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Filip R, Gheorghita Puscaselu R, Anchidin-Norocel L, Dimian M, Savage WK. Global Challenges to Public Health Care Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Pandemic Measures and Problems. J Pers Med 2022; 12:1295. [PMID: 36013244 PMCID: PMC9409667 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12081295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Beginning in December 2019, the world faced a critical new public health stressor with the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. Its spread was extraordinarily rapid, and in a matter of weeks countries across the world were affected, notably in their ability to manage health care needs. While many sectors of public structures were impacted by the pandemic, it particularly highlighted shortcomings in medical care infrastructures around the world that underscored the need to reorganize medical systems, as they were vastly unprepared and ill-equipped to manage a pandemic and simultaneously provide general and specialized medical care. This paper presents modalities in approaches to the pandemic by various countries, and the triaged reorganization of medical sections not considered first-line in the pandemic that was in many cases transformed into wards for treating COVID-19 cases. As new viruses and structural variants emerge, it is important to find solutions to streamline medical care in hospitals, which includes the expansion of digital network medicine (i.e., telemedicine and mobile health apps) for patients to continue to receive appropriate care without risking exposure to contagions. Mobile health app development continues to evolve with specialized diagnostics capabilities via external attachments that can provide rapid information sharing between patients and care providers while eliminating the need for office visits. Telemedicine, still in the early stages of adoption, especially in the developing world, can ensure access to medical information and contact with care providers, with the potential to release emergency rooms from excessive cases, and offer multidisciplinary access for patients and care providers that can also be a means to avoid contact during a pandemic. As this pandemic illustrated, an overhaul to streamline health care is essential, and a move towards greater use of mobile health and telemedicine will greatly benefit public health to control the spread of new variants and future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Filip
- Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
- BK Laboratory, SuceavaCounty Emergency Hospital, 720224 Suceava, Romania
| | - Roxana Gheorghita Puscaselu
- Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, and Distributed Systems for Fabrication and Control, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
| | - Liliana Anchidin-Norocel
- Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
| | - Mihai Dimian
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, and Distributed Systems for Fabrication and Control, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
- Department of Computers, Electronics and Automation, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
| | - Wesley K. Savage
- Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, and Distributed Systems for Fabrication and Control, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
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Afshar-Oromieh A, Prosch H, Schaefer-Prokop C, Bohn KP, Alberts I, Mingels C, Thurnher M, Cumming P, Shi K, Peters A, Geleff S, Lan X, Wang F, Huber A, Gräni C, Heverhagen JT, Rominger A, Fontanellaz M, Schöder H, Christe A, Mougiakakou S, Ebner L. A comprehensive review of imaging findings in COVID-19 - status in early 2021. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2021; 48:2500-2524. [PMID: 33932183 PMCID: PMC8087891 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-021-05375-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Medical imaging methods are assuming a greater role in the workup of patients with COVID-19, mainly in relation to the primary manifestation of pulmonary disease and the tissue distribution of the angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE 2) receptor. However, the field is so new that no consensus view has emerged guiding clinical decisions to employ imaging procedures such as radiography, computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging, and in what measure the risk of exposure of staff to possible infection could be justified by the knowledge gained. The insensitivity of current RT-PCR methods for positive diagnosis is part of the rationale for resorting to imaging procedures. While CT is more sensitive than genetic testing in hospitalized patients, positive findings of ground glass opacities depend on the disease stage. There is sparse reporting on PET/CT with [18F]-FDG in COVID-19, but available results are congruent with the earlier literature on viral pneumonias. There is a high incidence of cerebral findings in COVID-19, and likewise evidence of gastrointestinal involvement. Artificial intelligence, notably machine learning is emerging as an effective method for diagnostic image analysis, with performance in the discriminative diagnosis of diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia comparable to that of human practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Afshar-Oromieh
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstr. 18, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Helmut Prosch
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cornelia Schaefer-Prokop
- Department of Radiology, Meander Medical Center, Amersfoort, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Karl Peter Bohn
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstr. 18, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ian Alberts
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstr. 18, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Clemens Mingels
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstr. 18, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Majda Thurnher
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Cumming
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstr. 18, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kuangyu Shi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstr. 18, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alan Peters
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Silvana Geleff
- Clinical Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Xiaoli Lan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Adrian Huber
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Gräni
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Johannes T Heverhagen
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Axel Rominger
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstr. 18, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Fontanellaz
- ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Heiko Schöder
- Molecular Imaging and Therapy Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andreas Christe
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stavroula Mougiakakou
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Ebner
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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Ranjan P, LaRocca G, Sanz J, Croft L. Multimodality cardiac imaging for management of a cardiac mass in the era of COVID-19: a case report. Eur Heart J Case Rep 2021; 5:ytab062. [PMID: 34104862 PMCID: PMC8108618 DOI: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytab062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atrial myxomas are the most common benign cardiac tumours. This case highlights an unusual presentation and complex management of a patient who was incidentally found to have a left atrial tumour concerning for a myxoma. CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old-woman presented with symptoms of nausea and vomiting and was found to have a left atrial mass incidentally in addition to a renal infarct. She was also found to have COVID-19 and the mass was initially thought to be a thrombus. With the help of multimodality imaging, it was determined that the mass was an atrial myxoma and she was started on short-term anticoagulation to prevent recurrent embolization. After 6 weeks of anticoagulation, she successfully underwent elective resection of the mass which was confirmed to be myxoma with superimposed thrombus. DISCUSSION It is difficult to differentiate cardiac tumours from intracardiac thrombus and multimodality cardiac imaging is crucial to make an accurate diagnosis. While the treatment of atrial myxomas involves early surgical resection, it becomes more complicated with concurrent COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Ranjan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- This case report was the winner of the Women in Cardiology Global Case Competition 2020 and underwent review by a judging panel arranged by that organization. Corresponding author.
| | - Gina LaRocca
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Javier Sanz
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Lori Croft
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
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Delikhoon M, Guzman MI, Nabizadeh R, Norouzian Baghani A. Modes of Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Factors Influencing on the Airborne Transmission: A Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:E395. [PMID: 33419142 PMCID: PMC7825517 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The multiple modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission including airborne, droplet, contact, and fecal-oral transmissions that cause coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contribute to a public threat to the lives of people worldwide. Herein, different databases are reviewed to evaluate modes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and study the effects of negative pressure ventilation, air conditioning system, and related protection approaches of this virus. Droplet transmission was commonly reported to occur in particles with diameter >5 µm that can quickly settle gravitationally on surfaces (1-2 m). Instead, fine and ultrafine particles (airborne transmission) can stay suspended for an extended period of time (≥2 h) and be transported further, e.g., up to 8 m through simple diffusion and convection mechanisms. Droplet and airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can be limited indoors with adequate ventilation of rooms, by routine disinfection of toilets, using negative pressure rooms, using face masks, and maintaining social distancing. Other preventive measures recommended include increasing the number of screening tests of suspected carriers of SARS-CoV-2, reducing the number of persons in a room to minimize sharing indoor air, and monitoring people's temperature before accessing a building. The work reviews a body of literature supporting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through air, causing COVID-19 disease, which requires coordinated worldwide strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdieh Delikhoon
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran;
| | - Marcelo I. Guzman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA;
| | - Ramin Nabizadeh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
| | - Abbas Norouzian Baghani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
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Katal S, Azam S, Bombardieri E, Picchio M, Gholamrezanezhad A. Reopening the country: Recommendations for nuclear medicine departments. World J Nucl Med 2021; 20:1-6. [PMID: 33850483 PMCID: PMC8034797 DOI: 10.4103/wjnm.wjnm_73_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The best practices for nuclear medicine departments to operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic have been debated in the literature recently. However, as many governments have started to ease restrictions in activity due to COVID-19, a set of guidelines is needed to resume routine patient care throughout the world. The nonessential or elective procedures which were previously postponed or canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic will gradually restart in the following weeks despite the continued risks. In this paper, we aim to review some of the most effective general precautions to restart the regular nuclear medicine operations safely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Katal
- Department of Nuclear Medicine/PET-CT, Shiraz, Kowsar Hospital, Iran
| | - Saif Azam
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA
| | | | - Maria Picchio
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Nuclear Medicine Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ali Gholamrezanezhad
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA
- Address for correspondence: Dr. Ali Gholamrezanezhad, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1520 San Pablo Street, Los Angles, California, USA. E-mail:
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Grossman GB, Sellera CAC, Hossri CAC, Carreira LTF, Avanza AC, Albuquerque PFD, Milani M, Mastrocola LE, Ritt LEF, Freitas OGAD, Carvalho TD, Chalela WA, Ghorayeb N, Meneghelo RS, Nunes MB, Serra SM. Position Statement of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology Department of Exercise Testing, Sports Exercise, Nuclear Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation (DERC/SBC) on Activities Within its Scope of Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Arq Bras Cardiol 2020; 115:284-291. [PMID: 32876199 PMCID: PMC8384272 DOI: 10.36660/abc.20200797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Blacher Grossman
- Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, RS - Brasil
- Clínica Cardionuclear, Porto Alegre, RS - Brasil
| | - Carlos Alberto Cyrillo Sellera
- Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Santos, Santos, SP - Brasil
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP - Brasil
| | | | - Lara Terra F Carreira
- Hospital Nossa Senhora do Pilar, Curitiba, PR - Brasil
- Cardiologia Nuclear Curitiba, Curitiba, PR - Brasil
| | - Antônio Carlos Avanza
- Universidade Vila Velha, Vitória, ES - Brasil
- Clínica Centrocor, Vitória, ES - Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Luiz Eduardo Fonteles Ritt
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA - Brasil
- Hospital Cardiopulmonar, Salvador, BA - Brasil
| | | | - Tales de Carvalho
- Clínica de Prevenção e Reabilitação Cardiosport, Florianópolis, SC - Brasil
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC - Brasil
| | - William Azem Chalela
- Instituto do Coração (Incor) do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFM-USP),São Paulo, SP - Brasil
- Sociedade Beneficente de Senhoras Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | - Nabil Ghorayeb
- Hospital do Coração (Hcor), São Paulo, SP - Brasil
- Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia,São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | - Romeu Sergio Meneghelo
- Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia,São Paulo, SP - Brasil
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP - Brasil
| | | | - Salvador Manoel Serra
- Centro de Cardiologia do Exercício do Instituto Estadual de Cardiologia Aloysio de Castro (CCEx/IECAC), Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Brasil
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Huang HL, Gnanasegaran G, Paez D, Fanti S, Hacker M, Sathekge M, Bom HS, Cerci JJ, Chiti A, Lan X, Herrmann K, Scott AM, Vinjamuri S, Dorbala S, Estrada E, Pellet O, Orellana P, El-Haj N, Giammarile F, Abdel-Wahab M, Bomanji J. Nuclear medicine services after COVID-19: gearing up back to normality. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2020; 47:2048-2053. [PMID: 32367256 PMCID: PMC7197920 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-020-04848-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- H L Huang
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College London Hospital, 5th Floor, 235 Euston Road, London, UK.,Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Division of Radiological Sciences, Singapore General Hospita, Bukit Merah, Singapore
| | | | - D Paez
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Fanti
- Department of Oncology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - M Hacker
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna General Hospital, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Sathekge
- Nuclear Medicine Department, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - H S Bom
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - J J Cerci
- PET/CT Department at Quanta Diagnostics and Therapy, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - A Chiti
- Humanitas University and Humanitas Research Centre, Milan, Italy
| | - X Lan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - K Herrmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - A M Scott
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - S Vinjamuri
- Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK
| | - S Dorbala
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - E Estrada
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - O Pellet
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - P Orellana
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - N El-Haj
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Giammarile
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Abdel-Wahab
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jamshed Bomanji
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College London Hospital, 5th Floor, 235 Euston Road, London, UK.
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Senapati A, Khan N, Chebrolu LB. Impact of Social Media and Virtual Learning on Cardiology During the COVID-19 Pandemic Era and Beyond. Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J 2020; 16:e1-e7. [PMID: 33133368 PMCID: PMC7587312 DOI: 10.14797/mdcj-16-3-e1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, advances in digital trends and technology have greatly impacted the medical field with rapid delivery of and access to information. The field of cardiovascular medicine in particular has seen major technological advances and is well versed in the use of digital platforms and social media. In these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, social media and other digital platforms are essential tools for communication, education, and delivery of information. In this review, we discuss the ways virtual learning and social media are changing medical education and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alpana Senapati
- HOUSTON METHODIST DEBAKEY HEART & VASCULAR CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS
| | - Najah Khan
- HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL, HOUSTON, TEXAS
| | - L Bindu Chebrolu
- HOUSTON METHODIST DEBAKEY HEART & VASCULAR CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS
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