Structure and functional studies of Avt1, a novel peptide from the sea anemone Aulactinia veratra.

Sea anemones are a rich source of peptide toxins spanning a diverse range of biological activities, typically targeting proteins such as ion channels, receptors and transporters. These peptide toxins and their analogues are usually highly stable and selective for their molecular targets, rendering them of interest as molecular tools, insecticides and therapeutics. Recent transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of the sea anemone Aulactinia veratra identified a novel 28-residue peptide, designated Avt1.

Needlessly Treated: Evaluation of Prehospital Needle Thoracostomy.

Background: Needle thoracostomy is a potentially life-saving intervention for tension pneumothorax but may be overused, potentially leading to unnecessary morbidity.

Objective: To review prehospital needle thoracostomy indications, effectiveness, and adverse outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on registry data for a United States Midwestern Level I trauma center for a 7.

mTG-Gelatin phantoms as standardized testbeds for skin biomechanical measurements with Myoton.

Quantitative assessment of skin mechanical properties can play a pivotal role in diagnosing and tracking various dermatological conditions. Myoton is a promising tool that rapidly and noninvasively measures five skin biomechanical parameters. Accurate interpretation of these parameters requires systematic in vitro testing with easy-to-fabricate, cost-effective skin-mimicking phantoms with controllable properties.

Characterization of Emergency Department Quality Assurance Cases Seen Within a Midwestern United States Health System.

Background: Hospital quality-assurance (QA) processes, including peer-review committees, seek to identify high-risk areas.

Purpose: To characterize emergency department (ED) cases sent for QA review.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted of ED cases sent to a QA committee from November 2018 through July 2022 at three midwestern US hospitals.

Impact of education and clinic site champion on extragenital testing for sexually transmitted infections.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise in the United States. Infections at extragenital (EG) sites (throat or rectum) may serve as an overlooked reservoir for STIs. The aims of this project were to determine the proportion of patients receiving EG testing and to observe the impact of an educational intervention.

Impact of Simulation Manikins to Train Pharmacy Students in Nasal, Throat, and Oral Fluid Swab Collection.

A point-of-care testing (POCT) certificate was implemented in a required pharmacy skills-based course. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of manikins on student confidence in performing POCT swabs for infectious diseases. Manikins were used to train second-year pharmacy students on nasal swabs, throat swabs, and oral fluid swabs.

Cluster of Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae Infective Endocarditis and Rising Background C. diphtheriae Cases-Seattle, Washington, 2020-2023.

Background: Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae, often associated with wounds, can rarely cause infective endocarditis (IE). Five patients with C. diphtheriae IE were identified within 12 months at a Seattle-based hospital system.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Positive Childhood Experiences Among United States Military Children.

Introduction: Many facets of military life are contributors to child health including frequent mobility, family separation, and increased risk to parental physical and mental health, as well as strong social networks and military support systems; yet, there has not been an examination of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) among military children.

Materials And Methods: This study used the 2020-2021 National Survey of Children's Health, limited to children aged 6 to 17 years of age, to examine the association between a child who has ever had a caregiver on active duty and their exposure to ACEs and PCEs (n = 54,256 children). Bivariate analyses used Pearson's chi-squared tests and were weighted to be nationally representative.

Change in Methicillin-Resistant Testing in the Intensive Care Unit as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Initiative.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA)-associated infections are a cause of morbidity and mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU). Vancomycin is a treatment option but is not without risks. A MRSA testing change-the switch from culture to polymerase chain reaction-was implemented at 2 adult (tertiary and community) ICUs located in a Midwestern US health system.

Interrater reproducibility of the Myoton and durometer devices to quantify sclerotic chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a severe complication in long-term survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This disease is challenging to manage clinically due to a lack of validated tools to quantitatively measure skin sclerosis. The current gold standard for measuring skin sclerosis is the NIH Skin Score which has only moderate agreement among clinicians and experts.

Acontia, a Specialised Defensive Structure, Has Low Venom Complexity in .

Phylum Cnidaria represents a unique group among venomous taxa, with its delivery system organised as individual organelles, known as nematocysts, heterogeneously distributed across morphological structures rather than packaged as a specialised organ. Acontia are packed with large nematocysts that are expelled from sea anemones during aggressive encounters with predatory species and are found in a limited number of species in the superfamily Metridioidea. Little is known about this specialised structure other than the commonly accepted hypothesis of its role in defence and a rudimentary understanding of its toxin content and activity.

Evaluation of computed tomography perfusion and angiogram use in stroke evaluation for thrombectomy at a community emergency department setting.

Purpose: Evaluate concordance of provider practices with clinical guidelines for thrombectomy screening in an emergency department (ED) via computed tomography perfusion and angiogram (CT-P/A).

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted for patients 18 years or older who received a CT-P/A of the head and neck in a US Midwestern ED between September 2019 through June 2021. Healthcare system records reviewed for patient information, CT-P/A findings, and treatment decisions.

Targeting Lower Serum Trough Concentrations: A New Gentamicin Dosing Strategy for Suspected Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis.

Objective: Neonatal gentamicin dosing algorithms are not designed to achieve serum trough concentrations ≤1 mcg/mL. The purpose of our study was to evaluate a new gentamicin algorithm based on serum creatinine (SCr) and gestational age (GA) designed to achieve serum gentamicin trough concentrations ≤1 mcg/mL.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a level IIIB neonatal intensive care unit.

Reexploring Female Pathways to Incarceration: Assessing the Role of Mental Illness.

The pathways framework represents an emerging body of work that emphasizes gendered-based influences on crime and incarceration. To date, studies on female pathways often minimize or exclude the role of mental illness. The current study employs Life Course Theory and the use of Life History Calendar to examine the pathways of a sample of 15 female prison inmates diagnosed with serious and persistent mental health conditions.

Comparison of the performance of a clinical classification tree versus clinical gestalt in predicting sepsis with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing gram-negative rods.

A clinical decision tree was developed using point-of-care characteristics to identify patients with culture-proven sepsis due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing (ESBL-PE). We compared its performance with the clinical gestalt of emergency department (ED) clinicians and hospital-based clinicians. The developed tree outperformed ED-based clinicians but was comparable to inpatient-based clinicians.

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA): Snitching, Sexuality, and Normalizing Deviance.

The normalization of deviance in the form of prison rape finds common themes in media, rape myths, and common discourse. However, these portrayals fail to include real world policies and the perspectives of incarcerated populations. As such, the normalization of deviance is assessed in the context of the implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).

Analysis of ingestion admissions in a midsized pediatric intensive care unit.

Background: Pediatric ingestion of toxic substances is a complicated cause of morbidity. Currently, there is limited literature on toxic ingestions resulting in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to quantify the number and financial costs of admissions for toxic ingestion.

A Qualitative Study of Success in Postrelease Federal Inmates With Mental Health Issues.

Considerable research has focused on factors that put individuals at risk for recidivism after their release from incarceration. While recent research has increased the focus on protective factors and resilience, the experiences of people with mental health issues who successfully reintegrate into the community are not well-understood. The present study was conducted to determine which positive factors are implicated in the successful reintegration of people with mental health issues.