Evaluation of a training intervention to improve cancer care in Zimbabwe: Strategies to Improve Kaposi Sarcoma Outcomes (SIKO), a prospective community-based stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial.

Introduction: Most Zimbabweans access medical care through tiered health systems. In 2013, HIV care was decentralized to primary care clinics; while oncology care remained centralized. Most persons in Zimbabwe with Kaposi sarcoma (KS) are diagnosed late in their disease, and the prognosis is poor.

Association between maternal acculturation and health beliefs related to oral health of Latino children.

Background: This report is presenting the association of maternal acculturation, measured by preferred language, and oral health-related psychosocial measures in an urban Latino population.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 100 mother-child dyads from the Dental Center at the Children's Hospital Colorado, the University of Colorado. A portion of Basic Research Factors Questionnaire capturing information about parental dental knowledge, attitudes, behavior and psychosocial measures was used to collect data from the participating mothers.

Infliximab Plus Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Versus IVIG Alone as Initial Therapy in Children With Kawasaki Disease Presenting With Coronary Artery Lesions: Is Dual Therapy More Effective?

Background: We previously demonstrated that 80% of Kawasaki disease (KD) patients who develop coronary artery lesions (CALs) have them at diagnosis. We postulated that KD patients presenting with CALs represent a group that may benefit from more aggressive initial therapy. Infliximab has been shown to decrease inflammation in KD patients when added to standard therapy.

Predictive value of presuperior cavopulmonary anastomosis cardiac catheterization at increased altitude.

Objective: Infants with single ventricle physiology typically undergo cardiac catheterization prior to superior cavopulmonary anastomosis (SCPA) to assess operative suitability. Predictors of poor outcome at sea level include elevated pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRi), age <3 months, significant atrioventricular valve regurgitation, among others. Increased altitude has vasoconstrictive effects on the pulmonary vasculature, which may affect pre-SCPA hemodynamics and outcomes.

Toward standardization of care: The feeding readiness assessment after congenital cardiac surgery.

Background: Feeding practices after neonatal and congenital heart surgery are complicated and variable, which may be associated with prolonged hospitalization length of stay (LOS). Systematic assessment of feeding skills after cardiac surgery may earlier identify those likely to have protracted feeding difficulties, which may promote standardization of care.

Methods: Neonates and infants ≤3 months old admitted for their first cardiac surgery were retrospectively identified during a 1-year period at a single center.

The Impact of Maternal Self-Efficacy and Oral Health Beliefs on Early Childhood Caries in Latino Children.

Objectives: Latino children experience one of the highest rates of early childhood caries requiring interventions based on valid conceptual frameworks. The Health Belief Model has relevance as a predictor of compliance with health recommendations based on perceptions of a health condition and behaviors to avoid the condition. The model encompasses four perceptual constructs (susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers) and, for complex conditions, includes self-efficacy as an extended model.

Outcomes after combined phacoemulsification and trabecular microbypass stent implantation in controlled open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: To study the effect of combined phacoemulsification cataract surgery and iStent (trabecular microbypass stent) implantation on intraocular pressure (IOP) and medication use in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients with a low mean preoperative IOP.

Setting: University of Colorado Health Eye Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Efficacy of combined cataract extraction and endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation for the reduction of intraocular pressure and medication burden.

Aim: To report on the efficacy of combined endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) and phacoemulsification cataract extraction (PCE) with intraocular lens placement for reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) and medication burden in glaucoma.

Methods: A retrospective case review of 91 eyes (73 patients) with glaucoma and cataract that underwent combined PCE/ECP surgery was performed. Baseline demographic and ocular characteristics were recorded, as well as intraocular pressure, number of glaucoma medications, and visual acuity postoperatively with 12-month follow-up.

Feasibility and Safety of Using a Fused Echocardiography/Fluoroscopy Imaging System in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Fused real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy has been used in adult patients during percutaneous mitral valve and aortic valve procedures. The use of fused echocardiographic/x-ray fluoroscopic imaging (FEX) in pediatric patients undergoing congenital heart disease catheterization has not been evaluated for feasibility and safety. The aims of this study were to assess the feasibility and safety of FEX for interventional guidance and to perform a comparison of atrial septal defect (ASD) device closure using this technology with traditional guidance methods.

Left Ventricular Dilatation Increases the Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Reduced Systolic Function.

Background: Reduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmias; however, LV ejection fraction has a low sensitivity to predict ventricular arrhythmias. LV dilatation and mass may be useful to further risk-stratify for ventricular arrhythmias.

Methods And Results: Patients from the Genetic Risk of Assessment of Defibrillator Events (GRADE) study (N=930), a study of heart failure subjects with defibrillators, were assessed for appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shock and death, heart transplant, or ventricular assist device placement by LV diameter and mass.

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of persistent uveitic macular edema in the absence of active inflammation.

Purpose: To examine the observational effectiveness of the dexamethasone (DEX) intravitreal implant (Ozurdex; Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA) in the treatment of noninfectious uveitic macular edema in patients with otherwise quiescent uveitis.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

The pancreas of sacrificial animals as an object of divination for the indigenous peoples on the Island of Sumba, Indonesia.

This paper describes contemporary 'intestinal' divination with the pancreas by indigenous people in Indonesia and explores the feasibility of comparing it to ancient intestinal divination. To our knowledge, divinatory use of the pancreas of sacrificial animals (chickens) has not yet been described in the literature.