nt of the posterior calvarium shape. The average increase in OFC was 5.2 cm after first distraction and 4.3 cm after 2nd distraction. No postoperative complications were encountered. Planned serial posterior cranial vault distraction is a safe and effective strategy for increasing intracranial volume, improving aesthetic appearance, and preventing the consequences of intracranial hypertension in patients with multisuture craniosynostosis and severe intracranial volume restriction.
  Intragastric balloons (IGBs) have been used to bridge the obesity treatment gap with the benefits of being minimally invasive but still required endoscopy. The Elipse IGB is a swallowable balloon that is spontaneously excreted at ∼16 weeks. However, studies are limited by small sample sizes. The authors aim to assess clinically relevant endpoints, namely weight loss outcomes, metabolic profile, balloon tolerability, and adverse events.
 
  A literature search was performed from several databases from inception to July 2020. The pooled means and proportions of our data were analyzed using a random effects model.
 
  Seven studies involving 2152 patients met our eligibility criteria and were included. The mean baseline body mass index ranged from 32.1 to 38.6. The pooled mean difference (MD) in body mass index was 0.88 [confidence interval (CI) 0.58-1.18, I2=98%]. Total body weight loss was 12% (CI 10.1-14.3, I2=94%) and excess body weight loss was 49.1% (CI 30.6-67.5, I2=97%). The MD in waist circumference was 0.89 (CI 0.72-1.05, I2=53%). MD in triglyceride level was 0.66 (CI 0.21-1.1, I2=96%). Pooled early deflation rate was 1.8% (CI 0.6-5.1, I2=74%). Our study also showed that the Elipse balloon was associated with less adverse events when compared with other IGBs.
 
  This meta-analysis demonstrates that the Elipse intragastric balloon is a safe, effective, and tolerable device for weight loss and obesity with a minimal side effect profile.
 This meta-analysis demonstrates that the Elipse intragastric balloon is a safe, effective, and tolerable device for weight loss and obesity with a minimal side effect profile.The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought challenges to clinicians caring for patients with chronic liver disease. In the past 6 months, COVID-19 has led to over 150,000 deaths in the United States and over 660,000 deaths around the world. Mounting evidence suggests that chronic liver diseases can have an adverse effect on the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19. We present a comprehensive review of the latest literature on preexisting liver diseases and its interrelationship with COVID-19 infection in cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and viral hepatitis B. As social distancing and telemedicine gain new footing, we synthesize recommendations from 3 major hepatology societies [American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), the European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL), and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of Liver (APASL)] to present the best approaches for caring for patients with liver diseases as well as those requiring liver transplantation.
  Self-management is important in reducing coronary risk factors and in preventing recurrent cardiac events. An enabling factor that promotes self-management among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) is self-efficacy. However, there is no standardized measure that captures self-efficacy and self-management concurrently in this population.
 
  The authors of this study report on the development and validation of a brief scale to measure self-efficacy and self-management in patients with CHD.
 
  Scale development and testing comprised (1) item generation, (2) content validity, and (3) pilot testing. The Heart Health Self-Efficacy and Self-Management (HH-SESM) scale includes 2 constructs self-efficacy and self-management, measured concurrently. Components of the HH-SESM scale consisted of items related to behavioral and coronary risk factor modification. Survey data from 143 participants were used in exploratory factor analyses to test the factorial validity and internal consistency of the scale.
 
  Twelve items with the same response format were included in the exploratory factor analysis. The factor analysis revealed a single-factor solution accounting for 36.7% and 36.5% of the variance in scores of the self-efficacy and self-management scales, respectively. The correlation (r = 0.72, P < .001) between the self-efficacy and self-management constructs indicates moderate convergent validity. Cronbach α of self-efficacy (0.83) and self-management (0.81) constructs showed good internal consistency.
 
  The HH-SESM is a brief, easy-to-administer, and reliable measure of self-efficacy and self-management in patients with CHD.
 The HH-SESM is a brief, easy-to-administer, and reliable measure of self-efficacy and self-management in patients with CHD.
  Depressive symptoms predict hospitalization and mortality in adults with cardiac disease. Resilience, defined as a dynamic process of positively responding to adversity, could protect against depressive symptoms in cardiac disease. No systematic review has been conducted on the relationship between these variables in this population.
 
  The aim of this review was to explore the association between psychological resilience and depressive symptoms in adults with cardiac disease.
 
  Seven databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Cochrane) were searched from inception to December 2019 using the search terms "cardiac disease," "depressive symptoms," "depression," and "resilience." Inclusion criteria dictated that studies reported original research on the association between resilience and depressive symptoms in adults with a cardiac disease broadly defined. Quality ratings were performed by 2 independent raters.
 
  We identified 13 studies for final review.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/PP242.html  Study sample sizes ranged from 30 to 1022 participants, average age ranged from 52 to 72 years, and all studies had majority male participants (64%-100%). Resilience and depressive symptoms were inversely related in 10 of 13 studies. The 3 studies with poor-quality sampling techniques or significant loss to follow-up found no relationship.
 
  Resilience seems to protect against depression in adults with cardiac disease. Gaps in the literature include poor understanding of the direction of causality. Methods of promoting resilience need to be identified and studied.
 Resilience seems to protect against depression in adults with cardiac disease. Gaps in the literature include poor understanding of the direction of causality. Methods of promoting resilience need to be identified and studied.