Nurse Faculty Perceptions of Anxiety in Nursing Students.

Anxiety in nursing students can interfere with the development of the knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment necessary to practice in a complex health care environment. Thirteen faculty from nursing programs across one state were interviewed to explore faculty perceptions of anxiety among prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students. Data analysis from this qualitative study showed that faculty recognized anxiety in students and its contributing factors.

Pulmonary Cryptococcosis: A Diagnostic and Management Challenge Case Report.

Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection that may arise in immunocompromised or immunocompetent individuals. This case report seeks to demonstrate the difficulty in diagnosing and treating cryptococcosis based on clinical presentation and radiographic features as together, they mimic other pathological conditions. A 56-year-old female with cirrhosis presented with persistent abdominal pain, dyspnea, vomiting, and diarrhea and was diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis after an initial diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia.

A co-designed evaluation study to identify Breastfeeding Knowledge of General Practitioners' and Practice Nurses'.

The World Health Organization and American Academy of Paediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with complementary solid foods for up to 2 years and beyond. Despite the well-established importance of breastfeeding, Irish rates remain the lowest in Europe. Healthcare professionals' breastfeeding knowledge and skills have a positive impact on increasing breastfeeding rates.

The Effectiveness of a Mobile Health Clinic Delivering Mandatory and Elective Middle School Immunizations: A Descriptive Analysis.

Introduction: Mobile health clinics serve a unique role in which they can offer affordable and adaptable care to the population they serve. The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) mobile clinics began in 2020 as a partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to address the low vaccination rates that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:  This study is a descriptive analysis that examines the number of vaccinations of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) and human papillomavirus (HPV) at different locations of administration including pediatrician offices, the novel VCOM mobile vaccination clinic, and the Spartanburg Health Department.

An Evaluation of Knowledge and Comfort in Discussing the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Among a Sample of Physicians Practicing in South Carolina.

Objective To determine knowledge and comfort in discussing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among a sample of physicians practicing in South Carolina. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study utilized a 33-question survey assessing knowledge of HPV, the HPV vaccine, and comfort in discussing associated topics with patients among a sample of physicians across the state of South Carolina. Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed.

We Are Caregivers: Social Identity Is Associated with Lower Perceived Stress among Rural Informal Caregivers.

ABSTRACTInformal caregivers often experience high stress levels with little support, especially in rural settings. With a mixed-methods approach, this research explored experiences of rural informal caregivers, including how social identification as a caregiver, social interactions, and formal and informal coping support related to perceived stress. Major focus group themes (n = 8) included lacking available services, balancing challenges, unmet practical needs, and strong community identity.

Factors Associated With Excessive Gestational Weight Gain: Review of Current Literature.

Background: Excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) places women at increased risk for complications during pregnancy and also increases the likelihood that they will remain overweight after pregnancy. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recommended weight gain guidelines based on pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), but evidence-based strategies to achieve these goals are limited.

Objective: This review discusses factors associated with EGWG with the goal of identifying targets for future intervention.

Receptor for advanced glycation end products Glycine 82 Serine polymorphism and risk of cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at risk of excess mortality, predominantly owing to cardiovascular (CV) events. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has been implicated in the perpetuation of the chronic inflammatory response in vascular disease. A Gly82-->Ser polymorphism in the RAGE gene, which is associated with enhanced RAGE signaling, is present more frequently in patients with RA than the general population.

Spatial and temporal aspects of alcohol-related crime in a college town.

Objective: The authors aimed to clarify crime "movement" through the city of Madison to focus efforts to address consequences of student drinking. The authors examined all crime reported by police during the 2003 year.

Methods: Using geographical information system (GIS) mapping and 2003 crime data from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the city of Madison, the authors investigated the relationships among high-density alcohol outlets and various city neighborhoods.

Further phenotypic delineation of subtelomeric (terminal) 4q deletion with emphasis on intracranial and reproductive anatomy.

Objective: To describe selected morphological and developmental features associated with subtelomeric deletion at chromosome 4q.

Materials And Methods: A 21-year old female was brought for gynecologic evaluation of menorrhagia. High-resolution metaphase karyotype and subtelomere fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) analysis were used for genotype determination.

Rheumatoid arthritis: links with cardiovascular disease and the receptor for advanced glycation end products.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is increased in patients with chronic inflammatory disease, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore it has become clear at a pathophysiological level, that atherosclerosis has striking similarities with autoimmune disease. This realization has come at a time of paradigm shift in how rheumatologists manage RA, with the availability of biological agents targeting key inflammatory cytokines.

LASER-tissue interactions.

As new laser devices continue to emerge, it becomes increasingly important for the clinical dermatologist to understand the basic principles behind their operation. A fundamental understanding of how lasers interact with tissue will enable the physician to choose the most appropriate laser for a given clinical situation. Although the physical laws guiding laser design are vastly complex, the fundamental principles of laser-tissue interaction can be summarized as they are applicable to the clinician.

Clinical skills for nurses in medical assessment units.

Aim: To identify the skills possessed by nurses working in medical assessment units (MAUs) and those that are needed to enable them to undertake a detailed, holistic assessment of the patient.

Method: A qualitative study was undertaken using mixed methods to obtain data. A postal survey using Delphi methodology was sent to a group of advanced nurse practitioners educated at master's degree level.

The effect of silicone gel on basic fibroblast growth factor levels in fibroblast cell culture.

Background: Topical silicone gel has shown promise in the treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars. However, its mechanism of action remains undetermined.

Objective: To investigate whether the presence of silicone alters the secretion of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a key cytokine involved in the scar formation process.

Doxycycline-induced photo-onycholysis.

An uncommon manifestation of phototoxicity, photo-onycholysis results in the separation of the distal nail from the nail bed. Photo-onycholysis may follow the use of various medications or may occasionally be idiopathic. We present a case of photo-onycholysis in a patient treated with doxycycline for acne vulgaris.

Heparin stimulates production of bFGF and TGF-beta 1 by human normal, keloid, and fetal dermal fibroblasts.

Background: Heparin decreases dermal fibroblast proliferation and collagen production according to several studies. Heparin may mediate these effects by altering the levels of growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-b1). This study sought to delineate the effect of heparin on proliferation and bFGF and TGF-b1 production by human normal, keloid, and fetal dermal fibroblasts.

Triamcinolone stimulates bFGF production and inhibits TGF-beta1 production by human dermal fibroblasts.

Background: Triamcinolone acetonide has been shown to decrease both cellular proliferation and collagen production by dermal fibroblasts. An alteration of cytokine levels may mediate these effects.

Objective: To delineate the effect of triamcinolone acetonide on both cellular proliferation and the production of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) by human fibroblasts grown in a serum-free in vitro model.

Positron emission tomography is superior to computed tomography for metastatic detection in melanoma patients.

Background: Whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) provides diagnostic information not currently available with traditional imaging and may improve the accuracy of staging melanoma patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort review was performed of 104 patients with primary or recurrent melanoma who underwent PET to determine sensitivity/specificity for metastatic detection compared with body computed tomography (CT). One hundred fifty-seven PET and 70 CT scans were analyzed, with a median patient follow-up of 24 months.