Publications by authors named "Hood K"

Introduction: Selecting candidates for plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) residency is complex, involving academic metrics and intrinsic personal qualities. "Grit"-perseverance and passion for long-term goals may be one of these valued qualities. This study investigates how grit scores relate to securing a PRS residency, hypothesizing that higher grit correlates with greater matching success.

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Background: Diabetes ranks among the most common chronic conditions in childhood and adolescence. It is unique among chronic conditions, in that clinical outcomes are intimately tied to how the child or adolescent living with diabetes and their parents or carers react to and implement good clinical practice guidance. It is widely recognized that the individual's perspective about the impact of trying to manage the disease together with the burden of self-management should be addressed to achieve optimal health outcomes.

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Objective: The Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model is used in 180 countries to address chronic disease care through a provider empowerment, tele-education approach. Few studies have rigorously evaluated the impact of the program on patient outcomes using randomized designs.

Research Design And Methods: Implementation of an ECHO Diabetes program was evaluated using a stepped-wedge design with recruitment of 20 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) across California and Florida with randomized, phased-in intervention entry.

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Background: Ang-(1-7) (angiotensin (1-7)) via MasR (Mas receptor) opposes vaso-injurious actions of Ang II (angiotensin II) as shown in models of pulmonary hypertension. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized cross talk between Ang-(1-7) and the protective arm of the ET-1 (endothelin-1) system involving MasR and ETR (endothelin receptor type B).

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Objectives: Many patients presenting with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in primary care do not benefit from antibiotics. Excessive use wastes resources, promotes antimicrobial resistance and can harm patients.

Design: We conducted a within-trial economic evaluation, using a UK National Health Service perspective, as part of the multicentre, parallel-arm, open, individually randomised, controlled PACE trial.

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Aims: Psychosocial impacts of early continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) initiation in youth soon after type 1 diabetes diagnosis are underexplored. We report parent/guardian and youth patient-reported outcomes (PROs) that measure psychosocial states for families in 4T Study 1.

Materials And Methods: Of the 133 families in the 4T Study 1, 132 parent/guardian and 66 youth (≥11 years) were eligible to complete PROs.

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Background: Diabetes technologies are valuable tools to reduce burden and enhance glycemic control, especially during adolescence. The current study sought to understand the factors associated with parent and adolescent diabetes device satisfaction.

Methods: This study used cross-sectional data from 175 adolescents living with type 1 diabetes and 176 parents.

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Background: Older adults may be less comfortable with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology or require additional education to support use. The Virtual Diabetes Specialty Clinic study provided the opportunity to understand glycemic outcomes and support needed for older versus younger adults living with diabetes and using CGM.

Methods: Prospective, virtual study of adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D, N = 160) or type 2 diabetes (T2D, N = 74) using basal-bolus insulin injections or insulin pump therapy.

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Article Synopsis
  • Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common, making up nearly 80% of all brain injuries, and it can cause neurological and cognitive issues even without visible damage.
  • Combining low doses of FDA-approved drugs lithium and valproate after a mild TBI has shown to improve learning and memory, recognizing that these benefits were not observed when either drug was used alone.
  • The treatment also reduced neuroinflammation, suggesting that this combination therapy might help mitigate damage and enhance cognitive function following mild brain injuries.
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Background: Underrepresentation of care home residents in research has resulted in a poorer evidence base for health care in care homes. Fewer opportunities to take part in research, as well as assumptions made by others about their interest or wishes, creates challenges for residents' inclusion in research. Early discussions about research preferences and wishes may be beneficial.

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  • Clinical trials, essential for healthcare, also significantly contribute to climate change; researchers have developed a method to calculate their carbon footprint and applied it to 10 UK and international trials.
  • Data on trial activities was collected from 10 trial units, evaluated for emission sources, and feedback was gathered on the carbon footprint calculation process.
  • The carbon footprints of the trials varied widely, highlighting key areas for emissions reduction, with suggestions to incorporate carbon footprint considerations during the trial design phase.
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Daptomycin is a last-resort lipopeptide antibiotic that disrupts cell membrane (CM) and peptidoglycan homeostasis. Enterococcus faecalis has developed a sophisticated mechanism to avoid daptomycin killing by redistributing CM anionic phospholipids away from the septum. The CM changes are orchestrated by a 3-component regulatory system, designated LiaFSR, with a possible contribution of cardiolipin synthase (Cls).

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Introduction: To address disparities in clinical research, we present strategies to optimize recruitment of underrepresented families into the Building the Evidence to Address Disparities in Type 1 Diabetes (BEAD-T1D) study.

Methods: A bilingual/bicultural Latino research assistant (RA) was hired to facilitate culturally congruent recruitment for pediatric type 1 diabetes families. The RA screened, approached, and consented families using their preferred language, time of contact, and answered personal concerns around research.

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Several clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated that traumatic brain injury (TBI) activates cascades of biochemical, molecular, structural, and pathological changes in the brain. These changes combine to contribute to the various outcomes observed after TBI. Given the breadth and complexity of changes, combination treatments may be an effective approach for targeting multiple detrimental pathways to yield meaningful improvements.

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Aim: Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems have demonstrated improved glycaemic outcomes in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), yet limited data exist on these systems in very young children and their impact on caregivers. We evaluated psychosocial outcomes following use of the tubeless Omnipod® 5 AID System in caregivers of very young children.

Materials And Methods: This 3-month single-arm, multicentre, pivotal clinical trial enrolled 80 children aged 2.

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Background: The way information about potential benefits and harms of trial is presented within participant information leaflets (PILs) varies widely and may cause unnecessary 'nocebo' effects. The Medical Research Council (MRC) funded a project that developed seven principles to reduce this variation. However, guidance has not been produced to facilitate the implementation of the principles.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study follows the PANORAMIC trial, investigating the long-term effectiveness of molnupiravir for COVID-19 on wellbeing, persistent symptoms, new infections, healthcare use, and time off work at 3 and 6 months post-randomization.
  • Participants included adults over 50 or younger with specific health issues, who were affected by COVID-19 for less than 5 days and were divided into either a molnupiravir treatment group or a standard care group.
  • The trial involved 25,783 participants and aimed to assess various secondary outcomes, including self-reported wellness, symptom severity, health-related quality of life, and overall healthcare usage after the initial
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Introduction: Diabetes disparities exist based on socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity. The aim of this study is to compare two cohorts with diabetes from California and Florida to better elucidate how health outcomes are stratified within underserved communities according to state location, race, and ethnicity.

Research Design And Methods: Two cohorts were recruited for comparison from 20 Federally Qualified Health Centers as part of a larger ECHO Diabetes program.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on evaluating patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for adults with diabetes (234 participants) who accessed a virtual clinic model that included continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) support for 6 months.
  • - After 6 months, participants reported reduced depression, diabetes distress, and hypoglycemic fears, and showed increased satisfaction and confidence in managing their diabetes, particularly regarding CGM.
  • - The findings indicated that using virtual diabetes care led to significant improvements in both glycemic control and overall quality of life, particularly for those with type 1 diabetes who spent more time in their target glucose range.
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Article Synopsis
  • Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are effective in improving health outcomes and quality of life for individuals with diabetes, but sustaining their use presents challenges.
  • Research has mostly focused on how to start using CGMs rather than maintaining them over time, highlighting a gap in understanding the reasons behind their continued use.
  • The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model is proposed as a framework to better understand CGM use, suggesting that individual goals for using CGMs should guide education and support for optimal management.
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Aims: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems are standard of care for youth with type 1 diabetes with the goal of spending >70% time in range (TIR; 70-180 mg/dL, 3.9-10 mmol/L). We aimed to understand paediatric CGM user experiences with TIR metrics considering recent discussion of shifting to time in tight range (TITR; >50% time between 70 and 140 mg/dL, 3.

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Background: Health and care research involving people who lack capacity to consent requires an alternative decision maker to decide whether they participate or not based on their 'presumed will'. However, this is often unknown. Advance research planning (ARP) is a process for people who anticipate periods of impaired capacity to prospectively express their preferences about research participation and identify who they wish to be involved in future decisions.

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Introduction: The impact of multiple health conditions on bowel cancer screening is currently unknown. We explored the impact of multiple health conditions on bowel cancer screening perceptions, experience and clinical management decisions following a positive stool test.

Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted remotely with Bowel Screening Wales staff (n = 16) stratified by regional location and role and with screening participants (n = 19) stratified by age, gender and comorbidity.

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Background: Evidence indicates that trial participants often struggle to understand participant information leaflets (PILs) for clinical trials, including the concept of randomisation. We analysed the language used to describe randomisation in PILs and determine the most understandable and acceptable description through public and participant feedback.

Methods: We collected 280 PILs/informed consent forms and one video animation from clinical research facilities/clinical trial units in Ireland and the UK.

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Background: Machine learning (ML) is a form of artificial intelligence that has been used to create better predictive models in medicine. Using ML algorithms, we sought to create a predictive model for breast resection weight based on anthropometric measurements.

Methods: We analyzed 237 patients (474 individual breasts) who underwent reduction mammoplasty at our institution.

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