Development of a reference standard to assign bacterial versus viral infection etiology using an all-inclusive methodology for comparison of novel diagnostic tool performance.

Background: Diagnostic test evaluation requires a reference standard. We describe an approach for creating a reference standard for acute infection using unrestricted adjudication and apply it to compare biomarker tools.

Methods: Adults and children with suspected acute infection enrolled in three prospective studies at emergency departments and urgent cares were included.

Commentary: Review of Mandatory Maintenance of Certification in the USA.

The goal of maintenance of certification (MOC) activities is to ensure physicians are up to date on current practices and demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to provide patients with optimal care. The program's aim is to promote professional development, lifelong learning and quality assurance for the public and medical community. However, physicians are not happy with the current structure of the program, claiming it to be time-consuming, expensive and ineffective for their practice.

A Contemporary Estimate of Vasectomy Failure in the United States: Analysis of US Claims Data.

Purpose: To characterize trends in vasectomy utilization, delivery, and failure in a large administrative database.

Materials And Methods: We utilized the Merative MarketScan® (2007-2021) Commercial Database to identify vasectomized men. Vasectomy failure (VF) was defined as documented pregnancy ≥6 months post-procedure.

Perioperative therapies and techniques to enhance penile dimensional and functional outcomes following inflatable penile prosthesis implantation: a contemporary 10-year systematic review.

Implantation of inflatable penile prosthesis should be considered as a definitive treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, the sole procedure might not allow for optimal dimensional and functional outcomes. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature and present the findings on the optimal choice of perioperative methods, surgical techniques, and pharmacotherapy to improve penile length, curvature, and erectile function.