Effect of condensed heat acclimation on thermophysiological adaptations, hypoxic cross-tolerance, exercise performance and de-acclimation.

Short duration heat acclimation (HA) (≤5 daily heat exposures) elicits incomplete adaptation compared to longer interventions, possibly due to the lower accumulated thermal 'dose'. It is unknown if matching thermal 'dose' over a shorter timescale elicits comparable adaptation to a longer intervention. Using a parallel-groups design, we compared: i) 'condensed' HA (CHA; =17 males) consisting of 4×75 min∙day heat exposures (target rectal temperature ()=38.

Point-of-care lung ultrasound for continuous positive airway pressure discontinuation in preterm infants.

Objective: To determine if the lung ultrasound score (LUS) is predictive of successful continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) discontinuation in preterm neonates born <32 weeks' gestation with history of respiratory distress syndrome.

Study Design: Retrospective study of preterm infants requiring CPAP. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression performed to formulate a predictive score using clinical variables with and without LUS.

Aliado - A design concept of AI for decision support in oncological liver surgery.

Background: The interest in artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing. Systematic reviews suggest that there are many machine learning algorithms in surgery, however, only a minority of the studies integrate AI applications in clinical workflows. Our objective was to design and evaluate a concept to use different kinds of AI for decision support in oncological liver surgery along the treatment path.

Integrated Genomic and Social Network Analyses of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in the Healthcare Setting.

Background: Infection prevention (IP) measures are designed to mitigate the transmission of pathogens in healthcare. Using large-scale viral genomic and social network analyses, we determined if IP measures used during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic were adequate in protecting healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients from acquiring SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: We performed retrospective cross-sectional analyses of viral genomics from all available SARS-CoV-2 viral samples collected at UC San Diego Health and social network analysis using the electronic medical record to derive temporospatial overlap of infections among related viromes and supplemented with contact tracing data.

Evaluating the impact of minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Scotland: a theory-based synthesis of the evidence.

Background: In May 2018, the Scottish Government set a minimum unit price (MUP) of £0·50 per unit of alcohol sold in Scotland to reduce alcohol-related health harms. We synthesised evidence to establish the effects of MUP on alcohol-related health and social harms, at population level and within specific societal groups.

Methods: We did a theory-based synthesis of academic and grey research evidence about impacts of MUP in Scotland, including compliance, price, consumption, health outcomes, social outcomes, public attitudes, and the alcoholic drinks industry.

Random Mutagenesis by PCR.

Random mutagenesis of DNA sequences has the advantage of generating DNA sequences with novel properties, either directly in the case of aptamers or through subsequent transcription/translation of the mutated sequence in the case of proteins. In both cases no prior structural or mechanistic knowledge of the molecule is required. For sequences greater than 100 bp, one of the easiest methods to introduce the mutations is to use Error-prone PCR (EP-PCR) as discussed in this chapter.

Case report: Unilateral panuveitis as a manifestation of Alport syndrome in a Chinese pediatric patient.

The study aimed to report a rare case of a patient with Alport syndrome, which was manifested as unilateral non-infectious uveitis after bilateral cataract surgery. A case report. A 2-year-old boy was diagnosed with unilateral panuveitis based on the clinical and multimodal imaging findings.

A robust, low-cost instrument for real-time colorimetric isothermal nucleic acid amplification.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for broader access to molecular diagnostics. Colorimetric isothermal nucleic acid amplification assays enable simplified instrumentation over more conventional PCR diagnostic assays and, as such, represent a promising approach for addressing this need. In particular, colorimetric LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) has received a great deal of interest recently.

"COVID-19, I Hate You!": Framing Death and Dying in COVID-19 Online Memorials.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the way Americans deal with death and dying. Social distancing restrictions prevented or delayed end of life services for families who lost loved ones to COVID-19. Alternatively, some took to the internet to express their grief through online memorialization.

Quantitative Evaluation of Retinal Microvascular Abnormalities in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Without Clinical Sign of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate microvascular abnormalities in the macula and peripapillary area in diabetic patients without clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and compare them with healthy control eyes, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: A prospective study was performed of 49 eyes from 49 diabetic patients without clinical signs of DR and a control group of 52 eyes from 52 healthy normal individuals. The 3 × 3 mm macular scans and 4.

Case Report: Multimodal Imaging of Acute Idiopathic Maculopathy in a Chinese Woman.

Significance: Acute idiopathic maculopathy is a rare disease with the characteristics of sudden, severe, unilateral central vision loss after a flu-like illness. The prognosis is generally good, and poor vision usually results from complications such as choroidal neovascularization or subfoveal pigment degeneration. Multimodal imaging is helpful in the diagnosis and follow-up of this disease.

What Are the Implications of Applying Equipoise in Planning Citizens Basic Income Pilots in Scotland?

We have been asked to consider the feasibility of piloting a Citizens' Basic Income (CBI): a basic, unconditional, universal, individual, regular payment that would replace aspects of social security and be introduced alongside changes to taxes. Piloting and evaluating a CBI as a Cluster Randomized Control Trial (RCT) raises the question of whether intervention and comparison groups would be in equipoise, and thus whether randomization would be ethical. We believe that most researchers would accept that additional income, or reduced conditions on receiving income would be likely to improve health, especially at lower income levels.

Detection of the Microvascular Changes of Diabetic Retinopathy Progression Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Purpose: To investigate microvascular parameters that are related to the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: In total, 105 eyes from 105 diabetic patients were recruited in this prospective cross-sectional study, including 37 eyes with no clinical signs of DR (NoDR), 43 eyes with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and 25 eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Angiogram images from the parafoveal superficial capillary plexus (SCP), the deep capillary plexus (DCP), and the radial peripapillary capillary plexus were analyzed, and metrics were compared among groups.

Plasma uptake of selected phenolic acids following New Zealand blackcurrant extract supplementation in humans.

New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract is a rich source of anthocyanins and in order to exert physiological effects, the anthocyanin-derived metabolites need to be bioavailable . We examined the plasma uptake of selected phenolic acids following NZBC extract supplementation alongside maintaining a habitual diet (i.e.

Anatomic Approach and Outcomes in Children Undergoing Percutaneous Pericardiocentesis.

Pericardiocentesis is traditionally performed using a subxiphoid approach. Hepatomegaly or loculated and noncircumferential effusions warrant nonstandard approaches to drain effusions; echocardiographic guidance has made these less traditional, non-subxiphoid approaches feasible. The study is aimed at comparing clinical outcomes of the subxiphoid and non-subxiphoid approaches to percutaneous pericardiocentesis in a pediatric population.

Effect of losartan on performance and physiological responses to exercise at high altitude (5035 m).

Objective: Altitude-related and exercise-related elevations in blood pressure (BP) increase the likelihood of developing pulmonary hypertension and high-altitude illness during high-altitude sojourn. This study examined the antihypertensive effect and potential exercise benefit of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan when taken at altitude.

Methods: Twenty participants, paired for age and ACE genotype status, completed a double-blinded, randomised study, where participants took either losartan (100 mg/day) or placebo for 21 days prior to arrival at 5035 m (Whymper Hut, Mt Chimborazo, Ecuador).

Case Report: Adult Retinoblastoma Progression in 19 Months.

Significance: Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignancy in childhood, comprising 4% of all pediatric cancers. Adult onset is extremely rare. Enucleation is usually performed in adult cases because of the atypical presentations and malignant features of the tumor, which lead to misdiagnosis.

Chest palpitations in a teenager as an unusual presentation of Lyme disease: case report.

Background: The incidence of Lyme disease (LD) in North America has increased substantially in the past two decades. Concomitant with the increased incidence of infection has been an enhancement in the recognition of LD complications. Here, we report a case of Lyme carditis complicated by heart block in a pediatric patient admitted to our children's hospital.

The Effect of Clostridioides difficile Diagnostic Stewardship Interventions on the Diagnosis of Hospital-Onset Clostridioides difficile Infections.

Background: Public reporting of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) using laboratory-identified events has led some institutions to revert from molecular-based tests to less sensitive testing modalities. At one academic medical center, researchers chose to use nucleic acid amplification test alone in CDI diagnosis with institutional protocols aimed at diagnostic stewardship.

Methods: A single-center, quasi-experimental study was conducted to introduce and analyze the effects of various diagnostic stewardship interventions.

Public Health Role of Academic Medical Center in Community Outbreak of Hepatitis A, San Diego County, California, USA, 2016-2018.

During 2016-2018, San Diego County, California, USA, experienced one of the largest hepatitis A outbreaks in the United States in 2 decades. In close partnership with local healthcare systems, San Diego County Public Health led a public health response to the outbreak that focused on a 3-pronged strategy to vaccinate, sanitize, and educate. Healthcare systems administered nearly half of the vaccinations delivered in San Diego County.

No Effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant Extract on Recovery of Muscle Damage Following Running a Half-Marathon.

New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) contains anthocyanins, known to moderate blood flow and display anti-inflammatory properties that may improve recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. The authors examined whether NZBC extract supplementation enhances recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage after a half-marathon race. Following a randomized, double-blind, independent groups design, 20 (eight women) recreational runners (age 30 ± 6 years, height 1.

Hypoxia is not the primary mechanism contributing to exercise-induced proteinuria.

Introduction: Proteinuria increases at altitude and with exercise, potentially as a result of hypoxia. Using urinary alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (α1-AGP) levels as a sensitive marker of proteinuria, we examined the impact of relative hypoxia due to high altitude and blood pressure-lowering medication on post-exercise proteinuria.

Methods: Twenty individuals were pair-matched for sex, age and ACE genotype.

Comparison of automated and expert human grading of diabetic retinopathy using smartphone-based retinal photography.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of a mobile platform that combines smartphone-based retinal imaging with automated grading for determining the presence of referral-warranted diabetic retinopathy (RWDR).

Methods: A smartphone-based camera (RetinaScope) was used by non-ophthalmic personnel to image the retina of patients with diabetes. Images were analyzed with the Eyenuk EyeArt® system, which generated referral recommendations based on presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and/or markers for clinically significant macular oedema.

Evaluation of the National Healthcare Safety Network standardized infection ratio risk adjustment for healthcare-facility-onset infection in intensive care, oncology, and hematopoietic cell transplant units in general acute-care hospitals.

Objective: To evaluate the National Health Safety Network (NHSN) hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI) standardized infection ratio (SIR) risk adjustment for general acute-care hospitals with large numbers of intensive care unit (ICU), oncology unit, and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Eight tertiary-care referral general hospitals in California.