Activity

Sorptive extraction techniques have experienced increased popularity, but they face limitations in dynamic range and sensitivity. In this study, a new method combining stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) and thin-film solid-phase microextraction (TFSPME) was developed, and optimization for extraction temperature (70 °C) and time (120 min) was carried out. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-coated SBSE and PDMS/carboxen (PDMS/CAR)-coated TFSPME were used, and both headspace and direct immersion extraction modes were also studied. Using 40 selected volatile compounds, the combined method generally gave a wider linearity range with lower minimum limits (2 to 3 orders), satisfactory coefficient of determination (R2>0.980), and improved sensitivity when compared to SBSE-only or TFSPME-only techniques. Furthermore, despite the combined use of two extraction devices, the repeatability ( less then 13.1 %) and reproducibility ( less then 13.4 %) of the combined method were comparable to SBSE-only or TFSPME-only results. Higher recoveries of up to 20% were also achieved by the combined method. Compared to the conventional SBSE method, the new method provided superior performance in terms of dynamic range and sensitivity for compounds of various polarities. In conclusion, this study provided insights on the suitability of the various extraction methods for compounds of different chemical properties which could aid in future applications for volatiles analysis in food, biological, and environmental sectors.

Children who enter school developmentally ready for kindergarten are more likely to succeed academically, be healthy and lead productive lives. However, low-income and minority children often enter kindergarten behind their more affluent peers. Pediatric clinics, as trusted family partners, are well positioned to provide school readiness (SR) support.

To explore Latinx parent perceptions of a clinic-based SR coaching intervention using qualitative methods. Intervention was a 1-hour visit with an SR coach (bilingual community health worker trained to assess child SR, role model SR skills and provide educational tools and community resources).

Qualitative theme analysis of Latinx parent semistructured interviews completed 6 to 9 months after SR coaching intervention (June 2016-February 2017). Parent-child pairs received the SR coaching intervention (N=74), postintervention interviews (N=50) were completed, audio recorded, and transcribed. Iterative team-based coding and inductive thematic analysis of inteantify effects.

Bullying is a well-established risk factor for common adolescent mental disorders. Yet there has been little published on how patterns of bullying change across late childhood and early adolescence. We estimated the prevalence and patterns of being a victim of bullying across this period including changes with the transition from primary to secondary school.

A stratified random sample of 1239 Grade 3 students was recruited from 43 primary schools in Melbourne, Australia. Bullying frequency and form were assessed annually between Grades 3 and 8, and categorized into 5 groups physical, verbal, spreading rumors, social exclusion, and cyber, together with multiform bullying.

Rates of bullying were high across these Grades with 86% of students reporting bullying at least once in the past 4 weeks at any wave, 66% reporting frequent bullying and 37% reporting frequent multiform bullying. The commonest form of bullying was teasing, with cyberbullying the least common. For boys, there were marked falls in bullying with increasing age whereas for girls, bullying persisted at high levels into secondary school, with relational bullying the dominant pattern and cyberbullying increasing sharply in the early teens. Generally, the transition to secondary education brought lower risks for all forms of bullying.

We found high rates of bullying across late childhood and early adolescence in both sexes, but more persistent bullying in girls. Declines across primary school and with the transition to secondary school suggest the potential for intervention across these grades to further reduce the prevalence of bullying.

We found high rates of bullying across late childhood and early adolescence in both sexes, but more persistent bullying in girls. Declines across primary school and with the transition to secondary school suggest the potential for intervention across these grades to further reduce the prevalence of bullying.

Children of Spanish-speaking caregivers face multiple barriers to care in academic medical centers. This study identified barriers and facilitators of health care and described use of health information technology in order to guide interventions and optimize services.

In-depth, audiotaped interviews were conducted with monolingual Spanish-speaking caregivers (N=28) of children receiving care in academic medical center clinics using a structured interview guide. Interviews were transcribed in Spanish, and key themes were identified using thematic analysis. Illustrative quotes for each theme were translated into English.

Language-specific barriers included arrival/registration occurring in English, lack of bilingual personnel, heavy reliance on interpreters, long wait times, and challenging phone communication. Non-language-specific barriers included medical center size and complexity, distance to services, lack of convenient and coordinated appointments, missing work/school, and financial barriers includon-language-specific barriers arising from complex health systems and social needs. Tanshinone I clinical trial Caregivers with limited resources described working hard to meet children’s complex health care needs despite these barriers. Most caregivers had internet access and interest in patient portals. Academic medical centers may need multifaceted interventions that improve the availability of bilingual staff and interpreters and also address caregivers’ social and informational needs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) by performing a meta-analysis.

Relevant articles were retrieved from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase databases. Studies evaluating the accuracy of PDD for the diagnosis of upper UTUC were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated by STATA 16.0 at the per-lesion level.

Six studies with 289 lesions were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that PDD can differentiate upper UTUC from benign lesions with a sensitivity of 0.96 (95 % confidence interval 0.85-0.99) and a specificity of 0.86 (95 % confidence interval [0.64-0.95]; AUC, 0.97). Compared with white-light ureterorenoscopy, PDD can significantly improve the additional detection rate of UTUC (RR 0.16, 95 % CI 0.07-0.34 P = 0.000).

PDD is a valid technique that improves the diagnostic accuracy of UTUC compared with standard white-light ureterorenoscopy at the per-lesion level.