ScientiaCME Free CME Courses

In this online, self-learning activity:

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease in which leukemic cells accumulate in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic tissue. Elderly patients comprise the vast majority of those diagnosed with CLL with a mean patient age of 72 years. There are over 23,000 cases in the U.S. per year, with an annual mortality rate in excess of 4,400. CLL may have an indolent disease course and go undetected for some time. Patients may present clinically with a range of constitutional symptoms usually range from lymphadenopathy (the most common), night sweats, weight loss, weakness, and fever. Staging systems take into account a variety of factors, including lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and the presence and severity of cytopenias, while a patient’s prognosis is impacted by cytogenetic abnormalities and earlier progression of disease. Both the presentation and progression of CLL vary between patients, although patients with very-high-risk disease have a median survival of 19 months and a five-year overall survival of less than 24%.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Cervical dystonia is the most common focal dystonia, characterized by involuntary muscular contractions resulting in abnormal head, neck, and shoulder movements in addition to posture that can cause tremor and pain. Early-onset dystonia can begin in infancy, childhood, or adolescence, and it generally progresses from focal to generalized. Adult-onset dystonia usually affects the upper part of the body; the origin of the dystonia determines the risk of spread. Cervical dystonia may appear as torticollis, laterocollis, anterocollis, or retrocollis. It may be distinguished from nondystonic hand tremor and essential tremor by the absence of limb tremor and the manner of neck movement. However, it is more difficult to distinguish from pseudodystonias, resulting in misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and treatment delay.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Hemophilia is a genetic disease caused by mutation of one of the genes for coagulation proteins leading to dangerous, uncontrolled bleeding. In hemophilia B, a mutation in the gene for factor IX (FIX) leads to an endogenous deficiency in the clotting factor. The incidence of hemophilia B is the same across race and ethnic groups, affecting approximately 1 out of every 30,000 male births.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) comprises five etiologic groups; Group I, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is a precapillary entity defined hemodynamically by right‑heart catheterization: mean pulmonary artery pressure >20 mm Hg, pulmonary artery wedge pressure ≤15 mm Hg, and pulmonary vascular resistance ≥3 Wood units. PAH is uncommon but consequential; estimates place U.S. prevalence near 10.6 per million, with contemporary data showing rarity yet meaningful population burden. Sex differences are notable—women predominate, while men may experience more severe trajectories—underscoring the need for sex‑aware assessment. Multinational reviews suggest incidence and prevalence remain non‑trivial, with enduring morbidity and mortality despite therapeutic gains.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Alpha-mannosidosis (AM) is a rare recessive lysosomal storage disorder characterized by immune deficiency, facial and skeletal abnormalities, hearing impairment, and intellectual disability. It is caused by mutations in the MAN2B1 gene, leading to deficiency in alpha-mannosidase, a lysosomal enzyme involved in the oligosaccharide degradation pathway. While the exact prevalence of AM in the US is unknown, it has an estimated incidence of 1 in 500,000 live births worldwide. Laboratory indicators of AM often appear shortly after birth, followed by progression of clinical manifestations. While symptoms of AM vary considerably in individual presentations, three clinical subtypes have been identified (mild, moderate, and severe) and are used to guide disease prognosis and management. The current diagnostic algorithm for AM focuses on measuring alpha-mannosidase activity in leukocytes using colorimetry or fluorimetry. An alpha-mannosidase activity level of under 5% suggests AM, and a diagnosis is then confirmed with genetic sequencing.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Thalassemias belong to a group of recessively inherited blood disorders characterized by little or no hemoglobin production and chronic anemia of varying severity. Alpha thalassemia (AT) is most commonly found in people of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian, and North African descent. Worldwide, 5% of people are AT carriers, with a much higher prevalence in certain regions (e.g., up to 23% in Southeast Asia). AT is typically caused by deletions of one or more α-globin genes, leading to reduced or abolished α-globin production; non-deletional forms of AT can also occur and are generally more severe. The loss of functional α-globin disrupts the globin chain equilibrium, leading to excess γ- and β-globin chain formation and causing ineffective erythropoiesis. Patients with both deletional and non-deletional types of AT can develop various clinical complications, such as iron overload, gallstones, impaired liver function, osteoporosis, and elevated uric acid levels. Cardiopulmonary and skeletal deformities are common in patients from countries in the Western hemisphere who have elevated ferritin, while infections are the leading complication and cause of death in patients who live in countries in the Eastern hemisphere and have transfusion-dependent thalassemia.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, with more than 236,000 new cases diagnosed and over 124,000 deaths annually. The most common type of lung cancer, non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), accounts for about 85% of cases and has seen steady declines in mortality over the past several years as improvements have been made in diagnosis, staging, and treatment. In contrast, outcomes for the less prevalent small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which is neuroendocrine in nature and accounts for about 14% of all lung cancer cases, have remained poor in recent years despite improvement in those for NSCLC.

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD) is a demyelinating, autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system. MOGAD is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies directed against the MOG protein located on the surface of myelin sheaths surrounding nerve fibers in the CNS. The disease course may be monophasic or relapsing, and a progressive course is extremely rare, making the mortality rate fairly low (2.1%) compared to other neuroinflammatory diseases. It is a relatively new addition to the category of demyelinating diseases, and approximately 10,000 cases of MOGAD are estimated within the U.S.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an ultra-rare genetic connective tissue disorder characterized by dysregulated chondrogenesis, with heterotopic ossification (HO) being the most typical feature. The global prevalence of FOP is estimated at 1.43 per million individuals, with a U.S. prevalence of 0.88 per million. FOP develops due to a mutation in the ACVR1 gene encoding the active receptor-like kinase (ALK2), with unique presenting symptoms including great toe malformations and the development of swelling in several areas of the body within the first decade of life.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that preferentially targets CD4+ T lymphocytes, driving chronic immune activation, CD4+ depletion, and heightened vulnerability of people living with it (PLWH) to opportunistic infections and certain malignancies. Early, guideline-concordant primary care engagement is essential to mitigate these risks and optimize long-term outcomes. Contemporary antiretroviral therapy (ART) recommendations from major panels provide multiple highly effective, well-tolerated options that enable durable viral suppression when initiated promptly and supported over time.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common monogenic blood disorder, affecting millions of people worldwide and approximately 100,000 Americans. Although it may be found in various areas of the world, SCD predominantly affects individuals of African or Hispanic heritage. It is caused by the inheritance of b-globin alleles that code for hemoglobin S, resulting in an amino acid substitution in hemoglobin’s b chain and clinical disease. Patients with SCD have impaired circulation, and lysis of the erythrocytes contributes to a chronic inflammatory response, causing severe pain and less efficient oxygen delivery. The hallmark clinical features of SCD are hemolytic anemia and painful vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), which may lead to emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalization, and potentially fatal complications. In one US study, 45% of deaths among people with SCD were related to cardiopulmonary causes, and VOCs alone have been shown to increase the risk of death by 50%. SCD also imposes other significant health burdens on patients: it is associated with a significant reduction in quality of life, malnutrition, the development of mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, loss of work or school days, frequent antibiotic use leading to higher rates of antimicrobial resistance, acute chest syndrome, and stroke.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a severe manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affecting over 40% of patients with lupus. It is a major contributor to morbidity, healthcare utilization, and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The prevalence of LN has increased significantly over time, from 16.8 per 100,000 in 1985 to 21.2 per 100,000 more recently. The mortality rate associated with LN remains high with a standardized mortality ratio of 6.33 compared to the general population. Despite increased advances in treatments, long-term survival rates have not improved significantly over the past four decades. The 10-year survival rate is around 70%, while the incidence of progression in ESRD in LN patients affects up to 13% of patients over time.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Polycythemia vera (PV) is an uncommon hematologic malignancy belonging to BCR-ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), characterized by activating mutations in JAK2 that cause the proliferation of malignant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. PV is characterized by erythrocytosis, thrombocytosis, leukocytosis, and splenomegaly, with approximately 50% of patients presenting symptoms such as fatigue, headache, visual disturbances, and pruritus at diagnosis. Others may be asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally through blood tests, and as the disease progresses, individuals often experience worsening symptoms along with new ones, including early satiety and inactivity. Approximately 148,000 individuals in the United States have PV; the annual incidence of PV ranges from 0.01 to 2.61 per 100,000 individuals, while its prevalence varies from 45 to 57 per 100,000. Primarily affecting older individuals, PV has an overall median age of 61 years, with less than 10% of cases occurring in those under 40 years old.

In this online, self-learning activity:

Since the discovery and development of vaccines, historical leaps have been made on public health, contributing to longevity and reduced burden of infectious diseases. Ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Expanded Program on Immunization in 1974, 154 million deaths from smallpox, tuberculosis, measles, and other infectious diseases have been avoided, especially in children under the age of 5. Between 2000 to 2019, immunization has expanded its reach in infectious targets and helped prevent about 37 million deaths from 10 vaccine-preventable deaths. Despite vaccines being a cost-effective method for reducing severe consequences of infection and high-cost treatments, vaccination rates have been decreasing amongst the general public, failing to meet national and global goals. The cause is multi-factorial and complex, requiring understanding in human behavior, internal biases, and external circumstances to explore how an individual navigates the process of deciding whether or not to be vaccinated.

Acromegaly is an endocrine disorder characterized by dysregulated hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH), usually caused by a GH-secreting, pituitary adenoma and leading to an overproduction of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Estimated to have a prevalence of 2.8 to 13.7 cases per 100,000, acromegaly is not as common as other endocrine disorders. However, its incidence is increasing, and it has a significant impact on patient quality of life, with clinical features that include: acral enlargement; facial feature and oral changes; headache; significant fatigue, including daytime sleepiness; hyperhidrosis; oily and thicker skin; weight gain; and arthralgia. Approximately 25 percent of people with acromegaly have elevated blood pressure, and 50 percent have evidence of insulin resistance, putting them at risk of developing type 2 diabetes in future. The mortality rates of acromegaly patients are three times higher than the general population, with most dying from respiratory or cardiac complications.

In this online, self-learning activity: Blepharitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the eyelids, resulting in discomfort, redness, irritation, and the appearance of dandruff-like flakes on eyelashes. Demodex blepharitis is a specific subtype of blepharitis, where blepharitis is caused by an overgrowth of Demodex mites, which are normal facial skin flora. In other forms of blepharitis, the etiology may be bacterial colonization, allergies, or seborrheic dermatitis, whereas in Demodex blepharitis, the excessive growth of Demodex folliculorum or Demodex brevis is the driver of inflammation. Research suggests that Demodex blepharitis represents three out of five cases of blepharitis.

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online, self-learning activity:

Hemophilia is a genetic disease caused by mutation of one of the genes for coagulation proteins leading to dangerous, uncontrolled bleeding. In hemophilia B, a mutation in the gene for factor IX (FIX) leads to an endogenous deficiency in the clotting factor. The incidence of hemophilia B is the same across race and ethnic groups, affecting approximately 1 out of every 30,000 male births.

Target Audience:

HCPs including but not limited to: hematologists, internists, and pediatricians; physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who practice in hematology, and other HCPs who practice in hemophilia treatment center; and any other clinicians with an interest in or who clinically encounter patients with hemophilia B.