An Online Mindfulness Intervention for International Students: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial

Background

Student mobility across borders poses challenges to health systems at the university and country levels. International students suffer from stress more than their local peers, however, do not seek help or underutilize existing help offers. Some barriers to help-seeking among international students are insufficient information regarding the health offers, stigma, and language, which might be overcome via culturally adapted internet and mobile-based interventions (IMI).

Method

A randomized controlled feasibility trial with a parallel design assessed the feasibility and potential efficacy of an online mindfulness intervention adapted for international university students. Participants were randomized into either an adapted online mindfulness intervention (StudiCareM-E) (IG, n = 20) or a waitlist control group (WL, n = 20). Participants were assessed at baseline (t0) and eight-week post-randomization (t1). The feasibility of StudiCareM-E was evaluated regarding intervention adherence, client satisfaction, and potential negative effects. The potential efficacy of StudiCareM-E was measured by means of the level of mindfulness, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, presenteeism, and wellbeing. Efficacy outcomes were evaluated with regression models on the intention-to-treat (ITT) sample (n = 40), adjusting for the baseline values.

Results

Participants' formative feedback suggested improvements in the content of the IMI. There were no crucial negative effects compared to WL. Assessment dropout was 35% (IG: 50%: WL: 20%), and intervention dropout was 60%. StudiCareM-E yielded significant improvements in mindfulness (β = .34), well-being (β = .37), and anxiety (β = -.42) compared to WL.

Conclusion

StudiCareM-E might be used among culturally diverse international student populations to improve their well-being. Future studies might carefully inspect the extent of the adaptation needs of their target group and design their interventions accordingly.

Culturally adapting internet- and mobile-based health promotion interventions might not be worth the effort: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Health promotion interventions offer great potential in advocating a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of diseases. Some barriers to communicating health promotion to people of certain cultural groups might be overcome via the internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMI). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to explore the effectiveness of culturally adapted IMI for health promotion interventions among culturally diverse populations. We systematically searched on Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EbscoHost/MEDLINE, Ovid/Embase, EbscoHost/PsychINFO, and Web of Science databases in October 2020. Out of 9438 records, 13 randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating culturally adapted health promotion IMI addressing healthy eating, physical activity, alcohol consumption, sexual health behavior, and smoking cessation included. From the included studies 10,747 participants were eligible. Culturally adapted IMI proved to be non-superior over active control conditions in short- (g = 0.10, [95% CI −0.19 to 0.40]) and long-term (g = 0.20, [95% CI −0.11 to 0.51]) in promoting health behavior. However, culturally adapted IMI for physical activity (k = 3, N = 296) compared to active controls yielded a beneficial effect in long-term (g = 0.48, [95%CI 0.25 to 0.71]). Adapting health promotion IMI to the cultural context of different cultural populations seems not yet to be recommendable given the substantial adaption efforts necessary and the mostly non-significant findings. However, these findings need to be seen as preliminary given the limited number of included trials with varying methodological rigor and the partly substantial between-trial heterogeneity pointing in the direction of potentially useful culturally adapted IMI which now need to be disentangled from the less promising approaches.

PROSPERO registration number: 42020152939

Cultural adaptation of internet- and mobile-based interventions for mental disorders: a systematic review

Providing accessible and effective healthcare solutions for people living in low- and middle-income countries, migrants, and indigenous people is central to reduce the global mental health treatment gap. Internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMI) are considered scalable psychological interventions to reduce the burden of mental disorders and are culturally adapted for implementation in these target groups. In October 2020, the databases PsycInfo, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were systematically searched for studies that culturally adapted IMI for mental disorders. Among 9438 screened records, we identified 55 eligible articles. We extracted 17 content, methodological, and procedural components of culturally adapting IMI, aiming to consider specific situations and perspectives of the target populations. Adherence and effectiveness of the adapted IMI seemed similar to the original IMI; yet, no included study conducted a direct comparison. The presented taxonomy of cultural adaptation of IMI for mental disorders provides a basis for future studies investigating the relevance and necessity of their cultural adaptation.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019142320.

Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of culturally adapted internet- and mobile-based health promotion interventions

INTRODUCTION

High rates of immigration pose challenges for the healthcare systems of many countries to offer high-quality care to diverse populations. Advancing health interventions with incorporating the cultural background of diverse populations can be helpful to overcome this challenge. First studies suggest that culturally diverse populations might benefit from culturally adapted internet-based and mobile-based interventions (IMI) to promote health behaviours. However, the effectiveness of culturally adapted IMIs for health promotion interventions has not been evaluated systematically. Therefore, the aim of this review is to assess the effectiveness of culturally adapted IMIs regarding health promotion. Additionally, the cultural adaptation features of these interventions will be outlined.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of culturally adapted IMIs to promote health behaviours in the field of healthy eating, smoking cessation, alcohol consumption, physical activity and sexual health behaviour will be identified via a systematic search of the databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CENTRAL. The preliminary search has been conducted on the 26 August 2019 and will be updated in the process. Data will be pooled meta-analytically in case of at least three included studies reporting on the same outcome. Moreover, a narrative synthesis of the included studies will be conducted. The risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for the Quality Assessment of RCTs V. 2.0. Publication bias will be assessed using funnel plots.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required for this study. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed international journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO; CRD42020152939.

Cultural adaptation of Internet- and mobile-based interventions for mental disorders: a systematic review protocol

BACKGROUND

Internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMI) are an effective and scalable low-threshold solution to reach people who are undersupplied by current healthcare. Adapting interventions to the cultural and ethnic background of the target group enhances their acceptance and effectiveness. However, no systematic approach to cultural adaptation of IMI has been established so far. Therefore, this review aims to summarise components and procedures commonly used in the cultural adaptation of IMI for mental disorders, as well as the current evidence base on whether such a cultural adaptation leads to an increased acceptance, adherence, and effectiveness of IMI for mental disorders.

METHODS

A systematic literature search will be performed using the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and WoS. The search term will include keywords related to cultural adaptation, IMI, and mental disorders/disturbances. Two independent reviewers will evaluate studies against inclusion and exclusion criteria and extract study and intervention characteristics, details on the cultural adaptation approach, and outcome data. Quality of evidence will be assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Reviewing Studies with Diverse Designs, and results will be synthesised qualitatively.

DISCUSSION

Providing adequate mental healthcare regardless of cultural backgrounds is a major global health challenge. The planned systematic review will lay the foundation for the further development of the cultural adaptation of IMI for mental disorders by summarising the current state and providing recommendations for future research.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42019142320.

Placement of a Stent within a Flow Diverter Improves Aneurysm Occlusion Rates

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Placement of a stent within a flow diverter has been described previously but its consequences have not been analyzed. We evaluated the clinical and angiographic results of stent placement within a flow diverter during the same treatment session.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients treated with a Surpass flow diverter were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with previously deployed stents and procedures in which scaffolding stents, a second flow diverter, or intrasaccular devices were used were excluded. Patient and aneurysm characteristics and clinical and imaging follow-up results were compared between stented and nonstented Surpass flow-diverter groups and stent assisted coiling.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients (41 aneurysms) were treated with a Surpass flow diverter only (monotherapy group), and in 33 patients (35 aneurysms), a stent was placed within the Surpass flow diverter (stented group). Stents were placed inside the Surpass flow diverter for a variety of reasons at the operator's discretion. No statistical difference was noted between the 2 groups in age, body weight, sex, history of thromboembolic events, smoking, platelet inhibition levels, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, malignancy, and aneurysm location. Aneurysms in the stented group were larger than those in the monotherapy group (14.8 versus 9.1 mm, P < .001). The rate of clinically significant adverse events and complete aneurysm occlusion rates at 0-3 and 3-6 months (73.3% versus 61.3%, P = .31, and 84.8% versus 70.2%, P = .14) were similar. At 9-12 months, a significantly higher proportion of aneurysms in the stented group achieved complete occlusion (93.9% versus 73.2%, P = .019). There was a trend toward a higher obliteration rate on final follow-up in the stented group (93.9% versus 82.9%, P = .14).

CONCLUSIONS

Placement of a stent within a flow diverter increases the rate of aneurysm occlusion. We propose that these results are from improved flow-diverter apposition due to the higher radial force of intracranial stents.

Hürthle cell presence alters the distribution and outcome of categories in the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to determine whether the presence of Hürthle cells altered the distribution of categories in the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology, or the expected neoplastic and malignant outcome.

METHODS

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology reports of Hürthle cells in a 2-year period were evaluated. The distribution of Bethesda system categories and the outcome at partial or complete thyroidectomy were compared for FNAs with and without Hürthle cells.

RESULTS

Of 895 adequate FNAs with Hürthle cells, 764 (85.4%) were classified as benign, 86 (9.6%) as atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS), 32 (3.6%) as follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm (FN/SFN), 12 (1.3%) as suspicious for malignancy (SFM) and one (0.1%) as malignant. Of 10 359 adequate FNAs without Hürthle cells, 9707 (93.7%) were classified as benign, 412 (4.0%) as AUS/FLUS, 77 (0.7%) as FN/SFN, 93 (0.9%) as SFM and 70 (0.7%) as malignant. The distribution of categories in FNAs with and without Hürthle cells was significantly different (P < 0.001) as a result of a decrease in benign and an increase in AUS/FLUS and FN/SFN categories. Among 128 patients with and 582 without Hürthle cells undergoing surgery, the overall neoplastic and malignancy rates were higher in the former than in the latter group (27.3% versus 14.9%, P < 0.001; 21.1% versus 11.7%, P = 0.003; respectively). Although neoplastic and malignant rates were higher in the group with than without Hürthle cells in all categories, the differences were only significant for a neoplastic outcome of benign cytology (15.1% versus 6.0%, P = 0.0013) and a malignant outcome of FN/SFN cytology (63.6% versus 21.9%, P = 0.0108).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the rates of AUS/FLUS and FN/SFN categories in the Bethesda system were higher when Hürthle cells were present. After surgery, neoplastic and malignant outcomes were significantly higher in the Hürthle cell group.

Selective cerebral perfusion with aortic cannulation and short-term hypothermic circulatory arrest in aortic arch reconstruction

BACKGROUND

The deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) technique has been used in aortic arch and isthmus hypoplasia for many years. However, with the demonstration of the deleterious effects of prolonged DHCA, selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) has started to be used in aortic arch repair. For SCP, perfusion via the innominate artery route is generally preferred (either direct innominate artery cannulation or re-routing of the cannula in the aorta is used). Herein, we describe our technique and the result of arch reconstruction in combination with selective cerebral and myocardial perfusion (SCMP) and short-term total circulatory arrest (TCA) (5-10 min) through ascending aortic cannulation.

METHODS

Thirty-seven cases with aortic arch and isthmus hypoplasia accompanying cardiac defects were operated on with SCMP and short TCA in Baskent University Istanbul Research and Training Hospital between January 2007 and Sep 2012. There were 17 cases with ventricular septal defect (VSD)-coarctation with aortic arch hypoplasia (CoAAH), 4 cases of transposition of the great arteries-VSD-CoAAH, 4 cases of Taussing Bing Anomaly-CoAAH, 2 cases complete atrioventricular canal defect-CoAAH, 3 cases single ventricle-CoAAH, 3 cases of type A interruption-VSD, 2 subvalvular aortic stenosis-CoAAH and 2 cases of isolated CoAAH. The aorta was cannulated in the middle of the ascending aorta in all cases. The cross-clamp was applied to the aortic arch distal to either the innominate artery or the left carotid artery. In addition, a side-biting clamp was applied to the descending aorta. The aorta between these two clamps was reconstructed with gluteraldehyde-treated autogeneous pericardium, using SCMP. The proximal arch and distal ascending aorta reconstructions were carried out under short TCA.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 2.5 ± 2 months. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times were 144 ± 58 and 43 ± 27 minutes, respectively. The mean SCMP and descending aorta ischemia times were 22.6 ± 4.8 and 27 ± 6.3 minutes, respectively. Mean TCA time was 7.6 ± 2.1 minutes (min: 4, max 10 min). The mean in-hospital stay time was 8.6 ± 1.9 days. None of the cases operated with this technique had neurological defects. The mortality rate was 2.7% (1 patient).

CONCLUSION

SCMP with aortic cannulation and short TCA (under 10 minutes) in aortic reconstruction is safe and practical in this high-risk patient group.

Gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in children with sickle cell anemia: correlation with echocardiography

OBJECTIVES

The heart is one of the organs affected by sickle cell anemia (SCA). This prospective study has aimed to evaluate myocardial perfusion and left ventricle (LV) function in children with SCA by gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (G-MPS) and to compare the results with echocardiographic parameters.

METHODS

Forty-three patients with SCA were evaluated by G-MPS and echocardiography. Myocardial perfusion and motion with thickening function were analyzed both visually and quantitatively. End-diastolic (EDV), end-systolic volumes (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), lung-to-heart (L/H) ratio were also calculated.

RESULTS

None of the patients showed stress perfusion impairment in G-MPS. LV dilatation in 15 patients was observed both by G-MPS and echocardiography. EF values were within normal limits. Correlation between EF values calculated by two methods was not statistically significant. However, LV dilatation detected by both methods and EDV-ESV values in G-MPS were correlated to end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters calculated in echocardiography (p<0.05). M-Mode echocardiography revealed higher myocardial performance index (LV-MPI) in patients with LV dilatation. There was also a significant relationship between LV dilatation and frequent blood transfusions (>5/years) and acute chest syndrome (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Myocardial perfusion impairment in children with SCA is not frequently observed. Thus, performing the scintigraphy only in patients with cardiac symptoms should be considered. Since EF values of the children with SCA are not deteriorated in early stages, LV-MPI and LV dilatation should be considered as a significant parameter other than EF or perfusion data.

Autosomal dominant aplasia cutis in three generations and one case with preaxial polydactyly in the last generation

Aplasia Cutis Congenita (ACC), characterized by the focal absence of the skin and skin adnexia resulting from a developmental failure, may occur as part of Adams-Oliver Syndrome (AOS) which can be defined as a congenital inherited disorder, consisting of terminal transverse limb defects and vascular anomalies in addition to ACC. Coexistence of isolated preaxial polydactyly without terminal extremity defect and ACC is extremely rare. Furthermore, ACC and preaxial polydactyly has not been reported previously. Here we report a three-generation family with autosomal dominant aplasia cutis congenita and preaxial polydactyly in the last generation and discuss whether it is a coincidence or not.

Partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 13 (q32q33.2) associated with mental retardation, choanal atresia and fish mouth

13q deletion syndrome is characterized by mental and motor retardation, craniofacial dysmorphic facial appearance and various congenital malformations. In this article, we present a new case with 13q deletion syndrome phenotypically characterized by fish mouth, choanal atresia and severe mental and motor retardation. In order to determine the certain localization of deleted region high resolution multicolor-banding technique was performed and the karyotype determined as 46,XX,del(13)(q32q33.2). To come in future to a genotype-phenotype correlation, it is very important to delineate the deleted region in such cases in detail by cytogenetic/ molecular cytogenetic methods.

A prenatally sonographically diagnosed conotruncal anomaly with mosaic type trisomy 21 and 22q11.2 microdeletion/DiGeorge syndrome

A prenatally sonographically diagnosed conotruncal anomaly with mosaic type trisomy 21 and 22q11.2 microdeletion/DiGeorge syndrome: We report a prenatally sonographically diagnosed conotruncal and urogenital anomaly. Postnatally, the patient presented with seizures, hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism and thymic aplasia and diagnosed as DiGeorge syndrome. Echocardiography showed malalignment VSD, supravalvular pulmonary stenosis and overriding aorta. Chromosome and FISH studies showed the association of mosaic type trisomy 21 and 22q11.2 microdeletion. The present patient is the second case of mosaic type of Down syndrome associated with 22q11.2 microdeletion. In addition the patient also had clinical and laboratory features of DiGeorge syndrome.

A severely mentally and motor retarded girl with monosomy 3pter-->p25 and trisomy 8q24-->qter due to a familial reciprocal translocation t(3;8)(p25;q24)

A severely mentally and motor retarded girl with monosomy 3pter--p25 and trisomy 8q24-qter due to a familial reciprocal translocation t(3;8) (p25;q24): We report a familial translocation t(3;8) in a three generation family that includes a severely retarded 9-year-old girl with intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, capillary hemangiomas of the forehead and perioral region, synophrys, ptosis, long philtrum, high arched palate, micrognathia, malformed ears, clinodactyly, hypotonia, mental and motor retardation. The pedigree was highly suggestive ofa familial rearrangement. Cytogenetics and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) showed an unbalanced translocation of chromosomes 3p25 and 8q24 of maternal origin, karyotype 46,XX,der(3)t(3;8)(p25q24)mat. Using FISH the breakpoint at 8q24 was located distal of TRPS1, the gene for trichorhinophalangeal syndrome. The balanced translocation was found in the mother, maternal grandmother and prenatally diagnosed brother. Ten individuals (seven miscarriages, niece, two nephews) probably also had an unbalanced translocation. Genetic counseling was given to the family. Because of the hemizygous deletion of the VHL gene at chromosome 3p25.3, the patient is at risk for von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, predisposing to retinal, cerebellar, spinal haemangioblastomas, renal cell carcinoma, phaeochromocytoma and pancreatic tumors. Therefore, for early detection and treatment of VHL syndrome, we performed periodic screening beginning at age 5 years. A familial translocation t(3;8) is very rare and there are no previous reports on terminal monosomy 3p (pter-->p25) and terminal trisomy 8q (q24-->qter).

Does circumcision increase neonatal jaundice?

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of circumcision done during the early newborn period on the baby's feeding frequency and therefore a possible effect on serum bilirubin values.

METHODS

Sixty consecutive male patients, of whom 30 were circumcised, were comparatively followed. Babies born between 35 and 40 gestational weeks, weighing above 3000 g and who had no antenatal and/or perinatal problems were enrolled. Changes in weight, frequency of feeds, urination, stooling and the serum bilirubin levels were compared.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

In experienced hands, newborn circumcision on the second day of life is safe, does not affect babies' feeding frequency or bowel movements on day 3, and does not increase serum bilirubin on day 4, thus does not increase the risk of neonatal jaundice.

A male case with double aneuploidy (48,XXY,+21)

The co-occurrence of two numerical chromosomal abnormalities in same individual (double aneuploidy) is relatively rare and the clinical presentations are variable depending on the predominating aneuploidy or a combination effect of both. Furthermore, double aneuploidy involving both autosomal and sex chromosomes is seldom described. We describe a male patient with typical clinical features of Down Syndrome and his karyotype revealed 48,XXY,+21. The phenotypic characteristics of this child have been discussed in the light of the published reports on double aneuploidies of XXY and trisomy 21.

A Turkish family with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome in six siblings; linkage analysis on 4p16 region (D4S3360-D4S2366)

We present a Turkish family and their 6 children, consecutively affected by Ellis-van Creveld (EVC) Syndrome. Four of the affected children died in the postnatal period, and 2 of them had been admitted to the pediatric cardiology department for their cardiologic evaluation. Since they had the features of the EVC Syndrome, linkage analysis was performed with the polymorphic markers, D4S3360-D4S2366, selected from 4p 16 locus. There was complete segregation between the disease and marker allels and the two affected siblings were homozygote for the polymorphic markers, as expected in autosomal recessive inheritance. The diagnosis of EVC Syndrome was confirmed by this molecular analysis. Two cases with EVC were presented in this report. Case 1 had partial abnormal pulmonary venous return and pulmonary stenosis additional to ostium primum atrial septal defect and mitral cleft. Partial abnormal pulmonary venous return and pulmonary stenosis were previously not reported with EVC Syndrome. Postaxial polydactyly phenotype of the Case 2 differs from her brother's. There is bifid 5th metacarpal and unilateral (L) bifid middle and distal phalanges resembling syndactyly.

Phytophthora spp. Associated with Forest Soils in Eastern and North-Central U.S. Oak Ecosystems

A survey of soils associated with oak species was conducted in 2003 and 2004 in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin to investigate the occurrence of Phytophthora spp. Soils taken from around the base of healthy and declining oak trees were flooded with H₂O and Quercus robur leaflets were used as bait for Phytophthora spp. From 829 soil samples collected near trees, 21% were positive for Phytophthora spp., with 55% of the 125 sites surveyed yielding a Phytophthora sp. Phytophthora cinnamomi was the most frequently isolated species, representing 69.4% of the Phytophthora-infested sites surveyed. Other species, in decreasing order of isolation frequency were Phytophthora sp. 2, P. citricola, P. europaea, P. cambivora, P. quercina-like isolates, and Phytophthora sp. 1. No significant association was found between the presence of Phytophthora organisms and site characteristics such as latitude, elevation, soil pH, or the crown condition of the trees. However, in P. cinnamomi-infested sites, a significant association was found with the deteriorating crown status of Q. alba and the presence of P. cinnamomi. The absence of P. cinnamomi above the 40°N latitude range also was noteworthy.

The t(4;8) is mediated by homologous recombination between olfactory receptor gene clusters, but other 4p16 translocations occur at random

The t(4;8)(p16;p23) is the second most common constitutional chromosomal translocation and is caused by an ectopic meiotic recombination between the olfactory receptor gene clusters (ORGC), located on chromosome 4p and 8p. Given that ORGCs are scattered across the genome and make-up about 0.1% of the human genome we reasoned that translocations between 4p16 and other chromosomes might be mediated by ectopic recombination between different ORGC. In 13 patients, we mapped the breakpoints of either a balanced or unbalanced translocation between chromosome 4p16 and different chromosomes. For all four t(4;8) cases, the breakpoints fall within the 4p and 8pter ORGC, confirming that non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) between the ORGC is the main mechanism of the t(4;8) formation. For the nine other translocations, the breakpoints on chromosome 4 mapped to different loci, one of them within the ORGC and in two flanking the ORGC. In these three cases, the translocation breakpoint at the reciprocal chromosome did not contain ORGC sequences. We conclude that only the t(4;8) is mediated by NAHR between ORGC.