Thyroid US-guided FNA techniques: A prospective,randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid nodules are common in the general population. Ultrasonography is the most efficient diagnostic approach to evaluate thyroid nodules. The US FNAC procedure can be performed using either the short axis (perpendicular), or a long axis (parallel) approach to visualize the needle as it is advanced toward the desired nodule. The main aim of this study was to compare the percentage of non-diagnostic results between the long and short axis approach. METHODS: A prospective study that included a randomized controlled trial and was divided into two arms-the short axis and the long axis-was conducted. A total of 245 thyroid nodules were collected through the fine needle aspiration cytology, performed with ultrasound, from march 2021 to march 2022. The patient's demographic information were collected and also nodules characteristics. RESULTS: Of 245 nodules sampled, 122 were sampled with the long axis method, while 123 with the short axis method. There is not significantly less non diagnostic approach with either method compared to the other (11.5 % vs 16.3 % respectively). DISCUSSION: Previous studies came to the conclusion that the long axis method yields fewer non diagnostic samples. This study evaluated the two FNA approaches which were proceeded by the same physician who is expert in both techniques. CONCLUSION: The US FNAC performed in the long axis approach will not produce more conclusive results and less non diagnostic results (Bethesda category 1) than the short axis approach one.

Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Antibody Testing in First-Episode Psychosis: Universal or Targeted Testing.

Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an immune-mediated disorder that typically presents with rapid development of neuropsychiatric symptoms. As a potentially reversible cause of psychosis, there have been calls internationally for routine serological screening for anti-NMDAR antibodies in patients presenting with first-episode psychosis (FEP). Increased serological testing has, however, exposed several limitations of universal screening and rekindled debate as to which patients should be tested. Screening criteria have been proposed for high-risk clinical features in FEP in which antineuronal antibody testing is indicated. The authors present a clinical vignette and a service audit as well as discuss the limitations of universal screening advocating instead for targeted testing for antineuronal antibodies in patients diagnosed as having FEP.

Barriers to the use of paediatric clinical practice guidelines in rural and regional New South Wales Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To identify barriers to compliance with paediatric clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in emergency departments in rural and regional New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and to propose strategies to increase their use. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Ten emergency departments in rural and regional NSW. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty medical officers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Use of clinical practice guidelines and perceived barriers to their usage. RESULTS: Only 22% of medical officers reported that they used the CPGs frequently when managing sick children. Major barriers to the use of CPGs were a lack of awareness of their existence, a lack of training in their use and poor access to the guidelines in printed or electronic format. CONCLUSION: In order to increase compliance with the paediatric CPGs, medical officers in rural and regional NSW require further training and education. The CPGs need to be readily available in either printed or electronic format.

Lung Health in the Solomon Islands: A Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite a population of 600,000 people from 900 islands, there is little published data on the prevalence of lung disease in the Solomon Islands. We sought to 1) estimate the prevalence of obstructive lung disease (OLD) in Gizo, Solomon Islands, 2) identify risk factors for respiratory disease in this population and 3) review current management practices for respiratory disease through an audit of local emergency department (ED) presentations. METHODS: A two-part mixed methods study was performed between March and May 2019; the first was a population-based, cross-sectional study conducted in Gizo, Solomon Islands, with a random sample undergoing questionnaires and spirometry. The second was an audit of Gizo Hospital ED records to assess presentation numbers, diagnoses and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were randomly selected for spirometry. The mean age was 46.9 years. Current smoking rates were high (24.0% overall, 43.3% age < 40, 16.2% age ≥ 40) as was regular (>10h/week) exposure to indoor/enclosed wood fire ovens (51.5%). The prevalence of COPD was 3.2% overall. A further 9.7% of participants demonstrated significant bronchodilator responsiveness suggestive of possible asthma. Most patients seen in ED presented with a respiratory condition or fever/viral illness, but spirometry was not available. Only four outpatients were prescribed salbutamol and two patients inhaled corticosteroid. CONCLUSION: There appears to be a high burden of obstructive lung disease in the Solomon Islands with high smoking rates, indoor smoke exposure and bronchodilator responsiveness. Respiratory symptoms are common amongst hospital ED presentations; however, inhaled asthma treatments are infrequently prescribed to outpatients.

Promoting evaluation capacity building in a complex adaptive system.

This study provides results from an NSF funded, four year, case study about evaluation capacity building in a complex adaptive system, the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). The results of the Complex Adaptive Systems as a Model for Network Evaluations (CASNET) project indicate that complex adaptive system concepts help to explain evaluation capacity building in a network. The NISE Network was found to be a complex learning system that was supportive of evaluation capacity building through feedback loops that provided for information sharing and interaction. Participants in the system had different levels of and sources of evaluation knowledge. To be successful at building capacity, the system needed to have a balance between both centralized and decentralized control, coherence, redundancy, and diversity. Embeddedness of individuals within the system also provided support and moved the capacity of the system forward. Finally, success depended on attention being paid to the control of resources. Implications of these findings are discussed.