Confirmatory Factor Analysis,Reliability, and Validity of the Persian Version of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire for Iranian People With Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and construct validity of, and perform confirmatory factor analysis of, the Persian version of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) for Iranian people with nonspecific chronic neck pain.MethodsWe performed psychometric testing of the Persian version of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Participants were 123 native Persian speakers with chronic neck pain lasting at least 3 months. They were between 18 and 55 years old. The CSQ was administered by self-report. After 5 to 7 days, 94 participants completed the questionnaire in the retest session. Confirmatory factor analysis was done to assess the model fit (χ² test, comparative fit index, and root-mean-square error of approximation) of the 7-factor solution of the Persian version of the CSQ. The Cronbach α was used for internal consistency; intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change for reliability; and nonparametric tests of group differences and correlations for construct validity. To assess the construct validity, we examined the ability of the CSQ to discriminate people based on sex, level of education, and physical activity. Correlations with the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, visual analog scale, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and Neck Disability Index were also determined to test the validity.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis measures—χ² test, comparative fit index, and root-mean-square error of approximation—were 1.72, 0.76, and 0.07, respectively. Internal consistency was excellent (0.85). All intraclass correlation coefficients were above the acceptable level of 0.70, with the highest reliability obtained for the Praying subscale in both test and retest sessions. The standard error of measurement for the CSQ total score was 2.26, and the minimal detectable change was 6.25. The Cronbach α for the total score and for the subscales ranged from 0.75 to 0.93. Scores of the subscales of the CSQ and other questionnaires showed low correlation except for the physical component of the SF-12. The Catastrophizing subscale had a positive correlation with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, and Neck Disability Index, and a negative correlation with the SF-12.ConclusionThe CSQ has acceptable and good measurement properties to assess coping strategies in Iranian people with nonspecific chronic neck pain. It is a reliable measure, though, for validity only The Catastrophizing subscale showed significant correlation with other scales, but the findings should be interpreted with caution because of the limitations of the study.     

Optimal surface property for three-dimensional echo visualization

Purpose

Three-dimensional (3D) echo is a useful modality to guide off-pump intracardiac surgery, and this study aimed to determine the optimal surface property for minimizing echo dropout and grating lobes.

Methods

A total of 13 specimens were examined. The specimens were scanned while they were rotated from 0° to 90°, and en face views were recorded in the 3D zoom mode. Changes in brightness were compared with the surface profile, which was traced from microscopic images. The brightness and size of grating lobes were also examined.

Results

Decreases in brightness that were observed at a large rotation angle were classified into three groups (sharp, moderate, and gradual), and variation in the effective reflective plane size appeared to be a major determinant of this property. The same material showed different degrees of reflection depending on the surface profile. The size of grating lobes was affected by variation in the reflective plane size, but not by the intensity of reflection. The brightness of the grating lobes was similar among specimens.

Conclusions

These results suggest that echo dropout and grating lobes can be effectively eliminated by an appropriate surface profile; thus, a likely practical solution would be to manufacture a surface that provides an adequate reflective surface size at various incident angles.

     

Loss of Shp2 Rescues BDNF/TrkB Signaling and Contributes to Improved Retinal Ganglion Cell Neuroprotection

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Four Cases of Atopic Dermatitis Complicated by Sjogren's Syndrome: Link between Dry Skin and Autoimmune Anhidrosis

We report four adult cases of atopic dermatitis (AD) complicated by Sjogren's syndrome (SS). The patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria for AD and SS. All cases showed persistent itchy dry skin and eczematous lesions complicated by sicca symptoms including dry eyes and dry mouth with moderate joint pain. One case manifested annular erythema and another manifested widespread discoid erythema. To investigate the underlying cause of dry skin in these cases, sweating function was evaluated using a quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART) in which the axon reflex is stimulated by acetylcholine iontophoresis. The sweating latency time was significantly prolonged in eczematous skin of AD and AD/SS compared to normal controls. Axon reflex (AXR) sweat volume was also significantly reduced in AD (normal and eczematous skin) and AD/SS (normal and eczema) compared to normal control. In contrast, the direct sweat volume of lesional or non-lesional AD skin induced by direct stimulation with acetylcholine was only slightly reduced compared to that in normal controls, but not in SS and lesional skin of AD/SS patients. These results suggest that the impaired sweat response in AD is attributable to an abnormal sudomotor axon reflex, which is accelerated and modulated when complicated by SS resulting in dry skin in the present cases.     

Usefulness of serum biopterin as a predictive biomarker for childhood asthma control: A prospective cohort study

Background

Pteridines are metabolites of tetrahydrobiopterin, which serves as co-enzyme of nitric oxide synthase. We sought to investigate the usefulness of pteridines as biomarkers for childhood asthma control.

Congenital fusion of the maxilla and mandible: brief case report.

Congenital fusion of the mandible and maxilla is a rare anomaly usually seen in association with various syndromes. Reports of isolated cases of bony fusion of the jaws are sparse. Only 10 reported cases were found in the literature search. Maxillomandibular fusion restricts mouth opening, causing feeding problems and difficulties in swallowing, respiration, growth, and development, and thus must be treated early. We report a case of congenital fusion of the mandible and maxilla in a 1-year-old boy and describe the clinical features of this anomaly to add to the existing literature on the subject. This is our second encounter of such a case.     

A simple technique to facilitate the Le Fort I osteotomy downfracture.

In order to mobilize and reposition the maxilla when treating dentofacial deformities, the Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy is commonly used. Like other surgical procedures, this procedure is not without inherent difficulties. At times, it may be difficult to initially mobilize the maxilla after performing the osteotomies. Techniques used to help in the initial mobilization and downfracture of the maxilla from the pterygoid plates include digital pressure to the dentoalveolus, disimpaction forceps, spreaders, and other instruments. These techniques are similar in that they all apply a unidirectional downward vector of force on the maxilla and have various drawbacks. We present a technique that uses a 0.5-mm stainless steel traction wire to facilitate Le Fort I maxillary downfracturing by applying a forward and downward vector of force simultaneously. After vertical downfracture of the maxilla, lateral traction on the wire can be used to complete the pterygomaxillary disjunction. This technique has several advantages and is atraumatic, and requires no special instrumentation; thus, downfracturing of the maxilla is done with relatively little effort and minimal risk.     

A simple technique to facilitate the Le Fort I osteotomy downfracture

In order to mobilize and reposition the maxilla when treating dentofacial deformities, the Le Fort I maxillary osteotomy is commonly used. Like other surgical procedures, this procedure is not without inherent difficulties. At times, it may be difficult to initially mobilize the maxilla after performing the osteotomies. Techniques used to help in the initial mobilization and downfracture of the maxilla from the pterygoid plates include digital pressure to the dentoalveolus, disimpaction forceps, spreaders, and other instruments. These techniques are similar in that they all apply a unidirectional downward vector of force on the maxilla and have various drawbacks. We present a technique that uses a 0.5-mm stainless steel traction wire to facilitate Le Fort I maxillary downfracturing by applying a forward and downward vector of force simultaneously. After vertical downfracture of the maxilla, lateral traction on the wire can be used to complete the pterygomaxillary disjunction. This technique has several advantages and is atraumatic, and requires no special instrumentation; thus, downfracturing of the maxilla is done with relatively little effort and minimal risk.     

Anticataleptic 8-OH-DPAT preferentially counteracts with haloperidol-induced Fos expression in the dorsolateral striatum and the core region of the nucleus accumbens

We studied the effects of the 5-HT(1A/7) agonist 8-OH-DPAT on haloperidol-induced catalepsy and forebrain Fos expression in mice to clarify its mechanism in modulating extrapyramidal motor disorders. 8-OH-DPAT (0.1-1mg/kg, i.p.) markedly attenuated haloperidol-induced catalepsy in a dose-dependent manner with a potency greater than that of the antiparkinsonian agent trihexyphenidyl. The anticataleptic action of 8-OH-DPAT was completely antagonized by WAY-100135 (a selective 5-HT(1A) antagonist), but not by SB-269970 (a selective 5-HT(7) antagonist). Depletion of cerebral 5-HT by p-chlorophenylalanine (300mg/kg, i.p. for 3 days) did not attenuate, but rather potentiated the action of 8-OH-DPAT. Furthermore, the anticataleptic dose of 8-OH-DPAT showed a regionally specific reduction of haloperidol-induced Fos expression in the dorsolateral striatum (dlST) and the core region of the nucleus accumbens (AcC), without affecting that in the medial prefrontal cortex, the shell region of the nucleus accumbens or the lateral septal nucleus. These results suggest that 8-OH-DPAT alleviates antipsychotic-associated extrapyramidal motor disorders by stimulating the postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors, which specifically counteracts the D(2) receptor blocking actions of antipsychotics in the dlST and AcC.