Racial and ethnic disparities in post-acute care service utilization after stroke.

Evidence examining disparities in post-acute care (PAC) utilization among various racial and ethnic groups after stroke and the influence of social determinants of health (SDOH) in these decisions is lacking. Thus, we searched the literature from January 2000 to November 2023 regarding PAC among individuals after stroke through: 1) Pubmed, 2) Scopus, 3) Web of Science, 4) Embase, and 5) CINAHL. We found 14 studies.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Long-Term Nursing Home Stay or Death Following Hospital Discharge.

Importance: Long-term nursing home stay or death (long-term NH stay or death), defined as new long-term residence in a nursing home or death following hospital discharge, is an important patient-centered outcome.

Objective: To examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with changes in long-term NH stay or death among older adults with sepsis, and whether these changes were greater in individuals from racial and ethnic minoritized groups.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used patient-level data from the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review File, the Master Beneficiary Summary File, and the Minimum Data Set.

The Association of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic With Disparities in Maternal Outcomes.

Background: In the United States, Black and Hispanic patients have substantially worse maternal outcomes than non-Hispanic White patients. The goals of this study were to evaluate the association between the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and maternal outcomes, and whether Black and Hispanic patients were disproportionately affected by the pandemic compared to White patients.

Methods: Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine in the United States the association between maternal outcomes (severe maternal morbidity, mortality, failure-to-rescue, and cesarean delivery) and the weekly hospital proportion of COVID-19 patients, and the interaction between race, ethnicity, payer status, and the hospital COVID-19 burden using US national data from the Vizient Clinical Database between 2017 and 2022.

Development of and Testing Novel Questionnaires Assessing Palliative Care-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Confidence Among Home Healthcare Clinicians, Patients, and Caregivers.

Palliative care improves the quality of life for seriously ill patients, but misconceptions and knowledge gaps hinder its implementation in home healthcare (HHC). This study developed and pilot-tested HHC-specific questionnaires to measure palliative care knowledge, attitudes, and confidence (PC-KAC) among clinicians, patients, and caregivers. Using literature reviews, expert input, and cognitive interviews, the questionnaires were refined to ensure clarity, practical relevance, and content validity.

Urban and Rural Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes in the United States: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review investigates disparities in COVID-19 outcomes (infections, hospitalizations, and deaths) between urban and rural populations in the United States. Of the 3,091 articles screened, 55 were selected. Most studies ( = 43) conducted national analyses, using 2020 data, with some extending into 2021.

Cost-effectiveness of tislelizumab versus sorafenib as first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a comparative analysis in China, the United States and Europe.

Background: Tislelizumab has emerged as a promising therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), although its economic viability across different healthcare systems remains uncertain.

Aim: This study compared the cost-effectiveness of tislelizumab versus sorafenib as a first-line treatment for uHCC from the perspectives of the healthcare systems of China, the United States and Europe.

Method: A partitioned survival model was developed using data from the RATIONALE-301 trial.

Machine learning-based infection diagnostic and prognostic models in post-acute care settings: a systematic review.

Objectives: This study aims to (1) review machine learning (ML)-based models for early infection diagnostic and prognosis prediction in post-acute care (PAC) settings, (2) identify key risk predictors influencing infection-related outcomes, and (3) examine the quality and limitations of these models.

Materials And Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, CINAHL, and ACM digital library were searched in February 2024. Eligible studies leveraged PAC data to develop and evaluate ML models for infection-related risks.

Development of a Symptom Self-Management Guide for Older Chinese Americans Kidney Receiving Replacement Therapy.

Aim: To assess the acceptability of a symptom self-management booklet among older Chinese Americans receiving kidney replacement therapy.

Background: In previous work, we identified commonly occurring, bothersome symptoms and strategies used in this population to ameliorate symptoms. We used these data to develop a symptom self-management booklet in English, traditional, and simplified Chinese.

[Aging and Small-sized Particles Release Characteristics of Tire Microplastics in Various Environmental Media].

In recent years, research on microplastics has mostly focused on thermoplastic materials, and there is a lack of research on the pollution status and environmental behavior of tire microplastics, a type of rubber elastomers. In order to investigate the aging and small-sized particles release characteristics of tire microplastics in various environmental media, the aging process of two different tire microplastics, one for cars and the other for electric bicycles, was simulated in dry and aquatic environments under laboratory conditions. The results showed that the tire microplastics would be aged after 30 d of UV illumination, which was manifested by the roughness of the surface and the appearance of cracks and flaking.

Natural Language Processing to Identify Home Health Care Patients at Risk for Becoming Incapacitated With No Evident Advance Directives or Surrogates.

Objectives: Home health care patients who are at risk for becoming Incapacitated with No Evident Advance Directives or Surrogates (INEADS) may benefit from timely intervention to assist them with advance care planning. This study aimed to develop natural language processing algorithms for identifying home care patients who do not have advance directives, family members, or close social contacts who can serve as surrogate decision-makers in the event that they lose decisional capacity.

Design: Cross-sectional study of electronic health records.

Explore the shared molecular mechanism between dermatomyositis and nasopharyngeal cancer by bioinformatic analysis.

Background: Dermatomyositis (DM) is prone to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but the mechanism is unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential pathogenesis of DM and NPC.

Methods: The datasets GSE46239, GSE142807, GSE12452, and GSE53819 were downloaded from the GEO dataset.

[Effect of Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin on Platelet Reconstitution after Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Multiple Myeloma].

Objective: To analyze the effect of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on platelet (PLT) reconstitution after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: The clinical data of 147 MM patients who were diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and received APBSCT as the first-line therapy were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether rhTPO was used during APBSCT, the patients were divided into rhTPO group (80 cases) and control group (67 cases).

Insurance-based Disparities in Outcomes and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Utilization for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

Background: The objective of this study was to examine insurance-based disparities in mortality, nonhome discharges, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation utilization in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Methods: Using a national database of U.S.

Evaluation of next-generation sequencing versus next-generation flow cytometry for minimal-residual-disease detection in Chinese patients with multiple myeloma.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in minimal-residual-disease (MRD) monitoring in Chinese patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: This study analyzed 60 Chinese MM patients. During MRD monitoring in these patients' post-therapy, clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) rearrangements were detected via NGS using LymphoTrack assays.

Home Care Clinicians' Perspectives on Advance Care Planning for Patients at Risk for Becoming Incapacitated With No Evident Advance Directives or Surrogates.

Advance care planning is important and timely for patients receiving home health services; however, opportunities to facilitate awareness and engagement in this setting are often missed. This qualitative descriptive study elicited perspectives of home health nurses and social workers regarding barriers and facilitators to creating advance care plans in home health settings, with particular attention to patients with few familial or social contacts who can serve as surrogate decision-makers. We interviewed 15 clinicians employed in a large New York City-based home care agency in 2021-2022.

SSR1 and CKAP4 as potential biomarkers for intervertebral disc degeneration based on integrated bioinformatics analysis.

Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a significant cause of low back pain and poses a significant public health concern. Genetic factors play a crucial role in IDD, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify potential IDD-related biomarkers using a comprehensive bioinformatics approach and validate them in vitro.

Gossypol Acetic Acid alleviates the Ferroptosis of Chondrocytes in Osteoarthritis by Inhibiting GPX4 Methylation.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease, usually accompanied by degeneration of the articular cartilage, fibrosis, bone hyperplasia around the joint, and damage to the entire articular surface. Gossypol is a natural phenolic compound isolated from the seed of cotton plants, and gossypol acetic acid (GAA) is a medicinal form of Gossypol. Recently, various biological activities of GAA, including anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects, have been widely reported.

Environmental factors influencing potential distribution of and its accumulation of medicinal components.

Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus (SSF), the dry ripe fruit of Rehd. et Wils., is a traditional Chinese medicine with wide application potential.

Health Information Technology Adoption at U.S. Home Health Care Agencies: Results from a Multi-Methods Study.

Health information technology (HIT) holds potential to transform Home Health Care (HHC), yet, little is known about its adoption in this setting. In the context of infection prevention and control, we aimed to: (1) describe challenges associated with the adoption of HIT, for example, electronic health records (EHR) and telehealth and (2) examine HHC agency characteristics associated with HIT adoption. We conducted in-depth interviews with 41 staff from 13 U.