Publications by authors named "Julie Erb-Alvarez"
Article Synopsis
- Increased left ventricular (LV) mass is linked to heart failure and is influenced by systemic inflammation; this study specifically looks at the role of subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) in this relationship in individuals with psoriasis.
- The research involved 189 psoriasis patients without known cardiovascular disease, measuring systemic inflammation via plasma glycoprotein A (GlycA) and LV mass using coronary CT angiography (CCTA); results showed a significant association between both GlycA and noncalcified coronary burden (NCB) with LV mass.
- Findings indicate that systemic inflammation and early CAD (represented by NCB) contribute to increased LV mass independently from traditional cardiovascular risk factors, with about 32% of the GlycA-LV mass
Article Synopsis
- A study tested the drug fostamatinib on hospitalized adults with severe COVID-19 to see if it could improve their immune response and overall health outcomes.
- In the trial, 59 patients were randomized to either receive fostamatinib or a placebo while receiving standard care, with serious adverse events monitored over 29 days.
- Results showed that fostamatinib led to fewer serious side effects and improved clinical outcomes, especially in patients with severe cases, suggesting it could be beneficial and should be tested further.
Background: Psoriasis is associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome.
Objective: Investigate the effect of metabolic syndrome and its factors on early coronary artery disease assessed as noncalcified coronary burden by coronary computed tomography angiography in psoriasis.
Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 260 participants with psoriasis and coronary computed tomography angiography characterization.
Article Synopsis
- Patients with psoriasis show a link between myocardial infarction and increased coronary burden, as evidenced by studies measuring noncalcified coronary burden (NCB) and biomarkers like serum high-sensitivity troponin-T (hs-cTn-T).
- In a study of 202 middle-aged patients, higher NCB was significantly associated with positive hs-cTn-T results at both baseline and one year later, indicating myocardial injury.
- The findings suggest that elevated NCB correlates with impaired coronary blood flow and emphasize the need for further research on early vascular disease to understand its impact on heart health in psoriasis patients.
Article Synopsis
- Lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) is a dangerous type of plaque linked to higher cardiovascular risks, particularly in psoriasis patients, who are already at increased risk for heart issues.
- A study involved 209 psoriasis patients who used a special imaging technique to examine LRNC before and after a year of biologic therapy.
- Results showed that patients on biologic therapy had a significant reduction in LRNC, while those not on therapy showed no significant change, indicating that biologic treatment can positively affect heart health in psoriasis patients.
Article Synopsis
- Psoriasis patients face a higher risk of heart attacks and increased noncalcified coronary burden, which can be evaluated using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).
- This study utilized machine learning algorithms on data from 263 patients to identify key predictors of noncalcified coronary burden, focusing on variables related to body composition and inflammation.
- The top predictors included factors like body mass index and levels of certain lipoproteins, suggesting that addressing obesity, dyslipidemia, and inflammation is vital in managing psoriasis-related health risks.
Article Synopsis
- Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease linked to cardiovascular issues, and while biologic therapies are beneficial for the skin, their impact on coronary inflammation is not fully understood.
- This study examined the effects of biologic therapy on coronary inflammation in psoriasis patients by using a measurement technique called perivascular fat attenuation index (FAI) during coronary CT angiography.
- Out of 134 patients, those who received biologic treatment showed a significant decrease in FAI compared to the control group, suggesting that biologic therapies may help reduce coronary inflammation in psoriasis patients.
Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to compare age-adjusted mortality rates before and after linkage with Indian Health Service records, adjusting for racial misclassification. We focused on differences in racial misclassification by gender, age, geographic differences, substate planning districts, and cause of death. Our secondary purpose was to evaluate time trends in misclassification from 1991 to 2015.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResearch misconduct and consequential harms have been inflicted upon American Indian/Alaska Native communities for decades. To protect their people and culture and to retain oversight over research, many Native communities have established tribal health research and institutional review boards. The Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) Study showcases a successful, trusting research collaboration with tribal nations and academic investigators in Oklahoma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Pandemics pose significant security/stability risks to nations with fragile infrastructures. We evaluated characteristics of the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak to elucidate lessons learned for managing transnational public health security threats.
Methods: We used publically available data to compare demographic and outbreak-specific data for Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, including key indicator data by the World Health Organization.
Cancer among American Indians - Identifying Priority Areas in Oklahoma.
J Okla State Med Assoc
March 2018
Background: We describe and compare cancer incidence and mortality among American Indians (AI/ANs) and whites in nine Indian Health Service (IHS) Service Units in Oklahoma.
Methods: Using data from the Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry and the web-based OK2SHARE database, we obtained age-adjusted cancer incidence rates from 1997 to 2012 and cancer mortality rates from 1999 to 2009 for AI/ANs and whites in Oklahoma. We examined differences in primary site, percentage of late stage diagnoses, and trends over time.
Introduction: This study assessed the period prevalence (2000-2008) and mortality rates of melanoma, in Oklahoma, among different racial/ethnic strata.
Methods: We analyzed incident cases of melanoma from 2000-2008 from the Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry and determined disease duration using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to calculate period prevalence of melanoma in Oklahoma. Using a series of Chi-Square tests, we compared period prevalence and mortality rates among the racial groups and compared mortality between Oklahoma and the US.
Despite the fact that numerous major public health problems have plagued American Indian communities for generations, American Indian participation in health research traditionally has been sporadic in many parts of the United States. In 2002, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) and 5 Oklahoma American Indian research review boards (Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service, Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, and Choctaw Nation) agreed to participate collectively in a national research trial, the Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescence and Youth (TODAY) Study. During that process, numerous lessons were learned and processes developed that strengthened the partnerships and facilitated the research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This study describes overall and site specific cancer incidence among AI/ANs compared to whites in Oklahoma and differences in cancer staging.
Methods: Age-adjusted incidence rates obtained from the Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry are presented for all cancer sites combined and for the most common cancer sites among AI/ANs with comparisons to whites. Percentages of late stage cancers for breast, colorectal, and melanoma cancers are also presented.
Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. Although published studies have suggested that breast cancer rates among AI/AN women are lower than those among other racial and ethnic populations, accurate determinations of the breast cancer burden have been hampered by misclassification of AI/AN race.
Methods: Cancer incidence data from the National Program of Cancer Registries and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program were combined to estimate age-adjusted rates for the diagnosis years 1999 through 2004.