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Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are endemic in resource-limited settings worldwide. Because of its subtropical climate and socioeconomic factors, the southeastern United States historically has been at elevated risk for STH diseases. [...]

Surveillance for soil-transmitted helminths, strongyloidiasis, cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis was conducted in Mississippi, USA. PCR performed on 224 fecal samples for all soil-transmitted helminths and on 370 samples for only Necator [...]

ABSTRACT Accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs are in great demand in the United States. Currently there are 197 such programs, but little research has been conducted on student characteristics and program [...]

ABSTRACT A generational age transformation is occurring across the country in higher education classrooms. Generation Y is coming to higher education in record numbers and merging with significant numbers of [...]

ABSTRACT The profession of nursing is the most diverse of all healthcare professions. It is a recognizable role in some form in every culture. Nurses have never been more vital [...]

ABSTRACT US Immigration and Naturalization Services estimates that 77 million illegal immigrants currently live in the country. Lack of health insurance is a major issue facing the immigrant population. Recently, [...]

Background Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) aids in bacterial clearance. 'Ihis study examined HBO's effectiveness, measuring the number of colony-forming units (CFU) of P aeruginosa and MRSA upon exposure to air and oxygen pressures. Methods A stainless steel chamber was refurbished to administer thegases. Linear regression, one-way analysis of variance, and factorial analysis were conducted, followed by Tukey post-hoc for groups with significant differences. Results Significant increases in MRSA quantity were observed following air treatments (R=0.245, P=0.038) but were constant after oxygen treatments (R=0.095, P=0.428). P. aeruginosa quantity decreased insigniticandy in air (R= -0.112, P=0.351) but was relatively constant after oxygen treatments (R=0.208, P=0.080). Conclusion Oxygen appears to maintain constant MRSA 301 and P. aeruginosa 19660 quantities. Air treatments may decrease P. aeruginosa quantity alter longer applications. Future studies should explore low-pressure gas combinations in vivo with antibiotic therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health care faculty and educators have expressed concerned about students’ dishonest behaviors in the classroom and clinical setting due to the potential impact on patient outcomes. There is limited information regarding faculty and students’ perceptions of dishonest behavior in traditional and online programs and in the workplace. Objective: To explore the perceptions of faculty and students of dishonest behaviors in the academic setting and in the workplace. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional quantitative study was designed using a purposive, convenience sample. Participants were asked to determine if a described behavior presented as a scenario was an example of dishonesty. Results: A majority of respondents perceived 21 of the 24 described behaviors as dishonest. Scenarios five, eleven, and fifteen were not perceived as dishonest. Conclusions: When perceptions were compared by age, gender, and role (students and faculty) and type (professional and allied health) there was little disagreement among the respondents. Two of the scenarios perceived by the majority of respondents as not representative of a dishonest behavior (scenario five and eleven) are similar to assignments often given to students. Understanding the perceptions of dishonest behaviors provides an opportunity for open conversation between faculty and students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As of December 14, 2020, children and adolescents aged <18 years have accounted for 10.2% of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reported in the United States.* Mitigation strategies to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, among persons of all ages, are important for pandemic control. Characterization of risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among children and adolescents can inform efforts by parents, school and program administrators, and public health officials to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. To assess school, community, and close contact exposures associated with pediatric COVID-19, a case-control study was conducted to compare exposures reported by parents or guardians of children and adolescents aged <18 years with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing (case-patients) with exposures reported among those who received negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results (control participants). Among 397 children and adolescents investigated, in-person school or child care attendance ≤14 days before the SARS-CoV-2 test was reported for 62% of case-patients and 68% of control participants and was not associated with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.5-1.3). Among 236 children aged ≥2 years who attended child care or school during the 2 weeks before SARS-CoV-2 testing, parents of 64% of case-patients and 76% of control participants reported that their child and all staff members wore masks inside the facility (aOR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.8). In the 2 weeks preceding SARS-CoV-2 testing, case-patients were more likely to have had close contact with a person with known COVID-19 (aOR = 3.2, 95% CI = 2.0-5.0), have attended gatherings † with persons outside their household, including social functions (aOR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.1-5.5) or activities with other children (aOR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.3-8.4), or have had visitors in the home (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.2-2.9) than were control participants. Close contacts with persons with COVID-19 and gatherings contribute to SARS-CoV-2 infections in children and adolescents. Consistent use of masks, social distancing, isolation of infected persons, and quarantine of those who are exposed to the virus continue to be important to prevent COVID-19 spread., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Glucocorticoid receptor rich tissues such as pituitary cells express tissue specific 11 beta hydroxysteroid type 1 enzyme, which causes cortisol to act as an autocrine, anti-proliferative, pro-differentiation stimulus in normal tissue. In pituitary tumor cells there is a strong correlation indicating a shift from 11 beta hydroxysteroid type 1 enzyme activity to 11 beta hydroxysteroid type 2 enzyme activity. This shift causes an anti-proliferative effect, which may be effective in suppressing tumor activity. Overall, the results indicated a decreased in cell number for both acute and chronic administration over a 96 hour period without inducing cellular damage (MDA), reactive nitric intermediates (nitric oxide) or reducing cellular antioxidant status (glutathione). Cortisol administration cause an increase in the number of hyperchromic nuclei suggesting cell cycle regulation. These findings conclude that cortisol administration to pituitary tumor cells may offer a future means of treatment for hypophysectomized patients.

Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) and Parathyroid hormones (PTH) are major endocrine secretions that contribute to bone formation. The purpose of this experiment was to examine MG-63 bone like cells after treatment with PTH and IGF-1 in low (1 ug), medium (5 ug), and high (50 ug) dosage levels. MG-63 cells were plated onto a 24 well tissue culture plate at a density of 1 x 1--5 cells per well. The experiment was designed to evaluate cell counts, cell damage (MDA), protein levels, calcium levels, alkaline phosphatase levels, and cellular morphology after 24, 48, and 72 hours post incubation with IGF-1 and PTH. Both hormones stimulated cellular mitotic division as evidenced by morphology and cell numbers. There was an inverse relationship between dose and cell number with the lower dose of IGF-1 and PTH causing the most increase. In both hormones, the exposure to the highest dose induced the largest MDA level increase. However, in the protein levels, few changes in protein levels were found with IGF-1, but PTH showed an increase of protein levels over the time periods. Morphological evaluation showed prominent nucleoli and cellular division throughout both treatments, however the cells with IGF-1 became extremely elongated and the cells with PTH became rather plump. The information gathered suggests that IGF-1 and PTH have an anabolic effect on MG-63 and the effect is dose dependent with both treatments with the lower dose being more effective.