Bariatric surgery partially reverses subclinical proarrhythmic structural, electrophysiological and autonomic changes in obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity confers higher risks of cardiac arrhythmias. The extent to which weight loss reverses subclinical proarrhythmic adaptations in arrhythmia-free obese individuals is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To study structural, electrophysiological and autonomic remodelling in arrhythmia-free obese patients, and their reversibility with bariatric surgery using electrocardiographic imaging (ECGi). METHODS: Sixteen arrhythmia-free obese patients (43+12years, 13 female, BMI 46.7+5.5kg/m2) had ECGi pre-bariatric surgery (PreSurg), of which twelve had ECGi post-surgery (PostSurg, 36.8+6.5kg/m2). Sixteen age- and sex-matched lean healthy individuals (42+11 years, BMI 22.8+2.6kg/m2) acted as controls and had ECGi once. RESULTS: Obesity was associated with structural (increased epicardial fat volumes and left ventricular mass), autonomic (blunted heart rate variability) and electrophysiological (slower atrial conduction and steeper ventricular repolarisation gradients) remodelling. Following bariatric surgery, there was partial structural reverse remodelling, with a reduction in epicardial fat volumes (68.7cm3 vs 64.5cm3, p=0.0010) and left ventricular mass (33g/m2.7 vs 25g/m2.7, p<0.0005). There was also partial electrophysiological reverse remodelling with a reduction in mean spatial ventricular repolarisation gradients (26mm/ms vs 19mm/ms, p=0.0009), although atrial activation remained prolonged. Heart rate variability, quantified by standard deviation of successive differences of RR intervals, was also partially improved following bariatric surgery (18.7ms vs 25.9ms, p=0.017). Computational modelling showed PreSurg obese hearts had a greater window of vulnerability to unidirectional block and had earlier spiral-wave break-up with more complex re-entry patterns than PostSurg counterparts. CONCLUSION: Obesity is associated with adverse electrophysiological, structural and autonomic remodelling that is partially reversed after bariatric surgery. These data have important implications for bariatric surgery weight thresholds and weight loss strategies.

Mental health and societal challenges among forced migrants of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions: health professionals' descriptions and interpretations.

The aim of this study was to explore health professionals' descriptions and interpretations of post-migration mental health and societal challenges among forced migrants with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. Participants representing seven professions were recruited by a combination of convenience, purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through focus groups and individual interviews, analysed with systematic text condensation in a collaborative process involving researchers, clinicians and migrants with lived experiences. Participants described a challenging trajectory for migrants, as migrants venture through an uncertain and demanding journey impacting their mental health. Needing to deal with legal requirements, stressful circumstances and normative expectations during the asylum process were highlighted as major challenges, along with exposure to discrimination, violence, abuse and lack of psychosocial safety. Participants described significant psychological distress among migrants, including loneliness and shame. Challenges were also recognised related to exploring, accepting and expressing sexuality and gender. Loneliness and shame are major challenges in need of further attention in research, which could be addressed through the development and evaluation of actions, programmes and interventions to provide peer support.

Creating and Implementing a Novel Wellness-Inspired Resident Educational RG (WIRE) Curriculum.

The Wellness-Inspired Resident Education (WIRE) curriculum is a resident-driven educational program consisting of six formal panels or lectures that are fully incorporated into the yearly resident didactic schedule, in addition to informal events and a resident wellness retreat. The curriculum promotes personal and professional wellness, enhances resident and department camaraderie, and provides opportunities to network with leaders in the field of plastic surgery. This paper provides the context which inspired the development of this curriculum, as well as key steps for successful implementation of wellness educational programming at any institution.

Prolonged Exposure and Sertraline Treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Also Improve Multiple Indicators of Social Functioning.

Trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently also suffer from difficulties in social functioning that range across emotional, cognitive, and environmental domains. A detailed evaluation of the differential impacts of effective PTSD treatments on social functioning is needed. Men and women (N = 200) with chronic PTSD received 10 weeks of prolonged exposure (PE) or sertraline in a randomized clinical trial and were followed for 24 months. A secondary data analysis examined changes in social functioning with regard to fear of intimacy; receipt of social support; and distress, avoidance, and negative cognitions in social situations. Effects were examined between treatments over time, controlling for baseline functioning. There were large, durable improvements across all indices. Compared to sertraline, PE was more efficient at reducing fear of intimacy and distress from negative social cognitions by posttreatment, ds = 0.94-1.14. Patients who received sertraline continued to improve over the course of follow-up, ds = 0.54-1.17. The differential speed of therapeutic effects may argue for more direct mechanisms in cognitive behavioral interventions versus cascade effects in serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Notably, both treatments produced substantial social benefits for trauma survivors with social functioning difficulties, and effect sizes were comparable to typical reductions in PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Therapeutic alliance across trauma-focused and non-trauma-focused psychotherapies among veterans with PTSD.

Trauma-focused psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are not widely utilized. Clinicians report concerns that direct discussion of traumatic experiences could undermine the therapeutic alliance, which may negatively impact retention and outcome. Studies among adolescents with PTSD found no difference in alliance between trauma-focused and non-trauma-focused psychotherapies, but this has not been tested among adults. The present study is a secondary analysis of a randomized trial of collaborative care, also known as care management, for PTSD. We examined patient-reported therapeutic alliance among 117 veterans with PTSD who participated in cognitive processing therapy (CPT, now called CPT + A; n = 54) or non-trauma-focused supportive psychotherapy for PTSD (n = 73) at VA community outpatient clinics. We tested the hypothesis that alliance in CPT would be noninferior to (i.e., not significantly worse than) non-trauma-focused psychotherapy using patient ratings on the Revised Helping Alliance Questionnaire. Patients' therapeutic alliance scores were high across both groups (CPT: M = 5.13, SD = 0.71, 95% CI [4.96, 5.30]; non-trauma-focused psychotherapy: M = 4.89, SD = 0.64, 95% CI [4.73, 5.05]). The difference between groups (0.23, 95% CI [0.01, 0.48]) was less than the "noninferiority margin" based on suggested clinical cutoffs (0.58 points on a 1-6 scale). These results held even after adjusting for veterans' demographic and clinical characteristics and change in PTSD symptoms from baseline to follow-up. Although there are concerns that direct discussion of traumatic experiences could worsen therapeutic alliance, patients report similar levels of alliance in CPT and non-trauma-focused supportive psychotherapy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Time trends in referrals to child and adolescent gender identity services: a study in four Nordic countries and in the UK.

Purpose: To explore whether the increase observed in referrals to child and adolescent gender identity services (GIDSs) has been similar in four Nordic countries and in the UK.Materials and methods: Numbers of referrals per year in 2011-2017 were obtained from all GIDS in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the UK and related to population aged <18.Results: A similar pattern of increase in referral rates was observed across countries, resulting in comparable population adjusted rates in 2017. In children, male:female birth sex ratio was even; in adolescents, a preponderance of females (birth sex) was observed, particularly in Finland.Conclusions: The demand for GIDSs has evolved similarly across Nordic countries and the UK. The reasons for the increase are not known but increased awareness of gender identity issues, service availability, destigmatization as well as social and media influences may play a role.

Gender dysphoria in adolescence: current perspectives.

Increasing numbers of adolescents are seeking treatment at gender identity services in Western countries. An increasingly accepted treatment model that includes puberty suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs starting during the early stages of puberty, cross-sex hormonal treatment starting at ~16 years of age and possibly surgical treatments in legal adulthood, is often indicated for adolescents with childhood gender dysphoria (GD) that intensifies during puberty. However, virtually nothing is known regarding adolescent-onset GD, its progression and factors that influence the completion of the developmental tasks of adolescence among young people with GD and/or transgender identity. Consolidation of identity development is a central developmental goal of adolescence, but we still do not know enough about how gender identity and gender variance actually evolve. Treatment-seeking adolescents with GD present with considerable psychiatric comorbidity. There is little research on how GD and/or transgender identity are associated with completion of developmental tasks of adolescence.

Co-Occurring Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder in U.S. Military and Veteran Populations.

Co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are costly and consequential public health problems that negatively affect the health and well-being of U.S. military service members and veterans. The disproportionate burden of comorbid PTSD and AUD among U.S. military service members and veterans may be due to unique factors associated with military service, such as aspects of military culture, deployment, and trauma exposure. This review addresses the prevalence of co-occurring PTSD and AUD in military and veteran populations, population-specific factors that contribute to development of the comorbid conditions, and evidence-based treatments that have promise for addressing these conditions in military and veteran populations. Future directions for research and practice relevant to military and veteran populations are discussed.

Examining PTSD treatment choice among individuals with subthreshold PTSD.

Subthreshold posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with impairment and has a prevalence rate comparable to full PTSD. Yet, little is known regarding treatment preferences among individuals with subthreshold PTSD, even though they seek trauma-related treatment at a similar rate to those with full PTSD. This study explored subthreshold diagnostic PTSD diagnostic category and treatment preference in undergraduate (N = 439) and trauma-exposed community (N = 203) samples. Participants completed the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS), viewed standardized treatment rationales, and made a hypothetical PTSD treatment choice: prolonged exposure (PE), sertraline, combination treatment, or no treatment. The PDS was used to categorize individuals into four PTSD categories: no trauma exposure, trauma exposure only, subthreshold PTSD, and full PTSD. Within the samples, 8.9% (n = 39) of undergraduates and 16.7% (n = 34) of community members met subthreshold PTSD criteria. The majority of individuals with subthreshold PTSD in each sample reported impairment, 59.0% of undergraduates and 76.5% of community members. Within subthreshold PTSD groups, the most commonly selected treatments were PE (61.5%) for undergraduates and combination treatment (47.1%) for community members. Findings underscore the necessity of further examining subthreshold PTSD, which may hold important clinical implications for treatment processes and outcomes.

Changing deliberative and affective responses to health risk: a meta-analysis.

Perceptions of risk for health outcomes are integral to many theories of health behaviour, and are often targeted in interventions. Evidence suggests that affective responses to risk, including worry, are empirically distinguishable from commonly used perceived risk measures such as perceived susceptibility. The aims of this meta-analysis were to (1) examine if perceived susceptibility and worry can be independently influenced, and what manipulation types are most effective at changing each construct and (2) examine the efficacy of interventions to change worry and perceived susceptibility. Thirty-eight studies using 43 separate samples provided 78 independent comparisons that were meta-analysed using the inverse variance method with random-effects modelling. The overall effect size (d) was 0.50, 95% CI [0.362, 0.632] for perceived susceptibility; and 0.25, 95% CI [0.148, 0.349] for worry. Effect sizes for perceived susceptibility were significantly related to those for worry, B=0.495, p < 0.001. Moderators of these effects are discussed. The present meta-analysis provides further evidence that perceived susceptibility and worry are distinguishable but related constructs, and that it is possible to perturb one and not the other.

Worry as a predictor of nutrition behaviors: results from a nationally representative survey.

Worry has been shown to predict a variety of health behaviors, such as cancer screening, yet there are few studies linking worry and nutrition. This study used nationally representative data from National Cancer Institute's Food Attitudes and Behavior Survey (n = 3,397) to examine the association between health-related worry and a variety of nutrition behaviors. Greater worry was associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption (B = 0.19, p < .01), but also more meals eaten when watching television (B = 0.34, p < .01) and fewer with family (B = -0.13, p = .02). Importantly, and counterintuitively, greater worry appeared to reverse the conventional relationship between self-efficacy and dietary restriction; those who were self-efficacious and worried were less likely to restrict unhealthy foods. Similarly, worry attenuated the relationship between perceived benefits and special effort to buy produce. A complex relationship between worry and nutrition emerged, with potentially important clinical implications.

Smokeless tobacco use in the United States military: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Smokeless tobacco (ST) use represents an important target for intervention in the U.S. military population because it impairs "military readiness" and harms the health of the military. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of ST studies conducted in the U.S. military population in order to assess the content of existing ST research in this population, provide estimates of prevalence and clinically relevant use patterns, and discuss how these findings might be used to guide future ST research among this population. METHODS: We reviewed articles published through December 2010 using PubMed and PsycINFO databases, Google Scholar, and any relevant articles' reference lists. Inclusion criteria included focus on a U.S. military sample, English language, measured tobacco use, and ST prevalence was reported or could be calculated. To the extent possible, each article was coded for demographics, socioeconomic status, prevalence, amount, frequency, and length of use, and quit intentions/attempts. RESULTS: Thirty-nine articles met criteria for inclusion. Less than half focused primarily on ST use among military personnel. The remaining studies measured ST use in the context of other behaviors. Findings related to clinically relevant behaviors included a need for more cohort and intervention studies, a better understanding of ST use in combination with cigarettes (i.e., concurrent use), and identifying risk factors for ST initiation and use. DISCUSSION: ST use is prevalent among military personnel, as is concurrent use of cigarettes and ST. We provide a number of recommendations to guide future research in this important, yet understudied, area.

Benchmarking and analysis of protein docking performance in Rosetta v3.2.

RosettaDock has been increasingly used in protein docking and design strategies in order to predict the structure of protein-protein interfaces. Here we test capabilities of RosettaDock 3.2, part of the newly developed Rosetta v3.2 modeling suite, against Docking Benchmark 3.0, and compare it with RosettaDock v2.3, the latest version of the previous Rosetta software package. The benchmark contains a diverse set of 116 docking targets including 22 antibody-antigen complexes, 33 enzyme-inhibitor complexes, and 60 'other' complexes. These targets were further classified by expected docking difficulty into 84 rigid-body targets, 17 medium targets, and 14 difficult targets. We carried out local docking perturbations for each target, using the unbound structures when available, in both RosettaDock v2.3 and v3.2. Overall the performances of RosettaDock v2.3 and v3.2 were similar. RosettaDock v3.2 achieved 56 docking funnels, compared to 49 in v2.3. A breakdown of docking performance by protein complex type shows that RosettaDock v3.2 achieved docking funnels for 63% of antibody-antigen targets, 62% of enzyme-inhibitor targets, and 35% of 'other' targets. In terms of docking difficulty, RosettaDock v3.2 achieved funnels for 58% of rigid-body targets, 30% of medium targets, and 14% of difficult targets. For targets that failed, we carry out additional analyses to identify the cause of failure, which showed that binding-induced backbone conformation changes account for a majority of failures. We also present a bootstrap statistical analysis that quantifies the reliability of the stochastic docking results. Finally, we demonstrate the additional functionality available in RosettaDock v3.2 by incorporating small-molecules and non-protein co-factors in docking of a smaller target set. This study marks the most extensive benchmarking of the RosettaDock module to date and establishes a baseline for future research in protein interface modeling and structure prediction.

Development of a Comprehensive Heart Disease Knowledge Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States, yet a comprehensive and evidence-based heart disease knowledge assessment is currently not available. PURPOSE: This paper describes the 2 phase development of a novel heart disease knowledge questionnaire. METHODS: After review and critique of the existing literature, a questionnaire addressing 5 central domains of heart disease knowledge was constructed. In Phase I, 606 undergraduates completed a 82-item questionnaire. In Phase II, 248 undergraduates completed a revised 74-item questionnaire. In both phases, item clarity and difficulty were evaluated, along with the overall factor structure of the scale. RESULTS: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to reduce the scale to 30 items with fit statistics, CFI = .82, TLI = .88, and RMSEA = .03. Scores were correlated moderately positively with an existing scale and weakly positively with a measure of health literacy, thereby establishing both convergent and divergent validity. DISCUSSION: The finalized 30-item questionnaire is a concise, yet discriminating instrument that reliably measures participants' heart disease knowledge levels. TRANSLATION TO HEALTH EDUCATION PRACTICE: Health professionals can use this scale to assess their patients' heart disease knowledge so that they can create a tailored program to help their patients reduce their heart disease risk.