Plexus 2013

PLEXUS is a student organized publication that showcases artwork by UCI School of Medicine students, physicians, faculty, staff, and patients. True to its name, PLEXUS aspires to connect both healers and healing alike through the unifying language of art. This year, we have renewed our efforts to bring PLEXUS to the greater UCI community with improved distribution as well as outreach events, including a collaboration with the Bowers Art Museum. We would like to give a special thanks to our faculty advisor, Dr. Johanna Shapiro, and Dr. Ellena Peterson, Associate Dean of Admissions and Outreach. This book would not have been possible without their support.We hope you enjoy PLEXUS 2013.To contribute to PLEXUS, please send artwork to plexusjournal@ gmail.com. We look forward to seeing your submissions!Editors In Chief: Christine Lee, Hanna LiuCreative Writing: Jacqueline Kurth, Lorianne BurnsVisual Arts: Adam TruongLayout And Design: Nabila Haque, Esther JunAudio:  Jessica Galant, Melody BesharatiMarketing And Outreach: Avinash Chaurasi

Risk Factors for Traumatic Injury Findings on Thoracic Computed Tomography Among Patients With Blunt Trauma Having a Normal Chest Radiograph

Hypothesis:Wesought to identify risk factors that might predict acute traumatic injury findings on thoracic computed tomography (TCT) among patients having a normal initial chest radiograph (CR). Design: In this retrospective analysis, Abbreviated Injury Score cutoffs were chosen to correspond with obvious physical examination findings. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors predicting acute traumatic injury findings. Setting: Urban level I trauma center. Patients: All patients with blunt trauma having both CR and TCT between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2007. Patients with abnormalities on their CR were excluded. Main Outcome Measure: Finding of any acute traumatic abnormality on TCT, despite a normal CR. Results: A total of 2435 patients with blunt trauma were identified; 1744 (71.6%) had a normal initial CR, and 394 (22.6%) of these had acute traumatic findings on TCT. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that an abdominal Abbreviated Injury Score of 3 or higher (P=.001; odds ratio, 2.6), a pelvic or extremity Abbreviated Injury Score of 2 or higher (P\u3c.001; odds ratio, 2.0), age older than 30 years (P=.004; odds ratio, 1.4), and male sex (P=.04; odds ratio, 1.3) were significantly associated with traumatic findings on TCT. No aortic injuries were diagnosed in patients with a normal CR. Limiting TCT to patients with 1 or more risk factors predicting acute traumatic injury findings would have resulted in reduced radiation exposure and in a cost savings of almost $250 000 over the 2-year period. Limiting TCT to this degree would not have missed any clinically significant vertebral fractures or vascular injuries. Conclusion: Among patients with a normal screening CR, reserving TCT for older male patients with abdominal or extremity blunt trauma seems safe and costeffective

Plexus 2010

Editors-in-Chief:  Virginia Liu, Nupoor NarulaMarketing and Outreach:  Philip Ngai, Ann ShueSelection: Justin Tilan, Connie Lin, David ChengCreative Writing: Nupoor Narula, Tommy Hand, Coutham GanesanVisual Arts: Philip Ngai, Sue WangAudio: Matt Fradkin, Micheal StoneLayout and Design: Chase Warren, Stephanie LeSponsors: SOM Dean’s Office, Office of Educational Affairs, Office of AdmissionsSpecial ThanksFaculty Advisor:  Dr. Johanna Shapiro, Dr. Ellena PetersonPast Plexus Editors:  Rod Mortazavi, Charitha Reddy, Maheen Hassan, Neera SodhiPublished works were contributed by UCI School of Medicine students, physicians, faculty, staff, alumni, and patients.  © 2010 Plexu

Plexus 2008

The Plexus board would like to thank you for picking up our magazine. Being in the healthcare field can be demanding at times, emotionally and mentally, and many of us like to release our inner artist. We hope that you enjoy looking at, and reading, our work. Some of it was made to relax, some of it is to gain insight, and some of it is just for fun! This magazine is put together by a large board of Editors, over the span of a year, and collects hundreds of pieces of art from UCI School of Medicine students, faculty, physicians, employees, and even patients. All the work is judged by a fifty-person panel and then organized and published. And it’s all organized by medical students who love art and the support of our faculty advisor, Dr. Johanna Shapiro (who also loves art)! We hope the contributed work has an impact and you’ll keep your eyes out for our future editions. Thanks again dear reader!Sincerely,The EditorsThe Editorial Board would like to recognize and thank the following sponsors for their unwavering support! The School of Medicine Deans Office, The Office of Educational Affairs, The Office of Admissions, Last Year’s Board, who made us who we are today, Carroll Rudy, and Dale Fakuda from Printing Division Inc. Thanks!!!Faculty Advisor: Dr. Johanna Shapiro M.D.Co-Editors-in-Chief: Rod Mortazavi, Neera SodhiManaging Editor: Julie HuiSenior Editors:Audio: Wesley RyanHospital Beautification: Christina UmberVisual Arts: Neera SodhiCreative Writing: Dana SteenhardLayout and Design: Rod MortazaviMarketing and Outreach: Julie HuiAssociate EditorsAudio: George MittendorfHospital Beautification: Janet HoVisual Arts: Charitha ReddyCreative Writing: Mohammed Shaikh, Jennifer AllooLayout and Design: Steven Chan, Maheen Hassan, Peter McQueenMarketing and Outreach: Mohammed ShaikhSelection Committee: Alexander Lin, Madhukar PatelUCI School of Medicine (c) 2008 PLEXUSPublished work has been contributed by UCI School of Medicine students, physicians, faculty, staff, alumni, and patient

Plexus 2012

PLEXUS would like to give a special thanks to our faculty advisor, Dr. Johanna Shapiro. This publication would not have been possible without the support of the UC Irvine School of Medicine and Dr. Ellena Peterson.This edition of PLEXUS is dedicated to THOMAS SAGE HAND (March 27, 1985 — January 15, 2012)Sponsors: UCI School of Medicine Dean’s Office, Office of Educational Affairs, and Office of AdmissionsPast Plexus Editors: David Cheng, Stephanie Le, Virginia Liu, Nupoor NarulaEditors in Chief: Nina Narasimhalu, Nguyen NguyenCreative Writing: Lorianne Burns, Samantha Costantini, David TranVisual Arts:  Christine Lee, Kimberly TruongLayout & Design: Christine Lee, Hanna LiuAudio: Melody Besharati, Andrew TreisterMarketing & Outreach: Christopher NguyenAudio Available Online http://www.meded.uci.edu/Medhum/plexus.asp Published works were contributed by UCI School of Medicine students, physicians, faculty, staff, alumni and patients.Thank you to Printing Division, Inc. © 2012 Plexus