Circular dichroism and UV-Vis detection of UV-induced damage to nucleic acids.

In this report, we demonstrate that CD spectroscopy can be used as a tool to detect changes to DNA upon irradiation with UV light. We follow the spectroscopic response of DNA samples irradiated at selected exposure times with both CD and UV-Vis spectroscopy. We analyzed four different nucleic acids to evaluate the effect of the sequence on photodegradation.

Formaldehyde Reduction in an Operating Room Setting: Comparison of a Catalytic Surgical Vacuum Device With a Traditional Smoke Evacuator.

Introduction Electrosurgery exposes healthcare workers to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including formaldehyde. Adopting electrosurgical devices that catalytically transform formaldehyde to benign substances has the potential to improve safety in surgical settings. Materials and methods We compared the efficiency of formaldehyde removal of two medical devices.

A Peripherally Located Air Recirculation Device Containing an Activated Carbon Filter Reduces VOC Levels in a Simulated Operating Room.

Electrosurgery procedures produce airborne contaminants including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The effectiveness of commercial grade activated carbon at removing toluene, a typical VOC, from the air in an enclosed simulated operating room (OR) when interfaced with an air recirculation device was tested. The concentration of toluene in the air was measured using gas sensitive semiconductor VOC sensors.

Increased CO levels in the operating room correlate with the number of healthcare workers present: an imperative for intentional crowd control.

The air in an operating room becomes more contaminated as the occupancy of the room increases. Individuals residing in a room can potentially emit infectious agents. In order to inhibit and better understand the epidemiology of surgical site infections, it is important to develop procedures to track room occupancy level and respiration.

Many Common Pathogens are Present in the Operative Room Air During Surgery.

Background: The main objective of this study was to assess the sanitary measures of operating theaters using next-generation sequencing.

Methods: Air was sampled from the operating room for the whole duration of 10 surgical days of "clean" (no infection cases) procedures (6 hip/knee arthroplasty and 4 spine cases). Controls consisted of samples at the beginning of the day (1 hour before the surgery started) and at the end of the day after terminal cleaning.

A portable negative pressure unit reduces bone cement fumes in a simulated operating room.

In this report, we demonstrate a versatile method for the removal of bone cement fumes from the vicinity of health care workers in a simulated operating room. The mixing of two component bone cement in the perimeter of an operating room releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The use of localized negative pressure within proximity of the mixing vessel is expected to reduce the concentration of VOCs dispersed near the airway of operating room personnel.

Reimbursement Penalties and 30-Day Readmissions Following Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Background: The U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act created the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) and the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP).

Magnitude of microelectrode refinement in pallidotomy and thalamotomy.

The relative accuracy of starting point algorithms in microelectrode-guided stereotactic pallidotomy and thalamotomy was evaluated using postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Multiplanar reformations were performed to align postoperative MRI in anterior-posterior, dorsal-ventral and mediolateral planes. Three-dimensional distance and direction from the pallidal and thalamic stereotactic starting points to the respective radiofrequency lesions were measured.

Pallidotomy microelectrode targeting: neurophysiology-based target refinement.

Objective: Microelectrode recording can refine targeting for stereotactic radiofrequency lesioning of the globus pallidus to treat Parkinson's disease. Multiple intraoperative microelectrode recording/stimulating tracks are searched and assessed for neuronal activity, presence of tremor cells, visual responses, and responses to kinesthetic input. These physiological data are then correlated with atlas-based anatomic data to approximate electrode location.

Leadership is the key to chief medical officer success.

Senior physician executives were surveyed in 1998/99 to ascertain that they see as their greatest value to their organizations. They believe that their most significant contribution is their accumulated knowledge and experience--both in medicine and management. This medical management perspective is considered the key advantage of serving on the senior management team and helping to shape the organization's decisions and direction.

Reassessment of the role of radiation therapy in the treatment of endocrine-inactive pituitary macroadenomas.

Objective: This prospective clinical trial was undertaken to assess the rate of tumor recurrence in patients with endocrine-inactive pituitary macroadenomas who underwent gross total surgical resection of their tumors and did not receive adjuvant radiotherapy.

Methods: Between December 1987 and July 1994, 45 patients with endocrine-inactive pituitary macroadenomas underwent transsphenoidal surgery. In 38 (84%) of these patients, gross total surgical resection was achieved and was confirmed by postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (n = 37) or computed tomography (n = 1).

The next step for physician executives?

The next step for career growth for many physician executives will be the top leadership role in a health care organization. The availability of such positions for physicians has been limited in the past but could very well open in the future. As physicians, administrators, and boards begin to trust each other more and form meaningful partnerships, the potential for physician CEOs increases.

PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF LEARNING-RELATED NEUROMODULATION IN MOLLUSCAN MECHANOSENSORY NEURONS.

In spite of significant advances in our understanding of mechanisms of learning and memory in a variety of organisms, little is known about how such mechanisms evolve. Even mechanisms of simple forms of learning, such as habituation and sensitization, have not been studied phylogenetically. Here we begin an evolutionary analysis of learning-related neuromodulation in species related to the well-studied opisthobranch gastropod, Aplysia californica.

Physician leadership. Physician executives share insights.

Senior physician executives were asked to share their insights about how the medical management field has evolved. The Physician Executive Management Center, a Tampa, Florida-based search firm, has been surveying senior physician executives each year for the past decade. This year's report on physician executive compensation and duties in hospitals, managed care organizations, and group practices provides an excellent picture of the growth of the profession, as well as a broad perspective of anticipated changes for the future of medical management.

Growth factors rescue embryonic dopamine neurons from programmed cell death.

Poor survival of embryonic dopamine neurons is a primary problem limiting the value of neurotransplantation for Parkinson's disease. Several neurotrophic factors have been shown to promote dopamine neuron survival when used individually in culture. We have found that two peptides, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), have additive effects on cell survival when used in combination.

Direct comparison of serotonin effects on siphon versus tail sensory neurons in Aplysia.

Modulation of the strength of siphon and tail withdrawal reflexes in Aplysia involves, in part, changes in the sensory neurons that initiate these reflexes. Different observations and experiments on modulation in siphon and tail sensory neurons together contribute to the working model of mechanisms of learning and memory in Aplysia, yet no direct comparison of modulation in these two classes of sensory neurons has yet been made. The purpose of the present study was to directly compare modulation between siphon and tail sensory neurons in the same experimental conditions.

Compensation for chiefs of staff: a '90s phenomenon.

As part of its annual survey of physician executive compensation levels, the Physician Executive Management Center, a Tampa, Fla.-based physician executive search firm, sought information on compensation of medical staff leaders. In this report, the Center's findings are summarized.

Quality management remains top medical manager responsibility.

Earlier this year, the Physician Executive Management Center conducted a survey of physician executives in management positions in hospitals, group practices, managed care organizations, and industry. Information was obtained for physician executives in both full-time and part-time roles. In addition to gathering compensation information, the survey sought to define the scope and intensity of the responsibilities of physician CEOs and senior medical managers (medical directors or the equivalent) in these organizations.

Survey provides overview of profession's responsibilities.

At the end of 1990, the Physician Executive Management Center, Tampa, Fla., undertook a survey of College members to determine levels of compensation and benefits and to provide a glimpse at the roles and responsibilities of physician executives. The results of the survey have recently been published by the Management Center.

Department chief roles more clinical in nature.

Earlier this year, the American College of Physician Executives, in collaboration with the Physician Executive Management Center, the recruitment and career counseling affiliate of the College, surveyed the College membership in group practices and managed care organizations. The Management Center was asked to coordinate the project because of its experience with physician executive compensation surveys. A small number of such organizations outside the College membership was also polled.

Getting the third degree.

The main finding of the just released results of the 1987 Physician Executive Compensation Report is that compensation increases in 1987 for physician executives continued to outpace inflation by considerable margins. There were variations by type of health care organization and by geographic region, of course, and bonuses seem to have fallen out of favor in most cases. A side result of the survey deals with the degree to which physician executives have opted for formal management education to improve their management skills and their chances of success in medical management.

The compensation of physician executives.

In January of this year, the American Academy of Medical Directors and the Physician Executive Management Center mailed a survey questionnaire to the approximately 2,300 members of the Academy of record at that time. More than 1,000 responses were returned. The purpose of the survey was to begin to collect data and establish a reliable baseline of compensation information for the physician executive profession.