Syphilis is an age-old sexually transmitted infection (STI) that typically passes through three clinical stages and may be latent (without overt signs or symptoms). Primary syphilis is highly contagious, occurs between 3 days and 3 months after sexual exposure, and classically presents as a painless, indurated ulcer (but can be quite variable). This most infectious lesion is commonly seen in the genital area, but can be easily missed if it occurs in the rectum, vagina, or mouth.
Medical education at the University of British Columbia has been transformed in the past decade and continues to evolve. Currently, the MD undergraduate program is delivered in communities throughout BC, at UBC’s Vancouver campus, and at campuses in Prince George, Victoria, and Kelowna. The number of undergraduate seats has increased from 128 to 288 in the past 10 years and postgraduate positions have more than doubled.
A 49-year-old Caucasian female with a medical history of bronchial asthma presented in 2005 with third-degree heart block. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed mild left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 55%. She subsequently underwent cardiac pacemaker insertion.
While the majority of hearing loss in North American adults is age related, 5% to 10% is caused by occupational noise exposure.[1] Acoustic trauma and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) account for the majority of work-related hearing impairment.
