In men with prostate cancer on active surveillance the number of previous prostate biopsies is associated with a significant risk of infectious complications and every previous biopsy increases the risk of infectious complication. Fluoroquinolone resistant and extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing isolates represent the most commonly identified organisms. Men with prostate cancer on active surveillance should be informed of the risks associated with serial repeat prostate biopsies.

Cystic fibrosis (CF)2 is a fatal genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) that is commonly associated with chronic pulmonary infections with mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). To test the hypothesis that CFTR plays a direct role in PA adhesion and clearance, we have used mouse lines expressing varying levels of human (h) or mouse (m) CFTR. A subacute intratracheal dose of 3 × 106 bacteria was cleared with similar kinetics in control wild-type (WT) and transgenic mice overexpressing hCFTR in the lung from the surfactant protein C (SP-C) promoter (SP-C-hCFTR+/−). In a second series of experiments, the clearance of an acute intratracheal dose of 1.5 × 107 PA bacteria was also similar in WT, hemizygous SP-C-hCFTR+/−, and bitransgenic gut-corrected FABP-hCFTR+/+-mCFTR−/−, the latter lacking expression of mCFTR in the lung. However, a small but significant decrease in bacterial killing was observed in lungs of homozygote SP-C-hCFTR+/+ mice. Lung pathology in both WT and SP-C-hCFTR+/+ mice was marked by neutrophilic inflammation and bacterial invasion of perivascular and subepithelial compartments. Bacteria were associated primarily with leukocytes and were not associated with alveolar type II or bronchiolar epithelial cells, the cellular sites of SP-C-hCFTR+/+ transgene expression. The results indicate that there is no direct correlation between levels of CFTR expression and bacterial clearance or association of bacteria with epithelial cells in vivo.

Use of the electronic health record is expanding rapidly. Nurses are primary users of this technology and more than half rate their own computer skills to be below average. Nurses at this ambulatory genitourinary oncology practice recognized a need to improve information technology (IT) skills in the nursing team. An assessment was undertaken of nurses working in the unit by means of a confidential survey. The survey questioned nurses' ability to perform unit-specific tasks as well as offering a free text component to identify further educational needs. Survey responses identified a need to improve computer proficiency. A nurse-led, unit-specific, educational intervention was developed to address this need and improve nurses IT skills. Unit-specific competencies were identified as well as basic computer skills. The intervention was targeted at adult learners and addressed different styles of learning. A PowerPoint presentation was developed utilizing a step-by-step pictorial and written instruction to guide the nurse to complete the intended task. This was presented in small groups to allow visual and auditory learning. The PowerPoint presentation was also e-mailed to each staff member for reference and personal learning. Finally, multiple opportunities for hands on learning were offered in small groups or one-on-one to allow kinesthetic learning to take place. Post-survey results demonstrated an increase in unit-specific competencies and improved overall confidence in IT skills. This was a small group of nurses N = 53, pre-survey responses (N = 32) and post-survey responses (N = 14) were low but within expected norms for surveys. A unit-specific peer led intervention can improve IT skills in nurses and open a dialogue about computer skills

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Little League pitching regulations by measuring the change in lower extremity force production after a pitching performance and the subsequent days of rest required for youth baseball pitchers to recover. Bilateral manual muscle testing of the gluteus maximus, hamstrings, gluteus medius, triceps surae, and quadriceps was conducted using a handheld dynamometer. Fifteen healthy, youth baseball pitchers (9.80 ± 1.08 years) threw a submaximal number of pitches and were tested prior to, immediately after, and for the next four consecutive days. Time in days required per muscle group to return to baseline force production levels were compared to Little League rest guidelines for pitchers. Results indicated that Little League rest requirements did not allow for sufficient recovery of lower extremity strength (p = 0.017). Results suggest that current Little League pitching guidelines provide an inadequate recovery period for youth pitchers, even when pitching a submaximal volume. Little League pitch count regulations and associated rest days may require revisions to avoid having youth athletes pitch while fatigued.