Drug Calculation Errors in Anesthesiology Residents and Faculty: An Analysis of Contributing Factors.

Background: Limited data exist regarding computational drug error rates in anesthesia residents and faculty. We investigated the frequency and magnitude of computational errors in a sample of anesthesia residents and faculty.

Methods: With institutional review board approval from 7 academic institutions in the United States, a 15-question computational test was distributed during rounds.

Increasing acceptability and uptake of voluntary male medical circumcision in Zambia: implementing and disseminating an evidence-based intervention.

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) uptake in Africa could prevent 3.4 million HIV infections across a 10 year span. In Zambia, however, ~80 per cent of uncircumcised men report no interest in undergoing VMMC.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostic Radiology: A Survey at a Single Radiology Residency Training Program.

Purpose: Advances in artificial intelligence applied to diagnostic radiology are predicted to have a major impact on this medical specialty. With the goal of establishing a baseline upon which to build educational activities on this topic, a survey was conducted among trainees and attending radiologists at a single residency program.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed.

Implementation of Lifestyle Modification Program Focusing on Physical Activity and Dietary Habits in a Large Group, Community-Based Setting.

Background: Lifestyle modification programs improve several health-related behaviors, including physical activity (PA) and nutrition. However, few of these programs have been expanded to impact a large number of individuals in one setting at one time. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether a PA- and nutrition-based lifestyle modification program could be effectively conducted using a large group format in a community-based setting.

A cross-sectional survey of cadmium biomarkers and cigarette smoking.

Cadmium contamination of tobacco may contribute to the health hazards of cigarette smoking. The 2005-2012 United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data provided a unique opportunity to conduct a cross-sectional survey of cadmium biomarkers and cigarette smoking. Among a sample of 6761 participants, we evaluated mean differences and correlations between cadmium biomarkers in the blood and urine and characteristics of never, former and current smokers.

Modelling optimum use of attractive toxic sugar bait stations for effective malaria vector control in Africa.

Background: The development of insecticide resistance and the increased outdoor-biting behaviour of malaria vectors reduce the efficiency of indoor vector control methods. Attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSBs), a method targeting the sugar-feeding behaviours of vectors both indoors and outdoors, is a promising supplement to indoor tools. The number and configuration of these ATSB stations needed for malaria control in a community needs to be determined.

Ethnicity, Household Food Security, and Nutrition and Activity Patterns in Families With Preschool Children.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between food security and child nutritional intake, sedentary behavior, and body mass index (BMI) and potential moderation by ethnic subgroup membership.

Design: Cross-sectional data analysis from baseline data of a preschool intervention trial.

Setting: Twenty-eight subsidized child care centers in Miami-Dade County, FL.

A Wellness Program for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers: Developing an Integrative Pilot Program with Exercise, Nutrition, and Complementary Medicine.

The Integrative Wellness Program (IWP) at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC) sought to provide integrative wellness education to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers by offering instruction in exercise, nutrition, and complementary and alternative medicine. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the IWP on the overall wellness of the individuals participating in the program. Three different 10-week versions of the IWP were conducted over a 1-year period.

A spatial individual-based model predicting a great impact of copious sugar sources and resting sites on survival of Anopheles gambiae and malaria parasite transmission.

Background: Agent-based modelling (ABM) has been used to simulate mosquito life cycles and to evaluate vector control applications. However, most models lack sugar-feeding and resting behaviours or are based on mathematical equations lacking individual level randomness and spatial components of mosquito life. Here, a spatial individual-based model (IBM) incorporating sugar-feeding and resting behaviours of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae was developed to estimate the impact of environmental sugar sources and resting sites on survival and biting behaviour.

Catechol-o-methyltransferase polymorphisms predict opioid consumption in postoperative pain.

Background: Previous studies have associated the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme rs4680 polymorphism with opioid consumption in the treatment of chronic cancer pain. In this study, we evaluated the association between COMT rs4680 and rs4818 polymorphisms and opioid consumption in the acute postoperative period after a nephrectomy.

Methods: Opioid consumption and pain scores were evaluated in 152 patients for 48 hours after nephrectomy.

Role modeling as an early childhood obesity prevention strategy: effect of parents and teachers on preschool children's healthy lifestyle habits.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a child care center-based parent and teacher healthy lifestyle role-modeling program on child nutrition and physical activity outcomes.

Methods: Child care centers (N = 28) serving low-income families were randomized to intervention or control arms. Intervention centers (N = 12) implemented (1) menu modifications, (2) a child's healthy lifestyle curriculum, and (3) an adult (teacher- and parent-focused) healthy lifestyle role-modeling curriculum.

Immune activation is associated with increased gut microbial translocation in treatment-naive, HIV-infected children in a resource-limited setting.

Background: Gut damage resulting in microbial translocation (MT) is considered a major cause of immune activation (IA) in HIV infection, but data in children are limited, particularly in the absence of antiretroviral therapy.

Methods: Sixty perinatally HIV-infected, antiretroviral therapy-naive children, aged 2-12 years, were evaluated for plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide, DNA sequences encoding bacterial 16 second ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) and soluble CD14 concurrently with markers of CD4 and CD8 T-cell IA and immune exhaustion (IE), CD4 counts, and plasma viral load. At study entry, participants were classified into immune categories (ICs): IC1 (CD4% > 25), IC2 (CD4% 15-25), and IC3 (CD4% < 15).

Implementation of HIV prevention interventions in resource limited settings: the partner project.

Evidence-based HIV prevention interventions have been translated to a variety of contexts across sub-Saharan Africa. Non-specialized community health center (CHC) staff members have been successfully engaged to deliver the interventions, which can be integrated into pre-existing HIV service programs in community-based health care delivery sites. This manuscript describes the process of implementing the Partner Project, a couples HIV risk reduction intervention, and examines the ability of CHC staff to achieve risk reduction outcomes comparable to those of the highly-trained research staff.

Acceptability, knowledge, beliefs, and partners as determinants of Zambian men's readiness to undergo medical male circumcision.

There is limited information about the influence of partners on medical male circumcision (MMC) uptake. This study aimed to evaluate attitudes, knowledge, and preferences about MMC among men and their partners, and their relative impact on male readiness to undergo the MMC procedure. Male participants (n = 354) and their partners (n = 273) were recruited from community health centers in Lusaka, Zambia.

Determination of the safe range of graft size mismatch using body surface area index in deceased liver transplantation.

In live donor liver transplantation, rigorous standardized criteria for matching of liver volume between donor and recipient have prevented graft loss because of size mismatch. In deceased whole liver transplantation, the safe donor-recipient size mismatch range remains unknown. We developed a multivariate survival model (generalized additive model) to estimate hazard risk of body surface area index (BSAi) for 3-year graft survival using data derived from the national registry database between 2005 and 2010.

Ultrasound assessment of the vertebral level of the intercristal line in pregnancy.

Background: The intercristal line is known to most frequently cross the L4 spinous process or L4-5 interspace; however, it is speculated to be positioned higher during pregnancy because of the exaggerated lumbar lordosis. Clinical estimation of vertebral levels relying on the use of the intercristal line has been shown to often be inaccurate. We hypothesized that the vertebral level of the intercristal line determined by palpation would be higher than the level determined by ultrasound in pregnant women.

Increasing rates of melanoma among nonwhites in Florida compared with the United States.

Objective: To compare melanoma trends within Florida with national melanoma trends from 1992 through 2004. An analysis of state and national melanoma trends is critical for the identification of high-risk regions of the country.

Design: Data from the Florida Cancer Data System (FCDS) and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) were evaluated to determine age-adjusted and race/ethnicity- and sex-specific invasive cutaneous melanoma incidence trends for 1992 through 2004 using joinpoint regression analysis.

Changes in youth cigarette use following the dismantling of an antitobacco media campaign in Florida.

We examined the association of the termination of a successful youth-targeted antitobacco media campaign ("truth") and changes in smoking rates among youths aged 12-17 years in Florida. Six telephone-based surveys were completed during the active media campaign (1998-2001), and 2 postcampaign surveys were completed in 2004 and 2006 (each n approximately 1,800). Prevalence of current smoking among youth observed during the campaign continued to decrease in the first postcampaign survey; however, by the second follow-up survey, youth smoking rates had increased significantly for youth aged 16 years or older.

Evaluation of an immunosuppressant side effect instrument.

Background: Clinicians continue to be compelled to evaluate the impact of immunosuppressive medication side effects on the quality of life of transplant recipients. We Were asked to develop an instrument to measure side effects in immunosuppressed transplant recipients.

Objective: To construct an instrument that measures the impact and severity of side effects of immunosuppressive medications used in transplantation and to assess the reliability and validity of the newly developed instrument called the Memphis Survey.

Reliability of histopathologic assessment for the differentiation of recurrent hepatitis C from acute rejection after liver transplantation.

Histopathologic assessment is considered essential for the differentiation of recurrent hepatitis C (RHC) from acute cellular rejection (ACR) after liver transplantation (LT); however, there is limited information regarding its reliability. The aim of this study was to determine the interobserver and intraobserver agreement of the histopathologic diagnosis of RHC vs. ACR, and to determine the reliability of specific histopathologic features for the differentiation of RHC from ACR.

Chronic prenatal exposure to cocaine alters cerebrovascular responses in newborn pigs.

Maternal cocaine abuse may increase the incidence of perinatal asphyxia. In nonexposed asphyxiated neonates, decreased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cAMP concentrations are associated with poor neurological outcome. On the other hand, cocaine increases central nervous system (CNS) cAMP.