Species composition of diatoms occurring on Elimia livescens of Burt Lake and Douglas Lake, Michigan.

Diatoms are sensitive organisms, and their presence or absence can provide information about the habitat sampled. They are commonly found in epiphytic form, and are present on the shells of the snail Elimia livescens. Two lakes were chosen in Cheboygan County, MI for a diatom community structure analysis of diatoms on the backs of E. livescens. An initial assessment was made of the diatom community structures on the shells of E. livescens. There were signficant differences in the diatom flora of both lakes, with Epithemia argus being heavily dominant in Douglas Lake and Gomphonema intricatum being dominant in Burt Lake. A reciprocal transplant experiment was also conducted using snail enclosures to determine levels of diatom growth and competitive ability of diatom communities on the backs of these snails. Differences in nutrient levels of the water as well as other factors were assessed to explain these differences across the two bodies of water. The reciprocal transplant of E. livescens showed the diatom community structure growth between lakes, as well as the differences in competitive ability of diatom species on the shells of E. livescens. It was shown that factors across the bodies of water drove the community structure of diatoms on the shells of E. livescens, as well as change already existing diatom community structures on the shells of E. livescens.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55016/1/3457.pdfDescription of 3457.pdf : Access restricted to on-site users at the U-M Biological Station

Work Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Medicine Residents.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to screen for the burden of work-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in internal medicine residents. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of internal medicine residents from three academic institutions was conducted using the PCL-5 screening tool. RESULTS: Off all residents surveyed, 5.2% screened positive for PTSD symptoms (N = 194). 86.1% of all trainees identified stressors during training. Positive PTSD screens were significantly higher in PGY3 residents (X CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported stressors are highly prevalent in internal medicine trainees. Verbal/physical assault by patients and families appear to be the triggering event for most positive screens. These observations will help with future study designs to quantify the burden of work related PTSD in internal medicine trainee physicians so that appropriate supportive measures can be provided

A preliminary quality of life questionnaire-bronchiectasis: a patient-reported outcome measure for bronchiectasis

The Quality of Life Questionnaire-Bronchiectasis (QOL-B) is the first disease-specific, patient-reported outcome measure for patients with bronchiectasis. Content validity, cognitive testing, responsivity to open-label treatment, and psychometric analyses are presented. Reviews of literature, existing measures, and physician input were used to generate the initial QOL-B. Modifications following preliminary cognitive testing (N = 35 patients with bronchiectasis) generated version (V) 1.0. An open-ended patient interview study (N = 28) provided additional information and was content analyzed to derive saturation matrices, which summarized all disease-related topics mentioned by each participant. This resulted in QOL-B V2.0. Psychometric analyses were carried out using results from an open-label phase 2 trial, in which 89 patients were enrolled and treated with aztreonam for inhalation solution. Responsivity to open-label treatment was observed. Additional analyses generated QOL-B V3.0, with 37 items on eight scales: respiratory symptoms; physical, role, emotional, and social functioning; vitality; health perceptions; and treatment burden. For each scale, scores are standardized on a 0-to-100-point scale; higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life. No total score is calculated. A final cognitive testing study (N = 40) resulted in a minor change to one social functioning scale item (QOL-B V3.1). Content validity, cognitive testing, responsivity to open-label treatment, and initial psychometric analyses supported QOL-B items and structure. This interim QOL-B is a promising tool for evaluating the efficacy of new therapies for patients with bronchiectasis and for measuring symptoms, functioning, and quality of life in these patients on a routine basis. A final psychometric validation study is needed and is forthcoming. ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00805025; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov