Publications by authors named "Galen Conti"
Background: Transfusion-transmissible infection (TTI) prevalence among US blood donors has been widely documented. Here we estimate the prevalence of donors presenting with ≥2 TTIs (multiple infections past or present referred to as coinfections) and describe their demographics and associations.
Methods: Data from the Transfusion-Transmissible Infections Monitoring System were compiled for October 2020-September 2023 (3 years).
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzed changes in blood donor demographics and infectious diseases before and during the COVID-19 pandemic using a large database of over 26 million donations.
- Findings revealed an increase in donations from females, older individuals, and repeat donors during the pandemic, while the overall frequency of donations also rose among these groups.
- The prevalence of HIV and HCV infections decreased during the pandemic, whereas HBV prevalence remained unchanged, prompting ongoing monitoring of infection rates in blood donors.
Article Synopsis
- Between October 2020 and September 2022, a study on the prevalence of syphilis among blood donors in the US found that syphilis rates increased significantly, particularly in the second year of the study.
- The overall syphilis prevalence was noted to be 28.4 cases per 100,000 donations, with specific demographic groups such as males, younger individuals, and Black donors showing higher infection rates.
- Additionally, the study revealed that donors positive for syphilis were substantially more likely to also be HIV positive, highlighting a concerning association between syphilis and HIV infections.
Background: Previous studies have demonstrated low first-time donor return rates (DRR) following catastrophic events. Little is known, however, about the influence of demographic factors on the DRR of first-time donors during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the unique motivation of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) donors as compared to non-CCP donors.
Study Design And Methods: Thirteen blood collection organizations submitted deidentified data from first-time CCP and non-CCP donors returning for regular (non-CCP) donations during the pandemic.
Purpose: To compare 5-year health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes between prostate cancer (CaP) patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) versus open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) and assess for racial disparities between Caucasian American (CA) and African American (AA) men undergoing surgery.
Methods: A prospective cohort study of HRQoL data was conducted on patients diagnosed with CaP from 2007 to 2017 and enrolled in the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) Multicenter National Database. Using the EPIC and SF-36 instruments, changes in urinary, sexual, bowel, and hormonal domains, as well as physical and mental component summary scores were compared across surgery type (RALP versus RRP) at pre-treatment ("baseline"), and annually for 5 years.
Introduction: Combined radiotherapy and hormonal treatment are recommended for intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer (CaP). This study compared the long-term effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of intermediate- and high-risk CaP patients managed with radiation therapy (RT) with vs. without hormone therapy (HT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The relationship between race, prostate tumor location, and BCR-free survival is inconclusive. This study examined the independent and joint roles of patient race and tumor location on biochemical recurrence-free (BCR) survival.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among men with newly diagnosed, biopsy-confirmed, NCCN-defined low risk CaP who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from 1996 to 2008.
Introduction: To assess the impact of primary and secondary therapies for high- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Materials And Methods: A prospective study was initiated in 2007 at Center for Prostate Disease Research Multicenter National Database sites. Longitudinal patterns in HRQoL from baseline (pre-treatment) to 5 years post-diagnosis were examined for patients with high- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer, treated by radical prostatectomy (RP) or external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).