Validation of "Personal Protective Equipment Conservation Strategies Tool" to Predict Consumption of N95s, Facemasks, and Gowns During Pandemic-Related Shortages.

We sought to prospectively validate a model to predict the consumption of personal protective equipment in a pediatric emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic. We developed the Personal Protective Equipment Conservation Strategies Tool, a Monte Carlo simulation model with input parameters defined by members of our emergency department personal protective equipment task force. Inputs include different conservation strategies that reflect dynamic reuse policies.

Reporting of gestational diabetes and other maternal medical conditions: validation of routinely collected hospital data from New South Wales, Australia.

Introduction: Hospital datasets are a valuable resource for examining prevalence and outcomes of medical conditions during pregnancy. To enable effective research and health planning, it is important to determine whether variables are reliably captured.

Objective: To examine the reliability of reporting of gestational and pre-existing diabetes, hypertension, thyroid conditions, and morbid obesity in coded hospital records that inform the population-level New South Wales Admitted Patient Data Collection.

Validation of anaemia, haemorrhage and blood disorder reporting in hospital data in New South Wales, Australia.

Objective: Hospital data are a useful resource for studying pregnancy complications, including bleeding-related conditions, however, the reliability of these data is unclear. This study aims to examine reliability of reporting of bleeding-related conditions, including anaemia, obstetric haemorrhage and blood disorders, and procedures, such as blood transfusion and hysterectomy, in coded hospital records compared with obstetric data from two large tertiary hospitals in New South Wales.

Results: There were 36,051 births between 2011 and 2015 included in the analysis.

Measurement of FeNO with a portable, electrochemical analyzer using a 6-second exhalation time in 7-10-year-old children with asthma: comparison to a 10-second exhalation.

: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a valuable tool for assessing Th2 inflammation in children with asthma. Exhalation times of 6 and 10 s meet the current recommendations for assessing FeNO. The 6-s exhalation provides an alternative for 7-10 year olds not able to complete the 10-s exhalation.

Interfacial surfactant competition and its impact on poly(ethylene oxide)/Au and poly(ethylene oxide)/Ag nanocomposite properties.

The structure and properties of nanocomposites of poly(ethylene oxide), with Ag and Au nanoparticles, surface modified with a 1:1 (by volume) oleylamine/oleic acid mixture, were investigated via transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, and static mechanical testing. Results indicated that there was more oleylamine on Ag nanoparticles but more oleic acid on Au nanoparticles. This difference in surfactant populations on each nanoparticle led to different interfacial interactions with poly(ethylene oxide) and drastically influenced the glass transition temperature of these two nanocomposite systems.

Higher 30-day and 60-day readmissions among patients who refuse post acute care services.

Objectives: To compare patients who accepted ("acceptors") post acute care services (PAC) with those who were offered services and refused ("refusers") in terms of their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, quality of life, health-related problems, and unmet needs; and to examine the association between refusing PAC services and the risk for 30- and 60-day readmission.

Study Design: Secondary data analysis from a cross-sectional study.

Methods: Bivariate analysis and logistic regressions were used to examine the association between refusing PAC services and 30- and 60-day readmission.

Treatment of vaginal candidiasis for the prevention of preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Recognition that ascending infection leads to preterm birth has led to a number of studies that have evaluated the treatment of vaginal infections in pregnancy to reduce preterm birth rates. However, the role of candidiasis is relatively unexplored. Our aim was to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether treatment of pregnant women with vulvovaginal candidiasis reduces preterm birth rates and other adverse birth outcomes.

Successful electronic implementation of discharge referral decision support has a positive impact on 30- and 60-day readmissions.

In a quasi-experimental study, decision support software was installed in three hospitals to study the ability to scale (spread) its use from one hospital on paper to three hospitals as software, and to examine the effect on 30- and 60-day readmissions. The Discharge Decision Support System (D2S2) software analyzes data collected by nurses on admission with a proprietary risk assessment tool, identifies patients in need of post-acute care, and alerts discharge planners. On six intervention units, with a concurrent comparison group of 76 units, we examined the implementation experience and compared readmission outcomes before and after implementation.

Impact of exhaled nitric oxide measurements on treatment decisions in an asthma specialty clinic.

Background: Asthma management in an outpatient setting is best accomplished by clinical evaluation coupled with spirometry and symptom evaluation, but these assessments do not provide information about airway inflammation. Exhaled nitric oxide (fraction of exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO]) measures T-helper cell type 2-mediated airway inflammation and may be a useful adjunct in asthma management.

Objective: To determine whether the use of FeNO in the specialist management of asthma results in more effective and cost-effective treatment decisions.

Characterization of airway inflammation in patients with COPD using fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels: a pilot study.

Objective: To characterize fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels that may be indicative of Th2-mediated airway inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This single-visit, outpatient study was conducted in 200 patients aged 40 years and older with COPD. All patients underwent spirometry and FeNO testing.

A computer-based auditory sequential pattern test for school-aged children.

Objective: One type of test commonly used to assess auditory processing disorders (APD) is the Frequency Pattern Test, in which triads of pure tones of two different frequencies are presented, and participants are required to accurately report the sequence of tones, typically using a verbal response. The test is widely used clinically, but in its current format, is an under-exploited means of addressing some candidate processes, such as temporal ordering and frequency discrimination, which might be affected in APD. Here we describe a computer-based version of an auditory pattern perception test, the BirdSong Game, which was designed to be an engaging research tool for use with school-aged children.

Gynecomastia presenting as a neck mass.

The differential diagnoses of neck mass may include a wide spectrum of lesions ranging from cysts, inflammatory processes, benign and malignant tumors arising from skin, soft tissue, lymph nodes, endocrine glands, salivary glands to metastatic tumors. In adults, malignant non-thyroid neck masses are often metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. Gynecomastia, presenting as a mass or enlargement in its typical subareolar location is usually a straightforward diagnosis.

A survey of women and health providers about information regarding the timing of driving a car after experiencing a caesarean section.

Background: In NSW, around 30% of women experience a caesarean section. Anecdotally, few receive consistent information regarding driving after a caesarean delivery.

Aims: The aims were to determine the information provided to women following caesarean section and by whom it was given, and compare this with women's actual driving behaviour.

Papillary tumor of the pineal region: two case studies and a review of the literature.

Papillary tumor of the pineal region (PTPR) is a newly recognized distinct entity in the 2007 World Health Organization nomenclature. This tumor is characterized by epithelial-appearing areas with papillary features and more densely cellular areas that often display ependymal-like differentiation. Ultrastructurally, this rare neuroepithelial tumor possesses neuroendocrine, secretory, and ependymal organelles that likely originate from the subcommissural organ (SCO) near the aqueduct of Sylvius.

Protocol for a randomised controlled trial of treatment of asymptomatic candidiasis for the prevention of preterm birth [ACTRN12610000607077].

Background: Prevention of preterm birth remains one of the most important challenges in maternity care. We propose a randomised trial with: a simple Candida testing protocol that can be easily incorporated into usual antenatal care; a simple, well accepted, treatment intervention; and assessment of outcomes from validated, routinely-collected, computerised databases.

Methods/design: Using a prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint (PROBE) study design, we aim to evaluate whether treating women with asymptomatic vaginal candidiasis early in pregnancy is effective in preventing spontaneous preterm birth.