Objectives: To investigate the effects of a mindfulness-based family psychoeducation (MBFPE) intervention on caregivers and the young adults with first-episode psychosis in mental health care.
Methods: Sixty-five caregivers were randomly assigned to the MBFPE program (n = 33) or an ordinary family psychoeducation (FPE) program (n = 32). Eighteen young adults in recovery (YAIR) also participated in the study.
The process of developing therapies to treat rare diseases is fraught with financial, regulatory, and logistical challenges that have limited our ability to build effective treatments. Recently, a novel type of therapy called antisense therapy has shown immense potential for the treatment of rare diseases, particularly through single-patient N-of-1 trials. Several N-of-1 antisense therapies have been developed recently for rare diseases, including the landmark study of milasen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMentalizing, or theory of mind (ToM), impairments and self-referential hypermentalizing bias are well-evident in schizophrenia. However, findings compared to individuals with at-risk mental states (ARMS) are inconsistent, and investigations into the relationship between social cognitive impairments and social anxiety in the two populations are scarce. This study aimed to examine and compare these deficits in first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (FES) and ARMS, and to explore potential specific associations with neurocognition and symptomatology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
January 2023
Objective: In this study, we investigated the effects of a mindfulness-based family psychoeducation (MBFPE) program on the mental-health outcomes of both caregivers and young adults with first-episode psychosis with an onset in the past three years through a multi-site randomized controlled trial. We also studied the outcomes of three potential mediating effects of interpersonal mindfulness, expressed emotions, and non-attachment on the program.
Method: We randomly assigned 65 caregivers of young adults with psychosis to MBFPE ( = 33) or an ordinary family psychoeducation (FPE) program ( = 32); among them, 18 young adults in recovery also participated in the evaluation of outcomes.
My Turn is software used to manage several Covid-19 mass vaccination campaigns in California. The objective of this article is to describe the use of My Turn at two points of dispensing in California and comment on process improvements to reduce manual tasks of six identified processes of vaccination-registration, scheduling, administration, documentation, follow-up, and digital vaccine record-and paper. We reviewed publicly available documents of My Turn and patients vaccinated at George R.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study explores whether vaccination coverage, social distancing rules, and COVID-19 death rate affect tourism recovery using data from 249 countries/territories. We used panel data regression techniques-namely Fixed-effects, Hausman-Taylor, and Instrumental Variables regressions for the empirical analysis. Results show that a higher vaccination coverage is not necessarily accompanied by a higher tourism recovery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci
October 2022
Mentalizing impairment is one of the core features of schizophrenia, and bias judgement of others' gaze as self-directing is common to schizophrenia patients. In this case-control study, 30 patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and 30 matched healthy controls were assigned gaze perception tasks with variable stimulus presentation times (300 ms and no time limit) to determine the presence of self-referential gaze perception (SRGP) bias. The eye movement pattern during the task were tracked and data were analysed using hidden Markov models (HMMs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Surgical simulation is valuable in neurovascular surgery given the progressive rarity of these cases and their technical complexity, but its use has not been well described for pediatric vascular pathologies. We herein review the use of surgical simulation at our institution for complex pediatric aneurysmal malformations.
Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated for middle cerebral artery aneurysmal malformations with surgical simulation assistance (SuRgical Planner [SRP]; Surgical Theater, Mayfield Village, OH) during a 2-year period at Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego was performed.
Importance: Vomiting resulting from acute gastroenteritis is commonly treated with intravenous antiemetics in acute care settings. If oral treatment were beneficial, patients might not need intravenous administered hydration or medication. Furthermore, a long-acting treatment could provide sustained relief from nausea and vomiting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this article, we discuss the ethical dimensions for the prescribing behaviours of opioids for a chronic pain patient, a scenario commonly witnessed by many physicians. The opioid epidemic in the USA and Canada is well known, existing since the late 1990s, and individuals are suffering and dying as a result of the easy availability of prescription opioids. More recently, this problem has been seen outside of North America affecting individuals at similar rates in Australia and Europe.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Inotuzumab ozogamicin (InO), an anti-CD22 antibody-calicheamicin conjugate, demonstrated superior clinical activity versus standard-of-care (SOC) chemotherapies for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the phase 3 randomized controlled INO-VATE trial. The authors assessed patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from that study.
Methods: Patients were randomized to receive either InO (1.
Obesity prevalence and average body composition vary by US race and gender. Asian Americans have the lowest prevalence of obesity. Relying on body-mass index (BMI) to estimate obesity prevalence may misclassify subgroups that appear normally weighted but have excess body fat.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the impact of age, glaucoma-specific diagnosis, and history of prior glaucoma surgery on outcomes in pediatric patients treated with latanoprost monotherapy.
Patients And Methods: Prospective, randomized, double-masked 12-week, multicenter study included individuals 18 years or younger with glaucoma. Subjects stratified by age (0 to <3, 3 to <12, 12 to 18 y), diagnosis [primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) vs.
Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of three doses of PF-04523655, a 19-nucleotide methylated double stranded siRNA targeting the RTP801 gene, for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) compared to focal/grid laser photocoagulation.
Methods: This multicenter, prospective, masked, randomized, active-controlled, phase 2 interventional clinical trial enrolled 184 DME patients with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/40 to 20/320 inclusive in the study eye. Patients were randomly assigned to 0.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of different dosing paradigms of PF-04523655 (PF) versus ranibizumab (comparator) in subjects with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Design: Multicenter, open-label, prospective, randomized, comparator-controlled exploratory study.
Participants: A total of 151 patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to neovascular AMD who were naive to AMD therapy.
Background: We sought to compare perioperative outcomes and 2-year survival in a cohort of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients compared with matched hemodialysis (HD) patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery at our institution.
Methods: We obtained a list of all dialysis-dependent patients who underwent cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement, or both) at our center between 1994 and 2008. All patients undergoing PD at the time of surgery were included in our analysis.
Objective: Approximately, 50-60% of patients with sleep apnea have hypertension. To explore a mechanism of this relationship, we compared its prevalence in a hypertensive population with and without hyperaldosteronism.
Methods: Using the Kaiser Permanente Southern California database, hypertensive individuals who had plasma aldosterone and plasma renin activity measured between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2007 were evaluated.
Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of latanoprost versus timolol in pediatric patients with glaucoma.
Design: Prospective, randomized, double-masked, 12-week, multicenter study.
Participants: Individuals aged ≤18 years with glaucoma.
Background: There is concern that recommending protein-enriched meal replacements as part of a weight management program could lead to changes in biomarkers of liver or renal function and reductions in bone density. This study was designed as a placebo-controlled clinical trial utilizing two isocaloric meal plans utilizing either a high protein-enriched (HP) or a standard protein (SP) meal replacement in an outpatient weight loss program.
Subjects/methods: 100 obese men and women over 30 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) between 27 to 40 kg/m2 were randomized to one of two isocaloric weight loss meal plans 1).
Background: While high protein diets have been shown to improve satiety and retention of lean body mass (LBM), this study was designed to determine effects of a protein-enriched meal replacement (MR) on weight loss and LBM retention by comparison to an isocaloric carbohydrate-enriched MR within customized diet plans utilizing MR to achieve high protein or standard protein intakes.
Methods: Single blind, placebo-controlled, randomized outpatient weight loss trial in 100 obese men and women comparing two isocaloric meal plans utilizing a standard MR to which was added supplementary protein or carbohydrate powder. MR was used twice daily (one meal, one snack).
Background: Various adipose tissue factors have been implicated as biomarkers of the metabolic syndrome (MS). The objective of this study was to assess which specific adipose tissue factors would discriminate the presence of MS in a strictly obese population meeting waist circumference (WC) criteria for the MS.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 148 subjects recruited from a university-based weight loss program prior to starting the program.
Background: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients often undergo preoperative dieting and psychological assessment before surgery. We examined preoperative weight loss, binge eating disorder (BED), and sexual abuse history and the interactions of these predictors to determine whether a cautionary approach to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is warranted.
Methods: Consecutive subjects undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at our institution from January 1997 to December 2002 were reviewed.
Background: Long-term results of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are nonexistent in the veterans affairs (VA) population. We compare excess weight loss (EWL) success and medical comorbidity changes between the VA and non-VA population after RYGB.
Methods: Retrospective review of consecutive subjects undergoing RYGB from 1997 to 2002 at the Los Angeles VA.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of liver diseases in the absence of significant alcohol consumption, and its incidence is paralleling the increasing numbers of overweight and obese individuals worldwide. This review discusses the pathogenesis of NAFLD, including the roles potentially played by specific adipokines, such as TNF-alpha, leptin, and adiponectin. Clinical features, diagnosis, and potential methods of management are also addressed to assist practitioners with the management of this growing population of patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChildren and individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) compared to typical participants are disadvantaged not only by virtue of being vulnerable to risks inherent in research participation but also by the higher likelihood of exclusion from research altogether. Current regulatory and ethical guidelines although necessary for their protection do not sufficiently ensure fair distributive justice. Yet, in view of disproportionately higher burdens of co-occurring physical and mental disorders in individuals with DD, they are better positioned to benefit from research by equitable participation.
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