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  • Dean Harper posted an update 1 month ago

    The ultimate application of bio-integrated, stretchable electronics hinges on the indispensable modules of stretchable wireless data transmission and power supplies. While radiofrequency (RF) antennas and rectennas could enable wireless communication and RF energy harvesting in the far-field, their performance deteriorates because of the frequency detuning from mechanical deformations. Here, stretchable wideband antennas and rectennas are introduced to robustly operate and combine received RF power over their wideband upon mechanical deformations. Devices with stretchable wideband antennas and rectennas create application opportunities such as self-powered systems, remote monitoring of the environment, and clean energy. A comprehensive set of manufacturing schemes, device components, and theoretical design tools for the stretchable wideband antennas and rectennas is reported. A stretchable wideband rectenna integrated with various functional sensing modules and its demonstration with enhanced effective rectenna efficiency over the state-of-the-art by 10-100 times illustrates a system-level example of this technology.Treatment strategies for hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis are not well defined in the current literature or guidelines. One therapeutic option is an insulin infusion accompanied by a dextrose infusion to avoid hypoglycemia. The purpose of this case report is to highlight dosing considerations for dextrose infusions in nondiabetic patients. We describe a case of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis in a 34-year-old nondiabetic woman treated with a reduced-dose insulin infusion that was complicated by hypoglycemic episodes requiring dextrose infusion titrations. Empirical initiation of a higher dextrose concentration infusion with glucose level titrations should be considered to avoid hypoglycemia for nondiabetic patients treated with an insulin infusion to lower triglyceride levels. In this case, clinical pharmacy assistance was imperative for successful treatment with a reduced-dose insulin infusion and titrated dextrose infusion in the management of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis.Seizures are uncommon with posterior circulation strokes. They are more often associated with anterior circulation strokes, with only a limited number of cases of status epilepticus reported to be related to brain stem ischemia. The literature includes case reports of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and associated status epilepticus as an initial presentation of acute basilar artery thrombosis. However, there are only rare cases reporting focal motor seizure as status epilepticus in the setting of acute basilar artery thrombosis, an important clinical presentation that should prompt evaluation for acute brain stem ischemia.In order to produce a mathematical model for better understanding of the benefits and utilization of second opinions and to understand the contradiction between the value of second opinions and their perceived underuse, we developed an expected utility theory model to quantify their value. We use a case-based example to find types of biases that could affect second opinions. Although the baseline expected utility theory model presented assumes providers are rational, we relax this and discuss the implications for how these alternative specifications alter predicted use. We found that second opinions are valuable when diagnostic accuracy is variable across physicians or access to high-quality care is restricted. In a stylized simulation example in which about half (50.1%) of diagnoses were incorrect, receipt of 1 second opinion reduced the error rate to 25.8% and receipt of 2 second opinions reduced the error rate to 16.0%. After incorporating potential biases into the model, the value of second opinions increases only when aversion to changing the initial diagnosis is greater than aversion to correcting a mistake. Additionally, this model reveals that second opinions have value even when diagnostic accuracy is perfect. Further, when financial incentives differ from the incentives of the initial consult, a second opinion offers patients a reasonable bound of their treatment options. To conclude, we identify numerous reasons for underuse of second opinions. Specifically, value depends on the degree of diagnostic uncertainty, presence of behavioral biases, and variation in local compensation regimes. Despite their value, recent trends could actually decrease the value of second opinions.Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a highly prevalent health issue in the United States. The number of those receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is limited, despite strong evidence for their effectiveness. TNG260 The inpatient setting may represent an important opportunity to initiate MAT. The goal of this study was to summarize the data on naltrexone initiation in the emergency department or inpatient setting for the management of AUDs. We searched ClinicalTrials.gov, Ovid EBM Reviews, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, Ovid PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception through October 31, 2019. Search strategies were created using a combination of keywords (Supplemental Appendix 1, available online at http//www.mcpiqojournal.org) and standardized index terms related to naltrexone therapy for medically hospitalized patients with AUD. Two uncontrolled pre-post study designs evaluated naltrexone prescription rates, 30-day readmission rates, and rehospitalization rates. Two authors independently abstracted data on study characteristics, results, and study-level risk of bias. The research team collaborated to assess the strength of evidence across studies. Two studies reported that implementing a protocol for naltrexone initiation increased MAT rates, with one study noting a substantial decrease in 30-day hospital readmissions. Overall, we found that there is a paucity of data on naltrexone initiation in the inpatient setting for AUDs. This likely reflects the nature of current clinical practice and prescriber comfortability. There is a need for further studies evaluating MAT initiation in the inpatient setting. Furthermore, efforts to increase provider knowledge of these therapeutic options are in need of further exploration.