Association between a Frailty Index from Common Laboratory Values and Vital Signs (FI-LAB) and Hospital and Post-Hospital Outcomes in Veterans with COVID-19 Infection.

Objectives: Determine the association of higher FI-LAB scores, derived from common laboratory values and vital signs, with hospital and post-hospital outcomes in Veterans hospitalized with COVID-19 infection.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective, multicenter, cohort study of 7 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical centers in Florida and Puerto Rico. Patients aged 18 years and older hospitalized with COVID-19 and followed for up to 1 year post discharge or until death.

Palliative Medicine Referral and End-of-Life Interventions Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Patients With Advanced or Recurrent Gynecologic Cancer.

Background: Referral to palliative medicine (PM) has been shown to improve quality of life, reduce hospitalizations, and improve survival. Limited data exist about PM utilization among racial minorities with gynecologic malignancies. Our objective was to assess differences in palliative medicine referrals and end of life interventions (within the last 30 days of life) by race and ethnicity in a diverse population of gynecologic oncology patients.

Identifying Dementia Risk in Older Veterans Using A Mailing Survey.

Evidence suggests that dementia can be prevented. Patients with frailty may be particularly at risk for cognitive impairment (CI). The aim of this study was to determine dementia risk in older Veterans and whether the risk varies according to frailty status.

Chagas' disease and HIV co-infection in patients without effective antiretroviral therapy: prevalence, clinical presentation and natural history.

The objectives of this study were to establish the prevalence of Chagas' disease among HIV seropositive patients and to define the clinical profile of co-infected cases. Cross-sectional study: the prevalence of co-infected subjects was 1.3% and there was no significant difference between co-infected and non co-infected patients relative to race, birthplace, home address and CD4 T cells.

Biology of three species of the Meccus phyllosomus complex (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) fed on blood of hens and rabbits.

Aspects related to hatching, life time, number of blood meals to molt, mortality, feeding time and postfeed defecation delay for each instar of Meccus phyllosomus, M. mazzottii, and M. bassolsae, life-cycle were evaluated and compared in two cohorts of each of those three species, fed on hens or rabbits.