A systematic review of studies identifying predictors of poor return to work outcomes following workplace injury.

Background: Injuries occurring in the workplace can have serious implications for the health of the individual, the productivity of the employer and the overall economic community.

Objective: The objective of this paper is to increase the current state of understanding of individual demographic and psychosocial characteristics associated with extended absenteeism from the workforce due to a workplace injury.

Methods: Studies included in this systematic literature review tracked participants' return to work status over a minimum of three months, identified either demographic, psychosocial or general injury predictors of poor return to work outcomes and included a heterogeneous sample of workplace injuries.

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells for sustained remissions in leukemia.

Background: Relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is difficult to treat despite the availability of aggressive therapies. Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells targeting CD19 may overcome many limitations of conventional therapies and induce remission in patients with refractory disease.

Methods: We infused autologous T cells transduced with a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CTL019) lentiviral vector in patients with relapsed or refractory ALL at doses of 0.

Groundwater arsenic in Chimaltenango, Guatemala.

In the Municipality of Chimaltenango, Guatemala, we sampled groundwater for total inorganic arsenic. In total, 42 samples were collected from 27 (43.5%) of the 62 wells in the municipality, with sites chosen to achieve spatial representation throughout the municipality.

Visuo-haptic multisensory object recognition, categorization, and representation.

Visual and haptic unisensory object processing show many similarities in terms of categorization, recognition, and representation. In this review, we discuss how these similarities contribute to multisensory object processing. In particular, we show that similar unisensory visual and haptic representations lead to a shared multisensory representation underlying both cross-modal object recognition and view-independence.

Spatial imagery in haptic shape perception.

We have proposed that haptic activation of the shape-selective lateral occipital complex (LOC) reflects a model of multisensory object representation in which the role of visual imagery is modulated by object familiarity. Supporting this, a previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study from our laboratory used inter-task correlations of blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal magnitude and effective connectivity (EC) patterns based on the BOLD signals to show that the neural processes underlying visual object imagery (objIMG) are more similar to those mediating haptic perception of familiar (fHS) than unfamiliar (uHS) shapes. Here we employed fMRI to test a further hypothesis derived from our model, that spatial imagery (spIMG) would evoke activation and effective connectivity patterns more related to uHS than fHS.

Evidence-based research and practice: attitudes of reproduction nurses, counsellors and doctors.

The importance of providing evidence-based health care in reproduction medicine has resulted in a wealth of research which has largely focused on patient outcomes. Comparatively little is known about the knowledge and attitudes of health professionals who are often required to contribute to research. This study sought to examine the knowledge and attitudes to research of reproductive medicine health professionals and to explore the motivators and barriers to participating in research.

Diagnosis and treatment of fetal cardiac disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

Background: The goal of this statement is to review available literature and to put forth a scientific statement on the current practice of fetal cardiac medicine, including the diagnosis and management of fetal cardiovascular disease.

Methods And Results: A writing group appointed by the American Heart Association reviewed the available literature pertaining to topics relevant to fetal cardiac medicine, including the diagnosis of congenital heart disease and arrhythmias, assessment of cardiac function and the cardiovascular system, and available treatment options. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association classification of recommendations and level of evidence for practice guidelines were applied to the current practice of fetal cardiac medicine.

Australian women's fertility experiences prior to a termination of pregnancy.

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the fertility management of women aged over 30 years prior to a termination of pregnancy (TOP) to inform primary health care service delivery providers and policy makers.

Design: An ethically approved, two-phase sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used. This paper reports on part of that study.

Loss of form vision impairs spatial imagery.

Previous studies have reported inconsistent results when comparing spatial imagery performance in the blind and the sighted, with some, but not all, studies demonstrating deficits in the blind. Here, we investigated the effect of visual status and individual preferences ("cognitive style") on performance of a spatial imagery task. Participants with blindness resulting in the loss of form vision at or after age 6, and age- and gender-matched sighted participants, performed a spatial imagery task requiring memorization of a 4 × 4 lettered matrix and subsequent mental construction of shapes within the matrix from four-letter auditory cues.

Free-standing Na(2/3)Fe(1/2)Mn(1/2)O(2)@graphene film for a sodium-ion battery cathode.

The development of high-performance cathodes for sodium-ion batteries remains a great challenge, while low-cost, high-capacity Na2/3Fe1/2Mn1/2O2 is an attractive electrode material candidate comprised of earth-abundant elements. In this work, we designed and fabricated a free-standing, binder-free Na2/3Fe1/2Mn1/2O2@graphene composite via a filtration process. The porous composite led to excellent electrochemical performance due to the facile transport for electrons and ions that was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at different temperatures.

Ex vivo detection of CD8 T cells specific for H-Y minor histocompatibility antigens in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Immunologic disparities between minor histocompatibility antigen (mHAg) genes on Y (H-Y) and X (H-X) chromosomes contribute to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects observed in male recipients of a female donor (FtoM) hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT). Using in silico prediction tools, a panel of HLA-A0201 restricted H-Y peptides was synthesized. Expression of CD137 was monitored on CD8(+) T cells after brief stimulation with the H-Y peptides in FtoM HLA-A0201 HCT recipients (N=29), and control groups (HLA-A0201 MtoM [N=18], non-HLA-A0201 FtoM [N=14], and HLA-A0201 female volunteers [N=25]).

A pilot study to determine medical laser generated air contaminant emission rates for a simulated surgical procedure.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that half a million health-care workers are exposed to laser surgical smoke each year.

Plasticizer contamination of firefighter personal protective clothing--a potential factor in increased health risks in firefighters.

Chemical exposures may be responsible for firefighters' elevated incidences of cancer and cardiovascular disease. This study characterized semivolatile chemical contamination on firefighter personal protective clothing to assess exposure of firefighters to these chemicals. Samples from used firefighter protective clothing, including gloves, hood, and one coat wristlet, were extracted with methylene chloride and analyzed by EPA method 8270 for semivolatile contaminants, including 20 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 6 phthalate diesters.

Neural stem cell-mediated delivery of irinotecan-activating carboxylesterases to glioma: implications for clinical use.

CPT-11 (irinotecan) has been investigated as a treatment for malignant brain tumors. However, limitations of CPT-11 therapy include low levels of the drug entering brain tumor sites and systemic toxicities associated with higher doses. Neural stem cells (NSCs) offer a novel way to overcome these obstacles because of their inherent tumor tropism and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, which enables them to selectively target brain tumor sites.

Photodynamic therapy: occupational hazards and preventative recommendations for clinical administration by healthcare providers.

Objective: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a medical treatment for cancers is an increasing practice in clinical settings, as new photosensitizing chemicals and light source technologies are developed and applied. PDT involves dosing patients with photosensitizing drugs, and then exposing them to light using a directed energy device in order to manifest a therapeutic effect. Healthcare professionals providing PDT should be aware of potential occupational health and safety hazards posed by these treatment devices and photosensitizing agents administered to patients.

Long-term health experience of jet engine manufacturing workers: IX. further investigation of general mortality patterns in relation to workplace exposures.

Objective: To evaluate mortality rates among a cohort of jet engine manufacturing workers.

Methods: Subjects were 222,123 workers employed from 1952 to 2001. Vital status was determined through 2004 for 99% of subjects and cause of death for 95% of 68,317 deaths.

Long-term health experience of jet engine manufacturing workers: VIII. glioblastoma incidence in relation to workplace experiences with parts and processes.

Objective: To determine whether glioblastoma (GB) incidence rates among jet engine manufacturing workers were associated with workplace experiences with specific parts produced and processes performed.

Methods: Subjects were 210,784 workers employed between 1952 and 2001. We conducted nested case-control and cohort incidence studies with focus on 277 GB cases.

Long-term health experience of jet engine manufacturing workers: VI: incidence of malignant central nervous system neoplasms in relation to estimated workplace exposures.

Objective: To determine whether glioblastoma (GB) incidence rates among jet engine manufacturing workers were associated with specific chemical or physical exposures.

Methods: Subjects were 210,784 workers employed from 1952 to 2001. We conducted a cohort incidence study and two nested case-control studies with focus on the North Haven facility where we previously observed a not statistically significant overall elevation in GB rates.

Long-term health experience of jet engine manufacturing workers: VII: occupational exposures.

Objective: To reconstruct agent-specific occupational exposures for a cohort of jet engine manufacturing workers for use in an epidemiological mortality study.

Methods: Potential chemical and physical exposures at eight jet engine manufacturing and overhaul/repair plants were evaluated for the period 1952 to 2001. Eleven agents were selected for detailed examination, and a job-exposure matrix was constructed.