Patient-and family-centered care (PFCC) is a partnership among healthcare professionals, patients, and families that is grounded in mutual respect and is an approach that impacts delivery of care, decision-making, and information sharing. PFCC should be implemented for all, including individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), who experience adverse medical encounters despite increased prevalence and healthcare utilization. Insights into the experiences of families during medical experiences can inform clinical practice by increasing healthcare professionals' understanding of the population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndividuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a greater number of healthcare provider interactions than individuals without ASD. The obstacles to patient-centered care for this population, which include inflexibility of hospital environments, limited resources, and inadequate training, has been documented. However, there is little knowledge on efforts to address such concerns.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cancer vaccines are designed to activate and enhance cancer-antigen-targeted T cells that are suppressed through multiple mechanisms of immune tolerance in cancer-bearing hosts. T regulatory cell (Treg) suppression of tumor-specific T cells is one barrier to effective immunization. A second mechanism is the deletion of high avidity tumor-specific T cells, which leaves a less effective low avidity tumor specific T cell repertoire available for activation by vaccines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn 2004, canine influenza virus subtype H3N8 emerged in greyhounds in the United States. Subsequent serologic evidence indicated virus circulation in dog breeds other than greyhounds, but the virus had not been isolated from affected animals. In 2005, we conducted virologic investigation of 7 nongreyhound dogs that died from respiratory disease in Florida and isolated influenza subtype H3N8 virus.
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