External Validation of Raman Spectroscopy for Lyme Disease Diagnostics.

Lyme disease (LD), caused by Borreliella burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States, yet early-stage diagnosis remains challenging due to the limitations of current serological diagnostics. Raman spectroscopy (RS), paired with partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), showed promise as an alternative diagnostic tool. Using RS, we analyzed 107 coded human blood samples (42 LD-positive and 65 LD-negative) obtained from the Lyme Disease Biobank.

Relationship Between Health Care Team Segregation and Receipt of Care by a Cardiologist According to Patient Race in a Midwestern State.

Background: Segregation index (SI) has been associated with worsened health. However, the relationship between SI within health care teams (degree of heterogeneity between teams caring for Black compared with White patients) and cardiovascular care is unclear among adequately insured populations. We sought to assess the relationship between health care team SI, patient race, receipt of care by a cardiologist, 1-year survival, and 30-day readmission rates for Black compared with White patients admitted with heart failure, ischemic heart disease, or valvular heart disease.

Clinical Ethics Consultations in Cirrhosis Care.

Background: Ethics consultations may reflect the nature and frequency of conflicts in clinical care. Data regarding consultations for patients with cirrhosis, however, are limited.

Aims: To understand the reasons and context for ethics consultations and identify areas for improvement.

Racial Disparities in Pediatric Anesthesia: An Updated Review.

Health care disparities affect care across all medical fields, including pediatric anesthesia. Recent studies have revealed differences in pediatric perioperative care especially in anesthetic and analgesic choices. Additionally, Black children face higher 30 day postoperative mortality and more serious adverse events compared to White children.