Retrospective Chart Review: Readmission Prediction Ability of the High Acuity Readmission Risk Pediatric Screen (HARRPS) Tool.

Background: Nurse Case Managers utilize adult based readmission risk tools upon admission to identify readmission risk. An evidence-based pediatric readmission tool could not be identified to replicate in the pediatric space, therefore the High Acuity Readmission Risk Pediatric Screen (HARRPS) Tool was developed to fill this gap. The research aim was to develop a risk score algorithm that accurately predicts pediatric readmissions and provide a predictive validation of the HARRPS Tool.

Polychlorinated biphenyls disrupt blood-brain barrier integrity and promote brain metastasis formation.

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) comprise a ubiquitous class of toxic substances associated with carcinogenic and tumor-promoting effects as well as neurotoxic properties in the brain. However, the effects of PCBs on the development of tumor metastases are not fully understood.

Objective: We evaluated the hypothesis that exposure to individual PCB congeners can facilitate the development of brain metastases in immunocompetent mice via the disruption of the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).