Getting to the Warm Hand-Off: A Study of Home Visitor Referral Activities

Abstract

Introduction

Conducted as part of the Massachusetts MIECHV evaluation, this study examined the role of home visitors (HVs) in facilitating families' connections to early childhood systems of care. The aims of this study were to document the full range of HV behaviors related to service coordination.

Methods

The study sample was 65 participant cases from five program sites, comprising two home visiting models (HFM and PAT). We coded and analyzed 11,096 home visiting records, focusing on identifying referrals, connections, disconnections, and supportive behaviors across 20 service areas. Qualitative pattern analyses were conducted on a subsample of records to identify unique pathways from referral to connection.

Results

HVs discussed an average of 30 different programs with each participant, and overall, only 21% of referrals resulted in a service connection. This rate varied, with some (e.g., housing) requiring much more intensive HV support and yielding far fewer connections. HVs also worked to keep participants engaged once they were connected to a service, often discovering challenges in need of attention through monitoring activities.

Discussion

Home visiting is often thought of as a key entry point into a system of care. Findings from this study confirm this premise, highlighting both the centrality of home visiting in helping families navigate local systems of care, and the insufficiency of these systems to meet family needs.

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Collagen secretion screening in Drosophila supports a common secretory machinery and multiple Rab requirements

Publication date: Available online 1 June 2018
Source:Journal of Genetics and Genomics
Author(s): Hongmei Ke, Zhi Feng, Min Liu, Tianhui Sun, Jianli Dai, Mengqi Ma, Lu-Ping Liu, Jian-Quan Ni, José Carlos Pastor-Pareja
Collagens are large secreted trimeric proteins making up most of the animal extracellular matrix. Secretion of collagen has been a focus of interest for cell biologists in recent years because collagen trimers are too large and rigid to fit into the COPII vesicles mediating transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi. Collagen-specific mechanisms to create enlarged ER-to-Golgi transport carriers have been postulated, including cargo loading by conserved ER exit site (ERES) protein Tango1. Here, we report an RNAi screening for genes involved in collagen secretion in Drosophila. In this screening, we examined distribution of GFP-tagged Collagen IV in live animals and found 88 gene hits for which the knockdown produced intracellular accumulation of Collagen IV in the fat body, the main source of matrix proteins in the larva. Among these hits, only two affected collagen secretion specifically: PH4αEFB and Plod, encoding enzymes known to mediate posttranslational modification of collagen in the ER. Every other intracellular accumulation hit affected general secretion, consistent with the notion that secretion of collagen does not use a specific mode of vesicular transport, but the general secretory pathway. Included in our hits are many known players in the eukaryotic secretory machinery, like COPII and COPI components, SNAREs and Rab-GTPase regulators. Our further analysis of the involvement of Rab-GTPases in secretion shows that Rab1, Rab2 and RabX3, are all required at ERES, each of them differentially affecting ERES morphology. Abolishing activity of all three by Rep knockdown, in contrast, led to uncoupling of ERES and Golgi. We additionally present a characterization of a screening hit we named trabuco (tbc), encoding an ERES-localized TBC domain-containing Rab-GAP. Finally, we discuss the success of our screening in identifying secretory pathway genes in comparison to two previous secretion screenings in Drosophila S2 cells.



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Comprehensive evaluation of EMG and biopsy findings supported by computer simulations – preliminary study

Muscle biopsy plays a critical role in the diagnosis of the neuromuscular disorders, along with the clinical examination, electromyography (EMG), laboratory and molecular genetic testing. It provides the diagnostic evidence that either establishes the disease etiology or narrows the differential diagnosis.

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Complications and reoperations after surgery for 647 patients with spine metastatic disease,,✯✯✯

Postoperative morbidity may offset the potential benefits of surgical treatment for spine metastatic disease; hence, risk factors for postoperative complications and reoperations should be taken into considerations during surgical decision-making. In addition, it remains unknown whether complications and reoperations shorten these patients' survival.

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An Empiric Analysis of 5 Counter-measures Against Surgical Site Infections Following Spine Surgery—A Pragmatic Approach and Review of the Literature

Surgical site infections (SSI) following spine surgery are debilitating complications to patients and costly to the healthcare system.

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Hemodynamic Management of Patients During Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke Under Conscious Sedation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Anesthetic modality and hemodynamic management during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are potential contributors to the success of revascularization. The aims of our study were to review the hemodynamic management by anesthesiologists and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing MT under conscious sedation. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients with anterior circulation AIS from January 2012 to March 2016. Primary outcome was hemodynamic intervention, defined as administration of vasoactive drugs to maintain systolic blood pressure (BP) between 140 and 180 mm Hg. The secondary outcome was poor hemodynamic control, defined as BP outside target for >15 minutes despite hemodynamic intervention. We performed regression analysis to determine the predictors of hemodynamic intervention and poor hemodynamic control. Results: A total of 126 patients were included in this study; 92% (116) receiving conscious sedation and 8% (10) no sedation. Upon arrival to the neuroradiology suite, systolic BP was 180 mm Hg in 14.3%. Hemodynamic intervention was required in 38.9% of patients; 15.1% for hypotension and 19.8% for hypertension. In the multivariate analysis, systolic BP on hospital admission (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.04; P=0.019) constituted a predictor for hemodynamic intervention. Poor hemodynamic control occurred in 12.7% of patients, with lower baseline systolic BP being associated with higher risk of intraprocedural hypotension (odds ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.89-0.96; P

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Effects of high loading by eccentric triceps surae training on Achilles tendon properties in humans

Abstract

Purpose

To document the magnitude and time course of human Achilles tendon adaptations (i.e. changes in tendon morphological and mechanical properties) during a 12-week high-load plantar flexion training program.

Methods

Ultrasound was used to determine Achilles tendon cross-sectional area (CSA), length and elongation as a function of plantar flexion torque during voluntary plantar flexion. Tendon force–elongation and stress–strain relationships were determined before the start of training (pre-training) and after 4 (post-4), 8 (post-8) and 12 (post-12) training weeks.

Results

At the end of the training program, maximum isometric force had increased by 49% and tendon CSA by 17%, but tendon length, maximal tendon elongation and maximal strain were unchanged. Hence, tendon stiffness had increased by 82%, and so had Young's modulus, by 86%. Significant changes were first detected at post-4 in stiffness (51% increase) and Young's modulus (87% increase), and at post-8 in CSA (15% increase).

Conclusions

Achilles tendon material properties already improved after 4 weeks of high-load training: stiffness increased while CSA remained unchanged. Tendon hypertrophy (increased CSA) was observed after 8 training weeks and contributed to a further increase in Achilles tendon stiffness, but tendon stiffness increases were mostly caused by adaptations in tissue properties.

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Postoperative Care Handbook of the Massachusetts General Hospital

No abstract available

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Starving Patients Before Cataract Surgery Under Regional Anesthesia: Needed or Not?

No abstract available

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Race/Ethnicity and Sex Both Affect Opioid Administration in the Emergency Room

BACKGROUND: Although racial/ethnic and sex disparities have been examined in health care generally and pain management more specifically, the combined influence of these sociodemographic factors together has not been well documented. The aim of this study was to examine the association between administration of opioid analgesics in the emergency department (ED) and interaction of race/ethnicity and sex. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using 2010–2014 Center for Disease Control-National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data for patients 12–55 years of age presenting to EDs with a primary diagnosis of appendicitis or gallbladder disease as defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. The primary outcome was the receipt of opioid analgesic medications. Secondary outcomes included: receipt of nonopioids, receipt of antiemetic medications, wait time to see a provider, and length of visit in the ED. The association between sex and analgesic receipt within Caucasian non-Hispanic and non-Caucasian groups was evaluated adjusting for pain score on presentation, patient age, emergent status, city/noncity location, number of comorbidities, time of visit (month, day of the week, standard versus nonstandard working hours, year), and US region. RESULTS: After exclusions, a weighted sample of 553 ED visits was identified, representing 2,622,926 unique visits. The sample population was comprised of 1,858,035 (70.8%) females and 1,535,794 (58.6%) Caucasian non-Hispanics. In adjusted models, Caucasian non-Hispanic males 317,427/525,435 (60.4%) were slightly less likely to receive opioids than Caucasian non-Hispanic females 621,638/1,010,360 (61.5), odds ratio = 0.962, 95% CI, 0.955–0.970; P

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Fibrinogen Concentrate in Cardiovascular Surgery: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND: Postoperative bleeding remains a frequent complication after cardiovascular surgery and may contribute to serious morbidity and mortality. Observational studies have suggested a relationship between low endogenous plasma fibrinogen concentration and increased risk of postoperative blood loss in cardiac surgery. Although the transfusion of fibrinogen concentrate has been increasing, potential benefits and risks associated with perioperative fibrinogen supplementation in cardiovascular surgery are not fully understood. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched on January 15, 2017, with automated updates searched until February 15, 2018, to identify all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of fibrinogen concentrate, whether for prophylaxis or treatment of bleeding, in adults undergoing cardiovascular surgery. All RCTs comparing fibrinogen infusion versus any other comparator (placebo/standard of care or another active comparator) in adult cardiovascular surgery and reporting at least 1 predefined clinical outcome were included. The random-effects model was used to calculate risk ratios and weighted mean differences (95% confidence interval [CI]) for dichotomous and continuous variables, respectively. Subgroup analyses by fibrinogen dose and by baseline risk for bleeding were preplanned. RESULTS: A total of 8 RCTs of fibrinogen concentrate in adults (n = 597) of mixed risk or high risk undergoing cardiovascular surgery were included. Compared to placebo or inactive control, perioperative fibrinogen concentrate did not significantly impact risk of all-cause mortality (risk ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.12–1.38; I2 = 10%; P = .15). Fibrinogen significantly reduced incidence of allogeneic red blood cell transfusion (risk ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.49–0.83; I2 = 0%; P = .001). No significant differences were found for other clinical outcomes. Subgroup analyses were unremarkable when analyzed according to fibrinogen dose, time of infusion initiation, mean cardiopulmonary bypass time, and rotational thromboelastometry/fibrinogen temogram use (all P values for subgroup interaction were nonsignificant). CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence remains insufficient to support or refute routine perioperative administration of fibrinogen concentrate in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Fibrinogen concentrate may reduce the need for additional allogeneic blood product transfusion in cardiovascular surgery patients at high risk or with evidence of bleeding. However, no definitive advantage was found for reduction in risk of mortality or other clinically relevant outcomes. The small number of clinical events within existing randomized trials suggests that further well-designed studies of adequate power and duration to measure all-cause mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, reoperation, and thromboembolic events should be conducted. Future studies should also address cost-effectiveness relative to standard of care. Accepted for publication April 30, 2018. Funding: This work was supported by the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Western University. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's website (https://ift.tt/KegmMq). Reprints will not be available from the authors. Address correspondence to Janet Martin, PharmD, MSc(HTA&M), Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, University Hospital, Room C3-412, 339 Windermere Rd, London, ON N6A 5A5, Canada. Address e-mail to jmarti83@uwo.ca. © 2018 International Anesthesia Research Society

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Inhibition of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Improves Depressive-Like Behaviors Independent of Its Peripheral Antinociceptive Effects in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain is often associated with depression. Enhancing endocannabinoids by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors relieves neuropathic pain and stress-induced depressive-like behaviors in animal models. However, it is unclear whether FAAH inhibitor can relieve neuropathic pain–induced depression by or not by its antinociceptive effects. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve were treated with the systemic FAAH inhibitor URB597 (5.8 mg·kg−1·day−1, intraperitoneally) or peripherally acting FAAH inhibitor URB937 (1.6 mg·kg−1·d−1, intraperitoneally; n = 11–12). The treatment was applied from the 15th day after surgery and continued for 15 days. Mechanical withdrawal threshold was examined by Von Frey test before surgery and on the 28th day after CCI. Depressive-like behaviors were evaluated by forced swimming test (FST) and novelty-suppressed feeding (NSF) after 15-day treatment. The levels of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in hippocampus were examined by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Hippocampal neurogenesis including proliferation, differentiation, and survival of newborn cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After CCI injury, the rats developed significantly nociceptive and depressive-like behaviors, indicated by persistent mechanical hypersensitivity in Von Frey test, significantly prolonged immobility time in FST (sham: 84.2 ± 13.4 seconds versus CCI: 137.9 ± 18.8 seconds; P

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Resuscitation of Endotheliopathy and Bleeding in Thoracic Aortic Dissections: The VIPER-OCTA Randomized Clinical Pilot Trial

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aorta dissection is an acute critical condition associated with shock-induced endotheliopathy, coagulopathy, massive bleeding, and significant morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to compare the effect of coagulation support with solvent/detergent-treated pooled plasma (OctaplasLG) versus standard fresh frozen plasma (FFP) on glycocalyx and endothelial injury, bleeding, and transfusion requirements. METHODS: Investigator-initiated, single-center, blinded, randomized clinical pilot trial of adult patients undergoing emergency surgery for thoracic aorta dissection. Patients were randomized to receive OctaplasLG or standard FFP as coagulation factor replacement related to bleeding. The primary outcome was glycocalyx and endothelial injury. Other outcomes included bleeding, transfusions and prohemostatics at 24 hours, organ failure, length of stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital, safety, and mortality at 30 and 90 days. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were included to obtain 44 evaluable on the primary outcome. The OctaplasLG group displayed significantly reduced damage to the endothelial glycocalyx (syndecan-1) and reduced endothelial tight junction injury (sVE-cadherin) compared to standard FFP. In the OctaplasLG group compared to the standard FFP, days on ventilator (1 day [interquartile range, 0–1] vs 2 days [1–3]; P = .013), bleeding during surgery (2150 [1600–3087] vs 2750 [2130–6875]; P = .046), 24-hour total transfusion and platelet transfusion volume (3975 mL [2640–6828 mL] vs 6220 mL [4210–10,245 mL]; P = .040, and 1400 mL [1050–2625 mL] vs 2450 mL [1400–3500 mL]; P = .027), and goal-directed use of prohemostatics (7/23 [30.4%] vs 13/21 [61.9%]; P = .036) were all significantly lower. Among the 57 patients randomized, 30-day mortality was 20.7% (6/29) in the OctaplasLG group and 25% (7/28) in the standard FFP group (P = .760). No safety concern was raised. CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized, clinical pilot trial of patients undergoing emergency surgery for thoracic aorta dissections, we found that OctaplasLG reduced glycocalyx and endothelial injury, reduced bleeding, transfusions, use of prohemostatics, and time on ventilator after surgery compared to standard FFP. An adequately powered multicenter trial is warranted to confirm the clinical importance of the findings. Accepted for publication May 8, 2018. Funding: This investigator-initiated trial was funded by internal department funds and an unrestricted research grant from Octapharma AG, the manufacturer of OctaplasLG, paid to and administered by Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, to support the execution of the trial covering expenses to assisting staff, on-call research assistants, blood samples, laboratory analyses, etc. Octapharma AG also supplied the investigational product of the trial free of charge. None of the authors involved have received ­personal income from Octapharma AG, have shares or financial interests in Octapharma AG, and Octapharma AG had no role in the design of this study, its execution, analysis, interpretation of the data, writing of the article, or decision to submit results. Conflicts of Interest: See Disclosures at the end of the article. Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal's website (https://ift.tt/KegmMq). The trial was registered before patient enrollment at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02253082, principal investigator: J.S.; date of registration: October 1, 2014). Reprints will not be available from the authors. Address correspondence to Jakob Stensballe, PhD, Section for Transfusion Medicine, Capital Region Blood Bank and Department of Anesthesia, Centre of Head and Orthopedics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark. Address e-mail to jakob.stensballe@regionh.dk. © 2018 International Anesthesia Research Society

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Emotional neglect in childhood shapes social dysfunctioning in adults by influencing the oxytocin and the attachment system: Results from a population-based study

Publication date: Available online 1 June 2018
Source:International Journal of Psychophysiology
Author(s): Laura E. Müller, Katja Bertsch, Konstatin Bülau, Sabine C. Herpertz, Anna Buchheim
Early life maltreatment (ELM) is the major single risk factor for impairments in social functioning and mental health in adulthood. One of the most prevalent and most rapidly increasing forms of ELM is emotional neglect. According to bio-behavioral synchrony assumptions, the oxytocin and attachment systems play an important mediating role in the interplay between emotional neglect and social dysfunctioning. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether fear and avoidance of social functioning, two important and highly prevalent facets of social dysfunctioning in adulthood, are shaped by emotional neglect, plasma oxytocin levels and attachment representations. We assessed emotional neglect as well as other forms of ELM with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, current attachment representations with the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System, and fear and avoidance of social situations with the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale in a population-based sample of N = 121 men and women. Furthermore, 4.9 ml blood samples were drawn from each participant to assess peripheral plasma oxytocin levels.Applying a sequential mediation model, results revealed that emotional neglect was associated with lower plasma oxytocin levels which in turn were associated with insecure attachment representations which were related to elevated fear and avoidance of social situations (a1d21b2: F3,117 = 20.84, P < .001). Plasma oxytocin and current attachment representations hence fully and sequentially mediate the effects of emotional neglect on social fear and avoidance, two important facets of adult social dysfunctioning, confirming bio-behavioral synchrony assumptions.



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