A multi-centre international study of salivary hormone oestradiol and progesterone measurements in ART monitoring.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Ovarian stimulation during IVF cycles involves close monitoring of oestradiol, progesterone and ultrasound measurements of follicle growth. In contrast to blood draws, sampling saliva is less invasive. Here, a blind validation is presented of a novel saliva-based oestradiol and progesterone assay carried out in samples collected in independent IVF clinics. DESIGN: Concurrent serum and saliva samples were collected from 324 patients at six large independent IVF laboratories. Saliva samples were frozen and run blinded. A further 18 patients had samples collected more frequently around the time of HCG trigger. Saliva samples were analysed using an immunoassay developed with Salimetrics LLC. RESULTS: In total, 652 pairs of saliva and serum oestradiol were evaluated, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.68 to 0.91. In the European clinics, a further 237 of saliva and serum progesterone samples were evaluated; however, the correlations were generally poorer, ranging from -0.02 to 0.22. In the patients collected more frequently, five out of 18 patients (27.8%) showed an immediate decrease in oestradiol after trigger. When progesterone samples were assessed after trigger, eight out of 18 (44.4%) showed a continued rise. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary oestradiol hormone testing correlates well to serum-based assessment, whereas progesterone values, around the time of trigger, are not consistent from patient to patient.

Safety concerns of hospital-based new-to-practice registered nurses and their preceptors.

BACKGROUND: On graduation, nursing students enter a critical transition process to become professional registered nurses (RNs). METHODS: Six new-to-practice RN groups and seven preceptor groups convened to explore their views of the safety concerns of new-to-practice RNs. RESULTS: The main learning needs of new-to-practice RNs identified by both preceptors and new-to-practice RNs centered on perceptions of uncertainty about technical aspects of nursing care. Lack of critical thinking and inability to think holistically contributed to increased stress. Preceptors who provided frequent feedback in a positive manner were rated as important to the developmental process of becoming a skilled RN. CONCLUSION: Safety and learning needs identified in this study are amenable to teaching solutions, both in academia and in the hospital work setting.

Identificando talentos, aspirações profissionais e pessoas mais admiradas por estudantes / Identifying talents, career aspirations and people most admired among students

Foi objetivo do estudo identificar talentos que estudantes atribuem a si mesmos, profissões que aspiram exercer, pessoas que mais admiram e participação em atividades ou cursos relacionados aos seus talentos. A amostra foi constituída por 111 estudantes de uma cidade satélite do distrito federal, os quais responderam ao instrumento meus talentos, do terceiro autor. Esportes, teatro, redação/poesia, matemática, computação foram as áreas em que um maior número de alunos se consideraram talentosos, sendo esportes e artes as mais representadas nas atividades ou cursos relacionados a seus talentos dos quais participaram. Por outro lado, um maior número desses estudantes aspiravam exercer profissões relativas às artes, ciências médicas, ciências, engenharia e direito. Embora o pai e a mãe tenham sido apontados por maior número de estudantes como as pessoas que mais admiravam, na maior parte dos casos não se constituíram como modelos para a escolha profissional