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Perceptual and Motor Skills Apr 2024In its recent development, the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC) showed good face and construct validity. However, additional reliability and...
In its recent development, the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC) showed good face and construct validity. However, additional reliability and validity research is needed, including test-retest reliability and a demonstration of the relationship between PSPWEC test scores and actual water competence. Toward that aim, we administered the PSPWC to 124 children, aged 5-8 years. We repeated this test administration after one week for a subset of 55 children to determine its test-retest reliability, and the remaining 69 children also performed the fully aligned Actual Aquatic Skills Test (AAST) in an indoor swimming pool to provide data for our investigation of the relationship between PSPWC scores and actual water competence. We found good test-retest reliability, both at the global level (ICC = 0.81, = 55) and at the level of individual skills (Weighted kappa coefficients from 0.58 to 0.90), with no significant differences between these two test scores. We also found a moderate positive relationship between PSPWC and AAST total scores ( = .64, = 69), with no significant difference between total scores of actual and perceived water competencies. Children overestimated their competence in three specific skills: the back star, swimming on the front, and diving in deep water. While these results underline specific situations in which children's higher self-perceptions of their water competence are a risk factor for their water safety, these data confirm that the PSPWC is reliable for measuring children's perceived competencies in aquatic education and drowning prevention, and there is further support for its validity through a moderate correlation with actual water competencies.
PubMed: 38656171
DOI: 10.1177/00315125241248552 -
Journal of Functional Morphology and... Apr 2024Coastal environments present dynamic challenges necessitating rapid and efficient responses during aquatic emergencies. Lifeguards, as pivotal links in the intervention...
Coastal environments present dynamic challenges necessitating rapid and efficient responses during aquatic emergencies. Lifeguards, as pivotal links in the intervention chain, rely on various tools, with rescue time being paramount. The choice of fins, specifically long versus short ones, plays a critical role in optimizing lifeguard performance during rescues. This randomized cross-over study explores the impact of flipper size on ocean rescues, employing a sample of 14 lifeguards. Long fins (LFs) and short fins (SFs) were compared in terms of rescue time (RT) and physiological load (PL). Tests included ocean rescues without fins (R), with LF (R-LF), and with SF (R-SF). Variables recorded encompassed swim approach time, tow-in time, overall rescue time, perceived exertion rates (RPEs), and post-rescue lactate concentration. Long fins demonstrated superior performance in swim approach and tow-in times compared to both short fins and no fins ( < 0.001). Overall rescue time favored long fins significantly ( < 0.001), indicating their efficiency in practical ocean rescue scenarios. Physiologically, long fins induced lower perceived exertion in arms ( = 0.033) compared to short fins. Lactate concentrations post-rescue revealed no significant differences ( > 0.05). This study demonstrates that long fins significantly improve lifeguard performance during ocean rescues, reducing rescue times and alleviating arm fatigue.
PubMed: 38651437
DOI: 10.3390/jfmk9020079 -
Resuscitation Plus Jun 2024Investigate long-term outcome in paediatric submersion-related cardiac arrests (CA).
AIM
Investigate long-term outcome in paediatric submersion-related cardiac arrests (CA).
METHODS
Children (age one day-17 years) were included if admitted to the Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, after drowning with CA, between 2002 and 2019. Primary outcome was survival with favourable neurological outcome, defined as a Paediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) score of 1-3 at longest available follow-up. Secondary outcome were age-appropriate neuropsychological assessments at longest available follow-up.
RESULTS
Upon hospital admission, 99 children were included (median age at time of CA 3.2 years [IQR 2.0-5.9] and 65% males). Forty children died in-hospital (no return of circulation (45%) or withdrawal of life sustaining therapies (55%)) and 4 children deceased after hospital discharge due to complications following the drowning-incident. Among survivors, with a median follow-up of 2.3 years [IQR 0.2-5.5], 47 children had favourable neurological outcome (i.e. PCPC 1-3) and 8 children unfavourable (unfavourable outcome group total n = 52, i.e. PCPC 4-5 or deceased). Twenty-six (47%) children participated in a neuropsychological assessment (median follow-up 4.0 years [IQR 2.3-8.7]). Compared with normative test data, participants obtained worse general ( = 0.008) and performance ( = 0.003) intelligence scores, processing speed ( = 0.002) and visual motor integration scores ( = 0.0012).
CONCLUSIONS
Although overall outcome in survivors was favourable at longest available follow-up, significant deficits in neuropsychological assessments were found. This study underlines the need for a standardized long term follow-up program as standard of care in paediatric drowning with CA.
PubMed: 38646092
DOI: 10.1016/j.resplu.2024.100632 -
Annals of Intensive Care Apr 2024Drowning-associated pneumonia (DAP) is frequent in drowned patients, and possibly increases mortality. A better understanding of the microorganisms causing DAP could... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Drowning-associated pneumonia (DAP) is frequent in drowned patients, and possibly increases mortality. A better understanding of the microorganisms causing DAP could improve the adequacy of empirical antimicrobial therapy. We aimed to describe the pooled prevalence of DAP, the microorganisms involved, and the impact of DAP on drowned patients.
METHODS
Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 01/2000 and 07/2023 reporting on DAP occurrence and microorganisms involved.
RESULTS
Of 309 unique articles screened, 6 were included, involving 688 patients. All were retrospective cohort studies, with a number of patients ranging from 37 to 270. Studies were conducted in Europe (France N = 3 and Netherland N = 1), United States of America (N = 1) and French West Indies (N = 1). Mortality ranged between 18 to 81%. The pooled prevalence of DAP was 39% (95%CI 29-48), similarly following freshwater (pooled prevalence 44%, 95%CI 36-52) or seawater drowning (pooled prevalence 42%, 95%CI 32-53). DAP did not significantly impact mortality (pooled odds ratio 1.43, 95%CI 0.56-3.67) but this estimation was based on two studies only. Respiratory samplings isolated 171 microorganisms, mostly Gram negative (98/171, 57%) and mainly Aeromonas sp. (20/171, 12%). Gram positive microorganisms represented 38/171 (22%) isolates, mainly Staphylococcus aureus (21/171, 12%). Water salinity levels had a limited impact on the distribution of microorganisms, except for Aeromonas sp. who were exclusively found following freshwater drowning (19/106, 18%) and never following seawater drowning (0%) (p = 0.001). No studies reported multidrug-resistant organisms but nearly 30% of the isolated microorganisms were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanate, the drug that was the most commonly prescribed empirically for DAP.
CONCLUSIONS
DAP are commonly caused by Gram-negative bacteria, especially Aeromonas sp. which is exclusively isolated following freshwater drowning. Empirical antimicrobial therapy should consider covering them, noting than amoxicillin-clavulanate may be inadequate in about one-third of the cases. The impact of DAP on patients' outcome is still unclear.
PubMed: 38641650
DOI: 10.1186/s13613-024-01287-1 -
Scientific Data Apr 2024Reef cores are a powerful tool for investigating temporal changes in reef communities. Radiometric dating facilitates the determination of vertical accretion rates,...
Reef cores are a powerful tool for investigating temporal changes in reef communities. Radiometric dating facilitates the determination of vertical accretion rates, which has allowed for examination of local-regional controlling factors, such as subsidence and sea level changes. Coral reefs must grow at sufficient rates to keep up with sea level rise, or risk 'drowning.' As sea level is expected to rise significantly in the next 100 years and beyond, it is important to understand whether reefs will be able to survive. Historical records of reef accretion rates extracted from cores provide valuable insights into extrinsic controlling factors of reef growth and are instrumental in helping predict if future reefs can accrete at rates needed to overcome predicted sea level changes. While extensive research exists at local and regional scales, limited attention has been given to identifying global patterns and drivers. To address this, we present "RADReef": A global dataset of dated Holocene reef cores. RADReef serves as a foundation for further research on past, present and future reef accretion.
Topics: Animals; Anthozoa; Coral Reefs
PubMed: 38637551
DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03228-w -
China CDC Weekly Apr 2024To examine the recent trends in child injury mortality in China.
INTRODUCTION
To examine the recent trends in child injury mortality in China.
METHODS
Injury mortality data of 2010-2021 for children and adolescents aged 0-19 years were from the China Health Statistics Yearbook. Injury mortality disparities across urban vs. rural locations, gender, and age groups were scrutinized. Annual percent change (APC), average annual percent change (AAPC), and their 95% confidence intervals (95% ) were estiamted usimg Joinpoint regression models.
RESULTS
The age-standardized injury mortality significantly dropped from 21.87 to 9.41 per 100,000 population among children and youth aged 0-19 years during 2010-2021, with an AAPC of -6.7% (95% : -8.2%, -5.2%). The urban-rural disparity and gender gap in injury mortality reduced gradually. In 2021, drowning and road traffic crashes were the top two causes of child injury deaths, explaing 31.1% and 27.9% of total injury deaths, respectively. Suffocation accounted for 62.3% of injury deaths among infants younger than a year. Alarmingly, the suicide mortality rate rose from 2.16 to 3.42 per 100,000 population between 2010 and 2021 among teenagers aged 15-19 years. Subgroup analyses yielded similar results.
CONCLUSIONS
During 2010-2021, the injury mortality decreased significantly among Chinese children and adolescents, and the responding urban-rural disparities narrowed.
PubMed: 38634100
DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2024.057 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2024Drowning remains a significant global health concern, claiming over 300,000 lives annually, with a disproportionate impact on young individuals in low-and middle-income...
Drowning remains a significant global health concern, claiming over 300,000 lives annually, with a disproportionate impact on young individuals in low-and middle-income countries. Conventional mechanical ventilation, while common, falls short in addressing the hypoxemia and hypercapnia often observed in severe near-drowning cases. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vvECMO) emerges as a critical intervention for cardiopulmonary failure post-drowning. This case report delves into the pivotal role of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in a near-drowning-related pathology. Following the initial insult, reoxygenation exacerbates the inflammatory cascade, resulting in a surge of pro-inflammatory mediators. In this context, CytoSorb, a hemoadsorption cartridge, demonstrates promise by effectively removing these mediators from circulation. This report outlines its application in a critically ill adolescent patient who experienced near-drowning, presenting a compelling case for CytoSorb as an adjunctive therapy in managing IRI-induced hyperinflammation.
PubMed: 38633302
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1341156 -
Nature Apr 2024
Topics: Plastics; United Nations; Lobbying; Research Personnel; Negotiating; Environmental Pollution; International Cooperation
PubMed: 38632486
DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-01089-2 -
Cardiology Clinics May 2024Best practices in cardiac arrest depend on continuous high-quality chest compressions, appropriate ventilatory management, early defibrillation of shockable rhythms, and... (Review)
Review
Best practices in cardiac arrest depend on continuous high-quality chest compressions, appropriate ventilatory management, early defibrillation of shockable rhythms, and identification and treatment of reversible causes. Although most patients can be treated according to highly vetted treatment guidelines, some special situations in cardiac arrest arise where additional skills and preparation can improve outcomes. Situations covered in this section involve cardiac arrest in context of electrical injuries, asthma, allergic reactions, pregnancy, trauma, electrolyte imbalances, toxic exposures, hypothermia, drowning, pulmonary embolism, and left ventricular assist devices.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Heart Arrest; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
PubMed: 38631796
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccl.2024.02.013 -
BMC Neurology Apr 2024Scedosporium apiospermum (S. apiospermum) is a rare fungal pathogen that causes disseminated infections. It rarely affects immunocompetent individuals and has a poor... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Scedosporium apiospermum (S. apiospermum) is a rare fungal pathogen that causes disseminated infections. It rarely affects immunocompetent individuals and has a poor prognosis.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 37-year-old woman presented with multiple lesions in the lungs, brain, and eyes, shortly after near drowning in a car accident. The primary symptoms were chest tightness, limb weakness, headache, and poor vision in the left eye. S. apiospermum infection was confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of intracranial abscess drainage fluid, although intracranial metastases were initially considered. After systemic treatment with voriconazole, her symptoms improved significantly; however, she lost vision in her left eye due to delayed diagnosis.
CONCLUSION
While S. apiospermum infection is rare, it should be considered even in immunocompetent patients. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential. Voriconazole may be an effective treatment option.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Near Drowning; Scedosporium; Voriconazole; Brain; Invasive Fungal Infections
PubMed: 38616262
DOI: 10.1186/s12883-024-03637-9