The early diagnosis of sepsis in the acutely ill cancer patient.

The sepsis syndrome is the systemic response of the body to infection. It develops from the earliest stage, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome sepsis, to severe sepsis, septic shock and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome. The incidence of sepsis is growing and globally accounts for one in ten admissions to Intensive Care Units. The mortality rate for severe sepsis ranges from 25% to 67%. People with cancer are ten times more likely to develop sepsis and having developed it have a higher mortality rate. Early recognition and treatment of sepsis has been demonstrated to improve outcomes. This study sought to improve early recognition of sepsis in cancer patients receiving acute treatment. Nurses and patient assessment were the focus of this study. The design was a prospective multi-method observational study with two interventions: a teaching session for 177 nurses; the introduction of a bedside test - Procalcitonin (PCT-Q), an immunological marker of sepsis. PCT has been shown to be a reliable marker of sepsis. The PCT-Q, has been used since the late 1990s but never by ward nurses. Methods used were: qualitative interviews of ten nurses and a questionnaire survey of 177 nurses pre and post intervention; and a patient database with the PCT-Q test being used 416 times in 320 patients to diagnose sepsis. The study showed that nurses and patients recognise the early changes of deterioration before their observations change. Nurses recognise these changes because they know their patients well. Nurses' knowledge improved in several areas during the study and they used PCT-Q appropriately, diagnosing sepsis at an early stage in 66% of cases. Ordinal multi-regression analysis demonstrated that PCT was more reliable than CRP and, used together with a low WBC and high lactate, accurately predicts sepsis

The psychological and wellbeing impacts of quarantine on frontline workers during COVID-19 and beyond

Objective: The current study investigated the experiences, wellbeing impacts, and coping strategies of frontline workers who participated in “Hotels for Heroes”, an Australian voluntary hotel quarantine program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was open to those who were COVID-19 positive or exposed to COVID-19 as part of their profession. Methods: Frontline workers who had stayed in voluntary quarantine between April 2020 and March 2021 were invited to participate in a voluntary, anonymous, cross-sectional online survey including both quantitative and qualitative responses. Complete responses were collected from 106 participants, which included data on sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, experiences of the Hotels for Heroes program, and validated mental health measures. Results: Mental health problems were prevalent amongst frontline workers (e.g., moderate anxiety symptoms, severe depression symptoms, and greater than usual impact of fatigue). For some, quarantine appeared to be helpful for anxiety and burnout, but quarantine also appeared to impact anxiety, depression, and PTSD negatively, and longer stays in quarantine were associated with significantly higher coronavirus anxiety and fatigue impacts. The most widely received support in quarantine was from designated program staff; however, this was reportedly accessed by less than half of the participants. Conclusions: The current study points to specific aspects of mental health care that can be applied to participants of similar voluntary quarantine programs in the future. It seems necessary to screen for psychological needs at various stages of quarantine, and to allocate appropriate care and improve its accessibility, as many participants did not utilise the routine support offered. Support should especially target disease-related anxiety, symptoms of depression and trauma, and the impacts of fatigue. Future research is needed to clarify specific phases of need throughout quarantine programs, and the barriers for participants receiving mental health supports in these contexts

Positional clustering improves computational binding site detection and identifies novel cis-regulatory sites in mammalian GABA(A) receptor subunit genes

Understanding transcription factor (TF) mediated control of gene expression remains a major challenge at the interface of computational and experimental biology. Computational techniques predicting TF-binding site specificity are frequently unreliable. On the other hand, comprehensive experimental validation is difficult and time consuming. We introduce a simple strategy that dramatically improves robustness and accuracy of computational binding site prediction. First, we evaluate the rate of recurrence of computational TFBS predictions by commonly used sampling procedures. We find that the vast majority of results are biologically meaningless. However clustering results based on nucleotide position improves predictive power. Additionally, we find that positional clustering increases robustness to long or imperfectly selected input sequences. Positional clustering can also be used as a mechanism to integrate results from multiple sampling approaches for improvements in accuracy over each one alone. Finally, we predict and validate regulatory sequences partially responsible for transcriptional control of the mammalian type A γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABA(A)R) subunit genes. Positional clustering is useful for improving computational binding site predictions, with potential application to improving our understanding of mammalian gene expression. In particular, predicted regulatory mechanisms in the mammalian GABA(A)R subunit gene family may open new avenues of research towards understanding this pharmacologically important neurotransmitter receptor system

Patterns and correlates of tobacco control behavior among american association of pediatric dentistry members: a cross-sectional national study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To determine the tobacco-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors among US pediatric dentists.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A survey was conducted in 1998 among a national, random sample of 1500 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry members. Chi-square tests and logistic regression with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals assessed factors related to pediatric dentists' tobacco control behaviors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Response was 65% for the survey. Only 12% of respondents had prior tobacco prevention/cessation training. Of those untrained, 70% were willing to be trained. Less than two-thirds correctly answered any of four tobacco-related knowledge items. Over one-half agreed pediatric dentists should engage in tobacco control behaviors, but identified patient resistance as a barrier. About 24% of respondents reported always/often asking their adolescent patients about tobacco use; 73% reported always/often advising known tobacco users to quit; and 37% of respondents always/often assisting with stopping tobacco use. Feeling prepared to perform tobacco control behaviors (ORs = 1.9–2.8), a more positive attitude score (4 points) from 11 tobacco-related items (ORs = 1.5–1.8), and a higher statewide tobacco use prevalence significantly predicted performance of tobacco control behaviors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Findings suggest thatraining programs on tobacco use and dependence treatment in the pediatric dental setting may be needed to promote tobacco control behaviors for adolescent patients.</p

Secondary prevention after ischaemic stroke: the ASPIRE-S study

BACKGROUND: Survivors of ischaemic stroke (IS) are at high-risk for future vascular events. Comprehensive information on the adequacy of secondary prevention after IS is lacking despite the knowledge that appropriate secondary prevention improves long-term patient outcomes. ASPIRE-S (Action on Secondary Prevention Interventions and Rehabilitation in Stroke) aimed to prospectively assess secondary prevention in patients 6 months following IS. METHODS: Consenting patients admitted with IS to three Dublin hospitals were recruited over 1 year, from October 2011. At 6 months post IS a comprehensive assessment was completed, modelled on the EUROASPIRE protocol for evaluation of the adequacy of secondary prevention in post-discharge cardiac patients. This assessment included measurements of blood pressure, body mass index and fasting lipid and glucose profiles. Secondary preventive medications and smoking status were also documented. RESULTS: Three hundred two patients (58 % male) participated, of whom 256 (85 %) were followed-up at 6 months. Mean age was 69 years (range 22–95). At follow-up, 68 % of patients had a BMI >25 kg/m(2) and 16.4 % were still smoking. Almost two-thirds (63.4 %) had a blood pressure >140/90 and 23 % had low-density-lipoprotein >2.5 mmol/L. 28 % of diabetic patients had HbA1c ≥7 %. Ninety seven percent of patients were on anti-platelet and/or anticoagulant therapy. Of those with atrial fibrillation, 82 % were anti-coagulated (mean INR of 2.4). Ninety-five percent were on lipid-lowering therapy and three-quarters were on anti-hypertensive therapy. CONCLUSION: This prospective multi-centre survey of IS patients demonstrated a high prevalence of remaining modifiable risk factors at 6 months post stroke, despite the widespread prescription of secondary preventive medications. There is scope to improve preventive measures after IS (in particular blood pressure) by incorporating evidence-based guidelines into quality assurance cycles in stroke care

Cancer patients’ care at the end of life in a critical care environment : Perspectives of families, patients and practitioners

Background: End-of-life care (EOLC) for critically ill patients, of whom 20% will die in critical care, remains somewhat problematic (Truog et al, 2008). EOLC is an established domain in cancer; however research has not been conducted previously into dying, critically ill cancer patients’ experiences. Aim: To explore EOLC experiences of critically ill cancer patients, families, oncologists, palliative care specialists, critical care consultants and nurses. Methods: Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology was used to explore experiences of thirty-seven participants: patients (and families) (n=13), families of patients who had died (n=6), oncologists (n=2), palliative care consultants (n=2), critical care consultants (n=7), critical care nurses and critical care consultants in a UK specialist critical care unit from Jan 2007-Jan 2008. Purposive sampling was used. Interviews were taped, transcribed and analysed using Heideggerian phenomenological principles and Van Manen’s (1990) phenomenological analysis framework. Results: A phenomenological description of a continuum of dying in cancer critical illness, and impact on opportunities for EOLC, will be presented with different participant experiences along that continuum. Three main themes included: Dual Prognostication; The Meaning of Decision Making; and Care Practices at EOL: Choreographing a Good Death, with two sub-themes: Thinking the Unthinkable and Involvement in Care. EOLC was an emotive experience for all participants and core tenets for good EOLC included comfort, less visible technology, privacy and dignity. These findings will be discussed in relation to EOLC and critical illness. Discussion: This work builds on Seymour’s (2001) theory of negotiated and natural dying around achieving good death in critical care. Conclusion: The practice implication of this study shows how nurses could use the care of patients dying in critical care as an opportunity to develop specialist knowledge and lead in care, but this requires mastery and reconciliation of both technology and EOLC. The cancer model of EOLC needs translating into critical care