The impact of repeated bouts of shiftwork on rapid strength and reaction time in career firefighters.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of repeated bouts of shiftwork on lower extremity maximal and rapid strength and reaction time in career firefighters. Thirty-five firefighters (3 females; 34.3 ± 9.1 years) performed a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) and reactive maximal isometric strength assessment prior to and following a full shift rotation (three 24-hr on-off shifts). Reaction time (RT), maximal, absolute and normalised rapid strength (50, 100, 150, 200 ms), and PVT measures were assessed on-site. Separate linear regression models were used to evaluate the POST-PRE change in variables adjusted for BMI, age, sleep, and call duration. Early (50 ms) absolute rapid strength was the only variable significantly reduced (-25.9%; p = 0.031) following the full shift rotation. Our findings indicate that early rapid strength may be a sensitive measure in detecting work-related fatigue, despite minimal changes in sleep between work and non-work nights and a low call duration. Practitioner summary: We examined the impact of repeated shiftwork on changes in reaction time and neuromuscular function. Early rapid strength was a sensitive, portable lab assessment that feasibly measured work-related fatigue in career firefighters. Interventions that mitigate work-related fatigue may be impactful at preventing falls and/or risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Multicenter Validation of an Emergency Department-Based Screening Tool to Identify Elder Abuse.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Emergency department (ED) visits provide an important opportunity for elder abuse identification. Our objective was to assess the accuracy of the ED Senior Abuse Identification (ED Senior AID) tool for the identification of elder abuse. METHODS: We conducted a study of the ED Senior AID tool in 3 US EDs. Participants were English-speaking patients 65 years old and older who provided consent or for whom a legally authorized representative provided consent. Research nurses administered the screening tool, which includes a brief mental status assessment, questions about elder abuse, and a physical examination for patients who lack the ability to report abuse or for whom the presence or absence of abuse was uncertain. The reference standard was based on the majority opinion of a longitudinal, expert, all data (LEAD) panel following review and discussion of medical records, clinical social worker notes, and a structured social and behavioral evaluation. For the reference standard, LEAD panel members were blinded to the results of the screening tool. RESULTS: Of 916 enrolled patients, 33 (3.6%) screened positive for elder abuse. The LEAD panel reviewed 125 cases: all 33 with positive screen results and a 10% random sample of negative screen results. Of these, the panel identified 17 cases as positive for elder abuse, including 16 of the 33 cases that screened positive. The ED Senior AID tool had a sensitivity of 94.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 71.3% to 99.9%) and specificity of 84.3% (95% CI 76.0% to 90.6%). CONCLUSION: This multicenter study found the ED Senior AID tool to have a high sensitivity and specificity as a screening tool for elder abuse, albeit with wide CIs.

Noncancer mortality among adolescents and young adults with cancer.

BACKGROUND: Relative to the general population, cancer patients and survivors may have an elevated risk of mortality from noncancer causes, such as cardiovascular disease and infections, but few studies have examined rates of noncancer mortality among patients diagnosed as adolescents and young adults (AYAs) (ages 15-39 years). METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to identify AYA patients who were diagnosed with a first malignant cancer between 1973 and 2015. Rates of mortality from noncancer causes among AYAs with cancer were compared with those in the general US population using standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), adjusted for age, sex, race, and calendar year. RESULTS: Among 235,541 AYAs with cancer, a total of 12,948 deaths from noncancer causes occurred over 3.1 million total person-years of follow-up. Overall, noncancer mortality was significantly increased among AYAs with cancer relative to the general population (SMR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.80-1.87). SMRs were particularly elevated for infectious diseases (SMR, 5.13; 95% CI, 4.95-5.32), cardiovascular disease (SMR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.50-1.60), and renal diseases (SMR, 2.40; 95% CI, 2.12-2.71). These associations persisted for more than 20 years after cancer diagnosis. Cancer types associated with the highest SMRs for all noncancer mortality included leukemias (SMR, 5.26), Hodgkin lymphoma (SMR, 3.12), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (SMR, 6.33), central nervous system tumors (SMR, 3.38), head and neck cancers (SMR, 2.09), and cervical/uterine cancers (SMR, 2.03). CONCLUSIONS: AYAs with cancer have an elevated burden of mortality from noncancer causes that persists many years after cancer diagnosis, highlighting the importance of comprehensive, long-term follow-up care for noncancer conditions throughout survivorship.

Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms Among a Population of HIV-Infected Men and Women in Routine HIV Care in the United States.

Depressive symptoms vary in severity and chronicity. We used group-based trajectory models to describe trajectories of depressive symptoms (measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and predictors of trajectory group membership among 1493 HIV-infected men (84%) and 292 HIV-infected women (16%). At baseline, 29% of women and 26% of men had depressive symptoms. Over a median of 30 months of follow-up, we identified four depressive symptom trajectories for women (labeled "low" [experienced by 56% of women], "mild/moderate" [24%], "improving" [14%], and "severe" [6%]) and five for men ("low" [61%], "mild/moderate" [14%], "rebounding" [5%], "improving" [13%], and "severe" [7%]). Baseline antidepressant prescription, panic symptoms, and prior mental health diagnoses were associated with more severe or dynamic depressive symptom trajectories. Nearly a quarter of participants experienced some depressive symptoms, highlighting the need for improved depression management. Addressing more severe or dynamic depressive symptom trajectories may require interventions that additionally address mental health comorbidities.

AAV-Nrf2 Promotes Protection and Recovery in Animal Models of Oxidative Stress.

NRF2 is a transcription factor that drives antioxidant gene expression in multiple organ systems. We hypothesized that Nrf2 overexpression could be therapeutically applied toward diseases in which redox homeostasis is disrupted. In this study, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-Nrf2 was tested in a mouse model of acute acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity and successfully conferred protection from hepatotoxicity, validating the vector design and early onset of NRF2-mediated protection. Furthermore, therapeutic potential of AAV-Nrf2 in chronic disease also was tested in a light-induced mouse model of age-related macular degeneration. Adult BALB/c mice were intravitreally injected with AAV-Nrf2 and subject to light damage following injection. Retinal thickness and function were monitored following light damage using optical coherence tomography and electroretinography, respectively. By 3 months post-damage, injected eyes had greater retinal thickness compared to uninjected controls. At 1 month post-damage, AAV-Nrf2 injection facilitated full functional recovery from light damage. Our results suggest a therapeutic potential for Nrf2 overexpression in acute and long-term capacities in multiple organ systems, opening up doors for combination gene therapy where replacement gene therapy requires additional therapeutic support to prevent further degeneration.

Health Literacy, Glycemic Control, and Physician-Advised Glucose Self-Monitoring Use in Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the association between health literacy and both patient-reported and clinical outcomes in patients with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We surveyed patients with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (n = 448) from 15 primary care practices. The association between health literacy and patient-reported and clinical outcomes, including numeracy of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) use, how often physicians advised patients to conduct SMBG testing, and glycemic control (as measured by A1C), was investigated. RESULTS: Study participants included 448 patients with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes located within central North Carolina. Participants with limited health literacy had poorer glycemic control (A1C 7.7 ± 1.1% vs. 7.5 ± 1.0%, P = 0.016) despite using SMBG testing more frequently (daily SMBG testing 49.3 vs. 30.7%, P = 0.001) compared to individuals with adequate health literacy. The difference in how often physicians advised patients to conduct SMBG testing between limited and adequate health literacy groups was not significant (P = 0.68). CONCLUSION: Limited health literacy was associated with poorer glycemic control and an increased frequency of SMBG testing in patients with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. There was no significant difference in how often physicians advised patients to conduct SMBG testing between patients with limited and adequate health literacy.

Birth rates after radioactive iodine treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer.

Treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) for differentiated thyroid cancer has been associated with alterations in gonadal function in women, including changes in menstrual function and an earlier age at menopause. Our objective was to evaluate associations between RAI and postdiagnosis live birth rates among thyroid cancer survivors diagnosed at ages 15-39 years. We identified women diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer between January 2000 and December 2013 in the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry (CCR). CCR records were linked to state birth certificate files to identify livebirths to thyroid cancer survivors through December 2014. Person-years of follow-up were accrued from 6 months after diagnosis to first birth, 46th birthday, death, or December 31, 2014, whichever came first. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazards ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for first livebirth. Among 2,360 women with a differentiated thyroid cancer diagnosis, 53% received RAI. The cumulative incidence of birth at the end of follow-up (maximum 14.5 years) was 30.0 and 29.3% among those who were and were not treated with RAI, respectively. Overall, first birth rates did not significantly differ between groups (HR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.82, 1.23). In our observational cohort, treatment with RAI was not associated with a reduced birth rate. Our findings add to the evidence available for counseling thyroid cancer patients with concerns about future fertility.

Three approaches to glucose monitoring in non-insulin treated diabetes: a pragmatic randomized clinical trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: For the nearly 75% of patients living with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) that do not use insulin, decisions regarding self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) can be especially problematic. While in theory SMBG holds great promise for sparking favorable behavior change, it is a resource intensive activity without firmly established patient benefits. This study describes our study protocol to assess the impact of three different SMBG testing approaches on patient-centered outcomes in patients with non-insulin treated T2DM within a community-based, clinic setting. METHODS/DESIGN: Using stakeholder engagement approach, we developed and implemented a pragmatic trial of patient with non-insulin treated T2DM patients from five primary care practices randomized to one of three SMBG regimens: 1) no testing; 2) once daily testing with standard feedback consisting of glucose values being immediately reported to the patient through the glucose meter; and 3) once daily testing with enhanced patient feedback consisting of glucose values being immediately reported to the patient PLUS automated, tailored feedback messaging delivered to the patient through the glucose meter following each testing. Main outcomes assessed at 52 weeks include quality of life and glycemic control. DISCUSSION: This pragmatic trial seeks to better understand the value of SMBG in non-insulin treated patients with T2DM. This paper outlines the protocol used to implement this study in fifteen community-based primary care practices and highlights the impact of stakeholder involvement from the earliest stages of project conception and implementation. Plans for stakeholder involvement for result dissemination are also discussed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02033499 , January 9, 2014.

Effectiveness of bilateral tubotubal anastomosis in a large outpatient population.

STUDY QUESTION: Is bilateral tubotubal anastomosis a successful treatment in an outpatient patient population? SUMMARY ANSWER: For women wanting children after tubal sterilization, bilateral tubotubal anastomosis is an effective outpatient treatment. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: With the current emphasis in reproductive medicine on high technology procedures, the effectiveness of female surgical sterilization reversal is often overlooked. Previous clinical studies of tubal sterilization reversal have been mostly retrospective analyses of small patient populations. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A cohort of women who underwent outpatient bilateral tubotubal anastomosis from January 2000 to June 2013 was followed prospectively until December 2014 to determine the proportions of women undergoing the procedure who became pregnant and who had live births. Data were collected at the time of pregnancy. Differences in pregnancy rates and live birth rates associated with age, race and sterilization method were evaluated. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: A total of 6692 women, aged 20-51 years, underwent outpatient bilateral tubotubal anastomosis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The crude overall pregnancy rate was 69%. The crude overall birth rate was 35%. Results varied according to age at sterilization reversal and the method of sterilization. Women under 30 years of age at reversal of ring/clip sterilizations had an 88% pregnancy rate and 62% birth rate. Pregnancy and birth rates declined as age increased at sterilization reversal. Coagulation sterilization reversals resulted in the lowest rates of pregnancies and births. Ligation/resection reversals had intermediate success rates. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Limitations of our study include probable underreporting of pregnancies based on patient-initiated reports; possible errors in the reporting of pregnancies or early miscarriages that may have been based solely on home pregnancy tests; and probable over-reporting of the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies. We identified age and sterilization method as being associated with subsequent pregnancy, however, in order to be considered predictive, the associations would need to be validated in an independent second prospectively studied group of representative patients. Finally, we also included patients in the study population who had additional surgical procedures performed at the time of tubotubal anastomosis (e.g. uterine myomectomy, fimbrioplasty, ovarian cystectomy and adhesiolysis), factors that could result in differences in pregnancy statistics in our study versus other patient populations. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The results of this study can help inform patients and clinicians about this low technology alternative to IVF. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: None. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Are children with asthma overconfident that they are using their inhalers correctly?

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to quantify the extent to which children with asthma are overconfident that they are using their inhalers correctly and determine whether demographic and clinical characteristics are associated with children being overconfident. METHODS: Children (n = 91) ages 7-17 with persistent asthma were recruited at two pediatric practices in North Carolina and demonstrated their inhaler technique for metered dose inhalers during an office visit. Children were dichotomized into two groups based on how confident they were that they were using their inhalers correctly: "completely confident" or "not completely confident". The mean number of inhaler steps (out of 8) children performed incorrectly was examined. We applied linear regression models for children in the "completely confident" group to determine whether demographic and clinical factors predicted their overconfidence, defined as the number of inhaler steps performed incorrectly. RESULTS: Children were primarily male (56%) and non-Hispanic White (60%). Sixty-eight (75%) children were "completely confident" that they were using their inhalers correctly. The "completely confident" group missed an average of 1.5 steps. In the "completely confident" group, males (p < 0.04) missed significantly more steps than females. The two most common errors were forgetting to shake the inhaler and holding their breath for 10 s. CONCLUSION: Regardless of their confidence level, children in our sample missed an average of 1-2 steps on an inhaler technique assessment. Findings from this study provide new evidence that it is insufficient to ask children if they are using their inhalers correctly. Therefore, it is vital that providers ask children to demonstrate their inhaler technique during health encounters.

Restricted activity and persistent pain following motor vehicle collision among older adults: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Restricted physical activity commonly occurs following acute musculoskeletal pain in older adults and may influence long-term outcomes. We sought to examine the relationship between restricted physical activity after motor vehicle collision (MVC) and the development of persistent pain. METHODS: We examined data from a prospective study of adults ≥65 years of age presenting to the emergency department (ED) after MVC without life-threatening injuries. Restricted physical activity 6 weeks after MVC was defined in three different ways: 1) by a ≥25 point decrease in Physical Activity Scale in the Elderly (PASE) score, 2) by the answer "yes" to the question, "during the past two weeks, have you stayed in bed for at least half a day?", and 3) by the answer "yes" to the question, "during the past two weeks, have you cut down on your usual activities as compared to before the accident?" We examined relationships between each definition of restricted activity and pain severity, pain interference, and functional capacity at 6 months with adjustment for confounders. RESULTS: Within the study sample (N = 164), adjusted average pain severity scores at 6 months did not differ between patients with and without restricted physical activity based on decreased PASE score (2.54 vs. 2.07, p = 0.32). In contrast, clinically and statistically important differences in adjusted average pain severity at 6 months were observed for patients who reported spending half a day in bed vs. those who did not (3.56 vs. 1.91, p < 0.01). In adjusted analyses, both decreased PASE score and cutting down on activity were associated with functional capacity at 6 months, but only decreased PASE score was associated with increased ADL difficulty at 6 months (0.70 vs. -0.01, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults experiencing MVC, those reporting bed rest or reduced activity 6 weeks after the collision reported higher pain and pain interference scores at 6 months. More research is needed to determine if interventions to promote activity can improve outcomes after MVC in older adults.

Malnutrition among cognitively intact, noncritically ill older adults in the emergency department.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We estimate the prevalence of malnutrition among older patients presenting to an emergency department (ED) in the southeastern United States and identify subgroups at increased risk. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with random time block sampling of cognitively intact patients aged 65 years and older. Nutrition was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (0 to 14 scale), with malnutrition defined as a score of 7 or less and at risk for malnutrition defined as a score of 8 to 11. The presence of depressive symptoms was defined as a Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression-10 score of 4 or more (0 to 10 scale). RESULTS: Among 138 older adults, 16% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11% to 23%) were malnourished and 60% (95% CI 52% to 68%) were either malnourished or at risk for malnutrition. Seventeen of the 22 malnourished patients (77%) denied previously receiving a diagnosis of malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition was not appreciably different between men and women, across levels of patient education, or between those living in urban and rural areas. However, the prevalence of malnutrition was higher among patients with depressive symptoms (52%), those residing in assisted living (44%), those with difficulty eating (38%), and those reporting difficulty buying groceries (33%). CONCLUSION: Among a random sample of cognitively intact older ED patients, more than half were malnourished or at risk for malnutrition, and the majority of malnourished patients had not previously received a diagnosis. Higher rates of malnutrition among individuals with depression, difficulty eating, and difficulty buying groceries suggest the need to explore multifaceted interventions.

Aflatoxin and Fumonisin in Corn (Zea mays) Infected by Common Smut Ustilago maydis.

Corn infected with Ustilago maydis (common smut) produces galls that are valued as a delicacy in some cultures. During a 4-year period, aflatoxin levels in asymptomatic kernels of smutted ears were, on average, 45-fold higher than in kernels harvested from smut-free control ears and 99-fold higher than in smut galls. Aflatoxin levels in smut galls were lower than in kernels of smut-free control corn in all years combined. Fumonisin levels in asymptomatic kernels harvested from smutted ears were 5.2-fold higher than in kernels from smut-free control ears and 4.0-fold higher than in smut galls. Fumonisin levels in smut galls were not significantly different than in kernels of smut-free control corn. These studies indicate that, although corn smut was relatively free of the mycotoxins studied, the asymptomatic kernels of those ears contained mycotoxins at levels much higher than usually considered safe for direct human consumption.

Associations Between Practice Characteristics and Demonstration of Stage 1 Meaningful Use for the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program.

BACKGROUND: The Medicare and Medicaid meaningful use (MU) incentive programs promote adoption and "meaningful use" of certified electronic health records among hospitals and eligible providers in outpatient settings, with a goal of improving the quality of patient care. Despite the potential importance of MU for providers and patients, little is currently known about the practice characteristics that facilitate providers' demonstration of MU. This study examined whether selected practice characteristics were associated with providers' meeting Stage 1 MU objectives at the end of 1 year in a single large North Carolina integrated delivery system. METHODS: Our retrospective database analysis included all 702 eligible providers from 54 ambulatory care practices on the main campus of the University of North Carolina Health Care System. We assessed associations between providers' ability to meet Stage 1 MU objectives as of December 2012 and the following practice characteristics: practice specialty, size, and mix of Medicare- and Medicaid-eligible providers. RESULTS: The following practice characteristics were associated with providers' ability to meet MU objectives: primary care practices as compared to specialty practices (odds ratio [OR] = 2.49; 95% CI, 1.11-5.62), small practices as compared to medium-sized practices (OR = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.09-0.89), and the presence of only Medicare-eligible providers in the practice as compared to the presence of only Medicaid-eligible providers (OR = 6.48; 95% Cl, 1.08-38.97). LIMITATIONS: Because our sample was drawn from a single integrated delivery system, results may not be generalizable to all ambulatory practice settings. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that larger practices, primary care practices, and practices comprised of Medicare-eligible providers may be better able to meet MU objectives. Further research is needed to evaluate strategies that account for practice characteristics and other contextual factors in the MU implementation process.

Association of hospital volume with conditional 90-day mortality after cystectomy: an analysis of the National Cancer Data Base.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of hospital volume and 90-day mortality after cystectomy, conditional on survival for 30 days. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The National Cancer Data Base was used to evaluate 30- and 90-day mortality for 35,055 patients who underwent cystectomy for bladder cancer at one of 1118 hospitals. Patient data were aggregated into hospital volume categories based on the mean annual number of procedures (low-volume hospital: <10 procedures; intermediate-volume hospital: 10-19 procedures; high-volume hospital: ≥20 procedures). Associations between mortality and clinical, demographic and hospital characteristics were analysed using hierarchical logistic regression models. To assess the association between hospital volume and 90-day mortality independently of shorter-term mortality, 90-day mortality conditional on 30-day survival was assessed in the multivariate modelling. RESULTS: Unadjusted 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 2.7 and 7.2% overall, 1.9 and 5.7% among high-volume hospitals, and 3.2 and 8.0% among low-volume hospitals, respectively. Compared with high-volume hospitals, the adjusted risks among low-volume hospitals (odds ratio [95% CI]) of 30- and 90-day mortality, conditional on having survived for 30 days, from the hierarchical models were 1.5 (1.3-1.9), and 1.2 (1.0-1.4), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A low hospital volume was associated with greater 30- and 90-day mortality. These data support the need for further research to better understand the relatively high mortality rates seen between 30 and 90 days, which are high and less variable across hospital volume strata. The stronger association between volume and 30-day mortality suggests that quality-reporting efforts should focus on shorter-term outcomes.

Assessing adherence in the CAPRISA 004 tenofovir gel HIV prevention trial: results of a nested case-control study.

Adherence undeniably impacts product effectiveness in microbicide trials, but the connection has proven challenging to quantify using routinely collected behavioral data. We explored this relationship using a nested case-control study in the CAPRISA 004 Tenofovir (TFV) gel HIV prevention trial. Detailed 3-month recall data on sex events, condom and gel use were collected from 72 incident cases and 205 uninfected controls. We then assessed how the relationship between self-reported adherence and HIV acquisition differed between the TFV and placebo gel groups, an interaction effect that should exist if effectiveness increases with adherence. The CAPRISA 004 trial determined that randomization to TFV gel was associated with a significant reduction in risk of HIV acquisition. In our nested case-control study, however, we did not observe a meaningful decrease in the relative odds of infection-TFV versus placebo-as self-reported adherence increased. To the contrary, exploratory sub-group analysis of the case-control data identified greater evidence for a protective effect of TFV gel among participants reporting less than 80 % adherence to the protocol-defined regimen (odds ratio (OR) 0.30; 95 % CI 0.11-0.78) than among those reporting ≥ 80 % adherence (Odds Ratio 0.81; 95 % CI 0.34-1.92). The small number of cases may have inhibited our ability to detect the hypothesized interaction between adherence and effectiveness. Nonetheless, our results re-emphasize the challenges faced by investigators when adherence may be miss-measured, miss-reported, or confounded with the risk of HIV.

Stage 1 of the meaningful use incentive program for electronic health records: a study of readiness for change in ambulatory practice settings in one integrated delivery system.

BACKGROUND: Meaningful Use (MU) provides financial incentives for electronic health record (EHR) implementation. EHR implementation holds promise for improving healthcare delivery, but also requires substantial changes for providers and staff. Establishing readiness for these changes may be important for realizing potential EHR benefits. Our study assesses whether provider/staff perceptions about the appropriateness of MU and their departments' ability to support MU-related changes are associated with their reported readiness for MU-related changes. METHODS: We surveyed providers and staff representing 47 ambulatory practices within an integrated delivery system. We assessed whether respondent's role and practice-setting type (primary versus specialty care) were associated with reported readiness for MU (i.e., willingness to change practice behavior and ability to document actions for MU) and hypothesized predictors of readiness (i.e., perceived appropriateness of MU and department support for MU). We then assessed associations between reported readiness and the hypothesized predictors of readiness. RESULTS: In total, 400 providers/staff responded (response rate approximately 25%). Individuals working in specialty settings were more likely to report that MU will divert attention from other patient-care priorities (12.6% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.019), as compared to those in primary-care settings. As compared to advanced-practice providers and nursing staff, physicians were less likely to have strong confidence in their department's ability to solve MU implementation problems (28.4% vs. 47.1% vs. 42.6%, p = 0.023) and to report strong willingness to change their work practices for MU (57.9% vs. 83.3% vs. 82.0%, p < 0.001). Finally, provider/staff perceptions about whether MU aligns with departmental goals (OR = 3.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.13 to 7.48); MU will divert attention from other patient-care priorities (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.26 to 4.06); their department will support MU-related change efforts (OR = 3.99, 95% CI = 2.13 to 7.48); and their department will be able to solve MU implementation problems (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.26 to 4.06) were associated with their willingness to change practice behavior for MU. CONCLUSIONS: Organizational leaders should gauge provider/staff perceptions about appropriateness and management support of MU-related change, as these perceptions might be related to subsequent implementation.

Perceptions of dry eye disease management in current clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perceptions of eye care providers regarding the clinical management of dry eye. METHODS: Invitations to complete a 17-question online survey were mailed to 400 members of the North Carolina Ophthalmology and Optometry Associations including community optometrists, comprehensive ophthalmologists, and cornea specialists. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 100 eye care providers (25% response rate). Providers reported burning (46.5%) as the most frequent symptom described by patients, followed by foreign body sensation (30.3%) and tearing (17.2%). Most respondents (80.8%) listed artificial tears as the recommended first-line treatment, even though providers reported high failure rates for both artificial tears and cyclosporine A (Restasis). Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, affective disorders such as anxiety and depression, history of photorefractive surgery, smoking, and thyroid disease were acknowledged as common comorbid conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The survey provided an informative snapshot into the preferences of eye care providers concerning the diagnosis and management of dry eye disease. Overall, burning was the most common symptom reported by patients. Providers relied more on patient history in guiding their clinical decisions than objective signs. The survey underscores the incongruence when comparing subjective symptoms with objective signs, thereby highlighting the urgent need for the development of reliable metrics to better quantify dry eye symptoms and also the development of a more sensitive and specific test that can be used as the gold standard to diagnose dry eye.

X-ray Irradiation Reduces Live Aspergillus flavus Viability but Not Aflatoxin B1 in Naturally Contaminated Maize.

Food crops around the world are commonly contaminated with Aspergillus flavus, which can produce the carcinogenic mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The objective of this study is to test an X-ray irradiation sterilization method for studying AFB1 in contaminated maize samples in the laboratory. Maize that had been naturally contaminated with 300 ppb AFB1 by the growth of aflatoxigenic A. flavus was ground and then irradiated at 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 kGy. A. flavus was quantified by dilution plating on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and modified Rose Bengal media (MDRB) for viability and qPCR for gene presence. AFB1 was quantified by HPLC and ELISA. A. flavus viability, but not gene copies, significantly decreased with increasing doses of radiation (PDA: p < 0.001; MDRB: p < 0.001; qPCR: p = 0.026). AFB1 concentration did not significantly change with increasing doses of radiation (HPLC: p = 0.153; ELISA: p = 0.567). Our results imply that X-ray irradiation is an effective means of reducing viable A. flavus without affecting AFB1 concentrations. Reducing the hazard of fungal spores and halting AFB1 production at the targeted dose are important steps to safely and reproducibly move forward research on the global mycotoxin challenge.

Effectiveness and safety of misoprostol-only for first-trimester medication abortion: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to update our 2019 systematic review of data on the effectiveness and safety of misoprostol-only for first-trimester abortion. STUDY DESIGN: We searched PubMed on December 18, 2022, to find published articles describing the outcomes of treatment with misoprostol-only for abortion of viable intrauterine pregnancy at ≤91 days of gestation. From each article identified, two authors independently abstracted relevant data about each group of patients treated with a distinct regimen. We assessed the risk of bias using four defined indicators. We estimated the proportion of patients with treatment failure using meta-analytic methods as well as the proportion hospitalized or transfused after treatment. We examined associations between treatment failure and selected characteristics of the groups. RESULTS: We identified 49 papers with 66 groups that collectively included 16,354 evaluable patients, of whom 2960 (meta-analytic estimate 15%, 95% CI 12%, 19%) had treatment failures. Of 9228 patients assessed for ongoing pregnancy after treatment, 521 (meta-analytic estimate 6%, 95% CI 5%, 8%) had that condition. Failure risk was significantly associated with misoprostol dose, the total allowed number of doses, the maximum duration of dosing, and certain indicators of risk of bias. Among 11,007 patients allowed to take at least three misoprostol doses, the first consisting of misoprostol 800 mcg administered vaginally, sublingually, or buccally, the meta-analytic estimate of the failure risk was 11% (95% CI 8%, 14%). At most, 0.2% of 15,679 evaluable patients were hospitalized or received transfusions. CONCLUSIONS: Although some studies in this updated review were adjudicated to have a high risk of bias, the results continue to support the key conclusion of our 2019 analysis: misoprostol-only is effective and safe for the termination of first-trimester intrauterine pregnancy. IMPLICATIONS: Misoprostol-only is a safe and effective option for medication abortion in the first trimester if mifepristone is unavailable or inaccessible.