Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in pediatric hematology-oncology patients.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected persons with underlying medical conditions. SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility and vaccine effectiveness in pediatric hematology-oncology patients were unknown.

Methods: From February to July 2022, anti-spike and anti-nucleocapsid Ig were assayed in 354 pediatric hematology-oncology subjects, including 53 oncology patients receiving chemotherapy (cancer), 150 patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), and 151 benign consult and long-term follow-up patients (controls).

Sequential Laser-Burned Lignin and Hydrogen Evolution-Assisted Copper Electrodeposition to Manufacture Wearable Electronics.

In the contemporary world, wearable electronics and smart textiles/fabrics are galvanizing a transformation of the health care, aerospace, military, and commercial industries. However, a major challenge that exists is the manufacture of electronic circuits directly on fabrics. In this work, we addressed the issue by developing a sequential manufacturing process.

Risk Factors for Urinary Retention After Colpocleisis.

Objectives: Transient urinary retention occurs frequently after pelvic organ prolapse surgery. While the prevalence of postoperative urinary retention has been reported for reconstructive procedures, a paucity of data exists for colpocleisis. The objectives of this retrospective cohort study were to identify risk factors for transient urinary retention after colpocleisis and to determine the rate of its occurrence.

Bladder Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Time Saver in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Background: Pediatric patients undergoing transabdominal pelvic ultrasound require a full bladder as an acoustic window. Patients are typically relied upon to subjectively identify bladder fullness, but inaccurate reporting often leads to delays in test results, diagnosis, and treatment.

Objectives: Our aim was to objectively evaluate bladder fullness by comparing the height of the bladder to the height of the uterus on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS).

Exposure to Aerosolized Algal Toxins in South Florida Increases Short- and Long-Term Health Risk in Model of Aging.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a rising health and environmental concern in the United States, particularly in South Florida. Skin contact and the ingestion of contaminated water or fish and other seafood have been proven to have severe toxicity to humans in some cases. However, the impact of aerosolized HAB toxins is poorly understood.

Undeclared allergens in imported packaged food for retail in Australia.

The () requires a declaration of the presence of 11 different allergens made through the label on a food product. Most food recalls in Australia are now due to undeclared allergens . This survey determined the extent of undeclared allergens in imported food products on the Asian retail market in Australia.

Driving change: A partnership study protocol using shared emergency department data to reduce alcohol-related harm.

Background: Sharing anonymised ED data with community agencies to reduce alcohol-related injury and assaults has been found effective in the UK. This protocol document outlines the design of an Australian multi-site trial using shared, anonymised ED data to reduce alcohol-related harm.

Design And Method: Nine hospitals will participate in a 36 month stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial.

Why do 'fast track' patients stay more than four hours in the emergency department? An investigation of factors that predict length of stay.

Objective: Low-acuity 'fast track' patients represent a large portion of Australian EDs' workload and must be managed efficiently to meet the National Emergency Access Target. The current study determined the relative importance and estimated marginal effects of patient and system-related variables in predicting ED fast track patients who stayed longer than 4 h in the ED.

Methods: Data for ED presentations between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015 were collected from a large regional Australian public hospital.

Feasibility and preliminary safety of nitric oxide releasing solution as a treatment for bovine mastitis.

Nitric oxide-releasing solution (NORS) is a liquid formulation that releases nitric oxide, a broad spectrum antimicrobial, single electron nitroxide radical. This solution was investigated as a potential antimicrobial treatment for bovine mastitis (BM). Three experiments were performed: a) NORS' effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in an in vitro model; b) NORS' effect on milk obtained from dairy cows showing symptoms of clinical mastitis; and c) the consequences of administering NORS to healthy milking cattle using a dose-escalating in vivo study.

Do pediatric gastroenterology doctors address pediatric obesity?

Objectives: To assess how often obesity is acknowledged at pediatric gastroenterology outpatient visits.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify obese children seen at a gastroenterology subspecialty clinic over a 1-year period of time; 132 children were identified. Demographics, obesity comorbidities, reasons for referral, diagnosis of obesity, and a plan to address obesity were abstracted.

IL-10 suppression of IFN-γ responses in tuberculin-stimulated whole blood from Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle.

The measurement of bovine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) forms the basis of a diagnostic test for bovine tuberculosis where Mycobacterium bovis sensitised effector T cells produce IFN-γ following in vitro stimulation with tuberculin antigens. In cattle infected with M. bovis it is also known that the anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine can inhibit in vitro production of IFN-γ leading to a reduced response in the IFN-γ diagnostic test.

Reliability of the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability Scale in Assessing Acute Pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Objectives: The Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) scale is one of the most widely utilized observational pain assessment scales in clinical practice. Although designed and validated to assess postoperative pain, the tool is currently applied to assess acute pain in multiple settings, including the emergency department. Scarce literature exists evaluating the reliability of the FLACC scale in the nonsurgical population and none in the emergency department.

Nitric oxide modulates the immunological response of bovine PBMCs in an in vitro BRDc infection model.

Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDc) is a multi-factorial disease, involving both viral and bacterial pathogens, that negatively impacts the cattle feedlot industry. A nitric oxide releasing solution (NORS) has been developed and shown to have potential in the prevention of BRDc. This study investigated the underlying immunological mechanisms through which the nitroslyating agent NORS provides protection against the development of BRDc in susceptible cattle.

Cancer diagnosed in the Emergency Department of a Regional Health Service.

Objective: Patients diagnosed with cancer in the Emergency Department (ED) have more advanced disease at diagnosis and poorer outcomes. High rates of initial presentation to ED suggest potential problems with access to care. The aim of this project was to interpret findings in regional/rural Victoria and explore implications for practice.

Structured Teaching of Early Pregnancy Loss Counseling.

Objective: To estimate whether a novel structured curriculum could significantly improve medical student performance in early pregnancy loss counseling.

Background: Medical students receive limited exposure to early pregnancy loss counseling through real-life observation of this important skill.

Methods: A pre-post control group design was used to examine early pregnancy loss counseling performance among medical students from two medical schools doing their obstetrics and gynecology rotations at the same community hospital.

Ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute submassive pulmonary embolism.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolysis (USAT) in patients with submassive pulmonary embolism (PE).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study comprised 45 consecutive patients (15 prospective, 30 retrospective) who underwent USAT for submassive PE from June 2012-May 2014. Inclusion criteria were right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) as indicated by right ventricle-to-left ventricle (RV:LV) ratio > 0.

Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by tampon use.

The authors report a case of near-fatal sepsis with multiorgan failure resulting from a Staphylococcal tampon-associated toxic shock syndrome, requiring a lengthy critical care admission. Successful treatment of this condition focuses on early identification, source control, and administration of antimicrobial agents. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy used early may prevent widespread tissue necrosis.

The Medical Boomerang: will it come back?

Objectives: To explore the increasing numbers of emergency medicine (EM) registrars that obtained their primary medical degree from UK or Irish universities, who work in emergency departments (ED) throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Methods: The Victorian Emergency Registrar Study was published at the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) annual scientific meeting in Adelaide in November 2013. As a follow on, ACEM provided the authors with data regarding country of primary degree for international medical graduates (IMG) working as registrars in Australasian EDs.

Ergot alkaloid intoxication in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne): an emerging animal health concern in Ireland?

Four primary mycotoxicosis have been reported in livestock caused by fungal infections of grasses or cereals by members of the Clavicipitaceae family. Ergotism (generally associated with grasses, rye, triticale and other grains) and fescue toxicosis (associated with tall fescue grass, Festuca arundinacea) are both caused by ergot alkaloids, and referred to as 'ergot alkaloid intoxication'. Ryegrass staggers (associated with perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne) is due to intoxication with an indole-diperpene, Lolitrem B, and metabolites.

Pulmonary artery size as a predictor of pulmonary hypertension and outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: The relationship between pulmonary artery size with underlying pulmonary hypertension and mortality remains to be determined in COPD. We sought to evaluate the relationships in a cohort of patients with advanced COPD.

Methods: A retrospective study of advanced COPD patients evaluated between 1998 and 2012 was conducted at a tertiary care center.

Safety of combined abdominal sacral colpopexy and sigmoid resection with suture rectopexy: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine if abdominal sacral colpopexy (ASC) using mesh can be safely combined with sigmoid resection and anastomosis.

Methods: This is a single institution, retrospective chart review of patients who underwent combined ASC and suture rectopexy with sigmoid resection between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2011. Charts were screened for outcome data and complications related to the placement of synthetic mesh at the time of bowel resection to include readmission and reoperation rates, infection, bowel obstruction, fistula, and mesh erosion.

Cadmium and other heavy metal concentrations in bovine kidneys in the Republic of Ireland.

In Ireland, an estimated 15% of Irish soils exceed the EU threshold limit for soil Cd of 1mg/kg. The aim was to determine the concentrations of Cd and other heavy metals (As, Hg and Pb) in kidneys collected from cattle at slaughter. Systematic sampling of eligible animals (animals that were born and reared until slaughter in the same Irish county) at the time of slaughter was conducted, until a threshold number of animals from all 26 counties and 6 age categories was reached.

BSN completion barriers, challenges, incentives, and strategies.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to explore RN perceptions regarding barriers/challenges and incentives/supports for BSN completion and identify recommendations to increase RN BSN completion.

Background: The Institute of Medicine's 2011 The Future of Nursing report recommended the proportion of RNs with a BSN increase to 80% by 2020.

Method: This qualitative study included 41 RNs who participated in 1 of 6 focus groups based on their BSN completion status.