Predicting early recovery of consciousness after cardiac arrest supported by quantitative electroencephalography.

Objective: To determine the ability of quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) to improve the accuracy of predicting recovery of consciousness by post-cardiac arrest day 10.

Methods: Unconscious survivors of cardiac arrest undergoing daily clinical and EEG assessments through post-cardiac arrest day 10 were studied in a prospective observational cohort study. Power spectral density, local coherence, and permutation entropy were calculated from daily EEG clips following a painful stimulus.

Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy reveals novel intercellular connections in human term placental microvasculature.

The placental microvasculature is a conduit for fetal blood allowing solute exchange between the mother and the fetus. Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF SEM) allows ultrastructure to be viewed in three dimensions and provides a new perspective on placental anatomy. This study used SBF SEM to study endothelial cells within the human placental microvasculature from uncomplicated pregnancies.

Speak-up culture in an intensive care unit in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional survey exploring the communication openness perceptions of Chinese doctors and nurses.

Objectives: Despite growing recognition of the importance of speaking up to protect patient safety in critical care, little research has been performed in this area in an intensive care unit (ICU) context. This study explored the communication openness perceptions of Chinese doctors and nurses and identified their perceptions of issues in ICU communication, their reasons for speaking up and the possible factors and strategies involved in promoting the practice of speaking up.

Design: A mixed-methods design with quantitative and sequential qualitative components was used.

How can we improve targeting of frail elderly patients to a geriatric day-hospital rehabilitation program?

Background: The optimal patient selection of frail elderly persons undergoing rehabilitation in Geriatric Day Hospital (GDH) programs remains uncertain. This study was done to identify potential predictors of rehabilitation outcomes for these patients.

Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort analysis of patients admitted to the rehabilitation program of our GDH, in Montreal, Canada, over a five year period.

From the facts to the screen: a blended model of teaching basic hospital skills to 2nd year medical students.

We report an interactive course design which simulated the clinical setting for practicing basic hospital skills. The two-part course included (1) instructor-led, Flash-based interactive lectures; and (2) web-based case using interactive hospital forms. Our program evaluation showed that integrated sessions complemented with web-based interactive cases and hospital forms offered a better student preparation for the Geriatric Medicine clerkship and improved tutor perceptions of student performance during early rotations in the academic year.