Culture of urine specimens by use of chromID CPS Elite medium can expedite Escherichia coli identification and reduce hands-on time in the clinical laboratory

Urine is one of the most common specimen types submitted to the clinical microbiology laboratory; the use of chromogenic agar is one method by which the laboratory might expedite culture results and reduce hands-on time and materials required for urine culture analysis. The objective of our study was to compare chromID CPS Elite (bioMérieux), a chromogenic medium, to conventional primary culture medium for evaluation of urine specimens. Remnant urine specimens (n = 200) were inoculated into conventional media and into chromID CPS Elite agar (chromID). The time to identification and consumables used were documented for both methods. Clinically significant pathogen(s) were recovered from 51 cultures using conventional media, with Escherichia coli being the most frequently recovered organism (n = 22). The rate of exact uropathogen agreement between conventional and chromogenic media was 82%, while overall categorical agreement was 83.5% The time interval between plating and final organism identification was decreased with chromID agar versus conventional media for E. coli (mean of 24.4 h versus 27.1 h, P < 0.001). Using chromID, clinically significant cultures required less hands-on time per culture (mean of 1 min and 2 s [1:02 min]) compared to conventional media (mean of 1:31 min). In addition, fewer consumables (2.4 versus 3.3 sticks and swabs) and rapid biochemical tests (1.0 versus 1.9) were necessary using chromID versus conventional media. Notably, antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated good overall agreement (97.4%) between the chromID and conventional media for all antibiotics tested. chromID CPS Elite is accurate for uropathogen identification, reduces consumable usage, and may expedite the identification of E. coli in clinical specimens

Partnership Instability and Child Wellbeing during the Transition to Elementary School

Data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 2,957) are used to examine partnership instability and children’s wellbeing during the transition to elementary school. We find that coresidential transitions are related to externalizing, attention, and social problems. Mothers’ mental health and use of harsh parenting partially mediate the associations between coresidential transitions and child outcomes at age five. The impact of coresidential transitions on externalizing, attention, and social problems is stronger for boys than girls. Also, non-coresidential transitions predict externalizing and attention problems for White children but not for Hispanic children. Finally, the association between coresidential transitions and verbal ability is stronger for children with highly educated mothers than for children of less educated mothers.

Effect of constant and fluctuating temperatures on resting and active oxygen consumption of toads, Bufo boreas

The relations of standard and active rates of oxygen consumption to body temperature (T b ) were tested in montane Bufo b. boreas and lowland Bufo boreas halophilus acclimated to constant T b of 10, 20, or 30° C or to a fluctuating cycle of 5–30° C. Standard metabolic rates (SMR) of boreas acclimated to 30° C and halophilus acclimated to 10° C show pronounced regions of thermal independence but all other standard and active metabolic rates of groups acclimated to other thermal regimes are thermally sensitive. The SMR of both subspecies acclimated to the 5–30° C cycle are more thermally sensitive than those of similar individuals acclimated to constant T b . In cases where the relation between SMR and T b is linear for both halophilus and boreas at the same acclimation temperature, the slope and Q 10 of the relation for boreas are significantly higher than those of halophilus . Acclimation had little or no effect on the active metabolic rates of either subspecies. The relation between SMR and T b of boreas maintained under field conditions (Carey, 1979) is matched only by those of individuals from the same population acclimated to 20° C.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47725/1/442_2004_Article_BF00348069.pd

Seasonal acclimatization to temperature in cardueline finches

1. Seasonal variation in metabolism and insulation was measured throughout the year in American goldfinches ( Spinus tristis ) and during winter in pine siskins ( S. pinus ).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47118/1/360_2004_Article_BF00692302.pd

Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology 2020 Report to Cooperators

The Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the University of Maine Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology are pleased to summarize the past year’s research accomplishments and activities in this annual report. Together, we have collaborated with scientists from State and Federal agencies, universities, and non-governmental organizations on 37 research projects presented in the pages that follow. These collaborative relationships enable us to pose a variety of research questions in interdisciplinary studies to address the resource management information needs of our research sponsors and to advance science in wildlife and fisheries ecology, management, and conservation. We value these opportunities to work together and look forward to continuing these relationships as well as developing new collaborations in the year ahead

Criteria for reducing unnecessary testing for herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, and enterovirus in cerebrospinal fluid samples from adults

Excessive utilization of laboratory diagnostic testing leads to increased health care costs. We evaluated criteria to reduce unnecessary nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) for viral pathogens in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from adults. This is a single-center split retrospective observational study with a screening cohort from 2008 to 2012 and a validation cohort from 2013. Adults with available results for herpes simplex virus 1/2 (HSV-1/2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or enterovirus (EV) NAAT with CSF samples between 2008 and 2013 were included (n = 10,917). During this study, 1.3% (n = 140) of viral NAAT studies yielded positive results. The acceptance criteria of >10 nucleated cells/μl in the CSF of immunocompetent subjects would have reduced HSV-1/2, VZV, CMV, and EV testing by 63%, 50%, 44%, and 51%, respectively, from 2008 to 2012. When these criteria were applied to the 2013 validation data set, 54% of HSV-1/2, 57% of VZV, 35% of CMV, and 56% of EV tests would have been cancelled. No clinically significant positive tests would have been cancelled in 2013 with this approach. The introduction of a computerized order entry set was associated with increased test requests, suggesting that computerized order sets may contribute to unnecessary testing. Acceptance criteria of >10 nucleated cells/μl in the CSF of immunocompetent adults for viral CSF NAAT assays would increase clinical specificity and preserve sensitivity, resulting in significant cost savings. Implementation of these acceptance criteria led to a 46% reduction in testing during a limited follow-up period

Physical activity, weight, and outcomes in patients receiving chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer (C40502/Alliance)

Background: Obesity and inactivity are associated with increased risk of cancer-related and overall mortality in breast cancer, but there are few data in metastatic disease. Methods: Cancer and Leukemia Group B 40502 was a randomized trial of first-line taxane-based chemotherapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer. Height and weight were collected at enrollment. After 299 patients enrolled, the study was amended to assess recreational physical activity (PA) at enrollment using the Nurses\u27 Health Study Exercise Questionnaire. Associations with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using stratified Cox modeling (strata included hormone receptor status, prior taxane, bevacizumab use, and treatment arm). All statistical tests were 2-sided. Results: A total of 799 patients were enrolled, and at the time of data lock, median follow-up was 60 months. At enrollment, median age was 56.7 years, 73.1% of participants had hormone receptor-positive cancers, 42.6% had obesity, and 47.6% engaged in less than 3 metabolic equivalents of task (MET) hours of PA per week (\u3c1 hour of moderate PA). Neither baseline body mass index nor PA was statistically significantly associated with PFS or OS, although there was a marginally statistically significant increase in PFS (hazard ratio = 0.83, 95% confidence interval = 0.79 to 1.02; Conclusions: In a trial of first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer, rates of obesity and inactivity were high. There was no statistically significant relationship between body mass index and outcomes. More information is needed regarding the relationship between PA and outcomes

A Prospective, Controlled Trial of a Protocol-based Strategy to Discontinue Mechanical Ventilation

Weaning protocols can improve outcomes, but their efficacy may vary with patient and staff characteristics. In this prospective, controlled trial, we compared protocol-based weaning to usual, physiciandirected weaning in a closed medical intensive care unit (ICU) with high physician staffing levels and structured, system-based rounds. Adult patients requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours were assigned to usual care (UC) or protocol weaning based on their hospital identification number. Patients assigned to UC (n ϭ 145) were managed at their physicians&apos; discretion. Patients assigned to protocol (n ϭ 154) underwent daily screening and a spontaneous breathing trial by respiratory and nursing staff without physician intervention. There were no significant baseline differences in patient characteristics between groups

Anosognosia in mild cognitive impairment: Relationship to activation of cortical midline structures involved in self-appraisal

Awareness of cognitive dysfunction shown by individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition conferring risk for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD), is variable. Anosognosia, or unawareness of loss of function, is beginning to be recognized as an important clinical symptom of MCI. However, little is known about the brain substrates underlying this symptom. We hypothesized that MCI participants\u27 activation of cortical midline structures (CMS) during self-appraisal would covary with level of insight into cognitive difficulties (indexed by a discrepancy score between patient and informant ratings of cognitive decline in each MCI participant). To address this hypothesis, we first compared 16 MCI participants and 16 age-matched controls, examining brain regions showing conjoint or differential BOLD response during self-appraisal. Second, we used regression to investigate the relationship between awareness of deficit in MCI and BOLD activity during self-appraisal, controlling for extent of memory impairment. Between-group comparisons indicated that MCI participants show subtly attenuated CMS activity during self-appraisal. Regression analysis revealed a highly significant relationship between BOLD response during self-appraisal and self-awareness of deficit in MCI. This finding highlights the level of anosognosia in MCI as an important predictor of response to self-appraisal in cortical midline structures, brain regions vulnerable to changes in early AD. © 2007 The International Neuropsychological Society

Simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use among college students in the United States, 2006-2019

OBJECTIVE: Simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use exposes college students to a myriad of adverse consequences. However, there is no recent nationally representative study on SAM use among college students in the United States (US). To provide an update to the literature, the present study aimed to examine the trends, prevalence, and correlates of SAM use among US college students between 2006 and 2019, using nationally representative data. METHOD: We used data from the 2006-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and the analytic sample was limited to the 55,669 full-time college student respondents (ages 18-22). Using logistic regression analysis, we assessed trends in SAM use prevalence and examined sociodemographic and psycho-social-behavioral correlates of SAM use. RESULTS: The proportion of US college students who reported SAM use increased significantly from 8.13% (2006-2010) to 8.44% (2015-2019). However, examination by race/ethnicity revealed that the increasing trend was largely driven by Black college students, whose SAM use prevalence increased significantly from 5.50% (2006-2010) to 9.30% (2015-2019), reflecting a 69.09% increase. SAM use rates did not change significantly among other racial/ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study uncovered an upward trend and prevalence of SAM use among US college students, calling for more research and public health interventions in this area. At-risk subgroups that warrant more attention include college students who are Black, female, above the legal drinking age, have a lower than $20,000 household income, and reside in small metropolitan areas.Published versio