Professional Societies Research Articles

Speaking Against Silence: Examining Social Work’s Response to Genocide

Since October 7, 2023, the world has witnessed Israel’s unrelenting mass assault against the people of Gaza, killing more than 37,000 Palestinians. The response to this genocide in most sectors of professional society has largely been one of denial and suppression of solidarity with Palestine, unveiling extremes of the longstanding Palestine exception in progressive politics. This article contextualizes the social work profession’s response to Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinian people after October 7, 2023, including responses from schools of social work, social work agencies and organizations, and academic journals. This examination finds that social work institutions continue to engage in three primary silencing tactics: passive silence, active repression, and the drawing of false equivalences. Despite the profession’s pervasive silencing, many of us in social work continue to engage in efforts toward a free Palestine, aligned with the profession’s stated values. This article highlights and juxtaposes the grassroots efforts of social workers and social work students for a free Palestine with the repression from our professional institutions. We demonstrate a range of existing and emerging possibilities for sustained solidarity among social workers seeking to end rather than manage state violence, with Palestine as no exception.

Impact of varicocele repair on semen parameters and spontaneous pregnancy: An endless debate put to rest

ABSTRACT There has been much controversy about the true value of varicocele repair for improving fertility and the chances of natural conception. This review summarizes the latest research findings, current professional societies’ recommendations, and the conclusions of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The current evidence suggests a positive role for varicocele repair in improving basic sperm parameters and increasing the likelihood of natural pregnancy.

Integrating Genetic Services in the Philippine Public Health Delivery System: The Value of Networks.

The delivery of genetic services in developing countries is faced with significant challenges, despite medical and technological advances globally. The Philippines, being an archipelago, faces even more challenges, with significant disparities in access to healthcare, and tertiary medical centers and specialists being concentrated in the major cities. The utilization of different networks for the integration of genetic services in the existing public health delivery system has been valuable. Using the well-established network of the national newborn screening program, genetic services have been successfully integrated into the delivery of healthcare, even at the grassroot level. Equitable access to healthcare, including genetic services, was highlighted and supported by the enactment of the Rare Disease Law in 2016. The support of the academe to assure the sustainability of services was evident in the establishment of a genetic counseling program to augment the work of a handful of clinical geneticists. Professional societies and support groups have been instrumental in identifying genetic conditions to be prioritized and lobbying for increased public awareness, leading to national programs and policies. This paper primarily discusses the value of networks in the delivery of genetic services, specifically newborn screening, programs for rare diseases, birth defects, and genetic counseling.

The Road to Precision Medicine for Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common form of organ dysfunction in the ICU. AKI is associated with adverse short- and long-term outcomes, including high mortality rates, which have not measurably improved over the past decade. This review summarizes the available literature examining the evidence of the need for precision medicine in AKI in critical illness, highlights the current evidence for heterogeneity in the field of AKI, discusses the progress made in advancing precision in AKI, and provides a roadmap for studying precision-guided care in AKI. Medical literature regarding topics relevant to precision medicine in AKI, including AKI definitions, epidemiology, and outcomes, novel AKI biomarkers, studies of electronic health records (EHRs), clinical trial design, and observational studies of kidney biopsies in patients with AKI. English language observational studies, randomized clinical trials, reviews, professional society recommendations, and guidelines on areas related to precision medicine in AKI. Relevant study results, statements, and guidelines were qualitatively assessed and narratively synthesized. We synthesized relevant study results, professional society recommendations, and guidelines in this discussion. AKI is a syndrome that encompasses a wide range of underlying pathologies, and this heterogeneity has hindered the development of novel therapeutics for AKI. Wide-ranging efforts to improve precision in AKI have included the validation of novel biomarkers of AKI, leveraging EHRs for disease classification, and phenotyping of tubular secretory clearance. Ongoing efforts such as the Kidney Precision Medicine Project, identifying subphenotypes in AKI, and optimizing clinical trials and endpoints all have great promise in advancing precision medicine in AKI.

Unlocking Peer Review: Elevating Scholarly Writing and Research Competence in Urology Residency.

It is incumbent upon training programs to set the foundation for evidence-based practices and to create opportunities for trainees to develop into academic leaders. As dedicated resident research time and funding have declined in recent years, residency programs and the field at large will need to create new ways to incorporate scholarly activity into residency curricula. Literature across specialties demonstrates barriers to resident involvement including lack of time, cost, and absent scholarly mentorship. Peer review stands as a ready-made solution that can be formalized into a collaborative relationship with journals. A formal relationship between professional societies, academic journals, and residencies can facilitate the use of peer review as a teaching tool for residency programs.

Clinical management of lupus in the United States: A claims-based analysis

ObjectivesTo understand the evaluation and management of patients coded with lupus in the broad clinical community in the United States. MethodsClaims data for diagnoses, procedures, medications, and physician specialties were evaluated for three lupus cohorts [lupus nephritis (LN), systemic lupus erythematosus excluding LN (SLE), and cutaneous lupus erythematosus excluding SLE and LN (CLE)] using the EVERSANA claims databases. Identification of patients was based upon the occurrence of lupus-specific codes, with the requirement that a single patient receive a lupus-related ICD code twice within a six-month period. ResultsUsing ICD codes, we were able to identify 28,372 patients coded with LN, 82,744 patients coded with SLE, and 13,920 patients coded with CLE, and subsequently evaluate the journey of patients in each group in the year before and after being coded as having a diagnosis of lupus. For the three lupus cohorts, the basis of diagnosis was not always apparent, as clinical features of lupus were not often obtained, autoantibody testing was not usual, biopsies were uncommon and subspecialty involvement was not routine. In addition, a significant increase in laboratory testing, non-lupus diagnoses, emergency department visits and cost during the year before receiving a lupus code suggested uncertainty in disease recognition. Nevertheless, these patients received two separate lupus coding events within a six-month period, supporting a sustained or repeated diagnosis of lupus by the evaluating clinicians. When compared, the three lupus cohorts differed with regard to frequency of laboratory testing, subspecialty care, skin and renal biopsies, and medication management. Moreover, there was an increase in the cost of care of patients coded with lupus compared to a reference patient population both during the year before and after being coded with a diagnosis of lupus. ConclusionThe data present a comprehensive report of the care of patients coded as having a diagnosis of lupus in the United States, including those outside of specialty centers. Despite the unclear basis of diagnosis in some patients, evaluation and management of patients coded as having a diagnosis of lupus in the general care community does not closely follow the recommended guidelines set forth by professional societies.

Evaluation of online patient education materials for acute myeloid leukemia.

e23135 Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common adult leukemia, accounting for approximately 80% of all cases. In the modern healthcare landscape, a substantial number of patients turn to online platforms such as Google for information pertaining to their diagnoses and treatment options. This study sought to assess 14 online AML websites for their understandability and actionability using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). Methods: Fourteen patient-facing U.S. online AML websites were searched in Google, selected and analyzed using the PEMAT criteria. The PEMAT rating tool is a freely accessible online resource evaluating print and audiovisual information. The ‘understandability’ section is scored out of 17 possible points and the ‘actionability’ section is scored out of 6 possible points. The websites were rated by two independent reviewers and any discrepancies were discussed. The websites were categorized by Government, Public/Private companies, Patient Advocacy Groups, Professional Societies, and Cancer Centers. Results: The study analyzed 14 websites on AML education material. The mean ‘understandability’ score was 85% ( Range: 79%–92%); Government scored the highest, followed by Professional Societies, Patient Advocacy Groups, Cancer Centers, and Private/Public Companies. PEMAT metric 11 ‘the material provides a summary’ scored poorest across all ‘understandability’ criteria. The mean ‘actionability’ score was 66% ( Range: 56%–90%); Patient Advocacy Groups scored the highest, followed by Professional Societies, Government, Private/Public Companies, and Cancer Centers. PEMAT metric 26 ‘the material uses visual aids whenever they could make it easier to act on the instructions’ scored poorest across all ‘actionability’ criteria. Conclusions: Most of the AML websites analyzed were easy to understand but lacked material that prompts patients to take action. As patients turn to online website sources for information, it is crucial that these education materials provide clear information that patients can appropriately act on. This study highlights an opportunity to enhance online patient education material by adding action-oriented features, such as content summaries, tangible tools, and visual aids. [Table: see text]

Features of career trajectories of graduates of Altai universities (using the example of a sociological study in Barnaul)

Special attention was paid to the employment of graduates of higher educational institutions in Soviet times, when planned state policy distributed graduates to various state-owned enterprises depending on the education they received. It is important to note that on the periphery of the centuries there has been some shift in the idea of a career. If earlier a career was understood as moving up the career ladder, today a career is planned as mastering a variety of practices that complement and develop a person (self-development, a high level of extracurricular, additional activities). Thus, a logical question arises: how do graduates imagine their future careers and whether they think about it at all. How aware are graduates of their employment opportunities in principle and does the university contribute to students' awareness of careers and career opportunities. The selection method was a quota sample with elements of spontaneous selection of respondents. We selected two methods for the study: qualitative (in-depth interview) and quantitative (questionnaire). Together, these methods give the researcher the most accurate idea of the subject under study. Thus, the tools for conducting empirical sociological research were developed based on this methodology. Data analysis has shown that a well-chosen profession increases self-confidence, life satisfaction, and reduces problems related to physical and mental health. And the personal level of "quality of life", responsible for satisfaction, has a significant impact on social, objective indicators of quality of life. Theoretical approaches are analyzed to describe the formation and content of graduates' career trajectories. The psychological approach focuses on the study of self-perception, self-regulation of consciousness, and the process of choice. Pedagogical is based on the formation of certain professional interests and inclinations, the suitability of an individual for a particular profession. Sociologists and economists consider the career trajectories of graduates from the point of view of the need for this profession in society and taking into account the socio-economic relations of the specialized workforce within the organization. In this context, the scheme of professional specialization, types of career guidance and career growth, all kinds of careers of an employee and a graduate are considered. Personality-oriented, sociological, managerial-organizational, biomedical, pedagogical, legal regulation, complex (differentiated) approaches to career guidance are disclosed.

Literature and Professional Society: Modernism, Aesthetics, and Ian McEwan’s Saturday

Literature and Professional Society: Modernism, Aesthetics, and Ian McEwan’s Saturday

The Primacy of Ethics in Aesthetic Medicine: A Review.

The landscape of modern aesthetic medicine has witnessed a paradigm shift from traditional doctor-led care to a consumer-driven model, presenting a plethora of ethical challenges. This review discusses the ethical dimensions of medical aesthetics, exploring the implications of consumer demand, societal influences, and technological advancements on patient care and well-being. Drawing upon a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, this review synthesizes evidence regarding the rise of aesthetic medicine, ethical challenges encountered in practice, and the implications of social media and marketing in shaping patient perceptions and decision-making. Aesthetic medicine confronts unique ethical challenges stemming from its elective nature and the pervasive influence of societal beauty standards. Concerns include the commodification of beauty, conflicts of interest, limited evidence-base of treatments, and the rise of nonphysician providers. Moreover, the evolving role of social media influencers and medical marketing raises ethical dilemmas regarding transparency, patient autonomy, and professional integrity. The ethical landscape of aesthetic medicine necessitates a proactive approach to address emerging challenges and safeguard patient well-being. Guided by principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, recommendations are proposed to enhance informed consent practices, mitigate appearance anxiety, facilitate shared decision-making, and promote responsible use of social media. Professional societies are urged to establish clear ethical guidelines and standards to uphold professionalism and patient trust in the field of aesthetic medicine.

Suboptimally Controlled Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Review to Guide Antepartum and Delivery Management.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common complications in pregnancy with adverse maternal and neonatal risks proportional to the degree of suboptimal glycemic control, which is not well defined. Literature guiding providers in identifying and managing patients at highest risk of complications from diabetes is lacking. This article reviews the definition, epidemiology, and pathophysiology of suboptimal control of diabetes in pregnancy, including "diabetic fetopathy"; explores proposed methods of risk stratification for patients with diabetes; outlines existing antepartum management and delivery timing guidelines; and guides direction for future research. Original research articles, review articles, and professional society guidelines on diabetes management in pregnancy were reviewed. The reviewed available studies demonstrate worsening maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with suboptimal control; however, the definition of suboptimal based on parameters followed in pregnancy such as blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and fetal growth varied from study to study. Studies demonstrating specific associations of adverse outcomes with defined suboptimal control were reviewed and synthesized. Professional society recommendations were also reviewed to summarize current guidelines on antepartum management and delivery planning with respect to diabetes in pregnancy. The literature heterogeneously characterizes suboptimal glucose control and complications related to this during pregnancy in individuals with diabetes. Further research into antepartum management and delivery timing for patients with varying levels of glycemic control and at highest risk for diabetic complications is still needed.

NGS panels' capture of biomarkers associated with targeted therapies in clinical trials.

e13508 Background: ASCO and NCCN guidelines strongly encourage participation in clinical trials though participation rates remain low. Although up to 60% of trials require biomarker information as a prerequisite to participation, guidelines are silent on biomarker testing to assess eligibility. To help inform policy development, we analyzed commercially available NGS panels to assess the capture rate of the specific gene variants required for targeted therapies in clinical trials. Methods: Publicly available gene variant information on 12 high volume NGS tissue and plasma commercial assays representative of panel size was accessed. The JAX-CKB database was queried to identify genomic prerequisites in active phase I-III clinical trials; mRNA and protein expression biomarkers were excluded. We used unpaired t-testing to compare the ability of large versus small panels to detect variants required for targeted treatments. (Somatic gene variant annotations and related content have been powered by The Jackson Laboratory Clinical Knowledgebase (JAX-CKBTM)). Results: Overall, 185 genes were linked to eligibility for targeted therapies in clinical trials (Table). Large panel assays (>80 genes) had a higher average capture rate compared to smaller panels, (84% vs. 46%, p value < 0.000002). Similarly, capture rates in select cancers were higher in larger panels: lung (85% vs 59%), breast (92% vs 54%), prostate (86% vs 34%), pancreatic (84% vs 54%), colorectal (88% vs 52%). All results were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Smaller panels were more likely to exclude large genes (e.g. BRCA), genome-wide signatures (e.g. TMB), fusions, and copy number variants. Conclusions: NGS-based panels with more than 80 genes had higher capture rates for biomarkers required for clinical trials of targeted therapies. Clinicians searching for all relevant treatment options for patients should include large genomic sequencing panels to maximize identification of potential clinical trial eligibility. Professional societies and policy makers interested in enhancing clinical trial enrollment rates should consider the panel size-related variability in capture rates of genetic variants when developing recommendations. [Table: see text]

Providing Better Support for Entrepreneurial Activities in the Weather, Water, and Climate Community

Abstract There has been an increase in entrepreneurial activity within the weather, water, and climate (WWC) community over the past decade, with the potential for much more as artificial intelligence/machine learning techniques continue to develop and as new opportunities arise across the weather, climate, and ocean service enterprises. Despite indications of recent growth, this study reports on key challenges that are limiting the community’s ability to achieve the full potential of commercialization of new WWC products and services. Most of these challenges are related to the preparation of those in the WWC community for jobs in the private sector in general and entrepreneurial activities in particular. These results extend and build upon the work of others who have reported on shortcomings in the preparation of students for positions in the private sector, with this study showing that deficits in preparation and awareness of available resources affect potential entrepreneurs well into their career—most researchers are unaware of the resources available to them. Based on a synthesis of input from successful WWC entrepreneurs, many of the challenges could be greatly reduced by relatively minor adjustments to curriculums at universities and through new programs that could be offered by scientific and professional societies to help potential entrepreneurs better take advantage of existing resources as they spin up a new business.

The Task‐Sharing Path to Safe and Accessible Anaesthesia Care in India: The Role of Professional Associations in Health Policy Reform

ABSTRACTThe worldwide anaesthesia workforce shortage is a concern and ‘shared responsibility’ for all the national or state anaesthetic societies and Ministries of Health. The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery estimated the need for 143 million additional surgeries each year globally. These would be included in the World Health Organization's (WHO) 44 essential surgeries to be performed at district hospitals. However, insufficient availability of safe anaesthesia is a key barrier. The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) recommends at least five specialist physician‐anaesthesia providers per 100,000 population. India requires at least 60,000 additional physician‐anaesthesiologists over the next 10 years. This paper discusses the two‐decade journey of a policy initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in India to create a new category of a physician with Life Saving Anaesthetic Skills (LSAS). This addressed the shortage of anaesthetists specifically for the dire emergency obstetric situations at the First Referral hospitals. The annual training capacity for physicians for LSAS training was 40–100 in 5 of the poorest states of India, with the maximum shortages of anaesthetists. On following up a sample of 838 LSAS physicians, only about two‐thirds were able to practice their life‐saving skills. The MoHFW innovated further by pairing a physician trained in Emergency Obstetric Care with an LSAS‐physician (buddy‐pairing) as a functioning team. For comparison, we discuss the midwife model supported by the professional association of obstetricians in India. The flexible, ‘team‐based’ task‐sharing approach optimizes anaesthesia care within available resources. Leadership and vision from the professional societies of anaesthesiology are key to policy reform in India. National engagement can be facilitated through support for district‐level non‐specialist physician provider with life‐saving anaesthesia skills training, engagement in research and formulation of the national surgical and anaesthesia plans to achieve universal healthcare in India.

Start with muscle mass or muscle strength in diagnosis and management of sarcopenia? A systematic review of guidance documents.

Sarcopenia has garnered extensive attention in clinical practice since its high prevalence and significant impact on clinical outcomes. Multiple organizations have published guidance documents on sarcopenia, offering evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice and/or research. We aimed to appraise the methodological quality of the included documents and synthesize available recommendations for the screening, diagnosis, and intervention of sarcopenia. We conducted a search on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, guideline database, and guideline organizations and professional societies websites for clinical practices, consensus statements and position papers in terms of sarcopenia, muscle atrophy or muscle loss published before April 17, 2023. The AGREE II instrument was used by three independent reviewers to assess the methodological quality of these documents. Thirty-six guidance documents published between 2010 and 2023 were included. Seven documents fulfilled ≥ 50% of all the AGREE II domains. Seven underwent a Delphi process and six graded the strength of the recommendations. The process of screening (n=21), early diagnosis of sarcopenia (n=12), diagnosis of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia (n=10), and management (n=21) were increasingly recommended. SARC-F (n=14) was the most recommended screening tool, and the assessment of muscle function was considered the first step in diagnosing sarcopenia. The management strategy for both age-related and disease-related sarcopenia mainly focused on exercise and nutrition intervention. The guidance documents have provided referential recommendations that have great guiding significance. But the inconsistency in recommendations and variation in methodological rigour suggests that high-quality evidence is lacking yet.

On What Grounds? A Pilot Study of References Used in Clinical Ethics Consultation and Education.

In accordance with standards published by the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH), ethics consultants are expected to provide recommendations that align with scholarly literature, professional society statements, law, and policy. However, there are no studies to date that characterize the specific references that ethics consultants and educators use to inform their work. To address this gap, a convenience sample of clinical ethics consultants and educators was surveyed online through two major listservs for clinical ethics, the ASBH Clinical Ethics Consultation Affinity Group (CECAG) and the Association of Bioethics Program Directors (ABPD). Ninety-five ethics consultants and/or educators with diverse educational background, credentials, and experience provided responses. In total, 451 references, 315 of which were unique, were reported. These references were broken into 6 categories after analysis: bioethics literature (divided into articles and books), professional society documents (divided into professional society statements and codes of ethics), federal/state/uniform/case law, hospital/health system policies, official religious teachings, and other. We found extensive variation and minimal overlap in the references respondents used for ethics consultation and education, even when referring to the same topics. Future research directions should include conducting more systematic efforts to characterize the references used by ethics consultants across the US; determining whether demographic characteristics of consultants influence the references used; and ascertaining whether the variation in references used reflects genuine disagreements in consultants' and educators' bioethical analysis or recommendations.

Society of Sensory Professionals

Society of Sensory Professionals

Perceptions of stimulant and buprenorphine diversion and strategies to address it.

There is ongoing policy debate on the prescribing of controlled substances such as buprenorphine and stimulants via telemedicine. The goal of federal and state policymakers is to ensure access to care while limiting diversion risk. However, there is little evidence on how clinicians view and address diversion and on telemedicine's role in diversion. From December 2023 to January 2024, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 psychiatrists and primary care physicians engaged in hybrid (telemedicine and in-person) care models in which we explored perceptions of diversion and strategies used to monitor for diversion. Most physicians reported monitoring for diversion, but there was little consistency on how monitoring was done and reported strategies did not differ between telemedicine vs in-person care. When physicians suspected diversion, there was also wide variation in responses: some clinicians did not immediately take any action while others imposed more requirements on patients (e.g., more frequent visits), no longer prescribed the controlled substance, or terminated the patient from their practice. Few physicians had ever reported a case of suspected diversion to law enforcement. Our findings suggest that the Drug Enforcement Administration could clarify reporting requirements and professional societies could provide additional guidance on how to respond to suspected diversion, given the current variation in practice across clinicians could be exploited by individuals who want to divert.

Dyslipidemia management in women of reproductive potential: An expert clinical consensus from the national lipid association.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women and its incidence has been increasing recently, particularly among younger women. Across major professional society guidelines, dyslipidemia management remains a central tenet for atherosclerotic CVD prevention for both women and men. Despite this, women, particularly young women, who are candidates for statin therapy are less likely to be treated and less likely to achieve their recommended therapeutic objectives for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Elevated LDL-C and triglycerides are the two most common dyslipidemias that should be addressed during pregnancy due to the increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and pre-term delivery, as well as pancreatitis in the presence of severe hypertriglyceridemia. In this National Lipid Association Expert Clinical Consensus, we review the roles of nutrition, physical activity, and pharmacotherapy as strategies to address elevated levels of LDL-C and/or triglycerides among women of reproductive age. We include a special focus on points to consider during the shared decision-making discussion regarding pharmacotherapy for dyslipidemia during preconception planning, pregnancy, and lactation.

Growth charts for use at birth and in the neonatal period: Recommendations of the French Neonatal Society.

The use of different growth charts can lead to confusion in discussions between professionals. There are obstetric charts (of fetal growth) and neonatal charts (of measurements at birth and of postnatal growth). These charts can be descriptive (derived from an unselected population) or prescriptive (derived from of a population at low risk and with optimal conditions for growth). (1) To describe available charts for infants at birth and in the neonatal period and compare them, and (2) to recommend one or more charts for use in neonatology in France. Bibliographic research was conducted on MEDLINE and completed by the guidelines of professional societies. Antenatal information about fetal growth restriction or fetuses identified as small-for-gestational-age using Intrauterine charts must be integrated into the identification of newborns at risk, but the use of Intrauterine charts to evaluate birthweight is not recommended to allow consistency with postnatal charts used in neonatal practice. Z-score variations using the updated Fenton postnatal charts are the most appropriate for the assessment of birthweight and postnatal growth for infants born preterm. These charts are sex-specific, include the three measurements (length, weight, and head circumference) and enable longitudinal follow-up of growth up to 50 weeks of corrected age and are linked to the World Health Organization charts at term. The French Audipog charts, although are individualized, accessible online and can be used in maternity units to evaluate birthweight for term infants, but do not allow the follow-up of postnatal growth, while Fenton charts may be used to evaluate birthweight and postnatal growth in the first month for hospitalized term infants. The updated Fenton charts are the neonatal charts that best suit the objectives of pediatricians in France for monitoring the growth of preterm newborns. The use of the Audipog charts at term remains an alternative in maternity wards, while Fenton charts can be used for hospitalized term newborns.