Does early exposure to cardiothoracic surgery increase interest in the specialty?

INTRODUCTION: The number of applications for cardiothoracic surgery has been steadily dropping over the past decades. We aim to assess whether a 1-day cardiothoracic surgical skills conference could increase interest into the speciality. METHODS: Participants included in the study had to be medical students or junior doctors. Out of 57 delegates that attended the conference, 52 were enrolled in the study, and completed the pre-conference and post-conference questionnaires. Three introductory lectures were delivered by consultants in cardiothoracic surgery or cardiology in the morning, followed by three practical surgical workshops. We assessed demographics, confidence in and knowledge of procedures, and the change in participants' interest in the speciality pre- and post-conference. This study was conducted at St George's University of London. RESULTS: The interest to pursue a career in cardiothoracic surgery increased by 23% post-conference (p = .035). Confidence and knowledge in all procedures taught improved significantly after the conference (p < .05), with the highest increase seen in anastomosis of vessels (p < .0001). Preclinical students made up 57.7% of participants, majority of whom had not seen more than three surgical procedures. CONCLUSION: Our conference has shown to increase interest in cardiothoracic surgery and improve exposure to surgical skills, especially to those in early years of medical school. The surgical workshops improved student confidence and knowledge in procedures used within the field and the use of animal tissue improved participant experience. Further research is needed at other medical schools to assess whether a change in surgical skills teaching should be made to medical school curriculums.

The role of computed tomography scan in the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize current literature evidence on the role of computed tomography (CT) scan in the diagnosis and assessment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent guidelines on the use of CT scans in COVID-19 vary between countries. However, the consensus is that it should not be used as the first line; a notion supported by the WHO. Currently, several investigations are being used including reverse transcription PCR testing, chest radiographs, and ultrasound scans, and CT scans. They are ideally performed later during the disease process as the sensitivity and specificity are highest by that time. Typical COVID-19 features on CT scans vary but include vascular enlargement, ground-glass opacities, and ground glass opacification together with consolidation. SUMMARY: Since COVID-19 was declared as a global pandemic, there was a push towards identifying appropriate diagnostic tests that are both reliable and effective. There is a general agreement that CT scans have a high sensitivity but low specificity in diagnosing COVID-19. However, the quality of available studies is not optimal, so this must always be interpreted with the clinical context in mind. Clinicians must aim to weigh up the practicalities and drawbacks of CT scans when considering their use for a patient. The ease and speed of use of CT scans must be balanced with their high radiation doses, and infection control considerations.

Predictors of atrial fibrillation detection in embolic stroke of undetermined source patients with implantable loop recorder.

Background: Covert atrial fibrillation (AF) is a predominant aetiology of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Evidence suggested that AF is more frequently detected by implantable loop recorder (ILR) than by conventional monitoring. However, the predictive factors associated with occult AF detected using ILRs are not well established yet. In this study we aim to investigate the predictors of AF detection in patients with ESUS undergoing an ILR. Methods: This observational multi-centre study included consecutive ESUS patients who underwent ILR implantation. The infarcts were divided in deep, cortical infarcts or both. The infarction sites were categorized as anterior and middle cerebral artery, posterior cerebral artery with and without brainstem/cerebellum involvement. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate variables associated with AF detection. Results: Overall, 3,000 patients were initially identified. However, in total, 127 patients who consecutively underwent ILR implantation were included in our analysis. AF was detected in 33 (26%) out of 127 patients. The median follow-up was 411 days. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics and comorbidities between patients with and without AF detected. AF was detected more often after posterior cerebral artery infarct with brainstem/cerebellum involvement (p < 0.001) whereas less often after infarction in the anterior and middle cerebral artery (p = 0.021). Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that posterior cerebral artery infarct with brainstem/cerebellum involvement was an independent predictor of AF detection. Conclusion: Our study showed that posterior circulation infarcts with brainstem/cerebellum involvement are associated with AF detection in ESUS patients undergoing ILR. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

Health Inequalities During COVID-19 and Their Effects on Morbidity and Mortality.

Inequalities in health have existed for many decades and have led to unjust consequences in morbidity and mortality. These have become even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic with individuals from black and minority ethnic groups, poorer socioeconomic backgrounds, urban and rurally deprived locations, and vulnerable groups of society suffering the full force of its effects. This review is highlighting the current disparities that exist within different societies, that subsequently demonstrate COVID-19, does in fact, discriminate against disadvantaged individuals. Also explored in detail are the measures that can and should be taken to improve equality and provide equitable distribution of healthcare resources amongst underprivileged communities.

Protective Antibodies to Bovine Milk Fat Globule and to Xanthine Oxidase Levels in Jordanian Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: The previously reported circulating human antibodies against the Bovine Milk Fat Globule Membrane (BMFGM) were found to primarily target xanthine oxidase (XO) enzyme that produces uric acid and reactive oxygen species. It is suggested that XO could potentially be implicated in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction. Methods: In this study, anti-BMFGM and anti-XO IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies were assayed in the sera of acute myocardial infarction patients and healthy control from the Jordanian population using the highly sensitive Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum high in antibodies against xanthine oxidase was used as a reference serum to standardize the assay. The levels of anti-BMFGM IgM antibodies were found to be higher in male controls than myocardial infarction male patients in contrast to female group, but no significant differences were observed in the levels of IgG and IgA antibodies. The levels of anti-xanthine oxidase IgM and IgG antibodies were significantly higher in myocardial infarction patients when compared with their corresponding controls. Conflicting results were obtained when different personnel measured the IgM antibody titres, likely due to infarction factors of IgM aggregation within the assay. Results from this study demonstrate significant differences in the levels of antiMFGM and anti-XO IgM antibodies between myocardial infarction patients and controls. Conclusion: Collectively, the data suggest that XO may be a risk factor in myocardial infarction patients and the presence of antibodies may act as a protective factor