Identification of larvicide-resistant catch basins from three years of larvicide trials in a suburb of chicago, IL.

The tens of thousands of catch basins found in many urban areas are a primary target of local vector control agencies for seasonal application of extended-release larvicides. A concern with using larvicides in these structures is that active ingredients can be hampered by high flows, debris, and sediment, all of which are common to these structures. As such a certain proportion of basins may be "resistant" to larvicide treatments due to site specific characteristics that may promote these and other factors that hinder larvicide action and/or promote mosquito infestation.

Peri-operative epidural may not be the preferred form of analgesia in select patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background And Objectives: Epidural analgesia has become the preferred method of pain management for major abdominal surgery. However, the superior form of analgesia for pancreaticoduodenecomy (PD), with regard to non-analgesic outcomes, has been debated. In this study, we compare outcomes of epidural and intravenous analgesia for PD and identify pre-operative factors leading to early epidural discontinuation.

The Association between Survival and the Pathologic Features of Periampullary Tumors Varies over Time.

Introduction. Several histopathologic features of periampullary tumors have been shown to be correlated with prognosis. We evaluated their association with mortality at multiple time points.

Development of Verbal HITS for intimate partner violence screening in family medicine.

Background And Objectives: Researchers in intimate partner violence (IPV) screening have developed a short written tool called HITS. The acronym corresponds to questions that elicit information about how often a woman's male partner physically Hurts, Insults, Threatens harm, and Screams at her. The purpose of this study was to develop a verbal form of the HITS and to compare it to the published written version.

Long-term follow-up of patients on drug holiday from bisphosphonates: real-world setting.

Objective: Atypical femoral fractures and osteoporosis of the jaw have been associated with prolonged bisphosphonate therapy for postmenopausal osteoporosis. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines suggest a drug holiday after 4 to 5 years of bisphosphonate treatment for moderate-risk patients and 10 years for high-risk patients, but there are minimal data on safe holiday durations. A recent U.

A pilot study examining moral distress in nurses working in one United States burn center.

Moral distress is described as the painful feelings and psychological disequilibrium when a person believes she knows the morally right action to take and is unable to carry it out because of external or internal constraints. It has been studied in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, but to the best of our knowledge not in burn ICU nurses. A pilot study was performed to gather initial data on moral distress among nurses treating burn victims.

Predicting acute kidney injury among burn patients in the 21st century: a classification and regression tree analysis.

Historically, acute kidney injury (AKI) carried a deadly prognosis in the burn population. The aim of this study is to provide a modern description of AKI in the burn population and to develop a prediction tool for identifying patients at risk for late AKI. A large multi-institutional database, the Glue Grant's Trauma-Related Database, was used to characterize AKI in a cohort of critically ill burn patients.

Health status of patients with Alagille syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with Alagille syndrome (AGS) in comparison with a normative population and other chronic diseases, and also to examine the effect of AGS-specific morbidities on HRQOL.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form 50 (CHQ-PF50) to measure HRQOL in patients with AGS. AGS HRQOL was compared with that of a normative population and those previously studied by the CHQ, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and liver transplantation.

Evaluation of computer-aided instruction in a gross anatomy course: a six-year study.

Web-based computer-aided instruction (CAI) has become increasingly important to medical curricula. This multi-year study investigated the effectiveness of CAI and the factors affecting level of individual use. Three CAI were tested that differed in specificity of applicability to the curriculum and in the level of student interaction with the CAI.

Use of human acellular dermal matrix for hernia repair: friend or foe?

Background: Surgeons continue to search for the ideal prosthetic material to repair complex abdominal wall hernias. Recently, a new biologic material was introduced into the surgeon's arsenal. The purpose of this study is to review a single institution's experience with the use of human acellular dermal matrix (HADM [AlloDerm]) for repair of hernias.

The relationship of body mass index and functional outcomes in patients with acute burns.

Obesity may contribute to the functional decline in elderly adults. It can also increase the risk of mortality in burn patients. However, little data exist regarding the relationship between obesity and functional outcomes in patients with burns.

Impact of exercise (walking) on blood pressure levels in African American adults with newly diagnosed hypertension.

Objectives: To determine whether the encouragement of walking an extra 30 minutes a day decreases blood pressure in adult African Americans with newly diagnosed hypertension.

Design: Randomized controlled study.

Participants And Setting: A total of 19 African American adults with newly diagnosed hypertension from an urban family medicine office were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups.

Parental use of EpiPen for children with food allergies.

Background: EpiPen is often underused in children with food allergy experiencing anaphylaxis.

Objective: We explored whether underuse of EpiPen might be attributed to parental discomfort with administration, as measured by a lack of parental empowerment and knowledge of proper administration.

Methods: A written survey was mailed to parents of children with food allergy.

Validation of the HITS domestic violence screening tool with males.

Background And Objectives: To date, screening tools for domestic violence have been validated only for use with female patients. A four-item HITS (Hurt-Insult-Threaten-Scream) screening tool is one of those instruments. The purpose of the current research was to validate the HITS screening tool in a population of male patients.