Associations between Blood Pressure Control and Documented Nutrition Care Using Structured Data from Electronic Health Records of Patients with Hypertension.

Background: Documentation in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) of nutrition care events (overweight or obesity (BMI > 25 or 30, respectively) diagnoses, preventive care visits, or provision of patient education materials (PEM)) for chronic diseases is unclear.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis using structured EHR data from primary care visits at a health system in the US from January 2018 - December 2020 of adult patients with hypertension (n = 6,419) tested for associations between last visit blood pressure (BP) control (≤ 140 Systolic BP and ≤ 90 Diastolic BP) and aggregate nutrition care events. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression models were constructed to examine the predictive power of nutrition care events for blood pressure control.

What Have We Learned About Transmission of Coronavirus Disease-2019: Implications for Pulmonary Function Testing and Pulmonary Procedures.

Because of the potential for high aerosol transmission during pulmonary function testing and pulmonary procedures, performing these tests and procedures must be considered carefully during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Much has been learned about the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by aerosols and the potential for such transmission through pulmonary function tests and pulmonary procedures, and subsequently preventative practices have been enhanced and developed to reduce the risk of transmission of virus to patients and personnel. This article reviews what is known about the potential for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during pulmonary function testing and pulmonary procedures and the recommended mitigation steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Impact of Intraoperative Hypothermia on Incidence of Infection in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Infection following implant-based breast reconstruction can lead to devastating complications. Risk factors for infection include smoking, diabetes, and obesity. Intraoperative hypothermia may represent another modifiable risk factor.

Renin-Angiotensin System Modulation With Synthetic Angiotensin (1-7) and Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor-Biased Ligand in Adults With COVID-19: Two Randomized Clinical Trials.

Importance: Preclinical models suggest dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection may increase the relative activity of angiotensin II compared with angiotensin (1-7) and may be an important contributor to COVID-19 pathophysiology.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of RAS modulation using 2 investigational RAS agents, TXA-127 (synthetic angiotensin [1-7]) and TRV-027 (an angiotensin II type 1 receptor-biased ligand), that are hypothesized to potentiate the action of angiotensin (1-7) and mitigate the action of the angiotensin II.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Two randomized clinical trials including adults hospitalized with acute COVID-19 and new-onset hypoxemia were conducted at 35 sites in the US between July 22, 2021, and April 20, 2022; last follow-up visit: July 26, 2022.

Characterizing burnout among healthcare epidemiologists in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic: A study of the SHEA Research Network.

A multisite research team proposed a survey to assess burnout among healthcare epidemiologists. Anonymous surveys were disseminated to eligible staff at SRN facilities. Half of the respondents were experiencing burnout.

Pharmacological approaches to the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

About 1 in 10 adults worldwide are estimated to have diabetes mellitus. They are at risk of developing life-threatening complications resulting in reduced quality of life, increased mortality and higher healthcare costs. The ability to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by modifying some of its risk factors has been hypothesized for decades.

Local Control and Survival Outcomes After Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases From Gastrointestinal Primaries: An International Multicenter Analysis.

Background: There are limited data regarding outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) primaries and brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Objective: To examine clinical outcomes after SRS for patients with brain metastases from GI primaries and evaluate potential prognostic factors.

Methods: The International Radiosurgery Research Foundation centers were queried for patients with brain metastases from GI primaries managed with SRS.

Improving mastery and retention of knowledge and complex skills among sterile processing professionals: A pilot study on borescope training and competency testing.

Background: Health care is shifting toward minimally invasive procedures requiring increasingly complex instruments and sophisticated processing technologies. Effective training methods are needed to ensure sterile processing professionals acquire and retain essential skills. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a new training model that supports mastery and retention of complex key skills.

Patient and Family Mistreatment of Residents in the Surgical Learning Environment.

Objective: Identify the frequency and types of mistreatment experienced by residents from patients and their families (P&F) and determine whether the types and frequency varied based on resident gender.

Design: An anonymous survey was distributed to residents to assess the types of P&F mistreatment toward residents and the association with resident gender.

Setting: The survey was distributed to the general surgery and urology programs at a large academic medical center in the mid-Atlantic.

Ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD): From A to Z.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a definitive therapy for a variety of disorders. One of the complications is acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), which has a high mortality rate. Patients can also develop chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), a more indolent yet afflicting condition that affects up to 70% of patients.

Use of substances to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic among transgender and gender diverse adults.

Studies have found changes in substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic in specific populations. Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals have experienced greater distress compared to cisgender individuals during the pandemic; however, there is little research on substance use among TGD individuals during this sensitive time period. The objective of this study is to examine distress from COVID-19 and coping via substance use including alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) among TGD adults.

Impact of Intraoperative Hypothermia on Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

Objective: Studies have identified perioperative hypothermia as a risk factor for impaired wound healing, increased hospital length of stay, and surgical site infection. This study examines the effect of intraoperative hypothermia on postoperative outcomes in autologous microvascular free flap breast reconstruction.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of 55 patients who experienced intraoperative hypothermia, defined as less than 35.

A Network Analysis of the PART-O at 1 and 2 Years After TBI: A Veterans Affairs Model Systems Study.

Objective: The construct of participation after traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be difficult to operationalize. Psychometric network analysis offers an empirical approach to visualizing and quantifying the associations between activities that comprise participation, elucidating the relations among the construct's components without assuming the presence of a latent common cause and generating a model to inform future measurement methods. The current research applied psychometric network analysis to the Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools-Objective (PART-O) within a sample of service members and veterans (SM/Vs) with a history of TBI at 1 and 2 years ( T1 and T2 ) postinjury.

The effect of oral guaifenesin on pediatric chronic rhinitis: A pilot study.

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of guaifenesin in the relief of nasal symptoms in children with chronic rhinitis (CR). We hypothesized that guaifenesin use over a 14-day study period would improve subjective nasal complaints in pediatric patients with chronic rhinitis, as measured by the SinoNasal-5 (SN-5) survey. We also hypothesized improvement in nasal volume and cross-sectional area with guaifenesin.

Comparison of clozapine doses and tolerability in patients with and without concurrent valproic acid.

Introduction: Valproic acid (VPA) and its various formulations can be given in conjunction with clozapine for seizure prophylaxis or for augmentation in schizophrenia. There is conflicting literature on how VPA affects clozapine metabolism and the incidence of clozapine-related side effects. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of VPA when given concurrently with clozapine to patients on clozapine monotherapy.

Novel classification system for periprosthetic distal femoral fractures: a consideration for comminution.

Purpose: Comminution is an aspect of periprosthetic distal femoral fractures (PDFFs) that can influence postoperative outcomes and treatment selection, but is not included in current classification systems. We propose a new classification system for PDFFs based on comminution and cortical reads. This study aims to prove its reliability and efficacy to predict fracture severity and guide treatment.

Cell-free next-generation sequencing impacts diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy in immunocompromised hosts: A retrospective study.

Background: Cell-free next-generation sequencing (cfNGS) may have a unique role in the diagnosis of infectious complications in immunocompromised hosts. The rapid turnaround time and non-invasive nature make it a promising supplement to standard of care.

Methods: This retrospective, observational single-center study at a tertiary care medical center in Virginia investigated the use of cfNGS in clinical practice.

The Impact of Racial Disparities on Outcome in Patients With Stage IIIC Endometrial Carcinoma: A Pooled Data Analysis.

Objective: To report the impact of race on clinical outcomes in patients with stage IIIC endometrial carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective multi-institutional study included 90 black and 568 non-black patients with stage IIIC endometrial carcinoma who received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.