mRNA-1273 protects against SARS-CoV-2 beta infection in nonhuman primates.

B.1.351 is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant most resistant to antibody neutralization.

Evaluation of mRNA-1273 against SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 Infection in Nonhuman Primates.

Background: Vaccine efficacy against the B.1.351 variant following mRNA-1273 vaccination in humans has not been determined.

Child maltreatment and depression: A meta-analysis of studies using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.

Background: Researchers have documented that child maltreatment is associated with adverse long-term consequences for mental health, including increased risk for depression. Attempts to conduct meta-analyses of the association between different forms of child maltreatment and depressive symptomatology in adulthood, however, have been limited by the wide range of definitions of child maltreatment in the literature.

Objective: We sought to meta-analyze a single, widely-used dimensional measure of child maltreatment, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, with respect to depression diagnosis and symptom scores.

A Randomized Trial to Test a Peer Mentor Intervention to Improve Outcomes in Persons Hospitalized With HIV Infection.

Background: Few interventions have been shown to improve retention in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care, and none have targeted the hospitalized patient. Peer mentoring has not been rigorously tested.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial of a peer mentoring intervention.

Development and pilot testing of a standardized training program for a patient-mentoring intervention to increase adherence to outpatient HIV care.

Although peer interventionists have been successful in medication treatment-adherence interventions, their role in complex behavior-change approaches to promote entry and reentry into HIV care requires further investigation. The current study sought to describe and test the feasibility of a standardized peer-mentor training program used for MAPPS (Mentor Approach for Promoting Patient Self-Care), a study designed to increase engagement and attendance at HIV outpatient visits among high-risk HIV inpatients using HIV-positive peer interventionists to deliver a comprehensive behavioral change intervention. Development of MAPPS and its corresponding training program included collaborations with mentors from a standing outpatient mentor program.

Stability of sodium bicarbonate solutions in polyolefin bags.

Purpose: The stability of sodium bicarbonate solutions in sterile water for injection or 5% dextrose injection stored at 21-24 degrees C or 2-4 degrees C was evaluated.

Methods: Sodium bicarbonate injection was obtained in 50-mL vials of 8.4% (1 meq/mL).

A simplified method for the measurement of urinary free cortisol using LC-MS/MS.

The measurement of 24 h urinary free cortisol is used in the investigation of patients with symptoms of hypercortisolism. Many different methods have been published for the measurement of cortisol, but most of these methods involve cumbersome pre-extraction of the cortisol prior to analysis. We have developed a method using in-well protein precipitation which serves to clean up the sample without requiring lengthy sample preparation.

Variation in GH and IGF-I assays limits the applicability of international consensus criteria to local practice.

Background: There is increasing reliance on consensus criteria for decision making. Recent criteria state that acromegaly is excluded by a nadir GH during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) of < 1 microg/l and a normal level of IGF-I.

Objective: To study GH and IGF-I assay performance close to cut-off values for active acromegaly.

Validation of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay for serum creatinine and comparison with enzymatic and Jaffe methods.

Background: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can be estimated using creatinine clearance or calculated formulae, methods which rely on creatinine quantification in serum. Creatinine is most frequently measured using the Jaffe method, but this is prone to interference by, for example, bilirubin, protein and ketones. Recent amendments to this assay have been made by manufacturers in an attempt to compensate for the protein interference.

Boosting morale--and productivity.

In a field such as healthcare facility management where technology is changing all the time, training is critical, says James O. Wear, Ph D, of the USA. This article is based on an International Federation of Hospital Engineering Congress paper.

Technology and the future of medical equipment maintenance.

Maintenance of medical equipment has been changing rapidly in the past few years. It is changing more rapidly in developed countries, but changes are also occurring in developing countries. Some of the changes may permit improved maintenance on the higher technology equipment in developing countries, since they do not require onsite expertise.

Profile of a BMET (biomedical equipment technician) in small hospitals.

A survey was done of biomedical engineering programs in hospitals of under 100 beds. A random sampling of 400 hospitals was selected from the American Hospital Association Guidebook. Questions were asked with regard to the size, educational background and experience of the biomedical engineering staff.

Production of extracellular enzymes and cytotoxicity by Vibrio vulnificus.

Thirty-three strains of Vibrio vulnificus of clinical and environmental origin were examined for production of 12 extracellular enzymes of potential importance to the virulence of this bacterium. Strains of Vibrio vulnificus were consistent in their production of protease, mucinase, lipase, chondroitinase, hyaluronidase, DNase, sulfatase, and hemolysin. No differences between clinical and environmental isolates were noted.

Veterans Administration BMET certification exam.

The Veterans Administration has developed a program to evaluate the level of competency of its medical equipment repairmen and to recognize those who surpass an established level of competency. This evaluation is carried out by means of testing. A passing score of 70% on all sections of the exam results in certification while failure results in enrollment in correspondence or short courses.

Biofeedback in urology using urodynamics: preliminary observations.

Biofeedback training aided by urodynamic instrumentation produced significant clinical improvement in 4 of 8 urological patients. The display of electromyographic activity of the periurethral striated muscles was facilitated by the use of a new intraurethral catheter with 5 surface mounted electrodes. This modality of treatment seems worth considering for selected patients with urinary retention or urinary incontinence.

Treatment of stage D hormone-resistant carcinoma of the prostate with estramustine phosphate.

We report on 51 patients with hormone-resistant, stage D prostatic carcinoma who were treated with estramustine phosphate and followed for at least 6 months. Of the 51 patients 5 (10 per cent) had a partial objective response, 30 (59 per cent) remained stable and 16 (31 per cent) had progression of the disease. All of those patients who had a partial response or remained stable also experienced subjective improvement as judged by relief of pain and performance status.

A new approach to the treatment of priapism.

A 26-year-old man with post-traumatic priapism was treated successfully by occlusion of the left internal pudendal artery with an autologous clot. The recovery was marked by the return of entirely normal sexual function. This excellent result suggests that autologous clot injection of the internal pudental artery should be considered as an appropriate form of therapy for the treatment of selected patients with priapism.

Concentrating ability after antireflux operation.

Children undergoing surgical correction of reflux require short-term and long-term assessment of the functional, bacteriological and radiologic results. In short-term assessment concentrating ability may be a more sensitive indicator of benefit or harm than creatinine clearance. There were no cases of persistent reflux and a 7 per cent obstruction rate in 59 ureteral reimplantations in 36 children.

Vesicocolonic fistulas in diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis is a disease affecting patients in the fifth to sixth decades. The charts of 12 patients with cesicocolonic fistulas secondary to diverticulitis were reviewed. Their presentation was primarily urological with pneumaturia present in 10 of 12 patients and fecaluria present in 5 of 12.