Time to Mobility Is Associated With Pulmonary Complications in Patients With Spine Fractures.

Introduction: Treatment of spine fractures may require periods of prolonged immobilization which prevents effective pulmonary toileting. We hypothesized that patients with longer time to mobilization, as measured by time to first physical therapy (PT) session, would have higher pulmonary complications.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all trauma patients with cervical and thoracolumbar spinal fractures admitted to a level 1 trauma center over a 12-month period.

The impact of spike N501Y mutation on neutralizing activity and RBD binding of SARS-CoV-2 convalescent serum.

Background: Several SARS-CoV-2 lineages with spike receptor binding domain (RBD) N501Y mutation have spread globally. We evaluated the impact of N501Y on neutralizing activity of COVID-19 convalescent sera and on anti-RBD IgG assays.

Methods: The susceptibility to neutralization by COVID-19 patients' convalescent sera from Hong Kong were compared between two SARS-CoV-2 isolates (B117-1/B117-2) from the α variant with N501Y and 4 non-N501Y isolates.

Methodology for Addressing Infectious Aerosol Persistence in Real-Time Using Sensor Network.

Human exposure to infectious aerosols results in the transmission of diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, and COVID-19. Most dental procedures generate a significant number of aerosolized particles, increasing transmission risk in dental settings. Since the generation of aerosols in dentistry is unavoidable, many clinics have started using intervention strategies such as area-filtration units and extraoral evacuation equipment, especially under the relatively recent constraints of the pandemic.

Multipronged infection control strategy to achieve zero nosocomial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases among Hong Kong healthcare workers in the first 300 days of the pandemic.

Background: Nosocomial outbreaks leading to healthcare worker (HCW) infection and death have been increasingly reported during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Objective: We implemented a strategy to reduce nosocomial acquisition.

Methods: We summarized our experience in implementing a multipronged infection control strategy in the first 300 days (December 31, 2019, to October 25, 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic under the governance of Hospital Authority in Hong Kong.

Infection control challenges in setting up community isolation and treatment facilities for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Implementation of directly observed environmental disinfection.

Background: Extensive environmental contamination by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been reported in hospitals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We report our experience with the practice of directly observed environmental disinfection (DOED) in a community isolation facility (CIF) and a community treatment facility (CTF) in Hong Kong.

Methods: The CIF, with 250 single-room bungalows in a holiday camp, opened on July 24, 2020, to receive step-down patients from hospitals.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Re-infection by a Phylogenetically Distinct Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Strain Confirmed by Whole Genome Sequencing.

Background: Waning immunity occurs in patients who have recovered from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, it remains unclear whether true re-infection occurs.

Methods: Whole genome sequencing was performed directly on respiratory specimens collected during 2 episodes of COVID-19 in a patient.

Source of Social Support and Caregiving Self-Efficacy on Caregiver Burden and Patient's Quality of Life: A Path Analysis on Patients with Palliative Care Needs and Their Caregivers.

Few studies have explored the inter-relationships of sources of social support and caregiving self-efficacy with caregiver burden and patient's quality of life among patients with palliative care needs and their caregivers. This study tested the associations of two sources of social support (family and friends) and the mediating role of caregiving self-efficacy on caregiver burden and patient's quality of life. A convenience sample of 225 patient-caregiver dyads recruited between September 2016 and May 2017 from three hospitals in Hong Kong was included in the current analysis.

The DOWN Questionnaire: A Novel Screening Tool for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Study Design: Case-control study.

Objectives: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is the most common cause of spinal cord injury in adults aged over 55 years. However, since the onset is typically insidious, accurately diagnosing CSM can be challenging, often requiring referral to a subspecialist and advanced imaging.

Depression Increases the Rates of Neurological Complications and Failed Back Surgery Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spine Surgery.

Study Design: This was a retrospective database study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to use a large sample to accurately determine risk factors and rates of neurological complications in patients undergoing commonly performed lumbar spine surgeries.

Summary Of Background Data: Damage to neurological structures and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) are among the most feared complications of lumbar spine surgery.

Spectral Reflectance Measurement of Evaporating Chemical Films: Initial Results and Application to Skin Permeation.

The present study has 2 aims. First, the method of spectral reflectance was used to measure evaporation rates of thin (∼25-300 μm) films of neat liquid volatile organic chemicals exposed to a well-regulated wind speed u. Gas-phase evaporation mass transfer coefficient (k) measurements of 10 chemicals, 9 of which were measured at similar u, are predicted (slope of log-log data = 1.

Paraplegic patients: how to measure balance and what is normal or functional?

Purpose: To review the current understanding and data of sagittal balance and alignment considerations in paraplegic patients.

Methods: A PubMed literature search was conducted to identify all relevant articles relating to sagittal alignment and sagittal balance considerations in paraplegic and spinal cord injury patients.

Results: While there are numerous studies and publications on sagittal balance in the ambulatory patient with spinal deformity or complex spine disorders, there is paucity of the literature on "normal" sagittal balance in the paraplegic patients.

Effect of mental health on postoperative infection rates following cervical spine fusion procedures.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether having an existing psychiatric disorder is a risk factor for developing post-operative infection following anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) and posterior cervical fusion (PCF).

Results: A total of 34,007 patients within Humana database was included in this study. Patients with mental disorders had post-operative infection rates of 3.

Space Available for Cord, Motion, and disc degeneration at the adjacent segments level of degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis using kinematic MRI.

The objective was to evaluate motion, disc degeneration and Space Available for Cord (SAC) at the adjacent segments of degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis (DCS) using kinematic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (kMRI). The cervical spine kMRI of sixty-one DCS spinal levels (38 anterolisthesis and 23 retrolisthesis) were analyzed at the listhesis level and its adjacent segments in three position using kMRI. MRAnalyzer3 was used to analyze translation, angular motion and SAC.

Respirable size-selective sampler for end-of-shift quartz measurement: Development and performance.

Aims of this study were to develop a respirable size-selective sampler for direct-on-filter (DoF) quartz measurement at the end-of-shift (EoS) using a portable Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and to determine its size-selective sampling performance. A new miniaturized sampler has been designed to have an effective particle deposition diameter close to the portable FTIR beam diameter (6 mm). The new sampler (named the EoS cyclone) was constructed using a 3D printer.

Knee Disarticulation for a Total Knee Arthroplasty Periprosthetic Fracture.

Total knee arthroplasty, although a very successful surgery, can present the patient with several potential complications, including the risk for periprosthetic fractures. Complications involving periprosthetic fractures after total knee arthroplasty can present a complex clinical scenario for orthopedic surgeons. To date, adequate literature exists to guide surgeons in approaching most periprosthetic fractures; however, standard operating procedure can fall short when confronted with more complex clinical scenarios.

Cost-effectiveness of 'Program We Care' for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A case-control study.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a discharge program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients on discharge from an emergency medical ward on discharge home rate, hospital length of stay (LOS), inpatient admission rate and cost.

Background: Frequent visits to the emergency department (ED) and subsequent hospital admission are common among patients with COPD, which adds a burden to ED and hospital care. A discharge program was implemented in an ED emergency medical ward.

Silica Measurement with High Flow Rate Respirable Size Selective Samplers: A Field Study.

High and low flow rate respirable size selective samplers including the CIP10-R (10 l min(-1)), FSP10 (11.2 l min(-1)), GK2.69 (4.

Evaluation of pump pulsation in respirable size-selective sampling: Part III. Investigation of European standard methods.

Lee et al. (Evaluation of pump pulsation in respirable size-selective sampling: part I. Pulsation measurements.

Exposure to chlorpyrifos in gaseous and particulate form in greenhouses: a pilot study.

Phase distribution of airborne chemicals is important because intake and uptake mechanisms of each phase are different. The phase distribution and concentrations are needed to determine strategies of exposure assessment, hazard control, and worker protection. However, procedures for establishing phase distribution and concentration have not been standardized.

Effectiveness of Emergency Medicine Wards in reducing length of stay and overcrowding in emergency departments.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an Emergency Medicine Ward (EMW) in reducing the length of stay (LOS) in the emergency department, length of hospitalization, emergency medical admission rate, and the hospital bed occupancy rate.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional, observational study with a retrospective, quantitative record review conducted at the EMW of a regional acute hospital in Hong Kong from January 2009 to June 2009.

Results: During the study, a retrospective audit was conducted on 1834 patient records.

Evaluation of pump pulsation in respirable size-selective sampling: part II. Changes in sampling efficiency.

This second, and concluding, part of this study evaluated changes in sampling efficiency of respirable size-selective samplers due to air pulsations generated by the selected personal sampling pumps characterized in Part I (Lee E, Lee L, Möhlmann C et al. Evaluation of pump pulsation in respirable size-selective sampling: Part I. Pulsation measurements.

Evaluation of pump pulsation in respirable size-selective sampling: part I. Pulsation measurements.

Pulsations generated by personal sampling pumps modulate the airflow through the sampling trains, thereby varying sampling efficiencies, and possibly invalidating collection or monitoring. The purpose of this study was to characterize pulsations generated by personal sampling pumps relative to a nominal flow rate at the inlet of different respirable cyclones. Experiments were conducted using a factorial combination of 13 widely used sampling pumps (11 medium and 2 high volumetric flow rate pumps having a diaphragm mechanism) and 7 cyclones [10-mm nylon also known as Dorr-Oliver (DO), Higgins-Dewell (HD), GS-1, GS-3, Aluminum, GK2.

A continuous quality improvement project to reduce medication error in the emergency department.

Background: Medication errors are a common source of adverse healthcare incidents particularly in the emergency department (ED) that has a number of factors that make it prone to medication errors. This project aims to reduce medication errors and improve the health and economic outcomes of clinical care in Hong Kong ED.

Methods: In 2009, a task group was formed to identify problems that potentially endanger medication safety and developed strategies to eliminate these problems.

Effect of calibration and environmental condition on the performance of direct-reading organic vapor monitors.

The performance of three MIRAN SapphIRe Portable Infrared Ambient Air Analyzers and three Century Portable Toxic Vapor Analyzers equipped with photoionization (PID) and flame ionization (FID) detectors was compared with charcoal tube sampling. Relationships were investigated using two different calibration methods at four cyclohexane concentrations, three temperatures, and four relative humidities. For the first method, the TVA monitors were calibrated with a single concentration of methane for the FID, and isobutylene for the PID.

Geriatric consultation service in emergency department: how does it work?

Background: Hong Kong is having a significant prevalence of geriatric patients who usually require admission after presentation to the hospital through emergency departments. The geriatric consultation programme 'We Care' aims at lowering acute geriatric medical admission.

Objectives: The study aims at analysing the impact of the geriatric consultation service on the acute medical admission, and to study the characteristics and outcome of geriatric patients.