Importance of Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) Emitter Configuration for the Attenuation of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida auris Pathogens.

Background: The relative importance of different ultraviolet-C (UV-C) emitter configurations on the attenuation of vegetative bacterial and fungal pathogens has not been assessed. We hypothesized that emitter configuration would impact the efficacy of UV-C attenuation of and ( pathogens.

Methods: American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (ATCC 6538) and (ATCC MYA-5001 carriers (ReadyNowTM Test Carriers, Stratix Labs Corporation, Saint Paul, MN) were mounted on an aluminum stand along with three calibrated radiometers (International Light Technologies model ILT1270, Peabody, MA).

Importance of Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) Emitter Configuration for Clostridioides difficile Attenuation.

Background: The impact of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) emitter configuration on pathogen attenuation has not been assessed. We hypothesized that emitter configuration would impact UV-C efficacy for () attenuation.

Methods:  carriers (ReadyNow Test Carriers, Stratix Labs Corporation, Saint Paul, MN) inoculated with > 10 American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 43593 (according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) 3135 standards) were obtained, and the following experiments were conducted from April to August of 2023.

Identification, Characterization, and Ranking of Candidate Metrics for Selection to Anesthesiology Residency: An Iterative Survey of Program Directors.

Background: The primary aim of this study was to identify and stratify candidate metrics used by anesthesiology residency program directors (PDs) to develop their residency rank lists through the National Resident Matching Program.

Methods: Sixteen PDs comprised the participants, selected for diversity in geography and program size. We used a 3-round iterative survey to identify and stratify candidate metrics.

Loss-of-Resistance Versus Dynamic Pressure-Sensing Technology for Successful Placement of Thoracic Epidural Catheters: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: The traditional loss-of-resistance (LOR) technique for thoracic epidural catheter placement can be associated with a high primary failure rate. In this study, we compared the traditional LOR technique and dynamic pressure-sensing (DPS) technology for primary success rate and secondary outcomes pertinent to identifying the thoracic epidural space.

Methods: This pragmatic, randomized, patient- and assessor-blinded superiority trial enrolled patients ages 18 to 75 years, scheduled for major thoracic or abdominal surgeries at a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Development of entrustable professional activities for regional anesthesia and pain medicine fellowship training.

Introduction: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) offers descriptions of competencies and milestones but does not provide standardized assessments to track trainee competency. Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) and special assessments (SAs) are emerging methods to assess the level of competency obtained by regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine (RAAPM) fellows.

Methods: A panel of RAAPM physicians with experience in education and competency assessment and one medical student were recruited to participate in a modified Delphi method with iterative rounds to reach consensus on: a list of EPAs, SAs, and procedural skills; detailed definitions for each EPA and SA; a mapping of the EPAs and SAs to the ACGME milestones; and a target level of entrustment for graduating US RAAPM fellows for each EPA and procedural skill.

Perioperative COVID-19 Defense: An Evidence-Based Approach for Optimization of Infection Control and Operating Room Management.

We describe an evidence-based approach for optimization of infection control and operating room management during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Confirmed modes of viral transmission are primarily, but not exclusively, contact with contaminated environmental surfaces and aerosolization. Evidence-based improvement strategies for attenuation of residual environmental contamination involve a combination of deep cleaning with surface disinfectants and ultraviolet light (UV-C).

Fluoroscopic Guidance Increases the Incidence of Thoracic Epidural Catheter Placement Within the Epidural Space: A Randomized Trial.

Background And Objectives: Thoracic epidural analgesia can reduce postoperative pain and cardiopulmonary morbidity, but it is associated with a high rate of clinical failure. Up to 50% of clinical failure is thought to be related to technical insertion. In this study, patients undergoing thoracic surgery were randomized to one of two catheter insertion techniques: fluoroscopically guided or conventional loss of resistance with saline/air.

Brief report: a qualitative analysis of discussions about HIV in families of parents with HIV.

Objective: To explore communication about HIV prevention, risk behaviors, and transmission in families affected by HIV.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 parents with HIV, 27 children (9- to 17-years old), and 19 adult children (>or=18-years old) across the U.S.

Guardianship planning among HIV-infected parents in the United States: results from a nationally representative sample.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to determine the rates and predictors of guardianship planning and preferred guardians among HIV-infected parents.

Participants And Methods: Data were analyzed from interviews with 222 unmarried parents (who had 391 children) from a nationally representative sample of HIV-infected adults receiving health care. Outcome measures included parental report on the level of guardianship planning and on who their preferred guardian for each child was.

Persistent inflammatory nociception increases levels of dynorphin 1-17 in the spinal cord, but not in supraspinal nuclei involved in pain modulation.

It is well established that nerve injury or inflammatory injury results in a time-dependent increase in the expression of dynorphin in the spinal cord. However, little is known about the effects of persistent pain on the expression of this endogenous opioid peptide by supraspinal nuclei implicated in the modulation of pain sensitivity. This study used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the levels of dynorphin(1-17) in the spinal cord as well as in brainstem nuclei 4 hours, 4 days, or 2 weeks after intraplantar injection of saline or complete Freund's adjuvant in the left hind paw.