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The need for a Bioinformatics Program became apparent after repeated requests from researchers for bioinformatics resources and the University's announcement of BioMed 21, a $300 million biomedical science initiative to bring 'new knowledge of the human genetic blueprint to the patient's bedside and change how illnesses are understood, diagnosed, and successfully treated.' A Bioinformatics Specialist with a strong background in the fields of Molecular Biology and Biostatistics was hired. Program development started in 2003. Initially, three core courses were developed: Sequence Similarity Search, Genetic Variation, and Human Genome Resources. Each of these courses was offered twice per semester. Additionally, partnerships were established within the University Medical School Community (e.g., the Genome Sequencing Center) to license and teach Spotfire's DecisionSite for Functional Genomics, a software package used to analyze microarray data. From March to May 2005, seven Spotfire classes were taught. Each Spotfire class consisted of seven hours of classroom work. Also, in-depth consultations were scheduled with faculty and researchers to address their specific needs. These consultations led to requests for other software packages to purchase and manage, including Lasergene and CSD (Cambridge Crystal Structure Database). Efforts to reach outside of the University Community were made through the development of a Bioinformatics Web site. doi:10.1300/ J115v26n02_08. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biomedical and psychosocial literature on health issues related to minorities has been growing over recent years, but it appears that serious attention to collection development activity of this type of literature has been lacking. With the upsurge in diversity and multicultural discussions in academia, this topic now becomes an item on which collection development librarians in the health sciences should focus their attention. This article puts forward a list of recommended materials that can form the core of a collection for academic health sciences libraries on health issues of people of color. It does not preclude more extensive collection activity in this area as suited to specific libraries' needs. These recommended materials may be the germ from which the collection activity may begin or expand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impostor syndrome is a common phenomenon experienced by individuals when entering new ranks in the workplace. Although women experience greater feelings of imposter syndrome than men, Black individuals report a prolonged experience of imposter syndrome when compared to their white counterparts, which negatively impacts their everyday experiences, health, and overall well-being. With growing studies showing the pervasive nature of anti-Black racism on the health of Black people, there remains a paucity of studies showing the connection between anti-Black racism and imposter syndrome. Within nursing, anti-Black racism can be seen to foster imposter syndrome through discriminatory practices that affect the career development, recruitment, and retention of Black nurses. Anti-Black racism is prevalent, and, in this paper, two Black nurses share insight through their own encounters with imposter syndrome and its relationship with anti-Black racism. Guided by Black feminist thought, they use art to navigate their reflective discourse as a means of reclaiming their identity and positionality as leaders in their rights. Reflective discourse is ideal for transformative learning to occur through dialogue. In addition, it promotes the use of art for deeper discussions when understanding the Black experience. Together, these nurses explicate how adopting Afrocentric knowledge and practices through their reflective discourse can affirm their identity, promote a sense of belonging, and assist in dismantling the effects of anti-Black racism and imposter syndrome within nursing., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing reports have highlighted the urgency of addressing anti-Black racism within Canada's healthcare system. The paucity of research within a Canadian context has created growing concerns among Millennials and Generation Zs for healthcare to address growing health disparities and health inequities that are attributed to institutional and structural racism. Recognizing the paradigm shift that has occurred because of the pandemic and the sleuth of racial killings, the nursing classroom has witnessed a change and a need for nursing education to be relevant for the cohort of nursing students who are seeking answers. The scarcity of nursing literature addressing diverse forms of learning demonstrates the need for nursing education to explore new ways of being diverse, inclusive and innovative when teaching intergenerationally. In this paper, the author challenges nurse educators to revisit the student-educator relationship by introducing critical digital pedagogy to dismantle anti-Black racism and promote student-educator engagement for transformative learning to occur. As an educator, the author implements the use of digital illustration as a tool of resistance for students and educators to assess, engage, act and reflect on creating change within nursing education. Using Black feminist thought and culturally responsive learning, the author introduces an arts-based approach through the innovative design of an illustration, titled, 'Ain't I a Nurse. Combining historical stories with contemporary socio-political experiences, the author demonstrates how students and educators can enter a cognitive learning experience where they can connect mentally and emotionally, and in so doing re-envision and recreate a new world that centralizes equity, diversity and inclusivity through critical discourses. Through the illustration anti-Black racism is challenged and anti-Black racism resistance is discovered as an antidote in dismantling anti-Black racism within nursing education., (© 2024 The Author(s). Nursing Philosophy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The call to implement anti-racism pedagogy in nursing education and practice is reverberating globally. Racist ideologies are foundational to systems of health inequity. An antiracist approach is critical to dismantling systemic racism and promoting optimal health outcomes in the quest for health equity. Therefore, employing an anti-racist pedagogy within nursing education that allows students and teachers to reflect on their roles in dismantling racist structures and transforming equity outcomes in practice and society, is a moral undertaking. However, for nursing education to make significant inroads in health equity, it cannot be guided by the same Eurocentric motives and value systems that continue to shape health inequities. We must transcend the boundaries of Eurocentric knowledge construction to intentionally shift how nurses think and practice within systems of inequities. Alongside the pressing and growing call for radical transformation of students and teachers through anti-racist pedagogy, we also provide directions to teaching strategies that support the uptake of anti-racism in nursing curricula and classroom engagement., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We have no potential conflict of interest to declare related to the publication of this manuscript and I confirm as the corresponding author that this manuscript has been read and approved by all authors., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Women remain underrepresented in the emergency medicine (EM) workforce, academic EM, and institutional leadership. In order to support women physicians in EM, we must explore factors that contribute to attrition and workplace satisfaction. For example, tensions between workplace and familial roles are important to consider as women navigate careers in EM. The logistics and stressors of workplace lactation pose a particular challenge during an already stressful time for a new mother returning to work in a busy emergency department (ED), but limited empirical data exist regarding this experience. We aimed to explore the stressors associated with workplace lactation spaces in order to better inform the creation of lactation spaces for individuals working in EDs., Methods: Our team used an exploratory qualitative design to investigate lactation-specific stressors and understand their relationship to individuals' needs when lactating in EM workplace environments. A total of 40 individuals were interviewed, highlighting post-pregnancy return-to-work (RTW) experiences of medical students, residents, advanced practice professionals, nurses, fellows, and faculty. Interviews were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis., Results: We identified both tangible and intangible characteristics of lactation spaces that contribute to stress for lactating individuals. Additionally, we discovered that participants frequently noted a desire to work simultaneously while pumping in order to feel they were self-actualizing in their dual roles of parent and clinician. Among tangible items, access to a computer within lactation space was a key driver of ability to fulfill dual roles. Among intangible characteristics, we identified three distinct, yet interrelated, subthemes, including the need for lactation spaces to be respectful of individuals' time, privacy, and general health and well-being., Conclusions: This study suggests that meeting basic lactation needs with thoughtfully designed lactation spaces can empower individuals in their roles both as a lactating parent and a clinician. EM leadership can evaluate existing lactation spaces to ensure they meet the tangible and intangible needs of lactating physicians, trainees, advanced practice professionals, and nurses., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Emergency Physicians.)

Pregnancy and childbirth have become a dangerous journey for Black women as harrowing stories of death and near-death experiences resonate within Black communities. While the causes of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality are well documented, little is known about how Black Canadian women feel protected from undesirable maternal health outcomes when accessing and receiving pregnancy and intrapartum care. This critical qualitative inquiry sheds light on Black women's perceived sense of safety in accessing pregnancy and intrapartum care. Twenty-four in-depth interviews were conducted with Black women who were pregnant or had given birth. Five interconnected themes were generated through thematic analysis: (1) There is a lot of prejudice towards us, (2) We are treated as sick bodies, (3) There is a lot of stereotypes towards us, (4) Our care is lacking in quality, and (5) We feel unsafe in the healthcare system. These themes highlight the perils faced by Black women accessing pregnancy and intrapartum care. The right to safe motherhood and equitable care for Black women should be a national priority in Canada to avert a looming crisis., (© 2024 The Authors. Nursing Inquiry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: In Canada, the healthcare experiences and needs of Muslim women who wear Islamic head coverings are conflated with the larger Muslim community who do not wear Islamic head coverings. Understanding their specific and unique preferences and challenges is essential for tailoring care and improving healthcare encounters., Purpose: The study purpose is to explore the healthcare encounters of Muslim women wearing Islamic head coverings in Canada, focusing on how discourse influences their narratives., Methods: A postructuralist narrative methodology was used to understand how power, knowledge, language, and discourse impacted their experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Muslim women. Narrative analysis was used to dissect stories and the way these stories were told., Results: Five themes were identified, including: The Fingerprint: Highlights the importance of recognizing individual identities to provide personalized care.The Membrane: Examines how societal biases and assumptions permeate healthcare professionals and impacts care.The Heartbeat: Reveals the immediate emotional and physical responses that reflect systemic challenges within healthcare encounters.Unseen: Emphasizes the lack of acknowledgement experienced by Muslim women related to their healthcare preferences and/or needs.Heard: Encompasses instances where Muslim women feel recognized by their healthcare provider; contrasts Theme #4., Conclusion: This research emphasizes the diverse experiences of Muslim woman who wear an Islamic head covering and the need for healthcare professionals to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and instead, provide care that respects the unique preferences amongst this diverse group., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Background: Stereotype about Black people contribute to nurses and healthcare providers gaslighting and dismissing of their health concerns. Despite the popularity of the term medical gaslighting in mainstream literature, few studies have explored the experiences of Black women during pregnancy and childbirth., Purpose: This paper aims to provide an in-depth insight into Black women's experiences of anti-Black medical gaslighting when accessing care during pregnancy and childbirth., Methods: Utilizing qualitative methods, we conducted 24 semi-structured interviews with Black women in the Greater Toronto Area. We used thematic analysis to ground the data analysis and to generate insight into Black women's experiences., Results: Three overarching themes: 1) Not Being Understood: Privileging of Medical Knowledge Contributing to the Downplaying of Health Concerns, 2) Not Being Believed: Stereotypes Contributing to Dismissive Healthcare Encounters and 3) Listen to Us: Turning off the Cycle of Medical Gaslighting. These themes highlight ways anti-Black medical gaslighting manifests in Black women's healthcare encounters to create differential access to treatment and care., Conclusions: Anti-Black medical gaslighting contributes to differential access to treatment and care. Improving equitable access to treatment and care must involve addressing structural and epistemic biases in healthcare and fostering a culture of listening to humanize the experience of illness., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The call to address anti-Black racism in workplaces resonates across several organizations and institutions in Canada. But specifically, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic shed further light on how health inequities negatively impact the Black community. After conducting a literature review of the experiences of Black nurses in Canada, a deeper understanding of their plight was gained. In healthcare, the findings from the Black Nurses' Task Force report conclude that anti-Black racist practices are pervasive in nursing, and there remains a paucity of research in this area. This study builds off the report by exploring how Black nurses experience anti-Black racism while working in Canada's healthcare system. Inspired by critical race theory and Black feminist thought, an exploratory qualitative research study was conducted, using semistructured interviews to gather data. The study concludes that Black nurses experience anti-Black racism within the workplace, and it manifests itself through some of the attitudes of colleagues, patients, and nurses in leadership roles. Despite policies and statements that were in place to protect them, anti-Black racism continues to occur systematically. The findings point to the need for change in the overall workplace culture, which includes a fair representation of Black nurses in leadership roles, further research to identify best practices for tackling anti-Black racism within Canada's healthcare system, and mandatory training on anti-Black racism for healthcare leaders, educators, and service providers., (© 2023 The Authors. Nursing Inquiry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: To reliably quantify the radiographic severity of COVID-19 pneumonia with the Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) score on clinical chest X-rays among inpatients and examine the prognostic value of baseline RALE scores on COVID-19 clinical outcomes., Setting: Hospitalised patients with COVID-19 in dedicated wards and intensive care units from two different hospital systems., Participants: 425 patients with COVID-19 in a discovery data set and 415 patients in a validation data set., Primary and Secondary Outcomes: We measured inter-rater reliability for RALE score annotations by different reviewers and examined for associations of consensus RALE scores with the level of respiratory support, demographics, physiologic variables, applied therapies, plasma host-response biomarkers, SARS-CoV-2 RNA load and clinical outcomes., Results: Inter-rater agreement for RALE scores improved from fair to excellent following reviewer training and feedback (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.85 vs 0.93, respectively). In the discovery cohort, the required level of respiratory support at the time of CXR acquisition (supplemental oxygen or non-invasive ventilation (n=178); invasive-mechanical ventilation (n=234), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (n=13)) was significantly associated with RALE scores (median (IQR): 20.0 (14.1-26.7), 26.0 (20.5-34.0) and 44.5 (34.5-48.0), respectively, p<0.0001). Among invasively ventilated patients, RALE scores were significantly associated with worse respiratory mechanics (plateau and driving pressure) and gas exchange metrics (PaO2/FiO2 and ventilatory ratio), as well as higher plasma levels of IL-6, soluble receptor of advanced glycation end-products and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (p<0.05). RALE scores were independently associated with 90-day survival in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model (adjusted HR 1.04 (1.02-1.07), p=0.002). We replicated the significant associations of RALE scores with baseline disease severity and mortality in the independent validation data set., Conclusions: With a reproducible method to measure radiographic severity in COVID-19, we found significant associations with clinical and physiologic severity, host inflammation and clinical outcomes. The incorporation of radiographic severity assessments in clinical decision-making may provide important guidance for prognostication and treatment allocation in COVID-19., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Dr. Kitsios has received research funding from Karius, Inc. Dr. McVerry receives research funding from Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All other authors disclosed no conflict of interest, (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Obstetric racism in healthcare encounters impact on access to quality maternal healthcare for Black childbearing women yet remains underexplored in Canada. Understanding the experiences of Black Canadian women is critical to inform policy and create targeted interventions to address obstetric racism and advanced maternal health equity., Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of obstetric racism and its influence on perceived quality of maternity care among Black women in Toronto, Canada., Design: Qualitative research was conducted using a critical qualitative inquiry approach., Methods: We conducted a semi-structured interviews with 24 Black women who were pregnant and/or have given birth in the last 3 years. The interviews explored their experiences seeking care during pregnancy/childbirth and perceived quality of care., Results: Two themes were generated through the process of thematic analysis: (1) Manifestations and Impacts of Obstetric Racism and (2) Strategies for Addressing Obstetric Racism. Narratives of being dismissed, objectified, dehumanized, trauma and paternalism were reflected in the accounts of the participants. These experiences undermined the quality of care, hindered therapeutic relationships and contributed to mistrust., Conclusion: Black women understood the nature and impact of obstetric racism as it relates to the quality of maternal health care, their safety, and well-being. Participants recommended the need for anti-Black racism training specific to caring of Black childbearing women and increasing Black healthcare provider representation in perinatal settings as strategies to address obstetric racism. Investment in Black maternal health research is urgently needed to generate meaningful evidence to inform policy and interventions to advanced maternal health equity.

Case Presentation: An 85-year-old male who had been prescribed prasugrel presented to the emergency department (ED) after a motor vehicle collision and developed progressive neurological deficits. Computed tomography imaging demonstrated epidural thickening from the second through seventh cervical vertebrae, and magnetic resonance imaging was notable for a cervicothoracic epidural hematoma. The patient underwent emergent decompression with a favorable outcome., Discussion: Cases of traumatic spinal epidural hematomas are rarely seen in the ED. These are part of a small subset of operative neurological emergencies that benefit from urgent surgical intervention.

Background: The treatment of intracranial vertebral artery dissection (VAD) can be challenging., Objective: To evaluate the clinical presentation, endovascular treatment techniques, and prognostic outcome of patients diagnosed with intracranial VAD at our institution., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 35 patients who were diagnosed with VAD at our institution over 17-yr period (2001-2017) is presented. A total of 27 patients with a total of 30 affected arteries underwent endovascular treatment, and their outcome was evaluated., Results: Of the 35 total patients with VAD, 15 presented with headache, 12 with focal neurological deficits, 2 with neck pain, 2 with dizziness, 1 with syncope, and 3 after trauma. Of the 30 dissected arteries, 18 were treated with deconstruction and 12 were treated with stent reconstruction. Treatment method was determined by the dominance of the affected artery and location relative to the ipsilateral posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) and the basilar artery. Deconstructive techniques were utilized in all cases of hypoplastic artery dissection and the majority of codominant artery dissections, whereas reconstruction was performed on the majority of dominant artery dissections. Rupture did not impact treatment technique. Four patients demonstrated post-treatment infarcts, and another 1 patient died because of intraparenchymal bleed. The remaining 22 patients demonstrated favorable clinical outcome. None of the patients developed recanalization or needed retreatment till the last follow-up., Conclusion: This study suggests that endovascular treatment of intracranial VAD with deconstruction or stent reconstruction based on the patients anatomy, particularly vessel dominance and location with respect to PICA, is feasible and effective though the revascularization procedures still has its role in selected cases., (Copyright © 2020 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.)

Tumors involving the sella are commonly craniopharyngiomas, optic pathway gliomas, or pituitary adenomas. Functioning adenomas are expected, with prolactinomas topping the differential. The authors present the case of a silent corticotroph adenoma, which has not been described in the pediatric population, and they detail the use of proton therapy, which is also novel.

Primary choroid plexus tumors encompass a variety of tumors, with choroid plexus papilloma and carcinoma being the most common. Also in the differential diagnosis is the rare benign choroid plexus adenoma. As these tumors are infrequently described, the histological profile continues to evolve. The authors present a case with unusual characteristics that will broaden the pathological spectrum for choroid plexus adenomas.

Objectives: It has been reported that obtaining an adduction-to-abduction strength ratio of 90-100%, and an adduction strength equal to that of the uninjured side, are suitable clinical milestones for return to sport following groin injury. Little is known about hip adduction and abduction strength profiles in Australian footballers. This study aimed to compare isometric hip adduction and abduction strength profiles between preferred and non-preferred kicking legs in elite, sub-elite and amateur Australian footballers., Design: Cross sectional study, Methods: 36 elite, 19 sub-elite and 18 amateur Australian footballers, with a mean age of 24, 19 and 23 years respectively, were included. Maximal hip isometric adduction and abduction strength were measured using a hand held dynamometer with external belt fixation., Results: There were no significant differences in isometric hip adduction (p=0.262) or abduction (p=0.934) strength, or the adduction-to-abduction ratio (p=0.163), between preferred and non-preferred kicking legs, regardless of playing level. Elite players had significantly greater isometric hip adduction and abduction strength than both sub-elite (mean difference; adduction=46.01N, p<0.001, abduction=30.79N, p=0.003) and amateur players (mean difference; adduction=78.72N, p<0.001, abduction=59.11N, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the adduction-to-abduction ratio between the playing levels (p=0.165)., Conclusions: No significant differences were found between preferred and non-preferred kicking legs across the playing levels for isometric hip adduction, abduction or the adduction-to-abduction ratio. This may have implications for developing groin injury prediction and return to sport criteria in Australian footballers., (Copyright © 2015 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Quantitative validation of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) inferred from observational expression data is a difficult task usually involving time intensive and costly laboratory experiments. We were able to show that gene knock-down experiments can be used to quantitatively assess the quality of large-scale GRNs via a purely data-driven approach (Olsen et al. 2014). Our new validation framework also enables the statistical comparison of multiple network inference techniques, which was a long-standing challenge in the field. In this Data in Brief we detail the contents and quality controls for the gene expression data (available from NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus repository with accession number GSE53091) associated with our study published in Genomics (Olsen et al. 2014). We also provide R code to access the data and reproduce the analysis presented in this article.

Stress injury to the distal humerus has been reported as a cause of chronic arm pain among competitive tennis players. As the serve is technically similar to an overhead throwing motion, it is conceivable that this injury could occur in other overhead athletes. Overuse injuries, including rotator cuff tears, ulnar collateral ligament injuries, and joint sprains have routinely been reported in quarterbacks, but there are few reported cases of upper extremity bony stress injuries in these athletes. Magnetic resonance imaging aids in the diagnostic evaluation of an upper extremity injury as it can identify numerous structural injuries and early stress changes within bone. Accurately diagnosing stress reactions helps prevent progression toward stress fracture, which is possible if conservative measures are initiated early in the rehabilitation period. In this article, we report the case of an elite college quarterback who presented with localized elbow pain while throwing.

Within long-term care, the transitional care setting provides post-acute and short-stay rehabilitation to older adults, easing the transition between the acute care hospital and home or long-term care. The current nursing shortage makes it difficult for these facilities to attract and retain qualified nursing staff. In order to meet the rehabilitation needs for this patient population while at the same time addressing the challenge in nursing education of limited clinical placements and severe nurse faculty shortages, an academic-practice partnership was developed to establish a Dedicated Education Unit (DEU). The DEU is an innovative clinical education model in which experienced staff nurses serve as clinical teachers to nursing students. This paper describes the process of developing a DEU using the Partners in Caring Model as the framework. Formative and summative evaluation results and recommendations for program improvement of this pilot project are discussed., (Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)