STudy to ActivelY WARM trauma patients (STAY WARM): a pilot study assessing feasibility of self-warming blankets in patients requiring a massive hemorrhage protocol activation.

Purpose: Massively bleeding trauma patients often arrive to intensive care units hypothermic. Active warming blankets have shown promise in reducing hypothermia in the pre-hospital setting, but less is known about their in-hospital use. The aim of this pilot evaluation was to understand the feasibility of the Ready-Heat blanket in a level 1 trauma centre to improve the management of hypothermia in massively bleeding trauma patients.

Plasma transfusion practices: A multicentre electronic audit.

Background And Objectives: Plasma is often transfused to patients with bleeding or requiring invasive procedures and with abnormal tests of coagulation. Chart audits find half of plasma transfusions unnecessary, resulting in avoidable complications and costs. This multicentre electronic audit was conducted to determine the proportion of plasma transfused without an indication and/or at a sub-therapeutic dose.

Lessons learned from the CONCOR-1 trial.

Faced with an evolving pandemic and a lack of clarity of the role of convalescent plasma for patients with COVID-19, the CONCOR-1 trial was launched. In 14 months the trial was designed, launched, completed, and submitted for publication. In total, 72 sites in three countries served by four blood suppliers randomised 940 patients.

Daily versus every other day oral iron supplementation in patients with iron deficiency anemia (DEODO): study protocol for a phase 3 multicentered, pragmatic, open-label, pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) accounts for the majority of anemia cases across the globe and can lead to impairments in both physical and cognitive functioning. Oral iron supplementation is the first line of treatment to improve the hemoglobin level for IDA patients. However, gaps still exist in understanding the appropriate dosing regimen of oral iron.

Convalescent plasma for adults with acute COVID-19 respiratory illness (CONCOR-1): study protocol for an international, multicentre, randomized, open-label trial.

Background: Convalescent plasma has been used for numerous viral diseases including influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome and Ebola virus; however, evidence to support its use is weak. SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus responsible for the 2019 global pandemic of COVID-19 community acquired pneumonia. We have undertaken a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Comparison of 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate With Frozen Plasma for Management of Hemorrhage During and After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Pilot Trial.

Importance: Approximately 15% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery receive frozen plasma (FP) for bleeding. Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) have logistical and safety advantages over FP and may be a suitable alternative.

Objectives: To determine the proportion of patients who received PCC and then required FP, explore hemostatic effects and safety, and assess the feasibility of study procedures.

Multicenter observational study evaluating the impact of platelet transport bags on product wastage.

Background: Platelets are the most commonly discarded blood product in Canada, with the most common cause of in-date product loss being improper storage. Transport containers to maintain temperature and extend acceptable return time may represent a method to reduce wastage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a validated Platelet Transport Bag (PTB) on platelet wastage.

A prospective multi-faceted interventional study of blood bank technologist screening of red blood cell transfusion orders: The START study.

Background: Transfusion of red blood cells (RBC) is a common procedure, which when prescribed inappropriately can result in adverse patient outcomes. This study sought to determine the impact of a multi-faceted intervention on unnecessary RBC transfusions at hospitals with a baseline appropriateness below 90%.

Study Design And Methods: A prospective medical chart audit of RBC transfusions was conducted across 15 hospitals.

Building Bridges to Housing for homeless adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: outcomes of a cross-sector intervention.

Background: Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have high rates of homelessness. This observational study evaluates Bridges to Housing, a cross-sector intervention offering immediate access to housing and supports to this population in Toronto, Canada.

Methods: Twenty-six participants, enrolled between April 2016 and December 2017, were assessed at baseline, six and 12 months post-enrolment.

Promoting Wellness and Recovery of Young Women Experiencing Gender-Based Violence and Homelessness: The Role of Trauma-Informed Health Promotion Interventions.

Little is known regarding the types of interventions most effective in supporting wellness and recovery of victims of gender-based violence, particularly those simultaneously experiencing homelessness. This qualitative study explored the experiences of 18 young women experiencing gender-based violence and homelessness who participated in a community-based, trauma-informed group intervention in Toronto, Canada. Participants completed audio-recorded and transcribed semi-structured interviews, analyzed using thematic content analysis.

Parents' Perceptions of the Acceptability of Evidence-Based Interventions to Support Transition From Neonatal to Rehabilitation Services.

Background: Parents of children born preterm with a disability often experience profound psychological distress with transition from neonatal to rehabilitation services. Four interventions were found effective to support parents throughout this critical transition period whereby parental stress can threaten the child's development.

Purpose: To examine parents' perceptions of the acceptability of four evidence-based interventions to support their transition.

Construct validity of the family impact of assistive technology scale for augmentative and alternative communication.

The Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (FIATS-AAC) measures parent-reported functioning and factors that affect functioning in children who use AAC. The aim of the current study was to assess its construct validity. For the study, 47 parents of children with AAC needs completed the FIATS-AAC and two other parent-reported questionnaires: a child quality-of-life measure and a community participation measure.

Lean muscle volume of the thigh has a stronger relationship with muscle power than muscle strength in women with knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Thigh lean muscle and intramuscular fat have been implicated in the impairment of physical function observed in people with knee osteoarthritis. We investigated the relationships of quadriceps and hamstrings intramuscular fat fraction and lean muscle volume with muscle power and strength, controlling for neuromuscular activation, and physical performance in women with knee OA.

Methods: Women (n=20) 55years or older with symptomatic, radiographic knee osteoarthritis underwent a 3.

Sex disparities in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: a cohort study.

Background: The impact of male sex as a determinant of health outcomes in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) is controversial. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sex on survival in patients with SSc-PAH. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the effect of sex on age of PAH diagnosis, time from SSc diagnosis to PAH diagnosis, and SSc disease manifestations.

Psoriatic Arthritis Mutilans: Clinical and Radiographic Criteria. A Systematic Review.

Objective: Research on psoriatic arthritis mutilans (PAM), the most severe form of psoriatic arthritis, is impeded by the lack of an accepted classification criteria. We performed a systematic review of the literature to identify and synthesize clinical and radiographic features associated with the definition of PAM.

Methods: A systematic literature search limited to human studies was conducted without language restriction.

Effectiveness of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor therapy for portopulmonary hypertension.

Background: Portopulmonary hypertension is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor therapy is efficacious in other causes of WHO group I pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor therapy in patients with portopulmonary hypertension.

Survival after lung transplantation in systemic sclerosis. A systematic review.

Background: Lung transplantation is a life-saving option for systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) patients. However, some programs may be concerned about the possibility of excess post-transplantation mortality related to the extra-pulmonary manifestations of SSc. The objective of this study was to evaluate survival of SSc patients post-lung transplantation.