Prospective Case-control Study of Contact Tracing Speed for Emergency Department-based Contact Tracers.

Introduction: In Snohomish County, WA, the time from obtaining a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test and initiating contact tracing is 4-6 days. We tested whether emergency department (ED)-based contact tracing reduces time to initiation and completion of contact tracing investigations.

Methods: All eligible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-positive patients were offered enrollment in this prospective case-control study.

Giant coronary aneurysms in an infant: Dilemma of MIS-C.

COVID-19 related multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) can present with cardiovascular complications like shock, arrhythmias, pericardial effusion, and coronary artery dilatation. The majority of MIS-C associated coronary artery abnormalities are dilation or small aneurysms which are transient and resolve in a few weeks. We present here a case of a 3-month-old child who was noted to have giant aneurysms of her coronary arteries (LAD and RCA) 26 days after testing positive for COVID-19.

Mapping Cancer in Africa: A Comprehensive and Comparable Characterization of 34 Cancer Types Using Estimates From GLOBOCAN 2020.

Objective: Cancer incidence and mortality rates in Africa are increasing, yet their geographic distribution and determinants are incompletely characterized. The present study aims to establish the spatial epidemiology of cancer burden in Africa and delineate the association between cancer burden and the country-level socioeconomic status. The study also examines the forecasts of the cancer burden for 2040 and evaluates infrastructure availability across all African countries.

Associations between Intra-Individual Neurocognitive Variability and Prospective Memory in Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury History and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Objective: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently co-occur and are associated with neurocognitive intra-individual variability (IIV) and difficulty with prospective memory (PM). The current study aimed to examine associations between IIV and PM in this comorbid group.

Method: Fifty veterans with a history of blast mTBI and current comorbid PTSD completed a standardized neurocognitive battery to measure IIV, and the Memory for Intentions Screening Test measuring PM.

Changes in perception of pitch during vocal performance after three- and two-wall orbital decompression surgery.

This case series presents 2 Caucasian females that underwent orbital decompression surgery for symptomatic exophthalmos and postoperatively developed a change in their perception of pitch during vocal performance. One patient went as far as to undergo voice lessons in attempt to regain her pre-operative pitch perception; however, the attempt was unsuccessful. We propose the etiology of this complication is anatomic changes within the ethmoid sinus.

Descriptive Analysis of Components of Emergency Medicine Residency Program Websites.

Introduction: Most emergency medicine (EM) applicants use the internet as a source of information when evaluating residency programs. Previous studies have analyzed the components of residency program websites; however, there is a paucity of information regarding EM program websites. The purpose of our study was to analyze information on EM residency program websites.

The opioid use disorder core outcomes set (OUD-COS) for treatment research: findings from a Delphi consensus study.

Background And Aim: There is no gold-standard and considerable heterogeneity in outcome measures used to evaluate treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) along the opioid treatment cascade. The aim of this study was to develop the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) opioid use disorder core outcomes set (OUD-COS).

Design: Four-round, e-Delphi expert panel consensus study and plenary research group discussion and targeted consultation.

Comparative vaccine effectiveness against severe COVID-19 over time in US hospital administrative data: a case-control study.

Background: Research suggests the protection offered by COVID-19 vaccines might wane over time, prompting consideration of booster vaccinations. Data on which vaccines offer the most robust protection over time, and which patients are most vulnerable to attenuating protection, could help inform potential booster programmes. In this study, we used comprehensive hospitalisation data to estimate vaccine effectiveness over time.

Psychological and social support associations with mortality and cardiovascular disease in middle-aged American Indians: the Strong Heart Study.

Purpose: Our study examined psychosocial risk and protective features affecting cardiovascular and mortality disparities in American Indians, including stress, anger, cynicism, trauma, depression, quality of life, and social support.

Methods: The Strong Heart Family Study cohort recruited American Indian adults from 12 communities over 3 regions in 2001-2003 (N = 2786). Psychosocial measures included Cohen Perceived Stress, Spielberger Anger Expression, Cook-Medley cynicism subscale, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, Short Form 12-a quality of life scale, and the Social Support and Social Undermining scale.

APOE genotype, hippocampus, and cognitive markers of Alzheimer's disease in American Indians: Data from the Strong Heart Study.

Background: The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele confers higher risk of neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but differs by race/ethnicity. We examined this association in American Indians.

Methods: The Strong Heart Study is a population-based cohort of American Indians who were 64 to 95 years of age in 2010 to 2013.

Intrapelvic Pseudotumor Presenting with Deep Vein Thrombosis After Hip Replacement with Metal-on-Metal Bearing Surface Implant: A Case Report.

Case: A 61-year-old woman with an asymptomatic hip presented acutely with a swollen lower limb 15 years after a metal bearing surface total hip replacement (THR). A large intrapelvic pseudotumor was discovered compressing her femoral and iliac vessels. Collaboration between an orthopaedic and vascular surgeon led to a 2-stage surgical procedure with resection of the pseudotumor, followed by revision of the THR implant 3 months later.

Urologic Manifestations and Hydronephrosis as Initial Presentation of Erdheim-Chester Disease: A Rare Form of Non-Langerhans Histiocytosis.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans histiocytosis that is classified as a malignancy of myeloid progenitor cells, with only 1,000 confirmed cases in the literature so far. It often manifests as a multi-system disorder with an initial presentation predominantly in the long bones, central nervous system (CNS), and retroperitoneal space, sometimes causing urologic symptoms as a result. ECD often presents indolently and in a spectrum of different ways, making it challenging to identify and treat.

Promoting risk reduction among young adults with asthma during wildfire smoke: A feasibility study.

Objective(s): This study explored the feasibility, acceptability, preliminary impact, and functionality of two risk reduction mobile application (app) interventions on asthma outcomes as compared to a control arm during wildfire season.

Design: Three-arm, 8-week randomized clinical trial.

Sample: Sixty-seven young adults with asthma were enrolled.

Adapting and Testing the Self-Efficacy in Environmental Risk Reduction Instrument Among Spanish-Speaking Populations.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to adapt and test the Self-Efficacy in Environmental Risk Reduction instrument in a Spanish-speaking population.

Methods: Harkness' model of cross-cultural survey design was used to adapt the instrument. We sampled 95 adult, Spanish speakers from a federally qualified health clinic.

Uterine torsion in a full-term pregnancy presenting as prolonged latent phase and fetal intolerance of labor: A case report.

Background: Uterine torsion is defined as torsion of the uterus around its longitudinal axis exceeding 45 degrees. It is a rare obstetric complication. It is a dangerous complication that can lead to placental abruption and intrauterine fetal death.

Remdesivir and Mortality in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Background: The impact of remdesivir (RDV) on mortality rates in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is controversial, and the mortality effect in subgroups of baseline disease severity has been incompletely explored. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of RDV with mortality rates in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study we compared persons receiving RDV with those receiving best supportive care (BSC).

Use of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with obesity for treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism: Updated communication from the ISTH SSC Subcommittee on Control of Anticoagulation.

Although direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have widespread first-line use for treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE), uncertainty remains regarding their efficacy and safety in patients with obesity. We reviewed available data for use of DOACs for VTE treatment and prevention in patients with obesity, including phase 3, phase 4, meta-analyses, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies. In addition, we reviewed available data regarding DOACs in bariatric surgery.

Assessing factors for choosing a primary care specialty in medical students; A longitudinal study.

A shortage of primary care physicians exists in the US, and medical schools are investigating factors that influence specialty choice. To better understand the factors associated with medical students choosing primary care specialties, a longitudinal annual survey from 2013 to 2019 was administered to students at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, starting pre-matriculation. A logistic regression model examined factors of interest.

Interprofessional education on opioid use and pain identifies team-based learning needs.

Background: An interprofessional education (IPE) activity was designed for health professional students in pharmacy, medicine, nursing, social work, and addiction studies. The goals were to practice team-based collaboration for patients who are prescribed opioids for chronic pain and to evaluate student responses to the activity.

Interprofessional Education Activity: Student teams were guided through an unfolding patient case that included evaluating the patient's history, screening tool results, morphine equivalent dose, prescription monitoring program report, and videos of a patient-provider interaction.

Core outcomes set for research on the treatment of opioid use disorder (COS-OUD): the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network protocol for an e-Delphi consensus study.

Background: A lack of consensus on the optimal outcome measures to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) has hampered the pooling of research data for evidence synthesis and clinical guidelines. A core outcome set (COS) is a minimum set of outcome measures that are recommended for all studies of a particular condition. The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) Core Outcome Set for OUD (COS-OUD) is a development study to identify core constructs, meaningful outcomes, and their optimal measurement for all efficacy and effectiveness studies of OUD treatment and service delivery.

Bare-bulb Upper-Room Germicidal Ultraviolet-C (GUV) Indoor Air Disinfection for COVID-19.

Reliable indoor air disinfection could make clinical and other necessary indoor spaces safer during epidemics with airborne transmission like COVID-19. Low-dose upper-room germicidal ultraviolet-C (GUV 254 nm) is well suited for this because of the SARS-CoV-2 virus' sensitivity to GUV inactivation and GUV's relatively easy adaptability to many types of indoor spaces without respect to outside weather conditions. However, most existing upper-room GUV fixtures are relatively expensive and inefficient at creating an upper-room disinfection zone due to loss of disinfecting UV-C photons caused by the casing and louvers designed to protect persons in the occupied space.