Distribution of radon in large workplaces: an analysis performed on radon levels measured in UK schools.

Radon is a radioactive, carcinogenic gas formed by the radioactive decay of uranium and radium that occur naturally in small amounts in all rocks and soils. It is the largest single source of radiation exposure to the UK population, contributing to more than 1 100 lung cancer deaths each year according to an analysis conducted in 2005. Regulations exist to protect employees (and other persons) where radon concentrations exceed the reference level of 300 Bq m.

Analysis of radon mitigation methods: 10-year review.

Exposure to the radon gas within a building can result in an increased risk of lung cancer. To minimise the health risk, indoor radon concentrations can be reduced using well-established mitigation methods. The performance of various radon reduction methods, their combination as well as other factors that can impact the efficiency of radon mitigation, were analysed using data collected from approximately 2800 dwellings that had installed radon mitigation techniques during the period 2007-2017.

Variability in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Biologic Controls.

Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is an increasingly common test and is considered the accepted standard for assessing exercise capacity. Quantifying variability is important to assess the instrument for quality control purposes. Though guidelines recommend biologic control testing, there are minimal data on how to do it.

Validation of Resting Energy Expenditure Equations in Older Adults with Obesity.

It is unclear which energy expenditure prediction equation should guide weight loss interventions in older adults with obesity. We ascertained the validity of four equations commonly used in practice in a series of weight loss studies of adults aged ≥65 with a body mass index ≥30kg/m using indirect calorimetry data. Diagnostic accuracy was defined as <10% discrepancy between predicted and measured resting metabolic rate (RMR).

A Systematic Approach to Evaluating Closed System Drug-Transfer Devices During Drug Product Development.

The use of Closed System Drug-Transfer Devices (CSTDs) has increased significantly in recent years due to NIOSH and USP recommendations to use them during preparation of hazardous drugs. Mechanistic and material differences between CSTDs and traditional in-use components warrant an assessment of their impact on product quality and dosing accuracy. Using a combination of prevalent CSTDs with biologic molecules, we performed an extensive assessment of the effect of using CSTDs for dose preparation and observed no negative impact on product quality attributes.

Incident Impaired Cognitive Function in Sarcopenic Obesity: Data From the National Health and Aging Trends Survey.

Objectives: The prevalence of obesity with sarcopenia is increasing in adults aged ≥65 years. This geriatric syndrome places individuals at risk for synergistic complications that leads to long-term functional decline. We ascertained the relationship between sarcopenic obesity and incident long-term impaired global cognitive function in a representative US population.

Modified STEADI Fall Risk Categories Predict Incident Cognitive Impairment.

Background/objectives: It is unknown whether older adults at high risk of falls but without cognitive impairment have higher rates of subsequent cognitive impairment.

Design: This was an analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal data from National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).

Setting: NHATS, secondary analysis of data from 2011 to 2019.

Feasibility and acceptability of a technology-based, rural weight management intervention in older adults with obesity.

Background: Older adults with obesity residing in rural areas have reduced access to weight management programs. We determined the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of an integrated technology-based health promotion intervention in rural-living, older adults using remote monitoring and synchronous video-based technology.

Methods: A 6-month, non-randomized, non-blinded, single-arm study was conducted from October 2018 to May 2020 at a community-based aging center of adults aged ≥65 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m.

Impact of Diet and Exercise on Weight and Cognition in Older Adults: A Rapid Review.

Objective: To determine where the current literature stands in regard to diet/exercise interventions on cognition in overweight or obese individuals.

Data Source: A rapid review was conducted of English-language studies published in Medline from January 1965 to January 2020.

Study Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria: Included studies were intervention studies lasting ≥12 weeks, with participants aged ≥65 years, with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m.

Intensive nutrition counseling as part of a multi-component weight loss intervention improves diet quality and anthropometrics in older adults with obesity.

Background And Aims: Obesity significantly impacts older adults. Intensive nutrition counseling can aid in weight reduction and improve diet quality, but data are sparse in this population. The objective of this intervention is to determine how intensive nutrition counseling affects diet quality and anthropometric measures during a multi-component weight loss intervention in rural older adults with obesity.

Functional exercise capacity, strength, balance and motion reaction time in Barth syndrome.

Background: Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an X-linked disorder caused by defects in TAZ with key clinical features including cardiomyopathy, neutropenia and skeletal myopathy. In order to gain a better understanding of the range of clinical features, identify targets for monitoring, and increase knowledge of natural history of the disease, we conducted muscle strength testing, functional exercise capacity testing, physical activity assessment, balance assessment and motion reaction time testing in 33 affected individuals and 14 controls. We analyzed data points to provide a cross-sectional quantitative spectrum of disease characteristics.

Burn Patients' Perceptions of Their Care: What Can We Learn From Postdischarge Satisfaction Surveys?

Little is understood about the inpatient experience from the burn patients' perspectives. Rather, hospitals emphasize quantitative feedback as part of the ongoing process improvement. Comments returned with the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) administrative survey may provide important patient perspectives.

An analysis of radon levels in the basements of UK workplaces and review of when employers should test.

Radon is a recognised lung carcinogen. The main source of radon in UK buildings is the ground. As basements have more ground contact than other parts of a building, and often limited ventilation, there is increased potential for high radon levels to occur.

Intrinsic Foot Muscle Activation During Specific Exercises: A T2 Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Context: The intrinsic foot muscles maintain the medial longitudinal arch and aid in force distribution and postural control during gait. Impaired intrinsic foot-muscle function has been linked to various foot conditions. Several rehabilitative exercises have been proposed to improve it; however, literature that identifies which individual muscles are activated during specific intrinsic foot-muscle exercises is lacking.

Developing a Family-Centered Care Model for Critical Care After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objectives: This study examined the family experience of critical care after pediatric traumatic brain injury in order to develop a model of specific factors associated with family-centered care.

Design: Qualitative methods with semi-structured interviews were used.

Setting: Two level 1 trauma centers.

Effect of self-monitoring and medication self-titration on systolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease: the TASMIN-SR randomized clinical trial.

Importance: Self-monitoring of blood pressure with self-titration of antihypertensives (self-management) results in lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension, but there are no data about patients in high-risk groups.

Objective: To determine the effect of self-monitoring with self-titration of antihypertensive medication compared with usual care on systolic blood pressure among patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease.

Design, Setting, And Patients: A primary care, unblinded, randomized clinical trial involving 552 patients who were aged at least 35 years with a history of stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease and with baseline blood pressure of at least 130/80 mm Hg being treated at 59 UK primary care practices was conducted between March 2011 and January 2013.

Susceptibility to acute rheumatic fever based on differential expression of genes involved in cytotoxicity, chemotaxis, and apoptosis.

It is unknown why only some individuals are susceptible to acute rheumatic fever (ARF). We investigated whether there are differences in the immune response, detectable by gene expression, between individuals who are susceptible to ARF and those who are not. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 15 ARF-susceptible and 10 nonsusceptible (control) adults were stimulated with rheumatogenic (Rh+) group A streptococci (GAS) or nonrheumatogenic (Rh-) GAS.

Associations between drug use and sexual risks among heterosexual men in the Philippines.

The relationship between drug use and sexual risk behaviours among 2272 men in the southern Philippines was assessed. Over 20% of participants used drugs. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, marital status, income, occupation and geographic region revealed that compared to non-drug users, men who used drugs had earlier sexual debuts (adjusted odds ratio = 1.

Partnering with family members to improve the intensive care unit experience.

Family members play an important and varied role in a patient's health care experience, ranging from emotional support to surrogate health care decision making. The family role can be substantial in the intensive care unit setting, as the patients rely upon family members to make health care decisions for them. The core components of patient- and family-centered care include information sharing, a welcoming environment, respect for individual values and needs, comfort and support, and providing a helpful framework for developing a productive partnership with family members.

Development of phonological constancy: toddlers' perception of native- and Jamaican-accented words.

Efficient word recognition depends on detecting critical phonetic differences among similar-sounding words, or sensitivity to phonological distinctiveness, an ability evident at 19 months of age but unreliable at 14 to 15 months of age. However, little is known about phonological constancy, the equally crucial ability to recognize a word's identity across natural phonetic variations, such as those in cross-dialect pronunciation differences. We show that 15- and 19-month-old children recognize familiar words spoken in their native dialect, but that only the older children recognize familiar words in a dissimilar nonnative dialect, providing evidence for emergence of phonological constancy by 19 months.

Superantigen genes in group A streptococcal isolates and their relationship with emm types.

Superantigens are important virulence factors in the pathogenesis of invasive disease caused by group A streptococcus (GAS). There has been a recent re-emergence of this disease worldwide. A number of novel superantigens have been described recently.

Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection using ESAT-6 and intracellular cytokine cytometry.

Diagnosis of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) using tuberculin skin testing (TST) is often hampered by prior Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination. ESAT-6 is a protein that is expressed by MTB but absent in BCG. It has been postulated that it might be useful in distinguishing MTB-specific immune responses.