Feasibility of Implementing a Modified SENSE Program to Increase Positive Sensory Experiences for Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A Pilot Study.

AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility of implementing the Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences (SENSE) program with adaptations to increase positive sensory exposure for infants born preterm, support neonatal neurodevelopment, and decrease parent stress. METHODS: Eight infants born between 28 and 33 weeks were recruited within one week of birth. Parents, trained in the program, delivered the SENSE protocol. The first author provided up to 1 h of sensory input on weekdays when a parent could not be present. RESULTS: Recruitment and retention rates were 87.5% and 100%, respectively. Recruitment and initial parent education and training averaged 37.5 min. On average, parents were present in the NICU 85.1% of days; they participated in SENSE for an average of 515.5 min. SENSE dose recommendations were not consistently met. Weekly infant assessments and regular parent check ins averaged 22.5 and 13.8 min, respectively. Post-assessments revealed normal scores on a neurodevelopmental assessment, low parent stress, and high parent satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The recruitment and retention rates suggest high demand to participate. Outcomes for parent stress and neonatal neurodevelopment support continuation of SENSE. Time commitment for implementation, coupled with supporting families in meeting dose recommendations, suggest a need for a neonatal therapist to promote sustainability.

Open field trials of food-grade gum in California and Oregon as a behavioral control for Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

The invasion of Drosophila suzukii, spotted-wing drosophila, across Europe and the US has led to economic losses for berry and cherry growers, and increased insecticide applications to protect fruit from damage. Commercial production relies heavily on unsustainable use of conventional toxic insecticides. Non-toxic insecticide strategies are necessary to alleviate the disadvantages and non-target impacts of toxic conventional insecticides and improve Integrated Pest Management (IPM). A novel food-grade gum deployed on dispenser pads (GUM dispensers) was evaluated to mitigate D. suzukii crop damage in five commercial crops and nine locations. Trials were conducted at a rate of 124 dispensers per hectare in cherry, wine grape, blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry in California and Oregon, USA during 2019 and 2020. The majority of trials with the food-grade gum resulted in a reduction of D. suzukii egg laying in susceptible fruit. In some cases, such damage was reduced by up to 78%. Overall, results from our meta-analysis showed highly significant differences between GUM treatments and the untreated control. Modeling simulations suggest a synergistic reduction of D. suzukii damage when used in combination with Spinosad (Entrust SC) insecticide. These data illustrate commercial value of this tool as a sustainable alternative to manage D. suzukii populations within a systems approach.

Comparison of outcomes of illicit drug users and nonusers hospitalized with heart failure.

The long-term effects of illicit drug use (IDU) on the clinical outcome of patients with heart failure (HF) are not well described. The objective of the present study was to describe the characteristics of patients with HF who used illicit drugs and to determine the effects of IDU on the clinical outcomes such as in-hospital mortality and hospital readmission for HF. A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included all patients admitted with HF from June 2003 to September 2004 and followed up until 2008 at a university hospital serving an at-risk population. The patients were divided into 2 groups: IDU and non-IDU according to self-reported use or positive laboratory results. The outcome measures were in-hospital mortality, HF readmission rate, interval to readmission for HF, and average brain natriuretic peptide and troponin levels throughout the follow-up period. Of 646 reviewed records, 542, representing 357 patients, were included in the present analysis. Of the 357 patients, 53 patients were in the IDU group and 304 were in the non-IDU group. Kaplan-Meier log-rank analysis and Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that IDU was associated with a shorter interval to readmission for HF (hazard ratio 3.8, 95% confidence interval 2.3 to 10.7, p <0.0001) but not with in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio 0.7, 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 1.7, p = 0.4). Multiple linear regression analysis identified IDU as an independent variable for the HF readmission rate (p = 0.0001) but not for average brain natriuretic peptide or average troponin levels. In conclusion, the results of the present study have demonstrated that IDU was associated with a decreased interval to readmission for HF and greater HF readmission rates.

Treatment of bone metastases with palliative radiotherapy: patients' treatment preferences.

PURPOSE: To determine the proportion of patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy (RT) for bone pain who would like to participate in the decision-making process, and to determine their choice of palliative RT regimen (2000 cGy in five fractions vs. 800 cGy in one fraction) for painful bone metastases. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eligible patients were approached and all patients agreeing to participate provided written informed consent. Patients' decisional preferences were studied using a five-statement preference instrument. A decision board was used to help patients decide their preferred palliative RT regimen. Factors influencing patients' choices were studied using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were enrolled in the study (55 women and 46 men). The preferences for decision-making were as follows: 30 active, 47 collaborative, and 24 passive. Most (55 [76%] of 72) patients favored one fraction of palliative RT (95% confidence interval, 65-86%). Patients were more likely to select the 800 cGy in one fraction because of the convenience of the treatment plan (odds ratio, 1.024; 95% confidence interval, 1.004-1044) but were less likely to choose it because of the chance of bone fracture (odds ratio, 0.973; 95% confidence interval, 0.947-1.000) compared with 2000 cGy in five fractions. CONCLUSION: Most participating patients preferred to decide either by themselves or with the radiation oncologists which treatment option they preferred. An 800-cGy-in-one-fraction regimen was favored, independent of the treated site. The convenience of the treatment plan and the likelihood of bone fracture were the most important factors influencing patients' choice.