Sociodemographic risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection among Massachusetts healthcare workers: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To better understand coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission among healthcare workers (HCWs), we investigated occupational and nonoccupational risk factors associated with cumulative COVID-19 incidence among a Massachusetts HCW cohort. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The retrospective cohort study included adult HCWs in a single healthcare system from March 9 to June 3, 2020. METHODS: The SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal RT-PCR results and demographics of the study participants were deidentified and extracted from an established occupational health, COVID-19 database at the healthcare system. HCWs from each particular job grouping had been categorized into frontline or nonfrontline workers. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and odds ratios (ORs) were used to compare subgroups after excluding HCWs involved in early infection clusters before universal masking began. A sensitivity analysis was performed comparing jobs with the greatest potential occupational risks with others. RESULTS: Of 5,177 HCWs, 152 (2.94%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. Affected HCWs resided in areas with higher community attack rates (median, 1,755.2 vs 1,412.4 cases per 100,000; P < .001; multivariate-adjusted IRR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.03-3.44 comparing fifth to first quintile of community rates). After multivariate adjustment, African-American and Hispanic HCWs had higher incidence of COVID-19 than non-Hispanic white HCWs (IRR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.78-4.33; and IRR, 2.41, 95% CI, 1.42-4.07, respectively). After adjusting for race and residential rates, frontline HCWs had a higher IRR (1.73, 95% CI, 1.16-2.54) than nonfrontline HCWs overall, but not within specific job categories nor when comparing the highest risk jobs to others. CONCLUSIONS: After universal masking was instituted, the strongest risk factors associated with HCW COVID-19 infection were residential community infection rate and race.

Sleep Apnea Screening for Commercial Drivers: A Retrospective Comparison of the 2016 FMCSA MRB Recommendations and the 2006 Joint Task Force Consensus Guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the 2016 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and 2006 Joint Task Force (JTF) Guidelines for commercial drivers' obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening. METHODS: Retrospective review of all commercial driver medical examinations performed in 2017 at an academic occupational medicine clinic. Screening criteria from both the JTF and FMCSA were applied, separately, and jointly. Statistical tests were applied as appropriate. RESULTS: Applying the FMCSA or JTF criteria separately to 706 commercial drivers, the positive OSA screening yields were 15.7% and 16.9%, respectively. Using both criteria produced an overall positive OSA screen yield of 20.1%. Positive predictive values for applying both guidelines ranged from 72.7% to 95.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of the 2016 FMCSA and 2006 JTF OSA screening criteria in series has a higher screening yield than using either guideline individually.

COVID-19 symptoms predictive of healthcare workers' SARS-CoV-2 PCR results.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, transmissible both person-to-person and from contaminated surfaces. Early COVID-19 detection among healthcare workers (HCWs) is crucial for protecting patients and the healthcare workforce. Because of limited testing capacity, symptom-based screening may prioritize testing and increase diagnostic accuracy. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We performed a retrospective study of HCWs undergoing both COVID-19 telephonic symptom screening and nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 assays during the period, March 9-April 15, 2020. HCWs with negative assays but progressive symptoms were re-tested for SARS-CoV-2. Among 592 HCWs tested, 83 (14%) had an initial positive SARS-CoV-2 assay. Fifty-nine of 61 HCWs (97%) who were asymptomatic or reported only sore throat/nasal congestion had negative SARS-CoV-2 assays (P = 0.006). HCWs reporting three or more symptoms had an increased multivariate-adjusted odds of having positive assays, 1.95 (95% CI: 1.10-3.64), which increased to 2.61 (95% CI: 1.50-4.45) for six or more symptoms. The multivariate-adjusted odds of a positive assay were also increased for HCWs reporting fever and a measured temperature ≥ 37.5°C (3.49 (95% CI: 1.95-6.21)), and those with myalgias (1.83 (95% CI: 1.04-3.23)). Anosmia/ageusia (i.e. loss of smell/loss of taste) was reported less frequently (16%) than other symptoms by HCWs with positive assays, but was associated with more than a seven-fold multivariate-adjusted odds of a positive test: OR = 7.21 (95% CI: 2.95-17.67). Of 509 HCWs with initial negative SARS-CoV-2 assays, nine had symptom progression and positive re-tests, yielding an estimated negative predictive value of 98.2% (95% CI: 96.8-99.0%) for the exclusion of clinically relevant COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Symptom and temperature reports are useful screening tools for predicting SARS-CoV-2 assay results in HCWs. Anosmia/ageusia, fever, and myalgia were the strongest independent predictors of positive assays. The absence of symptoms or symptoms limited to nasal congestion/sore throat were associated with negative assays.

Pectoralis major muscle rupture repair: technique using unicortical buttons.

Over the past few decades, there has been increased awareness of pectoralis major muscle injuries necessitating further evaluation of management options and, in particular, surgical repair. Injury typically occurs when an eccentric load is applied to the muscle, such as with bench pressing, and failure usually occurs through the tendon. Although nonoperative management is sometimes appropriate, given the injury's propensity for young, active male patients, surgical intervention is often warranted. Because the injury typically occurs at the muscle-tendon interface, surgery focuses on repair of the avulsed tendon into its anatomic attachment site. We describe the use of a unicortical suture button to repair the ruptured tendon. This technique achieves the goals of strong fixation and anatomic repair of the tendon back into its native footprint.

Fluorine in medicinal chemistry: a century of progress and a 60-year retrospective of selected highlights.

This perspective explores the origins of both fluorine and medicinal chemistry a century ago and traces the early history of the intersection of these areas and the subsequent roles that fluorine has played in advancing medicinal innovations and diagnoses during the past 60 years. The overview highlights remarkable breakthroughs in many diverse areas of medicinal chemistry, including inter alia, anesthetics, steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticancer and antiviral agents, CNS medications, antibacterials and cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors. The increasing use of fluorine-18-labeled radiotracers in PET for diagnostic imaging of the brain, heart and in oncology is briefly presented. The signature roles of fluorine in medicinal chemistry are now firmly established. The presence of fluorine in pharmaceuticals has had a major impact on a plethora of important medical applications, such as those cited above. Fluorine will very likely continue to contribute significantly by playing multifaceted roles in enhancing future medical advances.

Babies with esophageal and duodenal atresia: a 30-year review of a multifaceted problem.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review newborns with esophageal atresia (EA) with and without distal tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) combined with duodenal atresia (DA) or duodenal stenosis (DS) (web, windsock, diaphragm) to determine which clinical features and treatments give the best results. METHODS: Twenty-four newborns were reviewed from 1971 to 2000 inclusive. Seven had EA and 17 had EA with TEF; 15 had DA and 9 had DS. One died after receiving only a gastrostomy. Seven underwent repair of both defects in 1 stage, whereas 16 were repaired separately. RESULTS: Eighteen of 24 (75%) survived. The EA or EA with TEF was repaired first in 5, but the DA or DS was initially overlooked in 4 and 2 died. The DA or DS was repaired first in 11, and all survived. Of the 7 in whom both repairs were done at same setting, 4 survived. Of 6 nonsurvivors, 5 were repaired. Mortality from EA was greater than EA with TEF, and DA was greater than DS. Associated anomalies in 18 (75%) of 24 did not affect survival. CONCLUSIONS: Staged repair (ideally within 1 week) is a safe suitable method of management. In EA, the coexistence of DA or DS must be considered because delay in diagnosis may adversely affect outcome. Mortality is a multifactorial phenomenon.

Anastomosis íleo-anal con o sin reservorio en niños y adolescentes con rectocolitis ulcerosa y poliposis familiar / Ileoanal anastomosis with and without reservoir in children and adolescents with ulcerative colitis and familial poliposis coli

Evaluamos el curso post-operatorio en niños anastomosis ileo-anal (Grupo 1, N-9), comparado con los resultados después de la anastomosis ileo-anal con reservorio (Grupo 2, N=7). Tres de nueve niños del Grupo 1 desarrollaron diarrea intratable, lo que hizo necesario una revisión de la anastomosis, para incluir una bolsa ileal. No hubo necesidad de revisión quirúrgica de la anastomosis para los pacientes del Grupo 2, aunque dos pacients tienen todavía la ileostomía, debido a la formación de absceso perianastomótico. Estos dos pacientes fueron excluídos del análisis subsiguiente. Dos meses después que la cirugía fue completada, niños en el Grupo 1 tuvieron 16 ñ 2 evacuaciones diarias en los cinco niños del Grupo 2, P < 0,05. Niños en el Grupo 1 tuvieron una evolución más pobre comparado con pacientes en el Grupo 2, determinado esto por: Incontinencia fecal (7/9 vs 0/5), dermatitis perianal (6/9 vs 1/5), tratamiento con agentes antidiarréicos (5/9 vs 0/5) ausentismo escolar (4/9 vs 0/5). Concluímos que para niños quienes requieren colectomía, quizás se obtengan mejores resultdos funcionales después de realizar una anastomosis ileo-anal con reservorio (creación de bolsa ileal) comparado con la anastomosis ileo-anal simple sin reservorio