Kirkegaardcorcoran6277

Obesity is an epidemic in New York City, the global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. Previous studies suggest that obesity is a possible risk factor for adverse outcomes in COVID-19.

To elucidate the association between obesity and COVID-19 outcomes.

Retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 hospitalized patients tested between March 10 and April 13, 2020.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, a COVID-only hospital in New York.

In total, 684 patients were tested for COVID-19 and 504 were analyzed. Patients were categorized into three groups by BMI normal (BMI 18.50-24.99), overweight (BMI 25.00-29.99), and obese (BMI ≥ 30.00).

Primary outcome was 30-day in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes were intubation, acute kidney injury (AKI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and acute cardiac injury (ACI).

There were 139 patients (27%) with normal BMI, 150 patients who were overweight (30%), and 215 patients with obesity (43%). After controlling for age, gender, diabetes, hyper19 are at increased risk for mortality and intubation compared to those with normal BMI. These findings support the hypothesis that obesity is a risk factor for COVID-19 complications and should be a consideration in management of COVID-19.

To implement an "Empathy Workshop" focused on improving Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) health care provider communication skills.

Staff-led, small group "Empathy Workshops" were conducted over a 2 year period. NICU parents answered a section of the "Picker Institute Parent Experiences of Neonatal Care Survey" in the pre- and post-intervention periods. NICU health care providers completed the "NICU Provider Communication Skills Self-Assessment" at three time points.

Parent survey scores significantly improved in two questions referring to child by first name (p = 0.02) and being offered emotional support from the staff (p = 0.03) or information on parent support groups (p = 0.03). Fifty-seven NICU providers completed all three self-assessments. Following the workshop, providers were significantly more comfortable with daily communication, discussing end of life issues, managing anxiety around difficult conversations, and handling a combative situation.

The "Empathy Workshop" successfully enhanced NICU provider communication skills, thereby improving emotional support demonstrated to NICU parents.

The "Empathy Workshop" successfully enhanced NICU provider communication skills, thereby improving emotional support demonstrated to NICU parents.BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of vitamin D. MATERIAL AND METHODS Rat primary neuron cells were incubated under a hypoxia condition [a hypoxic chamber mixed with anaerobic gas (90% N₂, 5% CO₂) and 5% O₂] to induce cell injury. Cell transfection was performed to overexpress or suppress the expression of dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1). The malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were detected using a MDA (A003-2) or SOD (A001-1) kit. DUOX1 mRNA levels were detected using RT-PCR. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), DUOX1, vitamin D receptor (VDR), NF-kappaB protein expressions were determined by western blotting. Cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS ROS increased significantly after hypoxic treatment. The expressions of HIF-1alpha and DUOX1 were significantly increased after hypoxic treatment. Vitamin D could decrease ROS level, apoptotic neuron cells and DUOX1 expression, and increase VDR expression. Downregulation of DUOX1 significantly decreased MDA level and apoptotic percentages of neuron cells, increased SOD level, and counteracted the hypoxia-induced increase of NF-kappaB signal. Further study showed that overexpression of DUOX1 significantly increased MDA level, ROS level, apoptotic percentages of neuron cells, and NF-kappaB nuclear signaling, while decreased SOD level. Vitamin D significantly counteracted the effects of DUOX1 overexpression induced injury in rat primary neuron cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicated that vitamin D may protect neuron cells from hypoxia-induced injury by regulating DUOX1 via the NF-kappaB signaling pathway.BACKGROUND Ethnic background may affect the prevalence of nasal bone absence and the length of the nasal bone. This study aimed to elucidate the significance of absent or hypoplastic fetal nasal bone in the Chinese Han population and to formulate an optimal management plan for patients age 35 or older in cases of isolated abnormal fetal nasal bone. MATERIAL AND METHODS We prospectively assigned pregnant women whose fetuses had nasal bone absence or hypoplasia to separate groups according to their choice for noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2018. Demographic data, ultrasound findings, results of conventional maternal serum screening and NIPS, fetal karyotype, pregnancy outcomes, and expenses associated with prenatal testing were recorded. The incidence and odds ratio of nasal bone abnormality and the sensitivity and specificity of different prenatal genetic screening tests were calculated. RESULTS A total of 1946 cases with fetal nasal bone absence or hypoplasia were included. selleck kinase inhibitor Cases of isolated nasal bone abnormality (1736 cases) were divided into the NIPS group (Gr 1, n=429) and the non-NIPS group (Gr 2, n=1307). Sixty-four cases involved chromosomal abnormality. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of NIPS in Gr 1 were 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The odds ratio of fetal chromosomal abnormalities for isolated fetal nasal bone abnormalities when maternal age was ≥35 was 4.615 (95% CI 1.592-13.381). The cost-effectiveness ratio of contingent screening (NIPS first) was significantly lower than amniocentesis directly. CONCLUSIONS The nasal bone provides an important marker for chromosome abnormalities in some populations, but to a lesser extent in the Chinese Han population. NIPS is an excellent first option for follow-up among pregnant women age ≥35 in cases of absent or hypoplastic fetal nasal bone in the first trimester ultrasound scan.