Do Beliefs about Knowledge Predict Occupational Therapy Students’ Critical Thinking? A Longitudinal Correlational Study

Beliefs about knowledge and knowing, or epistemic and ontological cognition (EOC), are potential influences on critical thinking, yet little research exploring these relationships has been published in educational literature or in occupational therapy (OT). This study examined the association between domain-general and OT-specific EOC and critical thinking in OT students. The Epistemological Beliefs Inventory, modified Four-Quadrant Scale, and Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal were administered to a convenience sample of 102 OT students, before and after the didactic portion of an OT program. Results of logistic regression indicated that only the general belief in an omniscient authority as a source of knowledge was a statistically significant predictor of critical thinking, both before and after the didactic portion of the program. These findings partially support the hypothesis that EOC and critical thinking are related. Domain-general EOC and OT-specific ontological cognition also became more sophisticated over time, but OT-specific epistemic cognition and critical thinking did not change significantly

Feasibility of identifying families for genetic studies of birth defects using the National Health Interview Survey

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the National Health Interview Survey is a useful source to identify informative families for genetic studies of birth defects. METHODS: The 1994/1995 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was used to identify households where individuals with two or more birth defects reside. Four groups of households were identified: 1) single non-familial (one individual with one birth defect); 2) single familial (more than one individual with one birth defect); 3) multiple non-familial (one individual with more than one birth defect), and 4) multiple familial (more than one individual with more than one birth defect). The March 2000 U.S. Census on households was used to estimate the total number of households in which there are individuals with birth defects. RESULTS: Of a total of 28,094 households and surveyed about birth defects and impairments, 1,083 single non-familial, 55 multiple non-familial, 54 single familial, and 8 multiple familial households were identified. Based on the 2000 U.S. census, it is estimated that there are 4,472,385 households where at least one person has one birth defect in the United States and in 234,846 of them there are at least two affected individuals. Western states had the highest prevalence rates. CONCLUSIONS: Population-based methods, such as the NHIS, are modestly useful to identify the number and the regions where candidate families for genetic studies of birth defects reside. Clinic based studies and birth defects surveillance systems that collect family history offer better probability of ascertainment

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Exposures associated with non-typhoidal Salmonella infections caused by Newport, Javiana, and Mississippi serotypes in tennessee, 2013–2015: A case-case analysis

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infection (salmonellosis) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases throughout the world. Human infections caused by Salmonella Newport, Javiana, and Mississippi serotypes have been observed to occur at higher rates on an annual basis in western Tennessee. The reason for the increased rate of NTS infection by these three serotypes in this region is not known. We conducted a case-case analysis to identify potential risk factors associated with the three Salmonella serotypes using FoodNet data, obtained from the Tennessee Department of Health, consisting of 1578 culture-confirmed salmonellosis cases in Tennessee from 2013 through 2015. Among all the exposure variables tested (254 in total), we found contact with pet treats or chews in the seven days prior to illness was the factor that was significantly associated with these serotypes compared to other serotypes (odds ratio adjusted = 3.0 (95% confidence intervals 1.6, 5.5), P \u3c 0.0005). This study highlights the need for further investigation of potential exposures (other than pet treats or chews), including several possible environmental sources of NTS infection in humans

Sources of human infection by Salmonella enterica serotype Javiana: A systematic review.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infection is one of the major causes of diarrheal disease throughout the world. In recent years, an increase in human S. Javiana infection has been reported from the southern part of the United States. However, the sources and routes of transmission of this Salmonella serotype are not well understood. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to identify risk factors for human S. Javiana infection. Using PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic search in Web of Science, PubMed, and the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Searches returned 63 potential articles, of which 12 articles met all eligibility criteria and were included in this review. A review of the literature indicated that both food and non-food (such as animal contact) exposures are responsible for the transmission of S. Javiana infection to humans. Consumption of fresh produce (tomatoes and watermelons), herbs (paprika-spice), dairy products (cheese), drinking contaminated well water and animal contact were associated with human S. Javiana infections. Based on the findings of this study, control of human S. Javiana infection should include three factors, (a) consumption of drinking water after treatment, (b) safe animal contact, and (c) safe food processing and handling procedures. The risk factors of S. Javiana infections identified in the current study provide helpful insight into the major vehicles of transmission of S. Javiana. Eventually, this will help to improve the risk management of this Salmonella serotype to reduce the overall burden of NTS infection in humans

The effect of under-dosing prophylactic antibiotics in the care of open tibial fractures

Objectives: To determine the frequency and effect of under-dosing prophylactic weight-based antibiotics in patients with open tibial fractures. We hypothesized that patients who did not receive appropriate weight-based dosing of prophylactic antibiotics would have higher rates of infection. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Level 1 Trauma Center. Patients/Participants: Patients 18 years of age or older with high-grade (Gustilo-Anderson type IIIA or IIIB) open extraarticular tibial fractures over a 5-year period. Main Outcome: The primary outcome was deep infection within one year of initial injury. Appropriate weight-based dosing of cefazolin was defined as: At least 1 g for patients \u3c80 kg, 2 g for patients between 80 and 120 kg, and 3 g for patients \u3e120 kg. Results: Sixty-three patients met the inclusion criteria; 21 (33%) were under-dosed with cefazolin at the time of initial presentation. Among the 20 patients who subsequently developed deep infection, only 55% were appropriately dosed with cefazolin; of the patients who did not develop deep infection, 72% were appropriately dosed with cefazolin (P = 0.18). Univariate analysis revealed that hypertension was associated with infection (P = 0.049). Multivariable logistic regression analysis of infection due to all organisms did not reveal a statistically significant reduction in the odds of infection with appropriate weight-based dosing of cefazolin [Odds ratio = 0.42 (95% confidence interval, 0.12-1.48), P = 0.177]. Five of 7 (71%) of the gram positive, non-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, infections occurred in patients who were under-dosed with cefazolin. Five (23.8%) of 21 patients who were under-dosed with cefazolin had gram-positive, non-methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections, compared to 2 (4.8%) of 42 patients who were appropriately dosed (P = 0.036). Conclusions: Under-dosing of weight-based antibiotics in the treatment of open fractures is common. Appropriate weight-based dosing of cefazolin for prophylaxis in high-grade open tibial fractures reduces the frequency of infection due to cefazolin-sensitive organisms. Interestingly, organisms not susceptible to cefazolin were responsible for the majority of infections. The effect of under-dosing of cefazolin and other weight-based antibiotics deserves further investigation in larger studies

Hemolysis-associated priapism in sickle cell disease

Priapism, although uncommon in the general population, is one of the many serious complications associated with sickle cell disease (SCD). Few studies have described the clinical and hematologic characteristics of individuals with priapism and SCD. Using data from the Cooperative Study for Sickle Cell Disease, we assembled 273 case subjects with priapism and 979 control subjects. Case subjects, compared with control subjects, had significantly lower levels of hemoglobin; higher levels of lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase; and higher reticulocyte, white blood cell, and platelet counts. These findings suggest an association of priapism with increased hemolysis. Hemolysis decreases the availability of circulating nitric oxide, which plays an important role in erectile function