Development of Scholarship Core Competencies for Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship Programs.

The Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) Fellowship Directors, recent fellowship graduates, and senior leaders in PHM have long identified training in scholarly activities as a key educational priority for fellowship training programs. We led a 2-day conference funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to develop scholarship core competencies for PHM fellows. Participants included fellowship directors, national experts in PHM research, and representatives from key stakeholder organizations.

Predictive Value of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Swab PCR Assay for MRSA Infection in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients.

Background: Critically ill pediatric patients are frequently initiated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) active antibiotics during infection evaluation even though MRSA infections are rare in many patient populations. The MRSA nasal swab polymerase chain reaction assay (MRSA-NS-PCR) is a test that has been shown to have a high negative predictive value (NPV) for MRSA infection in adults. This study evaluated the diagnostic test characteristics of the MRSA-NS-PCR in predicting the presence of MRSA infection in critically ill pediatric patients.

Current Smoking Status Is Not a Risk Factor for Perioperative Outcomes in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Who Underwent Craniotomy Repair.

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rupture leading to blood accumulating in the subarachnoid region. Smoking status is often a risk factor for postoperative complications for vascular procedures. This study aims to retrospectively examine the effect of being a current tobacco smoker on postoperative outcomes in patients with nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

From Hip Screening to Hip Surveillance: Transforming Care for Patients With Cerebral Palsy: An Analysis of a Single Institution.

Introduction: Surveillance programs aimed at monitoring hip displacement in patients with cerebral palsy have been demonstrated to decrease the incidence of hip dislocations and properly time surgical intervention, ultimately improving patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine whether the implementation of a hip screening to surveillance program at a tertiary academic teaching hospital in 2017 increased the frequency of radiographic evaluations and changed the timing of surgical intervention.

Methods: A total of 592 patients with cerebral palsy were identified, and 468 of these patients had initial radiograph date data available.

Insights from a joint pediatric dermatology-gynecology vulvar clinic: A retrospective study.

Background/objectives: Pediatric vulvar disease has not been widely explored in the medical literature. Few studies focus on vulvar disease in skin of color. The vulvar disease can be distressing for young patients given the sensitive location, and providers may lack experience in diagnosing and managing vulvar dermatoses.

Trends in utilization of meniscal allograft transplantation between 2010 and 2019.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to observe the trends in (1) utilization of meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT), (2) demographics and comorbidities of patients undergoing transplants and (3) reimbursements for this procedure between the years of 2010 and 2019.

Methods: Using a national database, patients who underwent MAT were observed. Incidence of MAT, percentage of female patients, average age, and average Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) were analyzed between 2010 and 2019.

Native Americans have comparable transcatheter aortic valve replacement outcomes but higher stroke and venous thromboembolism after surgical aortic valve replacement.

Background: Racial disparities in aortic valve replacement outcomes have been established. However, the current literature lacks comprehensive studies that examine the outcomes for Native Americans, probably due to their limited population size. This study aimed to investigate whether disparities in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) also exist for outcomes among Native Americans.

Smoker's paradox in transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A National Inpatient Sample analysis from 2015 to 2020.

Background: While smoking is recognized as a risk factor for multiple cardiovascular conditions, prior research has identified a smoker paradox, wherein smokers had better post-procedural outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the initial years of its introduction among high-risk patients only. In recent years, TAVR has expanded to significant larger groups of low-risk patients and became the dominate approach for aortic valve replacement. Consequently, the study cohort from the previous research can no longer represent the current patient populations undergoing TAVR.

Pediatric produce prescription initiatives in the U.S.: a scoping review.

Background: To describe pediatric Produce Prescription (PRx) interventions and their study designs, outcomes, and opportunities for future research.

Methods: A scoping review framework was used to describe PRx interventions published between January 2000 and September 2023. Articles from online databases were uploaded into Covidence.

Academic clinician educators: Confronting the challenges to successful retirement.

Background: The academic clinician-educator (CE) often has a career spanning 40 or more years. Retirement represents the last stage of one's professional identity. Planning for retirement can be both exciting and challenging.

Incorporating Community Member Perspectives to Inform a Resident Health Equity Curriculum.

There are few published resources to guide content of health disparities curricula. To train physicians to effectively address disparities, the needs and expectations of the local community need to be considered. To obtain community insight about factors influencing health disparities and important components of a health disparities curriculum for residents.

Laboratory diagnosis of CNS infections in children due to emerging and re-emerging neurotropic viruses.

Recent decades have witnessed the emergence and re-emergence of numerous medically important viruses that cause central nervous system (CNS) infections in children, e.g., Zika, West Nile, and enterovirus/parechovirus.

Association of the Complement System with Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Psoriasis: Findings from an Observational Cohort Study.

Psoriasis is a chronic and inflammatory disease that affects the skin and joints and is associated with multiple comorbidities and cardiovascular risk factors. Consequently, patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, a chronic pathology that shares common inflammatory and immune-response mechanisms with psoriasis, including vascular inflammation and complement activation. To better understand the relationship between atherosclerosis and psoriasis, a proteomics study followed by a bioinformatics analysis was carried out, with a subsequent validation step using ELISA and western blotting.

Data-driven body mass index threshold associated with increased risk of 2-year periprosthetic joint infection following total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is a modifiable risk factor for medical and infectious complications following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Previous studies investigating BMI were limited to the conventional classification system, which may be outdated for modern day patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify BMI thresholds that are associated with varying risk of 90-day medical complications and 2-year prosthetic joint infection (PJI) following TSA.

The Intersection of Radiology With Blockchain and Smart Contracts: A Perspective.

Introduction: Although blockchain technology and smart contracts are garnering attention in various sectors, their applications and familiarity within the realm of radiology remain largely unexplored. Blockchain, a decentralized digital ledger technology, offers secure, transparent, and resilient data management by distributing the verification process across a network of independent entities. This decentralized technology presents a possible solution for a range of healthcare challenges, from secure data transfer to automated verification processes.

Novel variant causing infantile-onset autoimmune disease.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 () is a member of the STAT protein family implicated in the development of infantile-onset multisystem autoimmune disease. -related autoimmune disease is characterized by multiorgan autoimmunity, lymphoproliferative disease, and recurrent infections. The presentation is variable, with some patients also developing neonatal diabetes mellitus and interstitial lung disease.

Circulating Total Extracellular Vesicles Cargo Are Associated with Age-Related Oxidative Stress and Susceptibility to Cardiovascular Diseases: Exploratory Results from Microarray Data.

Aging is a risk factor for many non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Extracellular vesicles and particles (EVP) carry microRNAs that may play a role in age-related diseases and may induce oxidative stress. We hypothesized that aging could impact EVP miRNA and impair redox homeostasis, contributing to chronic age-related diseases.

A different approach to teaching pre-clerkship students physical diagnosis: standardized patient instructor-senior medical student teaching teams.

Background: Faculty have traditionally taught the physical examination (PE) to novice medical students (pre-clerkship students.), despite recruiting and cost issues and problems standardizing their approach.

Activity: We present a model using standardized patient instructor (SPI)-fourth year medical student (MS4) teams to teach PE to pre-clerkship students, leveraging the benefits of co-teaching and peer-assisted learning.

Weekend Admission is Associated with Higher Kidney Failures after Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair for Stanford Type B Aortic Dissection.

Background: Weekend effect characterized by worse perioperative outcomes has been demonstrated in some surgery patients admitted on weekends, as opposed to weekdays. This study aimed to examine weekend effect on open surgical repair or thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) for Stanford Type B Aortic Dissection (TBAD).

Methods: Patients who underwent TBAD repair were identified in National/Nationwisde Inpatient Sample from Q4 2015-2020.