Program Directors Survey on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiology Fellowship Training.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed unprecedented changes to medical education, including CV fellowship programs. CV fellowship PDs offer a unique perspective regarding the impact of the pandemic on CV medical education.

Objectives: The 4th annual Cardiovascular Diseases (CV) Fellowship Program Directors (PDs) Survey sought to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CV fellows and fellowship programs.

Reduced risk for Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection observed in older adults with hybrid immunity.

Background: Hybrid SARS-CoV-2 immunity may provide longer duration protection against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalisation than purely vaccine-derived immunity. Older adults represent a high-risk group for severe disease, yet available data is skewed towards younger adults.

Methods: A prospective longitudinal study at a large London long-term care facility (LTCF) was conducted from March 2020 to April 2022 to assess the effect of hybrid versus vaccine-only immunity on SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults during Omicron variant dominance.

The Clinical and Histological Intersection of Cardiac Sarcoidosis and Giant Cell Myocarditis.

The clinical and imaging features of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and giant cell myocarditis (GCM) are occasionally indistinguishable. This is a case of heart block and ventricular tachycardia where cardiac MRI, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and biopsy revealed intermediate clinicohistologic phenotype between CS and GCM. This highlights gaps in the management of overlap conditions.

Effects of residential acaricide treatments on patterns of pathogen coinfection in blacklegged ticks.

Medically important ixodid ticks often carry multiple pathogens, with individual ticks frequently coinfected and capable of transmitting multiple infections to hosts, including humans. Acquisition of multiple zoonotic pathogens by immature blacklegged ticks () is facilitated when they feed on small mammals, which are the most competent reservoir hosts for (which causes anaplasmosis in humans), (babesiosis) and (Lyme disease). Here, we used data from a large-scale, long-term experiment to ask whether patterns of single and multiple infections in questing nymphal ticks from residential neighbourhoods differed from those predicted by independent assortment of pathogens, and whether patterns of coinfection were affected by residential application of commercial acaricidal products.

Experience-based Investigation and Co-design of Psychosis Centred Integrated Care Services for Ethnically Diverse People with Multimorbidity (CoPICS): study protocol.

Introduction: Ethnic minorities (also called racialised groups) are more likely to experience severe mental illness (SMI). People with SMI are more likely to experience multimorbidity (MM), making psychosis among racialised groups more likely to lead to MM, poor outcomes, disability and premature mortality.

Methods And Analysis: This National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded study (151887) seeks to use innovative participatory methods including photovoice and biographical narrative interviews in urban and rural areas of England to assemble experience data.

Spatial variation in risk for tick-borne diseases in residential areas of Dutchess County, New York.

Although human exposure to the ticks that transmit Lyme-disease bacteria is widely considered to occur around people's homes, most studies of variation in tick abundance and infection are undertaken outside residential areas. Consequently, the patterns of variation in risk of human exposure to tick-borne infections in these human-dominated landscapes are poorly understood. Here, we report the results of four years of sampling for tick abundance, tick infection, tick encounters, and tick-borne disease reports on residential properties nested within six neighborhoods in Dutchess County, New York, USA, an area of high incidence for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.

The Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program: A Review of Recommendations for Testing in Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Congress established the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) Program to reduce unnecessary advanced imaging studies. Organizations that wish to develop AUC can apply to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to qualify as provider-led entities (PLEs) under this program. Variable methods, content, and formatting of PLE-generated AUC could lead to clinician uncertainty about whether an advanced imaging test is appropriate or not.

Hybrid immunity in older adults is associated with reduced SARS-CoV-2 infections following BNT162b2 COVID-19 immunisation.

Background: Older adults, particularly in long-term care facilities (LTCF), remain at considerable risk from SARS-CoV-2. Data on the protective effect and mechanisms of hybrid immunity are skewed towards young adults precluding targeted vaccination strategies.

Methods: A single-centre longitudinal seroprevalence vaccine response study was conducted with 280 LCTF participants (median 82 yrs, IQR 76-88 yrs; 95.

Observer studies of image quality of denoising reduced-count cardiac single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging by three-dimensional Gaussian post-reconstruction filtering and deep learning.

Background: The aim of this research was to asses perfusion-defect detection-accuracy by human observers as a function of reduced-counts for 3D Gaussian post-reconstruction filtering vs deep learning (DL) denoising to determine if there was improved performance with DL.

Methods: SPECT projection data of 156 normally interpreted patients were used for these studies. Half were altered to include hybrid perfusion defects with defect presence and location known.

Using participatory action research methods to address epistemic injustice within mental health research and the mental health system.

In this paper, we describe a model of research practise that addresses epistemic injustice as a central objective, by valuing lived experience and addressing structural disadvantages. We set out here the processes we undertook, and the experiences of those involved in an attempt to transform research practise within a study known as Co-pact. We do not discuss the findings of the research.

Impacts Over Time of Neighborhood-Scale Interventions to Control Ticks and Tick-Borne Disease Incidence.

Controlling populations of ticks with biological or chemical acaricides is often advocated as a means of reducing human exposure to tick-borne diseases. Reducing tick abundance is expected to decrease immediate risk of tick encounters and disrupt pathogen transmission cycles, potentially reducing future exposure risk. We designed a placebo-controlled, randomized multiyear study to assess whether two methods of controlling ticks-tick control system (TCS) bait boxes and Met52 spray-reduced tick abundance, tick encounters with people and outdoor pets, and reported cases of tick-borne diseases.

Effects of Neighborhood-Scale Acaricidal Treatments on Infection Prevalence of Blacklegged Ticks () with Three Zoonotic Pathogens.

Acaricides are hypothesized to reduce human risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens by decreasing the abundance and/or infection prevalence of the ticks that serve as vectors for the pathogens. Acaricides targeted at reservoir hosts such as small mammals are expected to reduce infection prevalence in ticks by preventing their acquisition of zoonotic pathogens. By reducing tick abundance, reservoir-targeted or broadcast acaricides could reduce tick infection prevalence by interrupting transmission cycles between ticks and their hosts.

Fairer Sex: The Role of Relationship Equity in Female Sexual Desire.

Previous investigations into Female Sexual Desire (FSD) have been focused on women's biological, cognitive, and emotional processes, despite evidence that FSD is also responsive to relational contexts. Past research consistently demonstrates a general association between relationship satisfaction and FSD. There remains, however, a need to expound this connection.

Effects of Tick-Control Interventions on Tick Abundance, Human Encounters with Ticks, and Incidence of Tickborne Diseases in Residential Neighborhoods, New York, USA.

Tickborne diseases (TBDs) such as Lyme disease result in ≈500,000 diagnoses annually in the United States. Various methods can reduce the abundance of ticks at small spatial scales, but whether these methods lower incidence of TBDs is poorly understood. We conducted a randomized, replicated, fully crossed, placebo-controlled, masked experiment to test whether 2 environmentally safe interventions, the Tick Control System (TCS) and Met52 fungal spray, used separately or together, affected risk for and incidence of TBDs in humans and pets in 24 residential neighborhoods.

Burnout and Well-Being Among Cardiology Fellowship Program Directors.

Objectives: The third annual Cardiovascular Diseases (CV) Fellowship Program Directors (PDs) Survey sought to understand burnout and well-being among CV fellowship PDs.

Background: Physician burnout is a common phenomenon. Data on burnout among cardiologists, specifically CV PDs, remain limited.

The Impact of a Dried Fruit and Vegetable Supplement and Fiber Rich Shake on Gut and Health Parameters in Female Healthcare Workers: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Phytochemicals from fruits and vegetables are known to reduce inflammation and improve overall health. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a fruit and vegetable concentrate (FVC) and high fiber component on the gut microbiome in an overweight/obese, female population. The study was a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial with 57 asymptomatic, pre-menopausal, overweight/obese females between 25-50 years of age working in healthcare.

Program Directors Survey on Diversity in Cardiovascular Training Programs.

Background: Women and minorities are under-represented in cardiovascular disease (CVD) specialties. It remains unknown how characteristics of the CVD learning environment affect diversity and how program directors (PDs) approach these critical issues.

Objectives: The second annual Cardiovascular PD Survey aimed to investigate characteristics of the CVD learning environment that may affect diversity and strategies PDs use to approach these issues.

An Assessment of the Glyconutrient Ambrotose™ on Immunity, Gut Health, and Safety in Men and Women: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Certain dietary fibers have been reported to improve gut health and cellular immunity. Ambrotose is a glyconutrient supplement that contains mannose-rich polysaccharides (acemannan), reported to improve immune function. A more nutrient-dense version of this dietary supplement has been developed recently, with added aloe leaf gel powder (acemannan).

Surveillance and Management of Troponin Elevation after Vascular Surgery.

Background: Postopertive troponin elevation may occur without typical or atypical cardiac symptoms and is associated with an increased 30-day morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to implement a quality improvement initiative of postoperative troponin surveillance algorithm aimed at intensifying medical management after vascular surgery.

Methods: We conducted a single-center study of postoperative troponin surveillance after vascular surgery (n = 201) at a tertiary care, academic medical center from January to December 2016.