Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of vestibular schwannoma reveals functionally distinct macrophage subsets.

BACKGROUND: Vestibular schwannomas (VSs) remain a challenge due to their anatomical location and propensity to growth. Macrophages are present in VS but their roles in VS pathogenesis remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess phenotypic and functional profile of macrophages in VS with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq). METHODS: scRNAseq was carried out in three VS samples to examine characteristics of macrophages in the tumour. RT-qPCR was carried out on 10 VS samples for CD14, CD68 and CD163 and a panel of macrophage-associated molecules. RESULTS: scRNAseq revealed macrophages to be a major constituent of VS microenvironment with three distinct subclusters based on gene expression. The subclusters were also defined by expression of CD163, CD68 and IL-1ß. AREG and PLAUR were expressed in the CD68+CD163+IL-1ß+ subcluster, PLCG2 and NCKAP5 were expressed in CD68+CD163+IL-1ß- subcluster and AUTS2 and SPP1 were expressed in the CD68+CD163-IL-1ß+ subcluster. RT-qPCR showed expression of several macrophage markers in VS of which CD14, ALOX15, Interleukin-1ß, INHBA and Colony Stimulating Factor-1R were found to have a high correlation with tumour volume. CONCLUSIONS: Macrophages form an important component of VS stroma. scRNAseq reveals three distinct subsets of macrophages in the VS tissue which may have differing roles in the pathogenesis of VS.

SNARE-ing the Reason for Post-Cardiac Surgery Critical Illness-Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency.

Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) can cause hemodynamic instability in neonates after congenital heart surgery with manifestations that increase morbidity and potential mortality. We retrospectively reviewed neonates who underwent cardiac surgery between August 2018 and July 2020 at a freestanding children's hospital, had next-generation sequencing performed, and had their cortisol levels drawn as standard clinical care after cardiac surgery. The groups were defined as CIRCI (with a cortisol level ≤ 4.5 mcg/dL) and non-CIRCI (level > 4.5 mcg/dL). The CIRCI group (n = 8) had a 100% incidence of heterozygous gene mutation on STX1A with splicing or loss of function, and this mutation was not found in the non-CIRCI group (n = 8). Additional gene mutations were found in the CIRCI group on RAB6A, ABCA3, SIDT2, and LILRB3, with no incidence in the non-CIRCI group. Three additional mutations were found across the CIRCI group in INPPL1 and FAM189A2 (both splicing and missense), with 12-25% of patients in the non-CIRCI group also displaying these mutations. Novel genetic abnormalities were seen in neonates with symptoms of CIRCI with potential cardiac implications from a gene mutation for STX1A. Compounding effects of additional gene mutations need to be confirmed and explored for potential predisposition to hemodynamic instability during times of stress.

Sociocultural and Geographic Factors Influencing the Health and Development of Young Children in Washington, District of Columbia.

OBJECTIVES: The first 5 years of life are critical to children's health and development. Sociocultural and environmental factors play a prominent role as do variations in the quality of resources available. The objective of this study, grounded in Asset Based Community Development and the Model of Children's Health and its Influences, was to identify and understand these factors through the lens of parents living in predominantly African-American low-income communities within Washington, DC. METHODS: An exploratory qualitative study employed semi-structured virtual interviews to discuss parents' priorities and challenges in raising their children. RESULTS: Participants relayed perceptions of community assets as well as struggles with access to care, proper nutrition, and police activity within their communities. Results were presented to apprise community partners and encourage modifications in program delivery to enhance community resources. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Lived experiences voiced by underrepresented parents can potentially inform design of community-centered programing. Policymakers must take into account community strengths and weaknesses during the development of community services. Due to inequities in childhood health outcomes, it is imperative that policymakers receive information from parents to make informed decisions.

Engaging Community in Prioritizing Outcomes to Improve Family Health in Evidence-Based Nurse Home Visiting: Using a Modified e-Delphi Method.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based home visiting programs are designed to improve maternal child health. Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is a model evidence-based home visiting program, shown to improve pregnancy outcomes, child development, and economic self-sufficiency for first-time mothers and their families experiencing social and economic adversities, enrolling them early in pregnancy. Recently, NFP has expanded its services to multiparous women (previous live births) and enrolling women past 28 weeks gestation (late registrants) in selected agencies in Florida since 2021. OBJECTIVE: To study the process and impacts of expanding NFP to expanded populations (multiparous and/or late registrants), we convened a diverse Advisory Committee to guide the NFP expansion evaluation in Florida. METHODS: This study employed a modified e-Delphi method with three rounds of data collection, to engage diverse partners to identify process and impact outcomes for the NFP expansion evaluation. RESULTS: Child maltreatment was identified as the highest priority outcome. Process outcomes included program reach, client enrollment, and client engagement, while impact outcomes included maternal physical health, maternal mental health and substance use, birth outcomes, and breastfeeding practices. The Advisory Committee further identified potential data sources to measure these outcomes. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Identifying and selecting key process and impact outcomes using a community-engaged process is necessary to ensure equal buy-in from all partners and to inform rigorous program evaluation. This study showed that using methods such as e-Delphi is feasible and effective for achieving thoughtful and rigorous decision-making, even in times of uncertainty like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The role of adverse childhood experiences in obesity among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: National survey of Children's health 2018-2019.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at an increased risk of overweight/obesity and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether ACEs increased the odds of overweight/obesity in adolescents with ASD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) 2018-2019 data (N = 31,533 children ages 10-17 years, including n = 480 children with mild ASD and n = 423 children with moderate/severe ASD with normal or overweight/obese BMI). Parent-reported body mass index (BMI) was coded as overweight/obesity vs. normal weight. The independent variable was the count of nine ACEs. Binary logistic regression was conducted, controlling for social ecological factors. RESULTS: The odds of overweight/obesity in adolescents with ASD with 1-2 ACEs (OR 1.3, CI 1.1-1.4) and 3+ ACEs (OR 1.6, CI 1.3-2.0) were higher than those with 0 ACEs; odds increased with higher counts of ACEs. Household income level was the most significant sociodemographic influence on odds of obesity in adolescents with ASD (0-99 % Federal Poverty Level: OR 1.9, CI 1.6-2.3). Adolescents with moderate/severe ASD (OR 1.7, CI 1.2-2.5) and mild ASD (OR 1.6, CI 1.0-2.4) had higher odds of overweight/obesity after accounting for ACEs, race/ethnicity, sex, household income, and physical activity. CONCLUSION: Findings indicated ACEs are associated with ASD, which calls for integration of ACEs information within trauma-informed care practices for obesity prevention and intervention for adolescents with ASD. Persistent disparities of overweight/obesity exist by race/ethnicity, sex, and household income within this population, which indicates the need for tailoring trauma-informed approaches to the unique needs of this population.

Access to Prenatal Care Among Patients With Opioid Use Disorder in Florida: Findings From a Secret Shopper Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate access to prenatal care for pregnant patients receiving medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) under Medicaid coverage in Florida. METHODS: A cross-sectional, secret shopper study was conducted in which calls were made to randomly selected obstetric clinicians' offices in Florida. Callers posed as a 14-week-pregnant patient with Medicaid insurance who was receiving MOUD from another physician and requested to schedule a first-time prenatal care appointment. Descriptive statistics were used to report our primary outcome, the callers' success in obtaining appointments from Medicaid-enrolled physicians' offices. Wait time for appointments and reasons the physician offices refused appointments to callers were collected. RESULTS: Overall, 2,816 obstetric clinicians are enrolled in Florida Medicaid. Callers made 1,747 attempts to contact 1,023 randomly selected physicians' offices from June to September 2021. Only 48.9% of medical offices (n=500) were successfully reached by phone, of which 39.4% (n=197) offered a prenatal care appointment to the caller. The median wait time until the first appointment was 15 days (quartile 1: 7; quartile 3: 26), with a range of 0-55 days. However, despite offering an appointment, 8.6% of the medical offices stated that they do not accept Medicaid insurance payment or would accept only self-pay. Among the 60.6% of callers unable to secure an appointment, the most common reasons were that the clinician was not accepting patients taking methadone (34.7%) or was not accepting any new patients with Medicaid insurance (23.8%) and that the pregnancy would be too advanced by the time of the first available appointment (7.3%). CONCLUSION: This secret shopper study found that the majority of obstetric clinicians' offices enrolled in Florida Medicaid do not accept pregnant patients with Medicaid insurance who are taking MOUD. Policy changes are needed to ensure access to adequate prenatal care for patients with opioid use disorder.

Fibroblasts Derived From Vestibular Schwannoma Express Protumorogenic Markers.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Vestibular schwannomas (VSs), despite being histologically benign, cause significant morbidity because of their challenging intracranial location and the propensity for growth. The role of the stroma and particularly fibroblasts, in the progression of VS, is not completely understood. This study examines the profile of fibroblasts in VS. METHODS: Seventeen patients undergoing surgical excision of VS were recruited into the study. Reverse transcription with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed on VS tissue samples and fibroblast-associated molecules examined. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry in VS tissue were used to study the expression of fibroblast markers CD90 and podoplanin in situ. Fibroblast cultures were established from VS, and RT-qPCR analysis was performed on a panel of fibroblast markers on VS and control tissue fibroblasts. RESULTS: Several fibroblast-associated molecules including members of galectin family and matrix metalloproteinases were found to be expressed in VS tissue on RT-qPCR analysis. In situ, expression of CD90 and podoplanin was observed in VS tissue both on immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. RT-qPCR analysis of fibroblasts from VS and control vestibular neuroepithelium (NE) showed a higher expression of several molecules of the galectin and matrix metalloproteinases family on VS fibroblasts compared with NE fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: This work examines fibroblasts from VS and shows qualitative differences from NE fibroblasts on RT-qPCR. Further understanding of the fibroblast function in the progression of VS will potentially unveil new targets to manage VS growth.

SSSH: Responsive soothing bassinet feasibility study for infants with congenital heart disease after cardiac surgery.

PURPOSE: For infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) requiring surgery, prolonged hospital stays, intermittent caregiver visitation, and constrained unit staffing ratios present barriers to adequately address post-operative stressors and associated need to retain cognitive and physiological reserves. Similar patients requiring high-engagement interventions, such as hospitalized infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome, have found success in utilizing responsive bassinets to soothe infants and save floor nurses' time. However, it remains unclear if such technology can be leveraged in the CHD population given their complex hemodynamics, feeding intolerance, and monitoring requirements. METHODS: This multidisciplinary feasibility study evaluated responsive bassinet use in a cohort of infants with CHD <6 months of age in a medical-surgical unit at a midwestern children's hospital. Specifically assessing 1) implementation requirements, challenges, and potential of utilizing the device, together with 2) ability to perform bedside monitoring (monitoring) and 3) measuring physiologic trends during use. RESULTS: Between 11/2020-1/2022, nine infants utilized a responsive bassinet over 599 h (mean 13, range 4-26 days per infant). No increase in monitoring alarms and accurate vital signs monitoring during bassinet activity were noted with appropriate physiologic responses for infants with single ventricle and biventricular surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Feasibility of introducing new technology into care, and successful use of its functionality for soothing was found to be plausible for infants with CHD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: After cardiac surgery, infants with CHD have need for interventions to reduce stress. Use of a soothing bassinet has the potential to aid in doing so without interference with monitoring requirements.

Differential effect of lactate on synovial fibroblast and macrophage effector functions.

Introduction: The synovial membrane is the main site of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here several subsets of fibroblasts and macrophages, with distinct effector functions, have been recently identified. The RA synovium is hypoxic and acidic, with increased levels of lactate as a result of inflammation. We investigated how lactate regulates fibroblast and macrophage movement, IL-6 secretion and metabolism via specific lactate transporters. Methods: Synovial tissues were taken from patients undergoing joint replacement surgery and fulfilling the 2010 ACR/EULAR RA criteria. Patients with no evidence of degenerative or inflammatory disease were used as control. Expression of the lactate transporters SLC16A1 and SLC16A3 on fibroblasts and macrophages was assessed by immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. To test the effect of lactate in vitro we used RA synovial fibroblasts and monocyte-derived macrophages. Migration was assessed via scratch test assays or using trans-well inserts. Metabolic pathways were analysed by Seahorse analyser. IL-6 secretion was determined by ELISA. Bioinformatic analysis was performed on publicly available single cell and bulk RNA sequencing datasets. Results: We show that: i) SLC16A1 and SLC16A3 which regulate lactate intake and export respectively, are both expressed in RA synovial tissue and are upregulated upon inflammation. SLC16A3 is more highly expressed by macrophages, while SLC16A1 was expressed by both cell types. ii) This expression is maintained in distinct synovial compartments at mRNA and protein level. iii) Lactate, at the concentration found in RA joints (10 mM), has opposite effects on the effector functions of these two cell types. In fibroblasts, lactate promotes cell migration, IL-6 production and increases glycolysis. In contrast macrophages respond to increases in lactate by reducing glycolysis, migration, and IL-6 secretion. Discussion: In this study, we provide the first evidence of distinct functions of fibroblasts and macrophages in presence of high lactate levels, opening new insights in understanding the pathogenesis of RA and offering novel potential therapeutic targets.

Exploring Patients' Needs and Desires for Quality Prenatal Care in Florida, United States.

Background and Objective: High-quality prenatal care promotes adequate care throughout pregnancy by increasing patients' desires to return for follow-up visits. Almost 15% of women in the United States receive inadequate prenatal care, with 6% receiving late or no prenatal care. Only 63% of pregnant women in Florida receive adequate prenatal care, and little is known about their perceptions of high-quality prenatal care. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess women's perceptions of the quality of their prenatal care and to describe their preferences for seeking prenatal care that meets their needs. Methods: From April to December 2019, a qualitative study was conducted with postpartum women (n = 55) who received no or late prenatal care and delivered in Tampa, Florida, USA. Eligible women completed an open-ended qualitative survey and a semi-structured in-depth interview. The interview contextualized the factors influencing prenatal care quality perceptions. The qualitative data analysis was based on Donabedian's quality of care model. Results: The qualitative data analysis revealed three key themes about women's perceptions and preferences for prenatal care that meets their needs. First, clinical care processes included provision of health education and medical assessments. Second, structural conditions included language preferences, clinic availability, and the presence of ancillary staff. Finally, interpersonal communication encompassed interactions with providers and continuity of care. Overall, participants desired patient-centered care and care that was informative, tailored to their needs, and worked within the constraints of their daily lives. Conclusion and Global Health Implications: Women seeking and receiving prenatal care prefer a welcoming, patient-centered health care environment. These findings should prompt health care providers and organizations to improve existing prenatal care models and develop new prenatal care models that provide early, accessible, and high-quality prenatal care to a diverse population of maternity patients.

Treatment access for opioid use disorder among women with medicaid in Florida.

INTRODUCTION: Opioid use disorder (OUD) remains prevalent. Medications for OUD (MOUD) are standard care for pregnant and non-pregnant women. Previous research has identified barriers to MOUD for women with Medicaid but did not account for the type of MOUD (methadone vs. buprenorphine) or pregnancy status. We examined access to MOUD by treatment type for pregnant and non-pregnant women with Medicaid in Florida. METHODS: A secondary analysis of Florida "secret-shopper" data was conducted. Calls were made to clinicians from the 2018 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provider list by women posing as either a pregnant or non-pregnant woman with OUD and Medicaid. We examined 546 calls to buprenorphine-waivered providers (BWP) and 139 to opioid treatment programs (OTP). Counts and percentages were used to describe caller success by type of treatment and pregnancy status. Chi-square tests were used to identify statistical differences. RESULTS: Only 42 % of calls reached a treatment provider in Florida. Pregnant and non-pregnant women were less likely to obtain an appointment with Medicaid coverage by a BWP than an OTP (p < 0.01). Nearly 40 % of OTPs offered appointments to callers with Medicaid compared to only 17 % of BWPs. Both types of providers denied appointments more often for pregnant women. Thirty-eight percent of BWP's and 12 % of OTP's denied appointments to pregnant women using cash or Medicaid payment. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates logistical and financial barriers to treatment for OUD among pregnant and non-pregnant women with Medicaid in Florida and highlights the need for improved systems of care.

MCH Leadership Training Program: An Innovative Application of an Implementation Science Framework.

INTRODUCTION: MCH training programs in schools of public health provide specialized training to develop culturally competent and skilled MCH leaders who will play key roles in public health infrastructure. Previous literature has reported on the effectiveness of MCH training programs (e.g., number of trainees, improvement in knowledge/skills); less attention has been devoted to understanding factors influencing program implementation during times of rapid change, while considering internal and external contexts (e.g., global pandemic, social unrest, uncertainty of funding, mental health issues, and other crises). PURPOSE: This article describes a graduate-level MCH leadership training program and illustrates how an implementation science framework can inform the identification of determinants and lessons learned during one year of implementation of a multi-year program. ASSESSMENT: Findings reveal how CFIR can be applicable to a MCH training program and highlight how constructs across domains can interact and represent determinants that serve as both a barrier and facilitator. Key lessons learned included the value of accountability, flexibility, learner-centeredness, and partnerships. CONCLUSION: Findings may apply to other programs and settings and could advance innovative training efforts that necessitate attention to the multi-level stakeholder needs (e.g., student, program, institution, community, and local/regional/national levels). Applying CFIR could be useful when interpreting process and outcome evaluation data and transferring findings and lessons learned to other organizations and settings. Integrating implementation science specifically into MCH training programs could contribute to the rigor, adaptability, and dissemination efforts that are critical when learning and sharing best practices to expand leadership capacity efforts that aim to eliminate MCH disparities across systems.

Personas of pregnant and parenting women with substance use and their barriers and pathways to system engagement.

BACKGROUND: Women with prenatal substance use have been identified as at-risk for the lack of engagement in perinatal services, such as medical care and home visitation programs. This issue is of particular concern in Florida (United States) where rates of fetal substance exposure have been steadily increasing. METHODS: To identify pathways of and barriers to perinatal system and service engagement, journey mapping was used to compile various personas of perinatal women with substance use. A structured guide was developed to elicit maternal personas, system and service touchpoints, and system strengths and weaknesses from focus group participants with statewide stakeholders, including perinatal service administrators and community coalition members within three Florida communities. Workshop transcripts, debriefing, and member-checking sessions were transcribed verbatim and analyzed manually. RESULTS: Six journey-mapping workshops and two member-checking meetings with mothers in-recovery were conducted with a total of 109 participants. Four personas were identified: women who (1) have substance use on a recreational basis, (2) have prescription drug use/misuse, (3) have chronic substance dependence, and (4) are in-recovery from substance dependence. Pathways that promote and barriers that prevent perinatal women with substance use from being identified, referred, or willing to accept and engage in medical care and social services were identified. CONCLUSIONS: While these personas shed light on differential pathways experienced by women with OUD, they were not intended as fixed-member groups but rather fluid descriptions of circumstances in which individuals could shift over time. These personas are beneficial to understand differences in circumstances, as well as variations in pathways and barriers to service engagement. Additionally, personas may be used to identify approaches to optimize service engagement by perinatal women with substance use and to support system improvements and integrations.

Mixed-method assessment of caregiver feeding practices in early care and education centres during COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic changed early care and education (ECE) mealtimes. Feeding practices that support children's emerging autonomy may support children's healthy eating, but it is unknown whether and how COVID-19 changed feeding practices. This paper describes caregiver feeding practices in ECE centres in Florida during COVID-19. DESIGN: A mixed-methods design was used to understand mealtime feeding practices. Survey and interview questions were developed based on the Trust Model. More than 7000 surveys were sent to ECE centres. Analysis included descriptive statistics for survey data and thematic analysis for interview data. SETTING: This statewide study included teachers in all licensed and license-exempt ECE centres. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred and thirty-one teachers completed a survey, and twenty-nine participated in follow-up interviews. RESULTS: Surveys showed most teachers engaged in autonomy-supportive behaviours, such as letting children eat until they were finished (90 %). The most common controlling behaviour was praising children for cleaning their plates (70 %). The most common responses about changes to mealtimes were keeping physical distance and serving healthy food. Interview themes were Autonomy Support, Controlling Feeding Practices, Interactions are the Same, Interactions are Different, Physical Distancing and Healthy Eating. CONCLUSIONS: Mealtimes are a central part of the day for young children and teachers in ECE environments. COVID-19 continues to influence ECE routines as behaviour change remains the primary method of reducing the risk of COVID-19 in the absence of a vaccine for young children. Understanding teachers' practices and perspectives is important for reducing the risk of COVID-19 and supporting children's autonomy and healthy eating.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Other Child, Family, and Community Risk Factors for Obesity among Children and Adolescents Aged Ten to Seventeen Years in the United States: A Mediation Analysis.

Background: This study explored whether there are mediated effects of child and family risk in the association between community and organizational risk and obesity among children and adolescents aged 10-17 years using 2017-2018 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) data, addressing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and co-occurring conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study (N = 27,157) used 2017-2018 NSCH data. Frequency distributions and chi-square tests were used to describe participants with and without ASD. Cumulative risk indices were created for child, family, community, and organizational level risk, and mediation analyses were conducted in a two-mediator model (X1: community risk, X2: organizational risk, M1: child risk, M2: family risk) for the dichotomous outcome (Y: obesity). Path analyses were performed using generalized structural equation modeling in Stata 16.0. Results: Direct effects for all four risk indices were associated with obesity in single index models (all p < 0.001); only child and family risk indices were associated with obesity in a full model with all four risk indices (both p < 0.001). When child and family risk indices were assessed as mediators, the indirect effects of community and organizational risk were significant (all p < 0.0001). The total effect of community risk on obesity was significant with family risk as a mediator (p = 0.002). The total effect of organizational risk was not significant with either mediator. Conclusion: Findings suggest that child and family factors play a strong role in obesity risk and that ASD contributes to this risk. Community risk may be another strong predictor of obesity, mediated by family risk. Additional research on social-ecological risk factors for obesity is needed to identify leverage points to improve obesity risk in children and adolescents with and without ASD.

An evaluation of factors associated with safe infant sleep practices among perinatal home visiting participants in Florida, United States.

Sleep-related deaths are a leading cause of infant mortality in Florida. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing infants to sleep on their back, alone, and without soft bedding. Compliance with these guidelines varies among parents. This evaluation examined the rates of safe infant sleep practices and associated factors among 1985 participants enrolled in Florida Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (FL MIECHV) programs during 2017-2019. Participant- and program-level variables were examined in relation to three sleep practices: infant position, bedding, and bed-sharing at 2-3 months to determine which factors were associated with high rates of safe sleep outcomes. Analyses included univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate statistics, and multivariable logistic regression. Most caregivers (70%) reported always placing their babies to sleep on their back, alone, and without soft bedding. Factors such as primary language, race, education, housing situation, and year the Safe Baby™ curriculum implemented were significantly associated with safe infant sleep practices. Bearing this in mind, FL MIECHV can tailor safe sleep education, messaging, and strategies to support participants at highest risk. Recent adoption of the Safe Baby™ curriculum, and associated staff training, was an important factor influencing parents' infant sleep practices.

Sustained radiation reduction following initial quality improvement intervention in a paediatric cardiac catheterisation laboratory.

BACKGROUND: As part of a quality improvement project beginning in October 2011, our centre introduced changes to reduce radiation exposure during paediatric cardiac catheterisations. This led to significant initial decreases in radiation to patients. Starting in April 2016, we sought to determine whether these initial reductions were sustained. METHODS: After a 30-day trial period, we implemented (1) weight-based reductions in preset frame rates for fluoroscopy and angiography, (2) increased use of collimators and safety shields, (3) utilisation of stored fluoroscopy and virtual magnification, and (4) hiring of a devoted radiation technician. We collected patient weight (kg), total fluoroscopy time (min), and procedure radiation dosage (cGy-cm2) for cardiac catheterisations between October, 2011 and September, 2019. RESULTS: A total of 1889 procedures were evaluated (196 pre-intervention, 303 in the post-intervention time period, and 1400 in the long-term group). Fluoroscopy times (18.3 ± 13.6 pre; 19.8 ± 14.1 post; 17.11 ± 15.06 long-term, p = 0.782) were not significantly different between the three groups. Patient mean radiation dose per kilogram decreased significantly after the initial quality improvement intervention (39.7% reduction, p = 0.039) and was sustained over the long term (p = 0.043). Provider radiation exposure was also significantly decreased from the onset of this project through the long-term period (overall decrease of 73%, p < 0.01) despite several changes in the interventional cardiologists who made up the team over this time period. CONCLUSION: Introduction of technical and clinical practice changes can result in a significant reduction in radiation exposure for patients and providers in a paediatric cardiac catheterisation laboratory. These reductions can be maintained over the long term.

"I Wear a Mask. I Wear It All the Time. The Kids Don't Wear Masks": Early Childhood Education Mask-Wearing During COVID-19 in Florida.

BACKGROUND: New federal health guidance was issued for early childhood education (ECE) programs to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in March 2020. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended mask-wearing for adults and children aged 2 years and older. Wearing masks was a new practice for teachers and children, and this study investigated when and how masks were worn in ECE centers in Florida. METHODS: This study was part of a larger assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on mealtime routines in ECE centers. Two statewide surveys based on the Trust Model were sent to directors and teachers via Florida Department of Children and Families. Only teachers were interviewed. Data were collected from August to October 2020. The analysis included survey results and interview responses related to mask-wearing. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 759 directors and 431 teachers, and 29 teachers were interviewed. Survey results indicated that more teachers than children wore masks during pre- and postmeal activities. Interviews revealed three models that explain mask-wearing: (1) teachers only, in which teachers were required to wear a mask, but children were not; (2) teachers and children, in which teachers and children were required to wear a mask; and (3) masks optional, in which teachers and children could choose to wear a mask. CONCLUSION: Understanding how decisions about mask-wearing were made at the center level can inform training and support health and safety in ECE. Use of personal protective equipment (such as masks) is effective for reducing risk of pathogen transmission for children and adults in ECE settings.

Parent and Adolescent Attitudes Toward a Virtual Nutrition Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Objectives: This qualitative study examined acceptability, perceived benefits, and unintended consequences of a virtual implementation of an 8-week theory-driven nutrition intervention (BALANCE) for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Twenty-one parent interviews and six adolescent focus groups or interviews (n = 12; group size ranged 1-5) were conducted. Data were collected virtually via Microsoft Teams and analyzed for a priori and emergent themes. Results: The intervention was generally acceptable. Adolescents and parents reported that they were comfortable with the virtual format and the interactive group setting. Parents of adolescents 15 years and older emphasized the importance of autonomy/independence. Participants reported changes in adolescents' psychosocial determinants of dietary intake, including knowledge and self-efficacy, as well as diet changes (e.g., self-regulation). Conclusions: The virtual implementation of BALANCE was acceptable according to adolescents with ASD and their parents based on their reported perceptions and feelings about the intervention. The findings suggest that many adolescents with ASD may benefit from virtual group interventions. Quantitative research is needed to examine behavioral outcomes of the BALANCE intervention.