Expanding the diversity of mycobacteriophages: insights into genome architecture and evolution.

Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect mycobacterial hosts such as Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All mycobacteriophages characterized to date are dsDNA tailed phages, and have either siphoviral or myoviral morphotypes. However, their genetic diversity is considerable, and although sixty-two genomes have been sequenced and comparatively analyzed, these likely represent only a small portion of the diversity of the mycobacteriophage population at large. Here we report the isolation, sequencing and comparative genomic analysis of 18 new mycobacteriophages isolated from geographically distinct locations within the United States. Although no clear correlation between location and genome type can be discerned, these genomes expand our knowledge of mycobacteriophage diversity and enhance our understanding of the roles of mobile elements in viral evolution. Expansion of the number of mycobacteriophages grouped within Cluster A provides insights into the basis of immune specificity in these temperate phages, and we also describe a novel example of apparent immunity theft. The isolation and genomic analysis of bacteriophages by freshman college students provides an example of an authentic research experience for novice scientists

Differences in the Professional Satisfaction of General Internists in Academically Affiliated Practices in the Greater-Boston Area

Managed care has created more professional constraints for general internists. We surveyed 198 general internists at 12 academically affiliated practices in the greater-Boston area to examine professional satisfaction. Overall, these physicians were moderately satisfied (mean of 59.1 on a 100-point scale). Before adjustment, women had lower overall satisfaction than men, as well as poorer satisfaction with the domains of career concerns and patient access. Gender had no independent effect on satisfaction after adjustment for age, income, percentage of time providing direct patient care, work status, and site. Younger physicians also had lower overall satisfaction, and these differences remained after adjustment. Improvements in professional satisfaction may be required to ensure the continued recruitment of young physicians, particularly women, into general internal medicine

Communication Factors in the Follow-up of Abnormal Mammograms

OBJECTIVE: To identify the communication factors that are significantly associated with appropriate short-term follow-up of abnormal mammograms. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal study involving medical record review and patient survey. SETTING: Ten academically affiliated ambulatory medical practices in the Boston metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty-six women with abnormal mammograms requiring short-term (6 months) follow-up imaging. MEASUREMENTS: Proportion of women in the study who received appropriate follow-up care. RESULTS: Eighty-one (64%) of the women with abnormal mammograms requiring short-term follow-up imaging received the appropriate follow-up care. After adjusting for patients’ age and insurance status, 2 communication factors were found to be independently associated with the delivery of appropriate follow-up care: 1) physicians’ documentation of a follow-up plan in the medical record (adjusted odds ratio, 2.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.11 to 6.98; P = .029); and 2) patients’ understanding of the need for follow-up (adjusted odds ratio, 3.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.50 to 9.96; P = .006). None of the patients’ clinical or psychological characteristics were associated with the delivery of appropriate follow-up care. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up care for women with abnormal mammograms requiring short-term follow-up imaging is suboptimal. Documentation of the follow-up plan by the physician and understanding of the follow-up plan by the patient are important factors that are correlated with the receipt of appropriate follow-up care for these women. Interventions designed to improve the quality of result follow-up in the outpatient setting should address these issues in patient-doctor communication