Association between clinician team segregation, receipt of cardiovascular care and outcomes in valvular heart diseases.

Aims: Racial disparities exist in clinical outcomes for valvular heart disease (VHD). It is unknown whether clinician segregation contributes to these disparities. Among an adequately insured population, we evaluated the relationship between clinician segregation in a hospital and receipt of care by a cardiologist according to patient race.

Serum detection of blood brain barrier injury in subjects with a history of stroke and transient ischemic attack.

Objective: Stroke and transient ischemic attack may have long-term negative effects on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and promote endothelial inflammation, both of which could increase neurodegeneration and dementia risk beyond the cell death associated with the index event.

Methods: Serum from 88 postmortem subjects in the Arizona Study of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders were analyzed by sandwich ELISA for specific biomarkers to investigate the effects of cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) on BBB integrity and endothelial activation. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney Test, Spearman rank correlation, and linear/logistic regressions adjusted for potential confounders; a -value < .

Association between social vulnerability index and admission urgency for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are not offered equitably to vulnerable population groups. Adequate levels of insurance may narrow gaps among patients with higher social vulnerability index (SVI). Among a national population of individuals with commercial or Medicare insurance, we sought to determine whether SVI was associated with urgency of receipt of TAVR for aortic stenosis.

Association Between Race, Cardiology Care, and the Receipt of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Black patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) have disproportionately worse outcomes than White patients, possibly related to variable involvement of cardiovascular specialists in their clinical care. We sought to determine whether race was associated with cardiology involvement in clinical care during inpatient admission and whether cardiology involvement in care was associated with higher claims of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) a week after hospital discharge.

Methods: Using Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart (CDM), we included Black and White patients' first hospital admission for PPCM from 2008 to 2021.

Perception and prevalence of rape: A survey among in-school adolescents in rural Southwest Nigeria.

Introduction: Rape has fast become an issue of relevance to global health cutting across geographical and cultural divides. Most studies on the subject are urban based and among adults. This study was conducted to assess the perception, prevalence and perpetrators among in-school adolescents which represent a unique group and in a rural setting.

Skin Manifestations of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder With Secondary Systemic Lupus Erythematosus During Pregnancy: A Three-Year Follow-Up.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a disease of the central nervous system and the optic nerves that disproportionately affects women and occasionally coexists with other autoimmune diseases. NMOSD manifesting as skin lesions is a rare phenomenon. Furthermore, these skin lesions in the setting of NMOSD during pregnancy have not been described.

Assessment of revascularization impact on microvascular oxygenation and perfusion using spatial frequency domain imaging.

The microvasculature (with vessels <100 μm in diameter) plays a crucial role in tissue oxygenation, perfusion and wound healing in the lower limb. While this holds clinical significance, microvasculature evaluation in the limbs is not a standard practice. Surgical interventions focus on reestablishing blood flow in larger vessels affected by the peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Efficacy of methimazole before the administration of radioactive iodine in the management of Graves' disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy of anti-thyroid drugs in conjunction with radioactive iodine therapy in the management of Graves' disease is still controversial.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of pretreatment with methimazole before the administration of radioactive iodine for the treatment of Graves' disease.

Design And Setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted at a teaching/tertiary hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria.