GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PERFORMANCE MEASURES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO USE AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION (AAC)

Language samples from 10 adults using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system were analyzed for gender differences in performance measures. Participants (5 female; 5 male) were matched on device, access method, software, experience, age, and education. Each participant was asked to describe the "cookie theft" picture from the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE; Goodglass & Kaplan, 1983). The language samples were analyzed on the following two dependent variables: frequency of Semantic Compaction™ language representation use and average communication rate. A dependent samples t-test and the equivalent non-parametric matched-pair Wilcoxon tests were conduced on both variables. The effect size and the power were also calculated and used to support the following results. There was not a significant difference in the Semantic Compaction™ dependent variable, however there was a large effect size (d=1.11). A power analysis indicated a sample size consisting of 9 pairs (4 more males and 4 more females) would increase the power to 82%. Further research with an increased sample size of 9 pairs of participants may provide more support for the current finding in relation to the use of Semantic Compaction™.No significant difference was found between the average communication rates of the genders; however the presence of a female outlier was concluded to influence these results. A dependent samples t-test was conducted on the data excluding the pair containing the outlier. The results of the dependent samples t-test indicated a significant difference between the genders in the average communication rates. Overall, for both dependent variables, the majority of males were higher on the performance measures than their paired female participants. These observations support a need for future research addressing gender differences in individuals who use AAC. Clinical implications suggest that future research is needed to determine if intervention strategies need to accommodate for differences between genders in their ability to effectively use their device to communicate as fast as they are able. Caution needs to be used when interpreting and applying these results to this population due to the limitations (i.e., small sample size and lack of control of extraneous variable) of the current study

Safety and feasibility of single use cholecystoscopy for guiding laser or mechanical cholelithotripsy, and mechanical cholelithotomy

PURPOSEPatients with acute calculus cholecystitis and contraindications to cholecystectomy receive cholecystostomy drainage catheters, many of which remain in place until end of life. This study aims to assess safety, feasibility, and early clinical outcomes of percutaneous cholecystoscopy using the LithoVue endoscope, laser/mechanical cholelithotripsy, and mechanical cholelithotomy for management of symptomatic cholelithiasis.METHODSThis was a single-institute retrospective analysis of 17 patients with acute calculus cholecystitis who had contraindications to cholecystectomy, underwent cholecystostomy catheter placement between 2015 and 2017, and stone removal between 2017 and 2018. The LithoVue 7.7- 9.5 F endoscope was used in combination with laser/mechanical cholelithotripsy, mechanical retrograde, and balloon-assisted anterograde cholelithotomy to remove gallstones and common bile duct stones. Surgical contraindications ranged from cardiopulmonary disease to morbid obesity to neoplastic processes. Timing and number of interventions, as well as technical and clinical successes, were assessed.RESULTSThe median time interval from cholecystostomy catheter placement to cholelithotripsy was 58 days, after an average of 2 tube exchange procedures. Technical and clinical success were achieved in all patients (stone-free gallbladder and cholecystostomy tube removal). On average, three sessions of cholecystoscopy and laser and mechanical cholelithotripsy were required for complete gallstone extraction. The mean interval time between the first cholelithotripsy session and removal of cholecystostomy was 71.8±60.8 days. There were neither major nor minor procedure-related complications.CONCLUSIONPercutaneous cholecystoscopy using the LithoVue endoscope, in combination with laser/ mechanical cholelithotripsy and mechanical cholelithotomy, is feasible, safe, well-tolerated, and was able to remove the cholecystostomy tube in the patients with contraindication to cholecystectomy

RNA-Seq identifies SPGs as a ventral skeletal patterning cue in sea urchins

The sea urchin larval skeleton offers a simple model for formation of developmental patterns. The calcium carbonate skeleton is secreted by primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs) in response to largely unknown patterning cues expressed by the ectoderm. To discover novel ectodermal cues, we performed an unbiased RNA-Seq-based screen and functionally tested candidates; we thereby identified several novel skeletal patterning cues. Among these, we show that SLC26a2/7 is a ventrally expressed sulfate transporter that promotes a ventral accumulation of sulfated proteoglycans, which is required for ventral PMC positioning and skeletal patterning. We show that the effects of SLC perturbation are mimicked by manipulation of either external sulfate levels or proteoglycan sulfation. These results identify novel skeletal patterning genes and demonstrate that ventral proteoglycan sulfation serves as a positional cue for sea urchin skeletal patterning

Rapid in vivo measurement of B-amyloid reveals biphasic clearance kinetics in an Alzheimer\u27s mouse model

Accumulation of ?-amyloid peptide is a key step in Alzheimer?s disease pathogenesis. Yuede et al. propose a novel method to track ?-amyloid levels in vivo

Outcomes in patients with gunshot wounds to the brain.

Introduction:Gunshot wounds to the brain (GSWB) confer high lethality and uncertain recovery. It is unclear which patients benefit from aggressive resuscitation, and furthermore whether patients with GSWB undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have potential for survival or organ donation. Therefore, we sought to determine the rates of survival and organ donation, as well as identify factors associated with both outcomes in patients with GSWB undergoing CPR. Methods:We performed a retrospective, multicenter study at 25 US trauma centers including dates between June 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017. Patients were included if they suffered isolated GSWB and required CPR at a referring hospital, in the field, or in the trauma resuscitation room. Patients were excluded for significant torso or extremity injuries, or if pregnant. Binomial regression models were used to determine predictors of survival/organ donation. Results:825 patients met study criteria; the majority were male (87.6%) with a mean age of 36.5 years. Most (67%) underwent CPR in the field and 2.1% (n=17) survived to discharge. Of the non-survivors, 17.5% (n=141) were considered eligible donors, with a donation rate of 58.9% (n=83) in this group. Regression models found several predictors of survival. Hormone replacement was predictive of both survival and organ donation. Conclusion:We found that GSWB requiring CPR during trauma resuscitation was associated with a 2.1% survival rate and overall organ donation rate of 10.3%. Several factors appear to be favorably associated with survival, although predictions are uncertain due to the low number of survivors in this patient population. Hormone replacement was predictive of both survival and organ donation. These results are a starting point for determining appropriate treatment algorithms for this devastating clinical condition. Level of evidence:Level II

Use of Novel Strategies to Develop Guidelines for Management of Pyogenic Osteomyelitis in Adults: A WikiGuidelines Group Consensus Statement.

Importance Traditional approaches to practice guidelines frequently result in dissociation between strength of recommendation and quality of evidence. Objective To construct a clinical guideline for pyogenic osteomyelitis management, with a new standard of evidence to resolve the gap between strength of recommendation and quality of evidence, through the use of a novel open access approach utilizing social media tools. Evidence Review This consensus statement and systematic review study used a novel approach from the WikiGuidelines Group, an open access collaborative research project, to construct clinical guidelines for pyogenic osteomyelitis. In June 2021 and February 2022, authors recruited via social media conducted multiple PubMed literature searches, including all years and languages, regarding osteomyelitis management; criteria for article quality and inclusion were specified in the group's charter. The GRADE system for evaluating evidence was not used based on previously published concerns regarding the potential dissociation between strength of recommendation and quality of evidence. Instead, the charter required that clear recommendations be made only when reproducible, prospective, controlled studies provided hypothesis-confirming evidence. In the absence of such data, clinical reviews were drafted to discuss pros and cons of care choices. Both clear recommendations and clinical reviews were planned with the intention to be regularly updated as new data become available. Findings Sixty-three participants with diverse expertise from 8 countries developed the group's charter and its first guideline on pyogenic osteomyelitis. These participants included both nonacademic and academic physicians and pharmacists specializing in general internal medicine or hospital medicine, infectious diseases, orthopedic surgery, pharmacology, and medical microbiology. Of the 7 questions addressed in the guideline, 2 clear recommendations were offered for the use of oral antibiotic therapy and the duration of therapy. In addition, 5 clinical reviews were authored addressing diagnosis, approaches to osteomyelitis underlying a pressure ulcer, timing for the administration of empirical therapy, specific antimicrobial options (including empirical regimens, use of antimicrobials targeting resistant pathogens, the role of bone penetration, and the use of rifampin as adjunctive therapy), and the role of biomarkers and imaging to assess responses to therapy. Conclusions and Relevance The WikiGuidelines approach offers a novel methodology for clinical guideline development that precludes recommendations based on low-quality data or opinion. The primary limitation is the need for more rigorous clinical investigations, enabling additional clear recommendations for clinical questions currently unresolved by high-quality data

Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Infective Endocarditis in Adults: A WikiGuidelines Group Consensus Statement.

IMPORTANCE Practice guidelines often provide recommendations in which the strength of the recommendation is dissociated from the quality of the evidence. OBJECTIVE To create a clinical guideline for the diagnosis and management of adult bacterial infective endocarditis (IE) that addresses the gap between the evidence and recommendation strength. EVIDENCE REVIEW This consensus statement and systematic review applied an approach previously established by the WikiGuidelines Group to construct collaborative clinical guidelines. In April 2022 a call to new and existing members was released electronically (social media and email) for the next WikiGuidelines topic, and subsequently, topics and questions related to the diagnosis and management of adult bacterial IE were crowdsourced and prioritized by vote. For each topic, PubMed literature searches were conducted including all years and languages. Evidence was reported according to the WikiGuidelines charter: clear recommendations were established only when reproducible, prospective, controlled studies provided hypothesis-confirming evidence. In the absence of such data, clinical reviews were crafted discussing the risks and benefits of different approaches. FINDINGS A total of 51 members from 10 countries reviewed 587 articles and submitted information relevant to 4 sections: establishing the diagnosis of IE (9 questions); multidisciplinary IE teams (1 question); prophylaxis (2 questions); and treatment (5 questions). Of 17 unique questions, a clear recommendation could only be provided for 1 question: 3 randomized clinical trials have established that oral transitional therapy is at least as effective as intravenous (IV)-only therapy for the treatment of IE. Clinical reviews were generated for the remaining questions. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this consensus statement that applied the WikiGuideline method for clinical guideline development, oral transitional therapy was at least as effective as IV-only therapy for the treatment of IE. Several randomized clinical trials are underway to inform other areas of practice, and further research is needed

um cuidado especializado do enfermeiro obstetra

Observa-se, hoje em dia, que algumas práticas na maternidade tendem a ignorar as preferências das mulheres em trabalho de parto, uniformizando os cuidados com prejuízo para o bem-estar e a qualidade de vida das famílias. As práticas em Obstetrícia têm vindo a tornar-se cada vez mais repletas de intervenção, focando-se apenas nos resultados físicos (mortalidade e morbilidade) e descurando as vivências das parturientes e família, assim como as consequências psicossociais de um parto traumático. O presente Relatório de Estágio pretende refletir os cuidados em maternidade na perspetiva EEESMOG, que se visa holística, centrada no cliente e baseada na evidência. Da mesma forma, espelha as aprendizagens efetuadas em contexto do Estágio com Relatório inserido no 6º CMESMO da ESEL. Foram escolhidos como referenciais teóricos norteadores os modelos de Nola Pender – Modelo de Promoção da Saúde, e a Teoria de Empowerment em Saúde de Nelma Shearer. Foi também realizada uma Revisão Sistemática da Literatura que visou responder à seguinte questão de investigação: “Quais os cuidados do EEESMOG promotores do empowerment das mulheres direcionado para uma tomada de decisão informada relativa ao trabalho de parto?”. Adicionalmente, foi efetuado um registo da interação durante a prestação de cuidados no decorrer do estágio, sobre os quais foi efetuada uma reflexão e confrontação com os resultados da RSL. Concluiu-se que os cuidados que o EEESMOG presta que são promotores de uma tomada de decisão informada para o trabalho de parto se inserem dentro de três grandes temas, nomeadamente Competências da esfera relacional, Competências da esfera da prática clínica e Competências da esfera científica, com especial referência para os cuidados que se relacionam com o Estabelecimento de Relação Terapêutica, a Educação para a Saúde, o Cuidado da Mulher em trabalho de parto, a Promoção do exercício do Consentimento Informado e a Prática baseada na Evidência

HLA-DRB1-DQB1 Haplotypes Confer Susceptibility and Resistance to Multiple Sclerosis in Sardinia

Introduction: Genetic predisposition to multiple sclerosis (MS) in Sardinia (Italy) has been associated with five DRB1*-DQB1* haplotypes of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Given the complexity of these associations, an in-depth re-analysis was performed with the specific aims of confirming the haplotype associations; establishing the independence of the associated haplotypes; and assessing patients ’ genotypic risk of developing MS. Methods and Results: A transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) of the DRB1*-DQB1 * haplotypes in 943 trio families