Global Ring Study to Investigate the Comparability of Total Assay Performance of Commercial Claudin 18 Antibodies for Evaluation in Gastric Cancer.

Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2), the dominant isoform of CLDN18 in gastric tissues, is a highly specific tight junction protein of the gastric mucosa with variably retained expressions in gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers.

Gift of time: learning together to embed a palliative approach to care in long-term care.

Background: Embedding a Palliative Approach to Care (EPAC) is a model that helps shift the culture in long-term care (LTC) so that residents who could benefit from palliative care are identified early. Healthcare Excellence Canada supported the implementation of EPAC in seven teams from across Canada between August 2018 and September 2019.

Objective: To identify effective strategies for supporting the early identification of palliative care needs to improve the quality of life of residents in LTC.

An analysis of nutrient facts labels of pediatric multi-vitamin and mineral supplements: Is there a risk of overexposure?

Background: Voluntary and mandatory fortification of pediatric foods, along with widespread consumption of dietary supplements have resulted in an increased proportion of children with excessive micronutrient intake.

Aim: This study aimed to analyze the proportion of pediatric dietary supplements that exceed the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Tolerable Upper Limit for the individual micronutrients. We further identified the proportion of supplements with large amounts of micronutrients that were marketed through child-friendly and parent-geared promotional language and graphics on the packaging.

Commentary.

Due to the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have decided to print the following commentary to help provide another alternative for reducing potential exposure to and incidental transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the provision of anesthesia for dentistry. -Kyle J. Kramer, Editor-in-Chief.

Clinical Exome Studies Have Inconsistent Coverage.

Background: Exome sequencing has become a commonly used clinical diagnostic test. Multiple studies have examined the diagnostic utility and individual laboratory performance of exome testing; however, no previous study has surveyed and compared the data quality from multiple clinical laboratories.

Methods: We examined sequencing data from 36 clinical exome tests from 3 clinical laboratories.

A Canadian Cohort Study to Evaluate the Outcomes Associated with a Multicenter Initiative to Reduce Antipsychotic Use in Long-Term Care Homes.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of a multicenter intervention to reduce potentially inappropriate antipsychotic use in Canadian nursing homes at the individual and facility levels.

Design: Longitudinal, population-based cohort study to evaluate the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement's Spreading Healthcare Innovations Initiative to reduce potentially inappropriate antipsychotic use in 6 provinces/territories.

Setting And Participants: Adults in nursing homes in 6 provinces/territories in Canada between 2014 and 2016.

Patient-Reported Impact of Symptoms in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2 (PRISM-2).

Objective: To determine the frequency and relative importance of the most life-affecting symptoms in myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) and to identify the factors that have the strongest association with these symptoms.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adult patients with DM2 from a National Registry of DM2 Patients to assess the prevalence and relative importance of 310 symptoms and 21 symptomatic themes. Participant responses were compared by age categories, sex, educational attainment, employment status, and duration of symptoms.

An examination of product packaging marketing strategies used to promote pediatric multivitamins.

The purpose of this study was to describe the nature of marketing strategies for multivitamin and multimineral (MVM) supplement packaging and to assess the extent to which these supplements are marketed as food products. A cross-sectional study of children's supplement packaging was conducted. Descriptive statistics identified common marketing practices.

Patient-identified disease burden in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: The multitude of symptoms associated with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) disease burden are of varying importance. The extent of these symptoms and their cumulative effect on the FSHD population is unknown.

Methods: We conducted interviews with adult FSHD patients to identify which symptoms have the greatest effect on their lives.

Patient-reported impact of symptoms in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (PRISM-1).

Objective: To determine the most critical symptoms in a national myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) population and to identify the modifying factors that have the greatest effect on the severity of these symptoms.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 278 adult patients with DM1 from the national registry of patients with DM1 between April and August 2010. We assessed the prevalence and relative significance of 221 critical DM1 symptoms and 14 disease themes.

Open-label trial of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor 1/recombinant human insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor 1 (rhIGF-1) complexed with IGF binding protein 3 (rhIGF-1/rhIGFBP-3) in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).

Design: Open-label dose-escalation clinical trial.

Setting: University medical center.

Severity, type, and distribution of myotonic discharges are different in type 1 and type 2 myotonic dystrophy.

To characterize and compare electrical myotonia in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2), 16 patients with genetically confirmed DM1 and 17 patients with DM2 underwent standardized concentric needle electromyography of deltoid, biceps, extensor digitorum communis, first dorsal interosseous, tensor fascia lata (TFL), vastus lateralis (VL), tibialis anterior, and thoracic paraspinal muscles. Eight needle insertions per muscle were made by electromyographers blinded to DM type who recorded the presence and type of myotonia (e.g.

Increased ipsilateral whole breast vascularity as measured by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in patients with breast cancer.

Background: Tumor-induced neovessel formation identified by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a commonly used marker for breast malignancy. The purpose of this study was to assess possible differences in whole-breast vascularity as measured by contrast-enhanced MRI in the ipsilateral and contralateral breasts of patients with unilateral breast malignancies.

Methods: Gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the breast using a Siemens 1.

Real-time reporting drives the race toward zero.

LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh is a 155-bed freestanding, Acute Long Term Care Hospital, one of 333 nationwide. Patients with complex care needs who are recovering from acute events, postsurgical interventions, and multiple comorbidities stay an average of 25 days. Like other hospitals, reducing medication errors is a focus of the quality improvement program.

Serum mepivacaine concentrations after intraoral injection in young children.

The authors measured plasma concentrations of mepivacaine in 36 children from the ages of 2 to 5 years who received dental care under light general anesthesia. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 2 percent mepivacaine hydrochloride with 1:20,000 levonordefrin or 3 percent mepivacaine hydrochloride without vasoconstrictor. The volume of anesthetic injected depended on the planned procedures for each patient.