Aspirin use predicts prolonged survival in patients with oropharyngeal cancer: Nationwide Veterans Affairs database study.

Background: Single-institution studies suggest that aspirin reduces the risk of death in head and neck cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aspirin use on overall survival (OS) in veterans with oropharyngeal cancer (OPC).

Methods: A total of 23 083 veterans with OPC were identified between 2005 and 2018 from the Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse.

Incidence and clearance of penile human papillomavirus infection among circumcised Kenyan men.

Prospective data are limited on human papillomavirus (HPV) acquisition and clearance among circumcised men from resource-limited geographical regions, particularly Africa. The goal of this study was to estimate incidence and clearance of type-specific genital HPV infection in men. Penile exfoliated cell specimens were collected from the glans/coronal sulcus and shaft of 1,037 circumcised Kenyan men at baseline and 6-, 12- and 18-month follow-up visits between 2003-2007.

Impact of Hospice and Palliative Care Service Utilization on All-Cause 30-Day Readmission Rate for Older Adults Hospitalized with Heart Failure.

Background: Acute decompensated heart failure (HF) is the leading cause for hospital readmission. Large-scale sustainable interventions to reduce readmission rate have not been fully explored or proven effective.

Objective: We studied the impact of hospice and palliative care service utilization on 30-day all-cause hospital readmissions for patients with HF.

Association Between Antipsychotics and All-Cause Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background: Antipsychotics are prescribed to treat various symptoms in older adults, however, their safety in this context has not been fully evaluated. The objective was to evaluate mortality risks associated with off-label use of antipsychotics among older adults with no preexisting mental illness or dementia relative to those with diagnosis of dementia.

Methods: Data (2007-2015) were derived from Department of Veterans Affairs registries for 730,226 patients (≥65 years) with no baseline serious mental illness, dementia).

Association between lifetime risk of atrial fibrillation and mortality in the oldest old.

Background: Age is the strongest predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF), yet little is known about AF incidence in the oldest old.

Hypothesis: AF incidence declines after age 90 years, and morbidity is compressed into a brief period at the end of life.

Methods: In this retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of patients (born 1905-1935), we examined cumulative lifetime incidence of AF and its impact on mortality.

Characteristics and Incidence of Chronic Illness in Community-Dwelling Predominantly Male U.S. Veteran Centenarians.

Objectives: To assess the incidence of chronic illness and its effect on veteran centenarians.

Design: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: United States Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW).

Frequent nevirapine resistance in infants infected by HIV-1 via breastfeeding while on nevirapine prophylaxis.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess nevirapine (NVP) resistance in infants who became infected in the three arms of the Breastfeeding, Antiretrovirals and Nutrition (BAN) study: daily infant NVP prophylaxis, triple maternal antiretrovirals or no extra intervention for 28 weeks of breastfeeding.

Design: A prospective cohort study.

Methods: The latest available plasma or dried blood spot specimen was tested from infants who became HIV-positive between 3 and 48 weeks of age.

Plasma and breast-milk selenium in HIV-infected Malawian mothers are positively associated with infant selenium status but are not associated with maternal supplementation: results of the Breastfeeding, Antiretrovirals, and Nutrition study.

Background: Selenium is found in soils and is essential for human antioxidant defense and immune function. In Malawi, low soil selenium and dietary intakes coupled with low plasma selenium concentrations in HIV infection could have negative consequences for the health of HIV-infected mothers and their exclusively breastfed infants.

Objective: We tested the effects of lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) that contained 1.

Synergy to reduce emergency department visits for uncontrolled hyperglycemia.

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of a treatment algorithm and education intervention for the management of patients with type 2 diabetes and hyperglycemia presenting to the emergency department (ED) and stable enough to be discharged home.

Methods: Urban hospital ED patients (n = 86) with BG ≥ 200 mg/dL were enrolled in a 4-week prospective, nonrandomized pilot intervention with historic self-controls. Follow-up visits occurred at 12 to 72 hours, 2 and 4 weeks, and 6 months.

Recruitment of black subjects for a natural history study of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Historically, recruitment of minority subjects for clinical research has been challenging. We developed culturally-tailored recruitment materials for a longitudinal, natural history study of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and trained recruiting coordinators in cultural competence. Of 285 subjects meeting inclusion criteria, 158 (55% of those eligible) agreed to participate (60% of eligible Blacks vs.

Preventing recurrence of thromboembolic events through coordinated treatment in the District of Columbia.

Rationale: PROTECT DC examines whether stroke navigators can improve cardiovascular risk factors in urban underserved individuals newly hospitalized for stroke or ischemic attack. Within one-year of hospital discharge, up to one-third of patients no longer adhere to secondary prevention behaviors. Adherence rates are lower in minority-underserved groups, contributing to health disparities.

Racial disparities in tissue plasminogen activator treatment rate for stroke: a population-based study.

Background And Purpose: Some prior studies have shown that racial disparities exist in intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) use for acute ischemic stroke. We sought to determine whether race was associated with tPA treatment for stroke in a predominantly black urban population.

Methods: Systematic chart abstraction was performed on consecutive hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke from all 7 acute care hospitals in the District of Columbia from February 1, 2008, to January 31, 2009.

Understanding reasons for delay in seeking acute stroke care in an underserved urban population.

Background And Purpose: Few patients arrive early enough at hospitals to be eligible for emergent stroke treatment. There may be barriers specific to underserved, urban populations that need to be identified before effective educational interventions to reduce delay times can be developed.

Methods: A survey of respondents' likely action in a hypothetical stroke situation was given to 253 community volunteers in the catchment areas of a large urban community hospital.

The ABCs of diabetes: diabetes self-management education program for African Americans affects A1C, lipid-lowering agent prescriptions, and emergency department visits.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the feasibility and impact of a concise community-based program on diabetes self-management education (DSME), according to frequency of emergency department visits and knowledge of, prescriptions for, and control of A1C, blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

Methods: A free community-based DSME program was placed in a public library. Adults with diabetes (N, 360) consented to participate in this prospective nonrandomized cohort study with preintervention-postintervention design.