Splenic Infarctions and Sepsis Secondary to Ceftriaxone-Associated Acute Pancreatitis: A Case of Interdisciplinary Collaboration.

The spleen plays a crucial role in filtering aging blood cells and defending against encapsulated microorganisms. While not essential for survival, splenic dysfunction can lead to severe complications, including organ failure, infection, and death. This case study examines a rare presentation of drug-induced splenic septic thrombophlebitis secondary to pancreatitis caused by an adverse reaction to ceftriaxone.

Novel Percutaneous Areola Reduction.

We present a novel percutaneous areola reduction technique that, to our knowledge, has never been used or published in the past. This technique is a useful solution to the downsides of the current most commonly used technique for areola reductions that uses a circumareolar incision. Our current technique utilizes a percutaneous approach, which is a minimally invasive procedure, and produces a virtually scarless result.

Alloying effect on the lattice thermal conductivity of MNiSn half-Heusler alloys.

The lattice thermal conductivity of MNiSn (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) half-Heusler (HH) alloys was studied. DFT calculations were used for the calculation of the material physical properties. A combination of the Slack model and Klemens analytical alloying model was used to simulate the lattice thermal conductivity as a function of composition and temperature.

Thermoelectric transport properties of (TiAl)NiSn half-Heusler alloy.

The influence of Al on the thermoelectric properties of the half-Heusler (HH) TiNiSn compound is reported. The research combined ab initio Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations with experimental microstructure evaluation and measurements of the transport properties up to 750 K. It is shown that Al addition to the Ti sub-lattice results in an increase of the absolute value of the Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity in polycrystalline TiNiSn, while preserving the n-type behavior of the ternary compound, in addition to a significant reduction of the thermal conductivity.

Al solubility in (TiAl)NiSn half-Heusler alloy.

Half-Heusler, HH, alloys are widely used n-type materials in thermoelectric applications. Today, there is a shortage in p-type HH based materials, which may have an inherent compatibility with the HH n-type pair. Al is a good candidate as an acceptor doping element for this purpose, and the results on alloying of TiNiSn-based HH with Al are reported in details.

CHAMBER: A Regional Performance Improvement CME Initiative for Breast Cancer Health Care Providers.

CHAMBER was a regional educational initiative for providers of care to patients with HER2+ breast cancer. The study goals were to (1) enhance testing for HER2/neu overexpression in patients with invasive breast cancer; (2) increase the appropriate use of targeted therapy for patients with HER2+ breast cancer; and (3) enhance patients' coping ability. This Performance Improvement Continuing Medical Education (PI-CME) initiative included clinical practice assessment, educational activities, and reassessment.

VISION: a regional performance improvement initiative for HIV health care providers.

Introduction: VISION (HIV Integrated Learning ModuleS: Achieving Performance Improvement through CollaboratiON) was a regional performance improvement (PI) continuing medical education (CME) initiative designed to increase guideline-conforming practice of clinicians who manage patients with HIV infection.

Methods: The 3-part activity consisted of (1) clinical practice assessment and development of an action plan for practice change, (2) completion of relevant education, and (3) reassessment.

Results: The activity did not change practitioners' performance in clinical status monitoring and in patient treatment, in large part because guidelines were being appropriately implemented at baseline as well as after the educational intervention.

New developments in the therapy of pulmonary fibrosis.

Fibrosis is a normal response to injury. When it becomes excessive, however, it can interfere with the normal function of various organs. In the lungs fibrosis can lead to interstitial pneumonias.