Nursing students' evaluation of clinical learning environment and supervision models before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative study.

Background And Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has required a rapid reorganization of clinical training and supervision models for nursing education. The aim of this study was to compare students' levels of perception of the quality of the Clinical Learning Environment (CLE) using two different clinical supervision models.

Methods: A comparative design was implemented.

Ambiguity in Solving Imaging Inverse Problems with Deep-Learning-Based Operators.

In recent years, large convolutional neural networks have been widely used as tools for image deblurring, because of their ability in restoring images very precisely. It is well known that image deblurring is mathematically modeled as an ill-posed inverse problem and its solution is difficult to approximate when noise affects the data. Really, one limitation of neural networks for deblurring is their sensitivity to noise and other perturbations, which can lead to instability and produce poor reconstructions.

RISING: A new framework for model-based few-view CT image reconstruction with deep learning.

Medical image reconstruction from low-dose tomographic data is an active research field, recently revolutionized by the advent of deep learning. In fact, deep learning typically yields superior results than classical optimization approaches, but unstable results have been reported both numerically and theoretically in the literature. This paper proposes RISING, a new framework for sparse-view tomographic image reconstruction combining an early-stopped Rapid Iterative Solver with a subsequent Iteration Network-based Gaining step.

Plasma and amniotic fluid concentrations of nitric oxide: Effects on uterine artery and placental vasculature in women who underwent voluntary pregnancy termination and in women with missed and threatened abortion. A pilot study.

Objectives: First trimester miscarriage is a multifactorial event. Various angiogenic factors have been proposed as possible early markers of non-viable pregnancies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the systemic nitric oxide (NO) production in healthy early pregnancy and its possible role in first trimester miscarriage.

A Green Prospective for Learned Post-Processing in Sparse-View Tomographic Reconstruction.

Deep Learning is developing interesting tools that are of great interest for inverse imaging applications. In this work, we consider a medical imaging reconstruction task from subsampled measurements, which is an active research field where Convolutional Neural Networks have already revealed their great potential. However, the commonly used architectures are very deep and, hence, prone to overfitting and unfeasible for clinical usages.

A Model-Based Optimization Framework for Iterative Digital Breast Tomosynthesis Image Reconstruction.

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis is an X-ray imaging technique that allows a volumetric reconstruction of the breast, from a small number of low-dose two-dimensional projections. Although it is already used in the clinical setting, enhancing the quality of the recovered images is still a subject of research. The aim of this paper was to propose and compare, in a general optimization framework, three slightly different models and corresponding accurate iterative algorithms for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis image reconstruction, characterized by a convergent behavior.

Nursing student attitudes toward dying patient care: A European multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background and aim of the work Nursing education plays a key role in preparing future nurses to deal with dying patients, which represents one of the most emotionally involving aspect of nursing. The aims of the study were to explore nursing students' attitudes towards care of dying patients in three different European contexts and to analyze the variables that can influence them. Methods We conducted an international multicenter cross-sectional study.

Perceptions of Caring Behavior Among Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Three-Cohort Observational Study.

Introduction: Increase in the knowledge of "caring science" among nurses plays a key role in ensuring a correct caring behavior towards patients. Caring training for students is a priority in nursing education, but unfortunately there are limited and conflicting studies which explore this outcome. The purpose of this observational study was to explore the perceptions of caring behaviors by nursing students during their clinical practice training in order to highlight if the level of caring behaviors changes as the nursing course progresses.

Metformin metabolic and vascular effects in overweight/moderately obese hyperinsulinemic PCOS patients treated with contraceptive vaginal ring: a pilot study.

The aim of this pilot study was to assess how metformin, associated with a contraceptive vaginal ring, may influence lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, fat distribution, and surrogate markers of arterial function. Among 62 patients, 25 were treated with vaginal ring plus metformin and 37 women with only vaginal ring. The effects were assessed after 6 months.

Oligosypthomatic ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a spontaneous uneventful pregnancy. A case report.

Spontaneous hyperstimulation syndrome (spOHSS) is a rare event in pregnancies following natural conception. Only a few cases are reported in the scientific literature and result associated with massive ovarian enlargement with multiple cysts, dehydration, and fluid accumulation in the "third space". We report a novel case of spOHSS in a naturally conceived singleton pregnancy.

Morphometric and Vascular Modifications of the Clitoris During Pregnancy: A Longitudinal, Pilot Study.

During pregnancy, women go through a series of physical and emotional changes that may have an impact on their sexuality. The aim of the study was to examine modifications in sexual function during pregnancy by means of translabial ultrasonography and administration of questionnaires on sexual activity. Eighteen healthy and adult (25-35 years) pregnant women without sexual dysfunction and with a stable heterosexual relationship were examined at 10-12, 18-20, and 30-32 weeks of gestation.

Weight gain, body image and sexual function in young patients treated with contraceptive vaginal ring. A prospective pilot study.

Introduction: Oral contraceptives could induce mood changes. As far as our knowledge, there are no studies in literature that have examined the role of vaginal contraception in self-perceived body image.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of intravaginal contraception on weight gain and perceived body image in relation with the Beck's Depression Inventory questionnaire (BDI) and the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire (MFSQ).

Cigarette smoking and cardiovascular risk in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: To verify if in lean polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, the smok- ing habitude might increase the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective observational study, eighty-one women were divided into the following three groups: group I with 27 non-smokers, group II with 26 light-smokers (1-10 cigarettes/day), and group III with 28 heavy smokers (>10 cigarettes/ day). They were submitted to fasting blood sampling; blood measurement of nitrites/ni- trates (NO2-/ NO3), biochemical and hormonal parameters; ovarian ultrasonographic (US) analysis; doppler evaluation of uterine and ophthalmic arteries; brachial artery flow-medi- ated vasodilatation; 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; and oral glucose toler- ance test (OGTT).

Clitoral vascularization and sexual behavior in young patients treated with drospirenone-ethinyl estradiol or contraceptive vaginal ring: a prospective, randomized, pilot study.

Introduction: Oral contraceptives (OC) are effective for birth control and have good cycle control and tolerability. However, the hormonal components could modify mood and libido.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the genital vascular effects and sexual behavior of an OC containing 30 μg ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg drospirenone in comparison with a flexible combined contraceptive vaginal ring.

Body imaging and sexual behavior in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Introduction: In women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), changes in body appearance may influence the feminine identity of the patients with possible consequent depression and sexual dysfunction.

Aim: The study aims to examine the differences in mood, perceived body image, sexual behavior, and clitoral vascularization between lean PCOS patients and healthy eumenorrheic controls.

Methods: Thirty-three lean PCOS women (Group I) and 22 healthy nonhirsute volunteers (Group II) were submitted, on day 3-5 of the cycle, to ultrasonographic (US) and Doppler analyses, to clinical, hormonal, and biochemical evaluations, and to psychometric tests.

Clitoral changes, sexuality, and body image during the menstrual cycle: a pilot study.

Introduction: A relationship between sexual function and all body image variables has been reported. However, there are no studies analyzing the relationship between menstrual cycle, body image, and sexuality.

Aim: To evaluate clitoral changes, sexual behavior, and perceived body image during the menstrual cycle.

Body mass index, Stunkard Figure Rating Scale, and sexuality in young Italian women: a pilot study.

Introduction: Increased body mass index is associated with a higher prevalence of metabolic diseases, depression, and sexual dysfunction. In obese patients, the perception of an altered body image may influence health and psychologically related behaviors. Furthermore, there is a significant positive relationship between sexual function, sexual satisfaction, and all body image variables.

Two- and three-dimensional sonographic and color Doppler techniques for diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. The stromal/ovarian volume ratio as a new diagnostic criterion.

Objectives: The purpose of this work was to study the role of 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) sonographic and Doppler techniques in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Methods: A total of 112 young adult lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 52 healthy volunteers with regular ovulatory cycles, matched for age and body mass index, underwent a detailed history, medical examination, hormonal assay, and 2D and 3D sonographic and Doppler flow ovarian evaluation during the early follicular phase.

Results: The Ferriman-Gallwey score, circulating androgen levels, ovarian volume, and mean number of small subcapsular follicles on 2D and 3D sonography were significantly higher in the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome than the controls (P < .

Sexual behavior and oral contraception: a pilot study.

Introduction: Oral contraceptives (OCs) induce mood and libido changes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate in young, eumenorrheic, healthy women the sexual behavior and the genital vascular effects of an OC containing 30 µg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP).

Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures are McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire (MFSQ), the labia minora thickness and vaginal introitus area, the pulsatility index (PI) of clitoral and labia minora arteries, and hormonal and biochemical assays.