Low-pass genome sequencing versus chromosomal microarray analysis: implementation in prenatal diagnosis.

Purpose: Emerging studies suggest that low-pass genome sequencing (GS) provides additional diagnostic yield of clinically significant copy-number variants (CNVs) compared with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). However, a prospective back-to-back comparison evaluating accuracy, efficacy, and incremental yield of low-pass GS compared with CMA is warranted.

Methods: A total of 1023 women undergoing prenatal diagnosis were enrolled.

Testing the Actions of a Multi-action Emollient: Patient's Acceptability Determines Product Efficacy.

Aim: Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is associated with itch, sleep disturbance, impaired life quality, reduced skin hydration, impaired epidermal barrier function and colonization by Staphylococcus aureus (SA). We investigated an emollient with claimed multi-actions on barrier repair, antihistaminergic and antimicrobial effects.

Methods: Consecutive AD patients were recruited.

Change in Pneumococcus Serotypes but not Mortality or Morbidity in Pre- and Post-13-Valent Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine Era: Epidemiology in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit over 10 Years.

Aim: Pneumococcus is a common commensal and an important pathogen among children for which immunization is available. Some serotypes occasionally cause severe pneumococcal disease with high mortality and morbidity. We reviewed all pneumococcal serotypes and mortality/morbidity in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) following universal pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) immunization.

Steroid phobia, Chinese medicine and asthma control.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the mainstay of treatment for asthma. Corticosteroid (CS) phobia and fears are prevalent, and these may influence therapeutic efficacy and asthma control.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate if CS fear is associated with asthma control in children.

Do we need another symptom score for childhood eczema?

Aim: It is important to objectively measure the severity of atopic dermatitis (AD). This study aims to investigate correlations among various clinical severity scores and determine how a severity score based on symptoms alone performs.

Methods: A Chinese-translated symptom score based on Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM, a short-term subjective-symptom score), Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD, a short-term subjective-symptom and objective-sign score), Nottingham Eczema Severity Score (NESS, a long-term subjective symptoms + objective signs), Children Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI, a short-term subjective-symptom score), skin hydration (SH) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were compared and Spearman's rho correlations was evaluated.

Relevance of Cat and Dog Sensitization by Skin Prick Testing in Childhood Eczema and Asthma.

Background: Household animal dander has been implicated as aeroallergen in childhood atopic diseases. Many parents seek healthcare advice if household pet keeping may be detrimental in atopic eczema (AE), allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Aim: We investigated if skin sensitization by cat/dog dander was associated with disease severity and quality of life in children with AE.

Emollient Acceptability in Childhood Atopic Dermatitis: Not All Emollients are Equal.

Background: Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic relapsing skin disease associated with impaired quality of life. Regular usage of moisturizer/emollient is the mainstay of management but acceptability of emollient is often suboptimal. We investigated if emollient acceptability is influenced by various clinical factors in AD.

Clinical Signs, Staphylococcus and Atopic Eczema-Related Seromarkers.

Unlabelled: Childhood eczema or atopic dermatitis (AD) is a distressing disease associated with pruritus, sleep disturbance, impaired quality of life and isolation. The pathophysiology of AD is complex and various seromarkers of immunity are involved. We investigated if anti-staphylococcal enterotoxin IgE (anti-SE), selected seromarkers of T regulatory (Treg), T helper (Th) and antigen-presenting cells (APC) are associated with clinical signs of disease severity and quality of life.

Mortality, length of stay, bloodstream and respiratory viral infections in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Objectives: We investigated whether diagnostic categories and presence of infections were associated with increased mortality or length of stay (LOS) in patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Methods: A retrospective study of all PICU admissions between October 2002 and April 2016 was performed. Oncologic vs nononcologic, trauma/injuries vs nontraumatic, infectious (gram-positive, gram-negative, fungal bloodstream infections, common respiratory viruses) vs noninfectious diagnoses were evaluated for survival and LOS.

Urine Comprehensive Drug Screen, Low Birth Weight and Withdrawal Symptoms in a Neonatal Unit: A Case Control Study.

Objective: Maternal drug abuse may influence neonatal outcomes. We compared neonatal outcomes of patients with urine screened positive for commonly abused drugs (CAD) versus those who were screened negative, and reviewed the pattern of drugs detected at a university teaching hospital.

Methods: Urine samples collected from babies with suspected illicit drug exposure who were admitted to the neonatal unit were sent for comprehensive drug screen (CDS) performed by liquid chromatographytime- of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF/MS).

Influence of experiences of racial discrimination and ethnic identity on prenatal smoking among urban black and Hispanic women.

Background: Although the prevalence of prenatal smoking among minority women exceeds the projected 2010 national objective, data on the determinants of prenatal smoking among minorities remain sparse.

Methods: We examined associations between self-reported experiences of racial discrimination on prenatal smoking among urban black and Hispanic women aged 18-44 years (n=677). Our main independent variable was created from the Experiences of Discrimination (EOD) scale.

Maternal interpersonal trauma and cord blood IgE levels in an inner-city cohort: a life-course perspective.

Background: Prenatal stress affects immunocompetence in offspring, although the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.

Objective: We sought to examine associations between maternal lifetime interpersonal trauma (IPT) and cord blood total IgE levels in a sample of urban newborns (n = 478).

Methods: Maternal IPT during childhood and adolescence (birth to 17 years), adulthood (18 years to index pregnancy), and the index pregnancy were ascertained by using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale at 28.

Patient ethnicity: a key predictor of cancer care satisfaction.

Introduction: Research in cancer care satisfaction itself is scarce; investigation of the role of ethnicity in care satisfaction is even rarer.

Objective: The present study examined relationships between ethnicity and satisfaction with care in a sample of 759 patients diagnosed with three different types of cancer (lung, head and neck, or gynecologic) from a large tertiary cancer hospital.

Method: Respondents filled out an assessment package that consisted of demographics, the Ware Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-III (PSQ-III), 17 additional items constructed by the research team to examine other specific areas of satisfaction, and the Psychological Screen for Cancer (PSSCAN) Part C, to measure anxiety and depression.

Cancer patients' satisfaction with care in traditional and innovative ambulatory oncology clinics.

This study examined the effects of environmental changes, such as rearranging the seating area, playing soft music, and displaying scenes of nature, on aspects of patient satisfaction, ranging from satisfaction with the physical environment and wait times to continuity of care, confidentiality, and trust in providers. Patients receiving care in a new, innovative cancer center had significantly higher satisfaction scores on the physical environment and wait time subscales than the patients receiving care in an older, traditional center. However, the 2 centers did not differ on any of the other satisfaction subscales.

Pilot crossover trial of Reiki versus rest for treating cancer-related fatigue.

Fatigue is an extremely common side effect experienced during cancer treatment and recovery. Limited research has investigated strategies stemming from complementary and alternative medicine to reduce cancer-related fatigue. This research examined the effects of Reiki, a type of energy touch therapy, on fatigue, pain, anxiety, and overall quality of life.