Publications by authors named "G Simmons"
Article Synopsis
- Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a rare disorder causing involuntary facial muscle contractions, and this review compares two surgical techniques—transposition and interposition—for treating it.
- A systematic search of medical databases led to the inclusion of 62 studies, with both techniques showing similar rates of spasm freedom at follow-ups (around 90%) and comparable complication rates.
- While both techniques are deemed safe and effective for microvascular decompression, the reviewed literature does not conclusively favor one method over the other in terms of safety or efficacy.
Background: Autistic youth experience high rates of anxiety, which has been treated with modified cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), often integrating exposure therapy. Such anxiety treatments are effective for this population; however, there remains a gap between these evidence-based mental health interventions and their implementation in community mental health (CMH) services where autistic youth receive care.
Method: This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with four types of community members in the United States: 15 autistic youth with anxiety, 15 caregivers of autistic youth with anxiety, 11 CMH clinicians, and 8 CMH clinic leaders.
Article Synopsis
- A Phase II clinical trial examined the effects of intravenous vitamin C on patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants to reduce nonrelapse mortality (NRM).
- Patients (55 total) were given IV vitamin C for 14 days, which corrected their initial vitamin C deficiency and showed a trend towards lower NRM (11%) compared to historical controls (25%).
- The study suggests that vitamin C repletion is safe and may improve survival rates (82% vs. 62%), but further randomized trials are necessary to validate these findings.
This video depicts a left-sided MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy for a right-arm tremor in a 76-year-old, right-handed man with bilateral upper-extremity tremors. The patient tolerated the procedure well, with immediate tremor reduction that persisted at the 1-month follow-up, and there were no adverse events noted during intraoperative testing, postoperative testing, or follow-up. This case highlights MRgFUS as an effective, safe, incision-free treatment option for medically refractory essential tremor.
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- About 50% of autistic youth experience anxiety that affects their daily lives, and while specific psychotherapies have been found effective, there's limited research on their application in community settings.
- A study conducted through interviews with various stakeholders highlighted key barriers and facilitators to accessing mental health services for autistic youth, revealing themes related to youth characteristics, caregiver engagement, and provider relationship-building.
- Recommendations for improving anxiety treatment include allowing more time for sessions to build rapport, matching providers to youth based on preferences, and increasing psychoeducation for families.