Use of continuous cardiac monitoring to assess the influence of atrial fibrillation burden and patterns on patient symptoms and healthcare utilization: The DEFINE AFib study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has a significant impact on health and quality of life. The relationship of AF burden and temporal patterns of AF on patient symptoms, outcomes, and healthcare utilization is unknown. Insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) are a strategic and as yet untapped, tool to investigate these relationships.

From Spores to Suffering: Understanding the Role of Anthrax in Bioterrorism.

Introduction: Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, stands as a formidable threat with both natural and bioterrorism-related implications. Its ability to afflict a wide range of hosts, including humans and animals, coupled with its potential use as a bioweapon, underscores the critical importance of understanding and advancing our capabilities to combat this infectious disease. In this context, exploring futuristic approaches becomes imperative, as they hold the promise of not only addressing current challenges but also ushering in a new era in anthrax management.

Assessing the Need for Repeat EEG in Pediatric Patients with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy After Anti-Seizure Medication Withdrawal Following Seizure Freedom.

Background: Most patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy have good seizure control on antiseizure medications. Although idiopathic generalized epilepsy subtypes such as juvenile absence epilepsy and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy have a high risk of relapse, childhood absence epilepsy may have seizure remission. After 2 years of seizure freedom in childhood absence epilepsy, typically antiseizure medications are discontinued, but follow-up protocols are unclear.

Performance analysis of mesocosm-constructed wetland containing agricultural waste-derived substrates for treatment of wastewater.

Integrating native ornamental plants with substrate amended with lignocellulosic biomass and biochar in vertical sub-surface flow constructed wetlands offers a novel and effective approach to wastewater treatment. This study evaluates the potential of mesocosm constructed wetland systems using native ornamental plants (Canna indica, Lilium wallichianum, and Tagetes erecta) grown in substrates amended with lignocellulosic biomass and biochar. The influent and effluent were analyzed for pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphorus (PO-P), and nitrogen forms, i.

Using Atrial Fibrillation Burden Trends and Machine Learning to Predict Near-Term Risk of Cardiovascular Hospitalization.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular hospitalization (CVH), which may be triggered by changes in daily burden. Machine learning of dynamic trends in atrial fibrillation burden, as measured by insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs), may be useful in predicting near-term CVH.

Methods: Using Optum's deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart Database (2007-2019), linked with the Medtronic CareLink ICM database, we identified patients with >1 days of ICM-detected atrial fibrillation.

Performance of Atrial Fibrillation Burden Trends for Stroke Risk Stratification.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of stroke, yet the limitations of conventional monitoring have restricted our understanding of AF burden risk thresholds. Predictive algorithms incorporating continuous AF burden measures may be useful for predicting stroke. This study evaluated the performance of temporal AF burden trends as predictors of stroke from a large cohort with insertable cardiac monitors.

Jasmonates Regulate Auxin-Mediated Root Growth Inhibition in Response to Rhizospheric pH in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Rhizospheric pH, an important environmental cue, severely impacts plant growth and fitness, therefore, has emerged as a major determinant of crop productivity. Despite numerous attempts, the key questions related to plants response against rhizospheric pH remains largely elusive. The present study provides a mechanistic framework for rhizospheric pH-mediated root growth inhibition (RGI).

Utilization and efficacy of DotPhrases in the electronic medical record for improving physician documentation.

Clinical documentation of patient visits has changed over the last 20 years, with the increasing use of electronic records causing a seismic shift in how notes are taken. Electronic note-taking aims at reducing the time taken to document a visit, and the introduction of dot phrases, or DotPhrases, in electronic medical records is a step toward reducing the time required to update patients' charts, which might allow doctors to spend more time with their patients. DotPhrases, abbreviated phrases used in the electronic medical record, help in the simplification of note-taking and the standardization of notes.

D-CRSE: Diminishing chemotherapy-related side effects through patient education, a mixed-methods pilot study.

Objectives: Patient education materials regarding self-management of chemotherapy-related side effects are limited, which may result in patients using disreputable sources. We created a brochure that educates patients on common side effects, tools to address problems themselves, and guidance on when to contact their oncologist or seek emergency care. This mixed-methods study conducted at Penn State Cancer Institute evaluates the feasibility of using an educational brochure to improve patient outcomes through education.

Phage-antibiotic synergism against Salmonella typhi isolated from stool samples of typhoid patients.

Background: Typhoid fever is a fatal disease in humans that is caused by Salmonella typhi. S. typhi infections need immediate antibiotic therapy, and their extensive use has led to multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens.

Management of Male Patients With Occult Breast Cancer: Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Introduction: Occult breast cancer (OBC) consists of <0.1% of breast cancer cases in the United States. Male occult breast cancer (mOBC) has not been well-studied outside of case reports, and management is largely based on female OBC (fOBC) studies.

Assessment of agriwaste derived substrates to grow ornamental plants for constructed wetland.

Burning of surplus residues in agricultural fields is a common practice in many countries of the world. This practice adds emissions into the atmosphere and results in the loss of essential plant nutrients, hence, there is a need for developing technologies for the sustainable management of agri-residues. Constructed wetlands offer excellent nature-based, low-cost green technologies for the treatment of wastewater using surplus agricultural residues as wetland substrates to grow ornamental plants as a source of income.

Gender differences in Medicare payments to cardiothoracic surgeons in 2019.

Objectives: The STS Thoracic Surgery Practice and Access Task Force - 2019 Workforce Report noted gender-based differences in the income of cardiothoracic surgeons in the United States. We analysed the 2019 Medicare payment data for thoracic and cardiac surgeons to investigate the gender-based payment gap among cardiothoracic surgeons.

Methods: The 2019 Medicare Physician and Other Practitioners by Provider and Services data set merged with the Doctors and Clinicians National Downloadable File was utilized to conduct a cross-sectional analysis of gender differences in Medicare payments, numbers of services, unique billing codes, years in practice, Medicare beneficiary age, regional population density (rural-urban commuting area code) and patient panel complexity (hierarchical condition category) for providers.