Development of a coronavirus social distance attitudes scale

ObjectiveOur goal was to develop a scale to assess social distance attitudes related to COVID-19.MethodsWe performed an online national survey of US adults (n = 1,074) to assess social distance attitudes, COVID-19 related beliefs and behaviors, and demographics. We assessed scale structure using confirmatory factor analysis and evaluated internal consistency and validity. We assessed association of scale factors with respondent characteristics.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis supported a hypothesized two-factor solution. Internal consistency was high for both positive (Alpha = 0.92) and negative (Alpha = 0.91) attitude factors. Analyses supported construct and predictive validity with expected associations between scale factors and perceived norms and behavior (e.g. trips out of the home). We found an interaction suggesting that holding highly negative attitudes reduced the effect of holding positive beliefs. Both attitude factors were related to age, gender, race/ethnicity, and political affiliation. Perceived COVID-19 risk (to others but not for self) and perceived severity were consistently associated with higher positive and lower negative attitudes.ConclusionThis COVID-19 Social Distance Attitude Scale contains positive and negative factors with high internal consistency and construct and predictive validity.Practice implicationA greater understanding and ongoing assessment of COVID-19 social distance attitudes could inform policymakers, researchers, and clinicians who seek to promote protective social distance behaviors.     

基于锥形束CT对邻面接触区釉质厚度的测量与分析

目的    应用锥形束CT（cone beam computed tomography,CBCT）测量上下颌牙列邻面接触区釉质厚度及邻接点距离牙合面和釉牙骨质界的垂直高度,为临床邻面去釉提供参考数据。方法    选取2019年6—10月于吉林大学口腔医院医学影像科行CBCT检查患者50例,根据纳入标准选取符合测量条件的牙齿145颗,运用Invivo软件测量每颗牙齿邻面接触区的釉质厚度及邻接点距离牙合面和釉牙骨质界的垂直高度。结果    从切牙至第一磨牙邻面接触区釉质厚度有逐渐增大的趋势;大多数牙位的远中邻面接触区釉质厚度大于近中（P < 0.05）,仅有上颌第一前磨牙和下颌第一磨牙的近远中邻面接触区釉质厚度差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）;上下颌左右侧同名牙邻面接触区釉质厚度差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）;除上颌中切牙-侧切牙、上下颌侧切牙-尖牙邻面接触区外,其余相邻牙齿近远中邻面接触区釉质厚度相似,差异均无统计学意义（均P > 0.05）;上颌邻面接触区平均釉质厚度大于下颌,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;上下颌近远中邻接点到牙合面的垂直距离均小于到釉牙骨质界的垂直距离（均P < 0.05）。结论    不同牙位近远中邻面接触区釉质厚度不同,邻接点距离牙合面和釉牙骨质界的垂直高度也不同,临床邻面去釉时不同牙位去釉量不能按照同一标准进行,应结合CBCT影像资料制定个体化治疗方案。     

应用高频超声建立未育女性腹直肌间距正常值参考范围及影响因素分析

目的 应用高频超声测量未育女性在四个位置的腹直肌间距并分析相关因素,旨在初步制定正常腹直肌间距(IRD)的参考值范围。 方法 选取2019年6月至2019年9月在我院行健康体检的106名健康未育女性志愿者,体质量指数（BMI）均≤30kg/m2,应用高频超声分别于仰卧位静息状态及卷腹动作测量脐上3cm、脐部、脐下2cm和脐下3cm四个位置的IRD,应用百分位数法计算IRD参考值范围,并分析IRD与年龄、身高、体重、BMI指数之间的关系。 结果 未育女性仰卧位静息状态IRD正常值范围如下：脐上3cm为4~15mm,脐部为5~20mm,脐下2cm为0~7mm,脐下3cm为0~3mm。相关性分析显示IRD与年龄、身高无相关性,与体重和BMI指数呈较弱的正相关。 结论 本研究应用高频超声初步建立了未育女性IRD的参考值范围,为腹直肌分离的诊断提供了依据,IRD与体重和BMI指数呈较弱的正相关。     

OT promotes closer interpersonal distance among highly empathic individuals

The space between people, or ‘interpersonal distance’, creates and defines the dynamics of social interactions and is a salient cue signaling responsiveness and feeling comfortable. This distance is implicit yet clearly felt, especially if someone stands closer or farther away than expected. Increasing evidence suggests that Oxytocin (OT) serves as a social hormone in humans, and that one of its roles may be to alter the perceptual salience of social cues. Considering that empathic ability may shape the way individuals process social stimuli, we predicted that OT will differentially affect preferred interpersonal distance depending on individual differences in empathy. Participants took part in two interpersonal distance experiments: In the first, they had to stop a (computer visualized) protagonist when feeling most comfortable; in the second, they were asked to choose the room in which they would later discuss intimate topics with another. Both experiments revealed an interaction between the effect of OT and empathy level. Among highly empathic individuals, OT promoted the choice of closer interpersonal distances. Yet, OT had an opposite effect on individuals with low empathic traits. We conclude that the enhancement of social cues following OT administration may have opposite effects on individuals with different empathic abilities.     

Long-Term Outcomes of Patients With Elevated Mitral Valve Pressure Gradient After Mitral Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the adverse impact of elevated postprocedural mitral valve pressure gradient (MPG) on outcome in a real-world population of patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) who underwent transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair (TEER).BackgroundTEER has become a routine treatment alternative for patients with severe MR at high surgical risk. The consequences of elevated MPG after TEER have been subject to controversial debates.MethodsAll consecutive patients undergoing TEER for either severe degenerative MR (DMR) or functional MR (FMR) at a high-volume center between September 2008 and January 2020 were prospectively included and followed periodically. Postprocedural MPG by discharge transthoracic echocardiography was considered elevated at ≥5 mm Hg. The primary combined endpoint was death or heart failure rehospitalization after 5 years.ResultsA total of 713 patients undergoing TEER (DMR, n = 265; FMR, n = 445) were included. Elevated postprocedural MPG was present in 37.0% of those with DMR (n = 98) and 22.0% of those with FMR (n = 98). In contrast to patients with FMR, 6-minute walk distance did not improve in patients with DMR with elevated MPG. Kaplan-Meier analyses did not demonstrate significant differences for the primary endpoint in patients with DMR (low vs elevated MPG, 67.3% vs 74.4%; P = 0.06) and those with FMR (78.6% vs 74.8%; P = 0.54). After adjustment, elevated MPG was an independent predictor of the primary endpoint in patients with DMR (HR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.03-2.45; P = 0.034) but not in those with FMR (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.63-1.22; P = 0.43).ConclusionsElevated postprocedural MPG is an independent predictor of adverse clinical and functional outcomes in patients with DMR but not in those with FMR     

C-reactive protein levels and survival in patients with moderate to very severe COPD

BACKGROUND: Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are increased in patients with COPD and correlate modestly with variables predictive of outcomes. In epidemiologic studies, CRP level is associated with all-cause mortality in patients with mild-to-moderate disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine if CRP levels are associated with survival in patients with moderate to very severe COPD in comparison with other well-known prognostic parameters of the disease. METHODS: In 218 stable patients with COPD, we measured baseline serum CRP level, BODE (body mass index, obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity) index and its components, arterial oxygenation (Pao(2)), inspiratory capacity (IC) to total lung capacity (TLC) ratio, and Charlson comorbidity score. We followed up the patients over time and evaluated the strength of the association between the variables and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: During the follow-up time (median, 36 months; 25th to 75th percentiles, 24 to 50 months), 54 patients (25%) died. CRP levels were similar between survivors and the deceased (median, 3.8 mg/L; 95% confidence interval, 1.9 to 8.1; vs median, 4.5 mg/L; 95% confidence interval, 2.1 to 11.5; p = 0.22) and was not significantly associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of patients with clinically moderate to very severe COPD, the level of CRP level was not associated with survival compared with other prognostic clinical tools such as the BODE index, modified Medical Research Council scale, 6-min walk distance, percentage of predicted FEV(1), IC/TLC ratio < 0.25, and Pao(2). Other long-term studies of well-characterized patients with COPD could help determine the exact role of CRP levels as a biomarker in patients with clinical COPD.     

新生儿肛门生殖器距离与隐睾的相关性分析

目的:分析男性新生儿肛门生殖器距离(AGD)与睾丸下降不全之间的关系,探索其可能存在的内在联系。方法:连续纳入哈尔滨市妇产医院及哈尔滨市双城区急救中心妇产科2013年9月至2014年9月出生的汉族男性新生儿350例,出生后24 h对所有新生儿测量AGD,排除有合并直肠肛门畸形及尿道下裂的患儿,由小儿外科医生进行体格检查,确定其是否存在睾丸下降不全,并根据睾丸位置分为阴囊上方型、腹股沟型及不可触及型。结果:350例新生儿中隐睾39例,隐睾新生儿的AGD长度显著短于非隐睾新生儿[(2.01±0.22)cm vs(2.35±0.19)cm;P0.01];在排除早产儿及低出生体重儿情况下该差异仍具有统计学意义[(2.32±0.14)cm vs(2.06±0.19)cm;(2.37±0.17)cm vs(2.12±0.12)cm,P均0.01];高位隐睾新生儿AGD较低位隐睾儿AGD有降低趋势,但无统计学意义(F=0.434,P0.05);单侧隐睾与双侧隐睾新生儿AGD值差异也无统计学意义[(1.96±0.13)cm vs(2.02±0.17)cm,P0.05)]。结论:在所研究的男性新生儿人群中,AGD值与睾丸下降不全具有相关性。AGD可以作为雄激素作用窗口期存在异常干扰的衡量指标。