Application of Lean Sigma to the Audiology Clinic at a Large Academic Center.

Objective: To apply Lean Sigma--a quality improvement strategy to eliminate waste and reduce variation and defects--to improve audiology scheduling and utilization in a large tertiary care referral center. The project goals included an increase in utilization rates of audiology block time and a reduction in appointment lead time.

Study Design: Prospective quality improvement study.

Preventive health care among HIV positive women in a Utah HIV/AIDS clinic: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Despite evidence that HIV positive women may suffer higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, human papillomavirus infection, and some types of cancer, the provision of preventive health services to HIV positive women is unknown. Preventive health services recommended for such women include breast, colorectal and cervical cancer screening, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, vaccinations, and patient counseling on a number of issues including sexual behaviors.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized medical record reviews of 192 HIV positive women who were patients at the University of Utah Infectious Diseases Clinic in 2009.

Formation of secondary organic aerosol by reactive condensation of furandiones, aldehydes, and water vapor onto inorganic aerosol seed particles.

Volatile furandiones and aldehydes are significant atmospheric oxidation products of aromatic compounds. The mechanism of secondary organic aerosol formation by these compounds was probed using particle chamber observations and macroscale simulations of condensed phases. Growth of inorganic seed aerosol was monitored in the presence of humidity and high concentrations of 2,5-furandione (maleic anhydride), 3-methyl-2,5-furandione (citraconic anhydride), benzaldehyde, and trans-cinnamaldehyde.

Optic neuropathy in a patient with AIDS.

We present a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with bilateral sequential optic neuropathies attributed to the 14484 mutation of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). We discuss the potential interaction of the mitochondrial mutation with antiretroviral therapy and review the literature.