The art of empathy: Teaching empathy through art.

Background: The instruction of empathy is challenging. Although several studies have addressed how art-based education can foster empathy, there is a need for more evidence showing its impact and students' perceptions, especially in graduate education.

Approach: We designed and implemented a virtual art-based curriculum focused on fostering empathy-The Art of Empathy.

Lessons in Implementation from a 5-Year SBIRT Effort Using a Mixed-Methods Approach.

SBIRT is an effective process to target unhealthy alcohol and other substance use in medical settings, yet gaps persist on how best to integrate SBIRT into routine clinical practice. Utilizing a mixed-methods design, the current study examined a statewide SBIRT implementation effort to identify key components of successful implementation. Quantitative patient-level data (n = 61,121) were analyzed to assess characteristics associated with implementation, and key informant interviews were conducted with stakeholders to understand the implementation process.

Modulation of red blood cell oxygen affinity with a novel allosteric modifier of hemoglobin is additive to the Bohr effect.

Purpose: The Bohr effect describes hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen dependent on solution pH. Within pH range 6.0-8.

Global sources of cryoprecipitate demonstrate variability in coagulant factor levels and functional hemostasis.

Cryoprecipitate (cryo) is a plasma-derived blood product utilized during trauma resuscitation, surgery, and other major bleeding. Although local quality control metrics exist, inherent donor variability, and processing may confer differences in hemostatic effect between sources. The purposes of this study were to quantify procoagulant content in three global sources of cryo and evaluate their functional hemostatic effect.

The effect of pathogen inactivation on cryoprecipitate: a functional and quantitative evaluation.

Background: As a pooled donor blood product, cryoprecipitate (cryo) carries risks of pathogen transmission. Pathogen inactivation (PI) improves the safety of cryoprecipitate, but its effects on haemostatic properties remain unclear. This study investigated protein expression in samples of pathogen inactivated cryoprecipitate (PI-cryo) using non-targeted quantitative proteomics and in vitro haemostatic capacity of PI-cryo.

Rejuvenation solution as an adjunct cold storage solution maintains physiological haemoglobin oxygen affinity during early-storage period of red blood cells.

Background: Red blood cell (RBC) units accumulate morphologic and metabolic lesions during storage before transfusion. Pyruvate-inosine-phosphate-adenine (PIPA) solutions (Rejuvesol, Biomet, Warsaw, IN) can be incubated with RBC units to mitigate storage lesions. This study proposes a PIPA treatment process, termed cold 'rejuvenation', using Rejuvesol as an adjunct additive solution, to prevent biomechanical storage lesions while avoiding the 1 h PIPA incubation required with standard PIPA treatment.

Palliative Care Consultation Is Underutilized in Critically Ill General Surgery Patients.

Background: American College of Surgeons recommends palliative care and surgeons collaborate on the care of patients with poor prognoses. These collaborations are done to discuss symptom management and goals of care. However, contemporary practice patterns of palliative care consultation for surgical patients are poorly defined.

Interval decline in hemoglobin A is associated with annual clinical event rate in sickle cell anemia patients receiving maintenance apheresis RBC exchange.

Background: Apheresis red blood cell (RBC) exchange (RCE) is a standard intervention for patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) who have had previous thromboembolic stroke or intractable chronic pain. Replacing sickling cells with those containing hemoglobin A (HbA) minimizes microvascular pathophysiology that produces clinical crises. Limited data exist regarding the interval changes in HbA between transfusions.

Big Data Readiness in Radiation Oncology: An Efficient Approach for Relabeling Radiation Therapy Structures With Their TG-263 Standard Name in Real-World Data Sets.

Purpose: To prepare for big data analyses on radiation therapy data, we developed a tool-supported approach for standardization of structure names in existing radiation therapy plans. We applied the widely endorsed nomenclature standard TG-263 as the mapping target and quantified the structure name inconsistency in 2 real-world data sets.

Methods And Materials: The clinically relevant structures in the radiation therapy plans were identified by reference to randomized controlled trials.

How health plans promote health IT to improve behavioral health care.

Objectives: Given the large numbers of providers and enrollees with which they interact, health plans can encourage the use of health information technology (IT) to advance behavioral health care. The manner and extent to which commercial health plans promote health IT to improve behavioral health care is unknown. This study aims to address that gap.

Reducing Risky Alcohol Use: What Health Care Systems Can Do.

Risky, non-dependent alcohol use is prevalent in the United States, affecting 25% of adults (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014b). Massachusetts has higher rates of alcohol use and binge drinking than most states (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2015). Serious physical, social, and economic consequences result.