The Changing Prevalence of Pressure Injury among Ontarians with SCI/D at Rehabilitation Admission: Opportunities for Improvement.

Background: Despite preventability, 20-50% of patients with acute spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) develop hospital-acquired pressure injuries (PIs). The Spinal Cord Injury Implementation and Evaluation Quality Care Consortium (SCI IEQCC) aimed to mitigate PI risk through patient-reported daily skin checks alongside usual care.

Methods: This quality improvement initiative utilized an interrupted time series design, encompassing adults ≥ 18 years admitted for inpatient rehabilitation across five Ontario sites from 2020 to 2023.

Convergent validity and responsiveness of The Standing and Walking Assessment Tool (SWAT) among individuals with non-traumatic spinal cord injury.

Aim: This study aimed to (1) describe the use of the Standing and Walking Assessment Tool (SWAT) among individuals with non-traumatic spinal cord injury or disease (NT-SCI/D); (2) evaluate the convergent validity of SWAT for use among inpatients with NT-SCI/D; (3) describe SWAT responsiveness; and (4) explore the relationship between hours of walking therapy and SWAT change.

Methods: A quality improvement project was conducted at the University Health Network between 2019 and 2022. Participants' demographics and impairments data, rehabilitation length of stay, and FIM scores were obtained from the National Rehabilitation Reporting System.

Development of Reaching, Grasping & Manipulation indicators to advance the quality of spinal cord injury rehabilitation: SCI-High Project.

Objective: To describe the development of structure, process, and outcome indicators aimed to advance the quality of Reaching, Grasping & Manipulation (RG&M) rehabilitation for Canadians living with spinal cord injury or disease (SCID).

Method: Upper extremity rehabilitation experts developed a framework of indicators for evaluation of RG&M rehabilitation quality. A systematic search of the literature identified potential upper extremity indicators that influence RG&M outcomes.

Conception and development of Self-Management indicators to advance the quality of spinal cord injury rehabilitation: SCI-High Project.

Context: Although self-management is linked to reduced secondary health complications (SHCs) and enhanced overall quality of life post-spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D), it is poorly integrated into the current rehabilitation process. Promoting self-management and assuring equity in care delivery is critical. Herein, we describe the selection of Self-Management structure, process and outcome indicators for adults with SCI/D in the first 18 months after rehabilitation admission.

Development of community participation indicators to advance the quality of spinal cord injury rehabilitation: SCI-High Project.

Community participation following spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) can be challenging due to associated primary impairments and secondary health conditions as well as difficulties navigating both the built and social-emotional environment. To improve the quality of SCI/D rehabilitation care to optimize community participation, the SCI-High Project developed a set of structure, process and outcome indicators for adults with SCI/D in the first 18 months after rehabilitation admission. A pan-Canadian Working Group of diverse stakeholders: (1) defined the community participation construct; (2) conducted a systematic review of available outcomes and their psychometric properties; (3) constructed a Driver diagram summarizing available evidence associated with community participation; and (4) prepared a process map.

Development of employment indicators to advance the quality of spinal cord injury rehabilitation care: SCI-High Project.

Context: Employment and Return to Work (RTW) rates following spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) are low due to individual and impairments characteristics, secondary health conditions, social and environmental barriers, prior work experience, workplace supports and resources, and physical or psychosocial work demands. To improve RTW, the SCI-High Project team developed a set of Employment structure, process, and outcome indicators for adults with SCI/D in the first 18 months after rehabilitation admission.

Methods: A pan-Canadian Working Group of diverse stakeholders: (1) defined the Employment construct; (2) conducted a systematic search of available outcomes measures; (3) constructed a Driver diagram summarizing factors associated with employment.

Mimicking natural strategies to create multi-environment enzymatic reactors: From natural cell compartments to artificial polyelectrolyte reactors.

Engineering microenvironments for sequential enzymatic reactions has attracted specific interest within different fields of research as an effective strategy to improve the catalytic performance of enzymes. While in industry most enzymatic reactions occur in a single compartment carrier, living cells are however able to conduct multiple reactions simultaneously within confined sub-compartments, or organelles. Engineering multi-compartments with regulated environments and transformation properties enhances enzyme activity and stability and thus increases the overall yield of final products.

Systematic reviews in spinal cord injury: A step-by-step guide for rehabilitation science learners and clinicians.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created opportunity for multiple rehabilitation science learners and clinicians to critically evaluate and synthesize published research in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation.

Objective: To provide a step-by-step guide for rehabilitation science learners and clinicians outlining how to conduct rigorous systematic reviews in the field of SCI.

Results: Steps for conducting a systematic review (SR) include: (1) formation of the SR team consisting of interprofessional experts; (2) formulation of the research question(s) with patient/population/problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) specification; (3) determination of inclusion and exclusion criteria; (4) development of SR protocol and registration; (5) development of the search strategies (database specific); (6) screening of titles and abstracts (level 1 screening), and full-texts (level 2 screening); (7) quality assessment of the included studies; (8) data extraction; (9) summary of findings and discussion; and, (10) dissemination of results.

The effects of whole body vibration therapy on reducing fat mass in the adult general population: A systematic review and meta-analyses.

Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is a popular and a purported alternative to physical activity to reduce body fat, but reports of efficacy are inconsistent. We aimed to describe the efficacy of WBV therapy for reducing fat mass in the adult general population. A systematic search was conducted using Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and PubMed up to March 27, 2019.

Unexpectedly Strong Size-Sieving Ability in Carbonized Polybenzimidazole for Membrane H/CO Separation.

Polymers with high permeability and strong size-sieving ability are needed for H/CO separation at temperatures ranging from 100 to 300 °C to enable an energy-efficient precombustion CO capture process. However, such polymers usually suffer from a permeability/selectivity tradeoff, that is, polymers with high permeability tend to exhibit a weak size-sieving ability and thus low selectivity. Herein, we demonstrate that carbonization of a suitable polymer precursor (i.

Does whole body vibration therapy assist in reducing fat mass or treating obesity in healthy overweight and obese adults? A systematic review and meta-analyses.

Purpose: This review describes the effects of Whole Body Vibration therapy (WBV) for reducing fat mass (%/kg) among healthy (no comorbid disease) overweight and obese adults.

Materials And Methods: Systematic literature search was conducted using Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and PubMed databases up to 27 March 2019. Studies evaluating the effects of WBV therapy on fat mass as a primary or secondary outcome among healthy (no comorbid disease), overweight or obese adults (Body Mass Index ≥25) were included.

Development of Tissue Integrity indicators to advance the quality of spinal cord injury rehabilitation: SCI-High Project.

To establish structure, process and outcome indicators to evaluate tissue integrity in Canadians with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) in the first 18 months following inpatient rehabilitation admission. A Working Group comprised of Canadian subject matter experts in the Domain of Tissue Integrity was formed to define the construct of tissue integrity. A literature review was conducted and a Driver diagram produced to identify factors that influence tissue integrity in individuals with SCI/D.

Methods for development of structure, process and outcome indicators for prioritized spinal cord injury rehabilitation Domains: SCI-High Project.

High-quality rehabilitation care following spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) is critical for optimizing neurorecovery and long-term health outcomes This manuscript describes the methods used for developing, refining, and implementing a framework of structure, process, and outcome indicators that reflect high-quality rehabilitation among adults with SCI/D in Canada. This quality improvement initiative was comprised of the following processes: (1) prioritization of care Domains by key stakeholders (scientists, clinicians, therapists, patients and stakeholder organizations); (2) assembly of 11 Domain-specific Working Groups including 69 content experts; (3) conduct of literature searches, guideline and best practice reviews, and outcome synthesis by the Project Team; (4) refinement of Domain aim and construct definitions; (5) conduct of cause and effect analysis using Driver diagrams; (6) selection and development of structure, process and outcome indicators; (7) piloting and feasibility analysis of indicators and associated evaluation tools; and, (8) dissemination of the proposed indicators. The Project Team established aims, constructs and related structure, process, and outcome indicators to facilitate uniform measurement and benchmarking across 11 Domains of rehabilitation, at admission and for 18 months thereafter, among adult Canadians by 2020.

Development of Walking indicators to advance the quality of spinal cord injury rehabilitation: SCI-High Project.

To describe the development of structure, process and outcome indicators that will advance the quality of walking rehabilitation for Canadians with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) by 2020. A framework for the evaluation of the quality of walking rehabilitation was developed by experts in walking after SCI/D. A systematic literature review identified factors influencing walking outcomes and potential walking indicators.

Conception and development of Sexual Health indicators to advance the quality of spinal cord injury rehabilitation: SCI-High Project.

Although spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) results in complex biological and psychosocial impairments that adversely impact an individual's overall quality of sexual life, sexual health is poorly integrated into the current rehabilitation processes. Therefore, it is vital to promote sexual health as a rehabilitation priority. Herein, we describe the selection of Sexual Health structure, process and outcome indicators for adults with SCI/D in the first 18 months after rehabilitation admission.

Conception and development of Urinary Tract Infection indicators to advance the quality of spinal cord injury rehabilitation: SCI-High Project.

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most frequent secondary health condition following spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) that adversely impact overall health and quality of life, and often result in rehabilitation service interruptions, emergency department visits, and urinary sepsis. Experts in Urohealth and/or UTI recognition and management and the SCI-High Project Team used a combination of evidence synthesis and consensus methods for developing the UTI indicators. A systematic search and a Driver diagram analysis were applied to identify key factors influencing UTI.

Whole-exome sequencing identified a novel mutation of in an extended family with lynch syndrome.

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer or Lynch syndrome is autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome characterized by early onset of colorectal cancer and neoplasia in other organs. This condition typically caused by germline mutations in the mismatch repair genes , , , and . To date, a considerable number of gene mutations have been found to be associated with Lynch syndrome.

Participation in moderate-to-vigorous leisure time physical activity is related to decreased visceral adipose tissue in adults with spinal cord injury.

Increased visceral adiposity places individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) at increased risk of cardiometabolic disease. The purpose of this study was to identify if people with chronic SCI who participate in any moderate- to vigorous-intensity leisure time physical activity (LTPA) have lower visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area compared with those who report none. Participants included 136 adult men (n = 100) and women (n = 36) with chronic (mean (±SD) 15.

Enhancing quality practice for prevention and diagnosis of urinary tract infection during inpatient spinal cord rehabilitation.

Objectives: To reduce the incidence of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in subacute SCI individuals admitted for tertiary inpatient rehabilitation.

Design: A quality improvement team was assembled to improve UTI prevention/diagnosis. To plan data collection, UTI-related factors were mapped in an Ishikawa (fishbone) driver diagram.

Formation of a Crack-Free, Hybrid Skin Layer with Tunable Surface Topography and Improved Gas Permeation Selectivity on Elastomers Using Gel-Liquid Infiltration Polymerization.

Surface modifications of elastomers and gels are crucial for emerging applications such as soft robotics and flexible electronics, in large part because they provide a platform to control wettability, adhesion, and permeability. Current surface modification methods via ultraviolet-ozone (UVO) and/or O plasma, atomic layer deposition (ALD), plasmas deposition, and chemical treatment impart a dense polymer or inorganic layer on the surface that is brittle and easy to fracture at low strain levels. This paper presents a new method, based on gel-liquid infiltration polymerization, to form hybrid skin layers atop elastomers.

Effectiveness of short message service-based intervention (SMS) on self-care in type 2 diabetes: A feasibility study.

Aim: The objective of the current study is to assess the effectiveness of Mobile Short Message Service (SMS) intervention on education of basic self-care skills in patients with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, we aimed to determine whether delivering individually-tailored educational messages can be more effective than general educational messages.

Methods: A total of 150 patients with diabetes type 2 were randomized into three groups: tailored SMS group, non-tailored SMS group, and the control group.

Developing a Clinical Diabetes Guideline in Diabetes Research Network in Iran.

Development of evidence-based clinical guidelines to raising standards of medical care in diabetes is a core element of coping with the global diabetes epidemic. The purpose of this study was to develop a systematic clinical diabetes guideline from the latest scientific evidences and also to localize its recommendations according to regional and cultural needs of our society. Searches were conducted using NICE, SIGN, WDPCP, IDF, JDC, ADA, AACE, ICSI, CDA, AMDA, IDC, NyDoH guidelines which were examined and criticized and scored using Agree method.

Preparation of hydrophilic nanofiltration membranes for removal of pharmaceuticals from water.

Asymmetric polyethersulfone (PES) nanofiltration membranes were prepared via phase inversion technique. PES polymer, Brij 58 as surfactant additive, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as pore former and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent were used in preparation of the casting solutions. Distillated water was used as the gelation media.