The Influence of Wearables on Health Care Outcomes in Chronic Disease: Systematic Review.

Background: Chronic diseases contribute to high rates of disability and mortality. Patient engagement in chronic disease self-management is an essential component of chronic disease models of health care. Wearables provide patient-centered health data in real time, which can help inform self-management decision-making.

A nurse-led protocol improves the time to first dose intravenous antibiotics in septic patients post chemotherapy.

Purpose: Neutropenic sepsis is a time-dependent emergency with early interventions shown to improve outcomes. Broad spectrum intravenous antibiotic administration is the initial therapy in patients with suspected neutropenic sepsis. Compliance with early antibiotic administration in febrile neutropenia patients is poor.

SPY Imaging Use in Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction Patients: Preventative or Overly Conservative?

Background: SPY Elite imaging uses an injectable fluorescing agent to intraoperatively assess the perfusion and viability of tissue, including skin flaps, during postmastectomy reconstruction for breast cancer patients. In this study, the authors sought to compare the surgeon's assessment of flap viability with that of SPY imaging perfusion, analyzing the clinical outcomes postoperatively.

Methods: In this study, the intraoperative difference between the plastic surgeon's assessment of skin viability and the SPY imaging assessment was analyzed by the skin flap area preserved in patients undergoing skin-sparing mastectomy.

Development and Validation of a Clinical Assessment Tool for Platysmal Banding in Cervicomental Aesthetics of the Female Neck.

Background: In facial aesthetics, grading systems are useful tools for planning aesthetic procedures. One key component of rejuvenation--the anterior neck--has been relatively overlooked. In the 1980s, criteria were established for the appearance of a youthful neck.

Reducing postoperative infections and red breast syndrome in patients with acellular dermal matrix-based breast reconstruction: the relative roles of product sterility and lower body mass index.

Purpose: The use of human acellular dermal matrices (ADM) has become routinely used in implant-based breast surgery. Notwithstanding the many benefits for tissue support, the morbidity associated with its use includes seroma and infection, among other potential complications. Some patients experience a specific complication called red breast syndrome (RBS), which has been linked to ADM use, but its exact etiology remains elusive.

Pricing of common cosmetic surgery procedures: local economic factors trump supply and demand.

Background: The pricing of cosmetic surgery procedures has long been thought to coincide with laws of basic economics, including the model of supply and demand. However, the highly variable prices of these procedures indicate that additional economic contributors are probable.

Objectives: The authors sought to reassess the fit of cosmetic surgery costs to the model of supply and demand and to determine the driving forces behind the pricing of cosmetic surgery procedures.

Single-specialty management and reconstruction of necrotizing fasciitis of the upper extremities: clinical and economic benefits from a case series.

Purpose: Patients with necrotizing fasciitis are managed with multiple prompt, radical surgical debridements and critical care support. Debridement and reconstruction are often provided by different surgical teams. Anecdotally, single-specialty management seemed to be a more efficient management strategy.

HIV testing rate in the top end of the Northern Territory of Australia: room for improvement.

The Northern Territory of Australia has an exceptionally high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly in remote areas. In contrast there are few notified cases of HIV at present. This study describes HIV testing rates in both primary care and sexual health clinics in the Top End region.

Ultrastructural observations on the redial tegument of Paramphistomum epiclitum from the planorbid snail, Indoplanorbis exustus.

The morphology of the tegument in the redia of Paramphistomum epiclitum (Digenea: Paramphistomidae) resembles that shown by most larval and adult digeneans; an outer surface syncytium is in continuity with the cytoplasm of in-sunken, nucleated cytons. Although tegumental cytons usually contain a single nucleus, some display up to six nuclei. The tegumental syncytium lining the pharynx of P.

Psychophysical measurement on pain perception after administration of a topical anesthetic.

Topical anesthetics are routinely used to reduce the discomfort that patients perceive during dental injections. The purpose of this investigation was to correlate the expectancy of pain and the effect of pretreatment instructions with the severity of pain perceived upon topical anesthetic use and dental injection. The treatment, topical placebo versus topical anesthetic, was administered in a double-blind manner.

An in vitro investigation of the apical seal produced by a new thermoplasticized gutta-percha obturation technique.

This investigation quantitatively analyzed apical leakage in teeth in which one of two new thermoplasticized gutta-percha obturating techniques were used. Apical leakage observed after use of the thermoplasticized techniques was compared to leakage found in teeth that had been obturated with conventional lateral condensation. Statistically significant differences (P less than 0.

Post preparation techniques and their effect on the apical seal.

It is accepted clinical procedure to extend post preparations to such a depth that 3 mm to 5 mm of gutta-percha remains at the apex of the tooth. Clinicians use numerous techniques to achieve this goal. This investigation quantitatively analyzed the effect of the method of gutta-percha removal on the apical seal and evaluated apical leakage in teeth with different levels of remaining gutta-percha.

MR imaging of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia: characterization and distinction from primary malignant hepatic tumors.

Spin-echo MR imaging at 0.35 T was used to image hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and to attempt to distinguish it from primary malignant hepatic tumors. There were six FNH and 10 malignant tumors including seven hepatocellular carcinomas, two cholangiocarcinomas, and one hepatoblastoma.

Endodontic considerations in the design of acid-etched anterior splints for patients with reduced periodontal support.

A modification of existing designs for resin-bonded retainers has been introduced. This new design is appropriate for the extracoronal splinting of anterior teeth with reduced periodontal support. The design of the splint will accommodate the increased risk of these teeth for endodontic failure.