EHF audiometry and DPOAEs have the potential to reveal earlier changes in auditory function than conventional frequency audiometry during platinum chemotherapy in children.

Diagnostic codes used in healthcare administration have been employed extensively in clinical research to identify target patient populations, including demonstration of important clinical outcomes among adults with congenital heart disease. However, little is known about the reliability of code-derived data in this context. We sought to determine the accuracy of International Classification of Disease-9th Revision (ICD-9) diagnoses and the reliability of retrieval algorithms in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). Pilot testing of a hierarchical algorithm to identify ACHD patients and determine their principle congenital diagnosis was performed. A revised algorithm was then applied retrospectively to a sample of all outpatients seen by providers who see general cardiology and ACHD patients. Using all ICD-9 codes available from any encounter, accuracy for detection and categorization of sub-types were compared to physician chart review. After initial testing on 334 patients, the revised algorithm was applied to 740 patients. The sensitivity and specificity for ACHD patient identification from this specialty clinic population were 99 and 88 %, respectively. Of 411 (56 %) non-ACHD patients, 49 were incorrectly categorized as ACHD by the algorithm. Of ACHD patients, 326 of 329 were correctly identified by diagnostic codes and categorization of ACHD defect sub-type was correct in 263 (80 %). Administrative data can be used for identification of ACHD patients based on ICD-9 codes with excellent sensitivity and reasonable specificity. Accurate categorization that would be utilized for quality indicators by ACHD defect type is less robust. Additional testing should be done using non-referral populations.

Within a single institution, with shared information systems, administrations, and care providers, successful transfer from paediatric to adult congenital cardiology was still poor. Efforts for successful retention are just as vital as those for transfer.

Executive SummaryTwo remote Streamwidth PIT tag Interrogation systems (SPIs) were operated continuously for over one year to test the feasibility of these systems for generating movement, migration, survival and smolt production estimates for salmonids. A total of 1,588 juvenile (< 100 mm FL) naturally produced salmonids (7 coho salmon, 482 cutthroat trout, and 1,099 steelhead) were PIT tagged above the upstream-most SPI (9 sites approximately 1 linear km each) in Fall 2001. Age at tagging for wild caught cutthroat and steelhead was 1 year. SPIs were operating before any PIT tagged fish were released in the creek. Over 390,000 detections were recorded from October 2001 to 31 July 2002. Efficiencies were site dependent, but overall detection efficiency for the creek was 97% with 95% confidence intervals of 91 -100%. PIT tag detection efficiency ranged from 55-100 % depending on the SPI and varied throughout the year with average efficiencies of 73 % and 89 %. SPI efficiency of PIT tag detection was not completely dependent on electronics noise levels or environmental conditions. Fish from all tagging locations were detected at the SPIs. Steelhead and cutthroat trout were primarily detected moving in the Spring (April -June) coincident with the anticipated smolt migration. Steelhead were also detected moving past SPIs at lower numbers in the Fall and Winter. Travel time between SPIs (downstream movement) was highly dependent on time of year. Travel time in the Spring was significantly faster (34.4 ± 7.0 hours) for all species than during any other time of year (763.1 ± 267.0 hours). Steelhead and cutthroat migrating in the Spring were the same age as those that did not migrate in the Spring. Peak of steelhead migration recorded at the two SPIs was 5/11 and 5/12 and the peak in the screw trap was recorded on 5/17. Steelhead smolt production estimates using SPIs (3,802 with 95% confidence intervals of 3,440 -4,245) was similar to those using more standard screw trap methods (approximately 5,400). All species used the fastermoving/deeper section of the creek at both SPIs. A backpack PIT tag detector was also developed and used as another remote "recapture" for additional accuracy in estimating population survival and recapture probability. This unit was used at an approximate efficiency of 24% to survey the creek after the Spring migration. Twenty-five individual fish were re-located. All PIT tag data were used to calculate survival and recapture probabilities using the Cormack-Jolly-Seber population model. Survival for steelhead was high and recapture probability depended greatly on season. Probability of recapture was highest in Spring (29.5%) and relatively low in all other seasons (< 7% in Fall, Winter, and Summer). Wild steelhead PIT tagged in the field and returned to the laboratory had a tag retention rate of 97.6%. A laboratory study was designed to determine the effects of 3-sized PIT tags (12 mm, 20 mm, and 23 mm) on survival and growth of individuals. Survival from surgical implantation of 23 mm PIT tags w...