A study of disparities in access to genetic care pre- and post-pandemic.

We aimed to explore the delivery of pediatric genetic care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess if disparities in care existed or emerged. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical record for patients 18 years old or younger seen in the Division of Pediatric Genetics between September 2019-March 2020 and April-October 2020. Outcomes included time between referral and new visit, recommendation and completion of genetic testing and/or follow-up visit within 6 months, and telemedicine versus in-person format. Outcomes were compared pre- and post-COVID-19 emergence across ethnicity, race, age, health insurance, socioeconomic status (SES), and use of medical interpretation services. Three hundred thirteen total records were reviewed with comparable demographics between cohorts. Cohort 2 had shorter times between referral and new visit, greater telemedicine utilization, and a greater proportion of testing completed. Younger patients tended to have shorter times between referral and initial visit. In Cohort 1, those with Medicaid insurance or no coverage had longer referral-initial visit times. In Cohort 2, there were differences in testing recommendation based on age. For all outcomes, no disparities were observed across ethnicity, race, SES, or use of medical interpretation services. This study characterizes the impact of the pandemic on pediatric genetics care delivery at our center and may have wider implications.

A Review of the Antiviral Properties of Black Elder (Sambucus nigra L.) Products.

Black elder (Sambucus nigra L.) has a long ethnobotanical history across many disparate cultures as a treatment for viral infection and is currently one of the most-used medicinal plants worldwide. Until recently, however, substantial scientific research concerning its antiviral properties has been lacking. Here, we evaluate the state of current scientific research concerning the use of elderberry extract and related products as antivirals, particularly in the treatment of influenza, as well as their safety and health impacts as dietary supplements. While the extent of black elder's antiviral effects are not well known, antiviral and antimicrobial properties have been demonstrated in these extracts, and the safety of black elder is reflected by the United States Food and Drug Administration approval as generally recognized as safe. A deficit of studies comparing these S. nigra products and standard antiviral medications makes informed and detailed recommendations for use of S. nigra extracts in medical applications currently impractical. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ophthalmic imaging in abusive head trauma.

BACKGROUND: Ophthalmic imaging plays an increasingly important role the evaluation of abusive head trauma, however these imaging modalities may be unfamiliar to non-ophthalmologists. OBJECTIVE: To provide pediatricians and child abuse pediatric professionals with background on ophthalmic imaging techniques in the context of suspected abuse, as well as information on commercial options and costs for those interested in augmenting their ophthalmic imaging capabilities. METHODS: We performed a review of the ophthalmic imaging literature for fundus photography, ocular coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, ocular ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and postmortem imaging. We also contacted individual vendors for equipment pricing information. RESULTS: For each ophthalmic imaging modality, we demonstrate its role in the evaluation of abusive head trauma including indications, potential findings, sensitivity and specificity of findings for abuse, and commercial options. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic imaging is an important supportive component of the evaluation for abusive head trauma. When used in conjunction with clinical examination, ophthalmic imaging can improve diagnostic accuracy, support documentation, and possibly improve communication in medicolegal contexts.

Implementation of PROMIS® in an Optometry Clinic.

PURPOSE: The full utility of general health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS) surveys in the eye care setting has not been previously demonstrated. This report demonstrates the feasibility of implementing PROMIS in an eye care clinic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over 2 months, general health and functioning PROMIS surveys were offered to all patients in an optometric clinic in Rochester, NY. Demographic and clinical variables were recorded along with percent completion and time to completion of the survey. RESULTS: Across 651 patients, 258 chose to attempt PROMIS. Patients with low visual acuity were less likely to attempt the survey (p=0.049), and younger patients were more likely to complete the survey (p=0.025); no other patient characteristics were found to differ between those who did and did not participate in, nor complete, PROMIS. A total of 193 patients completed the survey (74.8%) in a mean time of 6.36 minutes (range = [1.43, 51.92] minutes; standard deviation = 5.62 minutes). Time to completion did not vary significantly across any groups. CONCLUSION: Our relatively high completion rate among those who attempted PROMIS indicates that PROMIS surveys are feasible to implement in an optometry clinic. While most patients completed the survey in little time, the large range of time to completion may indicate that some patients had difficulty completing the survey. Furthermore, the significant difference in visual acuity between those who participated in the survey and those who did not highlights the need to address the way PROMIS is delivered in order to foster greater inclusion.

Pasteurella Endocarditis: A Case Report and Statistical Analysis of the Literature.

Pasteurella is a genus of commensal bacteria of the oral cavity of several domesticated animals and a common cause of cellulitis after animal bites. Pasteurella has also been reported as a rare cause of endocarditis, with only 35 prior cases of definite Pasteurella endocarditis in the literature. Here, we present a case of Pasteurella multocida endocarditis treated successfully with surgery and antibiosis, as well as a review of the literature with statistical analysis of correlations between risk factors and clinical outcomes, as well as between treatment choices and clinical outcomes. Despite the small sample size, our analysis indicates a statistically significant correlation between comorbid liver disease and mortality, as well as a significant negative correlation between surgical treatment and mortality. This analysis implies a need for surgical management of endocarditis due to Pasteurella species and for more aggressive management of Pasteurella endocarditis in the setting of comorbid liver disease.