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Preterm infants bypass the crucial in utero period of brain development and are at increased risk of malnutrition. We aimed to determine if their nutritional status is associated with brain tissue volumes at term equivalent age (TEA), applying recently published malnutrition guidelines for preterm infants. We performed a single center retrospective chart review of 198 infants < 30 weeks' gestation between 2018 and 2021. We primarily analyzed the relationship between the manually obtained neonatal MR-based brain tissue volumes with the maximum weight and length z-score. Significant positive linear associations between brain tissue volumes at TEA and weight and length z-scores were found (p < 0.05). Recommended nutrient intake for preterm infants is not routinely achieved despite efforts to optimize nutrition. Neonatal MR-based brain tissue volumes of preterm infants could serve as objective, quantitative and reproducible surrogate parameters of early brain development. Nutrition is a modifiable factor affecting neurodevelopment and these results could perhaps be used as reference data for future timely nutritional interventions to promote optimal brain volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/22/24 Occupational therapists address pain across the lifespan and in every practice setting. This presentation will describe a national study examining pain curricula in entry-level OT programs and discuss implications for academia and clinical practice. Primary Author and Speaker: John V. Rider Additional Authors and Speakers: Vicki Khau, Kristin A. Valdes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV infection continues to be a serious health concern, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM account for over one-half (57%) of the estimated 1.2 million cases in the United States. Hispanic/Latino individuals accounted for 24% of new HIV diagnoses, with male-to-male sexual contact responsible most cases. Effective sexual negotiation may be a way to decrease risk for HIV infection, but relatively little is known about sexual negotiation among Hispanic MSM. The purpose of this study was to describe the process by which sexual decision-making occurs among Hispanic MSM. Nineteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews were collected from participants (ages 25 to 65) living in South Florida using grounded theory methodology. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and were analyzed to identify categories and subcategories. A theory grounded in the data called Circumventing vs. Guiding emerged that described the sexual negotiation process. The theory consists of four main categories: Contextualizing Negotiation, Strategizing Sexual Negotiation, Negotiating Strategies, and Reviewing Consequences. Some Hispanic MSM may experience challenges in negotiating safer sex behaviors with partners. More research is needed to develop culturally-specific interventions to assist Hispanic MSM with sexual negotiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cohort study. The evidence specific to understanding patient satisfaction, preference and the effects on occupational performance using a CMC orthosis is sparse. The main purpose of this study was to determine patient satisfaction, aspects of the orthotic preference, and the effect on pain and function of the CMC Controller Plus neoprene orthotic device. This research was conducted at two outpatient clinics located in Pennsylvania and Florida during 2019. The subjects of this study included any individuals referred to one of two participating hand therapy facilities with either a primary or secondary diagnosis of thumb CMC joint arthritis or present with this diagnosis as a comorbidity. The CMC Controller Plus orthosis (Hely & Weber) was provided to each patient by the treating therapist at no cost to the patient after the patient agreed to take part in the study. None of the patients received hand therapy treatment for the CMC pain; the only intervention provided was the CMC Controller Plus. The CMC Controller Plus orthosis improved the patients' functional status and reduced their pain. The effect size for the change in function was large (1.29) compared to the effect size for the reduction in pain which approached moderate at 0.49. The CMC Controller Plus orthosis improved the patient's functional status by 52% and reduced their pain by 29%. The results were both statistically and clinically significant. • The CMC Controller Plus orthosis improved the patients' functional status by 52% in 1 month. • The CMC Controller Plus orthosis reduced their pain by 29% in one month. • The results were both statistically and clinically significant as demonstrated by the effect size calculations. • Thumb-based orthoses improve function and pain for patients with CMC osteoarthritis at the short-term follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Purdue Pegboard Test is a manual dexterity test that requires the manipulation of pegs, washers, and collars. Our population for this research study focused on the geriatric community owing to the lack of recent available normative data. The purpose of this study was to provide updated normative data for hand therapists to use in clinical practice to determine if seniors have dexterity deficits. This is a cohort study. This study was completed through a convenience sample which included 128 participants. Participants were stratified into three age groups (60-69, 70-79, and 80+). Participants were asked to complete the Purdue Pegboard Test. Mean scores were analyzed using an independent-sample t -test and one-way analysis of variance to compare the mean scores of each designated age group. A one-way analysis of variance reported statistically significant differences between the 3 age groups (F = 15.03, P <.00). The results supported that those individuals who were younger (60-69) scored better on the assessment than those aged 80+ years. There was not a statistically significant difference between PPT mean scores of males and females. Mean scores for the PPT for community-dwelling seniors were established. The findings from this study support that dexterity may decline with age, which can affect occupational performance over time. • Participants between the ages of 60 to 65 years had the highest scores on the Purdue Pegboard Test. • Males and females received similar scores on the Purdue Pegboard Test. • There was not a difference between right-hand and left-hand scores on the Purdue Pegboard Test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has a descriptive-comparative, cross-sectional design. Sensorimotor (SM) impairments have been observed after common wrist and hand injuries such as distal radius fractures. However, there is a lack of research regarding SM impairments in patients with carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA). This study sought to quantify proprioception deficits in older adults with CMC OA as compared with healthy adults using the joint position sense (JPS) test. The active JPS test was used to measure proprioception function in 29 thumbs with CMC OA and their 29 matched-control healthy counterparts. For comparison, participants with unilateral CMC OA were matched against themselves, whereas those with lateral CMC OA were age matched with a healthy participant. Data analysis was performed to compute the mean error of JPS; an unpaired t test was used to compare the mean error of the non–CMC OA group with the healthy control group. The mean positional error measured from subjects with CMC OA was 9.53° compared with 1.32° for the age-matched healthy subjects. The effect size for the difference in means was D = 1.96. Thumb SM impairments were found to be greater in subjects with CMC OA than in their healthy counterparts when using the JPS test to assess proprioception. • JPS test may be clinically useful for evaluating SM function among older adults with CMC OA. • Thumb sensorimotor impairments are greater in subjects with CMC OA. • The mean JPS error measured from subjects with CMC OA was 9.53°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An individual's brain predicted age minus chronological age (brain-PAD) obtained from MRIs could become a biomarker of disease in research studies. However, brain age reports from clinical MRIs are scant despite the rich clinical information hospitals provide. Since clinical MRI protocols are meant for specific clinical purposes, performance of brain age predictions on clinical data need to be tested. We explored the feasibility of using DeepBrainNet, a deep network previously trained on research-oriented MRIs, to predict the brain ages of 840 patients who visited 15 facilities of a health system in Florida. Anticipating a strong prediction bias in our clinical sample, we characterized it to propose a covariate model in group-level regressions of brain-PAD (recommended to avoid Type I, II errors), and tested its generalizability, a requirement for meaningful brain age predictions in new single clinical cases. The best bias-related covariate model was scanner-independent and linear in age, while the best method to estimate bias-free brain ages was the inverse of a scanner-independent and quadratic in brain age function. We demonstrated the feasibility to detect sex-related differences in brain-PAD using group-level regression accounting for the selected covariate model. These differences were preserved after bias correction. The Mean-Average Error (MAE) of the predictions in independent data was ∼8 years, 2–3 years greater than reports for research-oriented MRIs using DeepBrainNet, whereas an R2 (assuming no bias) was 0.33 and 0.76 for the uncorrected and corrected brain ages, respectively. DeepBrainNet on clinical populations seems feasible, but more accurate algorithms or transfer-learning retraining is needed. • Brain age biomarkers from clinical MRI are scant despite the numerous hospital data. • We tested the feasibility of brain age prediction in 840 patients with DeepBrainNet. • The best covariate model to account for a regression-to-mean bias was linear in age. • The best for bias-free brain ages, the inverse of a function quadratic in brain age. • Though feasible, more accurate algorithms or transfer-learning retraining is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of the status and activities of foreign language instruction in Florida elementary schools discusses languages taught (primarily Spanish); state funding and school district programs; teacher certification; and preservice teacher education and methods courses. (CB)

Background Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a well-recognized complication of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (CPB) in adults. Infants and neonates may also be at high risk for this due to immature myocardium. Conventional assessment of RV function is just qualitative, but novel tissue Doppler echocardiographic (TDI) markers including peak systolic strain rate (SR) and isovolumic contraction acceleration (IVA) permit noninvasive quantitation of RV function. This study assessed myocardial velocities, IVA and SR in infants and neonates undergoing open heart surgery using TDI to study regional myocardial function perioperatively. Methods Transthoracic TDI data were obtained in the OR before and 24 hours post-CPB on 53 consecutive infants (age 0.39 ± 0.23 years). They were followed with TDI through hospital discharge. Results Mean CPB time was 87 ± 49 min (cross-clamp 52 ± 26 min). Peak systolic (STDI) and diastolic myocardial velocities (ETDI, ATDI), IVA, and peak SR were recorded in RV and LV from standard views for offline analysis. Postoperatively, LV systolic function and diastolic longitudinal function were unchanged or improved from baseline. LV radial velocities were increased postoperatively indicating adequate support. In contrast, RV longitudinal systolic and diastolic function was significantly diminished after CPB. RV changes persisted through hospital discharge. Conclusions In infants and neonates, perioperative measurements of systolic and diastolic tissue Doppler parameters are feasible and revealed significant RV systolic and diastolic dysfunction post-CPB with preserved LV function. As such, TDI provides a sensitive tool to monitor the infant heart after CPB and may potentially be useful to assess different myocardial protection strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Orotracheal intubation has been considered a risk factor for the development or exacerbation of disorders related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate TMJ assessment performed by anesthetists in Florida when conducting orotracheal intubation. Methods: An online questionnaire was created using Qualtrics. The survey included 22 questions related to demographics, TMJ related to anesthesia procedures, and education/awareness regarding TMJ related to intubation. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation analysis were performed. Results: One hundred and eight providers participated (mean 46 years-old ± 12; 59% female). About 50% reported to always evaluate TMJ prior non-emergency intubation. Of those, 56% used an alternative intubation technique based on the TMJ status and 60% never/rarely evaluated TMJ post-intubation. Twenty-five percent reported they did not know of possible intubation effects on TMJ and 47% reported that they did not receive adequate information/education on TMJ management related to intubation in school. After participation, 81% reported to be more aware of the importance of evaluating TMJ. Conclusions: Only half of the providers who frequently performed intubation in Florida evaluated TMJ prior to intubation. This survey increased the awareness regarding the importance of evaluating TMJ when conducting intubation. This may contribute to reducing TMJ issues associated with non-emergency intubations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea turtles migrate thousands of miles annually between foraging and breeding areas, carrying dozens of epibiont species with them on their journeys. Most sea turtle epibiont studies have focused on large-sized organisms, those visible to the naked eye. Here, we report previously undocumented levels of epibiont abundance and biodiversity for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), by focusing on the microscopic meiofauna. During the peak of the 2018 loggerhead nesting season at St. George Island, Florida, USA, we sampled all epibionts from 24 carapaces. From the subsamples, we identified 38,874 meiofauna individuals belonging to 20 higher taxa. This means 810,753 individuals were recovered in our survey, with an average of 33,781 individuals per carapace. Of 6992 identified nematodes, 111 different genera were observed. To our knowledge, such levels of sea turtle epibiont abundance and diversity have never been recorded. Loggerhead carapaces are without doubt hotspots of meiofaunal and nematode diversity, especially compared to other non-sedimentary substrates. The posterior carapace sections harbored higher diversity and evenness compared to the anterior and middle sections, suggesting increased colonization and potentially facilitation favoring posterior carapace epibiosis, or increased disturbance on the anterior and middle carapace sections. Our findings also shed new light on the meiofauna paradox: "How do small, benthic meiofauna organisms become cosmopolitan over large geographic ranges?" Considering high loggerhead epibiont colonization, the large distances loggerheads migrate for reproduction and feeding, and the evolutionary age and sheer numbers of sea turtles worldwide, potentially large-scale exchange and dispersal for meiofauna through phoresis is implied. We distinguished different groups of loggerhead carapaces based on divergent epibiont communities, suggesting distinct epibiont colonization processes. These epibiont observations hold potential for investigating loggerhead movements and, hence, their conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Admiralty and Maritime Law Certification Committee of the Florida Bar Association. Topics include the section's focus on qualifying examinations, the continuing legal education (CLE) programs offered by the section, and the Board Certification Leadership Conferences for members.