The community engagement course and action network: strengthening community and academic research partnerships to advance health equity.

Background: Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions are uniquely positioned to implement community-campus research partnerships based on a history of service, the pursuit of community trustworthiness and student demographics often similar to surrounding marginalized communities. The Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center collaborates with members of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutes, and community organizations on the Community Engaged Course and Action Network. This network is the first of its kind and aims to strengthen members' ability to implement Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles and partnerships. Projects address public health priorities including mental health among communities of color, zoonotic disease prevention, and urban food deserts. Materials and methods: To assess the effectiveness of the network, a Participatory Evaluation framework was implemented to conduct process evaluation which included review of partnership structures, operations, project implementation processes, and preliminary outcomes of the research collaborations. A focus group of Community Engagement Course and Action Network members (community and academic) was also conducted to identify benefits and challenges of the network with emphasis on key areas for improvement to further enhance the relationships between partners and to facilitate their subsequent community-campus research. Results: Network improvements were tied to themes strengthening community-academic partnerships including sharing and fellowship, coalition building and collaboration, and greater connections and awareness of community needs through their current community-academic partnerships. The need to conduct ongoing evaluation during and after implementation, for determining the early adoption of CBPR approaches was also identified. Conclusion: Evaluation of the network's processes, infrastructure, and operation provides early lessons learned to strengthen the network. Ongoing assessment is also essential for ensuring continuous quality improvement across partnerships such as determining CBPR fidelity, assessing partnership synergy, and dynamics, and for quality improvement of research protocol. The implications and potential for advancing implementation science through this and similar networks are great towards advancing leadership in modeling how foundations in community service can advance to CBPR partnership formation and ultimately, health equity approaches, that are local defined and assessed.

Gastrointestinal procedures and anastomoses can be safely performed during complex abdominal wall reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: The literature regarding combined abdominal wall reconstruction and gastrointestinal surgery is limited and largely suggests staged procedures due to a reported increased incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs), hernia recurrence and anastomotic leak, but this exposes patients to the risks of two substantial procedures. This study evaluates the outcomes of single-stage GI surgery with complex abdominal wall reconstructions (CAWR) by a single surgeon. METHODS: Analysis of 10 years of a prospectively maintained single surgeon CAWR database compared those who had CAWR-alone with those having concomitant gastrointestinal surgery (CAWR-GI) such as stoma reversal or bowel resection but excluding cholecystectomy, gynaecological surgery and adhesiolysis alone. Groups were compared using the paired t test (continuous data) and Fisher's exact test (nominal data). RESULTS: Overall, 62 elective cases (42 CAWR-alone vs. 20 CAWR-GI) were analysed. Baseline demographics (age, BMI, co-morbidities, smoking status and hernia size) showed no differences; CAWR-GI mean operating time was significantly longer compared to the CAWR-alone group (5.4 h vs. 4.1 h) with an increased incidence of post-operative ileus in the intestinal group (40% vs. 11.9%, p < 0.05). Post-operative complications were common (chest infection (32.3%) and SSI (41.9%)), but similar between groups. There were no anastomotic leaks, and the hernia recurrence rate at almost 4 years median follow-up was 10% in both groups. CONCLUSION: Performing simultaneous intestinal surgery during complex abdominal wall repair can be performed safely without increasing the risk of hernia recurrence, mesh infections or anastomotic leak. A careful choice of mesh implant is required.

Commercial weight management programmes for patients living with overweight or obesity prior to elective orthopaedic surgery: an evidence review.

BACKGROUND: Increased body mass index is associated with increased operative risk during elective joint replacement surgery. Commercial weight management programmes are designed to achieve weight loss. It is not known whether commercial weight management programmes are effective at achieving weight loss in patients awaiting planned hip or knee replacement surgery, or whether achieving significant planned weight loss prior to surgery is associated with changes in surgical outcome. METHODS: A systematic literature search of seven databases was conducted. Reference lists and grey literature were searched, including commercial weight management programme and medical association websites. Four relevant primary interventional studies were identified. RESULTS: There is weak, low-quality evidence from four small studies, of which three demonstrated that commercial weight management programmes initiated between 3 and 6 months prior to elective joint replacement surgery are associated with a statistically significant weight loss and body mass index reduction. There is a weak evidence from two studies that peri- and post-operative complications are similar between control and commercial weight management programme groups. CONCLUSION: There is a paucity of studies investigating commercial weight management programmes aiming to reduce weight in patients living with overweight or obesity awaiting total joint replacement. Further, high-quality research is urgently needed.

Partnering with survivors & families to determine research priorities for adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership.

BACKGROUND: Research priority setting in health care has historically been done by expert health care providers and researchers and has not involved patients, family or the public. Survivors & family members have been particularly absent from this process in the field of resuscitation research and specifically adult out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). As such, we sought to conduct a priority setting exercise in partnership with survivors, lay responders and their families in order to ensure that their priorities were visible. We partnered with the James Lind Alliance (UK) and used their commonly used consensus methodology for Public Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) to identify research priorities that reflected the perspectives of all stakeholders. METHODS: We used two rounds of public and health care professional surveys to create the initial priority lists. The initial survey collected open-ended questions while the second round consolidated the list of initial questions into a refined list for prioritization. This was done by reviewing existing evidence and thematic categorization by the multi-disciplinary steering committee. An in-person consensus workshop was conducted to come to consensus on the top ten priorities from all perspectives. The McMaster PPEET tool was used to measure engagement. RESULTS: The initial survey yielded more than 425 responses and 1450 "questions" from survivors and family members (18%), lay responders, health care providers and others. The second survey asked participants to rank a short list of 125 questions. The final top 25 questions were brought to the in-person meeting, and a top ten were selected through the JLA consensus process. The final list of top ten questions included how to improve the rate of lay responder CPR, what interventions used at the scene of an arrest can improve resuscitation and survival, how survival can be improved in rural areas of Canada, what resuscitation medications are most effective, what care patient's family members need, what post-discharge support is needed for survivors, how communication should work for everyone involved with a cardiac arrest, what factors best predict neurologically intact survival, whether biomarkers/genetic tests are effective in predicting OHCA and more research on the short and long-term psycho-social impacts of OHCA on survivors. The PPEET showed overwhelmingly positive results for the patient and family engagement experience during the final workshop. CONCLUSIONS: This inclusive research priority setting provides essential information for those doing resuscitation research internationally. The results provide a guide for priority areas of research and should drive our community to focus on questions that matter to survivors and their families in our work. In particular the Canadian Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium will be incorporating the top ten list into its strategic plan for the future.

Gene expression of the heat stress response in bovine peripheral white blood cells and milk somatic cells in vivo.

Heat stress in dairy cattle leads to reduction in feed intake and milk production as well as the induction of many physiological stress responses. The genes implicated in the response to heat stress in vivo are not well characterised. With the aim of identifying such genes, an experiment was conducted to perform differential gene expression in peripheral white blood cells and milk somatic cells in vivo in 6 Holstein Friesian cows in thermoneutral conditions and in 6 Holstein Friesian cows exposed to a short-term moderate heat challenge. RNA sequences from peripheral white blood cells and milk somatic cells were used to quantify full transcriptome gene expression. Genes commonly differentially expressed (DE) in both the peripheral white blood cells and in milk somatic cells were associated with the cellular stress response, apoptosis, oxidative stress and glucose metabolism. Genes DE in peripheral white blood cells of cows exposed to the heat challenge compared to the thermoneutral control were related to inflammation, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and the cardiovascular system. Genes DE in milk somatic cells compared to the thermoneutral control were involved in the response to stress, thermoregulation and vasodilation. These findings provide new insights into the cellular adaptations induced during the response to short term moderate heat stress in dairy cattle and identify potential candidate genes (BDKRB1 and SNORA19) for future research.

Pathophysiology of primary blast injury.

The majority of patients injured in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan were as a result of explosion, and terrorist incidents have brought blast injuries to the front door of many civilian hospitals that had not previously encountered such devastation. This article reviews the physics and pathophysiology of blast injury with particular relevance to the presentation and management of primary blast injury, which is the mechanism least familiar to most clinicians and which may cause devastating injury without externals signs.

Measuring the relationships between adverse childhood experiences and educational and employment success in England and Wales: findings from a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Educational and employment outcomes are critical elements in determining the life course of individuals, yet through health and other mechanisms, those who suffer adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may experience barriers to achieve in these domains. This study examines the association between ACEs and poor educational outcomes, before considering the impact of ACEs and education on employment in adulthood. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional surveys were conducted in England and Wales using a random stratified sampling methodology. METHODS: During face-to-face household interviews (n = 2881), data were collected on demographic factors, ACEs, self-rated childhood affluence, the highest qualification level attained and the current employment status. RESULTS: While respondents with ≥4 ACEs were significantly more likely to have no formal qualifications (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.18; P < 0.001), among those who did achieve secondary level qualifications, the presence of ACEs did not further impact subsequent likelihood of going on to attain college or higher qualifications. However, results suggest a persisting independent impact of high (≥4) ACEs, which were found to be significantly associated with both current unemployment (AOR = 2.52, P < 0.001) and long-term sickness and disability (AOR = 3.94, P < 0.001). Modelled levels of not being in employment ranged from as little as 3% among those with 0 or 1 ACE and higher qualifications to 62% among those with no qualifications and ≥4 ACEs (adjusted for age, gender and childhood affluence effects). CONCLUSIONS: Compulsory education may play a pivotal role in mitigating the effects of adversity, supporting the case for approaches within schools that build resilience and tackle educational inequalities. However, adults with ACEs should not be overlooked and efforts should be considered to support them in achieving meaningful employment.

Impact of the PROCESS guideline on the reporting of surgical case series: A before and after study.

INTRODUCTION: The PROCESS guideline was developed in 2016 through expert Delphi consensus. It aimed to improve the quality of reporting of surgical case series. This study assessed the impact of the introduction of the PROCESS guideline on reporting for surgical case series submitted to three journals. METHODS: 20 case series published in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports (IJSCR), the International Journal of Surgery (IJS) or the Annals of Medicine and Surgery (AMS) in September to December 2016, prior to the introduction of the PROCESS guideline (the pre-PROCESS period), were randomly identified and scored against the PROCESS criteria. Two authors independently scored each article a total score out of 29, the 'PROCESS score' (expressed as a percentage). Scores for the two researchers were compared and consensus was reached to achieve a final score set. The process was repeated for the January 2017 to April 2017 issues of the three journals, post PROCESS implementation (the post-PROCESS period). RESULTS: The mean PROCESS score was 80% (range 66-90%) for the pre-PROCESS period and 84% (range 72-95%) for the post-PROCESS period, a 4% relative increase [STATS]. The Cohen's Kappa score between researchers was 0.907 implying very substantial agreement. CONCLUSION: Implementation of the PROCESS guideline resulted in a 5% improvement in the reporting quality of surgical case series published in three journals. Further research is needed to identify and successfully navigate existing barriers to greater compliance. Authors, reviewers and editors should adhere to the guidelines to boost reporting quality. Journals should develop their policies and guide for authors to incorporate the guideline and mandate compliance.

Impact of the SCARE guideline on the reporting of surgical case reports: A before and after study.

INTRODUCTION: The SCARE guideline was developed in 2016 through an expert Delphi consensus exercise. It aimed to improve the quality of reporting of surgical case reports. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of introducing the SCARE guideline for surgical on reporting of case reports submitted to a single journal. METHODS: A total of 20 case reports published in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports (IJSCR) and Annals of Medicine and Surgery (AMS) in July and August 2016, prior to the introduction of the SCARE guideline (the pre-SCARE period), were randomly identified and scored against the SCARE criteria. Two independent teams performed the scoring giving a total score out of a theoretical maximum of 34 for each case report, the 'SCARE score' (expressed as a percentage). The scores for the two teams were then compared and consensus was reached to achieve a final sore set. This process was repeated for the January and February 2017 issues of the journal, post implementation of the guideline (the post-SCARE period). SCARE scores were compared between the pre- and post-SCARE periods. RESULTS: The mean pre-SCARE score was 75.0% (standard deviation ± 6.29, Range 62-84), and the mean post-SCARE score was 82.6% (standard deviation ± 8.02, range 66-99), a 10% relative increase in compliance which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The Cohen's Kappa score between teams A and B was 0.871, implying very substantial agreement. CONCLUSION: Implementation of the SCARE guideline resulted in a 10% improvement in the reporting quality of surgical case reports published in a single journal. Adherence to SCARE reporting guidelines by authors, reviewers and editors should be improved to boost reporting quality. Journals should develop their policies, submission processes and guide for authors to incorporate the guideline.

Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle Alters Lipid Composition of Milk.

Heat stress, potentially affecting both the health of animals and the yield and composition of milk, occurs frequently in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate regions. A simulated acute heat stress experiment was conducted in controlled-climate chambers and milk samples collected before, during and after the heat challenge. Milk lipid composition, surveyed using LC-MS, showed significant changes in triacylglycerol (TAG) and polar lipid profiles. Heat stress (temperature-humidity index up to 84) was associated with a reduction in TAG groups containing short- and medium-chain fatty acids and a concomitant increase in those containing long-chain fatty acids. The abundance of five polar lipid classes including phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine and glucosylceramide, was found to be significantly reduced during heat stress. Lysophosphatidylcholine, showing the greatest reduction in concentration, also displayed a differential response between heat tolerant and heat susceptible cows during heat stress. This phospholipid could be used as a heat stress biomarker for dairy cattle. Changes in TAG profile caused by heat stress are expected to modify the physical properties of milk fat, whereas the reduction of phospholipids may affect the nutritional value of milk. The results are discussed in relation to animal metabolism adaptation in the event of acute heat stress.

Medical students' unique experience of army leadership training: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the interactive experience of first year medical students attending the leadership and management course hosted by a British Army Reserve Field Hospital developed in partnership with Liverpool University. METHODS: 244 students submitted a 1000-word structured reflective learning assignment about their reaction to, learning from and any behaviour and attitude changes as a result of, the training. The assignments were thematically analysed to identify how aspects of the training had impacted upon the students' understanding of leadership and teamwork. Their comments relating to the army were analysed to gain insight into their views and experience of the training. RESULTS: Students were surprised at how enjoyable and useful they found the course. Initially they expressed scepticism about what they could learn in an army-based environment. However, the training, particularly command and planning tasks, helped them appreciate and understand the different skills individuals can bring to a team environment, and the importance of everyone contributing. While some students were challenged by aspects of the course, with support and encouragement from team-mates and the army personnel, they learned they could achieve more together. CONCLUSIONS: Teaching leadership and management skills to medical students is a challenge which can be effectively addressed by adapting and developing army training resources. Students overcame initial scepticism about participating, and learned a lot about themselves and each other. In addition, the army developed a better understanding of the doctors of the future. The expertise of the army in delivering this training was crucial to its success as the medical school could not have provided this experience unsupported.

Appendicitis in a deployed military setting: diagnosis, management and impact on the fighting force.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is a principal cause of abdominal pain worldwide and most common in young men who constitute the majority of the deployed fighting force. Diagnostic accuracy is paramount to prevent unnecessary intervention, morbidity and force impact. METHOD: A consecutive series of appendicectomies, performed over 28 months on deployment in Afghanistan, was evaluated to assess the negative appendicectomy (NA) rate, explore the impact of CT on the rates of NA and assess the impact of appendicectomy on manpower in the deployed workforce. RESULTS: In Afghanistan, the operative NA rate was 9.6%, whereas the histological NA rate was 20.5%. CT was widely used in Afghanistan (36%) and there was a significant reduction in NA rates if CT was performed preoperatively (6.25% vs 26%, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic imaging will be limited in future conflicts and reliance on clinical judgement will be necessary. Military clinicians may need to accept higher rates of NA, as prolonged observation may not be possible. CT scanning should be used to a greater extent when available. A conservative management strategy for appendicitis with appropriate antibiotics should be considered in the event of delayed transfer to a surgical facility.