Community-based infections and the potential role of common touch surfaces as vectors for the transmission of infectious agents in home and community settings.

Community-based pathogens that can survive on common touch surfaces include those that can cause gastrointestinal, respiratory, and skin infections. Our hands play an obvious role in the transmission of many of these pathogens, but common touch surfaces are also part of the transmission equation. Traditionally, common touch surfaces have not been the main focus of cleaning and sanitation in household and community settings.

Effects of conditional central expression of HIV-1 tat protein to potentiate cocaine-mediated psychostimulation and reward among male mice.

As a major neuropathogenic factor associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, HIV-1 Tat protein is known to synergize with psychostimulant drugs of abuse to cause neurotoxicity and exacerbate the progression of central nervous system pathology. However, the functional consequences of the interaction between HIV-1 Tat and abused drugs on behavior are little known. We tested the hypothesis that HIV-1 Tat expression in brain would modulate the psychostimulant effects of cocaine.

Suitability of public use secondary data sets to study multiple activities.

Purpose Of The Study: The aims of this study were to inventory activity items within and across U.S. public use data sets, to identify gaps in represented activity domains and challenges in interpreting domains, and to assess the potential for studying multiple activity engagement among older adults using existing data.

Nurses' response to frequency and types of electrocardiography alarms in a non-critical care setting: a descriptive study.

Background: An important role of the registered nurse is to identify patient deterioration by monitoring the patient condition and vital signs. Increasingly, this is supplemented with continuous electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring. Continuous monitoring is inefficient in identifying deterioration because of the high number of false and nuisance alarms.

Use of the critical decision method in nursing research: an integrative review.

The focus of this article is the background and use of the critical decision method in nursing research. The purpose is to present a synthesis of the body of work whose authors used the critical decision method to explore nurses' cognitive work. For this integrative review of literature, I used the 5-step process: problem formulation, literature search, data evaluation, data analysis, and presentation.

Intake of specific fruits and vegetables in relation to risk of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer among postmenopausal women.

In previous studies of postmenopausal women, overall intake of fruits and vegetables groups has been inversely associated with estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer. In this analysis, we prospectively examined the associations of specific fruits and vegetables with risk of ER- postmenopausal breast cancer among 75,929 women aged 38-63 years at baseline and followed for up to 24 years. Dietary data were collected seven times during this period.

Potential sources of bisphenol A in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objectives: To determine whether nutritional intake and medical devices are bisphenol A (BPA) exposure sources among premature infants in the NICU.

Methods: Mothers and their premature infants cared for in the NICU for the past 3 days were recruited for this exposure assessment study. Forty-three mothers contributed 1 nutrition sample (breast milk or formula) to characterize the infant's intake.

Partial hospitalization treatment for preschoolers with severe behavior problems: child age and maternal functioning as predictors of outcome.

Background: This study focused on the behavioral functioning and treatment outcomes of preschool-aged children who attended a specialized, family focused psychiatric partial hospitalization program.

Method: Study data were collected between 2002 and 2007. Maternal reports of child behavioral functioning were obtained at program admission and discharge.

Comparison of child obesity prevention and control content in mainstream and Spanish-language US parenting magazines.

Mass media coverage of child obesity is rising, paralleling the child obesity epidemic's growth, and there is evidence that parents seek parenting advice from media sources. Yet little to no research has examined the coverage of child obesity in parenting magazines or Spanish-language media. The purpose of this study was to use qualitative and quantitative content analysis methods to identify, quantify, and compare strategies for child obesity prevention and control presented in mainstream and Spanish-language US parenting magazines.

Bisphenol A concentrations in maternal breast milk and infant urine.

Purpose: The present report describes the distribution of breast milk and urinary free and total bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations, from 27 postpartum women and their 31 infants, and explores the influence of age, sex, and nutritional source on infant BPA urinary concentration.

Methods: Both free (unconjugated) and total (free plus conjugated) BPA concentrations from women's breast milk samples and infants' urine samples were measured by online solid-phase extraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests of group comparisons were conducted.

A longitudinal study of food insecurity on obesity in preschool children.

Background: Obesity and its co-occurrence with household food insecurity among low-income families is a public health concern, particularly because both are associated with later adverse health consequences.

Objective: Our aim was to examine the relationship between household food insecurity with and without hunger in infancy and later childhood with weight status at 2 to 5 years.

Design: This longitudinal study uses household food-security status, weight, and height data collected at the first infancy and last child (2 to 5 years) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children visits.

Academic practice partnerships: a national dialogue.

Academic-practice partnerships are an important mechanism to strengthen nursing practice and help nurses become well positioned to lead change and advance health. Through implementing such partnerships, both academic institutions and practice settings will formally address the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Committee. Effective partnerships will create systems for nurses to achieve educational and career advancement, prepare nurses of the future to practice and lead, provide mechanisms for lifelong learning, and provide a structure for nurse residency programs.

Clinical teleconferencing: bringing the patient to the classroom.

Problem: The confidence to act on clinical judgment, ask for help, and juggle multiple competing priorities is best developed within a clinical setting. Traditional classroom learning, which is often static, does not support learning these skills or help new students learn how to "be" a nurse. Student nurses need frequent and repeated exposure to expert nurses and clinical environments.

Patterns of weight change and progression to overweight and obesity differ in men and women: implications for research and interventions.

Objective: To evaluate long-term patterns of weight change and progression to overweight and obesity during adulthood.

Design: Prospective study. Changes in mean BMI, waist circumference (WC) and weight were assessed over a mean 26-year follow-up (1971–1975 to 1998–2001).

Postoperative pain: acupuncture versus percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of traditional acupuncture compared with acupuncture with percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) on postoperative surgical pain relief in gynecologic oncology patients. Twenty postoperative gynecologic oncology patients were randomly assigned into the two groups, and the intervention was initiated within 24 hours after surgery. The patients in each group received four treatments in the subsequent 48 hours, with 12 hours between each treatment.

Cancer screening barriers for community-based older Hispanics and Caucasians.

Despite advances in screening and early detection, ethnic minority populations, ages 65 and older, are less likely than Caucasians to participate in cancer screening services. Empirical research indicates that older ethnic minorities have cultural values that influence their behaviors. Addressing culturally relevant communication to better understand those values may increase participation in cancer screening.

Dietary patterns of women are associated with incident abdominal obesity but not metabolic syndrome.

Data on the relationship between empirical dietary patterns and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in prospective study designs are limited. In addition, demographic and lifestyle determinants of MetS may modify the association between dietary patterns and the syndrome. We prospectively examined the relationship between empirically derived patterns and MetS and MetS components among 1146 women in the Framingham Offspring/Spouse cohort.

The use of simulation to instruct students on the provision of spiritual care: a pilot study.

Providing spiritual care is recognized as a significant aspect of nursing practice. This pilot study was designed to determine if simulation is an effective method for instructing nursing students in the provision of spiritual care. Fifty-two students participated in a simulation exercise that introduced concepts of spiritual care.

Academic-service partnerships in nursing: an integrative review.

This integrative review summarizes currently available evidence on academic-service partnerships in the profession of nursing. More than 300 articles, published primarily in refereed journals, were accessed. Articles (110) were included in this review as they presented detailed and substantive information about any aspect of a nursing academic-service partnership.

A dietary pattern that is associated with C-peptide and risk of colorectal cancer in women.

Purpose: Higher serum C-peptide concentrations have shown to be associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, we used diet information to identify food groups that correlated with fasting serum concentrations of C-peptide and assess the association of this dietary pattern and CRC risk.

Methods: Major food contributors to fasting C-peptide concentrations were identified with stepwise linear regression in a subsample (n = 833) of women from a large cohort.

Clinical judgment development using structured classroom reflective practice: a qualitative study.

This qualitative study examined the incorporation of "reflection-on-action" in a structured reflective classroom format as defined by Tanner's Clinical Judgment Model on the development of perceived clinical judgment and clinical confidence in Bachelor of Science nursing students. The qualitative results described the students' perceptions of the benefit of the intervention on their development of clinical judgment and clinical confidence. This research was an important contribution to the debate regarding the benefit of structured reflection in a classroom setting.