Lipid droplet utilization by the mouse embryo

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Test–retest reliability of handgrip strength measurement in children and preadolescents

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this record. The reliability of handgrip strength (HGS) measurement has been confirmed in adults but has been sparsely addressed in pediatric populations. The aims of this study are twofold: to determine whether sex, age and/or hand-dominance influence the test–retest differences and to establish the reliability level of the HGS measurement in typical developing pediatric participants. A total of 338 participants aged 7–13 years were tested using a digital handgrip strength (HGS) dynamometer (Jamar Plus+ Dynamometer) by the same rater on two testing trials separated by a one-day interval between sessions. The HGS testing was conducted according to the American Society of Hand Therapists recommendations. Relative and absolute reliability statistics were calculated. Age influenced the test–retest difference of the HGS measurement as children compared to preadolescents had lower intraclass correlation coefficients (0.95 vs. 0.98), standard error of measurement (SEM) (0.74 vs. 0.78 kg), smallest detectable difference (SDD) (2.05 vs. 2.16 kg) and higher values of the percentage value of SEM (5.48 vs. 3.44%), normalized SDD (15.52 vs. 9.61%) and a mean difference between the test and retest values (0.50 vs. 0.02 kg) for the dominant hand. The results indicate that the protocol using the Jamar digital handgrip dynamometer is a reliable instrument to measure HGS in participants aged 7–13 years with typical development. Clinicians and researchers therefore can have confidence in determining the minimally clinical effect for HGS

Heart Rate Variability in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy-A Systematic Literature Review.

This is the final version. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction has been reported in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). The aim of this study was to assess the existing literature on heart rate variability (HRV) in pediatric patients with CP and a special attention was paid to the compliance of the studies with the current HRV assessment and interpretation guidelines. A systematic review was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases searched for English language publications from 1996 to 2019 using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms "heart rate variability" and "cerebral palsy" in conjunction with additional inclusion criteria: studies limited to humans in the age range of 0-18 years and empirical investigations. Out of 47 studies, 12 were included in the review. Pediatric patients with CP presented a significantly higher resting heart rate and reduced HRV, different autonomic responses to movement stimuli compared to children with normal development, but also reduced HRV parameters in the children dependent on adult assistance for mobility compared to those generally independent. None of the included studies contained the necessary details concerning RR intervals acquisition and HRV measurements as recommended by the guidelines. Authors of HRV studies should follow the methodological guidelines and recommendations on HRV measurement, because such an approach may allow a direct comparison of their results

Does the position of the body impact the return of spontaneous circulation and hospital survival in sudden cardiac arrest patients?

Introduction: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a big medical problem.Material and methods: The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of sitting position in victims of OHCA at the arrival of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and examine whether maintaining a supine position until ambulance arrival impacts the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival until hospital admission and discharge. The documentation of patients in the OHCA registry of part of Silesian Voivodeship 1–06.2018 was accessed and yielded 634 cases for analysis.Results: The sitting position was found in 41 (6.5%) patients. These patients were more frequently female: 46.3% vs 30.6%, and older: 74.0 (57.9–82.0) vs 67.7 (54.9–75.8) and less frequently received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from bystanders: 7.3% vs 63.6%, while ROSC was found with similar frequency: 34.2% vs 34.1%, survival until hospital admission in ROSC subgroups was lower in those in a sitting position than in a lying position: 50% vs 75.5%. None patients who were found in the sitting position survived until hospital discharge, while 33 (6.1%) patients out of those found in the lying positions survived. The univariable analysis showed that the sitting position was associated with female sex, older age, previously implanted implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) before OHCA. The multivariable logistic revealed that the sitting position was independently associated with chest pain and the presence of ICD.Conclusions: Patients found in a sitting position at the arrival of EMS constituted 6.5% of patients with OHCA in whom resuscitation attempts were undertaken and were at higher risk of unfavorable outcomes

Treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome: Recommendations for medical emergency teams: Focus on antiplatelet therapies. Updated experts’ standpoint

A group of Polish experts in cardiology and emergency medicine, encouraged by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, have recently published common recommendations for medical emergency teams regarding the pre-hospital management of patients with acute coronary syndrome. Due to the recent publication of the 2017 ESC guidelines for the management of acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation and 2017 focused update on dual antiplatelet therapy in coronary artery disease the current panel of experts decided to update the previous standpoint. Moreover, new data coming from studies presented after the previous document was issued were also taken into consideration