Education Research: Neuroradiology Curriculum and Competencies Among Canadian Adult Neurology Residency Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background And Objectives: While benefitting from neuroradiologists' reports, neurologists use their own image interpretation to guide clinical decisions, especially in acute care settings. This calls for robust neuroradiology training in neurology residency, informed by current educational gaps and practices. This study aims to (1) characterize the formal neuroradiology curriculum among Canadian neurology residency programs; (2) assess neurology residents' neuroimaging interpretation competencies; and (3) define neurology residents' and program directors' (PDs) attitudes toward the current curriculum and future directions.

Evaluating the perceptions of Canadian urology residents and program directors regarding the current training in genitourinary imaging.

Introduction: Competency in interpreting genitourinary (GU) imaging is an important skill for urologists; however, no nationally accredited GU imaging curriculum exists for Canadian urology residency training programs. The main objectives of our study were to 1) characterize GU imaging training in Canada; (2) evaluate residents' self-perceived competencies in interpreting GU imaging; (3) explore program directors' (PD) and residents' perceptions regarding the current imaging curriculum and suggestions for future directions.

Methods: From November to December 2022, a survey examining current imaging education in residency, perceived resident imaging knowledge, avenues for improvement in imaging education, and the role of point-of-care ultrasound within urology was distributed to all Canadian urology PDs and residents.

Education Research: Qualitative Assessment of Virtual Teaching of the Neurological Examination to Students Reveals Importance of Technique, Process, and Documentation.

Introduction: Virtual teaching sessions during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic were challenging for students and teachers but were also an opportunity to find creative ways to teach physical examination skills, including the neurologic examination. We examined expert opinions of the pros and cons that arise using a virtual platform to teach the neurologic examination and strategies to best address these challenges.

Methods: This was a qualitative study incorporating a focus group of faculty and resident neurologists.

Impact of Race on the In-Hospital Quality of Care Among Young Adults With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background The extent to which race influences in-hospital quality of care for young adults (≤55 years) with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is largely unknown. We examined racial disparities in in-hospital quality of AMI care and their impact on 1-year cardiac readmission. Methods and Results We used data from the VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients) study enrolling young Black and White US adults with AMI (2008-2012).

A new approach for severe aortic regurgitation in porcelain aorta with sutureless Perceval valve: A case report.

Introduction: The association of pure aortic regurgitation and porcelain aorta represents a challenging situation. In the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) era, porcelain aorta (PA) becomes an additional risk for patient treatment and sometimes serves as the primary indication for the TAVI approach, even in low-risk patients. Devices currently on the market are not yet validated for the treatment of pure aortic regurgitation (AR) in PA and mid/long-term results are still not available.

Local electron-electron interaction strength in ferromagnetic nickel determined by spin-polarized positron annihilation.

We employ a positron annihilation technique, the spin-polarized two-dimensional angular correlation of annihilation radiation (2D-ACAR), to measure the spin-difference spectra of ferromagnetic nickel. The experimental data are compared with the theoretical results obtained within a combination of the local spin density approximation (LSDA) and the many-body dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). We find that the self-energy defining the electronic correlations in Ni leads to anisotropic contributions to the momentum distribution.

Myocardial systolic velocities and deformation assessed by speckle tracking for early detection of left ventricular dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation.

Aims: In asymptomatic patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation (PMR), early detection of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction indicates the optimal timing of mitral valve surgery; however, normal ejection fraction (EF) and end-systolic diameter (ESD) can mask significant LV impairment.

Methods: We studied 28 asymptomatic patients (59 ± 13 years, 18 male) with severe PMR, EF > 60%, and ESD < 45 mm, and 10 age-matched healthy subjects. All underwent echocardiography with tissue velocity imaging to assess LV geometry, EF, and longitudinal systolic function; and two-dimensional speckle tracking to assess longitudinal strain (LS) and longitudinal strain rate (LSR), and radial strain (RS) and radial strain rate (RSR).

Mitral insufficiency due to an isolated anterior-leaflet cleft: correction with an autologous pericardial patch supported by artificial chordae.

Congenital clefts of the mitral valve without an associated atrioventricular canal defect are rare, and they may cause mitral insufficiency that requires surgical correction. Repair is typically by direct suture; however, if the cleft is especially wide, the use of this technique may distort the valve leaflet and cause poor coaptation with valvular insufficiency.Herein, we present the case of a 39-year-old woman who had severe mitral valve insufficiency secondary to a wide isolated cleft of the anterior mitral leaflet.

A rare association between mitral valve fibroelastoma and myxomatous disease with severe mitral regurgitation.

We report a rare case of association between mitral valve fibroelastoma and myxomatous disease in a patient with long history of asymptomatic myxomatous disease and progressive severe mitral regurgitation. The tumor was an intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic finding and was confirmed during surgery. The differential diagnosis of the echocardiographic image was infective endocarditis.

Aorto-pulmonary fistula as a late complication of multiple valve replacement after Streptococcus Bovis endocarditis in a patient with occult colon carcinoma.

We report a case of aorto-pulmonary fistula following multiple valve surgery in a patient with colon carcinoma who had had recurrent episodes of Streptococcus Bovis endocarditis. Diagnosis was made by transesophageal echocardiography and aortography. Patient underwent emergency percutaneous implantation of an aortic endoprosthesis, but he continued to deteriorate and the fatal outcome could not be changed.

Pharmacologic resolution of functional outflow tract obstruction after mitral valve repair.

A 74-year-old woman with mitral regurgitation secondary to ruptured chordae tendineae, complicated by a cleft in the posterior mitral leaflet and a severely calcified mitral annulus, underwent mitral valve repair by implantation of polytetrafluoroethylene chords and closure of the cleft, without the use of an annuloplasty ring. Immediately after the repair severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction developed secondary to the systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve. Echocardiography identified the cause as functional, in the presence of a hypertrophic left ventricle with no significant preoperative intraventricular dynamic gradient.