Peer influence and physical activity behavior in young children: an experimental study.

Background: There is evidence that the presence of a friend increases physical activity behavior in school-aged children (≥ 8 years old) and in young adolescents. Little is known about the developmental trajectory of the effects of peer influences on children's physical activity. Therefore, we sought to test the effect of the presence versus absence of a friend on physical activity in young children (≤ 6 years old).

Survival of patients receiving a primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in clinical practice vs clinical trials.

Importance: Randomized clinical trials have shown that implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy saves lives. Whether the survival of patients who received an ICD in primary prevention clinical trials differs from that of trial-eligible patients receiving a primary prevention ICD in clinical practice is unknown.

Objective: To determine whether trial-eligible patients who received a primary prevention ICD as documented in a large national registry have a survival rate that differs from the survival rate of similar patients who received an ICD in the 2 largest primary prevention clinical trials, MADIT-II (n = 742) and SCD-HeFT (n = 829).

ECG-based signal analysis technologies for evaluating patients with acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review.

Background/objectives: Timely identification of cardiac ischemia is critical in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The first test is often the standard, resting 12-lead ECG. Given its limitations, signal analysis enhancements have been proposed.

Long-term effects of negotiated treatment plans on self-management behaviors and satisfaction with care among women with asthma.

Objective: To examine characteristics of women with negotiated treatment plans, factors that contribute to newly forming a treatment plan, and the impact of plans on asthma management, and their satisfaction with care over 2 years.

Methods: Data came from telephone interviews with 324 women with asthma at baseline, 12 and 24 months. The effect of having a negotiated treatment plan on medication adherence, asking the physician questions about asthma, asthma management self-efficacy, and satisfaction with care was assessed over 24 months.

Safe administration of the seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine to children with severe egg allergy.

Background: Anaphylaxis to egg or severe egg allergy has been considered a contraindication to receiving trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine (TIV).

Objective: To evaluate the safety of TIV among severely egg allergic children.

Methods: A 2-phase, multicenter study at 7 sites was conducted between October 2010 and March 2012.

Is heart failure guideline adherence being underestimated? The impact of therapeutic contraindications.

Background: Several studies based on claims data have reported underutilization of evidence-based heart failure (HF) therapies. The degree to which these estimates fail to account for therapeutic contraindications is unclear.

Methods: We identified patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤45% seen between January 1, 2010, and July 1, 2010, at a tertiary care Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Enabling health care decisionmaking through clinical decision support and knowledge management.

Objectives: To catalogue study designs used to assess the clinical effectiveness of CDSSs and KMSs, to identify features that impact the success of CDSSs/KMSs, to document the impact of CDSSs/KMSs on outcomes, and to identify knowledge types that can be integrated into CDSSs/KMSs.

Data Sources: MEDLINE(®), CINAHL(®), PsycINFO(®), and Web of Science(®).

Review Methods: We included studies published in English from January 1976 through December 2010.

Identifying research needs for improving health care.

Insights from systematic reviews can help new studies better meet the priorities and needs of patients and communities. However, systematic reviews unfortunately have not yet achieved this position to direct and guide new research studies. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Evidence-based Practice Center Program uses systematic reviews to identify gaps in current evidence and has developed a systematic process of prioritizing these gaps with stakeholder input into clearly defined "future research needs.

Resilience and stereotyping: the experiences of Native American elders.

Purpose: The lived experiences of Native American elders regarding the effects of stereotypes on resilience were examined.

Method: This qualitative study emphasized culturally compatible methods of traditional storytelling and featured interpretive analysis.

Results: Themes revealed were the following: (a) having the ability to successfully bridge cultures fostered resilience and inspired self-confidence, (b) a strong sense of identity was a core element of resilience, (c) being responsible and accountable inspired a sense of pride, (d) educational attainment and employment fostered resilience, and (e) cultural resilience was a key component when confronting stereotypes.

Effect of clinical decision-support systems: a systematic review.

Background: Despite increasing emphasis on the role of clinical decision-support systems (CDSSs) for improving care and reducing costs, evidence to support widespread use is lacking.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of CDSSs on clinical outcomes, health care processes, workload and efficiency, patient satisfaction, cost, and provider use and implementation.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science through January 2011.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers for treatment of ischemic heart disease: Future research needs prioritization.

Background: A recent review evaluated the comparative effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with or at high risk for stable ischemic heart disease (IHD). The prioritization of future research needs has customarily been an informal process that is not responsive to the needs of all relevant stakeholders.

Methods: As part of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Effective Healthcare Program, the Duke Evidence-Based Practice Center engaged a diverse stakeholder group in 3 exercises designed to prioritize future research needs pertaining to the comparative effectiveness of ACE-I/ARB in patients with stable IHD.

A phase I multi-institutional study of systemic sorafenib in conjunction with regional melphalan for in-transit melanoma of the extremity.

Background: Isolated limb infusion with melphalan (ILI-M) corrected for ideal body weight (IBW) is a well-tolerated treatment for patients with in-transit extremity melanoma with an approximate 29 % complete response (CR) rate. Sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, has been shown to augment tumor response to chemotherapy in preclinical studies.

Methods: A multi-institutional, dose-escalation, phase I study was performed to evaluate the safety and antitumor activity of sorafenib in combination with ILI-M.

Systematic review of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Background: Treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may improve outcomes compared to conventional therapy (e.g., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, intra-articular corticosteroids).

Humid tropical rain forest has expanded into eucalypt forest and savanna over the last 50 years.

Tropical rain forest expansion and savanna woody vegetation thickening appear to be a global trend, but there remains uncertainty about whether there is a common set of global drivers. Using geographic information techniques, we analyzed aerial photography of five areas in the humid tropics of northeastern Queensland, Australia, taken in the 1950s and 2008, to determine if changes in rain forest extent match those reported for the Australian monsoon tropics using similar techniques. Mapping of the 1950s aerial photography showed that of the combined study area (64,430 ha), 63% was classified as eucalypt forests/woodland and 37% as rain forest.

Asthma action plans and patient satisfaction among women with asthma.

Background: Asthma action plans (AAPs) are a priority recommendation of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program and have been shown to positively affect health outcomes. Patient satisfaction is an important clinical outcome, yet little is known about its association with receiving an AAP. This study examined the association between having an AAP and behaviors to keep asthma in control and patient satisfaction with care.

Efficacy of cleaning and disinfection procedures in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) facility.

Appropriate cleaning and disinfection procedures in zebrafish (Danio rerio) laboratories are crucial in preventing the spread of aquatic animal pathogens and minimizing the build-up of waste products and biologic matter. The procedures selected should accomplish these goals and incorporate the individual needs of various laboratories. In this study of a single zebrafish facility, we assessed the efficacy of 2 different cleaning and disinfection procedures for nets, tanks, and lids.