Do blood contamination reduction devices work? A single institution comparison.

We compare two initial specimen diversion devices evaluated over 3 months to investigate their utility in lowering blood culture contamination rates at or below 1%. Overall contamination rates during trial periods were 2.46% and 2.

Bacterial urine profile and optimal urine specimen collection timing in asymptomatic chronically catheterized adults with spinal cord injuries and disorders.

Background: Adults with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) require chronic indwelling catheterization which is associated with an increased risk of catheter-associated (CA) adverse events.

Methods: We studied urine samples (culture and urinalysis) from 2 cohorts of chronically catheterized males with SCI/D. Cohort 1 included 28 participants; 3 samples per patient were collected (before, after, and 7 days after catheter change).

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Among Midlife Women: A Feasibility Study Comparing a Combined Sleep and Lifestyle Intervention With a Standard Lifestyle Intervention.

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of adding a sleep extension intervention to a well-established diabetes prevention intervention among midlife women with short sleep duration at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Methods: For this 2-group comparative design, 26 women with prediabetes or metabolic syndrome and sleep duration <7 hours were recruited from the community to participate in an 8-session diet and physical activity lifestyle intervention alone (L-alone) or L-alone plus a behavioral sleep intervention (L+Sleep). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and other outcomes were compared at baseline and 3 and 6 months using analysis of covariance.

Advancing Methods of Assessing Bone Quality to Expand Screening for Osteoporosis.

Context: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) limits osteoporosis screening because of machine size, technical requirements for operation, and exposure to ionizing radiation.

Objective: To establish data ranges from calcaneus ultrasonography (US) that correspond to bone mineral density (BMD) stratification identified by DXA and to determine whether vitamin D concentration adds to US bone health assessment.

Methods: Patients scheduled for DXA at the Robert C.

Women in Osteopathic and Allopathic Medical Schools: An Analysis of Applicants, Matriculants, Enrollment, and Chief Academic Officers.

In the 1993-1994 academic year, female enrollment was 34.7% in osteopathic medical schools and 40.2% in allopathic medical schools.

Osteopathic Medical Students Entering Family Medicine and Attitudes Regarding Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: Preliminary Findings of Differences by Sex.

Context: Factors distinguishing osteopathic physicians from their allopathic counterparts include the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), application of osteopathic principles and practice (OPP), and a greater likelihood of entering primary care, specifically family medicine (FM). In the United States, the percentage of entering osteopathic medical students who were female rose from 14.3% in fall 1977 to 44.

Expanded roles of registered nurses in primary care delivery of the future.

Background: Primary care in the United States is changing: practice size is increasing, there is a growing shortage of primary care practitioners, and there is a heightened prevalence of chronic disease. Given these trends, it is likely that registered nurses will become important members of the primary care team.

Purpose: This paper explores the challenges and opportunities in primary care delivery in the 21st century and examines the likelihood of expanded roles for RNs to improve quality and add capacity to the primary care workforce.

Pedigree Analysis: A Team-Based Learning Activity.

Introduction: Regardless of their specialty, physicians, particularly those practicing primary care in rural areas, typically encounter genetic conditions. Therefore, it is important to incorporate genetic principles into medical training prior to students' clinical rotations.

Methods: The advance preparation assignment for this team-based learning (TBL) resource includes lectures and directed study assignments on the following topics: Mendelian genetics, sexual genetics, population genetics, and pedigree analysis.

Incidence of marine debris and its relationships with benthic features in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Southeast USA.

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) is an increasingly popular site for recreational fishing and diving in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB). As a result, there has been heightened concern about potential accumulation of marine debris and its consequent effects on sanctuary resources. Field surveys were conducted at GRNMS in 2004 and 2005 to provide a spatially comprehensive characterization of benthic communities and to quantify the distribution and abundance of marine debris in relation to bottom features.

An audit of medication administration: a glimpse into school health offices.

Many students require prescription and nonprescription medication to be administered during the school day for chronic and acute illnesses. School office staff members are typically delegated this task, yet these individuals are unlicensed assistive personnel without medical training. Five school nurses developed and participated in a medication audit providing a glimpse into the administration and management of medications in school health offices.