Search

Objectives: In general, fetal cfDNA is shorter than maternal cfDNA, and accuracy of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) results can be improved by selecting shorter cfDNA fragments to enrich fetal‐derived cfDNA. This study investigated potential improvements in the accuracy of NIPT by performing classification and analysis based on differences in cfDNA size. Methods: We performed paired‐end sequencing to identify size ranges of fetal and maternal cfDNA from 62,374 pregnant women. We then developed a size‐selection method to isolate and analyze both fetal and maternal cfDNA, defining fetal‐derived cfDNA as less than 150 bp and maternal‐derived cfDNA as greater than 180 bp. Results: By implementing size‐selection method, the accuracy of NIPT was improved, resulting in an increase in the overall positive predictive value for all aneuploidies from 89.57% to 97.1%. This was achieved by enriching both fetal and maternal‐derived cfDNA, which increased fetal DNA fraction while the number of false positives for all aneuploidies was reduced by more than 70%. Conclusions: We identified the differences in read length between fetal and maternal‐derived cfDNA, and selectively enriched both shorter and longer cfDNA fragments for subsequent analysis. Our approach can increase the detection accuracy of NIPT for detecting fetal aneuploidies and reduce the number of false positives caused by maternal chromosomal abnormalities. Key points: What's already known about this topic?Typically, cell‐free DNA fragments are <200 bp in size, with fetal‐derived cfDNA being comparatively shorter in length than maternal‐derived cfDNA.Selective analysis of short‐sized cfDNA increases the fetal fraction. What does this study add?Based on the difference in cfDNA size, fetal‐derived cfDNA as well as maternal‐derived cfDNA were enriched.By separating fetal‐derived cfDNA and maternal‐derived cfDNA, it was possible to predict the origin of the chromosomal abnormality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to analyze the nursing activities related to continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in the intensive care units (ICU). Methods: We developed a list of 31 CRRT related nursing activities based on literature review and reviewed by expert group. A total of 109 direct time measurement records by 43 ICU nurses were collected and analyzed in terms of total time per shift, frequency, standard time, difficulty and performance levels of each CRRT nursing activity. Results: The mean time for CRRT nursing activity was 85.60 minutes per 8 hour shift. Nurses have spent average 9.46±6.98 minutes in a shift for "waste fluid bag change" activity. In addition, "check catheter location" was the most time consuming single activity. The most difficult activity was "counseling-answer" and the most competent one was "dialysis solutions change". Conclusion: The CRRT nursing activities accounted for a significant portion of total nursing workload. Practical allocation of nursing staff for CRRT patient along with development of a new nursing cost system need to be considered. Continuous nursing educational and training programs on CRRT should be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of horizontal violence in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. Methods: This is a methodological triangulation study consists of quantitative and qualitative research methods. A total of 134 ICU nurses from 5 hospitals participated in a survey on nurse to nurse horizontal violence, and the qualitative data were collected through 3 focus group interviews. Results: 94.0% of the participants have experienced horizontal violence within the past 6 months. The question with the highest mean score was "dominating senior nurses mood", and the question with the lowest mean score was "physical assaults". The qualitative data analysis revealed 17 themes on the backgrounds, types, and influence of horizontal violence. Conclusion: The survey result shows that the problem of horizontal violence in ICU nurses is serious, and the focus group interview extracts additional types of horizontal violence such as "scolding in a wrong way", "pressing to resign", "leaving out in the cold", and "burning". Further research needs to be done to build a multidimensional model of horizontal violence in the nursing workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]