Effect of a calibration aid and the intraoral scanner on the registration of a partially edentulous maxilla: An in vitro study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Precise data are a prerequisite for accurately fitting restorations. Therefore, intraoral scanners have to be reliable. Data on differences between the same model of intraoral scanning systems are lacking. PURPOSE: This in vitro study evaluated differences in the scanning accuracy of a partially edentulous maxilla between combinations of new intraoral scanners of a single model from the same manufacturer (Primescan; Dentsply Sirona) and several calibration aids. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The in vitro reference model simulated a maxilla with 6 prepared teeth for a complete arch fixed partial denture. Five precision ceramic balls were used to detect dimensional deviation between the reference model and the scan. Distances were divided into 4 categories, from short distances between 2 neighboring precision balls to the cross-arch distance with the scan path comprising all 5 balls. For each combination of 4 new intraoral scanners and their respective calibration aids, 12 model registrations were generated. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA (α=.05). RESULTS: Distance deviations increased with increasing scan path length and were significantly affected by the covariates "scanner" (P≤.023) and, for 3 of 4 distance categories, the "calibration aid" (short, medium, and long distances: P≤.013). For short and medium distances, acceptable scanning results were achieved for all test groups. The largest deviation was 539 µm for the cross-arch distance. CONCLUSIONS: Scanning accuracy depends on the scanner and the calibration aid used, in particular, for spans exceeding a single quadrant.

Multiple Gestation as a Risk Factor for SARS-CoV-2-Associated Adverse Maternal Outcome: Data From the COVID-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS).

Introduction: Studies have shown that pregnant women with COVID-19 have a higher risk of intensive care unit admission and invasive mechanical ventilation support than non-pregnant women. Pregnancy-associated physiological changes in respiratory function may contribute to the elevated risk. Alteration in lung volumes and capacities are attributed to the mechanical impediment caused by the growing fetus. Multiple pregnancies may therefore compromise functional lung capacity earlier than singleton pregnancies and contribute to severe respiratory symptoms of COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A total of 5514 women with a symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy registered in the COVID-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study were included. The COVID-19-related adverse maternal outcomes were compared in 165 multiple versus 5349 singleton pregnancies. Combined adverse maternal outcome was defined as presence of COVID-19-related hospitalization and/or pneumonia and/or oxygen administration and/or transfer to ICU and/or death. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: The frequency of dyspnea, likelihood of developing dyspnea in a defined pregnancy week and duration of the symptomatic phase of the COVID-19 infection did not differ between the two groups. On average, COVID-19-related combined adverse outcome occurred earlier during pregnancy in women expecting more than one child than in singleton pregnancies. The overall incidence of singular and combined COVID-19-associated adverse maternal outcomes was not significantly different between groups. However, regression analysis revealed that multiple gestation, preconceptional BMI > 30 kg/m 2 and gestational age correlated significantly with an increased risk of combined adverse maternal outcome. Conversely, maternal age and medically assisted reproduction were not significant risk factors for combined adverse maternal outcome. Conclusion: Our data show that multiple gestation alone is a risk factor for COVID-19-associated combined adverse maternal outcome. Moreover, severe courses of COVID-19 in women expecting more than one child are observed earlier in pregnancy than in singleton pregnancies.

Correction: Multiple Gestation as a Risk Factor for SARS-CoV-2-Associated Adverse Maternal Outcome: Data From the COVID-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/a-2196-6224.].

Training engagement, baseline cognitive functioning, and cognitive gains with computerized cognitive training: A cross-diagnostic study.

Computerized cognitive training (CCT) interventions are increasing in their use in outpatient mental health settings. These interventions have demonstrated efficacy for improving functional outcomes when combined with rehabilitation interventions. It has recently been suggested that patients with more cognitive impairment have a greater therapeutic response and that reduced engagement in training can identify cases who manifest low levels of benefit from treatment. Participants were psychiatric rehabilitation clients, with diagnoses of major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Newly admitted cases received CCT, delivered via Brain HQ, with cognitive functioning divided into groups on the basis of a BACS t-score of 40 or less vs. more. Training engagement was indexed by the number of training levels achieved per day trained. Forty-nine cases trained on average for 17 days and completed a mean of 150 levels. Overall, patients improved by an average of 4.4 points (0.44 SD) in BACS t-scores (p < .001). Improvements were positively correlated with training engagement (r = 0.30, p < .05), but not with days trained (r = 0.09) or levels earned (r = 0.03) alone. Patients with higher levels of baseline cognitive performance had reduced cognitive gains (p < .003), but did not have less training engagement (p = .97). Diagnoses did not predict cognitive gains (p = .93) or target engagement (p = .74). Poorer performance at baseline and higher levels of training engagement accounted for >10% in independent variance in cognitive gains. The mean level of cognitive improvement far exceeded practice effects. The index of engagement, levels achieved per training day, is easily extracted from the training records of patients, which would allow for early and continuous monitoring of treatment engagement in CCT activities and therapist intervention as needed to improve engagement.

Skills Vs. Pills: Comparative Effectiveness for Low Sexual Desire in Women.

This study compared the effectiveness of a skill-based bibliotherapy intervention and a placebo pill intervention purported to be efficacious in increasing women's sexual desire. Forty-five participants were randomized into the two groups after completing pretest measures of sexual desire and functioning. After completing their interventions, participants completed 6-week posttest and 12-week follow-up measures. Results demonstrated that when compared to the placebo pill group, the bibliotherapy group made statistically greater gains from pretest to follow-up in sexual desire and satisfaction. Nevertheless, the placebo pill group evidenced short-term improvements in sexual desire over time. Findings have implications for future research and current treatments for low sexual desire in women.

Measuring and Facilitating Client Engagement with Financial Incentives: Implications for Improving Clinical Outcomes in a Mental Health Setting.

Significant numbers of individuals with severe mental illnesses are difficult to engage in treatment services, presenting challenges for care. To be able to assess the relationship between engagement and discharge outcomes, we modified the "Milestones of Recovery Scale". This scale was modified for content to match the current clinical setting, evaluated for inter-rater reliability after modification in a sample of 233 cases receiving psychiatric rehabilitation, and then was administered to 423 additional psychiatric rehabilitation clients over a 24-month study period. In an effort to determine whether provision of financial incentives lead to sustained increases in client engagement, a cut off for client eligibility for financial incentives was evaluated on the basis of the reliability study and the course of engagement was related to receipt of this incentive and successful completion of treatment in a new sample of 423 patients. Of this sample, 78 % received an initial financial incentive during treatment (were initially engaged), and 93.3 % of that subgroup sustained this level of engagement it over their entire course of treatment. Of the 22 % of cases not receiving an initial incentive, only 5.4 % improved in their engagement to levels required for the incentive. Longitudinal analysis demonstrated that individuals who maintained or increased their level of engagement over time were more likely to complete treatment in accordance with planned treatment goals. The initial engagement and the course of engagement in treatment predicted successful completion, but incentives did not lead to increased engagement in initially poorly engaged patients. These data are interpreted in terms of the likely success of extrinsic rewards to increase engagement in mental health services.

Comparing two books and establishing probably efficacious treatment for low sexual desire.

Using a sample of 45 women, this study compared the effectiveness of a previously studied (Mintz, Balzer, Zhao, & Bush, 2012) bibliotherapy intervention (Mintz, 2009), a similar self-help book (Hall, 2004), and a wait-list control (WLC) group. To examine intervention effectiveness, between and within group standardized effect sizes (interpreted with Cohen's, 1988 benchmarks .20 = small, .50 = medium, .80+ = large) and their confidence limits are used. In comparison to the WLC group, both interventions yielded large between-group posttest effect sizes on a measure of sexual desire. Additionally, large between-group posttest effect sizes were found for sexual satisfaction and lubrication among those reading the Mintz book. When examining within-group pretest to posttest effect sizes, medium to large effects were found for desire, lubrication, and orgasm for both books and for satisfaction and arousal for those reading the Mintz book. When directly comparing the books, all between-group posttest effect sizes were likely obtained by chance. It is concluded that both books are equally effective in terms of the outcome of desire, but whether or not there is differential efficacy in terms of other domains of sexual functioning is equivocal. Tentative evidence is provided for the longer term effectiveness of both books in enhancing desire. Arguing for applying criteria for empirically supported treatments to self-help, results are purported to establish the Mintz book as probably efficacious and to comprise a first step in this designation for the Hall book.

Bibliotherapy for low sexual desire: evidence for effectiveness.

This study examines the effectiveness of bibliotherapy for low sexual desire among women, which is the most frequent sexual concern brought to counselors. Forty-five women responded to an advertisement for participation in a study on low sexual desire and were assigned to either the intervention or the wait-list control group. The intervention group completed the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Desire (HISD; Apt & Hurlbert, 1992) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI; R. Rosen et al., 2000), read the self-help book under study in 6 weeks, and completed the measures a second time. The control group completed the same measures 6 weeks apart. Results demonstrated that the intervention group made statistically greater gains over time as compared with the control group on measures of sexual desire (HISD and FSFI Desire subscale), sexual arousal (FSFI Arousal subscale), sexual satisfaction (FSFI Satisfaction subscale), and overall sexual functioning (FSFI Total Score). A subset of participants in the intervention group participated in a 7-week follow-up study, and these participants maintained their gains in sexual desire and overall sexual functioning. Findings have important implications for future research on the efficacy of bibliotherapy generally and for low sexual desire specifically. Results also have vital implications for the treatment of low sexual desire.