Smart agent system for insulin infusion protocol management: a simulation-based human factors evaluation study.

Objective: To compare the insulin infusion management of critically ill patients by nurses using either a common standard (ie, human completion of insulin infusion protocol steps) or smart agent (SA) system that integrates the electronic health record and infusion pump and automates insulin dose selection.

Design: A within subjects design where participants completed 12 simulation scenarios, in 4 blocks of 3 scenarios each. Each block was performed with either the manual standard or the SA system.

Prioritizing Health Care Solutions for Pressure Ulcers Using the Quality Function Deployment Process.

Reducing the incidence and morbidity of pressure ulcers remains a leading national priority in patient safety. However, the optimal strategy for a hospital or health system to address this safety goal is not straightforward given the number and complexity of available solutions. Leveraging techniques from systems engineering, such as the quality function deployment process, may provide a transparent and objective way to address this challenge.

Understanding CancelRx: Results of End-to-End Functional Testing, Proactive Risk Assessment, and Pilot Implementation.

Background: CancelRx allows prescribers to send electronic cancellation messages to pharmacies when medications are discontinued. Little is known about its functionality and impact on clinical workflows.

Objectives: To understand CancelRx functionality, its potential impact on workflows and medication safety risks, and to develop mitigating strategies for risks introduced by implementation.

Plasma Biomarkers of Brain Injury as Diagnostic Tools and Outcome Predictors After Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Objective: To determine if elevations in plasma brain injury biomarkers are associated with outcome at hospital discharge in children who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Single tertiary-care academic center.

Inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) alpha protects against focal ischemic brain damage in mice.

It is postulated that inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) alpha (cPLA(2)α) can reduce severity of stroke injury. This is supported by the finding that cPLA(2)α-deficient mice are partially protected from transient, focal cerebral ischemia. The object of this study was to determine the effect of cPLA(2)α inhibition with arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone (ATK) on stroke injury in mice.