Sandy Campbell

Effect of Phototherapy on the Reliability of Transcutaneous Bilirubin Devices in Term and Near-Term Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) devices are commonly used for screening of hyperbilirubinemia in term and near-term infants not exposed to phototherapy. However, the accuracy of TcB devices in infants exposed to phototherapy is unclear. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of studies comparing TcB devices with total serum bilirubin (TSB) in infants receiving phototherapy or in the postphototherapy phase. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and Scopus databases (from inception to May 8, 2014) were searched. Additional citations were identified from the bibliography of selected articles and from the abstracts of conference proceedings. The studies were included if they compared TcB results with TSB in term and near-term infants during phototherapy or after discontinuation of phototherapy. Two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion, and discrepancies were resolved with consensus. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Results: Fourteen studies were identified. The pooled estimates of correlation coefficients (r) during phototherapy were: covered sites 0.71 (95% CI 0.64-0.77, 11 studies), uncovered sites 0.65 (95% CI 0.55-0.74), 8 studies), forehead 0.70 (95% CI 0.64-0.75, 12 studies) and sternum 0.64 (95% CI 0.43-0.77, 5 studies). Two studies also provided results as Bland-Altman difference plots (mean TcB-TSB differences -29.2 and 30 µmol/l, respectively). The correlation coefficient improved marginally in the postphototherapy phase (r = 0.72, 95% CI 0.64-0.78, 4 studies). Conclusion: We found a moderate correlation between TcB and TSB during phototherapy with a marginal improvement in the postphototherapy phase. Further research is needed before the use of TcB devices can be recommended for these settings.

USING POLLUTANT RELEASE AND TRANSFER REGISTER DATA IN HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH: A SCOPING REVIEW

Pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) collect and provide information on chemicals released to the environment or otherwise managed as waste. They support the public’s right-to-know and provide useful information in gauging performance of facilities, sectors, and governments. The extent to which these data have been used in research, particularly in relation to human health, has not been documented. In this scoping review our objective was to learn from scholarly literature the extent and nature of the use of PRTR data in human health research. We performed literature searches (1994–2011) using various search engines and (or) key words. Articles selected for review were chosen following predefined criteria, to extract and analyze data. One hundred and eighty four papers were identified. Forty investigated possible relations with health outcomes: 33 of them identified positive associations. The rest explored other uses of PRTR data. Papers identified challenges, some imputable to the PRTR.We conclude that PRTR data are useful for research, including health-related studies, and have significant potential for prioritizing research needs that can influence policy, management, and ultimately human health. In spite of their inherent limitations, PRTRs represent a perfectible, unique useful source, whose application to human health research appears to be underutilized. Developing strategies to overcome these limitations could improve data quality and increase its utility in future environmental health research and policy applications.

The Effectiveness of Early Educational Interventions in the Emergency Department to Reduce Incidence or Severity of Postconcussion Syndrome Following a Concussion: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES Concussions or mild traumatic brain injury are a major public health concern accounting for 85% of all brain injuries. Postconcussion syndrome (PCS) has been found to affect between 15 and 25% of patients with concussion 1 year after the initial injury. The goal of this review is to assess the effectiveness of early educational information or interventions provided in the emergency department on the onset and/or severity of PCS. METHODS A comprehensive literature search strategy involving seven electronic databases was developed. A grey literature search of Google Scholar, recent conference proceedings in emergency medicine, bibliographies of included studies, and clinical trial registries was also performed. The citation list was reviewed independently by two reviewers; no restrictions on publication status or language of publication were applied. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale were used to assess quality. RESULTS From 1,325 citations retrieved, four RCTs and one controlled clinical trial met inclusion criteria. Interventions identified in these studies included: educational information sheets, with or without telephone or in-person follow-up, and one study on bed rest. While rarely requested, one study offered referrals and additional treatment, if needed. None of the studies were deemed to be high quality. Heterogeneity among outcome reporting, follow-up dates and interventions used precluded a pooled analysis. Overall, only two of the five included studies involving adult patients receiving early educational interventions reported a significant improvement in PCS symptoms. No reduction in PCS symptoms was found in the study on bed rest interventions. CONCLUSION Limited evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of early educational interventions following concussion. Standardization of the interventions, outcome measures, and follow-up periods would make quantitative comparisons more valid. Moreover, higher-quality research in the field of early interventions for patients in the acute care setting is urgently required.

Antibiotic administration for prevention or treatment of meconium aspiration syndrome in neonates: A systematic review

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of the clinical trials evaluating the role of antibiotics for prevention or treatment of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Methods: We searched several electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS (until September 2013), and CENTRAL (until August 2013). Additional citations were retrieved from the bibliographies of the selected articles. Studies were included if they were: Randomized or quasi-randomized trials, compared use of antibiotics with no antibiotics for treatment or prevention of MAS, and reported on clinical outcomes in the neonatal period. Results: Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified; three studies enrolled subjects for treatment of MAS and one study evaluated the prophylactic use of antibiotics in infants exposed to meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). These trials enrolled 695 infants, with the duration of antibiotics between 3 and 7 days. All studies excluded subjects considered to be at higher risk for neonatal sepsis at onset. There were no differences noted for the outcomes of infection rates (relative risk [RR] [95% confidence interval: 0.85 [0.42, 1.73] for clinical sepsis, and 0.93 [0.36, 2.40] for culture-proven sepsis), need for mechanical ventilation (RR: 1.39 [0.68, 2.82]), air leaks syndrome (RR: 1.65 [0.68, 3.99]), hospital stay (mean difference − 0.34 days [−1.13, 0.45]), or mortality (RR: 1.25 [0.36, 4.39]) between the intervention and control groups. Conclusions: In neonates at low-risk for sepsis, insufficient evidence exists to support the routine use of antibiotics following exposure to MSAF or for the treatment of for suspected MAS. We discuss the implications and limitations of review findings for clinical practice.

Chapter 6 – Polar (Arctic and Antarctic) Sciences Information Literacy

Abstract Identifying Arctic and Antarctic information is inherently difficult because traditional western organizational systems, such as Library of Congress Classification and Subject Headings, group information primarily by subject and secondarily, or incidentally, by geography. However, the geographic characteristics of the Polar Regions that define much of their biology also define much of the information about them. This chapter introduces some of the techniques for identifying polar resources within traditional information systems and identifies resources that focus specifically on polar information. It describes some of the current top resources for polar research, including academic journals, encyclopedias, databases, government publications, and gray literature. It also highlights the role of traditional knowledge as an important source of information in polar research.

Filter to Retrieve Studies Related to Indigenous People of Nunavut in the Oid MEDLINE Database

(exp Nunavut/ or Nunavut.mp. or Alert Bay.mp. or Alexandra Fiord.mp. or Amadjuak.mp. or Aquiatulavik Point.mp. or Arctic Bay.mp. or Arviat.mp. or Baffin Island.mp. or Baker Lake.mp. or Bathurst Inlet.mp. or Belcher Islands.mp. or Bylot Island.mp. or Cambridge Bay.mp. or Cape Dorset.mp. or Cape Dyer.mp. or Cape Smith.mp. or Charlton Depot.mp. or Chesterfield Inlet.mp. or Clyde River.mp. or Coral Harbour.mp. or Craig Harbour.mp. or Dundas Harbor.mp. or Ellesmere Island.mp. or Ennadai.mp. or Eskimo Point.mp. or Fort Conger.mp. or Fort Hope.mp. or Fort Ross.mp. or Gjoa Haven.mp. or Grise Fiord.mp. or Hall Beach.mp. or Hazen Camp.mp. or Igloolik.mp. or Ikaluit.mp. or Iqaluit.mp. or Isachsen.mp. or Kekerten.mp. or Kimmirut.mp. or King William Island.mp. or Kipisa.mp. or Kitikmeot o r Kivalliq.mp. or Kivitoo.mp. or Kugaaruk.mp. or Kugluktuk.mp. or Maguse R iver.mp. or Nanasivik.mp. or Nottingham Island.mp. or Nuwata.mp. or Padlei.mp. or Padloping Island.mp. or Pangnirtung.mp. or Perry Island.mp. or Pond Inlet.mp. or Port Burwell.mp. or Qoloqtaaluk.mp. or Qikiqtarjuaq.mp. or Rankin Inlet.mp. or Read Island.mp. or Repuilse Bay.mp. or Resolute Bay.mp. or Resolution Island.mp. or Sanikiluak.mp. or Taloyoak.mp. or Tanquary Camp.mp. or Tavani.mp. or Thom Bay.mp. or Umingmaktok.mp. or Victoria Island.mp. or Wager Bay.mp. or Whale Cove.mp. or Eastern Arctic.mp. or ((Lupin or Polaris or Eureka or Fullerton) and Canad*).mp.) not (exp behavior, animal/ or exp ecosystems/ or exp endangered species/ or (sediment* or mantle or basalt* or cretaceous* or fossil* or paleo* or geolog* or stratigraph* or glaci* or refugia* or moraine* or pliocene or gravity or methylmercury or hydrolog* or hydrogeol* or volcan* or mesospher* or inferomet* or habitat* or animal behavior* or endangered species).mp.)

Teaching Health Librarianship with a Very Large Team: breaking the borders of the one-instructor model

Teaching with a very large team differs from courses in which an instructor invites many guest speakers in that all team members are involved in the course from beginning to end, taking various roles including curriculum development, coordination, teaching, setting assignments, interacting with students, marking assignments and evaluating the course While there are articles about small team teaching in the literature (Cruz and Zaragoza, George and Davis-Wiley), there are no examples of courses in health sciences librarianship taught by very large teams. Background

Continuing Education Certification Program now open to all LAA members

Over the course of the Pilot, many LAA members have expressed interest in joining the program. As of September 1, the program is open and able to receive new participants. The Pilot participants who have successfully met the program requirements will be able to continue in the program, counting their Pilot year as the first year of a threeyear cycle. Over this cycle, participants will need to collect 100 continuing education points (minimum of 30 per year). Points are collected in a variety of subject or practice categories (e.g., technical services, advocacy, or facilities and equipment) and through a variety of different learning activities (e.g, workplace learning, study leave, or service to LAA).