Factors that Influence Applicant Choice of In-Person versus Virtual Interview Format.

Background: Governing bodies of graduate medical education recommend conducting interviews virtually. Although most programs remain compliant with this guidance, it is unclear if this is broadly supported by interviewees. Virtual interview (VI), in-person interview (IPI), and virtual interview with an optional in-person visit (VI+) formats have unique strengths and weaknesses.

Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Practice: Cleveland Clinic Policy and Experience.

The Cleveland Clinic Innovation Management and Conflict of Interest ("IM&COI") Program implemented a policy on Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Practice in 2013. The policy requires review of financial interests greater than $20,000 in a year, or more than 5% equity in a company, when the clinician is prescribing or using products of the company with which they have a relationship. The IM&COI Committee developed definitions for low, medium and high levels of annual compensation and risk and uses a "Matrix" to guide disclosure based on these factors.

Exhaled Breath Volatile Organic Compounds in Pregnancy: A Pilot Study.

Objective:  This study aimed to assess the volatile organic compounds (VOC)s in breath samples collected noninvasively from pregnant women during pregnancy and postpartum and compare it with nonpregnant controls.

Study Design:  This pilot study included 50 subjects: 10 pregnant patients in their first trimester, 10 in second trimester, 10 in third trimester, 10 in the first postpartum week, and 10 nonpregnant subjects as a control. We collected exhaled breath from subjects who reported to be healthy and free of any respiratory symptoms.

Characteristic disease defects in circulating endothelial cells isolated from patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressures that can lead to right heart failure and death. No cure exists for this disease, but therapeutic advancements have extended its median survival from 2 to 7 years. Mechanistic research in PAH has been limited by factors including that a) animal models do not fully recapitulate the disease or provide insights into its pathogenesis, and b) cellular material from PAH patients is primarily obtained from donor lungs during autopsy or transplantation, which reflect end-stage disease.

Assessment of Voiding Dysfunction and Nocturnal Enuresis Rates in Primary School Children in Nablus, Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Voiding dysfunction (VD) is a frequent reason for primary care referrals to urologists and pediatric urologists. VD symptoms include urine incontinence (UI), urinary tract infection (UTI), hyperactive bladder, and constipation. Early detection of Nocturnal enuresis is critical due to its high frequency and the consequences for families and children regarding psychological and behavioral aspects.

Opportunities and challenges in leveraging digital technology for mental health system strengthening: a systematic review to inform interventions in the United Arab Emirates.

Digital technology offers scalable, real-time interventions for mental health promotion and treatment. This systematic review explores the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of digital technology in mental health, with a focus on informing mental health system strengthening interventions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of databases was conducted up to August 2023 and identified a total of 8479 citations of which 114 studies were included in the qualitative analysis.

Volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath of newborns: a pilot study.

Objective: To assess volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath samples collected non-invasively from preterm and full-term infants.

Methods: This was a pilot study included preterm and full-term infants who were not intubated or suspected or diagnosed with metabolic or gastrointestinal disorders. The samples were analyzed for VOCs using a selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometer.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma with invasion of the trachea.

Introduction: Papillary thyroid carcinoma typically has a favourable survival rate and a low recurrence rate. However, extrathyroidal extension has a significant negative impact on survival. Among the extrathyroidal extensions, invasion of the trachea by papillary thyroid carcinoma is rare and serves as a marker of more aggressive tumour behaviour.

Exhaled Breath Analysis Using Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry and Disease Severity in Heart Failure.

Exhaled breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are elevated in heart failure (HF). The ability of VOCs to predict long term cardiovascular mortality and morbidity has not been independently verified. In 55 patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), we measured exhaled breath acetone and pentane levels upon admission and after 48 h of diuresis.

COVID-19: Psychological distress, fear, and coping strategies among community members across the United Arab Emirates.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the psychosocial well-being of the United Arab Emirates [UAE] population like other communities internationally.

Objectives: We aimed to identify the factors associated with psychological distress, fear, and coping amongst community members across the UAE.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey across the UAE during November 2020.

Association between Periodontal Disease and Cognitive Impairment in Adults.

Introduction: Periodontitis is a severe oral infection that can contribute to systemic inflammation. A large body of evidence suggests a role for systemic inflammation in the initiation of neurodegenerative disease. This systematic review synthesized data from observational studies to investigate the association between periodontitis and neuroinflammation in adults.

The association between sleeping behavior, obesity, psychological depression, and eating habits among adolescents in the emirate of Abu Dhabi-United Arab Emirates.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the association between sleeping behavior (specifically sleep duration), body mass index (BMI), eating habits, and psychological mood depression among adolescents in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi- UAE.

Methods And Materials: A subsample of three hundred and ninety-five participants (209 females and 186 males) from middle and high schools (aged 12-18 years) in the emirate of Abu Dhabi completed the surveys in the presence of their parents and two research assistants. Measures of daytime sleepiness and other sleep parameters (sleep duration on weekdays and weekends), eating habits, and mood depression questionnaires were reported.

COVID-19 Infections in Gonads: Consequences on Fertility?

COVID-19 may influence human fertility and sexuality in several ways. Different cell types in gonads show a constitutive expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2), which provide potential entry pathways for SARS-CoV-2. In addition to the biological effects of a COVID-19 infection on the gonads, the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on mental health issues and sexual behavior may affect reproduction.

A case of uniportal VATS thymectomy for Thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis and toxic multinodular goiter.

Background: Thymoma is a rare neoplasm, which may be associated with autoimmune disorders, the occurrence of hyperthyroidism in the patients with thymoma is rare.

Clinical Presentation: Here we present an extremely rare case of a 56-year-old female patient who was discovered to have malignant thymoma with associated myasthenia gravis and hyperthyroidism due to toxic multinodular goiter. Our patient started to complain of difficulty breathing and swallowing, Chest CT scan was done and revealed an anterior mediastinal mass, measures about 4.

Liver, NAFLD and COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a wide clinical spectrum that includes abnormalities in liver function indicative of liver damage. Conversely, people with liver diseases are at higher risk of severe COVID-19. In the current review, we summarize first the epidemiologic evidence describing the bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 and liver function/liver diseases.

Impact of Esophageal Pressure Measurement on Pulmonary Hypertension Diagnosis in Patients With Obesity.

Background: Elevated intrathoracic pressure could affect pulmonary vascular pressure measurements and influence pulmonary hypertension (PH) diagnosis and classification. Esophageal pressure (P) measurement adjusts for the increase in intrathoracic pressure, better reflecting the pulmonary hemodynamics in patients with obesity.

Research Question: In individuals with obesity, what is the impact of adjusting pulmonary hemodynamic determinations for P on PH diagnosis and classification? Can P be estimated by positional or respiratory hemodynamic changes?

Study Design And Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we included patients with obesity who underwent right heart catheterization and demonstrated elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP; ≥ 12 mm Hg).

Effects of flexible scheduling and virtual visits on burnout for clinicians.

Objective: Burnout is a healthcare quality problem, linked to negative impacts in patient care and healthcare providers. The pandemic prompted clinicians to adapt virtual practices and adopt more flexible, autonomous schedules. However, the impact of flexible scheduling and autonomy on provider burnout is unknown.

Predictors of survival in portopulmonary hypertension: a 20-year experience.

Background And Objectives: Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) is a rare complication of portal hypertension associated with poor survival. Scarce data is available on predictors of survival in PoPH with conflicting results. We sought to characterize the outcomes and variables associated with survival in a large cohort of patients with PoPH in an American population of patients.

Surge capacity and capability of intensive care units across a large healthcare system: An operational blueprint for regional integration.

Objective: Many hospitals were unprepared for the surge of patients associated with the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We describe the processes to develop and implement a surge plan framework for resource allocation, staffing, and standardized management in response to the COVID-19 pandemic across a large integrated regional healthcare system.

Setting: A large academic medical center in the Cleveland metropolitan area, with a network of 10 regional hospitals throughout Northeastern Ohio with a daily capacity of more than 500 intensive care unit (ICU) beds.

Cutaneous iontophoresis of vasoactive medications in patients with scleroderma-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: It remains unknown whether the cutaneous microvascular responses are different between patients with scleroderma-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) and SSc without pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods: We included 59 patients with SSc between March 2013 and September 2019. We divided patients into 4 groups: (a) no PH by right heart catheterization (RHC) (n = 8), (b) no PH by noninvasive screening tests (n = 16), (c) treatment naïve PAH (n = 16), and (d) PAH under treatment (n = 19).

The breath print represents a novel biomarker of malnutrition in pulmonary arterial hypertension: A proof of concept study.

Background: The breath print is a quantitative measurement of molecules in exhaled breath and represents a new frontier for biomarker identification. It is unknown whether this state-of-the-art, noninvasive method can detect malnutrition. We hypothesize that individuals with malnutrition will present with a distinguishable breath print.