Australia's first cardiac emergency department: Patient profile, activity and performance in the initial 6 months.

Objective: To profile the initial 6-month experience at the Victorian Heart Hospital (VHH) cardiac emergency (CE). The primary objective was to describe VHH CE patient characteristics, including presenting complaint, final diagnosis and disposition. Secondary objectives were to report on patient numbers, patient source and quality indicator performance including ambulance off-load by 40 min, waiting time and length of stay (LOS).

A pilot clinical study to Evaluate Liraglutide-mediated Anti-platelet activity in patients with type-2 Diabetes (ELAID study).

Background: Liraglutide is an effective treatment for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition to glycemic control and potential cardioprotective effects, recent studies suggest a possible role for liraglutide in the inhibition of platelet reactivity, further attenuating atherothrombotic risk in patients with T2DM. We evaluated the in-vivo antiplatelet effect of liraglutide in T2DM patients without macrovascular disease or concurrent anti-platelet therapy.

Do Patient Expectations of Discharge Affect Length of Stay after Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap for Breast Reconstruction?

Background:  Deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap is a common method of breast reconstruction. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) postoperative protocols have been used to optimize patient outcomes and facilitate shorter hospital stays. The effect of patient expectations on length of stay (LOS) after DIEP has not been evaluated.

Patient-Reported Outcomes and Factors Associated With Patient Satisfaction After Surgical Treatment of Facial Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer.

This study measures patient-reported outcomes and identifies factors associated with patient satisfaction after excision of facial nonmelanoma skin cancer in the veteran population.

Tourniquet Use in Wide-Awake Carpal Tunnel Release.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common cause of upper extremity discomfort. Surgical release of the median nerve can be performed under general or local anesthetic, with or without a tourniquet. Wide-awake carpal tunnel release (CTR) (local anesthesia, no sedation) is gaining popularity.

Age at Diagnosis as a Relative Contraindication for Intervention in Facial Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer.

This study examines the utility of excising facial nonmelanoma skin cancer in very elderly patients.

Comparing mail-in self-collected specimens sent via United States Postal Service versus clinic-collected specimens for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in extra-genital sites.

Objectives: To evaluate the concordance between clinic-collected extra-genital specimens and self-collected mailed-in extra-genital specimens among participants seeking sexually transmitted infection testing at a free clinic in Hollywood, CA.

Methods: A convenience sample of 210 men who have sex with men were enrolled between February 29, 2016 and December 21, 2016 and received mail-in testing kits for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG). All testing was performed using the GeneXpert® CT/NG (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA).

The Veterans Affairs Medical Center's Contribution to Plastic Surgery Education.

This population-based study evaluates the levels of case minimums met by plastic surgery residents in Veterans Affairs hospitals.

The readability of psychosocial wellness patient resources: improving surgical outcomes.

Background: Patient education is increasingly accessed with online resources and is essential for patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. The average American adult reads at a seventh grade level, and the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the American Medical Association (AMA) recommend that information be written at a sixth-grade reading level. Health literacy plays an important role in the disease course and outcomes of all patients, including those with depression and likely other psychiatric disorders, although this is an area in need of further study.

A Smartphone Application to Reduce Time-to-Notification of Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Objectives: To measure whether the implementation of Healthvana-an online patient engagement platform and smartphone application-reduced the number of days between sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, notification, and treatment at AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Wellness Centers.

Methods: We analyzed the retrospective data for 917 male clients who tested positive and received treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2015. We included 8 AHF Wellness Centers from California and Florida in the study.

Advocacy Coalition for Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry: The Case of Los Angeles County's Measure B.

Background: Performers in the adult film industry are routinely exposed to bloodborne pathogens. In 2012, public health advocates in Los Angeles County convinced voters to pass a ballot initiative-Measure B-to mandate condom use on adult film sets. This article presents a case study of the advocacy coalition's strategies used to achieve greater workplace safety using the advocacy coalition framework.

Comparative Evaluation of 2 Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for the Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae at Extragenital Sites.

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections are frequently asymptomatic, requiring highly accurate diagnostic tests and proper management to prevent further transmission. We compared two nucleic acid tests, Xpert® CT/NG (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA) point-of-care platform and at an offsite clinical laboratory with Aptima Combo 2® (Hologic, Inc., San Diego, CA) assay, for the detection of extragenital infection in patients at an STI clinic in Hollywood, CA.

Feasibility of recruiting peer educators for an online social networking-based health intervention.

Objective: This study aims to determine the feasibility of recruiting peer leaders to deliver a community-based health intervention using social media.

Method: We recruited sixteen African American and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) as peer leaders for either an HIV prevention or general health intervention using social media. Inclusion criteria required that peer leaders were African American or Latino MSM health communication experts experienced using social media.

Harnessing Online Peer Education (HOPE): integrating C-POL and social media to train peer leaders in HIV prevention.

Novel methods, such as Internet-based interventions, are needed to combat the spread of HIV. While past initiatives have used the Internet to promote HIV prevention, the growing popularity, decreasing digital divide, and multi-functionality of social networking sites, such as Facebook, make this an ideal time to develop innovative ways to use online social networking sites to scale HIV prevention interventions among high-risk groups. The UCLA Harnessing Online Peer Education study is a longitudinal experimental study to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of using social media for peer-led HIV prevention, specifically among African American and Latino Men who have Sex with Men (MSM).

Topical ibopamine in the treatment of chronic ocular hypotony attributable to vitreoretinal surgery, uveitis, or penetrating trauma.

Purpose: To study whether topical ibopamine effectively increases the intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypotony after vitreoretinal surgery, uveitis, or penetrating trauma.

Design: A prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study.

Methods: In ten patients with ocular hypotony, an ibopamine 2% solution or placebo eyedrop was administered at 8 am and frequent applanation tonometry was performed during 10 hours on 2 days, 2 weeks apart.