Attitudes and beliefs towards COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination among rheumatology patients in a Los Angeles County safety net clinic.

Background: The novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has represented an evolving global threat with high morbidity and mortality. Patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and on immune-suppressing medications may be at increased risk to more severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines are essential to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and curb the spread of infection.

Implementation of a pilot teleretinal screening protocol for hydroxychloroquine retinopathy in a Los Angeles County safety net clinic.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine whether teleretinal screening for hydroxychloroquine retinopathy (HCQR) improves clinical efficiency and adherence to recommended screening guidelines compared to face-to-face screening among patients in a large safety net medical system.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study of a consecutive sample of 590 adult patients with active HCQ prescriptions seen in the outpatient ophthalmology clinic at Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center from 1 September 2018 to 25 November 2019, 203 patients underwent technician-only tele-HCQR screening (THRS), and 387 patients underwent screening with traditional face-to-face visits (F2FV) with an eye-care provider. Data on clinic efficiency measures (appointment wait time and encounter duration) and adherence to recommended screening guidelines were collected and compared between the two cohorts.

Electrochemical fabrication of conducting polymer nanowires in an integrated microfluidic system.

In this paper, we introduce a new approach for the in situ electrochemical fabrication of an individually addressable array of conducting polymer nanowires (CPNWs) positioned within an integrated microfluidic device and also demonstrate that such an integrated device can be used as a chemical sensor immediately after its construction.