Publications by authors named "C Cortez"
Background: The potential risks of prenatal cannabis use may vary depending on how cannabis is administered, but little is known about modes of prenatal cannabis use. This study characterized prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of modes of prenatal cannabis use in California.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients with pregnancies between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022 in a large healthcare system (3507 pregnancies [3454 individuals]) who self-reported prenatal cannabis use and mode of use (smoke, vape, edibles, dabs, and topicals) during universal screening at entrance to prenatal care.
Objective: Many people receiving services for psychiatric disorders live on low incomes, navigate complex financial situations, and have limited economic security. The authors sought to determine whether a financial wellness intervention delivered virtually by peers would increase financial literacy, reduce economic strain, and improve financial competency.
Methods: One hundred participants receiving services for psychiatric disorders were recruited from community programs and via social media and were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either an intervention called Building Financial Wellness (N=51) or services as usual (N=49).
Background And Objective: Convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) may reduce the risk of disease progression among patients with COVID-19. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CPT in preventing ICU admission among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Methods: In this open-label randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 in a 1:1 ratio to receive convalescent plasma as an adjunct to standard of care or standard of care alone.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to see if giving individual budgets for employment-related purchases would enhance job success and financial stability for supported employment recipients.
- Participants were divided into two groups: one received only job support services, while the other received job support plus a $950 flexible fund for a year to help them meet employment goals.
- Findings indicated that while job placement rates were similar, those with the flexible fund had better job tenure, more employment days, higher earnings, and improved financial well-being compared to the control group, suggesting that flexible funds can enhance employment outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- The study compares reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and a new, cheaper 400x magnification dermatoscope (D400) for diagnosing pigmented genital lesions.
- Researchers analyzed data from 207 lesions, finding that D400's results largely aligned with RCM's, especially for various cell patterns.
- The findings suggest D400 is a practical and affordable alternative to RCM for examining pigmented genital tumors, particularly melanosis.