Personality,Cognition, and Adaptability to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations with Loneliness,Distress, and Positive and Negative Mood States

The current research examined personality and individual difference factors associated with the perceived ability to adapt to the significant challenges accompanying the ongoing public health crisis concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study investigated the associations among self-reported adaptability to the pandemic and personality predispositions (dependency, self-criticism, mattering, and self-esteem), cognitive factors (positive, negative, and loneliness automatic thoughts), loneliness, distress, and mood states. A sample of 462 college students from Israel completed an online questionnaire after 10 weeks of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results confirmed that personality vulnerability factors underscored by a negative sense of self (i.e., self-criticism and dependency) and individual difference factors reflecting self-esteem, feelings of mattering, and fear of not mattering are associated in meaningful ways with adaptability to the pandemic, loneliness, distress, negative mood states, and positive mood states. Most notably, higher self-reported adaptability to the pandemic is associated with lower dependency, self-criticism, and fear of not mattering, and higher levels of self-esteem and mattering. The findings attest to the central role of adaptability and related individual difference factors in acclimatizing to the numerous changes and challenges associated with the COVID-19 crisis. The theoretical and practical implications of our findings are discussed.

     

Intravesical sustained release system of lidocaine and oxybutynin results from in vitro and animal study

International Urology and Nephrology - Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic debilitating condition of unknown etiology. Intravesical lidocaine demonstrated pain relief...     

Anterior petroclinoid fold fenestration: an adjunct to clipping of postero-laterally projecting posterior communicating aneurysms

Proximally located posterior communicating artery (PCoA) aneurysms, projecting postero-laterally in proximity to the tentorium, may pose a technical challenge for microsurgical clipping due to obscuration of the proximal aneurysmal neck by the anterior petroclinoid fold. We describe an efficacious technique utilizing fenestration of the anterior petroclinoid fold to facilitate visualization and clipping of PCoA aneurysms abutting this aspect of the tentorium. Of 86 cases of PCoA aneurysms treated between 2003 and 2013, the technique was used in nine (10.5 %) patients to allow for adequate clipping. A 3 mm fenestration in the anterior petroclinoid ligament is created adjacent and lateral to the anterior clinoid process. This fenestration is then widened into a small wedge corridor by bipolar coagulation. In all cases, the proximal aneurysm neck was visualized after the wedge fenestration. Additionally, an adequate corridor for placement of the proximal clip blade was uniformly established. All cases were adequately clipped, with complete occlusion of the aneurysm neck and fundus with preservation of the PCoA. There were two intraoperative ruptures not related to creation of the wedge fenestration. One patient experienced post-operative partial third nerve palsy, which resolved during follow-up. We describe a technique of fenestration of the anterior petroclinoid fold to establish a critical and safe corridor for both visualization and clipping of PCoA aneurysms.     

Asthma exacerbation is associated with particulate matter source factors in children in New York City

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is linked with asthma exacerbation; however, the role played by specific PM sources is not well understood. Our objective was to investigate the associations between daily cough and wheeze symptoms in a panel of asthmatic children and PM source factors determined by receptor modeling using positive matrix factorization (PMF). We studied 36 children with moderate-to-severe asthma in New York City over both a warm and a cold season. Exposure to ambient air pollutants, including PM_2.5 elements and elemental and organic carbon fractions, was characterized. The mean ambient PM_2.5 concentration for the study periods was 12.0?±?6.7 μg/m³. Six factors were resolved using PMF, including oil, road dust, ships, regional, salt, and traffic. When adjusted for ozone, cough and wheeze symptoms were most strongly associated with the regional and salt factors. Results using tracer elements (as determined from PMF analyses) showed some inconsistency, with two tracers for road dust (K and Si) showing associations in opposite directions to each other. Positive associations were also observed for S, which is a tracer of regional PM. Significant negative associations were observed for the oil factor and one of its tracers (Zn). Mostly nonsignificant associations were found for carbon fractions, with the exception of pyrolized carbon and two elemental carbon fractions. Our results indicate that asthma symptoms are associated with regional and salt factors. In this study, the regional factor was comprised of sulfate as well as carbon-containing PM, the latter which is likely derived from both anthropogenic and biogenic sources.     

Cholesterol crystal embolization to the digestive system: characterization of a common,yet overlooked presentation of atheroembolism

In the 1359 published patients with multiorgan cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE), the digestive system seems to be the third most frequently affected system. Yet, this system received hitherto only little attention in the medical literature. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to clinically characterize the subset of patients with CCE involving the digestive system, based on our institutional experience and a review of the literature. Cases with CCE in a 7-yr period (1995-2001) were sought in the computerized records of our medical center. Of the CCE patients, those with digestive system involvement that could be related to CCE were included in this study. The clinical features of CCE were determined and compared with those found in published series. Fourteen cases with CCE were identified, giving an annual incidence of 0.8 per 10(5). Digestive system involvement was found in five (36%) of the 14 patients. All five patients had established atherosclerosis. Precipitating factors were vascular manipulations or anticoagulation treatment in four of these five patients. Two patterns of disease appeared: acute catastrophic multiorgan disorder with poor prognosis and chronic and more indolent GI disease. Abdominal pain, GI bleeding, fever, and diarrhea were the most common manifestations, resulting from bowel infarction, mucosal ulcerations, hepatocellular liver disorder, and/or pancreatitis. CCE is a systemic disorder with a frequent involvement of the digestive system and protean clinical manifestations. It should, therefore, be considered in any gastroenterological patient with atherosclerosis and recent vascular manipulations or systemic anticoagulation.     

Systemic granulomatosis and hypercalcaemia following intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy

Abstract.  Schattner A, Gilad A, Cohen J (Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot; and Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel). Systemic granulomatosis and hypercalcaemia following intravesical bacillus Calmette–Guérin immunotherapy (Case report). J Intern Med 2002; 251: 272–277.     

Neutropenic typhlitis

Neutropenic typhlitis is an acute inflammation of the cecum occurring in neutropenic patients. Two cases are described, both presenting typical features of the disease. It is our experience that the treatment approach should consist of bowel rest, fluid therapy, and massive administration of broad spectrum antibiotics. In some cases, full recovery will follow. If abdominal signs persist, surgery should be deferred until hematologic convalescence occurs. At this time, cecostomy and drainage should be adequate. Only in very severe cases, with wide-spread necrosis, should a right hemicolectomy be performed.