Nurses' attitudes, behaviours, and enablers of intravenous to oral switching (IVOS) of antibiotics: A mixed-methods survey of nursing staff in secondary care hospitals across the Midlands region of England.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous (IV) antibiotic use in secondary care in England is widespread. Timely appropriate intravenous to oral switch (IVOS) has the potential to deliver significant clinical and operational benefits. To date, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) efforts around IVOS have not focused on the nursing staff who administer antibiotics, which represents a significant gap in AMS programmes. AIMS: To determine the involvement of bedside nurses in acute trusts in the Midlands region of England in IVOS in their organisations and describe their views regarding how to improve IVOS. METHODS: An anonymous self-administered mixed-methods online survey was developed and distributed to nursing staff in acute trusts via antimicrobial stewardship networks between March and May 2023. Quantitative data was analysed to describe participant demographics and behaviours, whereas barriers and enablers to IVOS were explored through thematic content analysis of responses to open-ended questions. FINDINGS: 545 nursing staff responded to the survey. The majority (65.3%) routinely suggested IVOS to clinicians, despite only 50.6% being aware of local IVOS policies. One third (34.7%) did not suggest IVOS, relying on doctors, believing their patients needed IV treatment, or lacked knowledge and skills to request IVOS. Content analysis of suggestions for improving the rate of IVOS proposed three major themes (People, Process, System) and identified that education and training, improved confidence and interprofessional relationships, and prompts were important drivers. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing staff suggest IVOS to other clinicians, but more education and resources are needed to enable and empower them in this role.

Understanding the lived-experience and support-needs of people living with antimicrobial resistance in the UK through interpretative phenomenological analysis.

In the UK nearly 54,000 infections were caused by serious resistant bacteria in 2022 but there is a lack of evidence regarding the long-term impact on patients' lives nor what support they need. This research aimed to answer the question: "What are the key elements of experience and support needs of people living with AMR in the UK?". In-depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken with nine people who had been living with resistant infections or colonisation for 12-months or longer. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used to study the accounts and illustrate individuals' experiences and support-needs. Participants experienced marginalisation and isolation but also empowerment; described across three major themes: (1) I live in fear and stigma: The long-term impact of AMR; (2) I am battling on my own: A journey toward self-advocacy; and (3) I like to share my story: The role of AMR communities. All participants perceived a lack of knowledge, information, and support from clinicians; difficulties accessing reliable and understandable information; and lack of understanding from family and friends. Charities and online groups provided support with coping with their situation and improving mental health and wellbeing. Understandable and relatable information regarding the science of AMR, transmission, prevention, and living with AMR needs to be provided by clinicians and healthcare services around the time of diagnosis to readily available after diagnosis.

Multistate Sensitivity Monitoring of Fusarium virguliforme to the SDHI Fungicides Fluopyram and Pydiflumetofen in the United States.

Sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by Fusarium virguliforme, is an important yield-limiting disease of soybean (Glycine max). From 1996 to 2022, cumulative yield losses attributed to SDS in North America totaled over 25 million metric tons, which was valued at over US $7.8 billion. Seed treatments are widely used to manage SDS by reducing early season soybean root infection by F. virguliforme. Fluopyram (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor [SDHI] - FRAC 7), a fungicide seed treatment for SDS management, has been registered for use on soybean in the United States since 2014. A baseline sensitivity study conducted in 2014 evaluated 130 F. virguliforme isolates collected from five states to fluopyram in a mycelial growth inhibition assay and reported a mean EC50 of 3.35 mg/liter. This baseline study provided the foundation for the objectives of this research: to detect any statistically significant change in fluopyram sensitivity over time and geographical regions within the United States and to investigate sensitivity to the fungicide pydiflumetofen. We repeated fluopyram sensitivity testing on a panel of 80 historical F. virguliforme isolates collected from 2006 to 2013 (76 of which were used in the baseline study) and conducted testing on 123 contemporary isolates collected from 2016 to 2022 from 11 states. This study estimated a mean absolute EC50 of 3.95 mg/liter in isolates collected from 2006 to 2013 and a mean absolute EC50 of 4.19 mg/liter in those collected in 2016 to 2022. There was no significant change in fluopyram sensitivity (P = 0.1) identified between the historical and contemporary isolates. A subset of 23 isolates, tested against pydiflumetofen under the same conditions, estimated an absolute mean EC50 of 0.11 mg/liter. Moderate correlation was detected between fluopyram and pydiflumetofen sensitivity estimates (R = 0.53; P < 0.001). These findings enable future fluopyram and pydiflumetofen resistance monitoring and inform current soybean SDS management strategies in a regional and national context.

Developing a model for decision-making around antibiotic prescribing for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in acute NHS hospitals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: qualitative results from the Procalcitonin Evaluation of Antibiotic use in COVID-19 Hospitalised patients (PEACH Study).

OBJECTIVE: To explore and model factors affecting antibiotic prescribing decision-making early in the pandemic. DESIGN: Semistructured qualitative interview study. SETTING: National Health Service (NHS) trusts/health boards in England and Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Clinicians from NHS trusts/health boards in England and Wales. METHOD: Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with clinicians in six NHS trusts/health boards in England and Wales as part of the Procalcitonin Evaluation of Antibiotic use in COVID-19 Hospitalised patients study, a wider study that included statistical analysis of procalcitonin (PCT) use in hospitals during the first wave of the pandemic. Thematic analysis was used to identify key factors influencing antibiotic prescribing decisions for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia during the first wave of the pandemic (March to May 2020), including how much influence PCT test results had on these decisions. RESULTS: During the first wave of the pandemic, recommendations to prescribe antibiotics for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were based on concerns about secondary bacterial infections. However, as clinicians gained more experience with COVID-19, they reported increasing confidence in their ability to distinguish between symptoms and signs caused by SARS-CoV-2 viral infection alone, and secondary bacterial infections. Antibiotic prescribing decisions were influenced by factors such as clinician experience, confidence, senior support, situational factors and organisational influences. A decision-making model was developed. CONCLUSION: This study provides insight into the decision-making process around antibiotic prescribing for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia during the first wave of the pandemic. The importance of clinician experience and of senior review of decisions as factors in optimising antibiotic stewardship is highlighted. In addition, situational and organisational factors were identified that could be optimised. The model presented in the study can be used as a tool to aid understanding of the complexity of the decision-making process around antibiotic prescribing and planning antimicrobial stewardship support in the context of a pandemic. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN66682918.

Margin of exposure to free formaldehyde in personal care products containing formaldehyde-donor preservatives: Evidence for consumer safety.

Formaldehyde has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by International Agency for Research on Cancer and found in personal care (PC) products containing formaldehyde-donor (FD) preservatives. However, the cancer risk associated with the use of FD-containing PC products has not been well established. Our study provides the quantitative cancer risk assessment of formaldehyde in FD-containing PC products. The carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) spectroscopy was used in this risk assessment to provide reliable exposure information to formaldehyde in PC products and aqueous solutions containing sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. The risk assessment was conducted using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach with benchmark doses (BMDs) for 10% effect. For hemolymphoreticular neoplasias in male rats, a BMD of 28.03 mg/kg/day and a BMD lower confidence limit (BMDL) of 2.52 mg/kg/day were calculated from available long-term animal experiments. The worst-case consumer exposure to formaldehyde from FD-containing PC products was 0.007 µg/kg/day. Comparing the consumer exposure with BMDL, the resulting MOE was 360,000 for the worst-case scenario. The consumer exposure to formaldehyde (0.007 µg/kg/day) from using FD-containing PC products represents less than 1.0 × 10-6 % of background level endogenous formaldehyde (878-1310 mg/kg/day). The cancer risk from formaldehyde to consumers using FD-containing PC products is negligible.

Implementation of the national antimicrobial stewardship competencies for UK undergraduate healthcare professional education within undergraduate pharmacy programmes: a survey of UK schools of pharmacy.

Background: Pharmacists play a key role in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Consensus-based national AMS competencies for undergraduate healthcare professionals in the UK reflect the increasing emphasis on competency-based healthcare professional education. However, the extent to which these are included within undergraduate pharmacy education programmes in the UK is unknown. Objectives: To explore which of the AMS competencies are delivered, including when and at which level, within UK undergraduate MPharm programmes. Methods: A cross-sectional online questionnaire captured the level of study of the MPharm programme in which each competency was taught, the method of delivery and assessment of AMS education, and examples of student feedback. Results: Ten institutions completed the survey (33% response rate). No institution reported covering all 54 AMS competencies and 5 of these were taught at half or fewer of the institutions. Key gaps were identified around taking samples, communication, outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy and surgical prophylaxis. The minimum time dedicated to AMS teaching differed between institutions (range 9-119 h), teaching was generally through didactic methods, and assessment was generally through knowledge recall and objective structured clinical examinations. Feedback from students suggests they find AMS and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to be complex yet important topics. Conclusions: UK schools of pharmacy should utilize the competency framework to identify gaps in their AMS, AMR and infection teaching. To prepare newly qualified pharmacists to be effective at delivering AMS and prescribing antimicrobials, schools of pharmacy should utilize more simulated environments and clinical placements for education and assessment of AMS.

Validation of Immunotherapy Response Score as Predictive of Pan-solid Tumor Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Benefit.

Immunotherapy response score (IRS) integrates tumor mutation burden (TMB) and quantitative expression biomarkers to predict anti-PD-1/PD-L1 [PD-(L)1] monotherapy benefit. Here, we evaluated IRS in additional cohorts. Patients from an observational trial (NCT03061305) treated with anti-PD-(L)1 monotherapy were included and assigned to IRS-High (-H) versus -Low (-L) groups. Associations with real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined by Cox proportional hazards (CPH) modeling. Those with available PD-L1 IHC treated with anti-PD-(L)1 with or without chemotherapy were separately assessed. Patients treated with PD-(L)1 and/or chemotherapy (five relevant tumor types) were assigned to three IRS groups [IRS-L divided into IRS-Ultra-Low (-UL) and Intermediate-Low (-IL), and similarly assessed]. In the 352 patient anti-PD-(L)1 monotherapy validation cohort (31 tumor types), IRS-H versus IRS-L patients had significantly longer rwPFS and OS. IRS significantly improved CPH associations with rwPFS and OS beyond microsatellite instability (MSI)/TMB alone. In a 189 patient (10 tumor types) PD-L1 IHC comparison cohort, IRS, but not PD-L1 IHC nor TMB, was significantly associated with anti-PD-L1 rwPFS. In a 1,103-patient cohort (from five relevant tumor types), rwPFS did not significantly differ in IRS-UL patients treated with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy plus anti-PD-(L)1, nor in IRS-H patients treated with anti-PD-(L)1 versus anti-PD-(L)1 + chemotherapy. IRS associations were consistent across subgroups, including both Europeans and non-Europeans. These results confirm the utility of IRS utility for predicting pan-solid tumor PD-(L)1 monotherapy benefit beyond available biomarkers and demonstrate utility for informing on anti-PD-(L)1 and/or chemotherapy treatment. Significance: This study confirms the utility of the integrative IRS biomarker for predicting anti-PD-L1/PD-1 benefit. IRS significantly improved upon currently available biomarkers, including PD-L1 IHC, TMB, and MSI status. Additional utility for informing on chemotherapy, anti-PD-L1/PD-1, and anti-PD-L1/PD-1 plus chemotherapy treatments decisions is shown.

The absence of genotoxicity of Aloe vera beverages: A review of the literature.

Aloe has a long history of topical and systemic use with testimonials of countless health benefits and is one of the most popular botanical medicines in the world for the management of a wide variety both of benign and serious ailments including irritable bowel syndromes, osteoarthritis, Type II diabetes mellitus, and viral respiratory illness. The human consumption of Aloe vera extract in beverage form has substantially grown over the last several decades, in no small part, due to the increased consumer interest in alternative approaches to health benefits. The principal aim of the present paper is to characterize the research to date that has explored the genotoxic potential of Aloe vera inner leaf gel extract and decolorized whole leaf extract used in commercially available food-grade drinkable products which contain no more than 10 ppm aloin. Despite prevailing public health opinion, especially in Europe, the consensus of the reviewed studies retrieved from the peer-reviewed literature together with a mutagenic evaluation of an Aloe vera whole leaf decolorized spray-dried powder is that these products are not genotoxic.

Systematic review of high-dose amikacin regimens for the treatment of Gram-negative infections based on EUCAST dosing recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Updated European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) amikacin breakpoints for Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa included revised dosing recommendations of 25-30 mg/kg to achieve key pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters, higher than recommended in the British National Formulary. The objectives of this review were to identify clinical evidence for high-dose amikacin regimens and to determine drug exposures that are related to adverse events and toxicity. METHODS: The literature search was conducted in October 2021 and updated in May 2022 using electronic databases for any study reporting adult participants treated with amikacin at doses ≥20 mg/kg/day. Reference lists of included papers were also screened for potential papers. Data were extracted for pharmacokinetic parameters and clinical outcomes, presented in a summary table and consolidated narratively. Meta-analysis was not possible. Each study was assessed for bias before, during and after the intervention using the ROBINS-I tool. RESULTS: Nine studies (total 501 participants in 10 reports) were identified and included, eight of which were observational studies. Assessment of bias showed substantial flaws. Dosing regimens ranged from 25 to 30 mg/kg/day. Six studies adjusted the dose in obesity when participants had a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2. Target peak serum concentrations ranged from 60 mg/L to 80 mg/L and 59.6-81.8% of patients achieved these targets, but there was no information on clinical outcomes. Two studies reported the impact of high-dose amikacin on renal function. No studies reporting auditory or vestibular toxicity were identified. CONCLUSION: All included papers were limited by a significant risk of bias, while methodological and reporting heterogeneity made drawing conclusions challenging. Lack of information on the impact on renal function or ototoxicity means high-dose regimens should be used cautiously in older people. There is a need for a consensus guideline for high-dose amikacin to be written. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO (CRD42021250022).

Attitudes towards influenza and uptake of the flu vaccine: A survey of pharmacy staff working in English hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: Pharmacy staff working in hospitals are at risk of contracting and disseminating influenza. Previous research focuses on community pharmacists' attitudes towards influenza and vaccination. This survey investigates the beliefs and attitudes of pharmacists and other pharmacy staff working in English Hospitals regarding influenza and the vaccine and how this relates to vaccine uptake. METHODS: A self-administered survey was provided to pharmacy staff at three hospitals in the East Midlands of England. Job role, age and vaccination status (vaccinated, intended to be vaccinated, and not vaccinated) were collected alongside ratings of agreement with 20 statements regarding influenza and vaccination using a Likert scale. RESULTS: 170 pharmacy staff responded; 50.6% had been vaccinated, 17.1% intended to be vaccinated and 32.4% were not vaccinated. Increasing age showed a significant (p = 0.017) positive correlation with increased vaccine uptake as did the beliefs that vaccination protects the individual from influenza (p = 0.049) and that vaccination should be mandatory for NHS staff (p = 0.006). Fear of needles and believing their immune system is strong enough to protect against influenza were negatively correlated with vaccine uptake (p = 0.016 and p = 0.010, respectively). Job role was also strongly correlated with vaccine uptake (p = 0.001), with those holding a pharmacy degree more likely to report being vaccinated or intending to be vaccinated compared to all other pharmacy staff groups. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first survey to focus on vaccine behaviours of all pharmacy staff groups working in hospitals. Current uptake of the influenza vaccine may be increased through engagement of senior pharmacy colleagues and providing education on influenza, vaccines, and vaccination. Similar studies should be undertaken on a larger scale to fully interrogate the differences between pharmacy staff groups.

Treating infections caused by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE): a pragmatic approach to antimicrobial stewardship on behalf of the UKCPA Pharmacy Infection Network (PIN).

The emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) as a major cause of invasive infection both within the UK and internationally poses a very real concern for all providers of healthcare. The burden of morbidity and mortality associated with CPE infections is well described. The need for early, targeted, effective and safe antimicrobial therapy remains key for the management of these infected patients yet reliable antimicrobial treatment options remain scarce. In the absence of a universal treatment for these CPE invasive infections, individual treatment options tailored to susceptibilities and severity of infection are required. This working group from within the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA) Pharmacy Infection Network has developed evidence-based treatment recommendations to support infection specialists in managing these complex infections. A systematic review of peer-reviewed research was performed and analysed. We report consensus recommendations for the management of CPE-associated infections. The national expert panel makes therapeutic recommendations regarding the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the drugs and pharmacokinetic targets, dosing, dosage adjustment and monitoring of parameters for novel and established antimicrobial therapies with CPE activity. This manuscript provides the infection specialist with pragmatic and evidence-based options for the management of CPE infections.

Case report: irreducible medial subtalar dislocation with incarcerated anterior talar head fracture in a young patient.

Subtalar dislocations are rare injuries that typically occur from high-energy injuries. All subtalar dislocations should be attempted to be closed reduced, however, ~32% are irreducible requiring open reduction. We present an irreducible medial subtalar dislocation following a motor vehicle accident with no associated fractures demonstrated on radiograph. However, open reduction revealed an incarcerated anterior talar head fracture that was reduced and stabilized with retrograde K-wires.

An exploratory qualitative study of the meaning and value of a running/walking program for women after a diagnosis of breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To generate insights into the personal meaning and value of a running/walking program for women after a diagnosis of breast cancer. METHODS: After completing a 12-week running/walking program with a 5-km training goal, eight women were interviewed and seven participated in a focus group. The interviews and focus group were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: Data portrayed the personal benefits and value of the clinic. Four themes were identified: (1) receiving practical information and addressing targeted concerns, (2) pushing personal limits, (3) enabling a committed mindset, and (4) seeing benefits and challenges of running/walking with a group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide initial understanding of how women experience a running/walking program after a diagnosis of breast cancer and what they find to be important about their experiences. The range of positive benefits experienced by women suggests a running/walking program can help fill a gap in care for women diagnosed with breast cancer, and thus be part of cancer rehabilitation. However, because some women felt isolated at times, future research should seek to examine how running/walking programs can be modified and tailored so that all women find it socially beneficial. Implications for Rehabilitation The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can result in side effects and increase the risk of long-term disability. Physical activity can help women manage the side effects and lessen the risk of long-term disability. In a relatively small sample, this study shows that participation in a running/walking program can be an important part of breast cancer recovery.

Strain engineering to reduce acetate accumulation during microaerobic growth conditions in Escherichia coli.

Microaerobic (oxygen limited) conditions are advantageous for several industrial applications since a majority of the carbon atoms can be directed for synthesis of desired products. Oxygen limited conditions, however, can result in high levels of undesirable by-products such as acetate, which subsequently can have an impact on biomass and product yields. The molecular mechanisms involved in acetate accumulation under oxygen limited conditions are not well understood. Our results indicate that a majority of the genetic modifications known to decrease acetate under aerobic conditions results in similar or even higher acetate under oxygen limitation. Deletion of arcA, whose gene product is a global transcriptional regulator, was the only modification among those evaluated that significantly decreased acetate under both transient and prolonged oxygen limitation. Transcriptome results indicate that the arcA deletion results in an increased expression of the operon involving acs and actP (whose gene products are involved in acetate assimilation and uptake respectively) and some genes in the TCA cycle, thereby promoting increased acetate assimilation. These results provide useful cues for strain design for improved manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals under oxygen limited conditions. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:303-314, 2018.

Colder environments are associated with a greater cancer incidence in the female population of the United States.

Cancer incidence and/or mortality among individuals varies with diet, socio-culture, ethnicity, race, gender, and age. Similarly, environmental temperature modulates many biological functions. To study the effect of environment temperature on cancer incidence, the US population was selected. Because, county-wise cancer incidence rate data of various anatomical site-specific cancers and different races/ethnicities for both males and females are available. Moreover, the differences amongst the aforementioned factors among individuals are much less, as compared to the world population. Statistical analysis showed a negative correlation between the average annual temperature and cancer incidence rate at all anatomical sites and individually for 13 types (out of 16 types) of anatomical site-specific cancer incidence rates (e.g. uterine, bladder, thyroid, breast, esophagus, ovary, melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, brain, pancreas, etc.) for females. Further analysis found a similar inverse trend in all races/ethnicities of the female population but not in all male races/ethnicities or anatomical site-specific cancers. Moreover, the majority of the counties having the top-most cancer incidence rate in females are located above the latitude 36.5°N. These findings indicate that living in a cold county in the United States might have a higher risk of cancer irrespective of cancer type (except cervical and liver) and races/ethnicities for females but not in all such cases for the male population.

Cycles of silence: First Nations women overcoming social and historical barriers in supportive cancer care.

BACKGROUND: First Nations people with cancer in Canada confront several critical inequities in physical and psychosocial domains. First Nations women are at a particular disadvantage as they are disproportionately affected by social determinants of health, but how they navigate these challenges within their communities is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: Our study explores survivorship experiences of First Nations women with cancer and their caregivers. Drawing from a larger data set on survivorship, we identify several major barriers to cancer communication and support in First Nations communities. METHODS: Our team conducted a participatory, arts-based study using several data collection methods (interviews, sharing sessions, photovoice, and other creative activities) with 43 participants (24 cancer survivors and 19 caregivers) from four First Nations communities in Canada. RESULTS: Two major themes have emerged out of our data analyses: (1) suffering without support leads to cycles of silence and (2) community-based supports can disrupt these cycles. We identified several social, historical, and institutional barriers to speaking about cancer and finding/providing support; however, communities met the challenge of silence through voluntary and unsolicited provision of support. CONCLUSIONS: Widespread silence around cancer reflects both the limited access First Nations people have to formal, supportive programs and services, as well as the creative ways they provide emotional, social, and financial support within their informal networks. Beyond the support of their communities, they also required institutional provision of care that is culturally safe, addressing the colonial impacts on cancer communication and the disproportionate burdens of disease in First Nations communities.

Oxidative damage to myelin proteins accompanies peripheral nerve motor dysfunction in aging C57BL/6 male mice.

Aging is associated with a decline in peripheral nerve function of both motor and sensory nerves. The decline in function of peripheral sensorimotor nerves with aging has been linked to sarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle mass and function that significantly compromises the quality of life in older humans. In this study, we report a significant increase in oxidized fatty acids and insoluble protein carbonyls in sciatic nerves of aged C57BL/6 male mice (28-30mo) that exhibit a profound decline in motor nerve function and degenerative changes in both axon and myelin structure, compared to young mice (6-8mo). Our data further suggests that this age-related loss of function of peripheral motor nerves is likely precipitated by changes in mechanisms that protect and/or repair oxidative damage. We predict that interventions that target these mechanisms may protect against age-related decline in peripheral sensorimotor nerve function and likely improve the debilitating outcome of sarcopenia in older humans.

Assessing the Efficacy of a Group Mediated Nutritional Knowledge Intervention for Individuals with Obesity.

PURPOSE: This study reports on the effect of a group-based nutrition and physical activity intervention program on nutrition knowledge and eating habits in a cohort of people with obesity. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-test measures. The intervention consisted of physical activity led by certified exercise physiologists and a nutritional education component led by registered dietitians over a 6-month period followed by 6 months of self-management. Participants' nutrition knowledge and eating habits were assessed using the modified Nutrition Assessment, the Nutrition Knowledge Survey, and the Food Choice Questionnaires at baseline, after the 6-month intervention, and after 6 months of self-management. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 59 (40%) of participants after 12 months because of attrition. Nutritional knowledge and behaviours improved. Participants reported increasing their consumption of healthy foods during the active intervention and maintained these changes through the self-management phase. Knowledge of healthy foods was improved and a greater likelihood of choosing food for weight control and health properties was reported. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge and reported consumption of healthier nutrition improved during the active intervention and was maintained during the self-management period for individuals who completed the program. Registered dietitians can play an important role in managing patients with obesity in group settings.

Critical care of obese patients during and after spine surgery.

Obesity is one of the most prevalent health problems facing the United States today, with a recent JAMA article published in 2014 estimating the prevalence of one third of all adults in the United States being obese. Also, due to technological advancements, the incidence of spine surgeries is growing. Considering these overall increases in both obesity and the performance of spinal surgeries, it can be inferred that more spinal surgery candidates will be obese. Due to this, certain factors must be taken into consideration when dealing with spine surgeries in the obese. Obesity is closely correlated with additional medical comorbidities, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus. The pre-operative evaluation may be more difficult, as a more extensive medical evaluation may be needed. Also, adequate radiographic images can be difficult to obtain due to patient size and equipment limitations. Administering anesthesia becomes more difficult, as does proper patient positioning. Post-operatively, the obese patient is at greater risk for reintubation, difficulty with pain control, wound infection and deep vein thrombosis. However, despite these concerns, appropriate clinical outcomes can still be achieved in the obese spine surgical candidate. Obesity, therefore, is not a contraindication to spine surgery, and appropriate patient selection remains the key to obtaining favorable clinical outcomes.