Broken Promises: Limits of Biden's Executive Order on Private Prisons

As a Presidential candidate, Joe Biden promised to end the use of private prisons in federal incarceration and immigration detention claiming "that the federal government should not use private facilities for any detention, including detention of undocumented immigrants." This report provides an overview of progress towards that unfulfilled promise and outlines the steps the administration must take to end the federal use of private prisons and phase out the use of immigration detention entirely

Toxic epidermal necrolysis: A study of clinical profile and treatment outcome in children

Objectives: The objective of this study is to study the clinical and laboratory profile, risk factors for the development of blood culture positive septicemia and treatment outcome of children admitted with toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Methods: All children admitted with TEN from January 2012 to January 2017 were included in the study. Blood culture, organ functions, and serum electrolytes were sent at admission and repeated as clinically indicated. Children were managed with reverse isolation in workforce limited setting of a Government Medical College Hospital. Outcome measure analyzed were the duration of hospital stay, development of blood culture positive septicemia and death. Children were followed up for a variable period from 2-month to 1-year. Results: A total of 13 children were admitted with TEN in the 5-year study period, aged 7.9±3.2 years. Mean area of skin involvement was 69±19.9%. Drugs were found to be the most common cause of TEN accounting for 12 cases (92%). Evidence of renal injury was seen in 6 cases (46%). Disorders of sodium balance were the most common electrolyte abnormality observed in 11 cases (85%). There was no statistically significant difference in duration of progression of skin lesions in children who received ≥2 g/kg of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and those who received <2 g/kg of IVIG. The mortality rate was 7.6%. At follow-up, all patients had dyspigmentation and none had scarring. 6 children (46%) had ophthalmic complaints at follow-up. Conclusion: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were found to be the most common cause of TEN in children. Furthermore, TEN was found to be a disease causing critical kidney disease in children. Multi-organ dysfunction, hyperglycemia, and need for invasive ventilation were found to be associated with increased risk of developing culture positive sepsis. Low-dose IVIG, parenteral steroids and skin care with normal saline washes and sterile liquid paraffin impregnated gauze are the effective and safe treatment options for children with TEN in resource-limited setting

The role of light in stress-stimulated proline accumulation in barley / by Priya Sreenivasan

Typescript (photocopy)xxvi, 359 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.Thesis (Ph.D.)--Dept. of Plant Physiology, University of Adelaide, 198

Cone-beam computed tomographic evaluation of hyoid bone positioning in temporomandibular joint management – A pilot study

Background: Hyoid bone plays an important role in craniomandibular functions through its unique interaction with other structures. The effects of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) on the craniocervical posture and position of hyoid bone were considered, although the results endure inconclusive. Objective: The objective is the comparison of the position of the hyoid bone in patients with the temporomandibular joint disorder of pre- and post-neuromuscular orthotics utilizing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Treatment using ultra-low-frequency transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation was administered, and a myocentric bite was registered, with which an orthotic was fabricated and delivered to the patient for full-time wear. Materials and Methods: The hyoid bone position of 14 TMD patients of pre- and post-treatment was observed using CBCT, and symptom severity score, joint pain, joint sounds, and limited mouth opening were studied pre- and post-treatment clinically. Results: All patients had relief of symptom severity score post treatment and no significant improvement in the anteroposterior direction of hyoid bone with no statistical significance with P value < 0.001. The majority of the patients had an inferiorly positioned hyoid bone post intervention with a P value less than 0.001. Conclusion: Neuromuscular orthotics resulted in a decrease in the symptom severity score of the patients along with an anteriorly and inferiorly positioned hyoid bone

Magnetic resonance imaging spectrum of perinatal hypoxic–ischemic brain injury

Perinatal hypoxic–ischemic brain injury results in neonatal hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy and serious long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain is an ideal and safe imaging modality for suspected hypoxic–ischemic injury. The pattern of injury depends on brain maturity at the time of insult, severity of hypotension, and duration of insult. Time of imaging after the insult influences the imaging findings. Mild to moderate hypoperfusion results in germinal mazatrix hemorrhages and periventricular leukomalacia in preterm neonates and parasagittal watershed territory infarcts in full-term neonates. Severe insult preferentially damages the deep gray matter in both term and preterm infants. However, associated frequent perirolandic injury is seen in term neonates. MRI is useful in establishing the clinical diagnosis, assessing the severity of injury, and thereby prognosticating the outcome. Familiarity with imaging spectrum and insight into factors affecting the injury will enlighten the radiologist to provide an appropriate diagnosis

Impact of the Heartfulness program on loneliness in high schoolers: Randomized survey study

High levels of loneliness are prominent in teenagers ranging from ages 14–19. The 4-week Self-Care program, offered by the Heartfulness Institute, is designed to develop social–emotional skills and self-observation. This study examined the impact of the Self-Care program on loneliness in high school students in the United States in a randomized, wait-list control trial with baseline and postintervention assessments. High school participants, aged 14–19, were randomized into a control-wait-listed group (n = 54) and a Heartfulness group (n = 54). Both the groups completed the intervention and the presurveys and postsurveys online, assessing their loneliness with the UCLA Loneliness Scale. The initial analysis noted the baseline equivalence of the data. A repeated measures ANOVA found a significant time * group interaction, with a significant decrease in loneliness reported in the Heartfulness Intervention group but no significant pre–post difference in the control group. In summary, the short online intervention program consisting of self-care tools decreased loneliness scores in the participants. This study opens up a new valley of possibilities, apart from existing research, and demonstrates that the online intervention used might be helpful to decrease loneliness levels in teens.</p