Analytical methods for Ir-192 determination and their comparison.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Radiation Laboratory's primary mission is to provide laboratory support for an effective and efficient response to public health radiological emergencies. The laboratory has developed methods for several radiological threat agents, including Iridium-192 (Ir-192). Ir-192 can be analyzed via its gamma energy through analytical methods such as High Purity Germanium (HPGe) and its beta energy through Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC).

Velagliflozin, a once-daily, liquid, oral SGLT2 inhibitor, is effective as a stand-alone therapy for feline diabetes mellitus: the SENSATION study.

Objective: To investigate safety and effectiveness of velagliflozin oral solution as sole therapy in naïve and previously insulin-treated diabetic cats.

Animals: 252 client-owned cats receiving ≥ 2 doses of velagliflozin; 214 (85%) naïve diabetics and 38 (15%) insulin-treated diabetics.

Procedures: Prospective, baseline-controlled, open-label clinical field trial.

Investigation of select radionuclides stability in urine under various conditions for liquid scintillation counting (LSC).

Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) gross alpha/beta screening is a valuable tool for providing rapid laboratory response for the analysis of human clinical urine samples during a large-scale radiation incident event. Verification of method performance, as required for clinical laboratory testing, is accomplished by the evaluation of routine, periodic measurements of radioactive spiked samples for quality control, performance testing, and accuracy checks. Radionuclide stability of alpha and beta emitters in urine for LSC analysis is an important consideration.

Baseline characteristics including blood and urine metal levels in the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy 2 (TACT2).

Background: The reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) events with edetate disodium (EDTA) in the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) suggested that chelation of toxic metals might provide novel opportunities to reduce CVD in patients with diabetes. Lead and cadmium are vasculotoxic metals chelated by EDTA. We present baseline characteristics for participants in TACT2, a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial designed as a replication of the TACT trial limited to patients with diabetes.

Reducing nurse burnout when caring for patients with substance use disorder.

Caring for patients with substance use disorder (SUD) can be challenging. Lack of knowledge of SUD treatment may add to nurses' feelings of burnout and intent to leave the workplace. This article describes a novel program for patients with SUD admitted for long-term antibiotic treatment and its impact on the nurses' work environment, particularly burnout.

Assessment of Knowledge Regarding Risks and Benefits of the Use of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants.

Background: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) have replaced vitamin K antagonist (VKA) oral anticoagulants as the first-line treatment option for stroke prevention in high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation. With VKA therapy, disease and treatment-related knowledge is associated with improved adherence and outcomes. There is concern that due to the lack of need for ongoing visits for laboratory monitoring in patients on NOACs, there is less opportunity for education, leading to poor disease- and treatment-related knowledge in this patient group.

Blood cadmium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium levels in American Indian populations: The Strong Heart Study.

Background: Many American Indian (AI) communities are in areas affected by environmental contamination, such as toxic metals. However, studies assessing exposures in AI communities are limited. We measured blood metals in AI communities to assess historical exposure and identify participant characteristics associated with these levels in the Strong Heart Study (SHS) cohort.

The effect of postprandial exercise on mean blood glucose concentrations following high and maintenance carbohydrate content meals in healthy dogs.

Objectives: To compare the effect of 15 min of exercise 30 min post-meal on mean blood glucose concentrations in 5 well-conditioned versus 5 over-conditioned dogs. To compare the effect of exercise on glycemic control in dogs eating their maintenance diet as compared to a high carbohydrate meal.

Animals: Ten healthy staff or student owned dogs, five well- and five over-conditioned.

Manual and continuous bladder irrigation: Best practices.

Bladder irrigation is performed to restore or maintain the patency of an indwelling urinary catheter. This article outlines the best practices to perform this procedure and prevent adverse events.

Pain Catastrophizing and Functional Disability in Youth with Chronic Pain: An Examination of Indirect Effects.

Pediatric pain conditions are not uncommon and may lead to functional disability. The purpose of this study is to examine indirect effects of pain catastrophizing on functional disability through anxiety, depression, and pain in youth with chronic pain. Participants included 197 youth (144 females, M = 14.

Exposure to Nicotine and Toxicants Among Dual Users of Tobacco Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes: Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, 2013-2014.

Introduction: Concurrent use of tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes ("dual use") is common among tobacco users. Little is known about differences in demographics and toxicant exposure among subsets of dual users.

Aims And Methods: We analyzed data from adult dual users (current every/some day users of tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes, n = 792) included in the PATH Study Wave 1 (2013-2014) and provided urine samples.

Importance of Preanalytical Factors in Measuring Cr and Co Levels in Human Whole Blood: Contamination Control, Proper Sample Collection and Long-Term Storage Stability.

A number of errors with potentially significant consequences may be introduced at various points in the analytical process, which result in skewed, erroneous analytical results. Precautionary procedures such as contamination control, following established sample collection protocols, and having a complete understanding of the long-term stability of the elements of interest can minimize or eliminate these errors. Contamination control is critical in the quantification of Cr and Co in human whole blood.

Characterization of trace elements exposure in pregnant women in the United States, NHANES 1999-2016.

Objective: The objective of the current study is to report on urine, blood and serum metal concentrations to characterize exposures to trace elements and micronutrient levels in both pregnant women and women of child-bearing age in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) years 1999-2016.

Biomarkers of Exposure among Adult Smokeless Tobacco Users in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (Wave 1, 2013-2014).

Background: Monitoring population-level toxicant exposures from smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is important for assessing population health risks due to product use. In this study, we assessed tobacco biomarkers of exposure (BOE) among SLT users from the Wave 1 (2013-2014) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.

Methods: Urinary biospecimens were collected from adults ages 18 and older.

Trace Metals Screening Process of Devices Used for the Collection, Analysis, and Storage of Biological Specimens.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Environmental Health Laboratory uses modified versions of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analytical methods to quantify metals contamination present in items that will come into contact with patient samples during the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical stages. This lot screening process allows us to reduce the likelihood of introducing contamination which can lead to falsely elevated results. This is particularly important when looking at biomonitoring levels in humans which tend to be near the limit of detection of many methods.

Biomonitoring method for the analysis of chromium and cobalt in human whole blood using inductively coupled plasma - kinetic energy discrimination - mass spectrometry (ICP-KED-MS).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed a biomonitoring method to rapidly and accurately quantify chromium and cobalt in human whole blood by ICP-MS. Many metal-on-metal hip implants which contain significant amounts of chromium and cobalt are susceptible to metal degradation. This method is used to gather population data about chromium and cobalt exposure of the U.

Transitioning Into Practice: Reflections and Advice for the New Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Purpose/objectives: The purposes of this article are to explore the shared experiences and feelings of clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) who were new to the role and to identify strategies that were helpful in making the transition.

Description Of Project/program: Transitioning to a CNS role may be challenging and emotional, causing fear or anxiety. The authors reflected on their experiences of transitioning into CNS practice.

Measurement Challenges at Low Blood Lead Levels.

In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adopted its Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention recommendation to use a population-based reference value to identify children and environments associated with lead hazards. The current reference value of 5 μg/dL is calculated as the 97.5th percentile of the distribution of blood lead levels (BLLs) in children 1 to 5 years old from 2007 to 2010 NHANES data.

2016 AAFP Guidelines for the Management of Feline Hyperthyroidism.

Clinical Context: Since 1979 and 1980 when the first reports of clinical feline hyperthyroidism (FHT) appeared in the literature, our understanding of the disease has evolved tremendously. Initially, FHT was a disease that only referral clinicians treated. Now it is a disease that primary clinicians routinely manage.