown variances and initial errors to the current estimation error.

First Detection of Anti- spp. Antibodies in Equids in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

is a tissue cyst forming coccidia, which affects multiple host species worldwide. Equine besnoitiosis is characterized mainly by generalized skin lesions and cysts in the scleral conjunctiva. Recent reports revealed exposure to in equines in Europe and the United States.

Delivery of an at-home transcranial direct current stimulation intervention to mitigate pain in patients with end-stage kidney disease receiving hemodialysis (ESKD/HD).

Background: Poorly controlled pain remains a problem for many patients with end-stage kidney disease requiring hemodialysis (ESKD/HD) and customary approaches to pain management (e.g., opioids, non-steroidals) confer substantial risk.

COVID-19 and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a large multi-site college sample.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses unique risks to college students' mental health, and specifically to symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). To better understand the relationship between COVID-19 impact and OC symptoms in this population, six colleges from across the US administered a battery of questionnaires and an emotion differentiation paradigm to eligible students ( = 841). We examined whether degree of pandemic-related disruption was associated with OC severity, and if so, whether this relationship was explained by trait (poor emotion regulation and differentiation) and state risk factors (poor sleep quality, less exercise frequency, less social support, thwarted sense of belongingness, and greater loneliness).

The effects of caffeine on bone mineral density and fracture risk.

Caffeine is a regular part of the diet of many adults (coffee, tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks). Multiple molecular effects of caffeine suggest that it may promote bone loss. Given the extensive consumption of caffeine worldwide, any impact of caffeine consumption on bone strength and/or density would have large population health implications.

State and Trait Risk and Resilience Factors Associated with COVID-19 Impact and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Trajectories.

Unlabelled: The COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate common symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as fears of contamination or causing harm to others. To investigate the potential impact of COVID-19 on obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, we utilized a frequent sampling prospective design to assess changes in OC symptoms between April 2020 and January 2021. We examined in a broad clinical and non-clinical sample whether baseline risk (e.

Shutdown policies and conflict worldwide.

We provide evidence on the link between the policy response to the SARS CoV-2 pandemic and conflicts worldwide. We combine daily information on conflict events and government policy responses to limit the spread of SARS CoV-2 to study how demonstrations and violent events vary following shutdown policies. We use the staggered implementation of restriction policies across countries to identify the dynamic effects in an event study framework.

Dynamics and Properties of the Cohesive Zone in Rapid Fracture and Friction.

The cohesive zone is the elusive region in which material fracture takes place. Here, the putatively singular stresses at a crack's tip are regularized. We present experiments, performed on PMMA, in which we visualize the cohesive zone of frictional ruptures as they propagate.

Biologics in the treatment of Sjogren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and lupus nephritis.

Purpose Of Review: It is an understatement to say that drug approvals in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus nephritis, and Sjogren's syndrome have lagged far behind those in other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Reasons for this are multiple and include the molecular and clinical heterogeneity of these conditions; confounding by background medications, especially corticosteroids; and clinical trial endpoints. However, the tides are changing, and there have been several bright spots in our attempts to bring more efficacious drugs to our patients.

Is my patient too sad to approach their fear? Depression severity and imaginal exposure outcomes for patients with OCD.

Background And Objectives: There is conflicting research on how comorbid depression impacts the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) with exposure with response prevention. To better understand this relationship, the current study tests theoretical claims that greater depression limits motivation to engage in exposures, restricts habituation, and interferes with adaptive learning.

Methods: Fifty-one individuals with OCD completed a diagnostic interview and self-report questionnaires assessing depression symptom severity and then participated in a standardized imaginal exposure protocol, in which they repeatedly approached an idiosyncratic fear deemed "moderately anxiety-provoking.

Treating Taboo or Forbidden Thoughts: Integrating Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Emotion Regulation Into an Exposure-Based Intervention.

Individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) who struggle with taboo or unacceptable obsessions (i.e., aggressive, sexual, or religious intrusions) tend to rely upon mental rituals to regulate their distress and possess difficulties labeling and regulating their affective state.

Validation of the Interpretation of Intrusions Inventory for the Mexican Population: Cross-Cultural Discrepancies.

To facilitate research on the cognitive model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), leaders in the field of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Cognitions Working Group [OCCWG]) developed and validated the Interpretation of Intrusions Inventory-31 (III-31). The current sought to adapt and validate this important measure for the Mexican population using a large sample of emerging adults ( = 457). Specifically, we evaluated the factor structure and convergent validity of the III-31 for the Mexican population.

Emotion generation and regulation following an intrusion induction: Implications for taboo or autogenous obsessions.

Background And Objectives: Research demonstrates that autogenous (AO) and reactive obsessions (RO) differ in obsessional content; however, no experimental research has examined differences in emotion generation and regulation. Characterizing this taxonomy with respect to emotion generation and regulation could refine conceptualizations of obsessionality and optimize clinical interventions.

Methods: Seventy undergraduates were randomly assigned to imagine a personally-relevant AO or RO.

Surveillance and screening practices of New England congenital cardiologists for patients after the Fontan operation.

Introduction: Surveillance and management guidelines for Fontan patients are lacking due to the paucity of evidence in the literature of screening efficacy on outcome measures.

Methods: The Fontan Working Group within the New England Congenital Cardiology Association designed an electronic survey to assess surveillance practices for patients with Fontan procedures among New England congenital cardiologists and to explore variability in screening low-risk vs high-risk Fontan patients across regional programs.

Results: Fifty-six cardiologists representing 12 regional programs responded to the survey, comprising ~40% of the total New England congenital cardiac physicians.

Risk factors for caries development in primary Sjogren syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the risk factors for caries between patients with primary Sjogren syndrome (SS) and those with non-Sjogren syndrome (NSS) salivary hypofunction and to identify the prevalence of incisal or cervical/root caries in each group.

Study Design: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted at a single center between 2012 and 2015 for assessment of patients with possible SS. Two-hundred and twenty-five (225) patients (99 SS and 126 NSS) participated in the study.

Immunoglobulin A Dysgammaglobulinemia Is Associated with Pediatric-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Inflammation and immune dysregulation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of pediatric-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorders such as Tourette syndrome (TS). Though few replicated studies have identified markers of immune dysfunction in this population, preliminary studies suggest that serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations may be abnormal in these children with these disorders. This observational retrospective cohort study, conducted using electronic health records (EHRs), identified 206 children with pediatric-onset OCD and 1024 adults diagnosed with OCD who also had testing for serum levels of IgA.

Validity Evidence for a Brief Online Key Features Examination in the Internal Medicine Clerkship.

Purpose: Medical educators use key features examinations (KFEs) to assess clinical decision making in many countries, but not in U.S. medical schools.

Development and initial validation of an online engagement metric using virtual patients.

Background: Considerable evidence in the learning sciences demonstrates the importance of engagement in online learning environments. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate feasibility and to develop and collect initial validity evidence for a computer-generated dynamic engagement score based on student interactions in an online learning environment, in this case virtual patients used for clinical education.

Methods: The study involved third-year medical students using virtual patient cases as a standard component of their educational program at more than 125 accredited US and Canadian medical schools.

D-Cycloserine augmentation of cognitive behavior therapy for pediatric OCD: Predictors and moderators of outcome.

Background: Over half of children receiving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) do not fully remit. To improve response rates and enhance extinction learning, d-cycloserine (DCS) has been examined as an augmenting agent of CBT. To direct children with OCD towards treatments with the highest likelihood of success, the current study evaluated the conditions under which DCS augmentation works best (i.

Delayed spironolactone administration prevents the transition from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease through improving renal inflammation.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is not as harmless as previously thought since it may lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Because most of the time ischemic AKI occurs unexpectedly, it is difficult to prevent its occurrence and there are no specific therapeutic approaches to prevent the AKI to CKD transition. We aimed to determine whether mineralocorticoid receptor blockade (MRB) in the first days after ischemia/reperfusion (IR) can prevent progression to CKD.

My Child's thoughts frighten me: Maladaptive effects associated with parents' interpretation and management of children's intrusive thoughts.

Background And Objectives: Environmental factors explain substantial variance in youth's obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and much of this research has focused upon overt parenting behaviors (e.g., accommodation).