Publications by authors named "Frank Vicari"

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, though it may be prevented by increasing physical activity (PA). When behaviour change techniques (BCTs) are bundled together, they increase PA, though which individual BCTs increase PA (and the behavioural mechanism of action (MoA) responsible for said increase) have not been studied. The aim of this study is to conduct a randomised factorial experiment to determine which of four BCTs significantly engage the proposed MoA-self-efficacy for PA-in adults at risk for CVD.

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Purpose: To test the effectiveness and feasibility of a remotely delivered intervention to increase physical activity (walking) in middle-aged and older adults.

Design: This study used a personalized (N-of-1) trial design.

Setting: This study took place at a major healthcare system from November 2021 to February 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the psychosocial functioning of individuals with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) aged 6 and older.
  • Researchers surveyed 36 CL/P patients about their well-being before and during the pandemic, focusing on social-emotional aspects and satisfaction with facial appearance.
  • Results showed significant improvements in well-being and satisfaction after the pandemic began, particularly when patients were wearing masks, although remote interactions appeared less favorable.
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Purpose: To test the feasibility of a remotely-delivered intervention to increase low-intensity physical activity (walking) in middle-aged and older adults.

Design: This study used a Personalized (N-of-1) trial design.

Setting: This study took place at a major healthcare system from November 2021 to February 2022.

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Background: In the USA, the primary cause of death and morbidity continues to be cardiovascular disease (CVD). Numerous trials have shown that statin medication reduces the likelihood of CVD events; it is a cornerstone of CVD prevention. However, studies have also indicated that up to 60% of the estimated 26.

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Background: Personalized interventions that can be delivered remotely are needed to increase physical activity (PA) in older adults to reduce risk of CV disease and mortality. Prior research indicates that Behavioral Change Techniques (BCTs) (e.g.

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Background: Being physically active is critical to successful aging, but most middle-aged and older adults do not move enough. Research has shown that even small increases in activity can have a significant impact on risk reduction and improve quality of life. Some behavior change techniques (BCTs) can increase activity, but prior studies on their effectiveness have primarily tested them in between-subjects trials and in aggregate.

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Background: Statin therapy is a mainstay of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, but research shows that statin therapy alone is insufficient for preventing incident CVD and mortality. Combining statin medication with increased physical activity (PA) can lower mortality risk more than either statin or PA alone. However, PA levels often remain the same and may even decline following statin prescription.

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A neonate with thoracic ectopia cordis presented following an uncomplicated delivery. A mandibular distractor was placed to bridge the sternal cleft and retracted (reverse distractor activation) over 24 days to facilitate sternal closure. Follow-up at five years postoperatively demonstrated a well-healed sternum.

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Article Synopsis
  • A parasitic twin is a rare condition where a nonviable conjoined twin is attached to the host body at birth.
  • Rachipagus, a subtype of conjoined twins, involves the parasitic twin being attached to the spine.
  • The case study discusses a 9-month-old girl with a rachipagus parasitic twin that had fully developed lower limbs from her upper back, which was successfully removed by a team of surgeons.
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Background: The authors investigated the effectiveness of conservative (repositioning therapy with or without physical therapy) and helmet therapy, and identified factors associated with treatment failure.

Methods: A total of 4378 patients evaluated for deformational plagiocephaly and/or deformational brachycephaly were assigned to conservative (repositioning therapy, n = 383; repositioning therapy plus physical therapy, n = 2998) or helmet therapy (n = 997). Patients were followed until complete correction (diagonal difference <5 mm and/or cranial ratio <0.

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Complete thoracic ectopia cordis is associated with a uniformly dismal prognosis. The primary challenges of this disorder are (1) returning the heart to the thoracic cavity, (2) stabilizing the chest wall, and (3) repairing the sternal defect. Previously published techniques for achieving these goals have demonstrated very limited success and/or significant morbidity.

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In the neonatal intensive care unit, the use of umbilical artery catheters (UAC) is established. Methods to perform uninterrupted arterial blood gas and pressure monitoring, access for the delivery of fluids and medication, exchange transfusion, cardiac catheterization, and angiography using umbilical artery catheters are used in the care of critically ill neonatal patients. One complication that can develop with the use of UAC's is lower limb ischemia, which can result in catastrophic effects, including limb amputation.

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Objective: Calcific deposits develop in 20-40% of children with juvenile dermatomyositis (juvenile DM), contributing to disease morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to define the structure and composition of these deposits and to characterize their association with chronic inflammation.

Methods: We examined calcific deposits from 5 children with juvenile DM (2 boys and 3 girls).

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Tissue-engineered skin substitutes such as Apligraf have emerged over the past 20 years as among the most carefully studied and efficacious of the advanced wound modalities. These products have been proven as effective enhancements to general wound care, promoting wound closure particularly in instances where conventional wound care fails. Marketed for hard-to-heal wounds since 1998, Apligraf has become part of standard wound care in many wound centers across the United States.

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