Assessment of glove stretch and storage temperature on fentanyl permeation: Implications for standard test methods and PPE recommendations.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends the use of nitrile gloves with a minimum thickness of 5.0 ± 2.0 mil [0.127 ± 0.051 millimeters] in situations where it is suspected or known that fentanyl or other illicit drugs are present. However, there is limited data available on fentanyl permeation through gloves. Current test methods used to measure fentanyl permeation do not consider the effect of glove fit and flexion. Furthermore, first responders need to have PPE readily available in the field, and storage conditions may affect the protective performance of the gloves. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of glove stretch and storage temperatures on glove durability and barrier performance against fentanyl. Nine nitrile glove models previously shown to be resistant to fentanyl permeation were selected for this investigation. These nine models were stretched 25% in one linear direction, to consider glove fit and flexion, and tested against fentanyl hydrochloride permeation. Additionally, four of the nine glove models were stored at 48 °C, 22 °C, and -20 °C, and evaluated for tensile strength, ultimate elongation, and puncture resistance after up to 16 wk of storage and fentanyl permeation after up to 8 wk of storage. At least one sample for six of the nine tested models had maximum permeation over the test method fail threshold when stretched. The tested storage temperatures showed no effect on glove tensile strength, ultimate elongation, and puncture resistance. The findings of this study can be used to inform PPE recommendations, with consideration to storage practices and proper sizing for first responders with potential exposure to fentanyl and other illicit drugs. The results of this study can be used to assess the need for new standard test methods to evaluate the barrier performance of gloves and shelf-life determination with consideration to glove fit.

Corticospinal and corticoreticulospinal projections benefit motor behaviors in chronic stroke.

After corticospinal tract (CST) stroke, several motor deficits in the upper extremity (UE) emerge, including diminished muscle strength, motor control, and muscle individuation. Both the ipsilesional CST and contralesional corticoreticulospinal tract (CReST) innervate the paretic UE and may have different innervation patterns for the proximal and distal UE segments. These patterns may underpin distinct pathway relationships to separable motor behaviors. In this cross-sectional study of 15 chronic stroke patients and 28 healthy subjects, we examined two key questions: (1) whether segmental motor behaviors differentially relate to ipsilesional CST and contralesional CReST projection strengths, and (2) whether motor behaviors segmentally differ in the paretic UE. We measured strength, motor control, and muscle individuation in a proximal (biceps, BIC) and distal muscle (first dorsal interosseous, FDI) of the paretic UE. We measured the projection strengths of the ipsilesional CST and contralesional CReST to these muscles using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Stroke subjects had abnormal motor control and muscle individuation despite strength comparable to healthy subjects. In stroke subjects, stronger ipsilesional CST projections were linked to superior motor control in both UE segments, whereas stronger contralesional CReST projections were linked to superior muscle strength and individuation in both UE segments. Notably, both pathways also shared associations with behaviors in the proximal segment. Motor control deficits were segmentally comparable, but muscle individuation was worse for distal motor performance. These results suggest that each pathway has specialized contributions to chronic motor behaviors but also work together, with varying levels of success in supporting chronic deficits. Key points summary: Individuals with chronic stroke typically have deficits in strength, motor control, and muscle individuation in their paretic upper extremity (UE). It remains unclear how these altered behaviors relate to descending motor pathways and whether they differ by proximal and distal UE segment.In this study, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to examine projection strengths of the ipsilesional corticospinal tract (CST) and contralesional corticoreticulospinal tract (CReST) with respect to quantitated motor behaviors in chronic stroke.We found that stronger ipsilesional CST projections were associated with better motor control in both UE segments, whereas stronger contralesional CReST projections were associated with better strength and individuation in both UE segments. In addition, projections of both pathways shared associations with motor behaviors in the proximal UE segment.We also found that deficits in strength and motor control were comparable across UE segments, but muscle individuation was worse with controlled movement in the distal UE segment.These results suggest that the CST and CReST have specialized contributions to chronic motor behaviors and also work together, although with different degrees of efficacy.

A Descriptive Study of Acute Pediatric Poisoning Age 0-12 Years Old Presenting to Pediatric Emergency Department Hospital Tunku Azizah, Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION: Acute pediatric poisoning poses significant morbidity and mortality to a country. This study looks at the pattern of acute pediatric poisoning in ages 0-12 years old presenting to a pediatric emergency department in a tertiary hospital in Kuala Lumpur. METHOD: We performed a retrospective review of acute pediatric poisoning aged 0-12 years old presenting to the pediatric emergency department of Hospital Tunku Azizah Kuala Lumpur from 1st January 2021 to 30th June 2022. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients were included in this study. The ratio of female to male patients was 2:3. Oral ingestion was the most common route of poisoning. 73% of patients were from 0-5 years old and primarily asymptomatic. Pharmaceutical agents were the most common agent of poisoning-no mortality in this study. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of acute pediatric poisoning was good in the 18 months of the study period.

A Case of a Penetrating Traumatic Head Injury Due to a Ceiling Fan.

A ceiling fan is a hidden enemy on the ceiling of a house. When the blunt blades rotate at a high speed, it has the capability to penetrate the skull bones. This case highlights the uncommon presentation of fan blade injury and the importance of compression bandage.

Chlorhexidine sensitivity in staphylococci isolated from patients with central line-associated bloodstream infection.

Since 2011, 2% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropyl alcohol (2% chlorhexidine tincture) has been widely used in Korea. To investigate changes in chlorhexidine sensitivity of staphylococci causing central line-associated bloodstream infections, 264 blood culture isolates from adult patients treated in intensive care units of five university hospitals between 2008 and 2016 were analysed. We observed no significant changes in chlorhexidine minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations, or in the prevalence of resistance-associated genes before and after introduction of 2% chlorhexidine tincture. Thus, there was no evidence of increased resistance to chlorhexidine in staphylococci causing central line-associated bloodstream infections.

Simultaneous detection of barrier- and immune-related gene variations in patients with atopic dermatitis by reverse blot hybridization assay.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary factors are involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, AD-related gene variations are significantly different across ethnicities. AIM: To identify mutations and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in barrier- or immune-related genes from Korean patients with AD and compare the variations with those observed in nonatopic healthy controls (HCs), and to use novel reverse blot hybridization assay (REBA) for AD-related gene variants. METHODS: We carried out REBA to simultaneously detect variations in genes related to barrier or immune function, namely, FLG, SPINK5, KLK7, DEFB1, TNFα, KDR, FCER1A, IL4, IL5,IL5RA, IL9, IL10, IL12, IL12R, IL13 and IL18, from Korean patients with AD, and compared the variation to that in nonatopic healthy controls. RESULTS: The homozygous mutants of KLK7 and SPINK5-2475, and the heterozygous mutants of FLG 3321delA, SPINK5-1156, DEFB1, KDR, IL5RA, IL9 and IL12RB1 were significantly more frequent in AD. It has been predicted that the larger the number of gene variants, the higher the odds ratio of AD prevalence; however, we did not find any significant correlation between the number of gene variants and AD severity. CONCLUSION: Using REBA, we identified more genetic variants that can predict AD occurrence. We also verified that REBA can be used to easily and accurately detect multiple AD-related gene variants simultaneously. In addition, we identified a correlation between KLK7 mutation and AD in Koreans, which is the first such report, to our knowledge.

A comparison of two mathematical models of the impact of mass drug administration on the transmission and control of schistosomiasis.

The predictions of two mathematical models describing the transmission dynamics of schistosome infection and the impact of mass drug administration are compared. The models differ in their description of the dynamics of the parasites within the host population and in their representation of the stages of the parasite lifecycle outside of the host. Key parameters are estimated from data collected in northern Mozambique from 2011 to 2015. This type of data set is valuable for model validation as treatment prior to the study was minimal. Predictions from both models are compared with each other and with epidemiological observations. Both models have difficulty matching both the intensity and prevalence of disease in the datasets and are only partially successful at predicting the impact of treatment. The models also differ from each other in their predictions, both quantitatively and qualitatively, of the long-term impact of 10 years' school-based mass drug administration. We trace the dynamical differences back to basic assumptions about worm aggregation, force of infection and the dynamics of the parasite in the snail population in the two models and suggest data which could discriminate between them. We also discuss limitations with the datasets used and ways in which data collection could be improved.

Activated human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells suppress metastatic features of MDA-MB-231 cells by secreting IFN-ß.

Our recent study showed that human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hMSCs) are activated to express tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) by exposure to TNF-α and these activated hMSCs effectively induce apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 (MDA) cells in vitro and in vivo. Here, we further demonstrated that activated hMSCs not only induced apoptosis of MDA cells but also reduced metastatic features in MDA cells. These activated hMSC-exposed MDA cells showed reduced tumorigenicity and suppressed formation of lung metastasis when implanted in the mammary fat pad. Surprisingly, the activated hMSC-exposed MDA cells increased TRAIL expression, resulting in apoptosis in MDA cells. Interestingly, upregulation of TRAIL in MDA cells was mediated by interferon-beta (IFN-ß) secreted from activated hMSCs. Furthermore, IFN-ß in activated hMSCs was induced by RNA and DNA released from apoptotic MDA cells in absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) and IFN induced with helicase C domain 1 (IFIH1)-dependent manners. These observations were only seen in the TRAIL-sensitive breast cancer cell lines but not in the TRAIL-resistant breast cancer cell lines. Consistent with these results, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis also showed that lack of innate sensors detecting DNA or RNA is strongly associated with poor survival in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer patients. In addition, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) isolated from a breast cancer patient were also able to express TRAIL and IFN-ß upon DNA and RNA stimulation. Therefore, our results suggest that the crosstalk between TRAIL-sensitive cancer cells and stromal cells creates a tumor-suppressive microenvironment and further provide a novel therapeutic approach to target stromal cells within cancer microenvironment for TRAIL sensitive cancer treatment.

Satisfaction with mammography in the National Cancer Screening Programme participants of age 40s in Korea.

The aim of this study was to evaluate satisfaction with the National Cancer Screening Programme of mammography in Korea and to examine the association between subscales of satisfaction and general satisfaction. We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey for women who had obtained a National Cancer Screening Programme mammographic screening at general hospitals between May and October 2008. The present study included 2005 women in their forties. We performed multivariate linear regression using dependent variable as general satisfaction and independent variables as subscales of satisfaction, such as pre-screening information transfer, staff interpersonal skills, physical surroundings and results reporting. Participants were stratified according to the result of their mammogram as negative or positive. Mean score of satisfaction was above 2.5 of 4 for all subscales. Women who received positive results were less satisfied with all of subscale factors. Staff interpersonal skills were the most important factor that contributed to general satisfaction. Future efforts such as staff training programme of communication/attitude skills, ensuring privacy and explanation of possible discomfort of the screening would be needed.

Discharge impedance of solenoidal inductively coupled plasma discharge.

The discharge impedance is calculated for a solenoidal inductively coupled plasma (ICP) discharge, which is one of the important sources for plasma processing. To calculate this impedance, the electromagnetic field quantities are obtained by solving the two-dimensional Maxwell equations in a realistic geometry. Also considered in the calculation is the anomalous skin effect which is regarded as a collisionless heating mechanism of ICP discharge. The results show that the discharge impedance is a function of various discharge parameters, such as plasma density, electron temperature, antenna position, collision frequency, excitation frequency, and chamber geometry.

Concurrent colonic carcinoma and small-bowel carcinoid tumor. Case reports and review of the literature.

Recent reviews stressing the existence of synchronous and metachronous noncarcinoid neoplastic lesions in the same segment of an organ stimulated a review of experience with simultaneous small-bowel carcinoids and colonic carcinoma. Four cases of colonic malignancy associated with small-bowel carcinoid are presented. Included are cases with multiple carcinoids and concurrent multiple carcinomas; two metachronous carcinomas with subsequent ileal carcinoids, and three cases explored for colonic carcinoma with the discovery of incidental ileal carcinoids. There are few reports describing this variety of situations. The occurrence of concurrent malignant lesions, particularly more than one metachronous lesion in primary carcinoid cases, is uncommon.

Antimicrobial effect of fluorides on Bacteroides melaninogenicus subspecies and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus.

This study was undertaken to determine whether the suspected periodontopathogens Bacteroides melaninogenicus ss melaninogenicus and intermedius and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus are killed by clinically used topical fluorides. The viability of each organism was examined after exposure to three fluoride compounds, stannous (SnF2), acidulated phosphate (APF), and neutral sodium (NaF), for 1 and 8 h. Stannous fluoride was found to be effective at lowest fluoride concentrations with APF next in effectiveness. NaF required the highest concentrations of fluoride to kill test organisms. Longer exposure times were found to be more effective at lower concentrations. Data obtained in this study with gram-negative organisms support and extend previous information regarding the antibacterial effect of fluorides against gram-positive periodontopathogens.

The antimicrobial effect of fluorides (acidulated phosphate, sodium and stannous) on Actinomyces viscosus.

The effect of three commercially prepared fluoride compounds (acidulated phosphate fluoride 1.23% F-, stannous fluoride 0.4%, and sodium fluoride 0.05%) diluted to various concentrations with brain heart infusion broth, on the growth of five strains of Actinomyces viscosus following 1 and 24 hours' exposure to the fluorides was studied. Results demonstrated that SnF2 was the most effective growth inhibitor of the organisms at 500 ppm F- after 1 hour and at 100 ppm F- after 24 hours' exposure. APF and NaF were not effective within a 1 hour exposure period, but did suppress growth of the organisms at 200 ppm in the cultures exposed for 24 hours.