Use and De-implementation of Fecal Occult Blood Tests in the Acute Care Setting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: To determine methods of FOBT de-implementation in acute care practice while summarizing the reasons and contraindications for inappropriate FOBT in acute care settings. Fecal occult blood testing is valuable for colorectal cancer screening in ambulatory settings but is not valuable for diagnostics in acute care with consistent indications for discontinuation as a tradition-based practice.

Methods: We included all English language prospective and retrospective evaluation studies of FOBT use in acute care settings with or without de-implementation interventions and published as original research articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Knowing, Being and Becoming a Person-Centred Nurse Leader: Findings from a Transformative Professional Development Programme.

Leadership is central to the development of effective workplace cultures and as such should be viewed as a practice that is relational, exercised through a process of mutual and reciprocal influence. Person-centred leadership is an approach to leadership that supports a way of being that is authentic, prioritising values lived out in action. However, there is an increasing recognition that leadership development has not been impactful in relation to workplace culture.

Implementing a Quality Intervention to Improve Confidence in Outpatient Venous Thromboembolism Management.

Introduction: Guidelines recommend that patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) represented by low-risk deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) receive initial treatment at home versus at the hospital, but a large percentage of these patients are not managed at home. This study assessed the effectiveness of a quality intervention on provider knowledge and confidence in evaluating outpatient treatment for patients with VTE in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: A pilot program to overcome obstacles to outpatient VTE treatment in appropriate patients was initiated at Baylor Scott & White Health Temple ED.

Case-finding for HPV vaccination eligibility within a dental office with concurrent development of a dialogue tool.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization can prevent cancers, but uptake has been incomplete (and worse with the COVID-19 pandemic). Dental clinicians already screen for oral cancers, many of which are caused by HPV, and could identify vaccination candidates, but this requires a case-finding strategy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was (1) to develop and test a case-finding approach to identify patients who were candidates for HPV vaccinations, (2) to test an HPV vaccination intervention by dental professionals on vaccination uptake.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase EPHA2 Drives Epidermal Differentiation through Regulation of EGFR Signaling.

Intricate signaling systems are required to maintain homeostasis and promote differentiation in the epidermis. Receptor tyrosine kinases are central in orchestrating these systems in epidermal keratinocytes. In particular, EPHA2 and EGFR transduce distinct signals to dictate keratinocyte fate, yet how these cell communication networks are integrated has not been investigated.

AMPK stimulation inhibits YAP/TAZ signaling to ameliorate hepatic fibrosis.

Hepatic fibrosis is driven by the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The Hippo pathway and its effectors, YAP and TAZ, are key regulators of HSC activation and fibrosis. However, there is a lack of mechanistic understanding of YAP/TAZ regulation in HSCs.

Targeting acid ceramidase ameliorates fibrosis in mouse models of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of liver disease worldwide, and is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an advanced form of NAFLD, is a leading cause of liver transplantation. Fibrosis is the histologic feature most associated with liver-related morbidity and mortality in patients with NASH, and treatment options remain limited.

Selection of abstracts from Baylor Scott & White Health Central Texas Scholars Day.

Baylor Scott & White Health Central Texas displayed the diversity and growth of scholarly pursuits during Scholars Day, which debuted online on May 6, 2022. Residents and fellows, medical students, nurses, and research staff were among those showcasing their scholarly activity in areas such as medical innovation, clinical vignettes, research, and quality improvement. A selection committee chose 34 abstracts-16 select podium, 18 rapid fire.

Bronze age stone flaking at Saruq al-Hadid, Dubai, southeastern Arabia.

Excavations at Saruq al-Hadid, Dubai, UAE, discovered a stone tool technology with backed microliths dating to the Wadi Suq period and Late Bronze Age (ca. 1750-1300 BCE). The stone technology is a contemporary with metal production in the region, and the assemblage was recovered from a thick bone midden deposit at this multi-period site on the edge of the Rub' al-Khali Desert.

Endotracheal Tube Size Is Associated With Mortality in Patients With Status Asthmaticus.

Background: There is limited evidence on the clinical importance of the endotracheal tube (ETT) size selection in patients with status asthmaticus who require invasive mechanical ventilation. We set out to explore the clinical outcomes of different ETT internal diameter sizes in subjects mechanically ventilated with status asthmaticus.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of intubated and non-intubated adults admitted for status asthmaticus between 2014-2021.

In Search of the Common Elements of Clinical Supervision: A Systematic Review.

The importance of clinical supervision for supporting effective implementation of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) is widely accepted; however, very little is known about which supervision practice elements contribute to implementation effectiveness. This systematic review aimed to generate a taxonomy of empirically-supported supervision practice elements that have been used in treatment trials and shown to independently predict improved EBT implementation. Supervision practice elements were identified using a two-phase, empirically-validated distillation process.

Selection of abstracts from Baylor Scott & White Health Central Texas Scholars Day.

Baylor Scott & White Health Central Texas displayed the diversity and growth of scholarly pursuits during Scholars Day, which debuted online on May 7, 2021. Residents and fellows, medical students, nurses, and research staff were among those showcasing their scholarly activity in areas such as medical innovation, clinical vignettes, research, and quality improvement. A selection of Scholar Day abstracts is presented here.

Safety and efficacy of human serum albumin treatment in patients with cirrhotic ascites undergoing paracentesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ascites is the most common presentation of decompensated liver cirrhosis. It is treated with therapeutic paracentesis which is associated with several complications. The role of human albumin in patients with cirrhotic ascites remains elusive and has been extensively studied with conflicting results.

Patiromer and Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate in Treatment of Hyperkalemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) are newer options for hyperkalemia treatment. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the safety and side effect profile of patiromer and SZC compared with placebo or other standards of care in the management of hyperkalemia.

Methods: We searched electronic databases for relevant articles.

Effect of thiamine supplementation in critically ill patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Several studies have previously shown the benefit of thiamine supplementation in critically ill patients. In order to fully appraise the available data, we performed a meta-analysis of 18 published studies.

Methods: A thorough systematic search was conducted.

Delivering dental care as we emerge from the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: teledentistry and face-to-face consultations in a new clinical world.

At a time when access to health care and services for the global population is a concern due to the COVID-19 pandemic, health professionals and their teams are struggling to find a way to adapt their practices. Dental professional organizations and decision-makers are required to provide guidance in a rapidly evolving environment based on the current data, available research, and existing knowledge. Continuous progress in the information communication technology field and universal access to social communication platforms have allowed clinicians to creatively transcend some of the existing traditional barriers in clinical and technological workflows.

The Emerging Role of Vitamin C as a Treatment for Sepsis.

Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Decades of research have failed to identify any specific therapeutic targets outside of antibiotics, infectious source elimination, and supportive care. More recently, vitamin C has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent to treat sepsis.

Selection of abstracts from Baylor Scott & White Health Central Texas Scholars Day.

Baylor Scott & White Health Central Texas displayed the diversity and growth of scholarly pursuits during Scholars Day on May 3, 2019. Residents and fellows, medical students, nurses, and research staff were among those showcasing their scholarly activity in areas such as medical innovation, clinical vignettes, research, and quality improvement. A selection committee chose 32 abstracts-12 select podium, 20 rapid fire.

RBC Transfusion Strategies in the ICU: A Concise Review.

Objectives: To critically assess available high-level clinical studies regarding RBC transfusion strategies, with a focus on hemoglobin transfusion thresholds in the ICU.

Data Sources: Source data were obtained from a PubMed literature review.

Study Selection: English language studies addressing RBC transfusions in the ICU with a focus on the most recent relevant studies.

Enacting evidence-based practice: pathways for community nurses.

Community nurses are expected to deliver evidence-based practice, which is challenging given the diversity and breadth of the evidence base from which they can draw. This study aimed to explore community nurses' experiences of implementing change in their practice. Qualitative semi-structured interviews (n=9) and focus groups (n=2) with community nurses (n=17) were conducted.