Performance and image enhancing drug interventions aimed at increasing knowledge among healthcare professionals (HCP): reflections on the implementation of the Dopinglinkki e-module in Europe and Australia in the HCP workforce.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) provide an important point of contact through which people who use performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) could access reliable information, advice, and interventions on a range of PIEDs, their use and related harms. However, HCPs often report difficulties engaging and building rapport with people who use PIEDs, and research suggests that they often lack specialist knowledge on these substances. Providing credible evidence-based resources to support HCPs is thus important. However, educational materials in this area are generally absent and the ones that exist have not been assessed for their utility in the HCP workforce. This paper examines the acceptability and usability of a PIED e-learning module (the Dopinglinkki e-module) targeted at HCPs in three EU Member States and Australia. METHODS: A standardised two stage, mixed methodology was implemented. Stage 1 involved HCPs completing the e-module and completing an online survey (N = 77). Stage 2 involved conducting individual structured interviews with a subset of survey respondents (N = 37). Normalisation Process Theory and the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability were used as conceptual lenses. FINDINGS: The e-module provided information that was perceived as useful for HCPs' current and future practice. However, several individual, organisational and societal level barriers were reported as preventing the e-module becoming an accepted and normalised aspect of the HCP workforce, including the need for up to date evidence, the time-consuming nature of completing the e-module, lack of organisational support, the use of over-complex language, and the module's potential to reinforce the stigmatisation of PIEDs. CONCLUSION: Providing credible evidence-based resources to support HCPs' knowledge development is important. Evidence-based and theory informed interventions are needed to equip HCPs with knowledge that can aid culturally sensitive interactions and effective engagement with people who use PIEDs. Reflecting on our study findings, it is important that the development of interventions should include the voices of both HCP and those using PIEDs, and that careful consideration is given to the various factors that may act as a barrier to effective implementation.

Case-control study of hyperpyrexia in children.

To test the association of hyperpyrexia (temperature greater than or equal to 41.1 degrees C) with increased rates of bacteremia and serious bacterial illness in young children, we performed a retrospective case-control study. Seventy-six hyperpyrexic children and an equal number of control cases with temperatures of 39.1-40 degrees C and 40.1-41.0 degrees C were identified. A significantly larger number of diagnostic procedures including blood cultures, urine cultures, chest x-rays and white blood cell counts were performed in the hyperpyrexic children (P less than 0.05). The frequency of serious bacterial infections and bacteremia did not differ among the groups (P greater than 0.05). Hyperpyrexic children need to be evaluated as thoroughly and carefully as any other febrile child but do not merit special consideration.

Metabolic and exercise endurance effects of coffee and caffeine ingestion.

Caffeine (Caf) ingestion increases plasma epinephrine (Epi) and exercise endurance; these results are frequently transferred to coffee (Cof) consumption. We examined the impact of ingestion of the same dose of Caf in Cof or in water. Nine healthy, fit, young adults performed five trials after ingesting (double blind) either a capsule (Caf or placebo) with water or Cof (decaffeinated Cof, decaffeinated with Caf added, or regular Cof). In all three Caf trials, the Caf dose was 4.45 mg/kg body wt and the volume of liquid was 7.15 ml/kg. After 1 h of rest, the subject ran at 85% of maximal O2 consumption until voluntary exhaustion (approximately 32 min in the placebo and decaffeinated Cof tests). In the three Caf trials, the plasma Caf and paraxanthine concentrations were very similar. After 1 h of rest, the plasma Epi was increased (P < 0.05) by Caf ingestion, but the increase was greater (P < 0.05) with Caf capsules than with Cof. During the exercise there were no differences in Epi among the three Caf trials, and the Epi values were all greater (P < 0.05) than in the other tests. Endurance was only increased (P < 0. 05) in the Caf capsule trial; there were no differences among the other four tests. One cannot extrapolate the effects of Caf to Cof; there must be a component(s) of Cof that moderates the actions of Caf.

Functional analysis of heterologous holin proteins in a lambdaDeltaS genetic background.

Holins are small hydrophobic proteins causing non-specific membrane lesions at the end of bacteriophage multiplication, to promote access of the murein hydrolase to their substrate. We have established a lambdaDeltaS genetic system, which enables functional expression of holins from various phages in an isogenic phage lambda background, and allows qualitative evaluation of their ability to support lysis of Escherichia coli cells. Synthesis of Holins is under control of native lambda transcription and translation initiation signals, and the temperature-sensitive CIts857 repressor. A number of different holins were tested in this study. The opposing action of phage lambda S105 and S107 holin variants in lysis timing could be confirmed, whereas we found evidence for a functionally non-homologous dual translational start motif in the Listeria phage Hol500 holin, i.e., the Hol500-96 polypeptide starting at Met-1 revealed a more distinct lytic activity as compared to the shorter product Hol500-93. The largest holin known, HolTW from a Staphylococcus aureus phage, revealed an early lysis phenotype in the lambdaDeltaSthf background, which conferred a plaque forming defect due to premature lysis. Mutant analysis revealed that an altered C-terminus and/or a V52L substitution were sufficient to delay lysis and enable plaque formation. These results suggest that the extensively charged HolTW C-terminus may be important in regulation of lysis timing. The gene 17.5 product of E. coli phage T7 was found to support sudden, saltatory cell lysis in the lambdaDeltaSthf background, which clearly confirms its holin character. In conclusion, lambdaDeltaSthf offers a useful genetic tool for studying the structure-function relationship of the extremely heterogeneous group of holin protein orthologs.

Clinical skills in early postgraduate medical trainees: patterns of acquisition of confidence and experience among junior doctors in a university teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about patterns of clinical skills acquisition among junior doctors undertaking clinical training in the early postgraduate period. A better understanding would assist in the design of effective educational interventions for this group. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of the levels of confidence and experience with a broad raft of clinical skills among early PGY1 trainees (interns), PGY2s and PGY3s within a university teaching hospital network in Sydney at the beginning of the clinical year in 1999. The instrument was a new validated 69 item questionnaire. A total of 92 respondents took part, representing 100% of the PGY1 (n=36), PGY2 (n=31) and PGY3 (n=25) cohorts. RESULTS: Commencing interns reported high confidence levels with a small group of practical skills but less confidence with clinical management skills. Significant positive differences were found for confidence with all skill areas between early PGY1 and PGY3. We identified three patterns for skills acquisition. Pattern A was the most common, with a significant difference in levels of confidence and experience between PGY1 and PGY2 but not between PGY2 and PGY3 (e.g. suturing a simple laceration). In Pattern B, significant differences were found in levels of confidence and experience between PGY1 and PGY2 as well as between PGY2 and PGY3 (e.g. cardiopulmonary resuscitation). In Pattern C, significant differences were found in levels of experience between PGY2 and PGY3 but not between PGY1 and PGY2 (e.g. endotracheal intubation). There was a significant correlation between reported confidence and experience for all skill areas. CONCLUSIONS: Early postgraduate medical trainees in a Sydney teaching hospital acquire high levels of confidence and experience in most skill areas after two years of training. The first postgraduate year is particularly significant for the development of clinical skills.

Giant double parathyroid adenoma presenting as a hypercalcaemic crisis.

The largest documented case of a double parathyroid adenoma is reported. The patient presented in hypercalcaemic crisis with a large intrathoracic mass. After removal of a massive cystic parathyroid adenoma from the right superior mediastinum, a second very large parathyroid adenoma was found on the contralateral side adjacent to the left thyroid lobe. This case illustrates the importance of the cervical approach, as well as routine bilateral neck exploration, for all cases of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Effect of venesection on bone mineral density in an eugonadal woman with haemochromatosis.

BACKGROUND: A 41-year-old premenopausal woman with newly diagnosed haemochromatosis was found to have osteopenia on screening bone mineral densitometry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Liver biopsy showed grade 3 haemochromatosis with an hepatic iron index of 4. Investigation for secondary factors for osteopenia revealed no cause. The patient was clinically and biochemically eugonadal. Following venesection of 8 L blood (4 g iron) over 17 months and calcium supplementation, her bone density rose significantly. Neck of femur bone density increased by 6.0% over 13 months and lumbar vertebral bone density increased by 7.2%. There are no previous reports of response of bone density to venesection in eugonadal patients or in women with haemochromatosis.