Health and Economic Burden of Post-Partum Staphylococcus aureus Breast Abscess

Objectives: To determine the health and economic burdens of post-partum Staphylococcus aureus breast abscess. Study design We conducted a matched cohort study (N = 216) in a population of pregnant women (N = 32,770) who delivered at our center during the study period from 10/1/03–9/30/10. Data were extracted from hospital databases, or via chart review if unavailable electronically. We compared cases of S. aureus breast abscess to controls matched by delivery date to compare health services utilization and mean attributable medical costs in 2012 United States dollars using Medicare and hospital-based estimates. We also evaluated whether resource utilization and health care costs differed between cases with methicillin-resistant and -susceptible S. aureus isolates. Results: Fifty-four cases of culture-confirmed post-partum S. aureus breast abscess were identified. Breastfeeding cessation (41%), milk fistula (11.1%) and hospital readmission (50%) occurred frequently among case patients. Breast abscess case patients had high rates of health services utilization compared to controls, including high rates of imaging and drainage procedures. The mean attributable cost of post-partum S. aureus breast abscess ranged from $2,340–$4,012, depending on the methods and data sources used. Mean attributable costs were not significantly higher among methicillin-resistant vs. –susceptible S. aureus cases. Conclusions: Post-partum S. aureus breast abscess is associated with worse health and economic outcomes for women and their infants, including high rates of breastfeeding cessation. Future study is needed to determine the optimal treatment and prevention of these infections

The Ursinus Weekly, January 23, 1969

Williams presents Aesthetic Japan • USGA announces students named to Ursinus Board • Cut system modified for failing students • Ursinus obtains Gulf Oil grant • Merck & Co. awards research grant to UC • Final examination schedule • Confrontation: Black vs. white • Editorial: Another chapter in the ongoing inquiry in the higher morality as precepted and pursued on the Ursinus College campus • Letters to the editor • Exchange • Underground films debut at Ursinus • Editorial: Neglected issues • Faculty portrait: Dr. Levie Van Dam • Freeland spirit pervades • Parents O.K. strict rules • Bears drop three, fall to PMC, 61-60 • UC matmen down Albright squad • The President casts a vote for football • Greek gleanings • Committee deliberates on Ursinus centennial • A.C.A.C. initiates graduate services • Placement Office posts interviewshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1169/thumbnail.jp

Soft X-ray analysis of a loop flare on the Sun

We present the results of an analysis of soft X-ray images for a solar flare which occurred on 1992 July 11. This flare, as seen in Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) images was of comparatively simple geometry, consisting of two bright footpoints early in the flare with a bright loop seen later in the flare. We examine how closely this flare compares with the supposed paradigm of a confined simple-loop flare. Closer examination of the SXT images reveals that the flare structure consisted of at least two adjacent loops, one much fainter than the other. We examine the brighter of the two soft X-ray loops. The SXT images reveal an apparent slow, northward motion of this loop (roughly transverse to its major axis). Examination of derived emission measure and temperature images also indicate an apparent northward motion. In addition, we find an increase in the cross-sectional width at the top of the loop with time. Emission measure maps derived from the SXT images also indicates an apparent broadening of the loop-top region. We infer that the apparent northward motion and the apparent broadening of the soft X-ray emission can be explained in a reconnection scenario where successive magnetic field structures do not lie in a plane but are tilted to the south of the line of sight but with successively brightening loops oriented at less tilted angles. Halpha images for this flare reveal an evolution from a few brilliant points to a short two- ribbon-like appearance. Comparison of the SXT images with the Halpha images shows that the Halpha patches are aligned with the footpoints of the soft X-ray loops, suggesting the presence of a small arcade structure. There is no clear evidence for an eruptive signature in our observations nor in reports from other observations. The lack of an eruptive signature could suggest that the flare may have been a confined simple-loop flare, but this is not compelling due to a gap in the coronal observations prior to and early in the event. Analysis of our observations indicate that the flare exhibited characteristics suggesting that it may be better understood as a mini-arcade flare. These results casts doubt on the validity of the supposed paradigm of a confined simple-loop flare, at least for this flare. They indicate that even an apparently simple-loop flare may be considered to be a variety of arcade flare. We also find an effect which, to our knowledge, has not been reported before: the hot flaring regions later become cooler than the surrounding quiescent corona. That is, the flare loops do not evolve into bright active region loops, but into cooler loops. This may indicate an increase in the efficiency of the cooling mechanism or a transformed equilibrium state within the flaring loops

Gender and educational leadership in England: a comparison of secondary headteachers' views over time

In the context of gender being a barrier to accessing leadership, this paper presents a comparison of the views of men and women head teacher (principals) of secondary schools in England in the 1990s and in 2004. The same survey instrument was used on both occasions. The perceptions of the head teachers show change in some areas and no change in others. Overall, women are more likely to become head teachers and are now less likely to be categorised into pastoral roles, but in some cases women still meet prejudice from governors and others in the wider community. Women head teachers are more likely to have partners and children than in the 1990s, sharing equally or carrying most of the domestic responsibilities, whereas male colleagues are most likely to have partners who take the majority of responsibility in the home. Essentialist stereotypes about women and men as leaders still prevail, although both the women and men head teachers see themselves as adopting a traditionally ‘feminine’ style of leadership. Women head teachers are likely to see some benefits in being a woman in a role stereotypically associated with men. However, there has been an increase in the proportion of women who feel that they have to prove their worth as a leader, and this may be linked with increased levels of accountability in schools

Randomized, phase II selection study of ramucirumab and paclitaxel versus FOLFIRI in refractory small bowel adenocarcinoma: SWOG S1922

Background: Small bowel adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy with limited evidence to support the choice of systemic chemotherapy beyond the frontline setting. Though second-line therapy has historically been extrapolated from colorectal cancers, recent molecular data has demonstrated small bowel adenocarcinoma to be genomically unique when compared to either colon or gastric cancer. Retrospective analyses of irinotecan- and taxane-based therapies and one prospective phase II clinical trial of nab-paclitaxel have demonstrated clinical activity in this cancer. Ramucirumab/paclitaxel represents an active combination in the management of gastric cancer. SWOG 1922 evaluates the use of FOLFIRI or ramucirumab/paclitaxel in the second- and later-line setting for small bowel adenocarcinoma. Methods: This is randomized, phase II, selection design clinical trial of FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and irinotecan) every two weeks or ramucirumab D1,15 and paclitaxel D1,8,15 every 4 weeks with the primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints include response rate, overall survival, and safety. Archived paraffin tumor tissue collection and serial blood collections are included for correlative analyses. Key eligibility criteria include having mismatch repair proficient/microsatellite stable small bowel adenocarcinoma (ampullary location excluded); metastatic or locally advanced unresectable disease; prior fluoropyrimidine and/or oxaliplatin therapy; no prior treatment with irinotecan, ramucirumab, or taxanes; no recent bleeding, blood clots, or bowel perforation/fistula; and Zubrod performance status of 0/1. Measurable disease is not required. The null hypothesis is median PFS of 2.5 months. If a median PFS of at least 3.5 months is observed in one or both arms, the goal is to choose the better regimen with respect to this endpoint. The design provides a 90% probability of selecting the more active arm, assuming a hazard ratio of 1.4, if both arms meet this threshold. This trial is open and, as of September 1, 2021, 21 of 94 planned patients have been enrolled

Fluoroquinolones Protective against Cephalosporin Resistance in Gram-negative Nosocomial Pathogens

In a matched case-control study, we studied the effect of prior receipt of fluoroquinolones on isolation of three third-generation cephalosporin-resistant gram-negative nosocomial pathogens. Two hundred eighty-two cases with a third-generation cephalosporin-resistant pathogen (203 with Enterobacter spp., 50 with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 29 with Klebsiella pneumoniae) were matched on length of stay to controls in a 1:2 ratio. Case-patients and controls were similar in age (mean 62 years) and sex (54% male). Variables predicting third-generation cephalosporin resistance were surgery (p = 0.005); intensive care unit stay (p < 0.001); and receipt of a β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor (p < 0.001), a ureidopenicillin (p = 0.002), or a third-generation cephalosporin (p < 0.001). Receipt of a fluoroquinolone was protective against isolation of a third-generation cephalosporin-resistant pathogen (p = 0.005). Interventional studies are required to determine whether replacing third-generation cephalosporins with fluoroquinolones will be effective in reducing cephalosporin resistance and the effect of such interventions on fluoroquinolone resistance

The Ursinus Weekly, October 31, 1968

Evaluation favorable; Provincialism assailed • Nixon overwhelms Humphrey; Rightward trend reflected • Founders\u27 Day honors alumni; Honorary degrees conferred • Secret society members elected • Placement Office offers services to \u2769 graduates • Barbara Bruzgo crowned \u2768 Homecoming Queen • Editorial: Activities chaos • Grand Dragon at U.C.; Klan views stated • Grape conspiracy • Letters to the editor • Formation of a fourth party • Editorial: Literary dilemma • Arts forum features four faculty speakers • Opinion: Sulphuric acid + gas • Bears rip Garnet in Homecoming game after humiliating defeat at Muhlenberg • Gillespie and Gane selected as co-captains • Soccer team defeated by Mules and Delaware as Grau is injured • Inside track: And Drexel makes eighteen • Bearettes and West Chester battle here next Thursday • Magicians, Homecoming and R. J. Whatley • Flowers are still undefeated as I.T.F.L. enters fourth week; Beta Sig upsets Sig Rho, 12-7 • Del Valley\u27s QB is man to watch • Hockey team destroys opponents; Cash and Landis star, score 13 • Greek gleaningshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1165/thumbnail.jp

The large longitudinal spread of solar energetic particles during the January 17, 2010 solar event

We investigate multi-spacecraft observations of the January 17, 2010 solar energetic particle event. Energetic electrons and protons have been observed over a remarkable large longitudinal range at the two STEREO spacecraft and SOHO suggesting a longitudinal spread of nearly 360 degrees at 1AU. The flaring active region, which was on the backside of the Sun as seen from Earth, was separated by more than 100 degrees in longitude from the magnetic footpoints of each of the three spacecraft. The event is characterized by strongly delayed energetic particle onsets with respect to the flare and only small or no anisotropies in the intensity measurements at all three locations. The presence of a coronal shock is evidenced by the observation of a type II radio burst from the Earth and STEREO B. In order to describe the observations in terms of particle transport in the interplanetary medium, including perpendicular diffusion, a 1D model describing the propagation along a magnetic field line (model 1) (Dr\"oge, 2003) and the 3D propagation model (model 2) by (Dr\"oge et al., 2010) including perpendicular diffusion in the interplanetary medium have been applied, respectively. While both models are capable of reproducing the observations, model 1 requires injection functions at the Sun of several hours. Model 2, which includes lateral transport in the solar wind, reveals high values for the ratio of perpendicular to parallel diffusion. Because we do not find evidence for unusual long injection functions at the Sun we favor a scenario with strong perpendicular transport in the interplanetary medium as explanation for the observations.Comment: The final publication is available at http://www.springerlink.co

Self-tuning to the Hopf bifurcation in fluctuating systems

The problem of self-tuning a system to the Hopf bifurcation in the presence of noise and periodic external forcing is discussed. We find that the response of the system has a non-monotonic dependence on the noise-strength, and displays an amplified response which is more pronounced for weaker signals. The observed effect is to be distinguished from stochastic resonance. For the feedback we have studied, the unforced self-tuned Hopf oscillator in the presence of fluctuations exhibits sharp peaks in its spectrum. The implications of our general results are briefly discussed in the context of sound detection by the inner ear.Comment: 37 pages, 7 figures (8 figure files

The Ursinus Weekly, December 19, 1968

Messiah presented by Ursinus choir; Performances draw SRO audiences • Frat system & houses favored by students; 12% thumbs down! • 878 enrolled in U.C. Evening School • YM-YWCA supports SFARC investigation • Editorial: Activities chaos rolls on • Drama in real life • Student long-term planning committee report • Letters to the editor • Flu strikes East; U.C. still healthy • A memory with pillars • A Christmas story • Murmurs from within • Exchange • Faculty portrait: Mr. Sharp; Hangup on social problems overshadows intellectual quest • UC pranks: They\u27re all in good fun; Was Freeland ghost really Dr. Helfferich? • Many of greatest pranks took place in Chapel • Doctors Yost and Parsons recall Ursinus shenanigans of yesteryear; Boycotts, pigs, moths make hits • Protheatre makes hit debut in New Theatre production • Opinion: Open letter to Byron Jackson • Greek gleanings • Winning doesn\u27t count but being clean-shaven does • Snellbelles open against Moravian • Outweighed, but still fighting • Bears to face area teams, will see many super sophs • Women\u27s wrestling wound-up • Quiet revolution topic of discussion • Dr. Lewis announces $1000 trust fund • Blacks\u27 non-recognition: one topic for USGAhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1168/thumbnail.jp