Shared Decision-Making in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Understanding Surgeon and Patient Perspectives Regarding When It Is Time for Surgery.

Background: Although total hip and total knee arthroplasty are highly successful operations, the decision of whether and when to undergo surgery is highly subjective and discretionary, and specific guidelines regarding readiness for surgery remain elusive. The nature of these decisions underscores the importance of shared decision-making, which is founded on the concept that patients substantially contribute to determining their own readiness for surgery. The OPTION survey was developed as a conversation aid to facilitate shared decision-making in the context of total joint arthroplasty.

Quality assessment and control of unprocessed anatomical, functional, and diffusion MRI of the human brain using .

Quality control of MRI data prior to preprocessing is fundamental, as substandard data are known to increase variability spuriously. Currently, no automated or manual method reliably identifies subpar images, given pre-specified exclusion criteria. In this work, we propose a protocol describing how to carry out the visual assessment of T1-weighted, T2-weighted, functional, and diffusion MRI scans of the human brain with the visual reports generated by .

The BK (slo) channel regulates the cardiac function of Drosophila.

The large conductance, calcium, and voltage-active potassium channels (BK) were originally discovered in Drosophila melanogaster as slowpoke (slo). They are extensively characterized in fly models as ion channels for their roles in neurological and muscular function, as well as aging. BK is known to modulate cardiac rhythm and is localized to the mitochondria.

Quality control in functional MRI studies with MRIQC and fMRIPrep.

The implementation of adequate quality assessment (QA) and quality control (QC) protocols within the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research workflow is resource- and time-consuming and even more so is their execution. As a result, QA/QC practices highly vary across laboratories and "MRI schools", ranging from highly specialized knowledge spots to environments where QA/QC is considered overly onerous and costly despite evidence showing that below-standard data increase the false positive and false negative rates of the final results. Here, we demonstrate a protocol based on the visual assessment of images one-by-one with reports generated by MRIQC and fMRIPrep, for the QC of data in functional (blood-oxygen dependent-level; BOLD) MRI analyses.

Functional neuroimaging of resilience to trauma: convergent evidence and challenges for future research.

Resilience is broadly defined as the ability to adapt successfully following stressful life events. Here, we review functional MRI studies that investigated key psychological factors that have been consistently linked to resilience to severe adversity and trauma exposure. These domains include emotion regulation (including cognitive reappraisal), reward responsivity, and cognitive control.

Influence of modulator injection width on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography peak dimensions.

This study examines how the height and width of peaks exiting the secondary column of a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) separation are affected by the width of the pulse introduced to the secondary column. A flow-modulated GC × GC apparatus was assembled that allowed input pulse widths to be controlled precisely over a range of 10 to 70 ms. GC × GC chromatograms were obtained using secondary columns containing a polyethylene glycol stationary phase with internal diameters of 0.

Regulator of G-Protein Signaling 5 Protein Deficiency Differentially Influences Blood Pressure, Vascular and Behavioral Effects in Aged Male Mice.

Aging and elevated activity of the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) are associated with hypertension, vascular and emotional behavioral abnormalities, like anxiety and depression. Many actions of the main effector hormone of the RAS, angiotensin II (Ang II), are mediated by Ang II type 1 receptor whose activity is modulated by the regulator of G-protein signaling 5 (RGS5) protein. We assessed the role of RGS5 on blood pressure, vascular and emotional behavioral outcomes in aged male mice in the presence and absence of chronically elevated Ang II levels.

Calcium Channels in the Heart: Disease States and Drugs.

Calcium ions are the major signaling ions in the cells. They regulate muscle contraction, neurotransmitter secretion, cell growth and migration, and the activity of several proteins including enzymes and ion channels and transporters. They participate in various signal transduction pathways, thereby regulating major physiological functions.

Pharmacological activation of kappa opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens core and ventral tegmental area increases the aversive effects of nicotine.

Aversive effects of nicotine play an important role in the development of nicotine dependence. However, neural substrates and/or brain regions that play a role in the aversive effects of nicotine have not been fully identified. Previous work done in our laboratory showed that systemic administration of kappa opioid receptors (KORs) agonist ±U50488 increased the aversive effects of nicotine.

Differential methamphetamine-induced behavioral effects in male and female mice lacking regulator of G Protein signaling 4.

Methamphetamine-induced behavioral effects are mediated by several neurotransmitters that act via the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The functioning of GPCRs are negatively regulated by regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins. The goal of this study was to assess the role of two specific RGS proteins namely the RGS2 and the RGS4 proteins in methamphetamine-induced behaviors.

Attenuation of nicotine-induced rewarding and antidepressant-like effects in male and female mice lacking regulator of G-protein signaling 2.

Nicotine-induced rewarding and mood altering effects contribute to the continued use of nicotine and the subsequent development of nicotine dependence. The goal of this study was to assess the role of two specific regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins namely RGS2 and RGS4 in the above described effects of nicotine. Male and female mice lacking either RGS2 (RGS2 KO) or RGS4 (RGS4 KO), and their respective wildtype (WT) littermates were used in this study.

A Health Literate Patient-focused Approach to the Redesign of the Raltegravir (ISENTRESS) Pediatric Kit and Instructions for Use.

Background: Limited data exist regarding how medications for pediatric use can be developed to minimize medication errors. The integrase inhibitor raltegravir was developed for use in neonates (≥2 kg). Anticipating that neonatal administration would be performed primarily by mothers with varying degrees of health literacy, a health literate, patient-focused, iterative process was conducted to update/redesign the raltegravir granules for oral suspension pediatric kit and instructions for use (IFU) for neonatal use to be ready for regulatory submission.

Grieving as a form of learning: Insights from neuroscience applied to grief and loss.

Recent grief research suggests that the influential cognitive stress theory should be updated with evidence from cognitive neuroscience. Combining human and animal neuroscience with attachment theory, we propose that semantic knowledge of the everlasting nature of the attachment figure and episodic, autobiographical memories of the death are in conflict, perhaps explaining the duration of grieving and generating predictions about complications in prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Our gone-but-also-everlasting model emphasizes that grieving may be a form of learning, requiring time and experiential feedback.

Tumor-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction: A Potential Role of ROS.

Cancer and heart diseases are the two leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Many cancer patients undergo heart-related complications resulting in high incidences of mortality. It is generally hypothesized that cardiac dysfunction in cancer patients occurs due to cardiotoxicity induced by therapeutic agents, used to treat cancers and/or cancer-induced cachexia.

Methamphetamine-induced changes in myocardial gene transcription are sex-dependent.

Background: Prior work demonstrated that female rats (but not their male littermates) exposed to methamphetamine become hypersensitive to myocardial ischemic injury. Importantly, this sex-dependent effect persists following 30 days of subsequent abstinence from the drug, suggesting that it may be mediated by long term changes in gene expression that are not rapidly reversed following discontinuation of methamphetamine use. The goal of the present study was to determine whether methamphetamine induces sex-dependent changes in myocardial gene expression and whether these changes persist following subsequent abstinence from methamphetamine.

Prenatal exposure to methamphetamine in rats induces endothelial dysfunction in male but not female adult offspring.

In utero exposure to methamphetamine results in significant developmental, neurological, and behavioral deficits in offspring. However, very little is known about the cardiovascular effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure in adult offspring. We hypothesized that prenatal methamphetamine exposure causes adverse cardiovascular effects in adult offspring.

Short term methylphenidate treatment does not increase myocardial injury in the ischemic rat heart.

Methylphenidate is commonly used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The cardiovascular safety of methylphenidate has been a subject of debate with some studies indicating that methylphenidate increases the likelihood of experiencing a myocardial infarction. However, it is unknown whether methylphenidate worsens the extent of injury during an ischemic insult.

Regulator of G-protein signaling 5 protein protects against anxiety- and depression-like behavior.

Anxiety and depression are a major health burden. Angiotensin II, via activation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R)-mediated brain oxidative stress and inflammation may contribute to these emotional abnormalities. In this study, we investigated the role of a regulator of G-protein signaling 5 (RGS5) protein, which regulates AT1R activity, in angiotensin II-induced brain oxidative stress, inflammation and anxiety-, and depression-like behavior.

A predator-based psychosocial stress animal model of PTSD in females: Influence of estrous phase and ovarian hormones.

Traumatized women are more likely than traumatized men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Still, the inclusion of females in animal models of PTSD has largely been avoided, likely due to the variable hormone profile of female rodents. Because a valid animal model of PTSD that incorporates females is still needed, we examined the influence of estrous stage and ovarian hormones on the female rat response to a predator-based psychosocial stress model of PTSD.

Myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, and altered cardiac gene expression profiles in rats exposed to a predator-based model of posttraumatic stress disorder.

People who are exposed to life-threatening trauma are at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition to psychological manifestations, PTSD is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, hypertension, and other cardiovascular problems. We previously reported that rats exposed to a predator-based model of PTSD develop myocardial hypersensitivity to ischemic injury.

Changes in Functional Connectivity Following Treatment With Emotion Regulation Therapy.

Emotion regulation therapy (ERT) is an efficacious treatment for distress disorders (i.e., depression and anxiety), predicated on a conceptual model wherein difficult to treat distress arises from intense emotionality (e.

Intranasal oxytocin and OXTR genotype effects on resting state functional connectivity: A systematic review.

Objective: Evaluate effects of intranasal oxytocin (IN-OT) and OXTR genotype on resting state functional connectivity in the human brain.

Methods: We searched research databases for peer-reviewed empirical studies. Of 71 unique citations, 18 articles (13 IN-OT, five OXTR) met full inclusion criteria.