Publications by authors named "Michaela E Nickol"

Background: The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether using a novel text messaging system improves patient overall satisfaction compared to standard care. Secondary objectives included assessing the impact of the text messaging system on decreasing narcotic usage, the number of emergency department visits, the range of flexion and extension, and number of telephone calls to the surgeon's office.

Methods: We enrolled 217 patients to either receive informative text messages (text messaging group, n = 86) or no additional text messages (conventional group, n = 131).

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Introduction: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common surgical procedure that aims to relieve pain, improve function, and increase mobility in patients with hip joint pathology. One of the most challenging aspects of THA is to determine the correct angle of the acetabular component's placement. Intraoperative inclinometers have emerged as a promising tool to obtain accurate measurements of the acetabular component's inclination.

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Influenza viruses are a continual public health concern resulting in 3-5 million severe infections annually despite intense vaccination campaigns and messaging. Secondary bacterial infections, including , result in increased morbidity and mortality during seasonal epidemics and pandemics. While coinfections can result in deleterious pathologic consequences, including alveolar-capillary barrier disruption, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.

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Zika virus (ZIKV), a neglected tropical disease until its re-emergence in 2007, causes microcephaly in infants and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Its re-emergence and spread to more than 80 countries led the World Health Organization in 2016 to declare a Public Health Emergency. ZIKV is mainly transmitted by mosquitos, but can persist in infected human male semen for prolonged periods and may be sexually transmitted.

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Background: In the spring of 1918, the "War to End All Wars", which would ultimately claim more than 37 million lives, had entered into its final year and would change the global political and economic landscape forever. At the same time, a new global threat was emerging and would become one of the most devastating global health crises in recorded history.

Main Text: The 1918 H1N1 pandemic virus spread across Europe, North America, and Asia over a 12-month period resulting in an estimated 500 million infections and 50-100 million deaths worldwide, of which ~ 50% of these occurred within the fall of 1918 (Emerg Infect Dis 12:15-22, 2006, Bull Hist Med 76:105-115, 2002).

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Article Synopsis
  • Influenza viruses cause around 500,000 deaths annually, complicating public health despite vaccination efforts, with secondary bacterial infections, especially MRSA, often worsening outcomes.
  • Severe co-infections damage the alveolar epithelium, leading to serious respiratory issues due to both pathogen and host factors, yet there’s limited understanding of the specific mechanisms at play.
  • The study focused on how the 2009 pandemic influenza (pdm2009) and MRSA impact the health of alveolar cells, revealing that disruptions to alveolar barrier integrity during co-infection are mainly due to dysregulation of the host's immune response.
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