Mapping the Relationship between Health-related Beliefs, Fear, Avoidance, and Depression: Lessons from the Pandemic and Beyond.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a mental health crisis, with depression symptoms increasing nearly three-fold compared to pre-pandemic levels. To explain this surge and to outline related novel treatment targets for post-pandemic psychiatric interventions, the current study examined cognitive, emotional, and behavioral predictors of depression (in the context of the recent pandemic). Participants completed measures assessing perceived danger, perceived infectiousness, and fear of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The production of p-cresol sulfate and indoxyl sulfate in vegetarians versus omnivores.

Background And Objectives: The uremic solutes p-cresol sulfate (PCS) and indoxyl sulfate (IS) are generated by colon bacteria acting on food components that escape absorption in the small bowel. The production of these potentially toxic compounds may thus be influenced by diet. This study examined whether production of PCS and IS is different in vegetarians and omnivores.

Selectively increasing the clearance of protein-bound uremic solutes.

Background: The toxicity of bound solutes could be better evaluated if we could adjust the clearance of such solutes independent of unbound solutes. This study assessed whether bound solute clearances can be increased while maintaining urea clearance constant during the extended hours of nocturnal dialysis.

Methods: Nine patients on thrice-weekly nocturnal dialysis underwent two experimental dialysis treatments 1 week apart.

Colonic contribution to uremic solutes.

Microbes in the colon produce compounds, normally excreted by the kidneys, which are potential uremic toxins. Although p-cresol sulfate and indoxyl sulfate are well studied examples, few other compounds are known. Here, we compared plasma from hemodialysis patients with and without colons to identify and further characterize colon-derived uremic solutes.

Contribution of residual function to removal of protein-bound solutes in hemodialysis.

Background And Objectives: This study evaluated the contribution of residual function to the removal of solutes for which protein binding limits clearance by hemdialysis.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: Solute concentrations were measured in 25 hemodialysis patients with residual urea clearances ranging from 0.1 to 6.

Effect of increasing dialyzer mass transfer area coefficient and dialysate flow on clearance of protein-bound solutes: a pilot crossover trial.

Background: Protein-bound solutes are poorly cleared by means of conventional hemodialysis because protein binding limits the "free" solute concentration driving diffusion. This study tested the modeled prediction that clearances of bound solutes could be increased by increasing the dialyzer mass transfer area coefficient (K(o)A) and dialysate flow (Q(d)) to greater than the levels used in conventional practice.

Study Design: Pilot crossover trial.

Update on lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in the management of patients with melanocytic tumours.

Aims: To communicate best practices for sentinel lymph node evaluation and assessment of prognosis for patients with melanoma.

Methods: Description and justification of approaches derive from experience with management of more than 2000 melanoma patients evaluated by lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy (LMSNB).

Results: Pathologists, by detecting blue dye or carbon particles or alterations in nodal cell populations should attempt to confirm that a node submitted as sentinel is truly sentinel.

Optimized assessment of sentinel lymph nodes for metastatic melanoma: implications for regional surgery and overall treatment planning.

Correct identification of the sentinel node (SN) and accurate evaluation of this node's tumor status constitute the most precise technique for staging clinically localized cutaneous melanoma. However, even if tumor is present in the SN (as in approximately 20% of patients), the remaining nodes in the basin are often tumor-free. We have found that the Breslow thickness of the primary, the relative area of tumor in the SN (with respect to the area of the SN), and the density of dendritic leukocytes in the SN paracortex not only can predict the likelihood of nonsentinel node metastases but also are correlated with likelihood of tumor recurrence and melanoma-specific survival.