Trump Administration Assaults NIH and WHO-RFK Jr’s Nomination Hearing Scheduled

By: Robbins RA

Abstract: 

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. Given all the commotion that has been occurring in Washington over the Gaetz and Hegseth nominations, preparations for mass deportation, birthright citizenship, and government DEI programs, several healthcare news stories have flown under the radar. Below is a summary.

Science is reporting that yesterday the Trump administration imposed several restrictions on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which will have an impact on grants and scientific exchange (1). These included the abrupt cancellation of meetings including grant review panels, communications “pause”, a freeze on hiring, and an indefinite ban on travel. The moves have generated extensive confusion and uncertainty at the nation’s largest research agency, which has become a target for Trump’s political allies. For example, officials halted midstream a training workshop for junior scientists, called off a workshop on adolescent learning minutes before it was to begin, and canceled meetings of two advisory councils. Panels that were scheduled to …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/news/2025/1/23/trump-administration-assaults-nih-and-who-rfk-jrs-nomination.html

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Nominated as HHS Secretary: Choices for Senators and Healthcare Providers

By: Robbins RA

Abstract: 

No abstract available. Editorial truncated after 150 words. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated several controversial figures for cabinet positions. On November 14, Trump announced Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his choice for Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary (1). Although several of Trump’s nominees are marginal, I could not have imagined a worse choice than Kennedy. As many cringe at the thought of a number of Trump’s nominees, I join many of my fellow healthcare providers and scientists in their abhorrence at Kennedy’s nomination.

Kennedy has long promoted anti-vaccine misinformation and public-health conspiracy theories (2,3). Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has emerged as a leading proponent of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation (4). Many of his false public health claims have targeted prominent figures such as Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, and Joe Biden. He has written books, including The Real Anthony Fauci (5) and A Letter to Liberals (6), perpetuating his lies. Kennedy has insinuated that HIV …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/editorials/2025/1/7/robert-f-kennedy-jr-nominated-as-hhs-secretary-choices-for-s.html 

January 2025 Medical Image of the Month: Psoriasis with Pulmonary Involvement

By: Jokerst C, Butt YM

Abstract: 

No abstract available. Manuscript truncated after 150 words. A 58-year-old man presented to our pulmonary service for a second opinion concerning his interstitial lung disease (ILD), which had been diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis associated ILD. The patient had a positive rheumatoid factor (barely) at an outside institution, but no other test results or historical or physical exam findings to suggest rheumatoid arthritis. He was being treated with mycophenolate, but did not feel that he was improving. To the contrary, there had been a recent decline in his overall lung function. The only other relevant medical history is psoriasis. The patient is a lifelong nonsmoker. Resting pulse oximetry was 95% on room air with a brief desaturation to 88% during ambulation, which quickly recovered with rest. The patient’s vital signs were otherwise normal. Physical exam findings were normal aside from mild cutaneous findings of plaque psoriasis. Results from pulmonary function testing at an outside institution were available, revealing a …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/imaging/2025/1/2/january-2025-medical-image-of-the-month-psoriasis-with-pulmo.html 

January 2025 Critical Care Case of the Month: A 35-Year-Old Admitted After a Fall

By: VonEssen SG

Abstract: 

No abstract available. Manuscript truncated after 150 words. History of Present Illness

A 35-year-old was injured at work earlier that day. He fell approximately 10 feet while power washing a hog confinement pen from inside the bucket of a skid loader. He complained of pain in his left foot. He had struck his head but denied loss of consciousness. He was admitted to an outside hospital ICU for observation.

PMH, SH, and FH

He has no chronic medical conditions and has never been hospitalized.

He has never smoked and only drinks socially. He is single.

His mother died at 55 of heart disease. His father and 6 brothers and sisters are all healthy.

Physical Examination

He is 5’5” and weighs 193 pounds. There is a head laceration and he has tenderness in his left foot. Otherwise, his physical examination is normal.

Radiology

A foot x-ray reveals fractures of the left second and third metatarsals. Head CT was interpreted …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/critical-care/2025/1/1/january-2025-critical-care-case-of-the-month-a-35-year-old-a.html 

If You Want to Publish, Be Part of the Process

By: Quan SF, Shapiro C

Abstract: 

No abstract available. Manuscript truncated after 150 words. The edifice of academic journals is predicated on the process of peer review. Inevitably it is subject to the vagaries of the individual perspectives and biases of the reviewers. However, there has not been a useful, equitable or viable alternative that would secure a level of quality control in the research domain (1). Given the inevitable human components of range of knowledge, potential biases  and sometimes lazy thinking, it is certainly not a perfect system. Certainly, a worthy paper occasionally is rejected, or a badly flawed paper is accepted. However, in the absence of a better process, it is the gold standard.

Historically, peer review has been an altruistic endeavor. Researchers understood that their reviews contributed to the scientific process by improving the quality of reported information and providing an imprimatur to the reported findings (2); reviewing was an obligation to the scientific community (3). However, there are other benefits …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/editorials/2024/12/16/if-you-want-to-publish-be-part-of-the-process.html