National Current Care Guidelines for paediatric lower respiratory tract infections reduced the use of chest radiographs but local variations were observed.

AIM: Our aim was to evaluate the impact of the 2014 Finnish Current Care Guidelines for paediatric lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), particularly on taking of chest radiographs. METHODS: This study used official national data and regional (Pirkanmaa) data on children aged 0-16 years who underwent chest radiographs in 2011 and 2015. We also collected data for LRTI diagnoses from local registers, including prescribed antibiotics and taking of chest radiographs. The local cohort comprised children aged 0-15 who presented to the primary care emergency room or to the hospital emergency department (Tampere university hospital) in November-December 2012-2015. RESULTS: Chest radiographs for Finnish children aged 0-16 fell from 2011 to 2015: by 15.9% nationally and by 16.9% in Pirkanmaa. When asylum seekers with chest radiographs for tuberculosis screening were excluded, the estimated national reduction was 29.9%. In the local cohort, chest radiographs increased from 82 to 139 (69.5%) between 2012/2013 and 2014/2015 as the occurrence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) increased. However, the proportion of patients with CAP who had chest radiograph taken tended to decrease from 84.6% to 71.3% (p = 0.078). CONCLUSION: Decreases in national and regional chest imaging trends were observed after the 2014 guidance for children`s LRTI was introduced.

Effect of gamma, ethylene oxide, electron beam, and plasma sterilization on the behaviour of SR-PLLA fibres in vitro.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of various sterilization processes on the physical and mechanical properties of self-reinforced bioabsorbable fibres made out of polylactide (PLLA). The samples were sterilized using plasma, ethylene oxide (one and two cycles), gamma (25 kGy at room temperature, 25 kGy in dry ice, and 2 x 25 kGy at room temperature), and electron beam (15, 25, and 55 kGy) sterilization. The intrinsic viscosity, crystallinity, and mechanical properties (modulus of elasticity, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength) were tested before and immediately after each sterilization treatment, as well as up to 30 weeks in vitro. Compared with unsterilized fibres, the intrinsic viscosity was markedly decreased after radiation sterilization (gamma and electron beam) and the loss in mechanical properties was accelerated during in vitro degradation. Plasma and ethylene oxide (one and two cycles) did not markedly alter the properties of the samples after sterilization or during in vitro degradation. These data are important for determining the effect of various sterilization processes on the physical and mechanical properties of polylactide-based materials and can be used to predict how fast degradation of the mechanical properties of the self-reinforced PLLA will occur. They can also be used to tailor the degradation kinetics to optimize implant design.