Catastrophic flooding effects on a Wisconsin wet prairie remnant: A shift in the disturbance regime?

Climate change is likely to imperil native biodiversity through the increased frequency of extreme events. Here we address the short-term effects of an extreme flooding event on an unplowed prairie reserve, the Faville Prairie Wisconsin State Natural Area. This 25-ha property is a remnant of the formerly extensive Crawfish Prairie that lay on the east bank of the Crawfish River, Jefferson County, Wisconsin USA.

Treatments for breast cancer in men: late effects and impact on quality of life.

Purpose: Male breast cancer accounts for approximately 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses. Unfortunately, a lack of information exists regarding late effects of breast cancer treatment in men.

Methods: An online survey directed towards male breast cancer patients was distributed via social medial and emails from June to July 2022.

COVID-19 surge readiness: use cases demonstrating how hospitals leveraged digital identity access management for infection control and pandemic response.

Background: Surging volumes of patients with COVID-19 and the high infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 challenged hospital infection control/safety, staffing, care delivery and operations as few crises have. Imperatives to ensure security of patient information, defend against cybersecurity threats and accurately identify/authenticate patients and staff were undiminished, which fostered creative use cases where hospitals leveraged identity access and management (IAM) technologies to improve infection control and minimise disruption of clinical and administrative workflows.

Methods: Working with a leading IAM solution provider, implementation personnel in the USA and UK identified all hospitals/health systems where an innovative use of IAM technology improved facility infection control and pandemic response management.

Assessment of Antibiotic Prescriptions for Lyme Disease After Modification of Reporting Language for Positive Screening Test Results.

This quality improvement study assesses whether revision of positive Lyme disease test result text was associated with decreases in the frequency of antibiotic prescriptions for patients without confirmatory results.

Race, Age, Gender, and Insurance Status: A Comparative Analysis of Access to and Quality of Gastrointestinal Cancer Care.

Background: Socioeconomics, demographics, and insurance status play roles in healthcare access. Considering the limited resources available, understanding the relative impact of disparities helps prioritize programs designed to overcome them. This study evaluates gastrointestinal cancer care disparity by comparing the impact of different patient factors across oncologic care metrices.

RiskScape: A Data Visualization and Aggregation Platform for Public Health Surveillance Using Routine Electronic Health Record Data.

Automated analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data is a complementary tool for public health surveillance. Analyzing and presenting these data, however, demands new methods of data communication optimized to the detail, flexibility, and timeliness of EHR data.RiskScape is an open-source, interactive, Web-based, user-friendly data aggregation and visualization platform for public health surveillance using EHR data.

Western population-based study of oncologic surgical quality and outcomes of laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: While studies have reported improved morbidity of laparoscopic (LG) compared with open gastrectomy (OG), it remains unclear whether comparable oncologic outcomes can be achieved. This study aims at comparing not only short-term outcomes, including 30- and 90-day mortality, but also survival of LG vs OG.

Methods: The National Cancer Database was searched for adult patients with histologically proven gastric cancer and complete information regarding M0 disease, tumor size, differentiation grade, T stage, nodal status, comorbidities, type of hospital, hospital stay, type of surgery, oncological treatment and survival data were included.

Preoperative Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer Improves Survival and R0 Rate Even in Early Stage I.

Background: While preoperative chemotherapy for patients with stage II-III pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is frequently practiced, its impact on very early PDAC (stage I) remains unclear today.

Material And Methods: Patients undergoing pancreatectomy for PDAC between 2010 and 2016 were identified in the National Cancer Database. Early-stage patients (IA-IB) with complete oncologic and clinical information and more than 30-day survival were included.

More Screening or More Disease? Gonorrhea Testing and Positivity Patterns Among Men in 3 Large Clinical Practices in Massachusetts, 2010-2017.

Background: Gonorrhea diagnosis rates in the United States increased by 75% during 2009-2017, predominantly in men. It is unclear whether the increase among men is being driven by more screening, an increase in the prevalence of disease, or both. We sought to evaluate changes in gonorrhea testing patterns and positivity among men in Massachusetts.

Temporal Patterns in Chlamydia Repeat Testing in Massachusetts.

Introduction: National guidelines recommend test-of-cure for pregnant women and test-of-reinfection for all patients with chlamydia infections in order to interrupt transmission and prevent adverse sequelae for patients, partners, and newborns. Little is known about retesting and positivity rates, and whether they are changing over time, particularly in private sector practices.

Methods: Electronic health record data on patients with chlamydia tests were extracted from three independent clinical practice groups serving ≅20% of the Massachusetts population.

State and Local Chronic Disease Surveillance Using Electronic Health Record Systems.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of chronic disease surveillance using distributed analysis of electronic health records and to compare results with Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) state and small-area estimates.

Methods: We queried the electronic health records of 3 independent Massachusetts-based practice groups using a distributed analysis tool called MDPHnet to measure the prevalence of diabetes, asthma, smoking, hypertension, and obesity in adults for the state and 13 cities. We adjusted observed rates for age, gender, and race/ethnicity relative to census data and compared them with BRFSS state and small-area estimates.

Development of an Integrated Mobile Application for Evaluating Voiding Dysfunction: A Proof of Concept Study.

Introduction: Bladder voiding diaries are an important part of evaluating and managing lower urinary tract symptoms but are subject to poor data quality and diary completion rates. Mobile health technology is increasingly prevalent and can help overcome the problems of traditional paper and electronic diaries.

Methods: We identified proof of concept design principles based on a literature review and needs assessment.

Ultrasound guided ureteroscopy for the definitive management of ureteral stones: a randomized, controlled trial.

Purpose: Ureteroscopy is central to the surgical management of ureteral stones. Fluoroscopy is conventionally used for intraoperative guidance, although there is growing effort to decrease the exposure of patients and staff to ionizing radiation. We developed a radiation-free approach to ureteroscopy using ultrasound guidance to manage ureteral stones.

Ambulatory pathway laser prostate surgery in severely ill patients--feasibility and short-term outcomes.

Objective: To assess readmissions, complications, and outcomes of a rapid ambulatory discharge pathway (RADP) in high anesthetic risk patients who have undergone laser prostate surgery.

Methods: Medical records of patients who underwent holmium laser ablation of the prostate between 2007 and 2012 by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists category ≥3 ("severe systemic disease") were included.

Insurance status, stone composition, and 24-hour urine composition.

Unlabelled: Abstract Purpose: We examined the stone composition, 24-hour urinary risk factors, and insurance status in patients evaluated in two regional stone clinics to further investigate the relationship between the socioeconomic status and kidney stone formation.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of stone formers who completed a 24-hour urinalysis as part of a metabolic evaluation for nephrolithiasis. Insurance status was determined by billing records and those with state-assisted insurance (SAI) were compared to patients with private insurance (PI).

It is safe to teach residents laser prostate surgery in the private practice setting.

Objective: To examine the effect of resident involvement on laser prostate surgery outcomes within a urology group in a private practice setting.

Materials And Methods: Patients with ≥ 6 months of follow-up data who had undergone holmium laser ablation of the prostate by a single surgeon (R.L.

Successful transcloacal ureteral stent removal.

We report a percutaneous transcloacal approach for removal of a ureteral stent in a 15-year-old girl with a cloacal anomaly, spinal dysraphism, and complex pelvic anatomy, including a bicornuate uterus, reconstructed hindgut neobladder, and duplicated left pelvic kidney. The patient had undergone 3 previous unsuccessful attempts at stent removal, 2 endoscopic attempts by way of her neobladder, and 1 percutaneous transcloacal attempt before successful removal.

Abnormalities of 24-hour urine composition in first-time and recurrent stone-formers.

Objective: To examine differences in 24-hour urine composition between recurrent and first-time stone-formers.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients evaluated in 2 metabolic stone clinics was performed. Recurrent stone formation was defined as patients with a history of more than 1 stone episode and first-time stone-formers were those with a history of a single-stone episode.

High dietary magnesium intake decreases hyperoxaluria in patients with nephrolithiasis.

Objective: To examine the relationship between urine magnesium and hyperoxaluria in a cohort of patients with recurrent stone formation.

Methods: A total of 311 patients with nephrolithaisis were evaluated. The patients were divided into quintiles of urine magnesium excretion, an accepted surrogate of dietary magnesium intake.

Effect of socioeconomic status on 24-hour urine composition in patients with nephrolithiasis.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the poverty and education levels and 24-hour urine composition in patients with nephrolithiasis because little is known about the relationship between socioeconomic status and kidney stone risk.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients evaluated at 2 metabolic stone clinics. The poverty level (ie, percentage of those living below the poverty level) and education level (ie, percentage of those with a high school education or greater) for each postal code were determined from the U.

Relationship between glomerular filtration rate and 24-hour urine composition in patients with nephrolithiasis.

Objective: To examine the relationship between GFR and 24-hour urine composition in patients with nephrolithiasis to understand how renal function may affect stone risk. Alterations in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are associated with a number of physiological changes.

Methods: A retrospective, institutional review board-approved review of patients from 2 metabolic stone clinics was performed.

The effects of ambient temperature, humidity and season of year on urine composition in patients with nephrolithiasis.

Unlabelled: Study Type--Prognosis (cohort series) Level of Evidence 2b. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Epidemiologic studies have shown that warmer climates are associated with increased incidence of nephrolithiasis. Many hypothesize that this is due to dehydration and lower urine volumes.

The influence of psychiatric comorbidities and sexual trauma on lower urinary tract symptoms in female veterans.

Purpose: We characterized the association of psychiatric comorbidities and sexual trauma with lower urinary tract symptoms in women.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive women (121) referred for evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms to a specialized urology clinic were given validated questionnaires including the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7. These data were then analyzed according to psychiatric comorbidities, history of sexual trauma, age, race and obstetric history.

Potential for control of detrusor smooth muscle spontaneous rhythmic contraction by cyclooxygenase products released by interstitial cells of Cajal.

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) have been identified as pacemaker cells in the upper urinary tract and urethra, but the role of ICCs in the bladder remains to be determined. We tested the hypotheses that ICCs express cyclooxygenase (COX), and that COX products (prostaglandins), are the cause of spontaneous rhythmic contraction (SRC) of isolated strips of rabbit bladder free of urothelium. SRC was abolished by 10 microM indomethacin and ibuprofen (non-selective COX inhibitors).