COVID-19 and Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Case Series and Brief Review

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, or COVID-19, is responsible for the current global pandemic and has resulted in the death of over 400,000 in the United States. Rates of venous thromboembolism have been noted to be much higher in those infected with COVID-19. Here we report a case-series of COVID-19 patients with diverse presentations of pulmonary embolism (PE). We also briefly describe the pathophysiology and mechanisms for pulmonary embolism in COVID-19. These cases indicate a need to maintain a high index of suspicion for PE in patients with COVID-19, as well as the need to consider occult COVID-19 infection in patients with PE in the right clinical circumstance.     

Assessment of volume preservation performed before or after partial nephrectomy accurately predicts postoperative renal function: Results from a prospective multicenter study

Purpose

Partial nephrectomy (PN) is standard for small renal masses, improving renal function by preserving renal parenchyma compared with radical nephrectomy. Recent work demonstrated that postoperative surgeon assessment of volume preservation (SAVP) and 3D imaging measurements agree and correlate with postoperative function. We hypothesize preoperative assessment of volume preservation (PAVP) with PN based on preoperative imaging will reliably indicate postoperative renal function.

Error rates in proficiency testing in Australia

ABSTRACT

Recent criticism of forensic science has focused on the fundamental aspects of the science, including the lack of supporting empirical studies, validation, accreditation, limitations and error rates. Proficiency tests are an essential component of accreditation and can be used to evaluate laboratory performance and identify systematic issues within components of the service provision. In 2016 we reported on the results of an analysis of 3176 CTS proficiency tests undertaken between 2005 and 2015 by Australian government service providers. The data analysed represented 43 unique CTS test types and covered 21 disciplines. Here we present further data from 2016 to 2017 and compare these results with those obtained from the previous study. These combined results further demonstrate that errors exist even though practitioners know they are examining proficiency tests and the tests undergo a review process. This study illustrates the need to continue to monitor trends in proficiency test results and also further highlights the need for well-designed, relevant, blind error rate studies to determine the approximate error rates for casework.     

A comparison of the academic impact of plastic surgery units in the United Kingdom and Ireland using bibliometric analysis

Academic output is just one aspect of a successful career as a plastic surgeon. However, for those with a strong interest in academia, the academic output of a department will likely be a key factor when deciding how to rank jobs. The aim of this study was to quantify and rank the academic output of plastic surgery units across the UK and Ireland. The Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science Bibliometric analysis tool was used to collate cumulative (1950–2016), 10 year (2006–2016) and 3 years (2013–2015) research output data for plastic surgery units in the UK and Ireland. Sixty-six plastic surgery units were identified. Departments were ranked for each time period according to the number of papers produced, number of citations (Nc) and h-index (a measure of the impact of scientific output). The top 3 departments for number of papers in the last 10 years were The Royal Free Hospital, London (226) Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford (218), and Morriston Hospital and Swansea (188). The top 3 for h-number were The Royal Free Hospital (21) Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester (18) and Morriston Hospital (17). Academic output varies across plastic surgery units in the UK and Ireland. A number of departments have consistently maintained high academic outputs across the years and will be of interest to surgeons hoping to pursue a career in academia.     

Education and training in clinical neuropsychology: Recent developments and documents from the clinical neuropsychology synarchy

The Clinical Neuropsychology Synarchy (CNS) interfaces with the American Psychological Association and affiliated organizations to address issues and advances in specialty training. The past several years have seen the development and dissemination of several initiatives pertinent to specialty training. Among these initiatives was the creation of a taxonomy for education and training in clinical neuropsychology. In additional there has been a movement toward competency-based education that has become codified in the APA’s new Standards for Accreditation. Calls for competency-based education have also influenced the expectations of the APA’s Committee on Recognition of Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology. As the convener of national clinical neuropsychology organizations, the CNS has overseen the development of relevant documents for our specialty. This paper presents three documents critical to training in our field that were developed through the CNS and approved by its member organizations. The first is the Taxonomy for Education and Training in Clinical Neuropsychology. The second is Entry Level Competencies for Clinical Neuropsychology and the third is a distillation of the entry-level competency document for the purpose of identifying competencies to be addressed at the post-doctoral residency level.     

Burden of HIV among young transgender women: factors associated with HIV infection and HIV treatment engagement

Young transgender women (YTW) are disproportionately affected by HIV, however, little is known about the factors associated with HIV infection and treatment engagement. We examined correlates of HIV infection and the steps of the HIV treatment cascade, specifically, being aware of their HIV infection, linked to care, on ART, and adherent to ART. We analyzed the baseline data of Project LifeSkills, a randomized control trial of sexually active YTW recruited from Chicago, Illinois and Boston, Massachusetts. We conducted multivariable Poisson regressions to evaluate correlates of HIV infection and the steps of the HIV treatment cascade. Nearly a quarter (24.7%) of YTW were HIV-infected. Among HIV-infected YTW, 86.2% were aware of their HIV status, 72.3% were linked to care, 56.9% were on ART, and 46.2% were adherent to ART. Having avoided healthcare due to cost in the past 12 months and not having a primary care provider were associated with suboptimal engagement in HIV care. Our results suggest that improving linkage and retention in care by addressing financial barriers and improving access to primary care providers could significantly improve health outcomes of YTW as well as reduce forward transmission of HIV.