Extracorporeal Lung Support as a Bridge to Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tumor Embolism

Bridging to diagnosis is an emerging technique used in end-stage cardiorespiratory failure that prolongs a patient’s life using various modalities of extracorporeal lung support (ECLS) to achieve antemortem diagnosis. Pulmonary tumor embolism occurs when cell clusters travel from primary malignancies through venous circulation to the lungs, causing respiratory failure through inflammatory and venoocclusive pathways. Due to its nonspecific symptomatology, pulmonary tumor embolism remains an elusive diagnosis antemortem. Herein, we bridge a patient who presented in acute respiratory failure to the diagnosis of pulmonary tumor embolism from a gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma using ECLS modalities including venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and centrally cannulated Novalung pumpless extracorporeal lung assist. We demonstrate the utility of this approach in diagnostically uncertain cases in unstable patients who are potentially acceptable ECLS and transplant candidates

Extracorporeal Lung Support as a Bridge to Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tumor Embolism

Bridging to diagnosis is an emerging technique used in end-stage cardiorespiratory failure that prolongs a patient’s life using various modalities of extracorporeal lung support (ECLS) to achieve antemortem diagnosis. Pulmonary tumor embolism occurs when cell clusters travel from primary malignancies through venous circulation to the lungs, causing respiratory failure through inflammatory and venoocclusive pathways. Due to its nonspecific symptomatology, pulmonary tumor embolism remains an elusive diagnosis antemortem. Herein, we bridge a patient who presented in acute respiratory failure to the diagnosis of pulmonary tumor embolism from a gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma using ECLS modalities including venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and centrally cannulated Novalung pumpless extracorporeal lung assist. We demonstrate the utility of this approach in diagnostically uncertain cases in unstable patients who are potentially acceptable ECLS and transplant candidates

Evaluating Digital Health Capability at Scale Using the Digital Health Indicator

Background Health service providers must understand their digital health capability if they are to drive digital transformation in a strategic and informed manner. Little is known about the assessment and benchmarking of digital maturity or capability at scale across an entire jurisdiction. The public health care system across the state of Queensland, Australia has an ambitious 10-year digital transformation strategy.Objective The aim of this research was to evaluate the digital health capability in Queensland to inform digital health strategy and investment.Methods The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Digital Health Indicator (DHI) was used via a cross-sectional survey design to assess four core dimensions of digital health transformation: governance and workforce; interoperability; person-enabled health; and predictive analytics across an entire jurisdiction simultaneously. The DHI questionnaire was completed by each health care system (n = 16) within Queensland in February to July 2021. DHI is scored 0 to 400 and dimension score is 0 to 100.Results The results reveal a variation in DHI scores reflecting the diverse stages of health care digitization across the state. The average DHI score across sites was 143 (range 78–193; SD35.3) which is similar to other systems in the Oceania region and global public systems but below the global private average. Governance and workforce was on average the highest scoring dimension (x̅= 54), followed by interoperability (x̅ = 46), person-enabled health (x̅ = 36), and predictive analytics (x̅ = 30).Conclusion The findings were incorporated into the new digital health strategy for the jurisdiction. As one of the largest single simultaneous assessments of digital health capability globally, the findings and lessons learnt offer insights for policy makers and organizational managers

Spray drying as effective encapsulation method for phenol degrading bacteria

485-492Encapsulated microorganisms are potential candidates for treatment of recalcitrant and persistent toxic compounds in wastewater and agriculture. Though extensive investigations have been done on bacteria with ability to degrade toxic phenolics, there is no product available for efficient removal of phenolic compounds from waste effluents. The present study aims at preparation of encapsulated microorganisms for the treatment of waste water containing phenol. Acinetobacter seifertii and Bacillus pumilus were the organisms used for effective degradation of phenol. Various encapsulation methods have been tried. Among the different carrier materials used, corn starch was found to be the best material with long shelf life. Spray drying and freeze drying were the two methods adopted for encapsulation. Based on cell viability, spray drying was found to be an effective method compared to freeze drying. A. seifertii could degrade phenol completely with in 12 h while B. pumilus degraded phenol completely within 24 h

Spray drying as effective encapsulation method for phenol degrading bacteria

485-492Encapsulated microorganisms are potential candidates for treatment of recalcitrant and persistent toxic compounds in wastewater and agriculture. Though extensive investigations have been done on bacteria with ability to degrade toxic phenolics, there is no product available for efficient removal of phenolic compounds from waste effluents. The present study aims at preparation of encapsulated microorganisms for the treatment of waste water containing phenol. Acinetobacter seifertii and Bacillus pumilus were the organisms used for effective degradation of phenol. Various encapsulation methods have been tried. Among the different carrier materials used, corn starch was found to be the best material with long shelf life. Spray drying and freeze drying were the two methods adopted for encapsulation. Based on cell viability, spray drying was found to be an effective method compared to freeze drying. A. seifertii could degrade phenol completely with in 12 h while B. pumilus degraded phenol completely within 24 h