Navigating parental leave as a leader in radiology: Commentary on challenges and strategies

Navigating parental leave can be challenging in all fields of medicine, but it can be especially challenging for leaders balancing clinical, research, and administrative duties. As women take on more leadership roles, we have the opportunity to better define the current challenges and identify potential strategies for navigating successful parental leave while balancing the demands of leadership. This manuscript provides a commentary on the challenges and strategies for navigating parental leave in leadership positions in radiology, an important topic for shaping how parental leave is both viewed and valued in the future. Specifically, we highlight challenges and strategies for administrative responsibilities, reporting personnel, emails, microaggressions, research, empowerment, and prioritization.

Unreliability of current screening tests for syphilis in chronic psychiatric patients

OBJECTIVE

This study examined whether psychiatrists perform adequate diagnostic screening for syphilis in patients with chronic mental illness.

METHOD

Two hundred patients with chronic mental illness underwent testing for syphilis with the commonly used RPR test and the microhemagglutination assay for Treponema pallidum (MHA-TP). Sensitivities of the two tests were compared.

RESULTS

A substantial number of patients with negative results on RPR tests had reactive MHA-TPs and would have not been identified as having had syphilis with the use of RPR testing alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Nontreponemal tests such as the RPR test are less likely than treponemal tests to detect syphilis appropriately in chronically mentally ill patients, and specific treponemal tests such as the MHA-TP should be considered.

Vaccination of cattle and sheep with a combined Clostridium perfringens types C and D toxoid

Cattle and sheep (30 each) were vaccinated with a combined Clostridium perfringens type C and C perfringens type D toxoid. Vaccination and blood sample collections were made every 2 weeks over a period of 8 weeks. Increases in antitoxin titers occurred after the 2nd administration of the 2.0-ml combined product. Highest titers were recorded when the 2nd vaccinal dose was given 2 weeks after the first. This confirms reports that response to clostridial antigens is greater when the 2nd immunizing dose is delayed 2 to 6 weeks after the initial dose.