Taxonomic study of the family Mugilidae from Pakistan coast (northern Arabian Sea)

Hasan, Ariba, Siddiqui, Pirzada Jamal Ahmed (2020): Taxonomic study of the family Mugilidae from Pakistan coast (northern Arabian Sea). Zootaxa 4881 (1): 131-151, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4881.1.

Brain Imaging in Older Patients With Delirium

Background: Delirium is a common, serious and costly condition in older patients admitted to the hospital. This study describes the prevalence and results of brain imaging among a cohort of older hospitalized patients with and without delirium. Purpose: Investigate the frequency and results of brain imaging in older patients with delirium as compared to those without delirium. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected on hospitalized patients age 65 years or older who were admitted to 3 hospitals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during a 1-month period in the fall of 2013. Subjects were tested for delirium via the “Confusion Assessment Method” by researchers for another study. The collected data included demographics, presence of delirium, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and results of the imaging procedures. The imaging studies were done as a part of their medical care. The authors reviewed the radiologist’s final readings of the imaging studies. For all categorical variables, chi-squared/Fisher’s test was used with alpha of 0.05. Results: A total of 92 patients were included in the study. Prevalence of delirium was 17.4%. Mean age was 77 years. Overall, 24% had a CT and 9% an MRI, with the most common abnormal finding being chronic microvascular changes (13%). CT scan was performed in 44% of patients with delirium and 20% of patients without delirium (P = 0.04). MRI was performed in zero patients with delirium and 11% without delirium (P = 0.34). When patients with delirium were compared with patients without delirium, respectively: normal imaging was described in 1 vs 2 patients (P = 0.70); cerebral atrophy in 3 vs 6 (P = 0.99); chronic microvascular changes in 2 vs 10 (P = 0.17); and acute hematoma (subdural or intraparenchymal) in 3 (43%) vs 0 (P = 0.02). Conclusion: In this limited study, patients with delirium were noted to be more likely to have had a CT scan. Older patients with delirium had a variety of findings on brain imaging, some of which were more clinically relevant. No specific imaging changes were diagnostic for delirium

Brain Imaging in Older Patients With Delirium

Background: Delirium is a common, serious and costly condition in older patients admitted to the hospital. This study describes the prevalence and results of brain imaging among a cohort of older hospitalized patients with and without delirium. Purpose: Investigate the frequency and results of brain imaging in older patients with delirium as compared to those without delirium. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected on hospitalized patients age 65 years or older who were admitted to 3 hospitals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during a 1-month period in the fall of 2013. Subjects were tested for delirium via the “Confusion Assessment Method” by researchers for another study. The collected data included demographics, presence of delirium, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and results of the imaging procedures. The imaging studies were done as a part of their medical care. The authors reviewed the radiologist’s final readings of the imaging studies. For all categorical variables, chi-squared/Fisher’s test was used with alpha of 0.05. Results: A total of 92 patients were included in the study. Prevalence of delirium was 17.4%. Mean age was 77 years. Overall, 24% had a CT and 9% an MRI, with the most common abnormal finding being chronic microvascular changes (13%). CT scan was performed in 44% of patients with delirium and 20% of patients without delirium (P = 0.04). MRI was performed in zero patients with delirium and 11% without delirium (P = 0.34). When patients with delirium were compared with patients without delirium, respectively: normal imaging was described in 1 vs 2 patients (P = 0.70); cerebral atrophy in 3 vs 6 (P = 0.99); chronic microvascular changes in 2 vs 10 (P = 0.17); and acute hematoma (subdural or intraparenchymal) in 3 (43%) vs 0 (P = 0.02). Conclusion: In this limited study, patients with delirium were noted to be more likely to have had a CT scan. Older patients with delirium had a variety of findings on brain imaging, some of which were more clinically relevant. No specific imaging changes were diagnostic for delirium

DNA Barcoding of Mullets (Family Mugilidae) from Pakistan Reveals Surprisingly High Number of Unknown Candidate Species

The mullets are a widespread group of ecologically and economically important fishes of disputed taxonomy due to their uniform external morphology. Barcoding and phylogenetic studies from various locations around the world largely highlighted the species diversity underestimation using morphological criteria used to establish the taxonomy of the family. Here, we investigated the mullet species diversity from Pakistan, a biogeographic area where nearly no mullet species were genetically characterized. Morphological examination of 40 mullets reveals 6 known species (Planiliza macrolepis, P. klunzingeri, P. subviridis, Crenimugil seheli, Ellochelon vaigiensis, and Mugil cephalus). Using a references DNA barcode library, the DNA barcode-based species identification flagged eight molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) belonging to five genera (Crenimugil, Ellochelon, Mugil, Osteomugil, and Planiliza). Among these MOTUs, only one was already present in Barcode of Life Data system, all other representing new Barcode Index Numbers (BIN). These results emphasize the importance of the recognition of cryptic species and the necessity to re-evaluate the overall diversity by the genetic characterization of different species of this family. DNA barcoding is an effective tool to reveal cryptic species that need to be considered in conservation and management measures of fisheries in Pakistan

The unique needs of older patients who are re-admitted to the hospital

Background/significance: Approximately twenty percent of Medicare patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge from the hospital. Patients who are hospitalized as a readmission are particularly vulnerable for complications during their acute illness. The ACE Tracker checklist is an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) report which provides a description of key geriatrics health indicators among all hospitalized patients in Aurora Health Care. Purpose: This study was designed to describe the unique vulnerabilities of patients age 65 and older who were readmitted. Methods: Data was collected on all 65 year old and older patients who were hospitalized in a hospital in Milwaukee, WI during the month of February, 2012. To provide a convenience sample, the ACE Tracker checklist was printed every Wednesday during the one month study period. The average day of the assessment was day 7. The collected data included demographics, number of medications, functional status, and high risk medications (Beers). Readmission was noted to be present if the current hospital stay was preceded by a hospital stay in the health care system within 30 days. We compared patient characteristics between those whose current hospitalization was their second within 30 days and those whose hospitalization was not a re-hospitalization (index hospitalization). Results: One thousand three hundred and five patients were included in the study. The average age of the patients was 77 years. For 217 patients (16.6%) the hospitalization represented a re-hospitalization. The cohort who were receiving care during their second hospitalization were prescribed more medications when compared to those who were on their index hospital stay (13.2 vs. 11.8; p=0.00). Patients whose hospitalization represented a re-hospitalization were more likely to be on high risk medications (20% vs. 15%; p= 0.027). Patients whose hospitalization represented a second hospitalization had a functional decline when compared to those who were on their index hospital stay (14.7% vs. 9.7%; p=0.025). Conclusion: Patients whose hospitalization was a re-hospitalization were prescribed more total medications, more high risk medications, and had a decline in functional status. Further study could define if older patients who are readmitted are more vulnerable to drug - drug interactions or adverse drug events

The unique needs of older patients who are readmitted to the hospital: D86

Background/significance: Approximately twenty percent of Medicare patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge from the hospital. Patients who are hospitalized as a readmission are particularly vulnerable for complications during their acute illness. The ACE Tracker checklist is an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) report which provides a description of key geriatrics health indicators among all hospitalized patients in Aurora Health Care. Purpose: This study was designed to describe the unique vulnerabilities of patients age 65 and older who were readmitted. Methods: Data was collected on all 65 year old and older patients who were hospitalized in a hospital in Milwaukee, WI during the month of February, 2012. To provide a convenience sample, the ACE Tracker checklist was printed every Wednesday during the one month study period. The average day of the assessment was day 7. The collected data included demographics, number of medications, functional status, and high risk medications (Beers). Readmission was noted to be present if the current hospital stay was preceded by a hospital stay in the health care system within 30 days. We compared patient characteristics between those whose current hospitalization was their second within 30 days and those whose hospitalization was not a re-hospitalization (index hospitalization). Results: One thousand three hundred and five patients were included in the study. The average age of the patients was 77 years. For 217 patients (16.6%) the hospitalization represented a re-hospitalization. The cohort who were receiving care during their second hospitalization were prescribed more medications when compared to those who were on their index hospital stay (13.2 vs. 11.8; p=0.00). Patients whose hospitalization represented a re-hospitalization were more likely to be on high risk medications (20% vs. 15%; p= 0.027). Patients whose hospitalization represented a second hospitalization had a functional decline when compared to those who were on their index hospital stay (14.7% vs. 9.7%; p=0.025). Conclusion: Patients whose hospitalization was a re-hospitalization were prescribed more total medications, more high risk medications, and had a decline in functional status. Further study could define if older patients who are readmitted are more vulnerable to drug - drug interactions or adverse drug events

Biosafety Initiatives in BMENA Region: Identification of Gaps and Advances

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to identify and assess the impact of capacity-building biosafety initiatives and programs that have taken place in the broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) region between 2001 and 2013, to highlight gaps that require further development, and to suggest sustainable ways to build cooperative regional biosafety opportunities.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with two aspects (1) thorough desktop review of literature for all biosafety/biosecurity-related activities in the study countries, such as seminars, conferences, workshops, policy documents, technology transfer, sustained scientific endeavors between countries, etc. and (2) an online survey of scientists in countries in the region to get first-hand information about biosafety and biosecurity initiatives and gaps in their country.Results: A total of 1832 initiatives of biosafety/biosecurity were recorded from 97 web links; 70.68% (n=1295) initiatives were focused on raising general awareness among the scientific community about biosafety/biosecurity/biocontainment. The most frequent areas of interest were biorisk management in biomedical and biotechnology laboratories 13% (n=239), followed by living modified organisms (LMOs) 9.17% (n=168). Hands-on training accounted for 2.67% (n=49) of initiatives. Online survey results confirmed desktop review findings; however, the response rate was 11%

Hospital readmission of skilled nursing facility residents: a systematic review

Hospital readmission of patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) is common and costly with increasing public attention over the past decade, particularly in light of the new health care environment surrounding the advent of the Affordable Care Act. The purpose of the current systematic review is to critically examine prevalence, predictors, and costs of hospital readmission of SNF residents found in the medical literature. Individual resident, facility, and intervention factors predicting hospital readmission of SNF residents were studied. Despite the heterogeneity of the reviewed articles\u27 data sources and study designs, the existing literature asserts that hospital readmission of SNF residents is associated with individual resident and facility characteristics. Implementation of promising intervention programs can promote quality of care and reduce hospital readmission of SNF residents