Shifting Paradigms: A Deep Dive Into Public Perceptions of Gender-affirming Surgery.

Background: Given the growing demand for gender-affirming surgery (GAS) in recent years, it is essential to explore the public perceptions of GAS. Understanding the public's opinions and attitudes toward GAS will provide valuable insights for shaping educational initiatives to enhance public knowledge and awareness.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used the Prolific Academic platform to distribute an online survey among adult participants residing in the United States in August 2023.

Physiological Changes in Women's Skin During the Menstrual Cycle: A Scoping Review.

Multiple physiological changes occur during the menstrual cycle; many are attributed to fluctuations in estrogen, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and progesterone. These hormones differentially affect the menstrual cycle's follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases. Skin is one of the organs affected by changes in a woman's menstrual cycle.

Communicating Effectively With Limited English Proficiency Patients: Incorporating Training on Working With Medical Interpreters in the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum.

Introduction: It is imperative for the healthcare providers in the United States to be able to care for the growing number of patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) utilizing professional medical interpreters (MIs). Since little time in undergraduate medical education (UME) is devoted to this competency, an educational workshop on effective communication with MIs and Spanish-speaking LEP patients was developed.

Methods: A two-hour workshop was implemented for first-year medical students, featuring four educational strategies: (1) facilitator-led instructional simulation, (2) interactive didactic, (3) small-group clinical case discussion, and (4) large-group MI simulation.

Effects of Demographic Identities on Psychosocial Burdens of Patients Living in the United States With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease predominantly affecting women, particularly in African American populations. While its physical health impacts are well-documented, patients also face significant psychosocial burdens, including barriers to healthcare access, financial constraints, mental health challenges, and inadequate social support.

Study Goal: This cross-sectional study surveyed 294 SLE patients recruited from Facebook and Reddit social media forums to examine how demographic factors such as age, race/ethnicity, and geographic location influence these burdens.

Female Faculty Representation in Anesthesiology: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Introduction: The presence of female faculty members in anesthesia residency programs is pivotal for enhancing and supporting diversity and gender equity in medical education. This study probes the intricate interplay between the percentage of female faculty and whether program type and geographical location impact the composition of female faculty.

Methods: For this retrospective cross-sectional analysis, we collected data from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access (FREIDA) system to assess the percentages of female faculty in anesthesia residency programs.

A Rare Case of Triple-Positive Breast Cancer With Eventual Triple-Negative Small Bowel Metastasis.

Invasive lobular breast cancer (ILBC) is a common cause of breast cancer. Prognosis is dependent on many factors such as metastasis location and hormone receptor positivity. A 59-year-old postmenopausal African-American female who was referred to our clinic in May of 2022 presented with a suspicious small bowel lesion seen on surveillance imaging.

A Literature Review on Optimizing Study Strategies in Medical Education: Insights From Exam Scores and Study Resources.

Medical school exams, like those by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), assess essential knowledge and skills for safe patient care, essential for student advancement and securing competitive residencies. Understanding the correlation between exam scores and medical school performance, as well as identifying trends among high scorers, provides valuable insights for both medical students and educators. This review examines the link between study resources and NBME exam scores, as well as psychological factors influencing these outcomes.

Unveiling the Rare: A Case of Renal Cell Carcinoma Acrometastasis.

Acrometastasis refers to a rare form of skeletal metastasis affecting sites distal to the knees and elbows, often leading to significant functional impairment and reduced quality of life. This case report details a 65-year-old man with a history of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who presented with persistent pain and swelling in the distal aspect of his left long finger. An incisional biopsy confirmed the lesion as metastatic RCC.

The Scarab Technique for Correction of Late-Presenting Sagittal Suture Craniosynostosis.

Introduction: Sagittal synostosis (SS) is the most prevalent form of craniosynostosis. It is the premature fusion of the sagittal suture, resulting in a "boat like" skull shape. Early surgical intervention is crucial to prevent complications, yet no standard procedure exists for patients over 12 months old.

Relationship Between Finger Photoplethysmographic Pulses and Skin Blood Perfusion.

Introduction Photoplethysmography (PPG) measures are important in monitoring peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO). Another parameter is a derived quantity referred to as the peripheral perfusion index (PPI). It is calculated as the ratio of the peak-to-peak pulse amplitude of a PPG signal (PA) to the non-pulsating part of the total PPG signal.

Available Treatments and Adjunctive Therapies for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Patients of Reproductive Age: A Scoping Review.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) impacts the health of women worldwide. It is a condition consisting of dysfunctional cystic ovaries resulting in hormonal imbalance. Many women have symptoms such as infertility, increased production of androgens, and insulin resistance.

Complications of Long COVID: Unraveling a Case of Very-Late-Onset Myasthenia Gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is defined as an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder where autoantibodies disrupt synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction by targeting the acetylcholine receptor (AChR), muscle-specific kinase (MuSK), or other proteins related to the AChR complex. This disruption leads to characteristic muscle weakness and rapid fatigability. Clinically, MG is classified based on the age of onset into three distinct categories: early-onset MG (younger than 50 years), late-onset MG (between 50 and 64 years), and very-late-onset MG (65 years and older).

Current Patient Management for Bacterial Meningitis Simultaneously Affected by Stroke.

Bacterial meningitis (BM) is a critical central nervous system infection characterized by increased risks of complications and potentially fatal outcomes. The chances of full recovery are significantly reduced in the presence of concomitant neurovascular complications such as ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, intracerebral hemorrhage, and cerebral sinus thrombosis. Effective treatment of BM requires a targeted approach that simultaneously addresses the causative pathogen and manages the neurologically related complications.

Implementing the Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare (DASH) Tool for Training Medical Faculty.

Introduction Despite simulation being widely recognized as an essential component of medical education, there remains a dearth of literature on its implementation and effectiveness in pre-clerkship medical education. In order to effectively encompass healthcare simulations within medical instruction, it is imperative to first address the often neglected gap in faculty development and training. With this in mind, we aim to present our experience in implementing the Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare (DASH) tool in training faculty at Nova Southeastern University Dr.

Exploring the 6-year Trend in Dedicated Research Years among Integrated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residents.

Background: The plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) match has become more competitive with an emphasis on research productivity. With the transition of the US Medical Licensing Examination step 1 examination to pass-fail grading, alternative evaluation metrics for residency applications are needed. Our study provides a landscape of the incidence of research years amongst integrated PRS residents and the potential impacts of gender and race.

Disney Rash in Las Vegas: Benign Lower Extremity Purpura Following Prolonged Walking.

This case follows an adult middle-aged female patient who developed a purpuric rash, soreness, and swelling on her legs after walking for several days in Las Vegas. With no prior petechial rash history or presence of systemic symptoms, exercise-induced purpura (EIP) was suspected due to her protracted walking in warm weather. She recovered fully with supportive treatment.

Superiority of Avacopan and Mepolizumab to Glucocorticoid Tapering in the Treatment of Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)-Associated Vasculitis: A Systematic Review.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) comprises a spectrum of autoimmune diseases, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Studies have shown that avacopan and mepolizumab are promising therapeutics for partial or complete replacement of glucocorticoids (GC), with sustained remission while completely weaning off GC. Avacopan inhibits C5aR in the complement pathway, preventing neutrophil migration, while mepolizumab targets IL-5R, reducing eosinophil activity.

Spectral Power Distribution of Heart Rate Variability in Contiguous Short-Term Intervals.

Introduction: Heart rate variability (HRV) is determined by the variation of consecutive cardiac electrical excitations, usually from RR intervals of an EKG. The sequence of intervals is a time series that yields three HRV parameter categories: time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear. Parameter estimates are based on widely different EKG sample times: short-term (~5-10 minutes), longer (24 hours), and ultra-short (<5 minutes).

Comparing and Contrasting Professional Identity Formation Among Health Professional Students.

This project aims to review and compare the professional identity formation (PIF) of medical, dental, nursing, and pharmacy students while analyzing the role of interprofessional education (IPE) in this journey. Our medical research librarian conducted a literature review. Papers were selected based on the inclusion criteria developed by authors for PIF and IPE topics, which were then stratified for each health program of interest: medicine, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy.

Examining the Efficacy of Five Lactobacillus Species in Treating and Preventing Atopic Dermatitis: A Systemic Literature Review.

Probiotics have garnered increasing attention, particularly within the realm of atopic dermatitis (AD). Although classified as dietary supplements by the Food and Drug Administration, probiotics are being explored for their potential to modify immune system responses and aid in disease recovery. This review aims to provide a current understanding of probiotics, specifically various lactobacilli strains, as a therapeutic option in preventing and treating AD.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities Within Social Determinants of Health Amongst Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Introduction This study aims to identify the influence of social determinants of health (SDoH) on patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), emphasizing racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. Methods A cross-sectional study used the National Institute of Health's (NIH) All of Us Research Program (AoU). From 727,000 patients, SLE patients were categorized by race, ethnicity, and responses to the Social Determinants of Health survey from May 2018 until March 2023.

Augmented Reality (AR) in Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs): A Scoping Review.

Surgical disparities persist in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Insufficient access to surgical care places a large burden on these regions, with high mortality rates for otherwise standard procedures performed in high-income countries (HICs). Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) now provide us with a platform to improve the delivery of surgical access and training to LMICs.