Characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccination status among staff and faculty of a large, diverse University in Los Angeles.

ObjectiveThis study examined characteristics associated with being unvaccinated among a sample of university staff and faculty prior to university campus reopening for in-person learning in spring-summer 2021. MethodsStaff and faculty responded to an email invitation to complete an online survey. Survey questions included demographic data (race/ethnicity, age, sex), COVID-19 knowledge and behaviors, employment specific data including division and subdivision (healthcare vs. non-healthcare related division); and self-reported vaccination status. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine significant characteristics associated with the likelihood of being unvaccinated for COVID-19. ResultsParticipants identifying as Asian and Asian American, Hispanic/Latinx or Multicultural/Other had greater odds of being unvaccinated compared to Non-Hispanic White participants. Other characteristics associated with greater likelihood of being unvaccinated included working as university staff member (vs. faculty), older age, decrease in income, inability to work remotely and not traveling outside of Los Angeles area. Political affiliation as an Independent or as something else were more likely to be unvaccinated compared to participants identifying as Democrat. ConclusionsFindings suggest several factors associated with racial and social disparities may delay the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination. This study highlights the need for targeted educational interventions to promote vaccination among university staff and faculty.

Management of an extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm secondary to relapsing polychondritis.

Extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) aneurysms make up 1% of peripheral aneurysms and less than 1% of patients who have relapsing polychondritis develop aneurysms. A 39-year-old man with relapsing polychondritis presented with right neck pain. Initial computed tomography angiography demonstrated a 16-mm right EICA aneurysm with growth to 25 mm after 2 months. A right EICA aneurysmectomy, external carotid artery to ICA transposition, and internal jugular vein patch of the common carotid artery was performed with symptom resolution. The inflammatory nature of the underlying disease, aggressive expansion, and symptomatic state warranted open repair and we recommend life-long monitoring given the rarity of this case.

Intramammary schwannoma: a palpable breast mass.

Schwannomas are benign tumors arising from the peripheral nerve sheath, commonly occurring in the head, neck, and extensor surfaces of the extremities. They can be associated with neurofibromatosis type II. Our case describes a 48-year-old woman with a 2-week history of a left-sided palpable breast mass. She was referred to radiology, where additional imaging revealed a 1.1-cm mass. A biopsy was performed; histology revealed an intramammary schwannoma. Mammography findings include a well-defined mass without calcification. Ultrasound images have shown hypoechoic, encapsulated, and well-defined lesions without calcification. Histologically, schwannomas reveal alternating Antoni A and Antoni B cellular areas. Schwannomas are also S100-positive on immunohistochemistry. This case is best categorized as a BI-RADS 4A lesions. This case report highlights the importance of both imaging and pathology in the diagnosis of breast neoplasms. Although breast schwannomas are not a common entity, they are an important consideration when evaluating a breast mass.

Concordance between clinical and histopathologic diagnoses of oral mucosal lesions.

PURPOSE: To study the epidemiology of oral soft tissue lesions in New Zealand from 2002 to 2006 and to determine the concordance between the clinical diagnosis and the definitive histopathologic diagnosis achieved by general dental practitioners and by specialists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The details from biopsy referrals and the corresponding histopathologic reports of oral soft tissue lesions were recorded into a statistical software package, and the concordance between the clinical diagnosis and histopathologic diagnosis was determined for all the lesions. RESULTS: Most biopsies were benign lesions, and both clinician groups achieved a high diagnostic concordance for these lesions. However, when considering all lesion types, the overall concordance for both groups was a moderate 50.6%, with little difference between specialists and general dental practitioners, although specialists were more accurate in diagnosing a malignant or premalignant lesion. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and histopathologic concordance achieved by oral health practitioners in New Zealand appears to be moderate.

Construct Validity of the Wisc-III Verbal and Performance Factors for Black Special Education Students.

The underlying factor structure of the revised edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R) was consistently found to be comparable between regular and special education students as well as across Anglo, Black, and Hispanic populations. A commensurate research base across exceptionality and ethnic group has not been established for the recently published third edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III), making it vital that information regarding the psychometric properties of the WISC-III among diverse groups of children be collected. This study examines the factor structure of the 10 WISC-III core subtests among a sample of Black students receiving special education services. Results provided evidence of a large, first principal factor as well as the expected Verbal and Performance factors. Implications for psychologists are presented, and recommendations for future research are provided.

Effects of soil-applied lead on seedling growth and ectomycorrhizal colonization of loblolly pine.

Six-month-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) were grown for 15 weeks in two native soils amended with 0, 30, 60, 120, 240 or 480 mg kg(-1) Pb as PbCl2. Ectomycorrhizae were quantified, by morphotype, as the total number of tips per centimeter, and as the number of tips for each morphotype and for Cenococcum geophilum. Total numbers of non-ectomycorrhizal short roots and necrotic tips were recorded. Total height and biomass exhibited a non-linear response to soil-applied lead. Growth generally was greatest in the controls and higher treatments, and least in the intermediate treatments. In both soils, Pb concentrations in roots increased linearly with increasing levels of soil-applied Pb. Neither foliage nor stems exhibited significant increases in Pb concentrations with increasing levels of Pb. Significant linear decreases in total numbers of ectomycorrhizal tips and significant linear increases in non-ectomycorrhizal short roots and necrotic tips occurred with increasing levels of Pb in the soil. The majority of individual morphotypes decreased with increasing Pb. However, the number of ectomycorrhizal tips formed by C. geophilium increased with increasing soil Pb levels after 15 weeks of treatment. These results indicate that short-term loblolly pine seedling growth is not inhibited by increasing Pb levels. Ectomycorrhizal formation decreased, and alterations in species composition occurred as a result of increasing concentrations of soil-applied Pb. These effects on ectomycorrhizae may cause long-term changes in nutrient and water balances, which could reduce tree vigor.

Platelet adherence and detachment--in what ways is surface-bound albumin different from surface-bound fibrinogen?

The adhesion and detachment of platelets on surface-bound albumin and surface-bound fibrinogen were studied. Fluorescent video-microscopy of platelets labelled with mepacrine was used to provide continuous information. Glass tubes (I.D. 1.3 mm) were precoated with either human albumin or human fibrinogen before exposure to a suspension of washed platelets and red cells. Observations were made 0.5 cm from the tube's entrance over a 1370 micron 2 portion of lumen. The rate at which cells leave the measurement area and the percent of initially attaching cells which leave are independent of protein coating but increase with flow rate. The percent of initially attaching platelets which permanently adhere is equal for both protein coatings but the pathways leading to this result can be different. For the lower shear rate studied, 80 s-1, the percent of cells which permanently adhere on first contact is less for albumin than for fibrinogen; the percent of initially attaching cells which adhere and then move before permanent adhesion is greater for albumin. The mechanism of detachment and reattachment leads to the equality of the overall adhesion efficiencies for the two protein coatings at 80 s-1. For the higher shear rate studied, 456 s-1, the adhesion pathways for both coatings were the same.

Blood platelet surface interactions on fibrinogen under flow as viewed with fluorescent video-microscopy.

The interaction of fluorescently labeled blood platelets with fibrinogen-coated glass was studied in Poiseuille flow at 3 wall shear rates, 40, 80 and 944 s-1. Observations were made via video-microscopy at a distance of 0.5 cm from a tube's entrance over a 1370 microns 2 portion of luminal area. The rates of arrival and detachment, and the net rate of adhesion of cells increased nonlinearly with flow rate. The fraction of arriving cells, first contacts, which adhered without subsequent movement and the fraction of arriving cells which adhered, moved to new positions and then remained adherent, were maximal at 80 s-1. For platelets which adhere and then move to a number of new positions, the likelihood of permanent adhesion is greater than 85 percent. The adhesion process is one in which 40-60 percent of cells permanently adhere on first contact with an additional 30 percent adhering after several moves along the surface. Cells contacting where a platelet was previously adherent had a greater chance of adhering than they would on an unaltered fibrinogen surface. The efficiency of platelet adhesion is greater for second contacts than for first contacts on unaltered fibrinogen coated surface.