Penn

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging infarct topography may assist with determining stroke etiology. The influence of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-positive lesions on etiology determination in patients with transient ischemic attack or minor stroke is not well studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively enrolled patients between 2010 and 2017 in 2 studies; participants with a final diagnosis of probable or definite transient ischemic attack or stroke were pooled for analysis...

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that lifestyle/environmental factors could accelerate the development of age-related hearing loss (ARHL). However, there has not yet been a study investigating the joint association among genetics, lifestyle/environmental factors, and adherence to healthy lifestyle for risk of ARHL. We aimed to assess the association between ARHL genetic variants, lifestyle/environmental factors, and adherence to healthy lifestyle as pertains to risk of ARHL. METHODS: This case-control study included 376,464 European individuals aged 40 to 69 years, enrolled between 2006 and 2010 in the UK Biobank (UKBB)...

A total femoral approach for fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic aneurysm repair has been increasingly favored to minimize risks of aortic arch manipulation. We describe a novel technique to support the advancement of endovascular devices into a target vessel. Following catheterization of the intended target artery and deployment of the diameter-reducing ties, a Coda semi-compliant balloon (Cook Medical) is advanced and inflated immediately above the target artery. It is used as a support as the wire, catheter, or sheath "bounces" on the balloon, stabilizing the support wire to advance stent grafts, balloons, or sheaths into the downward renal or mesenteric vessels...

People diagnosed with Vestibular Schwannoma (VS) can experience several symptoms both pre and post-treatment. These, alongside the diagnosis experience, can significantly impact their daily life. The present research is a continuation of a larger study aiming to explore the impacts of symptomology and body image/fear of negative evaluation (FNAE) on the quality of life (QOL) for people with VS. The research design was exploratory and involved a nationwide survey with a total of 52 participants. FNAE was assessed using a measurement of the same name, and QOL was assessed using the Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life scale (PANQOL)...

The presence of oxyanions, such as nitrate (NO3 - ) and phosphate (PO4 3- ), regulates the nucleation and growth of goethite (Gt) and hematite (Hm) during the transformation of ferrihydrite (Fh). Our previous studies showed that oxyanion surface complexes control the rate and pathway of Fh transformation to Gt and Hm. However, how oxyanion surface complexes control the mechanism of Gt and Hm nucleation and growth during the Fh transformation is still unclear. We used synchrotron scattering methods and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy to investigate the effects of NO3 - outer-sphere complexes and PO4 3- inner-sphere complexes on the mechanism of Gt and Hm formation from Fh...

BACKGROUND: The Racing and Crowded Thoughts Questionnaire (RCTQ-13) is the most widely used specific scale for the measurement of racing thoughts, but there is currently no Spanish version that allow the evaluation in Spanish-speaking patients. The objective of this study is to translate, adapt, and validate the RCTQ-13 in a Colombian population with affective disorders. METHODS: The questionnaire was translated and back-translated, and corrections were implemented following a pilot test to improve comprehensibility...

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to describe the long-term efficacy and safety of upadacitinib and adalimumab through 228 weeks following immediate switch to the alternate therapy with a different mechanism of action (MoA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not achieving treatment goals with their initial randomized therapy in the ongoing phase 3 SELECT-COMPARE study. METHODS: Patients with non-response or incomplete response to initially prescribed upadacitinib 15 mg once daily or adalimumab 40 mg every other week were switched to the alternate therapy by week 26...

Recent advances in technology have led to an increase in the detection of previously undetected deep-located tumor tissue. As a result, the medical field is using a variety of methods to treat deep-located tumors, and minimally invasive treatment techniques are being explored. In this study, therapeutic effect of microwave ablation (MWA) on tumor generated inside liver tissue was analyzed through numerical analysis. The distribution of electromagnetic fields in biological tissues emitted by microwave coaxial antenna (MCA) was calculated through the wave equation, and the thermal behavior of the tissue was analyzed through the Pennes bioheat equation...

BACKGROUND: Numerous observational studies have highlighted associations of genetic predisposition of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with diverse risk factors, but these findings are constrained by design limitations of observational studies. In this study, we utilized a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) approach, incorporating a polygenic risk score (PRS) derived from a wide array of genomic variants, to systematically investigate phenotypes associated with genetic predisposition to HNSCC...

Memorializes Juris G. Draguns (1932-2023), a noted cross-cultural researcher and author. in 1967, joined Pennsylvania State University, where he remained until his retirement in 1997 as professor emeritus. His presence at Penn State, along with George Guthrie, Muzafer Sherif, and Carolyn Sherif, made its program one of the outstanding early centers for cross-cultural psychology. He remained active after his university retirement, maintaining a part-time clinical practice and pursuing new research interests...

UNLABELLED: Tongue dorsum swabbing is a potential alternative to sputum collection for tuberculosis (TB) testing. Previous studies showed that Cepheid Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert Ultra) can detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA on tongue swabs stored in buffer, with 72% sensitivity and 100% specificity relative to a sputum microbiological reference standard (sputum MRS). The present study evaluated a more convenient sample collection protocol (dry swab storage), combined with streamlined sample processing protocols, for evaluating two commercial TB diagnostic tests: Xpert Ultra and Molbio Truenat MTB Ultima (MTB Ultima)...

BACKGROUND: Cognitive control training (CCT) has shown potential to reduce emotional vulnerability in adults and adolescents. However, there is scant literature testing the efficacy of CCT for the reduction of anxiety and transferring the effects to educational outcomes in children. Building on the evidence that a greater ability to suppress a prepotent response (inhibitory control) is associated with higher math achievement in children, it is plausible that training inhibitory processes using a CCT paradigm may be beneficial for reducing anxiety, improving inhibitory control, and in turn increasing math achievement...

OBJECTIVE: Poor sleep and high levels of repetitive negative thinking (RNT), including future-directed (ie, worry) and past-directed (ie, brooding) negative thoughts, have been associated with markers of dementia risk. The relationship between RNT and sleep health in older adults is unknown. This study aimed to investigate this association and its specificities including multiple dimensions of objective and subjective sleep. METHODS: This study used a cross sectional quantitative design with baseline data from 127 cognitively healthy older adults (mean age 69...

Individuals with cirrhosis experience higher morbidity and mortality rates than the general population, irrespective of the type or scope of surgery. This increased risk is attributed to adverse effects of liver disease, encompassing coagulation dysfunction, altered metabolism of anesthesia and sedatives, immunologic dysfunction, hemorrhage related to varices, malnutrition and frailty, impaired wound healing, as well as diminished portal blood flow, overall hepatic circulation, and hepatic oxygen supply during surgical procedures...

Visuospatial neglect is a disorder characterised by impaired awareness for visual stimuli located in regions of space and frames of reference. It is often associated with stroke. Patients can struggle with all aspects of daily living and community participation. Assessment methods are limited and show several shortcomings, considering they are mainly performed on paper and do not implement the complexity of daily life. Similarly, treatment options are sparse and often show only small improvements. We present an artificial intelligence solution designed to accurately assess a patient's visuospatial neglect in a three-dimensional setting...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Work addiction (WA), characterized by dimensions such as overcommitment, difficulties in detachment from work, and work-life imbalance, is presumed to be associated with increased smartphone usage, even during risky activities like driving. The study investigated the connection between WA and future problematic and hazardous smartphone use, considering personality factors: anxiety, rumination, and worry. METHODS: A three-wave longitudinal study (N = 1,866) was conducted from March to July 2019, June to September 2020, and June to November 2021, involving a representative sample of 18-34-year-old residents in Hungary's capital...

The primary objective of this research is to develop a mathematical model, analyze the dynamic occurrence of thermal shock and exploration of how thermal memory with moving line impact of heat transfer within biological tissues. An extended version of the Pennes equation as its foundational framework, a new fractional modelling approach called the Prabhakar fractional operator to investigate and a novel time-fractional interpretation of Fourier's law that incorporates its historical behaviour. This fractional operator has multi parameter generalized Mittag-Leffler kernel...

CASE: A 4-year-old girl patient presented with complete amputation of the second toe close to the distal interphalangeal joint. Replantation was performed using a novel midlateral approach. The procedure used the dorsal subcutaneous vein on the foot as a graft for the artery. Four months postoperatively, the toe healed without any complication. The patient reported pain-free physical exercise without limitations in daily activity. CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates that this approach has the potential to provide a safe and viable alternative for treating toe amputations and offers advantages such as simplified artery identification, straightforward anastomosis, and improved vein graft harvesting...

Carbon monoxide (CO), resulting from incomplete combustion such as tobacco smoking, serves as an indicator of nicotine addiction. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of exhaled CO levels between electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) and tobacco smokers and to determine the association between nicotine dependence and exhaled CO levels in e-cigarette and tobacco smokers. A cross-sectional study was conducted using purposive sampling on active smokers, with 70 smokers in each group. The nicotine dependence was measured using the Penn State Nicotine Dependence Index (PSNDI) questionnaire for the e-cigarette group and the Fagerstrom questionnaire for the tobacco smoking group...

BACKGROUND: While previous studies have assessed patient reported quality of life (QOL) of various vestibular schwannoma (VS) treatment modalities, few studies have assessed QOL as related to the amount of residual tumor and need for retreatment in a large series of patients. Objective: To assess patient reported QOL outcomes following VS resection with a focus on extent of resection and retreatment. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed using single-center institutional data of adult patients who underwent VS resection by the senior authors between 1989-2018 at Loyola University Medical Center...