Bringing Traditional Medicine into the Health Humanities Classroom with Kali Fajardo-Anstine's "Remedies".

In this essay, we recommend Kali Fajardo-Anstine's short story "Remedies" (2019) for inclusion on health humanities syllabi based on our experiences teaching it at two undergraduate institutions. The story is drawn from Sabrina & Corina, Fajardo-Anstine's award-winning book of short stories about Chicana and Indigenous women in Colorado, but is available for free online, making it highly accessible for students. "Remedies" is narrated by Clarisa, who turns to her great-grandmother Estrella for the traditional knowledge that ultimately cures her family's recurrent outbreaks of lice.

Clinical outcomes of combined cervical and transthoracic surgical approaches in patients with advanced thyroid cancer.

Background: Advanced thyroid disease involving the mediastinum may be managed surgically with a combined transcervical and transthoracic approach. Contemporary analysis of this infrequently encountered cohort will aid the multidisciplinary team in personalizing treatment approaches.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients undergoing combined transcervical and transthoracic surgery for thyroid cancer at a single high-volume institution from 1994 to 2015.

Masks in Medicine: Metaphors and Morality.

We have never been so aware of masks. They were in short supply in the early days of COVID-19, resulting in significant risk to health care workers. Now they are highly politicized with battles about mask-wearing protocols breaking out in public.

Stigma and functional neurological disorder: a research agenda targeting the clinical encounter.

Stigma against patients with functional neurological disorder (FND) presents obstacles to diagnosis, treatment, and research. The lack of biomarkers and the potential for symptoms to be misunderstood, invalidated, or dismissed can leave patients, families, and healthcare professionals at a loss. Stigma exacerbates suffering and unmet needs of patients and families, and can result in poor clinical management and prolonged, repetitive use of healthcare resources.

Transitioning Florida NPs to opioid prescribing.

Prior to statutory changes in prescriptive authority for controlled substances, this study examined the knowledge gaps and prescribing limitations of Florida advanced registered nurse practitioners regarding opioids. Study results revealed statistically significant knowledge gaps in the areas of federal and state guidelines; opioid classes and proper doses; risk assessment skills; monitoring of treatment; and confidence in dealing with challenges of opioid prescribing.

Recommendations for peer-to-peer support for NICU parents.

Peer-to-peer support provided by 'veteran' neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents to those with current NICU babies is a legitimate and unique form of support that can complement or supplement, but not replace, services provided by professional NICU staff. Peer support can be delivered through hospital- or community-based programs that offer one-to-one in-person or telephone matches, or support groups that meet in-person or via the Internet. Issues in program development, volunteer training and program operation are discussed.

Lauren Slater and the Experts: Malingering, Masquerade, and the Disciplinary Control of Diagnosis.

The work of psychologist and author Lauren Slater has elicited strong reactions from both medical professionals and disability studies theorists, ranging from criticism to high praise. Attending to these responses, I argue that her work, in perhaps perverse fashion, can provide a narrative touch point for attempts from both fields to complicate the outdated binary division of the medical and social models. I illustrate the need for this collaboration through the example of malingering, suggesting that reading Slater's work through the lens of Tobin Siebers's theory of "masquerade" can open progressive conversations about "illness deception," which is an issue of central importance in disability rights, psychiatry, and political conversations.

Ethanolic Echinacea purpurea Extracts Contain a Mixture of Cytokine-Suppressive and Cytokine-Inducing Compounds, Including Some That Originate from Endophytic Bacteria.

Echinacea preparations, which are used for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory infections, account for 10% of the dietary supplement market in the U.S., with sales totaling more than $100 million annually.

Predicting depressive symptoms and self-care in patients with heart failure.

Objective: To examine relationships among heart failure (HF) physical symptoms, social support, social problem-solving, depressive symptoms, and self-care behaviors in outpatients with HF.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 201 outpatients. Structural equation modeling was used in this preliminary analysis to examine the relationships among the study variables.

Factors associated with depressive symptoms in patients with heart failure.

Home healthcare clinicians commonly provide care for individuals with heart failure (HF). Certain factors may influence the development of depressive symptoms in those with HF. This cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational pilot study (N = 50) examined interrelationships among HF symptoms, social support (actual and perceived), social problem-solving, and depressive symptoms.

Basal-bolus insulin therapy and glycemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a review of the literature.

Purpose: To present an integrative review related to basal-bolus insulin therapy and glycemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Data Sources: A search of the Cochrane, Medline (first search and PubMed), and CINAHL electronic databases was conducted from 2004 through 2011 using the search terms "basal-bolus insulin therapy, sliding scale insulin, glycemic control, and adult."

Conclusions: Comparisons were made of glycemic control, safety, adverse events, body weight, and insulin dose showing basal-bolus insulin therapy to be at least equal, if not superior to sliding scale insulin for the patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Stress: perceptions, manifestations, and coping mechanisms of student registered nurse anesthetists.

Stress is a response to change from the norm. Stress affects all individuals to varying degrees and can be positive, such as eustress, or negative, such as distress. The purpose of this qualitative, cross-sectional study was to investigate the stressors of the typical student registered nurse anesthetist (SRNA), with the objective of identifying trends in the perceptions, manifestations, and coping mechanisms of stress.

A study of the relationship of nursing interventions and cognitions to the physiologic outcomes of care in a simulated task environment.

This study, based on the Expert Performance Approach, examined the clinical nursing performance of participants who were introduced into a simulated task environment requiring them to administer care to a client experiencing an exacerbation of Congestive Heart Failure. This was undertaken to identify cognitive and physiologic variables that differentiate performance levels among participants. Data on participant actions and verbal reports were coded to characterize their relationship with physiologic responses of the Human Patient Simulator.

Subjective effects of Salvia divinorum: LSD- or marijuana-like?

Salvia divinorum is a naturally occurring psychedelic considered to be one of the most potent hallucinogens found to date. The few behavioral studies conducted conclude that Salvia's effects may be similar to traditional psychedelics, which is noteworthy because Salvia acts via a unique molecular mechanism as a kappa opioid receptor agonist. One hundred and ninety-three participants, including 34 Salvia users, were asked to fill out a series of questionnaires related to general drug use, personality characteristics, demographics and their experiences with Salvia.

A faith-based screening/education program for diabetes, CVD, and stroke in rural African Americans.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a faith-based health screening/education program to ultimately reduce risk factors for diabetes (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and stroke (CVA) in a southern, rural, African-American population. Over 120 parishioners from four rural African-American churches attended health education/screening programs offered as a part of their Bible Study. The majority of participants were female, married, with a mean age of 45 years.

Efficacy and safety of a fibrin sealant for adherence of autologous skin grafts to burn wounds: results of a phase 3 clinical study.

The objective of this phase 3, multicentered, prospective, randomized, evaluator-blinded, clinical study was to compare skin graft adherence utilizing a fibrin sealant containing 4 IU/ml thrombin (FS 4IU VH S/D [FS 4IU VH S/D will be marketed under the trade name ARTISS upon licensure in the United States]) to graft adherence utilizing staples in burn patients requiring wound excision and skin grafting. FS 4IU VH S/D was compared with staples in 138 patients. Patients had burn wounds measuring < or =40% of total body surface area with two comparable test sites measuring between 1 and 4% total body surface area each.

Role of sex steroids in modulating tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced changes in vascular function and blood pressure.

Background: We previously showed that the infusion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) induces hypertension and vascular dysfunction in late pregnant but not virgin rats. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that levels of ovarian hormones to mimic pregnancy are required for TNF-alpha-induced changes in vascular function and blood pressure in rats.

Methods: Twenty-one-day-release pellets containing 17beta-estradiol, progesterone, or both were implanted in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Comparison of fibrin sealant and staples for attaching split-thickness autologous sheet grafts in patients with deep partial- or full-thickness burn wounds: a phase 1/2 clinical study.

We undertook a multicenter, randomized, controlled, phase 1/2 clinical study to investigate the safety and efficacy of a fibrin sealant containing 4 IU/ml thrombin (FS 4IU) for the attachment of autologous sheet grafts in patients with deep partial-thickness or full-thickness burn wounds. Fibrin sealant (FS 4IU) was compared with staples for adherence of sheet grafts in 40 patients. Patients had to have burn wounds measuring 40% TBSA or less with two comparable test sites measuring between 1% and 4% TBSA each.

Self-perception in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The purpose of this study was to compare self-perceptions of children diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with those of children not diagnosed with ADHD. Seventy-seven children aged 8-12 years composed the two groups-38 participants with ADHD and 39 control participants without ADHD. The children completed the Self-Perception Profile for Children Questionnaire designed to measure self-perceptions in school-aged children.

Comparative analysis of body mass index, consumption of fruits and vegetables, smoking, and physical activity among Florida residents.

The purpose of this study was to compare body mass index (BMI), consumption of fruits and vegetables, smoking, and physical activity in residents of the 7 Florida counties with the highest reported BMI to residents of the 7 Florida counties with the lowest reported BMI utilizing 2002 data from the Florida Department of Health Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Results showed that survey respondents in counties with the lowest mean BMI consumed significantly more fruits and vegetables, compared to respondents in counties with the highest BMI. A positive relation between mean BMI and consumption of fruits and vegetables remained when controlled for physical activity, but not for smoking.

Colon cancer screening in African American women.

African American women are more likely to die of colorectal cancer than are women of any other racial or ethic group. Early diagnosis depends on routine examination and screening. However, studies have shown that African American women are not utilizing available screening tools.

The relationship of perceived benefits and barriers to reported exercise behaviors in college undergraduates.

This study examines current exercise habits and perceived benefits and barriers to exercise in a sample of 147 undergraduate university students. It found a significant relationship between perceived benefits and barriers to exercise and current exercise habits. Benefits most often associated with regular exercise habits relate to physical performance and appearance.

The extent, nature, and precipitating factors of nurse assault among three groups of registered nurses in a regional medical center.

Introduction: This study investigated nurse perceptions of the incidence and nature of verbal and physical assault or abuse by patients and their family members or visitors.

Methods: A survey was given to ED, ICU, and general floor nurses in a 770-bed acute care north Florida medical center.

Results: The response rate was 68.

Use of sunscreen in health care professionals. The health belief model.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among perceived susceptibility, demographic variables, and use of sunscreen in health care providers, using the Health Belief Model Questionnaire. The sample consisted of 90 participants from the Southeast, ages 24 to 60 years. This sample included nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and physicians.