Long-term performance of a pacing lead family: A single-center experience.

Background: The performance of Abbott/St. Jude Medical (Sylmar CA) Tendril pacing leads has not been well characterized.

Objective: We sought to assess the performance of Tendril leads as compared with that of different pacing leads.

Intraperitoneal Local Anesthetic Instillation and Postoperative Infusion Improves Functional Recovery Following Colectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Intraperitoneal local anesthetic is an analgesic technique for inclusion in the polypharmacy approach to postoperative pain management in enhanced recovery after surgery programs. Previously, augmentation of epidural analgesia with intraperitoneal local anesthetic was shown to improve functional postoperative recovery following colectomy.

Objective: This study determines whether intraperitoneal local anesthetic improves postoperative recovery in patients undergoing colectomy, in the absence of epidural analgesia, with standardized enhanced recovery after surgery perioperative care.

Long-term survival of implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients with end-stage renal disease.

Background: The efficacy of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) has not been studied in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and left ventricular dysfunction. We sought to identify predictors of long-term survival among ICD recipients with and without ESRD.

Methods: Patients implanted with an ICD at our institution from January 2006 to March 2014 were retrospectively identified.

Hospital differences in special care nursery use for newborns of gestational diabetic mothers.

Objective: Relatively healthy newborns of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) sometimes receive unwarranted surveillance. We studied the relationship between hospital characteristics and special care nursery use and total length of stay among GDM deliveries.

Methods: We identified GDM deliveries at 44 USA member hospitals of the National Perinatal Information Center from 2007 to 2011.

Selective plating for junction delineation in silicon nanowires.

The in situ growth of p-n junctions in silicon nanowires enables the fabrication of a variety of nanoscale electronic devices. We have developed a method for selective coating of Au onto n-type segments of silicon nanowire p-n junctions. Selective plating allows for quick verification of the position of p-n junctions along the nanowire using electron microscopy and allows for measurement of segment length.

Identification and recruitment of low-income pregnant smokers: who are we missing?

Extensive research has demonstrated the health consequences of smoking during pregnancy for both the mother and child. The majority of women, however, continue to smoke throughout the pregnancy and, of those who do quit, the majority return to smoking during the pregnancy or shortly after delivering the child. To best address this important public health problem, three critical goals must be accomplished: (1) development of effective interventions to help women quit smoking during pregnancy; (2) development of effective interventions to help women stay smoke-free during and after pregnancy; and (3) identification of effective methods of reaching women who smoke during pregnancy.