Preliminary Analysis of Student Accommodations at Higher Education Institutions in the Midwest with Communication Disorders Programs

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify accommodations available to students in Midwestern higher education institutions. The number of students with disabilities entering graduate programs, including in CSD, is increasing. There are multiple barriers that impact success for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations for students are legally required in higher education, but little is known about the types of accommodations available to CSD students at different institutions. An enhanced understanding of common accommodation may help CSD programs proactively prepare programs to support graduate students in academic and clinical training. Method: Analysis of the accommodations listed on the websites of 40 different institutions that provide CSD education in the Midwestern region was conducted to identify themes in accommodations in these institutions. . Results: Assistive technology was the most common type of accommodation theme identified. In addition, alternate formats and accommodations related to physical environment/assistance were also frequently noted themes. Conclusions: While the most commonly reported available accommodations are designed for use in traditional academic settings, some may also be relevant to clinical training for CSD students for disabilities. However, their application in clinical education should be made more obvious to ensure student learning and success

Pharmacologic prophylaxis for atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery: a systematic review

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia occurring after cardiac surgery. Its incidence varies depending on type of surgery. Postoperative AF may cause hemodynamic deterioration, predispose to stroke and increase mortality. Effective treatment for prophylaxis of postoperative AF is vital as reduces hospitalization and overall morbidity. Beta - blockers, have been proved to prevent effectively atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery and should be routinely used if there are no contraindications. Sotalol may be more effective than standard b-blockers for the prevention of AF without causing an excess of side effects. Amiodarone is useful when beta-blocker therapy is not possible or as additional prophylaxis in high risk patients. Other agents such as magnesium, calcium channels blocker or non-antiarrhythmic drugs as glycose-insulin - potassium, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, N-acetylcysteine and statins have been studied as alternative treatment for postoperative AF prophylaxis

Health Literacy and Global Cognitive Function Predict E-Mail but Not Internet Use in Heart Failure Patients

Background. The internet offers a potential for improving patient knowledge, and e-mail may be used in patient communication with providers. However, barriers to internet and e-mail use, such as low health literacy and cognitive impairment, may prevent patients from using technological resources. Purpose. We investigated whether health literacy, heart failure knowledge, and cognitive function were related to internet and e-mail use in older adults with heart failure (HF). Methods. Older adults (N=119) with heart failure (69.84±9.09 years) completed measures of health literacy, heart failure knowledge, cognitive functioning, and internet use in a cross-sectional study. Results. Internet and e-mail use were reported in 78.2% and 71.4% of this sample of patients with HF, respectively. Controlling for age and education, logistic regression analyses indicated that higher health literacy predicted e-mail (P<.05) but not internet use. Global cognitive function predicted e-mail (P<.05) but not internet use. Only 45% used the Internet to obtain information on HF and internet use was not associated with greater HF knowledge. Conclusions. The majority of HF patients use the internet and e-mail, but poor health literacy and cognitive impairment may prevent some patients from accessing these resources. Future studies that examine specific internet and email interventions to increase HF knowledge are needed

In vivo quantification of cerebral R2*-response to graded hyperoxia at 3 Tesla

Objectives: This study aims to quantify the response of the transverse relaxation rate of the magnetic resonance (MR) signal of the cerebral tissue in healthy volunteers to the administration of air with step-wise increasing percentage of oxygen. Materials and Methods: The transverse relaxation rate (R2*) of the MR signal was quantified in seven volunteers under respiratory intake of normobaric gas mixtures containing 21, 50, 75, and 100% oxygen, respectively. End-tidal breath composition, arterial blood saturation (SaO 2 ), and heart pulse rate were monitored during the challenge. R2* maps were computed from multi-echo, gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, acquired at 3.0T. The average values in the segmented white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) were tested by the analysis of variance (ANOVA), with Bonferroni post-hoc correction. The GM R2*-reactivity to hyperoxia was modeled using the Hill's equation. Results: Graded hyperoxia resulted in a progressive and significant (P < 0.05) decrease of the R2* in GM. Under normoxia the GM-R2* was 17.2 ± 1.1 s -1 . At 75% O 2 supply, the R2* had reached a saturation level, with 16.4 ± 0.7 s -1 (P = 0.02), without a significant further decrease for 100% O 2 . The R2*-response of GM correlated positively with CO 2 partial pressure (R = 0.69 ± 0.19) and negatively with SaO 2 (R = -0.74 ± 0.17). The WM showed a similar progressive, but non-significant, decrease in the relaxation rates, with an increase in oxygen intake (P = 0.055). The Hill's model predicted a maximum R2* response of the GM, of 3.5%, with half the maximum at 68% oxygen concentration. Conclusions: The GM-R2* responds to hyperoxia in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that monitoring and modeling of the R2*-response may provide new oxygenation biomarkers for tumor therapy or assessment of cerebrovascular reactivity in patients