Investigating the Effects of Sex Hormones on Macrophage Polarization.

Sex differences in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease are well established, but the effects of sex hormones on macrophage polarization and pro-atherogenic functions are not well described. We hypothesize that sex hormones directly modulate macrophage polarization, and thereby regulate the progression of atherosclerosis. Bone marrow-derived monocytes from adult male and female C57BL/6 mice were differentiated into macrophages using macrophage colony-stimulating factor (20 ng/mL) and pre-treated with either 17β-estradiol (100 nM), testosterone (100 nM), or a vehicle control for 24 h.

Detecting drug diversion in health-system data using machine learning and advanced analytics.

Purpose: The theft of drugs from healthcare facilities, also known as drug diversion, occurs frequently but is often undetected. This paper describes a research study to develop and test novel drug diversion detection methods. Improved diversion detection and reduction in diversion improves patient safety, limits harm to the person diverting, reduces the public health impact of substance use disorder, and mitigates significant liability risk to pharmacists and their organizations.

Intraoperative cell salvage as part of a blood conservation strategy in an obstetric population with abnormal placentation at a large Irish tertiary referral centre: an observational study.

Background: Haemorrhagic morbidity is more common in women with abnormal placentation, that is placenta praevia or morbidly adherent placenta. The incidence of abnormal placentation is increasing due to rising caesarean section rates. Concerns regarding blood safety, blood shortages and soaring costs of blood processing have generated growing enthusiasm for blood conservation strategies.

Antecedents of red cell transfusion in a large contemporary obstetric cohort.

Background Hemorrhage is a critical contributor to maternal morbidity but estimation of blood loss at delivery is frequently inaccurate. Due to this inaccuracy we sought to examine blood transfusion as a surrogate marker for morbidity in a large non-population based consecutive cohort. Methods A retrospective analysis of prospectively gathered data was carried out at two university institutions serving a heterogeneous urban obstetric population from January to December 2016.

Intraocular lens power adjustment by a femtosecond laser: In vitro evaluation of power change, modulation transfer function, light transmission, and light scattering in a blue light-filtering lens.

Purpose: To evaluate intraocular lens (IOL) power, modulation transfer function (MTF), light transmission, and light scattering of a blue light-filtering IOL before and after power adjustment by a femtosecond laser obtained through increased hydrophilicity of targeted areas within the optic, creating the ability to build a refractive-index-shaping lens within an existing IOL.

Setting: John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Biocompatibility of intraocular lens power adjustment using a femtosecond laser in a rabbit model.

Purpose: To evaluate the biocompatibility (uveal and capsular) of intraocular lens (IOL) power adjustment by a femtosecond laser obtained through increased hydrophilicity of targeted areas within the optic, creating the ability to build a refractive-index shaping lens within an existing IOL.

Setting: John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Long-acting water-stable organosilane agent and its sustained effect on reducing microbial load in an intensive care unit.

Background: Contaminated hospital surfaces contribute significantly to the transmission of health care-associated infections. Although disinfectants reduce bioburden by up to 99%, bacterial growth can rebound within hours to precleaning levels. We tested the effectiveness of an innovative, long-acting water-stable organosilane (WSO) to achieve sustained decreases in bioburden on hard surfaces.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Predictors of Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) from non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and Takotsubo (TK) cardiomyopathy present with similar initial clinical features and can result in left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and acute heart failure.

Methods: This study was a retrospective case-control study that identified patients aged 18 years and older who presented with ACS and underwent cardiac catheterization.

Results: There were a total of 321 patients in the TK group and 1031 patients in the NSTEMI group.

Point-of-Care, Ultraportable Echocardiography Predicts Diuretic Response in Patients Admitted with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background: Routine management of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) requires careful attentiveness to fluid status and diuretic treatment efficacy. New advances in ultrasound have made ultraportable echocardiography (UE) available to physicians for point-of-care use. The purpose of this study is to explore physiologic measures of intravascular fluid volume derived from UE and explore predictors of diuretic response in ADHF.

Cognitive-behaviour therapy for post-traumatic stress in schizophrenia. A randomized controlled trial.

Background: There is limited evidence for effective interventions in the treatment of post-traumatic stress symptoms within individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Clinicians have concerns about using exposure treatments with this patient group. The current trial was designed to evaluate a 16-session cognitive restructuring programme, without direct exposure, for the treatment of post-traumatic stress symptoms specifically within individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

A simple and rapid test of physical performance inchronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Impaired physical performance is common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but its assessment can be difficult in routine clinical practice. We compared the timed up and go (TUG) test and other easily applied assessments of physical performance with the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). In a longitudinal study of comorbidities in COPD, submaximal physical performance was determined in 520 patients and 150 controls using the TUG test and 6MWD.

Creation of a refractive lens within an existing intraocular lens using a femtosecond laser.

Purpose: To assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the technology that creates a hydrophilicity-based refractive index change within a standard intraocular lens (IOL) to alter the refractive characteristics of the IOL.

Setting: Perfect Lens LLC, Irvine, California, USA.

Design: Experimental study.

A mixed-method systematic review to investigate the effect of group singing on health related quality of life.

Objective: To investigate the effect of group singing on health related quality of life (HRQoL) for adult, amateur singers with chronic health conditions.

Methods: A literature search for experimental and observational studies and qualitative studies published before February 2014 was undertaken using the following databases: ASSIA (Proquest), CINAHL (Ebsco), EMBASE (OVID), HMIC (OVID), MEDLINE (OVID), MEDLINE in Process (OVID), OpenGrey, PsycINFO (OVID) and PubMed for Epub ahead of print studies. Social Science searches included: Web of Science, Proquest, and Scopus (Elsevier).

Respiratory decline is integral to disease progression in Huntington's disease.

http://ow.ly/YXTt300mIQw

Globodontia in the Otodental Syndrome: A Rare Defect of Tooth Morphology Occurring with Hearing Loss in an Eight-Year-Old.

Otodental syndrome is a hereditary disorder comprising globodontia and sensorineural hearing loss. Globodontia is characterized by distinctively bulbous, enlarged crowns of molar and primary canine teeth. Anomalies including taurodontism and hypodontia also occur.

A quantitative study of the emotional intelligence of participants in the ASHP Foundation's Pharmacy Leadership Academy.

Purpose: Results of a quantitative assessment of emotional intelligence in a sample of pharmacists affiliated with the ASHP Research and Education Foundation's Pharmacy Leadership Academy (PLA) are presented.

Methods: A demographic questionnaire and a validated instrument for assessing emotional intelligence, the Emotional Quotient Inventory, version 2.0 (EQ-i 2.

Critical Care Functional Rehabilitation Outcome Measure: developing a validated measure.

Introduction: In 2009, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) developed guidelines, which recognized that rehabilitation plays a vital role in recovery from illness and in returning patients to their previous activity levels. NICE recommended the use of valid and reliable "outcome measures" as an evaluation tool.

Aim: To develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of a new Critical Care Functional Rehabilitation Outcome Measure (CcFROM).

Systemic comorbidities in bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis is a chronic inflammatory lung disease, which has similarities to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Comorbidities of COPD include increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, all linked to systemic inflammation. The potential for such comorbidities has not been explored in bronchiectasis.

A prognostic tool to predict fatigue in women with early-stage breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy.

Background: Fatigue during and after radiotherapy impacts negatively on normal functioning and quality of life. A pre-treatment estimate of the risk of fatigue would facilitate the targeting of timely interventions to limit consequential behavioural symptoms arising. We have developed a prognostic tool to predict the risk of fatigue in women with early-stage breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy.

A pilot investigation of quality of life and lung function following choral singing in cancer survivors and their carers.

Background: The diagnosis of cancer creates a wide range of social and emotional problems to patients and carers. However, delivering effective psychological, emotional, and social support remains a challenge. This pilot study evaluated quality of life (QoL) and lung function before and after three months of choral singing in cancer survivors and their carers.

Psychological and immunological characteristics of fatigued women undergoing radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer.

Purpose: The amelioration of fatigue in radiotherapy patients is limited by an equivocal aetiology and uncertainty regarding who is likely to experience significant fatigue. The research objective was to characterise fatigue in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer, in order to evaluate associations with elevations in anxiety, depression and a marker of systemic inflammation.

Methods: Participants comprised 100 women, diagnosed with stages 0-IIA breast cancer and prescribed with 40 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks.