Publications by authors named "L Whitaker"
Endometriosis is a common, chronic, incurable condition the hallmark of which is the presence of lesions (tissue resembling endometrium) in sites outside the womb, with symptoms including chronic debilitating pain and fatigue. However, current therapeutic options are limited. Recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to the development of lesions and pain experience in endometriosis as well as surveys of patients have increased interest in testing recently approved formulations containing cannabidiol (CBD) in this patient group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There has been ensuing interest in adopting transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), because of its low perioperative stroke and complication rates. In our study, we aimed to identify the case number at which there is improvement in TCAR technical proficiency. We also assessed how surgeon experience influenced outcomes.
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- Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women without clear pelvic issues lacks effective treatment options, as shown by a recent trial indicating gabapentin was ineffective and had more side effects compared to a placebo.
- An exploratory study identified a significant genetic variant (rs4442490) linked to the response to gabapentin, suggesting this variant may influence how patients experience pain relief from the medication.
- The genetic variant rs4442490 affects the expression of Neuregulin 3, which is important for brain function, particularly the orbitofrontal cortex, highlighting the potential for personalized treatment based on genetic factors.
The growing number of prevalent arteriovenous (AV) accesses has been associated with an increase in the incidence of procedures being performed to maintain patency. To reduce the rate of unnecessary procedures, the 2019 Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative guidelines addended the AV access surveillance recommendations, which includes clinical monitoring and assessment of dialysis adequacy alone. Abnormal clinical findings would necessitate follow-up angiography with or without confirmatory duplex ultrasound.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Balloon-assisted maturation (BAM) is a well-established technique for maturation of inadequate arteriovenous fistulas (AVF). The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes of initial BAM using large-diameter angioplasty balloons.
Methods: Charts of patients who underwent BAM between 2018 and 2021 at a single academic institution were reviewed.