Publications by authors named "Alexa Ehlert"
Objective: This study aims to test the accuracy of large language models (LLMs) in answering standardized pharmacy examination practice questions.
Methods: The performance of 3 LLMs (generative pretrained transformer [GPT]-3.5, GPT-4, and Chatsonic) was evaluated on 2 independent North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination practice question sets sourced from McGraw Hill and RxPrep.
Introduction: Markers of hemostasis such as procoagulant factors and peak thrombin generation are associated with cardiovascular outcomes, but their associations with dementia risk are unclear. We aimed to evaluate prospective associations of selected procoagulant factors and peak thrombin generation with dementia risk.
Methods: We measured levels of 7 hemostatic factors (fibrinogen, factor VII coagulant activity [FVIIc], activated factor VII [FVIIa], factor VIIa-antithrombin [FVIIa-AT], factor XI antigen [FXI], peak thrombin generation, and platelet count) among participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a cohort of older adults free of dementia in 1992/1993 (n = 3185).
We evaluated the occurrence and distribution of patterns of catamenial epilepsy in a heterogenous cohort of women with epilepsy on no hormonal therapies, enrolled in a prospective, observational study. The primary aim of the study was pregnancy rate in women with epilepsy with no prior reproductive problems. In this analysis, we included women who recorded one or more menstrual cycles with one or more seizures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTreatment requirements of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody vasculitis (AV) and high comorbidity burden among patients with AV may lead to higher potential for polypharmacy and its associated adverse outcomes, including adverse drug events, nonadherence, drug-drug interactions, and higher costs. Medication burden and risk factors associated with polypharmacy in patients with AV have not been well-characterized. To characterize medication burden and examine prevalence of and risk factors for polypharmacy in the first year after diagnosis with AV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objectives: To assess whether increased seizure frequency during pregnancy and postpartum is influenced by epilepsy type, seizure location, and antiseizure medications.
Methods: Clinical data were collected in a longitudinal prospective database of pregnant women with epilepsy at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Within each individual participant, baseline seizure frequency was calculated for the 9 months before conception, and whether seizure frequency increased during pregnancy or the postpartum period was determined.
Background: Hemostasis is a key factor in cerebrovascular disease, but the association of hemostatic factors with cognitive decline is unclear.
Objective: To prospectively evaluate associations of 20 hemostatic factor levels with changes in cognition during ≥8 years of follow-up in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) of older adults.
Methods: We included participants of an existing CHS cross-sectional substudy (n = 400) with hemostatic factors measured in 1989-1990.
Background: Mindfulness-based therapies (MBTs) are effective in many neuropsychiatric disorders, and represent a potential therapeutic strategy for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).
Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of a manualized 12-session MBT for PNES in an uncontrolled trial. We hypothesized reductions in PNES frequency, intensity, and duration, and improvements in quality of life and psychiatric symptom severity at treatment completion.
Background And Purpose: Antiepileptic drug (AED) management in patients with epilepsy who cannot take their usual oral medications is a common neurologic dilemma in the hospital setting. Strategies to maintain seizure control in patients with nil per os (NPO, nothing by mouth) diet orders include continuation of oral AEDs despite NPO nutrition orders, administration of intravenous AED(s), or temporary administration of benzodiazepines. The frequency with which these strategies are used and their effectiveness in preventing in-hospital seizures is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The objective of this study was to determine if continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) results are associated with functional outcome and survival in critically ill patients with intraparenchymal hemorrhages (IPH).
Methods: Patients diagnosed with IPH were selected using a Critical Care EEG Monitoring Consortium Database at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Functional Outcome in Patients with Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage (FUNC) scores and Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) scores were calculated as covariates.
Background: Administrative billing codes for electrical cardioversion and ablation/maze procedures may be useful for atrial fibrillation (AF) research if the codes are accurate relative to medical record documentation.
Hypothesis: Administrative billing codes accurately identify occurrence of electrical cardioversion and ablation/maze procedures in AF patients.
Methods: We studied adults ages 30 to 84 who experienced new-onset AF between October 2001 and December 2004 in Group Health Cooperative (acquired by Kaiser Permanente in 2017), an integrated healthcare system in Washington state and northern Idaho.