123 research outputs found
Variability of high-sensitivity troponin T concentrations in emergency settings : impact for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
Objectives: To assess biological variation of troponin T in
emergency settings and establish limits for interpretation
of serial results.
Methods: We studied 6,557 consecutive patients with
troponin measurements. A stable reference subset was
selected to estimate biological variation and threshold
limits.
Results: The first troponin level was elevated in 32% of
patients, and 2,490 had a second troponin level with a
myocardial infarction (MI) prevalence of 16.2%. In the
stable reference group with at least one abnormal value,
the 99th percentile of the absolute delta between the first
two samples was 16 ng/L. For MI diagnosis, the area
under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.85
(confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.87) for the first troponin
level and 0.94 (CI, 0.93-0.95) for the absolute delta.
Conclusions: An absolute delta of 16 ng/L has good
specificity in the emergency setting. This threshold is valid
for any sex, age, and sampling interval between 3 and 24
hours and is higher than published limits found in healthy
outpatients
The Integrated System for Public Health Monitoring of West Nile Virus (ISPHM-WNV): a real-time GIS for surveillance and decision-making
BACKGROUND: After its first detection in North America in New York in 1999, West Nile virus was detected for the first time in 2002 in the province of Quebec, Canada. This situation forced the Government of Quebec to adopt a public health protection plan against the virus. The plan comprises several fields of intervention including the monitoring of human cases, Corvidae and mosquitoes in order to ensure the early detection of the presence of the virus in a particular area. To help support the monitoring activities, the Integrated System for Public Health Monitoring of West Nile Virus (ISPHM-WNV) has been developed. RESULTS: The ISPHM-WNV is a real-time geographic information system for public health surveillance of West Nile virus and includes information on Corvidae, mosquitoes, humans, horses, climate, and preventive larvicide interventions. It has been in operation in the province of Quebec, Canada, since May 2003. The ISPHM-WNV facilitates the collection, localization, management and analysis of monitoring data; it also allows for the display of the results of analyses on maps, tables and statistical diagrams. CONCLUSION: The system is very helpful for field workers in all regions of the province, as well as for central authorities. It represents the common authoritative source of data for analysis, exchange and decision-making
Comparison of fasting and non-fasting lipid profiles in a large cohort of patients presenting at a community hospital
Objective: To compare the fasting and non-fasting lipid profile including ApoB in a cohort of patients from a community setting. Our purpose was to determine the proportion of results that could be explained by the known biological variation in the fasting state and to examine the additional impact of non-fasting on these same lipid parameters. Methods: 1093 adult outpatients with fasting lipid requests were recruited from February to September 2016 at the blood collection sites of the Moncton Hospital. Participants were asked to come back in the next 3â4 days after having eaten a regular breakfast to have their blood drawn for a non-fasting lipid profile. Results: 91.6% of patients in this study had a change in total cholesterol that fell within the biological variation expected for this parameter. Similar results were seen for HDL-C (94.3%) non-HDL-C (88.8%) and ApoB (93.0%). A smaller number of patients fell within the biological variation expected for TG (78.8%) and LDL-C (74.6%). An average TG increase of 0.3 mmol/L was observed in fed patients no matter the level of fasting TG. A gradual widening in the range of change in TG concentration was observed as fasting TG increased. Similar results were seen in diabetic patients. Conclusion: Outside of LDL-C and TG, little changes were seen in lipid parameters in the postprandial state. A large part of these changes could be explained by the biological variation. We observed a gradual widening in the range of increase in TG for patients with higher fasting TG. Non-HDL-C and ApoB should be the treatment target of choice for patients in the non-fasting state
Sternal reentry in a patient with previous deep sternal wound infection managed with horizontal titanium plate fixation
Redo open-heart surgery and sternal reentry in patients with previous deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) and absence of sternal integrity can be a delicate and morbid task due the lack of a dissection plane between the heart and the surrounding soft tissues. Delayed sternal reconstruction and osteosynthesis with horizontal titanium plating fixation (Synthes) following vacuum assisted therapy (KCI) has recently been proposed and adopted for the treatment of DSWI. We present such a case of a patient who was successfully reoperated for valve replacement three years after coronary artery bypass grafting complicated by DSWI and initially treated with titanium plate fixation
Lâimpact des approches pĂ©dagogiques inclusives dans les programmes de baccalaurĂ©at en sciences infirmiĂšres : une revue systĂ©matique ; Rapport final: synthĂšse de connaissances Conseil de recherche en sciences humaines du Canada
Au cours de la derniĂšre dĂ©cennie, le nombre dâĂ©tudiants universitaires en situation dâaccommodation ou de handicap nâa cessĂ© dâaugmenter. Il est dĂ©montrĂ© Ă lâinternational quâenviron 6,5% des Ă©tudiants au baccalaurĂ©at inscrits Ă temps plein et 3,5% de ceux inscrits Ă temps partiel ont des handicaps ou requiĂšrent des accommodations. Les programmes universitaires en sciences de la santĂ© ne font pas exception Ă cette croissance dâĂ©tudiants en situation de handicap. Afin dâassurer la rĂ©ussite globale du plus grand nombre dâĂ©tudiants, certains programmes universitaires en sciences infirmiĂšres ont optĂ© pour lâintĂ©gration dâune approche inclusive dans le dĂ©veloppement des cours ou des activitĂ©s de formation. Toutefois, les stratĂ©gies dâenseignement et dâĂ©valuation pouvant sâinscrire dans une perspective dâapproche inclusive ne sont pas clairement rĂ©pertoriĂ©es. Cette revue systĂ©matique mixte visait Ă Ă©valuer lâimpact des stratĂ©gies dâenseignement, dâapprentissage et dâĂ©valuation favorisant une approche inclusive des Ă©tudiants dans des programmes de sciences infirmiĂšres. Plus prĂ©cisĂ©ment, cette synthĂšse de connaissances visait Ă rĂ©pondre aux questions suivantes : quelles sont les stratĂ©gies dâenseignement, dâapprentissage et dâĂ©valuation favorisant une approche inclusive dans les divers programmes de baccalaurĂ©at en sciences infirmiĂšres? Quels sont les rĂ©sultats de lâĂ©valuation de ces stratĂ©gies inclusives sur le plan des contextes, ressources, processus et impacts sur les Ă©tudiants des programmes de baccalaurĂ©at en sciences infirmiĂšres? Cette synthĂšse suit un devis de revue systĂ©matique mixte selon lâapproche de la Collaboration Cochrane. Les bases de donnĂ©es Education Source, ERIC, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, et PsyINFO ont Ă©tĂ© analysĂ©es jusquâen mars 2017. La stratĂ©gie de recherche Ă©tait basĂ©e sur les catĂ©gories suivantes : 1) Ă©tudiants en sciences infirmiĂšres; 2) troubles dâapprentissage et handicap; et 3) stratĂ©gies dâenseignement, dâapprentissage et dâĂ©valuation inclusives. Cette stratĂ©gie de recherche fut adaptĂ©e en fonction du vocabulaire des diffĂ©rentes bases de donnĂ©es. La qualitĂ© mĂ©thodologique des Ă©tudes quantitatives, qualitatives ou mixtes retenues a Ă©tĂ© analysĂ©e Ă lâaide du Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) (Pluye & al., 2009). Les Ă©tudes retenues ont Ă©tĂ© extraites suivant les critĂšres de lâĂ©noncĂ© PRISMA. Une grille dâextraction a Ă©tĂ© dĂ©veloppĂ©e suivant les recommandations pour Ă©valuer les interventions Ă©ducatives mĂ©dicales, les Lignes directrices de la Conception Universelle dâApprentissage, les modĂšles dâĂ©valuation de programme. Une analyse descriptive des Ă©tudes retenues a Ă©tĂ© effectuĂ©e, de mĂȘme quâune analyse descriptive de lâĂ©valuation des stratĂ©gies inclusives en termes de contexte, ressources, processus et impacts sur la capacitĂ© de rĂ©ussite des Ă©tudiants. La synthĂšse de connaissances a permis dâidentifier 56 Ă©tudes favorisant des stratĂ©gies inclusives dans un programme de formation universitaire de baccalaurĂ©at en sciences infirmiĂšres. Les interventions retenues portaient principalement sur des activitĂ©s dâapprentissage ou dâenseignement inclusives, et trĂšs peu sur des activitĂ©s dâĂ©valuation. Les activitĂ©s les plus frĂ©quentes Ă©taient lâutilisation d'ateliers de formation (n = 13), lâutilisation de capsules vidĂ©o ou dâexercices en ligne (n = 9), des stratĂ©gies de gestion du stress et de pratique rĂ©flexive (n = 7), et les stratĂ©gies de mentorat et de tutorat par les professeurs ou entre les pairs (n = 27). Lâutilisation de technologies et dâenvironnements numĂ©riques Ă©tait peu exploitĂ©e dans le dĂ©veloppement de stratĂ©gies inclusives dans des programmes de baccalaurĂ©at en sciences infirmiĂšres. Uniquement 20 Ă©tudes retenues ont fait usage de technologies ou dâenvironnement numĂ©riques pour intĂ©grer dans leur programme des cours, capsules vidĂ©os et tutoriels en ligne, de mĂȘme que des exercices et des Ă©valuations Ă distance. Les stratĂ©gies dâapprentissage et dâĂ©valuation inclusives rapportĂ©es dans les Ă©tudes sont similaires Ă celles recommandĂ©es pour le dĂ©veloppement dâapprentissage dans les maisons dâenseignement de niveau primaire et secondaire, des programmes de formation aux adultes et autres programmes en sciences de la santĂ©. Ces stratĂ©gies sont en cohĂ©rence avec lâapproche inclusive qui prĂ©conise lâintĂ©gration dâune plus grande diversitĂ© de mĂ©thodes dâenseignement et dâĂ©valuation pour rĂ©pondre aux diffĂ©rents besoins et styles dâapprentissages des Ă©tudiants et par le fait mĂȘme soutenir leur autonomie, leur engagement et leur motivation dans leur formation. Les Ă©tudes retenues ont dĂ©montrĂ© lâimpact de leurs interventions au niveau du produit, soit au niveau de lâapprĂ©ciation des Ă©tudiants (n =39) et au niveau des apprentissages ou de la rĂ©ussite des Ă©tudiants (n=45). Ces stratĂ©gies ont dĂ©montrĂ© une amĂ©lioration de la confiance des Ă©tudiants, une amĂ©lioration de leur habiletĂ©, une augmentation du taux de rĂ©ussite Ă lâexamen dâadmission Ă la profession, ainsi quâune diminution de lâattrition des Ă©tudiants dans des programmes de sciences infirmiĂšres. Toutefois, il est impossible dâĂ©tablir avec certitude lâefficience des diffĂ©rentes interventions en raison de lacunes mĂ©thodologiques, dâĂ©chantillons mal dĂ©finis ou de dĂ©tails manquants sur les interventions ou leur mĂ©thode dâĂ©valuation. Un plan de mobilisation structurĂ©e fournissant aux parties prenantes les renseignements nĂ©cessaires Ă une appropriation productive est prĂ©vu pour faire connaĂźtre la recherche. Ce plan inclut : âą Le dĂ©pĂŽt dâun rapport soumis au CRSH aux directrices de programme en sciences infirmiĂšres de lâUniversitĂ© Laval; âą Une prĂ©sentation de ce rapport aux diffĂ©rentes directrices de programme en sciences de la santĂ© Ă lâUniversitĂ© Laval; âą Une prĂ©sentation des rĂ©sultats de cette synthĂšse de connaissances Ă la FacultĂ© de mĂ©decine de lâUniversitĂ© de Sherbrooke; âą La rĂ©daction dâau moins article scientifique et dâun article de revue professionnelle qui porteront sur les connaissances et avancĂ©es issues de la recherche dans une revue pertinente Ă accĂšs libre et ciblant un large lectorat; âą La prĂ©sentation dans les diffĂ©rents rĂ©seaux : Chaire de leadership en enseignement en pĂ©dagogie des sciences de la santĂ© Association mĂ©dicale du QuĂ©bec â Association mĂ©dicale du Canada â Gestion financiĂšre MD, les rĂ©seaux auxquels les membres de lâĂ©quipe appartiennent (Knowledge Translation Canada, RĂ©seaux de recherche en intervention en sciences infirmiĂšres du QuĂ©bec, les sites Internet de la FacultĂ© des sciences infirmiĂšres et de la Chaire de leadership en pĂ©dagogie des sciences de la santĂ©, etc.; âą La prĂ©sentation des rĂ©sultats dans une confĂ©rence de lâAssociation canadienne des Ă©coles de sciences infirmiĂšres. En dĂ©finitive, il existe un large Ă©ventail dâĂ©tudes Ă©valuant les stratĂ©gies dâapprentissage et dâĂ©valuation qui favorisent une approche inclusive auprĂšs des Ă©tudiants de programme de formation universitaire en sciences infirmiĂšres. Ces Ă©tudes font principalement Ă©tat dâune grande diversitĂ© de mĂ©thodes dâenseignement pour rĂ©pondre au besoin dâinclusion des Ă©tudiants. ConsidĂ©rant les lacunes et diversitĂ©s mĂ©thodologiques de ces Ă©tudes, il demeure impossible dâassurer une Ă©valuation valable des interventions inclusives. De futures recherches en Ă©ducation inclusive devraient cibler des approches mĂ©thodologiques et dâĂ©valuation plus rigoureuses pour amĂ©liorer les programmes de formation et, ultimement, favoriser la participation des Ă©tudiants avec handicap Ă une sociĂ©tĂ© inclusive et diversifiĂ©e.Conseil de recherche en sciences humaines du Canad
MDRD or CKD-EPI study equations for estimating prevalence of stage 3 CKD in epidemiological studies: which difference? Is this difference relevant?
Background: Prevalence of stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing according to the NHANES study. Prevalence has been calculated using the MDRD study equation for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Recently, a new estimator based on creatinine, the CKD-EPI equation, has been proposed which is presumed to better perform in normal GFR ranges. The aim of the study was to measure the difference in prevalence of stage 3 CKD in a population using either the MDRD or the CKD-EPI study equations.
Methods: CKDscreening is organized in the Province of LiĂšge, Belgium. On a voluntary basis, people aged between 45 and 75 years are invited to be screened. GFR is estimated by the MDRD study equation and by the "new" CKD-EPI equations.
Results: The population screened consisted in 1992 people (47% of men). Mean serum creatinine was 0.86 ± 0.20 mg/dl. The prevalence of stage 3 CKD in this population using the MDRD or the CKD-EPI equations was 11.04 and 7.98%, respectively. The prevalence of stage 3 CKD is significantly higher with the MDRD study equation (p <0,0012).
Conclusions: Prevalence of stage 3 CKDvaries strongly following the method used for estimating GFR, MDRD or CKDEPI study equations. Such discrepancies are of importance and must be confirmed and explained by additional studies using GFR measured with a reference method
Strontium isotope evidence for Pre-Islamic cotton cultivation in Arabia
With a view to understanding the dynamics of ancient trade and agrobiodiversity, archaeobotanical remains provide a means of tracing the trajectories of certain agricultural commodities. A prime example is cotton in Arabia, a plant that is non-native but has been found in raw seed and processed textile form at Hegra and Dadan, in the region of al-ÊżUlÄ, north-western Saudi Arabiaâsites of critical importance given their role in the trans-Arabian trading routes during Antiquity. Here, we demonstrate that the measurement of strontium isotopes from pre-cleaned archaeological cotton is methodologically sound and is an informative addition to the study of ancient plant/textile provenance, in this case, putting forward evidence for local production of cotton in oasis agrosystems and possible external supply. The presence of locally-grown cotton at these sites from the late 1st c. BCEâmid 6th c. CE is significant as it demonstrates that cotton cultivation in Arabia was a Pre-Islamic socio-technical feat, while imported cotton highlights the dynamism of trade at that time
The Tara Pacific expeditionâA pan-ecosystemic approach of the â-omicsâ complexity of coral reef holobionts across the Pacific Ocean
Coral reefs are the most diverse habitats in the marine realm. Their productivity, structural complexity, and biodiversity critically depend on ecosystem services provided by corals that are threatened because of climate change effectsâin particular, ocean warming and acidification. The coral holobiont is composed of the coral animal host, endosymbiotic dinoflagellates, associated viruses, bacteria, and other microeukaryotes. In particular, the mandatory photosymbiosis with microalgae of the family Symbiodiniaceae and its consequences on the evolution, physiology, and stress resilience of the coral holobiont have yet to be fully elucidated. The functioning of the holobiont as a whole is largely unknown, although bacteria and viruses are presumed to play roles in metabolic interactions, immunity, and stress tolerance. In the context of climate change and anthropogenic threats on coral reef ecosystems, the Tara Pacific project aims to provide a baseline of the â-omicsâ complexity of the coral holobiont and its ecosystem across the Pacific Ocean and for various oceanographically distinct defined areas. Inspired by the previous Tara Oceans expeditions, the Tara Pacific expedition (2016â2018) has applied a pan-ecosystemic approach on coral reefs throughout the Pacific Ocean, drawing an eastâwest transect from Panama to Papua New Guinea and a southânorth transect from Australia to Japan, sampling corals throughout 32 island systems with local replicates. Tara Pacific has developed and applied state-of-the-art technologies in very-high-throughput genetic sequencing and molecular analysis to reveal the entire microbial and chemical diversity as well as functional traits associated with coral holobionts, together with various measures on environmental forcing. This ambitious project aims at revealing a massive amount of novel biodiversity, shedding light on the complex links between genomes, transcriptomes, metabolomes, organisms, and ecosystem functions in coral reefs and providing a reference of the biological state of modern coral reefs in the Anthropocene
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