Natural history of neurological improvement following complete (AIS A) thoracic spinal cord injury across three registries to guide acute clinical trial design and interpretation.

Study Design: Retrospective, longitudinal analysis of motor and sensory outcomes following thoracic (T2-T12) sensorimotor complete spinal cord injury (SCI) in selected patients enrolled into three SCI) registries.

Objectives: To establish a modern-day international benchmark for neurological recovery following traumatic complete thoracic sensorimotor SCI in a population similar to those enrolled in acute clinical trials.

Setting: Affiliates of the North American Clinical Trial Network (NACTN), European Multicenter Study about Spinal Cord Injury (EMSCI), and the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS).

Predictive modeling of spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) resting habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands.

Predictive habitat models can provide critical information that is necessary in many conservation applications. Using Maximum Entropy modeling, we characterized habitat relationships and generated spatial predictions of spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) resting habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands. Spinner dolphins in Hawai'i exhibit predictable daily movements, using inshore bays as resting habitat during daylight hours and foraging in offshore waters at night.

Benefits, barriers, and intentions/desires of nurses related to distance learning in rural island communities.

Background: This study assessed distance learning needs among nurses on the Neighbor Islands in Hawaii.

Methods: An exploratory study was conducted using a descriptive qualitative design. Of the 37 nurses who completed the study, 7 were nurse administrators and 30 were staff nurses.

Assessing responses of humpback whales to North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory (NPAL) transmissions: results of 2001--2003 aerial surveys north of Kauai.

Eight aerial surveys were flown north of the Hawaiian island of Kauai during 2001 when the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory (NPAL) source was not transmitting, and during 2002 and 2003 when it was. All surveys were performed during the period of peak residency of humpback whales (Feb-Mar). During 2002 and 2003, surveys commenced immediately upon cessation of a 24-h cycle of transmissions.

Frequency of nonresponse antiplatelet activity of clopidogrel during pretreatment for cardiac catheterization.

Platelet function was evaluated before and after clopidogrel therapy in 50 cardiology candidates scheduled for intervention; results were averaged from optical platelet aggregation with 2 significantly correlated point-of-care instruments, Thrombelastograph and Ichor PlateletWorks. Although this was a limited study with few complications, the failure of clopidogrel therapy (30% nonresponders with <10% average platelet inhibition) was not correlated with clinical pretreatment variables, including atorvastatin therapy, postintervention bleeding complications, or major adverse coronary events.