Program development and evaluation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The incorporation of genetic counseling and testing is essential to evaluation and management of thoracic aortic disease in patients under 60 years of age and those with family histories suspicious for heritable thoracic aortic disease and disorders associated with increased risk for acute type-A aortic dissection. RECENT FINDINGS: As many as 20% of individuals with thoracic aortic disease under the age of 60 years have autosomal dominant patterns of inheritance...

The Python-based program, XMECP, is developed for realizing robust, efficient, and state-of-the-art minimum energy crossing point (MECP) optimization in multiscale complex systems. This article introduces the basic capabilities of the XMECP program by theoretically investigating the MECP mechanism of several example systems including (1) the photosensitization mechanism of benzophenone, (2) photoinduced proton-coupled electron transfer in the cytosine-guanine base pair in DNA, (3) the spin-flip process in oxygen activation catalyzed by an iron-containing 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenase (Fe/2OGX), and (4) the photochemical pathway of flavoprotein adjusted by the intensity of an external electric field...

OBJECTIVE: Accurate prediction of hospital length of stay (LOS) following surgical management of oral cavity cancer (OCC) may be associated with improved patient counseling, hospital resource utilization and cost. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of statistical models, a machine learning (ML) model, and The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program's (ACS-NSQIP) calculator in predicting LOS following surgery for OCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective multicenter database study was performed at two major academic head and neck cancer centers...

The computer-assisted program SiD was developed to assess and select sperm in real time based on motility characteristics. To date, there are limited studies examining the correlation between AI-assisted sperm selection and ICSI outcomes. To address this limit, a total of 646 sibling MII oocytes were randomly divided into two groups as follows: the ICSI group (n = 320): ICSI performed with sperm selected by the embryologist and the ICSI-SiD group (n = 326): ICSI performed with sperm selected using SiD software...

The Ames test is required by regulatory agencies worldwide for assessing the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of chemical compounds. This test uses several strains of bacteria to evaluate mutation induction: positive results in the assay are predictive of rodent carcinogenicity. As an initial step to understanding how well the assay may detect mutagens present as constituents of complex mixtures such as botanical extracts, a cross-sector working group examined the within-laboratory reproducibility of the Ames test using the extensive, publicly available National Toxicology Program (NTP) Ames test database comprising more than 3000 distinct test articles, most of which are individual chemicals...

In the United States and around the world, newborns are screened on a population basis for conditions benefiting from pre-symptomatic diagnosis and treatment. The number of screened conditions continues to expand as novel technologies for screening, diagnosing, treating, and managing disease are discovered. While screening all newborns facilitates early diagnosis and treatment, most screened conditions are treatable but not curable. Patients identified by newborn screening often require lifelong medical management and community support to achieve the best possible outcome...

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluated the effectiveness of participatory action-oriented training (PAOT) intervention for hypertension management among intercity van drivers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study applied concept and process of participatory actionoriented training and self-management to guide the development of the intervention addressing improvement in hypertension management behaviors. A total of 104 intercity van drivers with uncontrolled hypertension in Thailand were recruited to participate in this program...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-month early postnatal lifestyle intervention program in women with gestational diabetes in a recent pregnancy. METHODS: This study was a prospective randomized intervention study conducted at a diabetes center in Hong Kong. Chinese women aged 18-45 years, who developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in their most recent pregnancy, were invited. Eligible women were randomized in 1:1 ratio at baseline (6-12 weeks postpartum), to standard care or lifestyle intervention (diet and physical activity) groups for 12 months...

The need to foster successful aging has intensified with the aging of the global population. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning dietary salt consumption and to investigate the correlations between sociodemographic variables and salt-related KAP. A structured interview was administered to a cohort of 200 older adults in Abha City, Saudi Arabia, recruited through a convenience sampling approach. The evaluation of salt-related KAP revealed widespread low knowledge (91...

BACKGROUND: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are predicted to become the world's seventh leading cause of death by 2030. Given the significant impact of RTAs on public health, effective hospital preparedness plays a pivotal role in managing and mitigating associated health and life-threatening issues. This study aims to meticulously evaluate the preparedness of selected hospitals in western Iran to handle road traffic accidents with mass casualties (RTAs-MC). METHODS: The study employed a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing a reliable and valid questionnaire to measure hospitals' preparedness levels...

BACKGROUND: Nurses have a key role in the recognition, reporting, and channelization of child abuse and neglect. Nurses should have sufficient knowledge about the presentation of child abuse and neglect. They also need to understand their role in reporting any instance where they detect cases of abuse and neglect. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a structured Child Neglect and Abuse Educational Program (CNaA-EP) on the level of knowledge and awareness of nursing students about child neglect and abuse...

BACKGROUND: Although the FDA Accelerated Approval Program (AAP) has come under scrutiny, the population-level health benefit of the program has not been quantified. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the number of life years gained among patients with cancer that can be attributable to the therapies receiving FDA accelerated approvals in oncology between 2006 and 2022 in the United States. METHODS: The data sources used were FDA listings, FDA approval letters and labels, published clinical trial data and other publications including relative effectiveness estimates, and the Ipsos Oncology Uptake Tool for product uptake...

PURPOSE: There is limited research on the effects of maternal hyperandrogenism (MHA) on cardiometabolic risk factors in male offspring. We aimed to compare the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in sons of women with preconceptional hyperandrogenism (HA) to those of non-HA women in later life. METHODS: Using data obtained from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Cohort Study, with an average of 20 years follow-up, 1913 sons were divided into two groups based on their MHA status, sons with MHA (n = 523) and sons without MHA (controls n = 1390)...

Mass shootings are a public health crisis and have become more frequent on U.S. university campuses over the past decade, with the number doubling since 2000. Due to this alarming trend, many institutions have developed response strategies for active shooting events. Yet, the extent to which these response strategies address the needs and minimize harm for students, faculty, and staff has not been evaluated critically after a campus mass shooting. Michigan State University (MSU) experienced a mass shooting on February 13, 2023...

Background: Primary and secondary level preventive primary health care programs providing early detection and timely management of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) conditions in rural and remote regions are fundamental to preventing downstream impacts on health, social, and educational outcomes. However, the range and quality of evidence is yet to be reviewed. Objectives: The study objectives were to identify and synthesize the evidence of primary health care interventions for detection and management of ENT conditions in rural and remote areas, and evaluate the quality of the research and effectiveness of interventions...

Community health workers (CHWs) are increasingly being required to perform complex health care activities, especially in community cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention. However, currently, there are no psychometrically validated instruments for assessing CHW competencies in these roles. This article describes the development and validation of the stroke literacy assessment test (SLAT)-pertaining to the Life's Simple Seven (LS7) risk factors for stroke-for evaluating CHWs' competencies in the context of education and training programs...

Introduction Pre-analytical errors in cytology laboratories can significantly impact the accuracy of diagnostic results and turnaround times, ultimately affecting patient care. This article presents an evaluation of pre-analytical errors and proposes fostering strategies to enhance accuracy and efficiency in the cytology laboratory of a tertiary care hospital. The background discusses the importance of pre-analytical processes in ensuring reliable cytological diagnoses and the common errors encountered in specimen collection, handling, and transportation...

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the use of gamification in the classroom, in terms of its effects on attention, concentration, creativity, and generic capabilities, for university students enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program in Physiotherapy. METHODS: An experimental design was implemented, using three groups differentiated by their time of exposure to the game (0 min, 30 min, or 60 min per week). The sample consisted of 73 s-year students from a Bachelor's degree program in Physiotherapy...

In order to train a future workforce able to meet the needs of its patients it is vital to ensure that opportunities to engage in research are inbuilt to training programmes. This strategy meets national recommendations recently published by NIHR, RCP and GMC. A nationally funded expansion of 'standard' Foundation programmes offers a unique opportunity to develop innovative new posts which include exposure to clinical research. In NHSE Midlands a pilot Foundation Year two (F2) post in Diabetes Research was implemented in August 2022, embedded into a standard Foundation programme...

PURPOSE: To rule out hemorrhage, non-contrast CT (NCCT) scans are used for early evaluation of patients with suspected stroke. Recently, artificial intelligence tools have been developed to assist with determining eligibility for reperfusion therapies by automating measurement of the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS), a 10-point scale with > 7 or ≤ 7 being a threshold for change in functional outcome prediction and higher chance of symptomatic hemorrhage, and hypodense volume...