Active video games as an adjunct to pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a commentary on a systematic review.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a key evidence-based intervention to improve the outcomes of people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, there are challenges in delivering pulmonary rehabilitation including reduced referral rates and suboptimal uptake and completion rates. Active video game interventions, when used as an adjunct, may increase the adoption of and access to pulmonary rehabilitation.

Patient feedback receiving care using a shared decision making tool for thyroid nodule evaluation-an observational study.

Purpose: To characterize the feedback of patients with thyroid nodules receiving care using a shared decision making (SDM) tool designed to improve conversations with their clinicians related to diagnostic options (e.g. thyroid biopsy, ultrasound surveillance).

Meeting our students' educational needs during a global pandemic: Creating online clinical learning experiences.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the conversion of in-person simulations into online evolving case study activities in an undergraduate nursing curriculum as a result of COVID-19 precautions. The School of Nursing at Eastern Kentucky University utilized technological resources to provide meaningful online learning activities to meet student learning outcomes. The key teaching strategies to maintain were application and synthesis of knowledge through guided reflective activities and discussion.

Bounded Cost Path Planning for Underwater Vehicles Assisted by a Time-Invariant Partitioned Flow Field Model.

A bounded cost path planning method is developed for underwater vehicles assisted by a data-driven flow modeling method. The modeled flow field is partitioned as a set of cells of piece-wise constant flow speed. A flow partition algorithm and a parameter estimation algorithm are proposed to learn the flow field structure and parameters with justified convergence.

Evaluation of Self-efficacy and Confidence Levels Among Newly Graduated Nurses Exposed to an End-of-Life Simulation: A Comparison Study.

Self-efficacy and confidence levels among newly graduated nurses who participated in an end-of-life simulation were compared with nurses who had been practicing for no more than a year but had not participated in an end-of-life simulation. The study included a pretest-and-posttest evaluation of an end-of-life simulation intervention during a new graduate residency program among newly graduated nurses to improve self-efficacy and confidence with end-of-life care. Nurses who had been in practice for no more than a year but had not been exposed to an end-of-life simulation intervention were also surveyed.

Prediabetes: A Worldwide Epidemic.

Prediabetes, defined by blood glucose levels between normal and diabetic levels, is increasing rapidly worldwide. This abnormal physiologic state reflects the rapidly changing access to high-calorie food and decreasing levels of physical activity occurring worldwide, with resultant obesity and metabolic consequences. This is particularly marked in developing countries.

Effectiveness of Disposable (Single-use) Tips for Dental Air-water Syringes.

Background: Single-use dental syringe (SUS) tips eliminate cross-infection risks. Many dental materials are moisture sensitive; therefore bonding could be affected by remaining moisture from SUS tips.

Methods: An air-water syringe was calibrated to 50 PSI and the air pressure measured.

Generics, Supergenerics and Patent Strategies--SMi's 13th Annual Meeting.

SMi's 13th Annual Meeting on Generics, Supergenerics and Patent Strategies, held in London, included topics covering new trends in the generics field, the difficulties faced by companies in entering the generics market and recent developments in IP. This conference report highlights selected presentations on generics in India, protecting pharmaceutical products in China, changes in generics law and litigation in the US and Europe, challenges for market selection and entry for generics companies, the influence of changes in the healthcare market on the generics industry, supergenerics, and biosimilars.

99mTc-NC100692--a tracer for imaging vitronectin receptors associated with angiogenesis: a preclinical investigation.

Introduction: Technetium 99m (99mTc)-NC100692 is being developed as a marker of vitronectin receptor expression. The purpose of this study was to confirm the binding affinity [dissociation constant (Kd)] of 99mTc-NC100692 for a range of integrin receptors including alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 as well as to establish the biodistribution and metabolic stability of 99mTc-NC100692 in Wistar rats.

Methods: The Kd of 99mTc-NC100692 for a range of human integrin receptors was established in an in vitro saturation binding assay.

Evaluation of a tool to benchmark hospital antibiotic prescribing in the United Kingdom.

Objective: To investigate whether Defined Daily Dose/Finished Consultant Episode (DDD/FCE) ratio is sensitive to changes in prescribing patterns and could be used as a prescribing indicator in hospitals.

Method: The study comprised two phases. In phase 1 the weekly DDD/FCE ratios for two antibiotics were calculated and monitored in one acute NHS hospital before and after the implementation of prescribing guidelines, which impacted on the use of the antibiotics.

The biodistribution of NC100668 and the effect of excess NC100668 on the biodistribution and kidney retention of (99m)Tc-NC100668 in the rat.

Introduction: (99m)Tc-NC100668 is being developed to aid the diagnosis of thromboemboli. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the presence of excess NC100668 interferes with the biodistribution and blood clot uptake of (99m)Tc-NC100668. The secondary aim was to investigate the causes underlying the kidney retention of (99m)Tc-NC100668.

An 'overwhelming illness': women's experiences of learning to live with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

The processes through which people learn to live with CFS/ME are poorly understood and have not been rigorously explored within the literature. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight women and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants initially described being 'overwhelmed' by CFS/ME.

Epinephrine use by emergency medical technicians for presumed anaphylaxis.

Objective: The use of epinephrine for the treatment of anaphylaxis by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) has not been rigorously evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine whether first-tier EMTs use epinephrine safely and appropriately for anaphylactic reactions.

Methods: The study used a case-control design.

Bone mineral density in adolescent females using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate.

Study Objective: To examine bone mineral density (BMD) on a semi-annual basis among control subjects and adolescent females receiving depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injection or oral contraceptives.

Design: Non-randomized prospective study.

Setting: Teenage pregnancy prevention intervention clinic.