Leaders' Perspectives on Approaches and Challenges in Enacting Faculty Vitality in the Contemporary Landscape of Academic Medicine: A Deductive Thematic Analysis.

Continual changes in organizational structures within medical schools have contributed to the expanded scope and the centralization of faculty affairs offices, which support faculty administration and supportive functions. Using qualitative interviews, we investigated the perspectives of academic medicine faculty affairs leaders regarding their offices' priorities in sustaining faculty vitality in the face of current and anticipated challenges. A semi-structured interview protocol based on the researchers' practical knowledge, informed by the study's research inquiries, and pertinent academic literature guided the interviews.

In hypertension, with or without orthostatic hypotension, more- vs. less-intensive BP therapy improves clinical outcomes.

Juraschek SP, Hu JR, Cluett JL, et al. JAMA. 2023;330:1459-1471.

In low-risk penicillin allergies, direct oral challenge was noninferior to skin testing followed by oral challenge.

Copaescu AM, Vogrin S, James F, et al. JAMA Intern Med. 2023;183:944-952.

Sodium Homeostasis and Hypertension.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to summarize and discuss the relationship between sodium homeostasis and hypertension, including emerging concepts of factors outside cardiovascular and renal systems influencing sodium homeostasis and hypertension.

Recent Findings: Recent studies support the dose-response association between higher sodium and lower potassium intakes and a higher cardiovascular risk in addition to the dose-response relationship between sodium restriction and blood pressure lowering. The growing body of evidence suggests the role of genetic determinants, immune system, and gut microbiota in sodium homeostasis and hypertension.

In adults with hypertension, effects of BP-lowering drug monotherapy varied by patient.

Sundström J, Lind L, Nowrouzi S, et al. JAMA. 2023;329:1160-1169.

In BPPV, canalith repositioning maneuver increased symptom resolution vs. vestibular suppressants.

Sharif S, Khoujah D, Greer A, et al. Acad Emerg Med. 2022.

In hypertension, evening vs. morning dosing of antihypertensive drugs did not differ for major CV outcomes at 5.2 y.

Mackenzie IS, Rogers A, Poulter NR, et al. Lancet. 2022;400:1417-25.

USPSTF found insufficient evidence on benefits and harms of screening for vitamin D deficiency in asymptomatic adults.

Krist AH, Davidson KW, Mangione CM, et al. JAMA. 2021;325:1436-42.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of geographic differences in comorbidities and associated severity and mortality among individuals with COVID-19.

Several comorbidities have been shown to be associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related severity and mortality. However, considerable variation in the prevalence estimates of comorbidities and their effects on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality have been observed in prior studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine geographical, age, and gender related differences in the prevalence of comorbidities and associated severity and mortality rates among COVID-19 patients.

Insufficient evidence for benefits/harms of cognitive impairment screening in asymptomatic older adults.

US Preventive Services Task Force, Owens DK, Davidson KW, et al. JAMA. 2020;323:757-63.

Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Purpose Of Review: The aims of this review are to summarize recent data on mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and to determine the interventions that could have contributed to a reduction in mortality.

Recent Findings: Recent studies found a downward trend in mortality and CVD among both diabetics and non-diabetics worldwide over the last few decades. The decline among diabetics is steeper than that among non-diabetics.

Relationship Between Outpatient Clinic and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurements and Mortality.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to summarize and discuss the relationship between outpatient clinic and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurements and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Recent Findings: Contemporary clinical practice guidelines worldwide recommend ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) to confirm the diagnosis of hypertension. Recent epidemiological studies and systematic reviews showed ABPM predicts cardiovascular events and mortality independent of clinic BP.

The role of phospholipase A2 in multiple Sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Phospholipases A2 (PLA) are a diverse group of enzymes that cleave the fatty acids of membrane phospholipids. They play critical roles in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis by enhancing oxidative stress and initiating inflammation. The levels of PLA activity in MS patients compared to controls and role of inhibiting PLA activity on severity scores in different experimental models are not comprehensively assessed in the light of varying evidence from published studies.

Surgical hip dislocation for treatment of cam femoroacetabular impingement.

Background: Cam femoroacetabular impingement is caused by a misshapen femoral head with a reduced head neck offset, commonly in the anterolateral quadrant. Friction in flexion, adduction and internal rotation causes limitation of the hip movements and pain progressively leading to labral and chondral damage and osteoarthritis. Surgical hip dislocation described by Ganz permits full exposure of the hip without damaging its blood supply.

Exposure to High-Risk Medications is Associated With Worse Outcomes in Older Veterans With Chronic Pain.

Background: Chronic pain is common, costly and leads to significant morbidity in older adults, yet there are limited data on medication safety. The authors sought to evaluate the association of incident high-risk medication in the elderly (HRME) with mortality, emergency department (ED) or hospital care among older adults with chronic pain.

Methods: A retrospective Veterans Health Administration cohort study was conducted examining older veterans with chronic pain diagnoses and use of incident HRME (opioids, skeletal muscle relaxants, antihistamines and psychotropics).