2,700 research outputs found
Blending mindfulness practices and character strengths increases employee wellâbeing : a secondâorder metaâanalysis and a followâup field experiment
Abstract: This study summarises the existing literature on MindfulnessâBased Interventions (MBIs) and their effect on employee wellâbeing criteria and extends it by testing MBIs against a MindfulnessâStrengthsâBased Intervention (MSBI). Given that extant MBIs focus on restoring wellâbeing, our first hypothesis was that MBIs would perform better on reducing negative emotional states than on promoting wellbeing. To test our first hypothesis, we conducted a secondorder metaâanalysis, which summarised 13 firstâorder metaâanalyses (k = 311). MBIs had stronger effects on reducing negative emotions (g = â0.74) than on increasing wellâbeing (g = 0.58). Then, we conducted a followâup field experiment, comparing how an MSBI performed against an MBI on employee wellâbeing criteria..
The added value of operatorâs judgement in thyroid nodule ultrasound classification arising from histologically based comparison of different risk stratification systems.
Objective: Several ultrasound classifications for thyroid nodules were proposed but their accuracy is still debated, since mainly estimated on cytology and not on histology. The aim of this study was to test the diagnostic accuracy and the inter-classification agreement of AACE/ACE-AME, American Thyroid Association (ATA), British Thyroid Association (BTA), and Modena Ultrasound Thyroid Classification (MUT) that stratifies malignancy risk considering also the clinician subjective impression.
Methods: A prospective study collecting thyroid nodule features at ultrasound and histological diagnosis was conducted. Ultrasound features were collected following a preformed checklist in candidates for surgery because of indeterminate, suspicious, or malignant cytology. All the nodules, besides the cytologically suspicious one, were blinded analyzed. MUT score was applied prospectively, and the others retrospectively. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic cut-off value, and accuracy of each classification were calculated. The overall agreement between classifications was tested by Bland-Altman, and agreement between single nodule analysis by different classifications by Weighted Cohen's Kappa.
Results: In classifying a total of 457 nodules, MUT has the highest accuracy (AUC 0.808) and specificity (89%), followed by ATA and BTA, and finally by AACE/ACE-AME. ATA, BTA, and MUT are highly interchangeable. Considering agreement between single nodule analyses, ATA and BTA had the best (Îș = 0.723); AACE/ACE-AME showed slight agreement with BTA (Îș = 0.177) and MUT (Îș = 0.183), and fair agreement with ATA (Îș = 0.282); MUT had fair agreement with both ATA (Îș = 0.291) and BTA (Îș = 0.271).
Conclusion: Classifications have an acceptable overall diagnostic accuracy, improved using a less rigid system that takes into consideration operator subjective impression
Psychometric Evaluation of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder for Adolescents (BDD-YBOCS-A)
The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder for Adolescents (BDD-YBOCS-A) is a clinician-rated measure of BDD symptom severity in youth. Despite widespread use in both research and clinical practice, its psychometric properties have not been formally evaluated. The current study examined the factor structure, reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the BDD-YBOCS-A in 251 youths with BDD attending two specialist clinics. A principal component analysis identified two factors, explaining 56% of the variance. The scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbachâs alpha = 0.87) and adequate convergent and divergent validity. In a subgroup of participants receiving BDD treatment (n = 175), BDD-YBOCS-A scores significantly decreased over time, demonstrating sensitivity to change. BDD-YBOCS-A change scores over treatment were highly correlated with severity changes measured by the Clinical Global Impression â Severity scale (r =.84). The study provides empirical support for the use of the BDD-YBOCS-A in children and adolescents with BDD
Treatment of hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules by percutaneous ethanol injection
BACKGROUND: Autonomous thyroid nodules can be treated by a variety of methods. We assessed the efficacy of percutaneous ethanol injection in treating autonomous thyroid nodules. METHODS: 35 patients diagnosed by technetium-99 scanning with hyperfunctioning nodules and suppressed sensitive TSH (sTSH) were given sterile ethanol injections under ultrasound guidance. 29 patients had clinical and biochemical hyperthyroidism. The other 6 had sub-clinical hyperthyroidism with suppressed sTSH levels (<0.24 ÎŒIU/ml) and normal thyroid hormone levels. Ethanol injections were performed once every 1â4 weeks. Ethanol injections were stopped when serum T(3), T(4 )and sTSH levels had returned to normal, or else injections could no longer be performed because significant side effects. Patients were followed up at 3, 6 and, in 15 patients, 24 months after the last injection. RESULTS: Average pre-treatment nodule volume [18.2 ± 12.7 ml] decreased to 5.7 ± 4.6 ml at 6 months follow-up [P < 0.001]. All patients had normal thyroid hormone levels at 3 and 6 months follow-up [P < 0.001 relative to baseline]. sTSH levels increased from 0.09 ± 0.02 ÎŒIU/ml to 0.65 ± 0.8 ÎŒIU/ml at the end of therapy [P < 0.05]. Only 3 patients had persistent sTSH suppression at 6 months post-therapy. T(4 )and sTSH did not change significantly between 6 months and 2 years [P > 0.05]. Ethanol injections were well tolerated by the patients, with only 2 cases of transient dysphonia. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that ethanol injection is an alternative to surgery or radioactive iodine in the treatment of autonomous thyroid nodules
Prevalence, risk factors and outcomes of patients coming from the community with sepsis due to multidrug resistant bacteria
Background: Although previous studies showed an increasing prevalence of infections due to multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in the community, specific data on sepsis are lacking. We aimed to assess prevalence, risk factors and outcomes of patients with sepsis due to MDR bacteria. Methods: An observational, retrospective study was conducted on consecutive adult patients coming from the community and admitted to the Policlinico Hospital, Milan, Italy, with a diagnosis of sepsis between January 2011 and December 2015. Primary study outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results: Among 518 patients, at least one MDR bacteria was isolated in 88 (17%). ESBL+ Enterobacteriaceae were the most prevalent MDR bacteria (9.7%) followed by MRSA (3.9%). Independent risk factors for sepsis due to MDR bacteria were septic shock (OR: 2.2; p = 0.002) and hospitalization in the previous 90 days (OR: 2.3; p = 0.003). Independent risk factors for sepsis due to ESBL+ bacteria were hospitalization in the previous 90 days (OR: 2.1; p = 0.02) and stroke (OR: 2.1; p = 0.04). A significantly higher mortality was detected among patients with vs. without MDR bacteria (40.2% vs. 23.1% respectively, p = 0.001). Independent risk factors for mortality among patients with sepsis were coagulation dysfunction (OR: 3.2; p = 0.03), septic shock (OR: 3.2; p = 0.003), and isolation of a MDR bacteria (OR: 4.6; p < 0.001). Conclusion: In light of the prevalence and impact of MDR bacteria causing sepsis in patients coming from the community, physicians should consider ESBL coverage when starting an empiric antibiotic therapy in patients with specific risk factors, especially in the presence of septic shock
Active and passive shielding design optimization and technical solutions for deep sensitivity hard X-ray focusing telescopes
The 10-100 keV region of the electromagnetic spectrum contains the potential
for a dramatic improvement in our understanding of a number of key problems in
high energy astrophysics. A deep inspection of the universe in this band is on
the other hand still lacking because of the demanding sensitivity (fraction of
microCrab in the 20-40 keV for 1 Ms integration time) and imaging (~15" angular
resolution) requirements. The mission ideas currently being proposed are based
on long focal length, grazing incidence, multi-layer optics, coupled with focal
plane detectors with few hundreds microns spatial resolution capability. The
required large focal lengths, ranging between 8 and 50 m, can be realized by
means of extendable optical benches (as foreseen e.g. for the HEXIT-SAT, NEXT
and NuSTAR missions) or formation flight scenarios (e.g. Simbol-X and XEUS).
While the final telescope design will require a detailed trade-off analysis
between all the relevant parameters (focal length, plate scale value, angular
resolution, field of view, detector size, and sensitivity degradation due to
detector dead area and telescope vignetting), extreme attention must be
dedicated to the background minimization. In this respect, key issues are
represented by the passive baffling system, which in case of large focal
lengths requires particular design assessments, and by the active/passive
shielding geometries and materials. In this work, the result of a study of the
expected background for a hard X-ray telescope is presented, and its
implication on the required sensitivity, together with the possible
implementation design concepts for active and passive shielding in the
framework of future satellite missions, are discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures. Proceedings of SPIE conference "Optics for EUV,
X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy II", San Diego (CA, USA), July 31st - August
4th, 2005, Vol. 5900. Full color figures are available at
http://www.bo.iasf.cnr.it/~malaguti/papers/SPIE2005_1.ps.g
Search for electron antineutrino interactions with the Borexino Counting Test Facility at Gran Sasso
Electron antineutrino interactions above the inverse beta decay energy of
protons (E_\bar{\nu}_e>1.8) where looked for with the Borexino Counting Test
Facility (CTF). One candidate event survived after rejection of background,
which included muon-induced neutrons and random coincidences. An upper limit on
the solar flux, assumed having the B solar neutrino energy
spectrum, of 1.1 cm~s (90% C.L.) was set with a 7.8
ton year exposure. This upper limit corresponds to a solar neutrino
transition probability, , of 0.02 (90% C.L.).
Predictions for antineutrino detection with Borexino, including geoneutrinos,
are discussed on the basis of background measurements performed with the CTF.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, 5 table
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