Acquired ineffective erythropoiesis in pediatric ECMO patients: Higher than anticipated serum EPO levels and lower than anticipated reticulocytes counts were associated with mortality.

Background: ECMO plays a crucial role in treating severe respiratory and cardiac failure in pediatric patients. However, its impact on the regulation of erythropoietin (EPO) and erythropoiesis remains poorly understood. Factors such as improved oxygenation, inflammation, and hemodilution associated with ECMO treatment may influence EPO production and erythropoiesis.

Structured Debriefing to Assess Performance of Entrustable Professional Activities.

The medical workplace presents challenges for workplace-based learning. Structured debriefing of shared clinical experiences has been proposed as a way to take advantage of workplace-based learning in a setting that facilitates deep learning conversations. To investigate faculty and learner acceptance of private, face-to-face, structured debriefing of performance of entrustable professional activities (EPAs).

Achieving biocompatibility and tailoring mechanical properties of SLA 3D printed devices for microfluidic and cell culture applications.

Stereolithography (SLA) and other photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing approaches are becoming popular for the fabrication of microfluidic devices and cell-infused platforms, but many of the resins employed in these techniques are cytotoxic to cells or do not have the appropriate mechanical properties for microfluidic components. Here, using a commercially available resin, we demonstrate that biocompatibility and a range of mechanical properties can be achieved through post-print optimization involving baking, soaking, network swelling, and UV exposure. We show that UV-vis spectrophotometry can be used to detect methacrylate monomer/oligomer, and utilizing this method, we found that baking at 120 °C for 24 hours was the optimal method for removing cytotoxic chemical species and creating nontoxic cell culture platforms, though UV exposure and soaking in 100% ethanol also can substantially reduce cytotoxicity.

Screening for Incidence and Effect of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in College-Aged Athletes.

Background: Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) occurs when muscles of the pelvic floor become weakened, impaired, or experience tension leading to a variety of complications. Due to the reactive nature and high demands of many sports, athletes are at increased susceptibility and of particular interest concerning PFD.

Hypothesis/purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of PFD among college-aged athletes, assess how PFD impacted athletic performance, and identify contributing factors for increased likelihood of PFD in athletes.