Massive cystic degeneration of a pedunculated leiomyoma

A 51-year-old woman presented with a large abdominopelvic mass suspicious on preoperative imaging for ovarian malignancy. At laparotomy, a large cystic mass was found originating from the uterus and adherent to the proximal ileum. Pathologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of cystic leiomyoma.     

Identifying risk factors for uterine rupture

Uterine rupture, whether in the setting of a prior uterine incision or in an unscarred uterus, is an obstetric emergency with potentially catastrophic consequences for both mother and child. Numerous studies have been published regarding various risk factors associated with uterine rupture. Despite the mounting data regarding both antepartum and intrapartum factors, it currently is impossible to predict in whom a uterine rupture will occur. This article reviews the data regarding these antepartum and intrapartum predictors for uterine rupture. The author hopes that the information presented in this article will help clinicians assess an individual's risk for uterine rupture.     

Continuity in self-report measures of maternal anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms from pregnancy through two years postpartum

This study examined stability and change in maternal anxiety, stress and depression both during the second half of pregnancy and from pregnancy to six weeks and two years postpartum. Self-report measures included those designed to measure mood and state as well as more persistent attributes. Longitudinal data were collected from 137 women during pregnancy, 120 at six weeks, and 97 at two years. There was significant individual stability in scores on specific measures during pregnancy (range in Pearson rs=0.30-0.86) and from pregnancy through two years postpartum (rs=0.30-0.74). Comparable levels of convergence among measures of different constructs both within pregnancy and over time were also demonstrated, suggesting lack of precision in measurement instruments designed for specific constructs. Despite intra-individual stability, changes in mean levels were also observed over time with somewhat different patters for each variable. However, maternal parity was an important contributor to both level and trajectory. A summary composite score showed an elevated level of psychological distress during pregnancy in multiparous women, followed by a decline through two years postpartum; primiparous women displayed a gradual increase in distress [main effect F (1,87)=3.97, p < 0.05; time interaction F (2,174)= 7.15, p < 0.001] to multiparous levels by two years. Results are discussed in terms of a "motherhood" effect on psychological distress.     

In vivo light scattering measurements for detection of precancerous conditions of the cervix

OBJECTIVE: To examine the utility of in vivo elastic light scattering measurements to diagnose high grade squamous interepithelial lesions (HSIL) of the cervix. METHODS: A newly developed fiber optic probe was used to measure light transport in the cervical epithelium of 36 patients undergoing standard colposcopy. Both unpolarized and polarized light transport were measured in the visible and near-infrared. Spectroscopic results of 29 patients were compared with histopathology of the measured sites using ROC curves, MANOVA and logistic regression. RESULTS: Three spectroscopic parameters are statistically different for HSIL compared with low-grade lesions and normal tissue. When these three spectroscopic parameters are combined, retrospective sensitivities and specificities for HSIL versus non-HSIL are 100% and 80%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Reflectance measurements of elastically scattered light show promise as a non-invasive, real-time method to discriminate HSIL from other abnormalities and normal tissue. These results compare favorably with those obtained by fluorescence alone and by fluorescence combined with light scattering.     

An evaluation of the coping patterns of rape victims: integration with a schema-based information-processing model

The current study sought to provide an expansion of Resick and Schnicke's information-processing model of interpersonal violence response. Their model posits that interpersonal violence threatens victims' schematic beliefs and that victims can resolve this threat through assimilation, accommodation, or overaccommodation. In addition, it is hypothesized that how victims resolve schematic threat affects their coping strategies. To test this hypothesis, a cluster analysis of rape victims' coping patterns was conducted. Victims' coping patterns were related to distress, self-worth, and rape label in ways consistent with predictions. Thus, future research should focus on the implications of how victims integrate trauma with schemas.     

The effect of learning to drum on behavior and brain function in autistic adolescents

This current study aimed to investigate the impact of drum training on behavior and brain function in autistic adolescents with no prior drumming experience. Thirty-six autistic adolescents were recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups. The drum group received individual drum tuition (two lessons per week over an 8-wk period), while the control group did not. All participants attended a testing session before and after the 8-wk period. Each session included a drumming assessment, an MRI scan, and a parent completing questionnaires relating to the participants’ behavioral difficulties. Results showed that improvements in drumming performance were associated with a significant reduction in hyperactivity and inattention difficulties in drummers compared to controls. The fMRI results demonstrated increased functional connectivity in brain areas responsible for inhibitory control, action outcomes monitoring, and self-regulation. In particular, seed-to-voxel analyses revealed an increased functional connectivity in the right inferior frontal gyrus and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. A multivariate pattern analysis demonstrated significant changes in the medial frontal cortex, the left and right paracingulate cortex, the subcallosal cortex, the left frontal pole, the caudate, and the left nucleus accumbens. In conclusion, this study investigates the impact of a drum-based intervention on neural and behavioral outcomes in autistic adolescents. We hope that these findings will inform further research and trials into the potential use of drum-based interventions in benefitting clinical populations with inhibition-related disorders and emotional and behavioral difficulties.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interactions as well as a range of restricted, repetitive interests, activities, and behaviors (1). Over recent decades, incidence estimates for ASD have increased (2), with a prevalence of 1 in 59 children in the United States (3) and over 600,000 people in the United Kingdom, which is equivalent to a population prevalence of ∼1% (4, 5). In this context of increased autism prevalence, there is an existing need to develop interventions that offer new insights and perspectives and help address the specifically high demand for services for autistic adolescents and young adults (6). [The term “autistic” is used throughout this paper because of a large percentage of the UK autism community’s preference for the identity-first construction (e.g., “autistic person”) over the person-first phrase (e.g., “person with autism”) (7).] Indeed, autistic young people often face discontinuity in care provision in the transitionary period from child and adolescent services to adult services, just when their care needs are most pressing, making their transition into adulthood particularly difficult (8). In particular, mismatches across services, such as differences in eligibility criteria or age cutoffs, mean that many autistic young adults fall through the care gap after exiting high school (8). Autistic individuals are particularly vulnerable during this period because they often face high unemployment rates, increased levels of comorbid psychiatric diagnoses such as anxiety and depression, and, more broadly, greater reliance on assistance from others when it comes to carrying out adulthood-related daily activities (9–11).A growing body of research suggests that key social domains of the ASD symptomatology may be related to atypical executive functioning (12, 13). Inhibitory control, one of the core executive functions (EFs), corresponds to the ability to delay the onset of behavioral responses, or withhold behaviors that are prepotent but contextually inappropriate (14, 15). It works in concert with other EFs, such as cognitive flexibility and working memory, to exert top-down control on behavioral responses, enable self-regulation, and help navigate social relationships, therefore supporting transition into adulthood and independent living (16, 17). More specifically, it is thought that atypical inhibitory control in autism may underlie significant strengths but may also exacerbate key features of the ASD symptomatology, such as struggling with change and uncertainty, or having difficulty interpreting social cues (18–21). Impaired performance on inhibitory control tasks is frequent in autistic individuals (12, 13, 22, 23). In particular, it has been associated with severe restricted and repetitive behaviors (19, 24, 25), as well as a deficit in proactive response slowing [the ability to slow the initiation of a behavioral response in preparation for stopping during conditions of uncertainty (19)]. At the neuroimaging level, prior studies have revealed atypical recruitment of frontal regions in autistic adolescents (20), and impaired functional connectivity (FC) of the inferior frontal junction, key regions for inhibitory control, in autistic children (26).Autistic individuals often report being preoccupied with certain topics (27) and struggling with anxiety and anger management (28, 29). In a study by Van Hees et al. (30), higher-education autistic students described feeling overwhelmed by the demands placed on them while facing significant difficulties with planning, information processing, time management, organizational skills, and sensory overload. These difficulties may reflect impaired attention and inhibition abilities, complementary processes that allow individuals to pursue the achievement of a particular goal while remaining flexibly responsive to environmental demands (21, 31). A research study on a population-based twin sample of 17,000 children (9 y to 12 y old) concluded that the vast majority of children with ASD traits also exhibit cooccurring attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits (32). More specifically, the authors demonstrated that 82% of the boys and 95% of the girls with high ASD traits on all three ASD domains (social impairments, communication impairments, and restricted repetitive behaviors and interests) exhibited difficulties on at least one of the three ADHD domains (attentional difficulties, hyperactivity, and impulsivity). Additionally, they reported that repetitive and restricted behaviors in ASD correlated with ADHD domains, particularly with impulsivity and attentional difficulties. This is in line with a previous twin study in adults, which reported the highest phenotypic and genetic overlap between ADHD traits and “nonsocial” autistic-like traits such as attention switching difficulties (33).Music has long been known to promote cognitive and emotional wellbeing in both clinical and healthy populations (34, 35). Rhythm-based musical training, in particular, has been shown to enhance higher-order cognition and motor control (31). There is growing evidence that activities designed to improve beat synchronization skills may provide an effective approach to developing neurological processes that underpin self-regulation and EF skills (36). Indeed, EF deficits have been linked with poor rhythm perception in children (37) and poor sensorimotor synchronization in young adults (38). Using the Integrated Visual and Auditory Plus Continuous Performance Test (39), Slater et al. (31) highlighted that drumming practice is associated with better scores in inhibitory control and selective attention in adult percussionists compared to nonmusicians.More specifically, learning to drum requires error monitoring and temporal accuracy and therefore both attentional and inhibitory control (31, 40). In a recent study, Lowry et al. (40) used a mixed-methods analysis to investigate behavioral changes in children with emotional and behavioral difficulties, after learning to drum. Following drum training, the participants displayed enhanced attentional focus and reduced hyperactivity and peer problems (40). These results concur with Draper et al.’s (41) recent findings showing that drumming improves motor control and attentional focus and reduces emotional and peer problems in autistic children. It is important to note that motor control is particularly relevant in the context of ASD. Indeed, recent studies have consistently demonstrated motor impairments across the autism spectrum (42, 43), including gross and fine motor difficulties (44, 45) and delays with motor planning (46). Sokhadze et al. (47) showed that ∼80% of autistic individuals also present with clumsiness or motor dyspraxia, which can manifest as having difficulty with motor coordination as well as concentration, planning, and organization. These difficulties may impact the individual’s ability to carry out daily activities, which, in turn, can lead to rejection from peers and social isolation (48). Similarly, motor impairments in balance, motor accuracy, and object manipulation scores have been reported to be predictive of social dysfunction in young autistic boys (49). In this context, learning to drum could be regarded as particularly beneficial because it involves not only musicality but also the development of multimodal skills such as body coordination, sensorimotor integration, and cardiovascular exercise processes (50). Additionally, it is appealing and accessible to everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or musical background (51, 52).In our proof-of-concept study, Amad et al. (53) showed that the brain is capable of neuroplastic modifications through drum-based practice in neurotypical adolescents. In particular, changes in FC were observed post drum training in brain regions known to exhibit atypical functioning in autism, such as areas associated with motor skills and the mirror neuron system.In the present study, we investigated the impact of drum training on brain function in 36 autistic adolescents who were split into two age- and gender-matched groups: a drum group (n = 19), who were evaluated before and after learning to drum, and a control group (n = 17), who were also evaluated longitudinally but with no intervention. We explored behavioral outcomes related to drum practice in this clinical population and examined their association with changes in FC between the two groups (i.e., drum group vs. control group) over time (i.e., before vs. after drum training).We hypothesized that drumming performance would improve in the drum group over time, while no improvement would be observed in the control group. Furthermore, we hypothesized that changes in hyperactivity, attentional difficulties, problem behaviors, and repetitive and restricted behaviors would be observed in the drum group. We also hypothesized that cooccurring changes in FC in brain areas responsible for attentional focus and inhibitory control would be identified following drum training.