Multilevel Interventions and Co-Benefits
From understanding to action Actions simultaneously address climate change and create multiple health benefits beyond improving air quality. Climate action is health action. The most effective interventions create benefits across multiple domains:Â Air quality. Climate. Health. Equity. Economy. Policy-level interventions: Emission reduction strategies Transportation sector transformation Electric vehicle transitions Mechanism: Elimination of tailpipe emissions (NOx, […]
Health Consequences
From exposure to disease Air pollutants enter the body through inhalation, triggering an inflammatory response cascade that affects multiple organ systems. Understanding these pathways— from molecular mechanisms to population health patterns—is essential for clinical practice. Particle size determines where pollution goes in your body PM10 (≤10 μm): Deposits in upper airways (nose, throat, large bronchi); […]
Sources of Air Quality Degradation
Transportation sector The transportation sector is the largest contributor to urban air pollution in most developed countries, mainly due to vehicle emissions. Primary pollutants produced Nitrogen oxides (NOx): Formed during high-temperature combustion, NOx contributes to ozone formation and respiratory irritation. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): React with NOx in sunlight to form ozone; some VOCs are […]
Introduction to Degraded Air Quality
Patient: Marcus Marcus is a 6-year-old male who is accompanied by his mother. He presents with a worsening cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. He has a history of asthma that was previously well controlled on his inhaler therapy. You recall that the AQI is 145. What do you do for Marcus? Please think about […]
Degraded Air Quality
This module explores how climate change and pollution degrade air quality and the resulting health consequences, with attention to populations at greatest risk and strategies at multiple levels that create co-benefits for both climate and health. Sections Note Environmental and health policies evolve with changing political administrations. While federal approaches may shift, the scientific evidence […]
Critical appraisal of a randomized controlled trial (Facilitator)
In this journal club session, we will be appraising a recent article about empagliflozin, an inhibitor of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2, found in the kidney’s proximal tubule. This drug is used to treat type 2 diabetes. However, recent evidence suggests that using SGLT2 inhibitors reduces the risk of hospitalization for patients with heart failure with or […]
Randomized control trials and clinical trial design
Learning Goals Describe the essential elements of randomized trials and compare and contrast Randomized Control Trial and Non-Randomized Control Trial study designs Describe the difference between efficacy and effectiveness Define the purposes of randomization, masking, blinding, placebo, placebo effect, single-blind studies, and double-blind studies List the four major phases of randomized trials used by the […]
Antibiotics: Beta-lactams
Learning goals Compare and contrast the mechanism of action, spectrum of activity, main clinical uses, and toxicities of the four main subclasses of beta-lactams Describe the mechanisms of resistance used by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria against the various beta-lactam antibiotics Name the beta-lactamase inhibitors and describe their role and limitations as an antimicrobial Name beta-lactams […]
Endocarditis
Learning goals Describe the classification, predisposing factors, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE) Compare and contrast the common microbiologic causes for acute, subacute, native, and prosthetic valve endocarditis Describe the pharmacologic treatment of infective endocarditis and conditions where surgery is considered Required study materials These are required materials that will help maximize […]
Gram-positive cocci
Learning goals Classify staphylococci and streptococci species according to their microbiologic properties (morphologic features, chemical and/or antigenic identification, and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms) Compare and contrast the pathogenesis, virulence factors, and clinical presentation of infections due to Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative staphylococcus Compare and contrast the environmental niches and most common clinical diseases associated with […]