A Summer Reading Enrichment Experience: One District\u27s Effort to Prevent Summer Reading Loss

The purpose of this study was to gain insights into effective literacy practices and key factors that promote reading achievement for elementary age students during summer break. More specifically, the study examined the effectiveness of a summer reading enrichment experience offered to children from low-income families in an effort to prevent summer reading loss. The students involved in this study were considered to have average reading skills. The particular focus of this study led to the formation of the following question to guide this research: To what extent is a student\u27s reading achievement impacted by extended literacy instruction or enrichment? In this mixed methods study, quantitative methods were used to determine if there was a gain in reading achievement for participating students through the analysis of archived reading achievement scores of the group of students who participated in the Summer Reading Enrichment Experience and their control group counterparts. This study also researched the nature of the effective instructional practices utilized by the Summer Reading Enrichment Experience teachers via qualitative methods involving the analysis of teacher interview responses and archived classroom and program artifacts. The setting for the study was in a rural public school district located in the Midwest. The findings revealed that the Summer Reading Enrichment Experience had an impact on the reading achievement gains made by the participating students although not to a level of statistical significance. The qualitative analysis provided a richer picture of this learning opportunity aimed at preventing students from losing critical literacy skills during the summer months. Students gained ready access to a wide variety of books and technology and participated in a variety of literacy and enrichment activities during this unique summer experience

Система потребностей пожилых людей (специфика и сущность)

У представленій статті автором розглянуто основні потреби людей похилого віку. Вивчено думку людей похилого віку та членів їх сімей у Закарпатській області щодо можливостей задоволення потреб. Розглянуто потреби старшого покоління, також врахована думка членів сімей, які ведуть догляд за людьми похилого віку. Встановлено, які саме потреби старшого покоління є нагальними і до яких інституцій, звернуться представники старшого покоління. Встановлено закономірність, що на Закарпатті люди похилого віку надають перевагу сімейним формам догляду, так як вважають їх традиційними до даного регіону. Охарактеризовано закономірності діяльності служб системи соціального захисту населення поставлені, що зосереджені на догляді, забезпеченні можливостями здорового старіння та активного довголіття. Слід зазначити, що сьогодні мережа спеціалізованих закладів, сформована у попередні десятиріччя, коли проблема старіння не стояла так гостро, не відповідає демографічним реаліям, потребам людей похилого віку, а також сучасним стратегіям здорового старіння та активного довголіття.Враховуючи старіння населення та посилення інших демографічних проблем, держава повинна вже на сучасному етапі закладати необхідні механізми для їх пом’якшення. Адже в перспективі старіння населення призведе до збільшення чисельності клієнтів різних геріатричних закладів в країні і, відповідно, появи нових способів роботи з ними. Поряд з тим, держава буде ще більше зацікавлена в тому, щоб люди похилого віку залишалися активними як в економічному, так і в політичному та соціальному житті. Для цього покращувати рівень охорони здоров’я населення недостатньо. Потрібно створити умови, за яких люди похилого віку не тільки могли б, але і хотіли б залишатися активними учасниками суспільного життя. Наявна ж практика показує зворотне явище. Саме тому для держави актуальним завданням стає пошук можливих механізмів сприяння та стимуляції активності людей похилого віку, поряд з питанням покращення рівня охорони здоров’я та ін. Одним з перспективних ресурсів у вирішенні вказаних завдань є соціальна робота. Саме можливість професійного впливу соціальних працівників може дозволити державі досягнути глибинних змін у вирішенні згаданих проблем.The subject of research is the main needs of elder people. Having studied thoughts of Zakarpattya’s elder people and members of their families, ways to satisfy the defined needs has been considered. Urgent needs of the older generation have been estimated and governmental institutions, where person can address and solve the problems of the older generation and their caregivers, have been defined.The conducted research has proved that Transcarpathian elder people are inclined to get the family-based care, as they consider it to be traditional one for the region. The specificity of population’s social protection system functioning has been described. The focus of it is seen in care provision aimed at the enabling of the healthy aging and active longevity of elder people. It should be noted that the present network of specialized institutions was formed in the previous decade, when the problem of aging was not as sharp as it is nowadays. It does not meet either demographic realities, or the needs of the elder people, and it doesn’t correspond to modern strategies of healthy aging and active longevity.Following the problems of the population’s aging and other demographic problems, at present stage the state has to take into account the necessary mechanisms of mitigating them. The future raise of population’s aging will increase the number of clients of different geriatric institutions in the country and, therefore, it will increase the demand for new vivid and productive ways of working with them. At the same time, the state is more interested in the situation when elder people remain active both in economic, political and social life. It is not enough just to improve the level of protection of public health. Modern conditions require making elder people able to remain active participants in public life. Nevetheless, the present practice shows the opposite phenomenon. That is why the state has an urgent task to search for possible mechanisms of facilitation and stimulation of elder people activity, along with searching the possibilities to improve health care, etc. Social work is one of the most promising ways to solve these problems. Social workers can influence these changes greatly and this can allow the state to achieve profound changes in solving the mentioned problems.Научность статьи направлена на изучение потребностей пожилых людей. Поскольку Украина принадлежит к старейшим стран мира, темпы старения и показатели статистики заставляют делать выводы о последствиях данного процесса. Методом анкетирования исследованы мнению престарелых и членов их семей в удовлетворении их потребностей (на примере Закарпатской области). Охарактеризованы следующие потребности: физиологические (здоровье, доход), потребность в повседневной помощи и др. Выяснено от кого пожилые люди их получают и в каких именно повседневных ситуациях нуждаются в помощи. Проанализированы пути получения помощи в уходе за этой категорией населения с точки зрения институциональных форм государства и форм семейного ухода. Результаты исследования дают возможность понять специфику потребностей пожилых людей, уровень их удовлетворения. Установлена закономерность, что неудовлетворения потребностей приводит к проблемам в обществе. Выводы следующие: актуальность статьи заключается в выделении потребностей пожилых людей, количество которых увеличивается с каждым годом; игнорирование последствий старения приводит к проблемам в стране. Итак, мы должны знать потребности старшего поколения государства и, что нужно сделать, чтобы их избежать

Cystolitholapaxy in Ileal Conduit

AbstractUrolithiasis is a common complication of surgically treated bladder exstrophy. We report the case of a 43-year-old woman with a history of exstrophy, cystectomy, and ileal conduit urinary diversion presenting with a large calculus at the stomal neck of her conduit in the absence of a structural defect

Coronary-artery bypass surgery in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND The survival benefit of a strategy of coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) added to guideline-directed medical therapy, as compared with medical therapy alone, in patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction remains unclear. METHODS From July 2002 to May 2007, a total of 1212 patients with an ejection fraction of 35% or less and coronary artery disease amenable to CABG were randomly assigned to undergo CABG plus medical therapy (CABG group, 610 patients) or medical therapy alone (medical-therapy group, 602 patients). The primary outcome was death from any cause. Major secondary outcomes included death from cardiovascular causes and death from any cause or hospitalization for cardiovascular causes. The median duration of follow-up, including the current extended-follow-up study, was 9.8 years. RESULTS A primary outcome event occurred in 359 patients (58.9%) in the CABG group and in 398 patients (66.1%) in the medical-therapy group (hazard ratio with CABG vs. medical therapy, 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73 to 0.97; P=0.02 by log-rank test). A total of 247 patients (40.5%) in the CABG group and 297 patients (49.3%) in the medical-therapy group died from cardiovascular causes (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.93; P=0.006 by log-rank test). Death from any cause or hospitalization for cardiovascular causes occurred in 467 patients (76.6%) in the CABG group and in 524 patients (87.0%) in the medical-therapy group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.82; P<0.001 by log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS In a cohort of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, the rates of death from any cause, death from cardiovascular causes, and death from any cause or hospitalization for cardiovascular causes were significantly lower over 10 years among patients who underwent CABG in addition to receiving medical therapy than among those who received medical therapy alone. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health; STICH [and STICHES] ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00023595.

On gene dosage balance in protein complexes: a comment on Semple JI, Vavouri T, Lehner B. A simple principle concerning the robustness of protein complex activity to changes in gene expression.

A comment on Semple JI, Vavouri T, Lehner B. A simple principle concerning the robustness of protein complex activity to changes in gene expression. BMC Syst Biol. 2008;2:

Hemoglobin level is an independent predictor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in women undergoing evaluation for chest pain Results from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute women's ischemia syndrome evaluation study

AbstractObjectivesThis study was designed to investigate the relationship between hemoglobin level (Hgb) and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in women with suspected ischemia.BackgroundLow Hgb levels correlate with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (MI) or congestive heart failure (CHF). However, the prognostic significance of Hgb in women with suspected ischemia is unclear.MethodsAs part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE), we prospectively studied 936 women referred for coronary angiography to evaluate suspected ischemia. We compared Hgb levels with cardiovascular risk factors, core lab interpreted angiograms, inflammatory markers, and adverse cardiovascular outcomes.ResultsOf women enrolled, 864 (mean age 58.4 ±11.6 years) had complete Hgb, angiogram, and follow-up (mean 3.3 ± 1.7 years) data. The mean Hgb was 12.9 g/dl (range 7.7 to 16.4 g/dl) and 184 women (21%) were anemic (Hgb <12 g/dl). Anemic women had higher creatinine and were more likely to be nonwhite and have a history of diabetes, hypertension, and CHF (p < 0.05). However, we found no difference in EF or severity of coronary artery disease. Anemic women had a higher risk of death from any cause (10.3% vs. 5.4%; p = 0.02) and total adverse outcomes (26% vs. 16%, p < 0.01). In a multivariable model, decreasing Hgb was associated with significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes (hazard ratio = 1.20, p = 0.002). Also, anemic women had shorter survival time free of adverse outcome (p < 0.001).ConclusionsOur findings extend previous reports, linking lower hemoglobin levels with higher risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes, to women evaluated for suspected ischemia in the absence of acute MI or CHF

Asymptomatic cardiac ischemia pilot (ACIP) study: Effects of coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass graft surgery on recurrent angina and ischemia

ObjectivesThe Asymptomatic Cardiac Ischemia Pilot (ACIP) study showed that revascularization is more effective than medical therapy in suppressing cardiac ischemia at 12 weeks. This report compares the relative efficacy of coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft surgery in suppressing ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) and treadmill exercise cardiac ischemia between 2 and 3 months after revascularization in the ACIP study.BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that coronary angioplasty and bypass surgery relieve angina early after the procedure in a high proportion of selected patients. However, alleviation of ischemia on the ambulatory ECG and treadmill exercise test have not been adequately studied prospectively after revascularization.MethodsIn patients randomly assigned to revascularization in the ACIP study, the choice of coronary angioplasty or bypass surgery was made by the clinical unit staff and the patient.ResultsPatients assigned to bypass surgery (n = 78) had more severe coronary disease (p = 0.001) and more ischemic episodes (p = 0.01) at baseline than those assigned to angioplasty (n = 92). Ambulatory ECG ischemia was no longer present 8 weeks after revascularization (12 weeks after enrollment) in 70% of the bypass surgery group versus 46% of the angioplasty group (p = 0.002). ST segment depression on the exercise ECG was no longer present in 46% of the bypass surgery group versus 23% of the angioplasty group (p = 0.005). Total exercise time in minutes on the treadmill exercise test increased by 2.4 min after bypass surgery and by 1.4 min after angioplasty (p = 0.02). Only 10% of the bypass surgery group versus 32% of the angioplasty group still reported angina in the 4 weeks before the 12-week visit (p = 0.001).ConclusionsAngina and ambulatory ECG ischemia are relieved in a high proportion of patients early after revascularization. However, ischemia can still be induced on the treadmill exercise test, albeit at higher levels of exercise, in many patients. Bypass surgery was superior to coronary angioplasty in suppressing cardiac ischemia despite the finding that patients who underwent bypass surgery had more severe coronary artery disease

Safety of Coronary Reactivity Testing in Women With No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease Results From the NHLBI-Sponsored WISE (Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation) Study

ObjectivesThis study evaluated the safety of coronary reactivity testing (CRT) in symptomatic women with evidence of myocardial ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).BackgroundMicrovascular coronary dysfunction (MCD) in women with no obstructive CAD portends an adverse prognosis of a 2.5% annual major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) rate. The diagnosis of MCD is established by invasive CRT, yet the risk of CRT is unknown.MethodsThe authors evaluated 293 symptomatic women with ischemia and no obstructive CAD, who underwent CRT at 3 experienced centers. Microvascular function was assessed using a Doppler wire and injections of adenosine, acetylcholine, and nitroglycerin into the left coronary artery. CRT-related serious adverse events (SAEs), adverse events (AEs), and follow-up MACE (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction [MI], nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure) were recorded.ResultsCRT-SAEs occurred in 2 women (0.7%) during the procedure: 1 had coronary artery dissection, and 1 developed MI associated with coronary spasm. CRT-AEs occurred in 2 women (0.7%) and included 1 transient air microembolism and 1 deep venous thrombosis. There was no CRT-related mortality. In the mean follow-up period of 5.4 years, the MACE rate was 8.2%, including 5 deaths (1.7%), 8 nonfatal MIs (2.7%), 8 nonfatal strokes (2.7%), and 11 hospitalizations for heart failure (3.8%).ConclusionsIn women undergoing CRT for suspected MCD, contemporary testing carries a relatively low risk compared with the MACE rate in these women. These results support the use of CRT by experienced operators for establishing definitive diagnosis and assessing prognosis in this at-risk population. (Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation [WISE]; NCT00832702