Assessment of a Peer Physician Coaching Partnership Between a Designated Cancer Center Genetics Service and a Community Cancer Network Hospital.

Background: Patients with cancer seen in rural and underserved areas disproportionately face barriers to access genetic services. Genetic testing is critical to inform treatment decisions, for early detection of another cancer, and to identify at-risk family members who may benefit from screening and prevention.

Objective: To examine medical oncologists' genetic testing ordering trends for patients with cancer.

Interferon-γ release assay screening in biologics: safe and reliable, but not perfect.

Background: Systemic biologic agents can increase the risk of re-activation of latent tuberculosis (TB). Prior to initiation, screening for latent TB using an interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) is recommended. There is concern that false-negative IGRAs may be more likely in this context.

Risk of infective endocarditis after surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Objective: To define the incidence and risk factors for infective endocarditis (IE) following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: All patients who underwent first SAVR or TAVI in England between 2007 and 2016 were identified from the NICOR databases. Hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis of IE were identified by linkage with the NHS Hospital Episode Statistics database.

COVID-19-related acute kidney injury; incidence, risk factors and outcomes in a large UK cohort.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common among patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and associated with worse prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, risk factors and outcomes of AKI in patients with COVID-19 in a large UK tertiary centre.

Methods: We analysed data of consecutive adults admitted with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 across two sites of a hospital in London, UK, from 1st January to 13th May 2020.

The Community Health Worker (CHW) Common Indicators Project: Engaging CHWs in Measurement to Sustain the Profession.

Despite progress in documenting the outcomes of Community Health Worker interventions, the lack of standardized measures to assess CHW practice has made it difficult for programs to conduct reliable evaluations, and impossible to aggregate data across programs and regions, impeding commitment to sustainable, long-term financing of CHW programs. In addition, while CHWs have sometimes been involved as data collectors, they have seldom been engaged as full partners in all stages of evaluation and research. This manuscript details the current work being done by the CI Project, demonstrating how CHWs are able to contribute to the integrity, sustainability, and viability of CHW programs through the collaborative development and adoption of a set of common process and outcome constructs and indicators for CHW practice and CHW program implementation.

Neurocysticercosis and HIV/AIDS co-infection: A scoping review.

Objectives: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a high disease burden and are prevalent in overlapping low- and middle-income areas. Yet, treatment guidance for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A) co-infected with NCC is currently lacking. This study aims to scope the available literature on HIV/AIDS and NCC co-infection, focusing on epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostics and treatment outcomes.

Gaps in Care and Support for Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer: A Report From the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance.

Purpose: Although new therapeutic options continue to improve disease-related outcomes in advanced breast cancer (ABC), enhanced focus is needed to improve quality of life for patients currently living with ABC.

Methods: In November 2019, a multidisciplinary workshop to explore patient perceptions of their information and support needs was held at the ABC Global Alliance Annual Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. Ninety-two attendees from 27 countries participated in the workshop.

MOCCASIN: a method for correcting for known and unknown confounders in RNA splicing analysis.

The effects of confounding factors on gene expression analysis have been extensively studied following the introduction of high-throughput microarrays and subsequently RNA sequencing. In contrast, there is a lack of equivalent analysis and tools for RNA splicing. Here we first assess the effect of confounders on both expression and splicing quantifications in two large public RNA-Seq datasets (TARGET, ENCODE).

Meta-analysis of transcriptomic variation in T-cell populations reveals both variable and consistent signatures of gene expression and splicing.

Human CD4 T cells are often subdivided into distinct subtypes, including Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells, that are thought to carry out distinct functions in the body. Typically, these T-cell subpopulations are defined by the expression of distinct gene repertoires; however, there is variability between studies regarding the methods used for isolation and the markers used to define each T-cell subtype. Therefore, how reliably studies can be compared to one another remains an open question.

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of atrial fibrillation percutaneous catheter ablation technologies using randomized controlled trials.

Aims: We sought out to make comparisons between all atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation technologies using randomized controlled trial data. Our comparisons were freedom from AF, procedural duration, and fluoroscopy duration.

Methods: Searches were made of EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CENTRAL databases, and studies were selected which had cryoballoon, conventional radiofrequency (RF), multipolar RF catheters, and laser technology as an arm in the study and were identified as randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

The Concept of Advocacy in Nursing: A Critical Analysis.

As health care professionals practice as a team, they take on responsibilities that are specific to their roles-responsibilities that are recognized and understood by the team and management as pertaining to their professional domain and expertise. Is advocacy part of the role of the nurse? Members of the nursing profession commonly maintain that it is, but is there a consensus on this issue, both within the profession and among other stakeholders? Is there a clear understanding of the term advocacy, and is this reflected in Codes of Practice and research into practice? An examination of significant documents and reports of empirical research reveals conflicting conceptions and opinions. There is potential for a common definition, but agreements need to be reached on whether advocacy is an essential function of nursing within the management of health care, and if so, what is advocacy's importance, focus, and limits.

Mapping RNA splicing variations in clinically accessible and nonaccessible tissues to facilitate Mendelian disease diagnosis using RNA-seq.

Purpose: RNA-seq is a promising approach to improve diagnoses by detecting pathogenic aberrations in RNA splicing that are missed by DNA sequencing. RNA-seq is typically performed on clinically accessible tissues (CATs) from blood and skin. RNA tissue specificity makes it difficult to identify aberrations in relevant but nonaccessible tissues (non-CATs).

Atypical Clinical Manifestations of Loiasis and Their Relevance for Endemic Populations.

Background: Loiasis is mostly considered a relatively benign infection when compared with other filarial and parasitic diseases, with Calabar swellings and eyeworm being the most common signs. Yet, there are numerous reports in the literature of more serious sequelae. Establishing the relationship between infection and disease is a crucial first step toward estimating the burden of loiasis.

Contemporary epidemiology of infective endocarditis in patients with congenital heart disease: A UK prospective study.

Objectives: Infective endocarditis is a life-threatening complication of congenital heart disease (CHD), but there are few studies concerning the contemporary risk profile, preceding invasive procedures and outcomes in this patient population. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with CHD.

Methods: Cases of IE in children and adults with CHD were prospectively recorded as part of the UK National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) National Congenital Heart Disease Audit.

Severe Disseminated Infection with Emerging Lineage of Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.

We report a case of severe disseminated infection in an immunocompetent man caused by an emerging lineage of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus clonal complex 398. Genes encoding classic virulence factors were absent. The patient made a slow recovery after multiple surgical interventions and a protracted course of intravenous flucloxacillin.

Reporting of vertebral fragility fractures: can radiologists help reduce the number of hip fractures?

Unlabelled: Patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures are at increased risk of hip fracture. In a cohort of hip fracture patients, many had previous imaging studies showing incidental vertebral fractures. Fifty-four percent of fractures were not reported by the radiologist, highlighting a missed opportunity for diagnosing and treating osteoporosis, thereby preventing further fractures.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The use of antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) for prevention of infective endocarditis (IE) is controversial. In recent years, guidelines to cardiologists and dentists have advised restriction of AP to high-risk groups (in Europe and the USA) or against its use at all (in the UK). The objective of this systematic review was to appraise the evidence for use of AP for prevention of bacteraemia or IE in patients undergoing dental procedures.

Discovery of the interstellar chiral molecule propylene oxide (CH₃CHCH₂O).

Life on Earth relies on chiral molecules-that is, species not superimposable on their mirror images. This manifests itself in the selection of a single molecular handedness, or homochirality, across the biosphere. We present the astronomical detection of a chiral molecule, propylene oxide (CH3CHCH2O), in absorption toward the Galactic center.

The Concept of Advocacy in Nursing: A Critical Analysis.

As health care professionals practice as a team, they take on responsibilities that are specific to their roles-responsibilities that are recognized and understood by the team and management as pertaining to their professional domain and expertise. Is advocacy part of the role of the nurse? Members of the nursing profession commonly maintain that it is, but is there a consensus on this issue, both within the profession and among other stakeholders? Is there a clear understanding of the term advocacy, and is this reflected in Codes of Practice and research into practice? An examination of significant documents and reports of empirical research reveals conflicting conceptions and opinions. There is potential for a common definition, but agreements need to be reached on whether advocacy is an essential function of nursing within the management of health care, and if so, what is advocacy's importance, focus, and limits.

Cloud Computing for Pharmacometrics: Using AWS, NONMEM, PsN, Grid Engine, and Sonic.

Cloud computing allows pharmacometricians to access advanced hardware, network, and security resources available to expedite analysis and reporting. Cloud-based computing environments are available at a fraction of the time and effort when compared to traditional local datacenter-based solutions. This tutorial explains how to get started with building your own personal cloud computer cluster using Amazon Web Services (AWS), NONMEM, PsN, Grid Engine, and Sonic.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue in a patient with Fanconi anemia treated with radiotherapy and concurrent cetuximab: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by bone marrow failure and increased risk of cancers including acute myelogenous leukemia and various solid tumors, especially head and neck cancer. Management of head and neck cancer in the setting of FA is complicated by pancytopenia, poor tolerance of chemotherapy, and potentially increased radiosensitivity. There are limited reports on tolerance of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with FA.