Going beyond Mindfulness: How Concentration and Tranquility Commonly Co-Arising with Mindfulness Account for Mental Health.

Concentration and tranquility usually co-arise with mindfulness during mindfulness practice and in daily life and may potentially contribute to mental health; however, they have rarely been studied in empirical research. The present study aimed to examine the relationship of concentration and tranquility with mindfulness and indicators of mental health. With no existing self-report measure assessing concentration and tranquility, the Concentration Scale and Tranquility Scale were first developed and validated. Items were developed based on the extant literature, rated by a group of experts, and selected according to their ratings. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA; n = 384) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA; n = 384) were employed in separate samples of university students and community adults to establish the factor structure of both scales. Their construct validity was established in another similar sample (n = 333) by examining their correlations with variables including (a) concentration-related concepts, (b) tranquility-related concepts, (c) mindfulness-related concepts, and (d) perceived stress and psychological distress. The relationships between concentration, tranquility, mindfulness, perceived stress and psychological distress were then examined by hierarchical multiple regressions, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. A single-factor structure was found by the EFA and confirmed by the CFA for both scales. Concentration and tranquility were significantly and positively associated with (a) attentional control and (b) mindfulness and nonattachment; and negatively associated with (c) irritability and (d) perceived stress and psychological distress. Concentration and tranquility were found to have a significant incremental value over the effect of mindfulness on indicators of mental health. Concentration and tranquility can incrementally explain mental health above and beyond the effect of mindfulness.

In some professions, women have become well represented, yet gender bias persists-Perpetuated by those who think it is not happening.

In efforts to promote equality and combat gender bias, traditionally male-occupied professions are investing resources into hiring more women. Looking forward, if women do become well represented in a profession, does this mean equality has been achieved? Are issues of bias resolved? Two studies including a randomized double-blind experiment demonstrate that biases persist even when women become well represented (evinced in veterinary medicine). Evidence included managers evaluating an employee randomly assigned a male (versus female) name as more competent and advising a $3475.00 higher salary, equating to an 8% pay gap. Importantly, those who thought bias was not happening in their field were the key drivers of it-a "high risk" group (including men and women) that, as shown, can be readily identified/assessed. Thus, as other professions make gains in women's representation, it is vital to recognize that discrimination can persist-perpetuated by those who think it is not happening.

Proof of concept: hip joint damage occurs at the zone of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in an experimental FAI sheep model.

OBJECTIVE: In ovine hips chondrolabral damage as seen in cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can be induced via an intertrochanteric varus osteotomy. However, it is yet to proven whether the observed cartilage damage is caused by a dynamic cam type impingement. Thus we asked, (1) whether actual cartilage damage observed after FAI induction in ovine hips occurs at the predicted, computed zone of FAI; (2) whether the extent of cartilage damage increases with ambulation time in this animal model? DESIGN: In this experimental, controlled, comparative study 20 sheep underwent unilateral FAI induction through an intertrochanteric varus osteotomy. Preoperatively sheep underwent computed tomography to generate three-dimensional models of the osseous pelvis and femur. The models were used to predict impingement zones before and after simulated varus osteotomy using range of motion (ROM) analysis. Sheep were sacrificed after 14-40 weeks of ambulation. At sacrifice cartilage was inspected and (1) location of actual damage and computed impingement zones were compared; (2) Cartilage damage was compared between short- and long ambulation groups. RESULTS: (1) The average location and the extent of peripheral and central cartilage lesions did not differ with the computed impingement zones (all P > 0.05). (2) Grades of central, posterior cartilage damage were more severe in the long-compared to the short ambulation group (2.2 ± 1.8 vs 0.4 ± 0.5; P = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: In this experimental ovine FAI model the surgical induction of an osseous impingement conflict between the femur and acetabulum causes cartilage damage at the zone of simulated FAI.

Time-elapsed screw insertion with microCT imaging.

Time-elapsed analysis of bone is an innovative technique that uses sequential image data to analyze bone mechanics under a given loading regime. This paper presents the development of a novel device capable of performing step-wise screw insertion into excised bone specimens, within the microCT environment, whilst simultaneously recording insertion torque, compression under the screw head and rotation angle. The system is computer controlled and screw insertion is performed in incremental steps of insertion torque. A series of screw insertion tests to failure were performed (n=21) to establish a relationship between the torque at head contact and stripping torque (R(2)=0.89). The test-device was then used to perform step-wise screw insertion, stopping at intervals of 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% between screw head contact and screw stripping. Image data-sets were acquired at each of these time-points as well as at head contact and post-failure. Examination of the image data revealed the trabecular deformation as a result of increased insertion torque was restricted to within 1mm of the outer diameter of the screw thread. Minimal deformation occurred prior to the step between the 80% time-point and post-failure. The device presented has allowed, for the first time, visualization of the micro-mechanical response in the peri-implant bone with increased tightening torque. Further testing on more samples is expected to increase our understanding of the effects of increased tightening torque at the micro-structural level, and the failure mechanisms of trabeculae.

Comparative stress hormone changes during helium versus carbon dioxide laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic surgery has been termed minimally invasive surgery by advocates of this technology. It has been demonstrated previously that using carbon dioxide for insufflation produces a respiratory acidosis due to transperitoneal absorption of gas. Insufflation with helium does not create this acidosis. We questioned whether laparoscopic surgery would elicit a stress response and whether the absence of acidosis with helium might prevent or reduce the levels of stress hormones. Sixteen female patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to helium (n = 8) or CO2 (n = 8) insufflation. Serum cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were measured preoperatively, after induction of anesthesia but before insufflation, at 45 min of surgery, and after desufflation. There were increases in epinephrine, norepinephrine, plasma cortisol, and urine cortisol at 45 min and at the conclusion of the procedure over the preoperative value. With ANOVA, each variable showed significant increases from preoperative values, at 45 min, and at the end of the case. Except for the increased epinephrine when helium was used, there were no significant differences in the other variables between helium and CO2. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy produces significant increases in stress hormone levels. Prevention of acidosis with helium insufflation does not appear to protect against increases in stress hormones. Epinephrine levels with helium insufflation are higher than with CO2, and elevations in stress hormones suggest that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not physiologically minimally invasive.

GABA-immunoreactive synaptic plexus in the nerve fiber layer of primate retina.

Synaptic contacts onto fibers and somata in the nerve fiber layer (NFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) of macaque and human retina were demonstrated at the electron microscopical (EM) level. Many presynaptic processes in monkey NFL are gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunoreactive, using anti-GABA antiserum with an EM immunogold procedure. Immunocytochemistry at the light microscopic level revealed that many GABA-reactive cells in the GCL send branching processes into the NFL, forming a sparse synaptic plexus. The presence of long, unbranched GABA-reactive fibers running horizontally in the NFL and entering the optic nerve suggests that some ganglion cells may be GABAergic. GABA-reactive cells contributing to the plexus appear to be a new class of displaced amacrines that arborize in the NFL.

Interplexiform cells in macaque monkey retina.

The presence of interplexiform cells in primate retina has been disputed, with the dopaminergic interplexiform cell in the New World monkey being the most fully understood. We have examined interplexiform cells in the Old World monkey using immunocytochemistry with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method of visualization. In several species of macaque retina, two types of interplexiform cells are found. One stains with antisera to tyrosine hydroxylase, a biosynthetic enzyme for dopamine, and the other stains with antisera to gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). The cell bodies of these two populations of interplexiform cells are located among the amacrine cells in the inner nuclear layer, and they send processes into both the inner and outer plexiform layers. GABA-positive interplexiform processes to the outer plexiform layer arise from the cell body while tyrosine hydroxylase-positive interplexiform processes most often originate from the heavily tyrosine hydroxylase-stained sublamina one of the inner plexiform layer. Cell-body diameter measurements and morphology suggest that these are different neuronal populations.

Cost savings with a new combination clindamycin-gentamicin admixture policy.

Clindamycin and gentamicin are frequently prescribed by obstetricians and gynecologists (OB-GYN) for various pelvic infections in women. These two antibiotics maintain chemical stability when admixed in a small-volume parenteral. The institution of an admixture policy that recommends combining these agents when both drugs are prescribed in OB-GYN patients would decrease the frequency of administration, improve patient convenience, reduce risk of administration errors and intravenous line contamination, and reduce costs of antibiotic therapy. The authors analyzed antibiotic use in OB-GYN patients over a 3-month period and found that the anticipated cost savings appeared sufficient to warrant an admixture policy change. Six months after initiating the new policy, the authors found an increase in the use of clindamycin and gentamicin, but a decrease in the overall cost for providing antibiotic therapy to OB-GYN patients. Savings for the second quarter were due to the pharmacy providing less expensive clindamycin-gentamicin therapy.