Levetiracetam dosing for seizure prophylaxis in neurocritical care patients.

Background/objective: Levetiracetam is used for seizure prophylaxis in patients presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aim to characterize the optimal levetiracetam dosage for seizure prophylaxis.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adult patients at an academic tertiary hospital presenting with SAH or TBI who received levetiracetam at a total daily dose (TDD) equivalent to or greater than 1000 mg.

Effects of Cross-Training on Medical Teams' Teamwork and Collaboration: Use of Simulation.

Previous research in the US Navy demonstrated that cross-training enhances teamwork and interpersonal collaboration. Limited data exists on cross-training effectiveness in medical education. This research aimed to assess whether cross-training would have similar effects on medical teams.

Combination of a Flipped Classroom Format and a Virtual Patient Case to Enhance Active Learning in a Required Therapeutics Course.

To design and evaluate the integration of a virtual patient activity in a required therapeutics course already using a flipped-classroom teaching format. A narrative-branched, dynamic virtual-patient case was designed to replace the static written cases that students worked through during the class, which was dedicated to teaching the complications of liver disease. Students completed pre- and posttests before and after completing the virtual patient case.

Clinical effectiveness and safety outcomes associated with prothrombin complex concentrates.

Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) are indicated for urgent reversal of warfarin and used for reversal of novel oral anticoagulants, in patients with acute major bleeding or need for an urgent procedure. The research goal was to evaluate effectiveness and safety outcomes with PCC usage at our institution. A retrospective review of electronic medical records identified patients that received a PCC commercially available in the United States (KCentra(®) or Profilnine(®)) at twelve hospitals in a tertiary care health system from July 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014.

Caenorhabditis elegans RSD-2 and RSD-6 promote germ cell immortality by maintaining small interfering RNA populations.

Germ cells are maintained in a pristine non-aging state as they proliferate over generations. Here, we show that a novel function of the Caenorhabditis elegans RNA interference proteins RNAi spreading defective (RSD)-2 and RSD-6 is to promote germ cell immortality at high temperature. rsd mutants cultured at high temperatures became progressively sterile and displayed loss of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that target spermatogenesis genes, simple repeats, and transposons.