Lifestyle Modification in Blood Pressure Study II (LIMBS): study protocol of a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of a 24 week structured yoga program versus lifestyle modification on blood pressure reduction.

Hypertension is a major public health issue affecting 68 million adults in the United States. Lifestyle modifications including complementary therapies such as the movement based mind body practice of yoga have become increasingly popular in the United States and have been considered as a potential alternative to medication in blood pressure reduction. We completed a pilot study in 2009 which showed meaningful decreases in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure readings after a 12 week period of yoga participation.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are associated with elevated standardized mortality ratios: a meta-analysis.

Background: Evidence regarding all-cause and cause-specific mortality in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is conflicting, and debate exists over appropriate study design to examine these important outcomes. We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), and additionally examined various effects of study design on this outcome.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and EMBASE was conducted to identify studies examining mortality rates relative to the general population.

Methods for linking community views to measureable outcomes in a youth violence prevention program.

Background: All parties in community-academic partnerships have a vested interest prevention program success. Markers of success that reflect community's experiences of programmatic prevention success are not always measurable, but critically speak to community-defined needs.

Objective: The purpose of this manuscript was to (1) describe our systematic process for linking locally relevant community views (community-defined indicators) to measurable outcomes in the context of a youth violence prevention program and (2) discuss lessons learned, next steps, and recommendations for others trying to replicate a similar process.

The impact of 24-hr, in-hospital pediatric critical care attending physician presence on process of care and patient outcomes*.

Objective: Attending physicians are only required to provide in-hospital coverage during daytime hours in many pediatric intensive care units. An in-hospital 24-hr pediatric intensive care unit attending coverage model has been increasingly popular, but the impact of 24-hr, in-hospital attending coverage on care processes and outcomes has not been reported. We compared processes of care and outcomes before and after the implementation of a 24-hr in-hospital pediatric intensive care unit attending physician model.

Effect of rotavirus vaccine on reducing acute gastroenteritis in a large outpatient pediatric network.

Objectives: To measure the effect of rotavirus vaccine (RVV) on acute gastroenteritis (AGE) managed by primary care physicians in the first 2 rotatvirus seasons following the introduction of RVV.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Practice-based network composed of 33 ambulatory pediatric practices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.