Conducting exposure and response prevention treatment for contamination fears during COVID-19: The behavioral immune system impact on clinician approaches to treatment

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic sparked significant anxiety regarding viral rates and means of transmission. Heightened concerns about contamination have prompted new hygienic strategies to vigilantly guard against infection, including hand washing immediately after touching foreign objects or suspected contaminants. This has presented a critical challenge for the delivery of exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy to individuals with contamination fears due to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), as providers must manage not only their clients’ attitudes and reactions but their own as well. In this investigation, self-identified anxiety and OCD treatment specialists (N = 139) provided demographic information, including their anxiety and OCD caseloads, and completed measures related to intolerance of uncertainty (IUS-SF; Carlton et al., 2007), beliefs about exposure therapy (TBES; Deacon et al., 2013), and emotional reactions to physical sensations (The Chills; Maruskin et al., 2012). We tested the hypothesis that intolerance of uncertainty and activation of the behavioral immune system (BIS; Schaller & Park, 2011), a mechanism theoretically activated by the prominent emergence of pathogens to protect against illness would predict attitudes toward exposure. The Chills Scale was used to assess BIS activation, a broad assessment of vasoconstriction responses associated with different emotional reactions, and includes a subscale (coldness) that evaluates vasoconstriction associated with defense against pathogens. Both coldness and OCD caseload, but not anxiety caseload or subscales of intolerance of uncertainty, emerged as significant predictors of clinicians’ beliefs about exposure; increases in OCD caseload were also related to decreases in negative beliefs about exposure. Findings are useful in determining methods for aiding clinicians in developing effective approaches to contamination fears during and post-pandemic that include addressing their own BIS-related concerns and mapping out means for social behavioral norms associated with engaging in exposure treatment.     

Preoperative Prophylactic Antibiotics in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: What,When, and How

Although there are numerous nonpatient-related factors that may help reduce infection risk, the proper use of prophylactic antibiotics is most responsible for reducing infection. The role of prophylactic antibiotics is to reduce early periprosthetic joint replacement, which is accomplished by having adequate antibiotic tissue levels at the time of skin incision. The goal of this section of the symposium is to review current antibiotic recommendations, how to manage patients with a self-reported penicillin allergy, review the use of dual antibiotics, discuss the use of antibiotics in the outpatient total joint setting, as well as very briefly discuss the administration of intraosseous antibiotics in knee arthroplasty.     

探讨高危孕妇胎盘植入的临床危险因素及MRI价值征象

目的探讨高危孕妇胎盘植入的临床危险因素及MRI价值征象。方法91例高危孕妇,年龄23~44岁、平均年龄32岁;孕周27~38.5周、平均孕周36.2周;分别分析临床资料及MRI宫内征象1)胎盘异常增厚及胎盘内T2WI低信号带;2)胎盘与肌层分界线不连续或中断;3)子宫肌层变薄及局部膨隆。最终诊断结果均经手术及病理证实。采用卡方检验比较临床高危因素及MRI宫内征象在总体胎盘植入与对照组间以及MRI宫内征象在胎盘植入组内的统计学差异。结果41/91例为胎盘植入,其中26例浅植入(胎盘粘连)、13例胎盘深植入、2例胎盘穿透,余50例阴性。临床资料剖宫产和/或流产史次数大于等于2次、前置胎盘以及上述MRI宫内征象在总体胎盘植入组间均具有统计学差异(P<0.05)。其中胎盘T2WI低信号带(P=0.015)、胎盘与肌层分界线不连续或中断(P=0.007)、子宫肌层变薄(P=0.000)及局部膨隆(P=0.006)在胎盘植入组内具有统计学差异。结论剖宫产和/或流产史次数大于等于2次及前置胎盘是高危孕妇胎盘植入的临床危险因素。上述MRI宫内征象均为高危孕妇胎盘植入的价值征象。其中胎盘与肌层分界线不连续或中断,是胎盘浅植入的敏感征象。除胎盘异常增厚外,余下MRI宫内价值征象出现越多,提示胎盘植入越深,危险性越大。     

Uterine mesenchymal tumours: recent advances

Almost all uterine mesenchymal tumours have been historically classified as either smooth muscle or endometrial stromal neoplasms. Recent application of molecular techniques has identified numerous lesions with distinctive genetic abnormalities and clinicopathological characteristics. Newly discovered uterine sarcoma subtypes include high-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas with BCOR genetic abnormalities, fibrosarcoma-like uterine sarcomas with NTRK rearrangements and COL1A–PDGFRB fusions, as well as undifferentiated uterine sarcomas with SMARCA4 mutations. Novel PLAG1 and PGR fusions have been identified in subsets of myxoid and epithelioid leiomyosarcomas. Some uterine tumours resembling ovarian sex-cord tumour harbour GREB1 and ESR1 rearrangements. Histological and immunophenotypical features as well as underlying genetic abnormalities defining these lesions are discussed.     

Adapting Sexual Configurations Theory to Nursing

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning people in the United States experience multiple health disparities related to sexual and reproductive health. Attempts to address these disparities have focused on sexual orientation and gender identity rather than on the specific aspects of sexuality that may be more relevant to an individual’s health outcomes. This focus is also incongruent with a holistic approach to health and wellness interventions. We propose an adaptation of sexual configurations theory, a psychological theory with which to accurately describe different aspects of sexuality, to better position nurses to address these important disparity issues. We position sexual configurations theory within a contextual framework that incorporates aspects of trauma theory as a new way to evaluate individual sexuality in a holistic nursing context.