Nutritional Calorie Labeling and Menu Ordering Practices Among US Adults With Chronic Illnesses.

Background: The relationship between diet and the management of chronic illnesses is well established. However, it is unknown the extent to which people with chronic illnesses pay attention to nutritional information and act upon the information obtained. We evaluated the menu ordering practices of adults with chronic illnesses.

Incidentally Discovered Mucosal Prolapse of the Colon During Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Case Report.

Colonic mucosal prolapse syndrome is a rare type of non-neoplastic non-inflammatory colorectal polyps that can mimic neoplastic lesions. We present a case of a 65-year-old man with mucosal prolapse syndrome, incidentally, discovered during colorectal cancer screening. The patient was asymptomatic, and his physical exam and laboratory test results were unremarkable.

Symptomatic, clinical and biomarker associations for mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients enriched for African Americans.

Background And Aims: Initial reports on US COVID-19 showed different outcomes in different races. In this study we use a diverse large cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients to determine predictors of mortality.

Methods: We analyzed data from hospitalized COVID-19 patients (n = 5852) between March 2020- August 2020 from 8 hospitals across the US.

Clinical Characteristics and Predictors of Mortality in Minority Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 Infection.

Objectives: To identify the early mortality predictors in minority patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Design: Demographics, presenting characteristics, admission laboratory data, ICU admission, and mortality data were collected from 200 consecutively hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Results: The mean (SD) age was 58.

Association of Patients' Perception of Quality of Healthcare Received and Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake: An Analysis of 2 National Surveys in the USA.

Objective: It is not known whether patients' ratings of the quality of healthcare services they receive truly correlate with the quality of care from their providers. Understanding this association can potentiate improvement in healthcare delivery. We evaluated the association between patients' ratings of the quality of healthcare services received and uptake of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.

Riociguat in the Treatment of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: An Evidence-Based Review of Its Place in Therapy.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is classified as group-4 pulmonary hypertension caused by organized thrombi in pulmonary arteries and vasculopathy in nonoccluded areas leading to right heart failure and death. In addition to chronic anticoagulation therapy, each patient with CTEPH should receive treatment assessment starting with evaluation for pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), which is the guideline recommended treatment. There is increasing experience with balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) for inoperable patients; this option, like PEA, is reserved for specialized centers with expertise in this treatment method.

Inflammatory polyps occur more frequently in inflammatory bowel disease than other colitis patients.

Background: Colitis is generally considered a risk factor for colon neoplasia. However, not all types of colitis seem to have equal neoplastic transformation potential.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of colorectal polyps in a predominantly African American population with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Non-IBD/Non-Infectious Colitis (NIC).

Comparison of patterns of laxative ingestion to improve bowel preparation for colonoscopy: a pilot randomized clinical trial.

 Negative experiences with bowel preparation are a barrier to uptake of colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of different flavoring of polyethylene glycol (PEG) laxatives on patient satisfaction with and adequacy of bowel preparation during colonoscopy.  This was a single-blind (endoscopist), parallel design, randomized trial (NCT02062112) during which patients scheduled for colonoscopy were assigned to one of three groups: Group 1 (no laxative flavoring, n = 84); Group 2 (flavored entire laxative, n = 90) and Group 3 (tasted PEG with and without flavoring and decided how they want to drink the rest of the laxatives (choice group), n = 82).

Using Patients' Social Network to Improve Compliance to Outpatient Screening Colonoscopy Appointments Among Blacks: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: Patient navigation improves colorectal cancer screening among underserved populations, but limited resources preclude widespread adoption in minority-serving institutions. We evaluated whether a patient's self-selected social contact person can effectively facilitate outpatient screening colonoscopy.

Methods: From September 2014 to March 2017 in an urban tertiary center, 399 black participants scheduled for outpatient screening colonoscopy self-selected a social contact person to be a facilitator and provided the person's phone number.

Hypercalcemic pancreatitis a rare presentation of sarcoidosis: A case report.

Rationale: The usual presentation of sarcoidosis is hilar adenopathy, pulmonary reticular opacities, skin, joint, or eye lesions. Pancreatic involvement is unusual and hypercalcemic pancreatitis as initial manifestation is very rare.

Patient Concerns: We present a case that presented with 1-day history of vomiting, diffuse abdominal pain, and altered mental status.

Body Mass Index and Intensive Care Unit Outcomes in African American Patients.

Purpose: We sought to determine whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with worse intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes among Black patients.

Methods: Patients admitted to the medical ICU during 2012 were categorized into six BMI groups based on the World Health Organization criteria. ICU mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), need for and duration of mechanical ventilation and organ failure rate were assessed.

Colorectal Cancer in Young African Americans: Is It Time to Revisit Guidelines and Prevention?

Background & Aims: Previous studies have suggested an increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in young adults (younger than 50 years). Among older people, African Americans have disproportionally higher CRC incidence and mortality. We assessed whether this CRC disparity also applies to CRC diagnosed among young people.

Beverage intake preference and bowel preparation laxative taste preference for colonoscopy.

Aim: To examine whether non-alcoholic beverage intake preferences can guide polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based bowel laxative preparation selection for patients.

Methods: We conducted eight public taste test sessions using commercially procured (A) unflavored PEG, (B) citrus flavored PEG and (C) PEG with ascorbate (Moviprep). We collected characteristics of volunteers including their beverage intake preferences.

Prevalence of colorectal neoplasia among young African Americans and Hispanic Americans.

Background: The disproportionately higher incidence of and mortality from colorectal cancer (CRC) among African Americans (AA) led the American College of Gastroenterology to recommend screening starting at age 45 in 2005.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of colorectal neoplasia among 40-49-year-old inner city AA and Hispanic Americans (HA).

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 2,435 inner city AA and HA who underwent colonoscopy regardless of indication and compared the prevalence of colorectal neoplasia between AA and HA patients.