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1.
Fam Process ; 61(1): 58-75, 2022 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33959959

ABSTRACT

Integrative systemic therapy (IST) is a meta-theoretical perspective, grounded in systemic theory and integration, that transcends therapy models in individual, couple, and family therapy. To foster supervisees' theoretical integration and systemic thinking, two of IST's primary tools-the essence diagram and blueprint-are described and applied to inform an integrative, systemic meta-perspective for supervision. Recommendations, specific guiding questions, and examples are provided to operationalize these tools in the multi-level supervision system (i.e., supervisor-supervisee-client system). IST supervisors and other supervisors who are interested in integrative, systemic training can use these tools to guide the process of supervision and strengthen supervisees' ability to hypothesize, plan, converse, and read clients' feedback in relation to the various tasks of therapy. The essence diagram and blueprint are applied to facilitate case consultation and cultivate the development of supervisees' clinical competencies. Particularly, the problem-solving focus of IST has been adapted to include a competency-based and professional growth-oriented dimension for supervision to better promote supervisees' development. Lastly, the advantages and challenges of IST-influenced supervision are discussed.


La terapia sistémica integral (TSI) es una perspectiva metateórica basada en la teoría sistémica y la integración, que trasciende los modelos de terapia en la terapia individual, de pareja y familiar. Para fomentar la integración teórica de los supervisados y el pensamiento sistémico, se describen y se aplican dos de las herramientas principales de la TSI-el diagrama del eje y el diseño- a fin de respaldar una metaperspectiva integradora y sistémica de la supervisión. Se ofrecen recomendaciones, preguntas orientadoras específicas y ejemplos para poner en funcionamiento estas herramientas en el sistema de supervisión multinivel (p. ej.: sistema supervisor-supervisado-paciente). Los supervisores de la TSI y otros supervisores que estén interesados en la capacitación integradora y sistémica pueden usar estas herramientas para guiar el proceso de supervisión y fortalecer la capacidad de los supervisados para plantear hipótesis, planificar, conversar y leer los comentarios de los pacientes en relación con las diferentes tareas de la terapia. El diagrama del eje y el diseño se aplican para facilitar la consulta de casos y cultivar el desarrollo de las competencias clínicas de los supervisados. Particularmente, se ha adaptado el eje de resolución de problemas de la TSI para incluir una dimensión basada en competencias y orientada al crecimiento profesional a fin de que la supervisión promueva mejor el desarrollo de los supervisados. Por último, se comentan las ventajas y las dificultades de la supervisión influida por la TSI.


Subject(s)
Family Therapy , Family Therapy/methods , Humans
2.
J Marital Fam Ther ; 48(3): 827-844, 2022 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34586639

ABSTRACT

Children of maternal caregivers abused in childhood are at increased risk for mental health problems including anxiety and depression. To date, most studies exploring the intergenerational transmission of trauma have focused on younger children, with far fewer studies investigating adolescent mental health. Previous research suggests that maternal childhood abuse negatively impacts the parent-adolescent relationship, which may contribute to the development and maintenance of adolescent mental health problems. The current study examined dyadic reports of maternal-adolescent relationship quality as mediators linking maternal reports of childhood abuse to adolescent depression and anxiety. The bootstrapped indirect effects from maternal childhood abuse to adolescent symptoms of anxiety and depression were significant through adolescent reports of relationship quality, but not through maternal reports of relationship quality. Findings suggest that an adolescent's perception of their maternal-adolescent relationship may mediate the relationship between their maternal caregiver's childhood abuse and their own symptoms of anxiety and depression.


Subject(s)
Child Abuse , Depression , Adolescent , Anxiety/psychology , Anxiety Disorders , Child , Depression/psychology , Female , Humans , Mental Health , Mothers/psychology , Parents
3.
J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry ; 30(4): 273-277, 2021 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34777510

ABSTRACT

Clomipramine (CMI) and fluvoxamine (FLV) combination therapy has been shown in adults to be a potent medication strategy for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Fung et al. (2021) is the first to show similar benefit in pediatric OCD. The addition of FLV to CMI inhibits the metabolism of clomipramine to desmethylclomipramine (DCMI) and enhances the serotonergic potency of CMI by shifting the routine ratio of CMIDCMI via inhibition of the CYP450 system. The approach to CMI+FLV combination therapy outlined by Fung et al. requires close monitoring. This commentary reviews the benefits and challenges of the approach of Fung et al. (2021) and provides other strategies to take advantage of this combination. Clinicians may consider starting with CMI and adding FLV for patients with refractory OCD to offer a faster pathway to potentially more effective treatment. If a clinician prefers starting with SSRI monotherapy, choosing FLV initially allows for a simpler transition to CMI+FLV in the event that SSRI monotherapy fails.


La thérapie de combinaison de la clomipramine (CMI) et de la fluvoxamine (FLV) s'est révélée chez les adultes une stratégie médicamenteuse puissante pour le trouble obsessionnel-compulsif (TOC). Fung et coll. est le premier à montrer un bénéfice semblable dans le TOC pédiatrique. L'ajout de FLV à la CMI inhibe le métabolisme de la clomipramine pour la desméthylclomipramine (DCMI) et augmente la puissance sérotoninergique de la CMI en changeant le rapport régulier de CMI>DCMI au moyen de l'inhibition du système CYP450. L'approche de la thérapie de combinaison CMI+FLV présentée par Fung et coll. nécessite une surveillance étroite. Le présent commentaire révise les avantages et les difficultés de l'approche de Fung et coll. et offre d'autres stratégies pour profiter de cette combinaison. Les cliniciens peuvent songer à commencer avec la CMI puis à ajouter la FLV pour les patients souffrant d'un TOC réfractaire afin de leur offrir une trajectoire plus rapide vers un traitement possiblement plus efficace. Si un clinicien préfère commencer par une monothérapie d'ISRS, choisir la FLV au départ permet une transition plus simple à CMI+FLV au cas où la monothérapie d'ISRS ne fonctionne pas.

4.
Children (Basel) ; 8(5)2021 Apr 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33921937

ABSTRACT

This theoretical paper introduces six emotion socialization typologies that can be used for designating emotion responsivity styles of parents and peers of children in middle childhood, referred to as Parent and Peer Emotion Responsivity Styles (PPERS). This typology draws on theoretical foundations of meta-emotion and emotion socialization. These typologies are compliment with and extend Gottman's emotion-based parenting styles, as they are organized generally by whether the response is more positive or more negative and whether the response is more emotionally constructive or destructive, but extend the four styles to include whether the parent or peer targets the emotion directly when responding to a child's emotions, or whether they target the emotion-related behavior. On the positive end, there is the Emotion Constructive style, which targets the child's emotions directly. The other two positive styles include Emotion Responsive and Emotion Acceptive, which target the child's emotional behaviors with higher or lower levels of activity. On the negative side, there is the Emotion Destructive style which is employed to target the emotion itself, while the Emotion Punitive and Emotion Dismissive styles target the child's emotion-related behavior with varying levels of activity. Implications for the development and study of these theoretical typologies are discussed.

5.
J Marital Fam Ther ; 47(2): 225-243, 2021 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33742712

ABSTRACT

The unprecedented times of the novel Coronavirus quarantine and subsequent stay-at-home orders have changed the way many couple therapists provide clinical services. Understanding couple therapists' experiences with teletherapy is important for optimizing future telehealth delivery with couples. Thus, the purpose of this mixed methods survey study was to explore couple therapists' experiences of transitioning from in-person/traditional therapy to online/telehealth delivery. A total of 58 couple therapists completed an online survey for this study. Reported are both quantitative and qualitative findings. Overall, this study found that couple therapists experienced a positive shift from traditional/in-person therapy to online/telehealth therapy, with a majority of couple therapists (74%) reporting they would continue providing teletherapy after the novel Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing regulations had ended. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes from couple therapists' experiences related to advantages, challenges, and recommendations for practice. Implications for clinical training and future research are discussed.


Subject(s)
Couples Therapy/organization & administration , Family Therapy/organization & administration , Physical Therapists/statistics & numerical data , Remote Consultation/organization & administration , Telerehabilitation/organization & administration , Attitude of Health Personnel , COVID-19/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Physical Therapists/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Telemedicine/statistics & numerical data
6.
J Patient Exp ; 7(5): 677-679, 2020 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33294598

ABSTRACT

Hospitals have eliminated many in-person interactions and established new protocols to stem the spread of COVID-19. Inpatient psychiatric units face unique challenges, as patients cannot be isolated in their rooms and are at times unable to practice social distancing measures. Many institutions have experimented with providing some psychiatric services remotely to reduce the number of people physically present on the wards and decrease the risk of disease transmission. This case report presents 2 patient perspectives on receiving psychiatric care via videoconferencing while on the inpatient unit of a large academic tertiary care hospital. One patient identified some benefits to virtual treatment while the second found the experience impersonal; both were satisfied with the overall quality of care they received and were stable 2 weeks after discharge. These cases demonstrate that effective care can be provided remotely even to severely ill psychiatric patients who require hospitalization.

7.
J Sex Marital Ther ; 46(3): 296-302, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31661426

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the covarying relationship between commitment and sexual satisfaction in committed relationships throughout the course of couple therapy. A sample of 366 heterosexual couples completed questionnaires regarding sexual satisfaction and commitment at each of the first five sessions of couple therapy. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed that, between the first and second therapy sessions, there was a bidirectional relationship between commitment and sexual satisfaction, with each variable at the first session predicting the other at the second session. In addition, sexual satisfaction at the second session predicted commitment at the third session.


Subject(s)
Couples Therapy , Interpersonal Relations , Orgasm , Sexual Behavior/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Midwestern United States , Self Report , Young Adult
8.
Psychol Assess ; 31(9): 1107-1117, 2019 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31219281

ABSTRACT

The Systemic Therapy Inventory of Change (STIC) is a multisystemic and multidimensional feedback system that provides therapists feedback about systemic domains of client change in individual, couple, and family therapy over time. The goal of the present study is to investigate the sensitivity to change of the scores of the STIC Initial Scales. In total, 583 clients who voluntarily sought individual, couple, or family therapy services and participated in a randomized controlled trial study were included in the study. Their pre- and posttherapy responses to the STIC Initial measures and corresponding validation measures for individual functioning, couple relationship, child adjustment, and family functioning were compared. The results support the sensitivity to change of the scores of the four STIC Initial Scales investigated: Individual Problems and Strengths (IPS), Relationship with Partner (RWP), Family/Household (FH), and Child Problems and Strengths (CPS). Of particular note, the IPS demonstrated even greater change over time than the BDI-II, BAI, and OQ-45. The discriminant validity of measuring change with the CPS was not supported. Thus, the STIC Initial IPS, RWP, and FH can be usefully employed to measure multisystemic changes in both research and clinical work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


Subject(s)
Outcome Assessment, Health Care/methods , Psychotherapy , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Couples Therapy , Family Therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Statistical , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Time Factors
9.
J Marital Fam Ther ; 45(2): 206-218, 2019 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29682781

ABSTRACT

The field of couple, marital, and family therapy (CMFT) is at an important juncture of identity development and synthesis. Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST) is a problem-centered metaframeworks approach that meets the growing needs of family therapists working with diverse and complex family systems and restores the field to its original focus on collaboration. This paper describes the process by which IST developed featuring anecdotes from live interviews with the founders. We briefly outline IST's theoretical pillars and the essential way IST practitioners deliver treatment including a blueprint for therapy. Finally, we propose that IST is a comprehensive, systemic guide uniquely beneficial to CMFT training and discuss our approach to integrating IST into our training of students in a COAMFTE accredited program.


Subject(s)
Couples Therapy , Curriculum , Education, Graduate/methods , Family Therapy , Adult , Couples Therapy/education , Couples Therapy/methods , Couples Therapy/trends , Family Therapy/education , Family Therapy/methods , Family Therapy/trends , Humans , Intersectoral Collaboration
10.
J Fam Psychol ; 32(4): 445-455, 2018 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29723003

ABSTRACT

Using 5 waves of longitudinal survey data gathered from 3,405 couples, the present study investigates the temporal associations between self-reported couple conflict (frequency and each partner's constructive and withdrawing behaviors) and relationship perceptions (satisfaction and perceived instability). Autoregressive cross-lagged model results revealed couple conflict consistently predicted future relationship perceptions: More frequent conflict and withdrawing behaviors and fewer constructive behaviors foretold reduced satisfaction and conflict frequency and withdrawal heightened perceived instability. Relationship perceptions also shaped future conflict, but in surprising ways: Perceptions of instability were linked with less frequent conflict, and male partner instability predicted fewer withdrawing behaviors for female partners. Higher satisfaction from male partners also predicted more frequent and less constructive conflict behavior in the future. These findings illustrate complex bidirectional linkages between relationship perceptions and couple conflict behaviors in the development of couple relations. (PsycINFO Database Record


Subject(s)
Conflict, Psychological , Interpersonal Relations , Personal Satisfaction , Sexual Partners/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Germany , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Self Report , Time , Young Adult
11.
Fam Process ; 57(2): 557-571, 2018 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29363747

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews the current debate between differentiation and attachment in treating couples through exploring the tenets of crucible therapy (Schnarch, 1991) and emotionally focused couple therapy (Johnson, 2004). We provide a review of the two theories-as well as the two "pure form" example models-and explore the debate in light of the integrative movement in couple and family therapy (Lebow, 2014). We also examine points of convergence of the two theories and models, and provide clinicians and researchers with an enhanced understanding of their divergent positions. Both differentiation and attachment are developmental theories that highlight the human experience of balancing individuality and connection in adulthood. The two models converge in terms of metaconcepts that pervade their respective theories and approach. Both models capitalize on the depth and importance of the therapeutic relationship, and provide rich case conceptualization and processes of therapy. However, they substantially differ in terms of how they view the fundamental aspects of adult development, have vastly divergent approaches to how a therapist intervenes in the room, and different ideas of how a healthy couple should function. In light of the deep polarization of the two models, points of integration-particularly between the broader theories of attachment and differentiation-are offered for therapists to consider.


Subject(s)
Couples Therapy/methods , Emotion-Focused Therapy/methods , Object Attachment , Psychological Theory , Female , Humans , Individuality , Male
12.
Psychother Res ; 28(5): 734-749, 2018 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28569097

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The Systemic Therapy Inventory of Change (STIC®) is the first multi-systemic and multi-dimensional measurement and feedback system designed for assessment in family, couple, and individual functioning. Patients fill out the STIC Initial before the first session to identify treatment targets and provide starting values for subsequent assessments of trajectories of change. This study tested the construct validity of five of the six STIC Initial scales. METHODS: We administered both the STIC Initial and a set of validity measures to a relatively large sample of patients. Convergent and discriminant validity were tested using both an examination of observed correlations and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: The correlations among the observed measures showed that the convergent validity coefficients were generally large, whereas the discriminant validity coefficients were moderate to small. Similarly, CFAs suggested that the STIC total scales and subscales are good indicators of the factors they were intended to measure and that the STIC total scales and subscales are weakly related to the factors they were intended to not measure. CONCLUSION: The results supported the convergent and discriminant validity of the five scales of the STIC Initial. Clinical or methodological significance of this article: The clinical significance of this article is that it demonstrates that the STIC Initial should be useful for identifying treatment targets including both which systems, in addition to the facets within each system, that require targeting. The methodological significance is twofold. First, the use of CFA for testing convergent and discriminant validity is still relatively rare. Second, we demonstrated how to use CFA for a more stringent test of discriminant validity compared with the original approach described by Cole ( 1987 ).


Subject(s)
Couples Therapy/methods , Family Therapy/methods , Mental Disorders/therapy , Outcome Assessment, Health Care/standards , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/standards , Psychometrics/standards , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Outcome Assessment, Health Care/methods , Psychometrics/instrumentation , Reproducibility of Results
13.
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) ; 42(24): E1393-E1397, 2017 Dec 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28399544

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Therapeutic anti-infective trial in rabbits. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to assess the efficacy of intrawound tobramycin powder in terms of eradicating a known bacterial contamination in an Escherichia coli-infected rabbit spinal implantation model. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Implant-associated surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a dreaded complication of spinal surgery. Currently, >30% of all spine SSIs are secondary to gram-negative bacteria. METHODS: Twenty healthy New Zealand white female rabbits underwent simulated partial laminectomies and implantation of a 10-mm titanium wire at L5-L6. All surgical sites were inoculated with 100 µL of tobramycin-sensitive E coli (EC ATCC 25922, 1 × 10 colony-forming units [CFU]/mL). Before closure, tobramycin powder (120 mg) was placed into the wound of 10 rabbits. All rabbits were sacrificed on postoperative day 4. Tissue and wire samples were explanted for bacteriologic analysis. A Fisher exact test was used to assess differences in categorical variables and an independent samples t test was used to assess mean group differences. RESULTS: The experimental and control rabbits were similar in weight (mean ±â€Šstandard deviation, 3.22 ±â€Š0.12 kg and 3.22 ±â€Š0.14 kg, respectively, P = 1.0), sex distribution, and duration of surgery (13.1 ±â€Š2.4 minutes and 11.6 ±â€Š2.1 minutes, P = 0.39). Bacterial cultures of the tissue samples were negative for all 10 tobramycin-treated rabbits and positive for all 10 control rabbits (P < 0.0001). Bacterial growth occurred in 39 of 40 samples from control rabbits, but zero of the 40 samples from the tobramycin group (P < 0.0001). Blood culture samples from all rabbits were negative for bacterial growth. No rabbit had evidence of sepsis or tobramycin toxicity. CONCLUSION: In a rabbit spine-infection model, intrawound tobramycin eliminated E coli surgical site contamination. All rabbits without intrawound tobramycin had persistent E coli contamination. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N /A.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Escherichia coli Infections/drug therapy , Spine/surgery , Surgical Wound Infection/drug therapy , Tobramycin/therapeutic use , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Escherichia coli , Escherichia coli Infections/microbiology , Female , Laminectomy/adverse effects , Powders/therapeutic use , Rabbits , Surgical Wound Infection/microbiology , Tobramycin/administration & dosage , Treatment Outcome
14.
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) ; 42(21): E1225-E1230, 2017 Nov 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28441310

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized complete block animal spinal implant infection model with internal control. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a spinal implant animal infection model to simulate postoperative gram-negative wound infection. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Implant-associated surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a dreaded complication of spinal surgery. Currently, over 30% of all spine SSIs are secondary to gram-negative bacteria. Traditional animal models have utilized gram-positive inoculums to simulate postoperative infection, but there exists no model in the literature for gram-negative infection in the setting of spinal instrumentation. METHODS: Five New Zealand white female rabbits underwent simulated partial laminectomies and implantation of a 5 mm titanium wire adjacent to the spinous processes of vertebra T4, T9, L1, and L6 to mimic posterior spinal instrumentation. The second site, T9, was used as the sterile internal control sites, while all other sites were challenged with varying inoculums of Escherichia coli (EC American Type Culture Collection 25922): 10, 10, 10, 10, and 10 Colony Forming Units (CFU). The rabbits were sacrificed 4 days postoperatively and bacterial loads were assayed from the implants and surrounding tissue. RESULTS: No evidence for infection was observed in any of the sterile control sites. The lowest inoculum of E. coli (10 CFU) did not produce a reliable infection. Inoculation with 10 CFU created a consistent soft tissue infection, but inconsistent infection on implants. Inoculation with 10 CFU was required to consistently produce both soft tissue and implant infection. CONCLUSION: Consistent soft tissue and implant infection was produced with inoculation of 10 CFU of E. coli. Gram-negative infections represent greater than 30% of all spinal SSIs, and this animal model can reliably reproduce such infections with spinal instrumentation that can guide future development of anti-infective therapies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.


Subject(s)
Disease Models, Animal , Escherichia coli , Prostheses and Implants/microbiology , Spine/microbiology , Spine/surgery , Surgical Wound Infection/microbiology , Animals , Escherichia coli/growth & development , Escherichia coli Infections/etiology , Escherichia coli Infections/pathology , Female , Fracture Fixation, Internal/adverse effects , Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/etiology , Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/pathology , Laminectomy/adverse effects , Rabbits , Surgical Wound Infection/etiology , Surgical Wound Infection/pathology , Titanium/adverse effects
15.
Appl Psychol Health Well Being ; 9(2): 207-227, 2017 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28401663

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Personality has received some attention in the Type 2 diabetes literature; however, research has not linked personality and diabetes adherence behaviors (diet and exercise), identified pathways through which they are associated, nor taken into consideration important contextual factors that influence behavior (the patient's partner). METHODS: Dyadic data from 117 married, heterosexual couples in which one member is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes was used to explore associations between each partner's neuroticism and patient dietary and exercise adherence through the pathways of negative affect, depression symptoms, and couple-level diabetes efficacy (both patient and spouse report of confidence in the patient's ability to adhere to diabetes management regimens). RESULTS: Results revealed that higher levels of neuroticism were associated with lower patient dietary and exercise adherence through (1) higher levels of depression symptoms (for patients' neuroticism) and negative affect (for spouses' neuroticism), and (2) lower levels of couple-level diabetes efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study provide evidence that both patient and spouse personality traits are associated with patient dietary and exercise adherence through increased emotional distress-albeit different emotional pathways for patients and spouses-and lower couple confidence in the patients' ability to manage their diabetes.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/psychology , Neuroticism/physiology , Patient Compliance/psychology , Personality/physiology , Self Efficacy , Adult , Aged , Depression/psychology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy , Diet , Exercise/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Spouses/psychology
16.
J Spine Surg ; 3(4): 641-649, 2017 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29354743

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To compare the differences in the thirty-day postoperative outcomes between cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). METHODS: Patients undergoing primary single-level ACDF and CDA from 2010-2014 were identified by unique Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes within the American College of Surgeon's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Primary outcomes included surgical and medical complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), unplanned readmission, return to operating room, and mortality all occurring within 30 days of the initial procedure. Patients were propensity score-matched to reduce selection bias and differences in preoperative characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to determine associations between covariates and primary outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Propensity score-matching produced a cohort of 1,305 patients with 652 (50.0%) ACDF and 653 (50.0%) CDA patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the development of major surgical or medical complications between the groups. ACDF patients experienced a significantly longer LOS (2.3±14.8 vs. 1.1±1.0 days, P=0.034) and unplanned hospital readmission (1.8% vs. 0.2%, P=0.002). For ACDF patients, increased LOS [odds ratios (OR), 4.21; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29-13.73; P=0.017] and increased readmission (OR, 12.17; 95% CI, 1.16-127.23; P=0.037) persisted in the multivariate model. Elevated ASA classification, preoperative anemia and elevated white blood cell count (WBC) were also associated with a significantly increased LOS. CONCLUSIONS: Although ACDF and CDA can be indicated for similar cervical pathologies, the latter can be performed safely and effectively with comparable perioperative risk of major complications. The increased readmission rate and LOS for patients undergoing ACDF may have significant impact on patient cost and outcomes.

17.
J Spine Surg ; 3(4): 732-735, 2017 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29354757

ABSTRACT

Achieving lumbosacral fusion through spinopelvic fixation is an important and challenging aspect of spinal deformity surgery. Numerous instrumentation techniques are available, with iliac screws and S2-alar-iliac (SRAI) screws being most commonly used today. However, the increasing popularity of minimally invasive sacroiliac (SI) fusion as a common procedure performed for SI joint pain presents a distinct challenge in complex adult deformity cases requiring iliac screw fixation. We report a case of a 71-year-old female with a longstanding history of spinal deformity status-post T11-L5 fusion and a subsequent right-sided SI joint fusion who presented with sagittal imbalance. The SI joint fusion implant obstructed the pathway for spinopelvic fixation. Spinopelvic fixation was achieved by burring a pathway through the SI joint implant. The increasing popularity of minimally invasive SI fusion as a common procedure performed for SI joint pain presents a distinct challenge in complex adult deformity cases requiring iliac screw fixation. This is the first report in the literature describing a technique for spinopelvic fixation in the setting of screw obstruction due to an instrumented SI joint.

18.
Cytometry A ; 89(10): 914-921, 2016 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27717244

ABSTRACT

Abnormal telomere lengths have been linked to cancer and other hematologic disorders. Determination of mean telomere content (MTC) is traditionally performed by Southern blotting and densitometry, giving a mean telomere restriction fragment (TRF) value for the total cell population studied. Here, we compared a quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction approach (qPCR) and a flow cytometric approach, fluorescence in situ hybridization (Flow-FISH), to evaluate telomere content distribution in total patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells or specific cell populations. Flow-FISH is based on in situ hybridization using a fluorescein-labeled peptide nucleic acid (PNA) (CCCTAA)3 probe and DNA staining with propidium iodide. We showed that both qPCR and Flow-FISH provide a robust measurement, with Flow-FISH measuring a relative content longer than qPCR at a single cell approach and that TRF2 fluorescence intensity did not correlate with MTC. Both methods showed comparable telomere content reduction with age, and the rate of relative telomere loss was similar. Published 2016 Wiley Periodicals Inc. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.


Subject(s)
Flow Cytometry/methods , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/methods , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/chemistry , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Telomere/chemistry , Adult , Aged , Cell Line , DNA/chemistry , Female , Fluorescein/chemistry , Fluorescence , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Peptide Nucleic Acids/chemistry , Propidium/chemistry , Single-Cell Analysis/methods , Young Adult
19.
N Engl J Med ; 374(20): 1922-31, 2016 May 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27192671

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Genetic defects in telomere maintenance and repair cause bone marrow failure, liver cirrhosis, and pulmonary fibrosis, and they increase susceptibility to cancer. Historically, androgens have been useful as treatment for marrow failure syndromes. In tissue culture and animal models, sex hormones regulate expression of the telomerase gene. METHODS: In a phase 1-2 prospective study involving patients with telomere diseases, we administered the synthetic sex hormone danazol orally at a dose of 800 mg per day for a total of 24 months. The goal of treatment was the attenuation of accelerated telomere attrition, and the primary efficacy end point was a 20% reduction in the annual rate of telomere attrition measured at 24 months. The occurrence of toxic effects of treatment was the primary safety end point. Hematologic response to treatment at various time points was the secondary efficacy end point. RESULTS: After 27 patients were enrolled, the study was halted early, because telomere attrition was reduced in all 12 patients who could be evaluated for the primary end point; in the intention-to-treat analysis, 12 of 27 patients (44%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 26 to 64) met the primary efficacy end point. Unexpectedly, almost all the patients (11 of 12, 92%) had a gain in telomere length at 24 months as compared with baseline (mean increase, 386 bp [95% CI, 178 to 593]); in exploratory analyses, similar increases were observed at 6 months (16 of 21 patients; mean increase, 175 bp [95% CI, 79 to 271]) and 12 months (16 of 18 patients; mean increase, 360 bp [95% CI, 209 to 512]). Hematologic responses occurred in 19 of 24 patients (79%) who could be evaluated at 3 months and in 10 of 12 patients (83%) who could be evaluated at 24 months. Known adverse effects of danazol--elevated liver-enzyme levels and muscle cramps--of grade 2 or less occurred in 41% and 33% of the patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, treatment with danazol led to telomere elongation in patients with telomere diseases. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01441037.).


Subject(s)
Bone Marrow Diseases/drug therapy , Danazol/therapeutic use , Estrogen Antagonists/therapeutic use , Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy , Pulmonary Fibrosis/drug therapy , Telomere/drug effects , Administration, Oral , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Hair Color/genetics , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation , Prospective Studies , Telomerase/genetics , Telomerase/metabolism , Telomere/ultrastructure , Up-Regulation , Young Adult
20.
J Marital Fam Ther ; 41(4): 508-21, 2015 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25059571

ABSTRACT

Using dyadic data from 961 married couples from the Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire project, the current study explored the direct association between family of origin climate and marital outcomes and the indirect association via relationship self-regulation (RSR). Results from the actor-partner interdependence model analysis indicated that family of origin climate was positively associated with marital stability directly and indirectly via the effects of RSR and marital satisfaction for both men and women. Results suggest that the experience one has in their family of origin is associated with their marital outcomes through their RSR. Actor-partner direct and indirect effects indicate that spouses' RSR may have important consequences for both partner's evaluation of the marriage. Implications for intervention and future research are discussed.


Subject(s)
Family Relations/psychology , Marriage/psychology , Personal Satisfaction , Self-Control/psychology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult
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