Retrospective study comparing success rates of lumbar puncture positions in infants.

Background: A lumbar puncture (LP) is performed in the emergency room for diagnostic purposes; unsuccessful or traumatic LPs can complicate decision making. The sitting position has a larger interspinous process compared to lateral recumbent and is safer in sick neonates at risk for cardiac and respiratory instability.

Purpose: Our study aims to determine which position (lateral recumbent or sitting) is associated with a greater likelihood of successful lumbar puncture in infants <3 months when performed in the emergency room.

Length of stay linked to neurodiagnostic workup for seizures presenting to the pediatric emergency department.

Introduction: Patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department (ED) often undergo unnecessary testing that leads to prolonged ED visits. Lower ED length of stay has been linked to improved patient experience and may reduce ED overcrowding, a costly burden on a health system.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study involving patient records over the period of 6 months at an urban tertiary children's hospital who presented with seizures.

Androgens drive microvascular endothelial dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: role of the endothelin B receptor.

Key Points: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex syndrome with cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity and insulin resistance. PCOS is also associated with high androgens, increases the risk of cardiovascular dysfunction in women. Due to the complexity of PCOS, had it has been challenging to isolate specific causes of the cardiovascular dysfunction.

Anastasis revisited.

This article describes some more of its author's experiences of serving on the mercy ship Anastasis. Frances Steele previously reported on the vessel's activities in an article published in the January 1998 BJPN, with which she won the runner-up award in the Alison Bell Memorial writer's competition, 1997. In this article, Frances describes some of the cases she dealt with during her second visit onboard the ship.