Impact of COVID-19 on Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Programs: A Quantitative and Qualitative Survey Assessment of Fellowship Program Directors

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented challenges in medical training, and we sought to assess the specific impact of COVID-19 on hematology-oncology (HO) fellowship programs. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional anonymous online survey of 103 HO program directors (PDs) in conjunction with the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and ASCO. We sought to assess the specific impact of COVID-19 on HO fellowship programs' clinical, educational, and research activities, evaluate perceptions regarding PD and trainee emotional and mental health, and identify ways to support programs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, parametric and nonparametric tests, and multivariable logistic regression models. Responses to open-ended questions were analyzed with thematic analysis. RESULTS: Significant changes to fellowship activities included transitioning fellow training from outpatient clinics to telehealth (77.7%), shifting to virtual education (94.2%), and moving to remote research work (63.1%). A minority (21.4%) of PDs reported that their fellows were redeployed to cover non-HO services. Most PDs (54.4%) believed COVID-19 had a slight negative impact on fellowship training. PD self-reported burnout increased significantly from 15.5% prepandemic to 44.7% during the pandemic, and most PDs witnessed minor signs of fellow burnout (52.4%). Common PD concerns included inadequate supervision for telehealth activities, reduced opportunities for fellow advancement and promotion, lack of professional development activities, limited research operations and funding, program financial constraints, and virtual recruitment. CONCLUSION: We encourage institutions and national societies to allocate resources and develop programs that can support fellowships and mitigate the potential negative effects of COVID-19 on trainee and PD career development.

Universal Adhesives and Adhesion Modes in Non-Carious Cervical Restorations: 2-Year Randomised Clinical Trial

This prospective, double-blind, six-arm parallel randomised controlled trial aimed to compare the performance of two universal adhesives (UAs) in non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs), using the FDI criteria, and analysed if participants/NCCLs’ characteristics influenced the outcome. Thirty-eight 18- to 65-year-old participants were seeking routine dental care at a university clinic. At baseline, 210 NCCLs were randomly allocated to six groups (35 restorations’ each). The UAs tested were FuturabondU (FBU) and AdheseUniversal (ADU) applied in either etch-and-rinse (ER) and self-etch (SE) modes. FuturabondDC (FBDC) in SE and in SE with selective enamel etching (SE-EE) modes were controls. NCCLs were restored with AdmiraFusion. The analysis included nonparametric tests, Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests (α = 0.05). At 2-years, of 191 restorations, ten were missed due to retention loss (all groups, p > 0.05). FBDC (p = 0.037) and FBU (p = 0.041) performed worse than ADU in SE mode. FBDC and FBU also showed worse functional success rate (p = 0.012, p = 0.007, respectively) and cumulative retention rates (p = 0.022, p = 0.012, respectively) than ADU. Some participants/NCCLs’ characteristics influenced (p < 0.05) the outcomes. FBU did not perform as well as ADU, especially in SE mode and due to functional properties. Participants’ age and NCCLs’ degree of dentin sclerosis and internal shape angle influenced FBU performance.

FaDA: A web application for regular laboratory data analyses

Web-based data analysis and visualization tools are mostly designed for specific purposes, such as the analysis of data from whole transcriptome RNA sequencing or single-cell RNA sequencing. However, generic tools designed for the analysis of common laboratory data for noncomputational scientists are also needed. The importance of such web-based tools is emphasized by the continuing increases in the sample capacity of conventional laboratory tools such as quantitative PCR, flow cytometry or ELISA instruments. We present a web-based application FaDA, developed with the R Shiny package that provides users with the ability to perform statistical group comparisons, including parametric and nonparametric tests, with multiple testing corrections suitable for most standard wet-laboratory analyses. FaDA provides data visualizations such as heatmaps, principal component analysis (PCA) plots, correlograms and receiver operating curves (ROCs). Calculations are performed through the R language. The FaDA application provides a free and intuitive interface that allows biologists without bioinformatic skill to easily and quickly perform common laboratory data analyses. The application is freely accessible at https://shiny-bird.univ-nantes.fr/app/Fada.

Comparing High School Sport Specialization Trends Between Division I and Club Collegiate Athletes

Background: Adolescent athletes report that sports specialization improves their ability to receive a collegiate athletics scholarship, though this is not well-understood. The purpose of this study was to examine self-reported trends in high school specialization and influences for sport participation between Division I (D-I) and college-aged club (club) athletes. Hypothesis: There would be no difference in high school sport specialization or sport participation influences between D-I and club athletes. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: A survey included specialization classification (low, moderate, and high) for 9th to 12th grade, age that the athlete started organized sport and his or her collegiate sport, and several influential factors for participation in one’s primary high school sport (1 = no influence to 5 = extremely influential). Chi-square analyses were used to compare specialization classifications between groups. Nonparametric tests were used to determine significant differences in age-related variables and influential factors between D-I and club athletes. All analysis were also conducted with boys and girls separately. Results: Participants included 266 D-I (girls, 155; 58%) and 180 club (girls, 122; 68%) athletes. Club athletes were more likely to be classified as low specialization at every grade in high school, and this difference was more pronounced between D-I and club female athletes than male athletes. The number of years an athlete was classified as highly specialized in high school was not different between D-I and club athletes. Club athletes were more influenced by playing with friends than D-I athletes and D-I athletes were more influenced by pursuing a collegiate scholarship than club athletes. Conclusion: High levels of specialization in high school sport may not be necessary for playing at the collegiate level, though some level of specialization in high school might be necessary. Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should advocate for healthy long-term athlete development, which does not support high specialization in high school sports.

Food attitudes and consumer behavior towards food in conflict-affected zones during the COVID-19 pandemic: case of the Palestinian territories

PurposeGlobal lockdowns and restrictions linked to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have affected food environments and consumption patterns. Conflict-affected countries are disproportionately affected from economic and food security perspectives. In this regard, the Palestinian territories (namely West Bank and Gaza Strip), which face a number of issues such as Israeli military and economic control, overcrowded cities and refugee camps (especially in Gaza Strip), rising poverty and food insecurity, are an especially interesting case study. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the selection and intake of foods and drinks, as well as consumer behavior and attitude toward food in the Palestinian territories.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws upon an online survey in the Palestinian territories administered in Arabic through the Survey Monkey platform from September 15 to October 10, 2020, with 322 adults. The survey findings were analyzed using descriptive statistics and several nonparametric tests. Particularly, the U-Mann Whitney test was used in dichotomous, categorical independent variables (e.g. gender), while the Kruskal–Wallis test was run to analyze multi-choice responses (e.g. occupation).FindingsThe results reveal that food attitudes and consumer behavior towards food have been widely affected. First, they reveal that Palestinians try to have healthier diets but ate more between meals (e.g. snacks). Second, the pandemic transformed respondents' shopping behavior and induced panic buying, negatively affecting food affordability due to increased prices of some foods (e.g. fruits and vegetables). Some food behaviors were shaped by negative psychological determinants (e.g. depression and anxiety). The pandemic effects are moderated by different sociodemographics (age, education and income). COVID-19 negatively affected food security but also opened a “window of opportunity” to trigger the transition towards more sustainable diets.Originality/valueThe paper results show that the eventual effects of COVID-19 will most likely vary from country to country, based not only on the epidemiological circumstances but also, among other factors, on the baseline socioeconomic situation and shock resilience. The findings contribute to the clarification and critical analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 on food behaviors in the Palestinian territories, which would have several policy implications.

THE SCHOOL AND THE TEACHER: CHANGES IN STUDENT PERCEPTION DURING THE PANDEMIC

The relationship between the learning environment and the learning behaviours has long been of interest in educational literature. When addressing the socioemotional stages, Erickson raises awareness of the psycho-social influence of school by way of diligence vs inferiority (Harwood et al., 2010), while Galos and Aldridge (2020) explore how designing a learning environment focused on student self-efficacy triggers statistically significant differences in 4 (out of 9) areas of analysis: fairness, task clarity, learning responsibility and task achievement. The aim of the present study is to highlight the significance and the differences in the main student psychosocial representations of school and teachers before and during the pandemic, the latter being characterised by government-imposed restrictions as well as changes in the student-teacher interaction, both during the second school term of 2019-2020 and the two school terms of the academic year 2020-2021. The areas we intend to explore are: overall attitude to school and student emotional states, the perception on teacher and peer relations, the perception on school as an organisation but also as a learning environment, the parents as a filter on schoolrelated perceptions, and the projective dimension on school life. The resulting statistical analysis (both nonparametric tests for independent groups and correlation) reveals major changes in the student perception on school and teachers, which will require systematic future intervention, as well as an upgrade of educational strategies, considering that the approaches designed and applied during the pandemic proved unable to compensate for the changes brought about by the restrictions on learning.

The Importance of Mentors and How to Handle More Than One Mentor

Introduction: Working with multiple mentors is a critical way for students to expand their network, gain opportunities, and better prepare for future scholastic or professional ventures. However, students from underrepresented groups (UR) are less likely to be mentored or have access to mentors, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. We developed and implemented a workshop, to provide the necessary foundation for students to be better prepared for establishing future mentorships throughout graduate and professional school. Methods: Faculty well-versed in the area of effective mentorship from multiple universities developed and delivered a 1.5-hour workshop to address the roles of a mentor, especially when it comes to UR students, and how students may effectively work with multiple mentors. This workshop was delivered to a group of students from the HBCU Winston Salem State University, and a pre/post- Likert scale-based survey was administered. Results: We analyzed the raw data with nonparametric tests for comparison within paired samples. Wilcoxon matched-pairs and signed-rank tests showed statistically significant growth in student self-ratings related to the workshop learning objectives. Conclusions: The How to Handle More than One Mentor to Achieve Excellence workshop was well received as a component of pre-graduate and pre-professional training. Incorporating workshops like this may increase student preparedness around developing and cultivating healthy mentorship relationships throughout STEM training.

THE DIVERSITY OF TREMATODES IN FISHES FROM THE MIDDLE COURSE OF THE RIVER SAVA (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)

UDK: 597:576.89(497.6) (282.249) The prevalence and intensity of trematodes ectoparasites in freshwater fish are presented in this paper. Parasitology researches were conducted during 2017 in the middle course of the river Sava near Orašje. All results from this study were tested with the use of nonparametric tests (χ2, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman test of corellation) in the statistical package STATISTICA 7. The total of 400 sampled specimens of different fish species were parasitologically tested. The trematodes from the class Monogenea (Dactylogyrus, Gyrodactylus and Eudiplozoon nipponicum) and Digenea (Posthodiplostomum cuticola) were found on the skin and the gills of the fish. The genus Dactylogyrus was found on 27 specimens, or 6.75%. Intensity of the infection for the genus Dactylogyrus did not show any significant deviations during different seasons. Parasites from the genus Gyrodactylus were found on the skin and the gills of 40 infected specimens, dominantly found on the gills. The species Eudiplozoon nipponicum was found in low prevalence in the total ichthyo sample of 1.75%. The presence of the species Posthodiplostomum cuticola is established in 18 specimens and the prevalence of the infection in total sample was 4.5%.

Abstract 9123: Plasma Biomarkers Associated With PICU Mortality in Children With Cardiac Arrest and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Introduction: The post-cardiac arrest state is comprised of an ischemic and reperfusion syndrome, with inflammation similar to sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, it is unknown whether cardiac arrest has a distinct inflammatory profile relative to these other critical illness syndromes. Using plasma biomarkers of systemic inflammation measured in children with ARDS, we aimed to evaluate identify unique biomarkers in a sub-cohort with cardiac arrest, and the association of these biomarkers with mortality. Methods: This was a retrospective single-center cohort study of 17 biomarkers prospectively collected from pediatric subjects with ARDS between 2014-2019. Biomarkers were drawn within 24 hours after both ARDS diagnosis and cardiac arrest. Clinical characteristics and biomarkers were compared between those with ARDS and those with ARDS and cardiac arrest (ARDS+CA) using nonparametric tests. In ARDS+CA subjects, associations of biomarkers with mortality were tested with univariate and bivariate logistic regression. Results: Biomarkers were measured in 333 subjects: 301 with ARDS (median age 5.3 years, 55.5% male) and 32 ARDS+CA (median age 8 years, 53.1% male). Majority of arrests (68.7%) were out-of-hospital with median 11 minutes of CPR. ARDS+CA subjects were more likely to be immunosuppressed and present after aspiration or drowning than the ARDS cohort. ARDS severity, PRISM III score, vasoactive-ionotropic score and extra-pulmonary organ failure were worse in the ARDS+CA group (p<0.05). Eight biomarkers were elevated in ARDS+CA compared to the ARDS cohort: sRAGE, nucleosomes, SP-D, CCL22, IL-6, HSP70, IL-8, and MIP-1b (p<0.05). In the ARDS+CA cohort, 3 biomarkers were associated with mortality when controlling for markers of disease and cardiac arrest severity: sRAGE (unadjusted odds ratio 3.48 [IQR 1.35, 8.99], p=0.010), IL-6 (OR 1.75 [1.13, 2.71], p=0.012) and granzyme B (OR 3.74 [1.46, 9.57], p=0.006). Conclusion: sRAGE, IL-6 and granzyme B were independently associated with mortality after pediatric cardiac arrest in ARDS. This exploratory work suggests that cardiac arrest may induce a distinct inflammatory state that differs from other critical illness syndromes and further investigation is needed.