Retrospective evaluation of the diagnostic utility of computed tomography in dogs with nontraumatic hemoperitoneum: 26 cases (2015-2020).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the appearance of lesions noted on abdominal computed tomography (CT) in dogs with spontaneous hemoperitoneum and determine the utility in using CT to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Single-center, university veterinary teaching emergency service. ANIMALS: Twenty-six dogs presented between 2015 and 2020 with spontaneous hemoperitoneum confirmed via abdominocentesis with pre- and postcontrast abdominal CT performed prior to surgery or euthanasia. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: On histopathological diagnosis, 20 of 26 lesions were found to be malignant, and 6 of 26 were benign. Two radiologists reviewed the CTs. Radiologist 1 correctly identified 5 of 6 (83.3%) benign cases and 18 of 20 (90%) malignant cases. Radiologist 2 correctly identified 2 of 6 (33.3%) benign lesions and 18 of 20 (90%) malignant cases. Of the 10 imaging descriptors evaluated, none were significantly associated with the histological diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the current study suggest that abdominal CT imaging of spontaneous hemoperitoneum cases is not a reliable indicator of malignancy versus benignancy. As such, prognosis should not be defined using this modality alone prior to emergency surgery and instead should be concluded based on the clinical course of the patient and histopathological findings of the resected tissues after surgery.

Cavitary pulmonary lesion wall thickness, presence of additional nodules, and intralesional contrast enhancement are associated with malignancy in dogs and cats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the CT features of cavitary pulmonary lesions and determine their utility to differentiate malignant from benign lesions. ANIMALS: This retrospective study included cases from 5 veterinary medical centers between January 1 2010, and December 31, 2020. Inclusion criteria included having a gas-filled cavitary pulmonary lesion on thoracic CT and definitive diagnosis by either cytology or histopathology. Forty-two animals (27 dogs and 15 cats) were included in this study. PROCEDURES: Medical records systems/imaging databases were searched, and cases meeting inclusion criteria were selected. The CT studies were interpreted by a third-year radiology resident, and findings were reviewed by a board-certified veterinary radiologist. RESULTS: 7 of the 13 lesion characteristics investigated were not statistically associated with the final diagnosis of the lesion, whereas 6 were statistically associated. Those that were associated included the presence of intralesional contrast enhancement, type of intralesional contrast enhancement (heterogenous and homogenous analyzed separately), presence of additional nodules, wall thickness of the lesion at its thickest point, and wall thickness at the thinnest point. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results from the present study showed that thoracic CT imaging of cavitary pulmonary lesions can be used to further refine the list of differential diagnoses. Based on this data set, in lesions that have heterogenous contrast enhancement, additional pulmonary nodules, and wall thickness > 40 mm at their thickest point, it would be reasonable to consider malignant neoplastic disease higher on the list of differentials than other causes.

Evaluation of a continuing professional development strategy on COVID-19 for 10 000 health workers in Ghana: a two-pronged approach.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges for health systems worldwide. Since the confirmation of the first COVID-19 case in Ghana in March 2020 Ghanian health workers have reported fear, stress, and low perceived preparedness to respond to COVID-19, with those who had not received adequate training at highest risk. Accordingly, the Paediatric Nursing Education Partnership COVID-19 Response project designed, implemented, and evaluated four open-access continuing professional development courses related to the pandemic, delivered through a two-pronged approach: e-learning and in-person. METHODS: This manuscript presents an evaluation of the project's implementation and outcomes using data for a subset of Ghanaian health workers (n = 9966) who have taken the courses. Two questions were answered: first, the extent to which the design and implementation of this two-pronged strategy was successful and, second, outcomes associated with strengthening the capacity of health workers to respond to COVID-19. The methodology involved quantitative and qualitative survey data analysis and ongoing stakeholder consultation to interpret the results. RESULTS: Judged against the success criteria (reach, relevance, and efficiency) the implementation of the strategy was successful. The e-learning component reached 9250 health workers in 6 months. The in-person component took considerably more resources than e-learning but provided hands-on learning to 716 health workers who were more likely to experience barriers to accessing e-learning due to challenges around internet connectivity, or institutional capacity to offer training. After taking the courses, health workers' capacities (addressing misinformation, supporting individuals experiencing effects of the virus, recommending the vaccine, course-specific knowledge, and comfort with e-learning) improved. The effect size, however, varied depending on the course and the variable measured. Overall, participants were satisfied with the courses and found them relevant to their well-being and profession. An area for improvement was refining the content-to-delivery time ratio of the in-person course. Unstable internet connectivity and the high upfront cost of data to access and complete the course online were identified as barriers to e-learning. CONCLUSIONS: A two-pronged delivery approach leveraged distinct strengths of respective e-learning and in-person strategies to contribute to a successful continuing professional development initiative in the context of COVID-19.

Computed tomographic characteristics of cavitary pulmonary adenocarcinoma in 3 dogs and 2 cats.

Cavitary pulmonary lesions can result from the localized breakdown of pulmonary parenchyma or be caused by the expulsion of a necrotic part of a mass. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical and computed tomographic characteristics for cases of cavitary pulmonary adenocarcinoma and find associations between the features and those identified in human pulmonary cavitary soft tissue lesions. Five cases were identified that had a cavitary pulmonary mass on thoracic computed tomography (CT) and histopathology of the lesions. Three dogs and 2 cats had cavitary pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Common features of CT in these cases included lesions in the caudal lung lobes, lobular and spiculated lesion margins, air bronchograms within the mass, pleural tags, heterogeneous contrast enhancement, and ground glass opacity in the surrounding parenchyma. The findings of this case series suggest there are similarities in the CT characteristics of malignancy in human and animal cavitary pulmonary masses.

Caractéristiques tomodensitométriques d'adénocarcinome pulmonaire cavitaire chez trois chiens et deux chats. Les lésions pulmonaires cavitaires peuvent résulter de la dégradation localisée du parenchyme pulmonaire ou être provoquées par l'expulsion d'une partie nécrotique d'une masse. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient de décrire les caractéristiques cliniques et tomodensitométriques de cas d'adénocarcinome pulmonaire cavitaire et de trouver des associations entre les caractéristiques et celles identifiées dans les lésions des tissus mous de la cavité pulmonaire humaine. Cinq cas ont été identifiés avec une masse pulmonaire cavitaire par tomodensitométrie (TDM) thoracique et histopathologie des lésions. Trois chiens et deux chats avaient un adénocarcinome pulmonaire cavitaire. Les caractéristiques communes de la tomodensitométrie dans ces cas comprenaient des lésions dans les lobes du poumon caudal, des marges lobulaires et spiculées des lésions, des bronchogrammes aériens dans la masse, des étiquettes pleurales, l'augmentation du contraste hétérogène et une opacité d'apparence de verre dépoli dans le parenchyme environnant. Les résultats de cette série de cas suggèrent qu'il existe des similitudes dans les caractéristiques tomodensitométriques de la malignité dans les masses pulmonaires cavitaires humaines et animales.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Assessing LGBT People's Perceptions of Police Legitimacy.

Although lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have achieved increased acceptance and access to social institutions in recent years, they have continued to be confronted with persistent homophobic attitudes, including from U.S. law enforcement personnel. Police culture often fosters these beliefs, and consequently results in the under-policing of LGBT citizens when victimized, but over-policing in places of leisure. This relationship is exacerbated when considering the intersectional effect of gender and sexual orientation, undoubtedly impacting legitimacy perceptions due to perceived (and actual) procedural injustice. Using original data collected at an LGBT festival in Arizona (N = 428), the current study examines the relationship between procedural justice and perceptions of police legitimacy among a historically marginalized population. Implications for theory and policy are discussed, with special attention given to contextualizing the findings within the current legitimacy crisis faced by American law enforcement.