Committee Position Research Articles

A Quantitative Review of Certified Burn Therapist’s Involvement in the JBCR Publications and ABA Leadership

Abstract The Burn Therapist Certification (BT-C) was introduced in 2018 to acknowledge occupational therapists (OT) and physical therapists (PT) with specialized knowledge, skill, and experience in the promotion of quality burn rehabilitation. Currently, BT-Cs make up 11.7% of therapists working in burn rehabilitation (n = 39/333). The purpose of this review is to report on the contributions of BT-Cs to organizational leadership of the American Burn Association (ABA) and in the generation of new knowledge through peer-reviewed publications. Despite the small percentage of burn therapists who are certified, they have a disproportionately large involvement in leadership within the ABA and burn research in the Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation (JBCR). From 2018 to 2023, BT-Cs have contributed to nearly one-half (n = 26/56) of therapy authored publications in the JBCR and almost one-third (n = 65/202) of accepted abstracts at the ABA annual meeting. Certified burn therapists demonstrate substantial involvement throughout the ABA, including maintaining an 85% membership rate and, on average, serve in 53% (n = 31/59) of the therapy allotted committee positions. Therapist pursuit of certification can have a profound impact on the burn community through publication, leadership, and development of care standards. Although therapists have indicated a desire to pursue certification, barriers related to a lack of association and center support have been identified. The burn community has endorsed certification as a mark of excellence for nurses and physicians. Maximizing the value of a transdisciplinary approach to burn care is also dependent on the excellence of therapies. If the burn community desires improved engagement and contribution from therapies, it should support therapist certification.

Addressing the gaps in evaluation of new drugs for older adults: Strategies from the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) Geriatric Committee.

The International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) Geriatric Committee aims to improve the use of drugs in older adults and develop new therapeutic approaches for the syndromes and diseases of old age through advocacy, education, and research. In the present paper, we propose strategies relevant to drug development and evaluation, spanning preclinical and the full range of clinical studies. Drugs for older adults need to consider not only age, but also other characteristics common in geriatric patients, such as multimorbidity, polypharmacy, falls, cognitive impairment, and frailty. The IUPHAR Geriatric Committee's position statement on 'Measurement of Frailty in Drug Development and Evaluation' is included, highlighting 12 key principles that cover the spectrum of translational research. We propose that where older adults are likely to be major users of a drug, that frailty is measured at baseline and as an outcome. Preclinical models that replicate the age, frailty, duration of exposure, comorbidities, and co-medications of the proposed patients may improve translation. We highlight the potential application of recent technologies, such as physiologically based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling informed by frailty biology, and Artificial Intelligence, to inform personalized medicine for older patients. Considerations for the rapidly aging populations in low- and middle-income countries related to health-care and clinical trials are outlined. Involving older adults, their caregivers and health-care providers in all phases of research should improve drug development, evaluation, and outcomes for older adults internationally.

Право на свободу объединения и право на забастовку: особенности толкования Конвенции МОТ № 87

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of the interpretation of ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize in the exercise of its supervisory functions by the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of conventions and recommendations, the legal status of the Committee in the structure of the ILO bodies, clarification of the Committee's position on the relationship between the right to strike and the right to form a trade union, the decision of the ILO Governing body to appeal to the International Court of Justice on the interpretation of Convention No. 87.

751 Burn Therapy Certified Therapists Representation within Burn Society Leadership

Abstract Introduction The American Burn Association (ABA) Burn Therapist Certification (BT-C) program, developed in 2018, derived from an organizational desire to promote vetted quality burn care across the interprofessional team. Leadership positions within organizations, are responsible for formulating policy, developing education, and providing oversite to ensure the success of the association. A previous study examining interdisciplinary representation within burn society leadership for the ABA and International Society of Burn Injuries, found that rehabilitation representation within governance positions was 7% and 9% within committee memberships. In a 2022 Letter to the Editor, therapists described limited center support as a barrier for obtaining BT-C. This study aims to examine BT-C member involvement within ABA society leadership. Methods Official ABA society and membership websites were accessed to identify BT-C recipients who currently hold positions within society governance and committee memberships. ABA Special Interest Group (SIG) membership was also examined. The Journal of Burn Care and Research (JBCR) website was accessed to identify BT-C recipients on the editorial board. BT-C members were compared to other therapist involvement. Results Of 32 qualified BT-C therapists, 26 continue their ABA memberships. BT-C therapists hold 3 Governance positions (Board membership and current ABA President) and maintain 36 of the available 77 committee positions (47%). Excluding the BT-C Committee from data collection, BT-C therapists make up 44% (n=23) of therapist committee positions within the ABA. BT-C therapists hold a combined 46 SIG memberships. The JBCR currently lists 2 therapists on the editorial board, both of whom are BT-C. Conclusions Despite representing a fraction of the burn therapy community, BT-C therapists continue to be leaders within the burn field by participation in ABA membership, governance, and committee memberships. Current BT-C therapists serve to establish standards in research published within the JBCR. Professional and academic societies depend on qualified leaders to set standards of burn care. Promoting BT-C within individual burn centers may stimulate leadership within the center and burn professional organizations. Applicability of Research to Practice Definitive evidence supporting the benefits of BT-C to individuals and organizations is needed to overcome current barriers to certification.

An International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) Committee perspectives on International Standards Organization/Technical Committee 276 Biobanking Standards for bone marrow-MSCs and umbilical cord tissue–derived MSCs for research purposes

The rapidly growing field of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) basic and translational research requires standardization of terminology and functional characterization. The International Standards Organization's (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) on Biotechnology, working with extensive input from the International Society for Cells and Gene Therapy (ISCT), has recently published ISO standardization documents that are focused on biobanking of MSCs from two tissue sources, Wharton's Jelly, MSC(WJ) and Bone Marrow, MSC(M)), for research and development purposes and development. This manuscript explains the path towards the consensus on the following two documents: the Technical Standard ISO/TS 22859 for MSC(WJ) and the full ISO Standard 24651 for MSC(M) biobanking. The ISO standardization documents are aligned with ISCT's MSC committee position and recommendations on nomenclature because there was active input and incorporation of ISCT MSC committee recommendations in the development of these standards. The ISO standardization documents contain both requirements and recommendations for functional characterization of MSC(WJ) and MSC(M) using a matrix of assays. Importantly, the ISO standardization documents have a carefully defined scope and are meant for research use of culture expanded MSC(WJ) and MSC(M). The ISO standardization documents can be updated in a revision process and will be systematically reviewed after 3–5 years as scientific insights grow. They represent international consensus on MSC identity, definition, and characterization; are rigorous in detailing multivariate characterization of MSCs and represent an evolving-but-important first step in standardization of MSC biobanking and characterization for research use and development.

AB015. SOH23ABS_169. Surgical prophylactic antibiotics: compliance with local and AMRIC guidelines

Background: Antimicrobial prophylaxis is a critical step in preventing surgical site infection. The Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control committee (AMRIC) position statement summarises current guidelines on the maximum recommended duration of antibiotic prophylaxis for each surgical speciality. Our aim is to audit the use of prophylactic antibiotics by the breast surgery unit at one teaching hospital in Ireland against local and AMRIC guidelines.

The Bárány Society position on 'Cervical Dizziness'.

This paper describes the Bárány Society Classification OverSight Committee (COSC) position on Cervical Dizziness, sometimes referred to as Cervical Vertigo. This involved an initial review by a group of experts across a broad range of fields, and then subsequent review by the Bárány Society COSC. Based upon the so far published literature, the Bárány Society COSC takes the view that the evidence supporting a mechanistic link between an illusory sensation of self-motion (i.e. vertigo - spinning or otherwise) and neck pathology and/or symptoms of neck pain - either by affecting the cervical vertebrae, soft tissue structures or cervical nerve roots - is lacking. When a combined head and neck movement triggers an illusory sensation of spinning, there is either an underlying common vestibular condition such as migraine or BPPV or less commonly a central vestibular condition including, when acute in onset, dangerous conditions (e.g. a dissection of the vertebral artery with posterior circulation stroke and, exceedingly rarely, a vertebral artery compression syndrome). The Committee notes, that migraine, including vestibular migraine, is by far, the commonest cause for the combination of neck pain and vestibular symptoms. The committee also notes that since head movement aggravates symptoms in almost any vestibular condition, the common finding of increased neck muscle tension in vestibular patients, may be linked as both cause and effect, to reduced head movements. Additionally, there are theoretical mechanisms, which have not been explored, whereby cervical pain may promote vaso-vagal, cardio-inhibitory reflexes and hence by presyncopal mechanisms, elicit transient disorientation and/or imbalance. The committee accepts that further research is required to answer the question as to whether those rare cases in which neck muscle spasm is associated with a vague sense of spatial disorientation and/or imbalance, is indeed linked to impaired neck proprioception. Future studies should ideally be placebo controlled and double-blinded where possible, with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria that aim for high specificity at the cost of sensitivity. To facilitate further studies in "cervical dizziness/vertigo", we provide a narrative view of the important confounds investigators should consider when designing controlled mechanistic and therapeutic studies. Hence, currently, the Bárány COSC refrains from proposing any preliminary diagnostic criteria for clinical use outside a research study. This position may change as new research evidence is provided.

Participant perspectives on a department of surgery faculty mentoring program

BackgroundMentorship in academic medicine serves to promote career advancement and job satisfaction. This study was to evaluate the initial results of a faculty mentorship program in an academic Department of Surgery. MethodsA faculty mentorship program was initiated in July 2015 with 63 participants. Junior faculty mentees (n = 35) were assigned senior faculty mentors (n = 28). After three years, an electronic survey was administered and the results analyzed. ResultsResponse rate was 67% (n = 42). 34 (81%) respondents had met with their mentor/mentee at least once. Topics discussed included: research (76%), leadership (52%), work-life balance (45%), and promotion (5%). Mentees endorsed achieving promotion (n = 2), increasing research productivity (n = 2), and obtaining national committee positions (n = 2). 61% of mentors and 53% of mentees felt they benefitted personally from the program. Actionable improvements to the mentorship program were identified including more thoughtful pairing of mentors and mentees with similar research interests. ConclusionsParticipants felt the mentorship program was beneficial. Further investigation regarding the optimization of the mentor-mentee pairing is warranted to maximize the benefits from structured mentorship in academic surgery.

Extracting Additional Influences From Physician Profiles With Topic Modeling: Impact on Ratings and Page Views in Online Healthcare Communities.

How physicians can get better ratings and more page views in online healthcare communities is an important issue. Based on 38,457 physicians' profiles from a popular online healthcare community in China, we used Latent Dirichlet Allocation model, which is a common topic model, to analyze the non-English text to obtain more doctor's latent characteristics. We found five of the most frequently mentioned topics. In addition to the first topic (doctor's academic rank and practice name), “research ability,” “foreign experience,” “committee position,” and “clinical experience” were included as unstructured descriptions in the doctor's profile. Inferences about physician ratings and page views could be improved if these themes were set as characteristics of physicians. Specifically, in our findings, Physicians' mentions of their “research ability” and “foreign experience” had a significant positive impact on physician ratings. Surprisingly, physicians mentioning more “clinical experience” had a significant negative impact on physician ratings. Moreover, while descriptions about “foreign experience” and “committee position” had a significant positive impact on page views, physician mentions of “research ability” had a significant negative impact on page views. These results provide new insights into the ways in which online healthcare community managers or physicians create their personal online profiles.

An ISCT Stem Cell Engineering Committee Position Statement on Immune Reconstitution: the importance of predictable and modifiable milestones of immune reconstitution to transplant outcomes

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a potentially curative therapy for some malignant and non-malignant disease. There have been substantial advances since the approaches first introduced in the 1970s, and the development of approaches to transplant with HLA incompatible or alternative donors has improved access to transplant for those without a fully matched donor. However, success is still limited by morbidity and mortality from toxicity and imperfect disease control. Here we review our emerging understanding of how reconstitution of effective immunity after allogeneic transplant can protect from these events and improve outcomes. We provide perspective on milestones of immune reconstitution that are easily measured and modifiable.

WHERE ARE WE NOW? UNDERSTANDING TRENDS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS

To evaluate trends in health disparities research over time by quantifying health disparities abstracts and publications in reproductive medicine. Trends in reproductive healthcare disparities research were evaluated by quantifying the proportion of abstracts, publications, and statements pertaining to health disparities published during the years 2000, 2005, and 2010-2020. ASRM abstracts were included if they were published under the designated oral or poster Health Disparities section, or if the abstracts specifically addressed health disparities but were located within a different subsection of the program. Publications from Fertility and Sterility and Human Reproduction, and statements made by ASRM and ESHRE, specifically addressing health disparities during the study period, were also included. Two-sided Cochran-Armitage tests were used to assess trends in the proportion of health disparities research over time. Across the 20-year study period there was an overall increasing trend in health disparities research for ASRM abstracts within the Health Disparities section (ptrend=<0.0001), ASRM abstracts addressing health disparities (ptrend=<0.0001) and Fertility and Sterility publications (ptrend =<0.0001). No significant trend in health disparities research was found for Human Reproduction publications or committee position statements from ASRM or ESHRE. While trends in reproductive health disparities research have increased over the past two decades, health disparities research only comprises <3% of ASRM abstract content and <3.5% of annual journal publications.

METHODS USED BY WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES AND OUTCOMES IN KENYA’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE 11TH PARLIAMENT (2013 -2017)

Purpose: The study examined the legislative influence of women in the context of gender quotas in Kenya’s National Assembly of the 11th parliament (2013-207). This article focuses on the methods women parliamentarians used to assert legislative influence.&#x0D; Methodology: This was a descriptive case study which focused on all 68 women in the National Assembly. Respondents were identified through stratified sampling based on: pathway to parliament; membership and leadership of parliamentary structures; contribution to debate; and sponsorship of Bills enacted. A total of 11 women were interviewed, derived from four of the seven parliamentary political parties, specifically the two largest political coalitions which contributed 94% of the legislature. The study also interviewed four purposively sampled key informants (KIs) - three male and one female. The data was processed manually, analysed and presented under each study objective. Sources of primary data were coded as follows: WL (Woman Legislator), ML (Male Legislator) and KI (Key Informant). All respondents were allocated specific numbers for identification and acknowledgement. &#x0D; Findings: The study established that women legislators used the following methods to influence legislation: mobilisation of male colleagues; solidarity across political parties; activism; leveraging committee positions; reliance on the National Assembly leadership; and compromise and conciliation. It notes that the methods were effective in some circumstances but failed in others.&#x0D; Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study outlines how various methods were applied by women legislators in Kenya’s National Assembly 2013-2017, the first time quotas were applied in Kenyan elections. It fills the gap in earlier studies that did not document these methods. The study notes that the methods were not intrinsically weak but their effectiveness was limited by circumstances, especially the attitude of male legislators. It illustrates the importance of diversifying approaches to influence legislation. The study recommends that women legislators should: work with supportive male legislators and other pressure groups in the legislature; introduce Bills early in the legislative calendar to improve chances of success; receive training on parliamentary work; and occupy influential parliamentary leadership positions.

Scientific effort in combating COVID-19 in obstetrics and gynecology.

Scientific effort in combating COVID-19 in obstetrics and gynecology.

Deciding to post a manuscript preprint

Deciding to post a manuscript preprint

A 5-Year Review of the Designated Leadership Positions of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH)

Despite near equal representation of women in medical schools since 2008, the percentage of women in surgical subspecialties has remained low. Hand surgery accounts for one of the highest percentages of women, at 19%. Ascension to leadership positions has not yet been fully studied among this group. Our study examined whether increased female representation translated to representation at different levels within the organization. The 2014 to 2018 membership rosters were obtained from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and compared by gender. Leadership and volunteer committee positions were evaluated as published in the annual ASSH Committee Reference Book. Leadership positions were defined as appointment to committee chair or Council or acceptance to the Young Leaders Program. Rates of engagement were compared for each of the leadership activities. When available, the time for advancement through various leadership positions was also analyzed by gender. Between 2014 and 2018, the percentage of female ASSH Active Members steadily increased from 11% to 14%. Engagement in early career activities such as committees and the Young Leaders Program also increased: committee positions from 16% to 17% and Young Leaders Program membership from 27% to 40% female representation across the same period. Relative to the overall number of eligible females in the society, women applied at a greater rate and achieved positions at an average of 2 years earlier than their male counterparts. There is a steady increase in the percentage of women within the ASSH. Female ASSH members applied for early career leadership positions at a higher rate and achieved these positions earlier than their male counterparts. This may indicate that future women leaders are appropriately supported in the organization. The ASSH has been committed to increasing gender and ethnic diversity. Early analysis demonstrates an increase in women surgeons' participation in early career leadership activities within the society.

PI-RADS Committee Position on MRI Without Contrast Medium in Biopsy-Naive Men With Suspected Prostate Cancer: Narrative Review.

The steadily increasing demand for diagnostic prostate MRI has led to concerns regarding the lack of access to and the availability of qualified MRI scanners and sufficiently experienced radiologists, radiographers, and technologists to meet the demand. Solutions must enhance operational benefits without compromising diagnostic performance, quality, and delivery of service. Solutions should also mitigate risks such as decreased reader confidence and referrer engagement. One approach may be the implementation of MRI without the use gadolinium-based contrast medium (bipara-metric MRI), but only if certain prerequisites such as high-quality imaging, expert interpretation quality, and availability of patient recall or on-table monitoring are mandated. Alternatively, or in combination, a clinical risk-based approach could be used for protocol selection, specifically, which biopsy-naive men need MRI with contrast medium (multiparametric MRI). There is a need for prospective studies in which biopsy decisions are made according to MRI without contrast enhancement. Such studies must define clinical and operational benefits and identify which patient groups can be scanned successfully without contrast enhancement. These higher-quality data are needed before the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) Committee can make evidence-based recommendations about MRI without contrast enhancement as an initial diagnostic approach for prostate cancer workup.

Guideline No. 401: Sonographic Cervical Length in Singleton Pregnancies: Techniques and Clinical Applications.

• To assess the association between sonography-derived cervical length measurement and preterm birth. • To describe the various techniques to measure cervical length using sonography. • To review the natural history of the short cervix. • To review the clinical uses, predictive ability, and utility of sonography-measured short cervix. Reduction in rates of prematurity and/or better identification of those at risk, as well as possible prevention of unnecessary interventions. Clinicians involved in the obstetrical management or cervical imaging of patients at increased risk of a short cervix. Women at increased risk of a short cervix or at risk of preterm birth. Literature published up to June 2019 was retrieved through searches of PubMed and the Cochrane Library using appropriate controlled vocabulary and key words (preterm labour, ultrasound, cervix, cervical insufficiency, transvaginal, transperineal, cervical length, fibronectin). Results were restricted to general and systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, and observational studies. There were no date or language restrictions. Grey (unpublished) literature was identified through searching the websites of health technology assessment agencies, clinical practice guideline collections, clinical trial registries, and national and international medical specialty societies. The evidence and this guideline were reviewed by the Diagnostic Imaging Committee of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, and the recommendations were made and graded according to the rankings of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (Online Appendix Table A1). Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Use of the sonographic technique reviewed in this guideline may help identify women at risk of preterm birth and, in some circumstances, lead to interventions that may reduce the rate of preterm birth. SUMMARY STATEMENTS (CANADIAN TASK FORCE ON PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE GRADING IN PARENTHESES): RECOMMENDATIONS (CANADIAN TASK FORCE ON PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE GRADING IN PARENTHESES).

A 5-year Review of Women in Designated Leadership Positions in American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Where Do We Stand?

PURPOSE: Despite near equal representation of women in medical schools since 2008, the percentage of women in surgical subspecialties has remained low. Hand surgery accounts for one of the highest percentages of women at 19%, with a steady growth entering the specialty. Ascension to leadership positions has not yet been fully elucidated among this group. Using membership data obtained through the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), our study examines whether increased female representation translated to representation at different levels within the organization. METHODS: The 2014–2018 membership rosters were obtained from ASSH and compared by sex. Leadership and volunteer committee positions were evaluated as published in the annual ASSH Committee Reference Book. Leadership positions were defined as appointment to committee chair, Council or acceptance to the young leader’s program, a development program for Candidate and Active members. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2018, the percentage of female ASSH members steadily increased from 14% to 17%. The average percent of female members who applied for committee positions was 22% with an average of 18% of applicants occupying a committee position. The average number of committee applications submitted per female applicant was similar to that of their male counterparts (1.31–2.00 versus 1.55–1.97, respectively). Ascension of female members to council ranged from 8% to 31% with the highest percentage during 2015–2016. CONCLUSIONS: There is a steady increase in the percentage of women at every level of ASSH. Female ASSH members applying for leadership positions at a higher rate than their male peers and advanced through the leadership ladder quicker. This may indicate that future women leaders are appropriately supported in the organization. Low representation at the highest levels may be due to a predictable time lag as younger women ascend in the organization.

Legal Position of the Regional Electoral Commission for Conducting Voting in the Circuit and the Regional Electoral Commission for Determining the Results of Voting in the Circuit – de lege lata and de lege ferenda Postulates in the Light of the 2018 Local Self-government Elections

&lt;p&gt;During the local self-government elections that took place in 2018 in Poland, for the first time regional electoral commissions for conducting voting in the circuit and regional electoral commissions for determining the results of voting in the circuit appeared. Both electoral commissions are appointed by the appropriate electoral commissioner from among the voters. The tasks of the regional electoral commission for voting in the circuit include conducting voting in the circuit and ensuring that the election law is observed in the place and time of voting. However, the tasks of the regional electoral commission for determining the results of voting in the circuit include determining the results of voting in the circuit, making them public and sending the results of voting to the appropriate electoral commission. The introduction, by the legislator, of regional electoral commissions for conducting voting in the circuit and regional electoral commissions for determining the results of voting in the circuit should be assessed positively. However, the legal position of both committees certainly requires changes to be made by the legislator.&lt;/p&gt;

Metabolic bone changes after bariatric surgery: 2020 update, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Clinical Issues Committee position statement.

Metabolic bone changes after bariatric surgery: 2020 update, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Clinical Issues Committee position statement.