Reduction in Cesarean Delivery Rates Associated With a State Quality Collaborative in Maryland.

Objective: To assess the extent to which hospitals participating in the MDPQC (Maryland Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Care Collaborative) to reduce primary cesarean deliveries adopted policy and practice changes and the association of this adoption with state-level cesarean delivery rates.

Methods: This prospective evaluation of the MDPQC includes 31 (97%) of the birthing hospitals in the state, which all voluntarily participated in the 30-month collaborative from June 2016 to December 2018. Hospital teams agreed to implement practices from the "Safe Reduction of Primary Cesarean Births" patient safety bundle, developed by the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care.

The protective role of statins in COVID-19 patients: a retrospective observational study.

Background: To evaluate and determine the protective role of statins in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted across five hospitals in India. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and hospitalized with existing and valid medical documentation were included.

Diabetes Mellitus Prevalence Among Haitian American Afro-Caribbeans in the United States.

To measure the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Haitian American Afro-Caribbeans, a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 151 Haitian Americans in New York, New Jersey, and Florida. The results of the study revealed an age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes mellitus of 39.9% (95% CI 29.

A qualitative assessment of emergency medicine residents' receptivity to feedback.

Background: Effective feedback is the cornerstone of competency-based education. The emergency department (ED) is a unique learning and feedback environment. Developing our understanding of emergency medicine (EM) residents' experiences around feedback will improve resident training and inform EM faculty development programs.

Canady Helios Cold Plasma Induces Breast Cancer Cell Death by Oxidation of Histone mRNA.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Its molecular receptor marker status and mutational subtypes complicate clinical therapies. Cold atmospheric plasma is a promising adjuvant therapy to selectively combat many cancers, including breast cancer, but not normal tissue; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unexplored.

Changes in self-efficacy in Japanese school-age children with and without high autistic traits after the Universal Unified Prevention Program: a single-group pilot study.

Background: Research has shown the efficacy of school-based programs for mental health problems in children. However, few studies have focused on the strengths of children, such as resilience, which is essential in preventing mental health problems. Moreover, no research has investigated the effect of a universal school-based program on children with increased autistic traits in mainstream classes.

Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening at a Community Hospital: An 8-Year Experience.

Objectives: To evaluate newborn pulse oximetry screening (POS) outcomes at a large community hospital and the impact of the recommended revised POS algorithm.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the results of POS in the well-infant nursery between 2012 and 2020. The POS results were obtained from an electronic platform.

When "Blue Babies" Grow Up: Complications After Surgical Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a complex congenital cardiac defect. Surgical correction is well established as the treatment of choice and has resulted in a rapidly growing group of adults living with TOF. We describe potential complications of patients who have undergone TOF repair and were lost to follow-up.

Accuracy of Measuring Knee Flexion after TKA through Wearable IMU Sensors.

Wearable sensors have the potential to facilitate remote monitoring for patients recovering from knee replacement surgery. Using IMU sensors attached to the patients' leg, knee flexion can be monitored while the patients are recovering in their home environment. Ideally, these flexion angle measurements will have an accuracy and repeatability at least on par with current clinical standards.

Nationwide analysis on the impact of peripheral vascular disease following primary total knee arthroplasty: A matched-control analysis.

Background: As the prevalence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) continues to increase nationwide, studies demonstrating its effects following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether patients with PVD have higher rates of: 1) in-hospital lengths of stay (LOS); 2) readmissions; 3) medical complications; 4) implant-related complications; and 5) costs of care.

Methods: Using a nationwide database, patients with PVD undergoing primary TKA were identified and matched to controls in a 1:5 ratio by age, sex, and medical comorbidities.

Towards development of core domain sets for short term and long term studies of calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition (CPPD) disease: A framework paper by the OMERACT CPPD working group.

Introduction: Although calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) is common, there are no published outcome domains or validated measurement instruments for CPPD studies. In this paper, we describe the framework for development of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) CPPD Core Domain Sets.

Methods: The OMERACT CPPD working group performed a scoping literature review and qualitative interview study.

Antipsychotic Use Is Associated With Longer In-hospital Lengths of Stay and Higher Rates of Venous Thromboembolism and Costs of Care After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Introduction: Studies have shown that antipsychotic medication use may lead to venous thromboembolisms (VTEs); however, this association has not been demonstrated in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether patients taking antipsychotic medications at the time of their primary TKA have higher rates of in-hospital lengths of stay (LOS), VTEs, and costs of care.

Methods: Patients taking antipsychotic medications were identified and matched to a cohort in a 1:5 ratio by age, sex, and medical comorbidities.

Urine as a Source of Liquid Biopsy for Cancer.

Tissue biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis and morphological and immunohistochemical analyses to characterize cancer. However, tissue biopsy usually requires an invasive procedure, and it can be challenging depending on the condition of the patient and the location of the tumor. Even liquid biopsy analysis of body fluids such as blood, saliva, gastric juice, sweat, tears and cerebrospinal fluid may require invasive procedures to obtain samples.

Noninvasive Diagnostic Modalities in an Isolated Case of Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Amyloidoses are a family of inherited or acquired disorders characterized by the deposition of insoluble extracellular protein fibrils in various organs and tissues, thereby impairing their function. Amyloidoses are typically misfolded proteins, and on rare occasions, can deposit in the myocardium resulting in an infiltrative/restrictive cardiomyopathy. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is an underdiagnosed cause of congestive heart failure (CHF) with preserved ejection fraction, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias along with conduction defects.

Assessment of the Impact of Pharmacist-led Transitions of Care Services in a Primary Health Center.

The impact of pharmacist-led transition of care services with collaborative drug therapy management has shown to improve patients' outcomes and decrease health costs. Compelling statistics show higher readmission rates for under-insured patients compared with insured patients at primary health care clinics. This is a single center, prospective, cohort study designed to examine team-based collaborative drug therapy management and its effect on therapeutic outcomes of under-insured patients with target chronic diseases managed in a primary health center.

Pituitary apoplexy and panhypopituitarism following acute leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a common tropical febrile illness which may manifest with the hepatorenal syndrome and systemic hemorrhagic manifestations. Pituitary apoplexy is a rare but life-threatening condition characterized by a hemorrhage within the pituitary gland or a pituitary adenoma. Apoplexy is very rarely associated with some inducing events such as infectious diseases such as dengue hemorrhagic fever, Hantaan virus, Puumala virus have also been reported to cause pituitary apoplexy.

Experience and impact of crystal pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) from a patient and caregiver perspective: A qualitative exploration from the OMERACT CPPD working group.

Objective: To explore the lived experience of people with calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease and the impact of this condition on their daily lives.

Methods: Patients with CPPD and their caregivers were invited to take part in a one-to-one (patient only) or paired (patient and caregiver) semi-structured interview. Interviews covered patients' diagnosis and treatment experiences, and the impact of CPPD on their daily lives.

Impact of depressive disorders on primary total shoulder arthroplasties: a matched control analysis of 113,648 Medicare patients.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether patients with depressive disorders undergoing primary total shoulder arthroplasty have higher rates of (1) in-hospital lengths of stay, (2) readmission rates, (3) medical complications, and (4) implant-related complications.

Methods: A retrospective query was performed using a national claims database. Study group patients were matched to controls in a 1:5 ratio according to age, sex, and medical comorbidities.

Initial Findings From the North American COVID-19 Myocardial Infarction Registry.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted many aspects of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care, including timely access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Objectives: The goal of the NACMI (North American COVID-19 and STEMI) registry is to describe demographic characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with STEMI.

Methods: A prospective, ongoing observational registry was created under the guidance of 3 cardiology societies.

Effect of High-frequency (10-kHz) Spinal Cord Stimulation in Patients With Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Many patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy experience chronic pain and inadequate relief despite best available medical treatments.

Objective: To determine whether 10-kHz spinal cord stimulation (SCS) improves outcomes for patients with refractory painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN).

Design, Setting, And Participants: The prospective, multicenter, open-label SENZA-PDN randomized clinical trial compared conventional medical management (CMM) with 10-kHz SCS plus CMM.

Does application of hydrogen peroxide to the dermis reduce incidence of Cutibacterium acnes during shoulder arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) following shoulder arthroplasty are a major source of morbidity and are most commonly caused by Cutibacterium acnes, a bacteria found concentrated in the dermis. Skin preparation using hydrogen peroxide has been shown to reduce positive cultures; however, direct application to the dermis has not been investigated. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the application of hydrogen peroxide to the dermis affects the incidence of positive C acnes cultures.

The importance of low-dose CT screening to identify emphysema in asymptomatic participants with and without a prior diagnosis of COPD.

Purpose: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) includes chronic bronchitis, small airways disease, and emphysema. Diagnosis of COPD requires spirometric evidence and may be normal even when small airways disease or emphysema is present. Emphysema increases the risk of exacerbations, and is associated with all-cause mortality and increased risk of lung cancer.

Perioperative and anaesthetic considerations of marijuana use.

The psychoactive substance cannabis is the most-commonly used drug around the world, and its use is becoming more prevalent globally. Additionally, it is becoming available in an increasing variety of forms. As such, it is imperative that perioperative practitioners have an understanding of the drug, its effects, and its implications in perioperative care.

Global Impact of COVID-19 on Stroke Care and IV Thrombolysis.

Objective: To measure the global impact of COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of IV thrombolysis (IVT), IVT transfers, and stroke hospitalizations over 4 months at the height of the pandemic (March 1 to June 30, 2020) compared with 2 control 4-month periods.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study across 6 continents, 70 countries, and 457 stroke centers. Diagnoses were identified by their ICD-10 codes or classifications in stroke databases.