Publications by authors named "Louis Rivera"

Study Objectives: This study evaluated the prevalence and correlates of insomnia in male veterans with military sexual trauma (MST) who currently receive care within a VA medical center.

Methods: We evaluated cross-sectional data from a VA medical center (n = 138) using the following instruments: Insomnia Severity Index, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption, and a nightmare question for insomnia, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and drinking, respectively. Bivariate and multivariable analyses assessed the relationship between Insomnia Severity Index and other clinical variables.

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Neurotropic melanoma is a rare type of malignant melanoma with nerve invasion or neural differentiation. Neurocristic cutaneous hamartoma is a rare, benign tumor of the skin and superficial soft tissue that arises from aberrant migration of neural crest cells. We report a rare case of a 74-year-old man with a clinically diagnosed giant congenital nevus of the right mid-back, histopathologically confirmed to be a neurocristic cutaneous hamartoma, who developed neurotropic spindle cell melanoma within the lesion.

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Military Sexual Trauma (MST) has been found to be positively associated with mental health outcomes, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depressive symptoms, symptoms of anxiety, and insomnia severity (Jenkins et al., 2015; O'Brien & Sher, 2013). Male survivors of MST face unique challenges, including concerns associated with hypermasculinity (e.

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Background: There are several factors that influence ABSITE scores, but the optimal approach for remediation of poor scores is unclear.

Methods: A structured academic curriculum and focused remediation program (FRP) were implemented to improve academic performances. Within a 15-year period, ABSITE and American Board of Surgery qualifying exam (ABS QE) results were compared before and after the establishment of the program using a paired T-test.

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The clinical practice of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC) for carcinomatosis has lacked preclinical justification. A standardized mouse model was created to evaluate the independent effects of intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Diffuse colorectal carcinomatosis was generated in mice prior to intraperitoneal lavage with mitomycin C (MMC) at clinically comparable dosing for variable lengths of time.

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Background: Breast Cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease comprised of at least five genetically distinct subtypes, which together form the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. Within BC subtypes, those classified as Triple Negative BCs (TNBCs) exhibit dismal survival rates due to their propensity to develop distant metastases. We have identified the WAVE3 protein, which is a critical regulator of actin cytoskeleton dynamics that are required for the motility and invasion of cancer cells through its activation of the Arp2/3 complex, as a key regulator of the different steps of the invasion-metastasis cascade in BC, especially in the more aggressive TNBCs.

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Duplication cyst of the stomach with a pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium is extremely rare. We describe two cases of these cysts, with emphasis on their immunophenotype and embryogenesis. The first patient was a 29-year-old man who presented with cramping abdominal pain in his left lower quadrant.

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Background: Image-guided small catheter tube thoracostomy (SCTT) is not currently used as a first-line procedure in the management of patients with chest trauma. We adopted a practice recommendation to use SCTT as a less invasive alternative in the treatment of chest injuries. We reviewed our trauma registry to evaluate our change in practice and the effectiveness of SCTT.

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Background: Despite our regular use of CT for suspected appendicitis, a recent study at our institution demonstrated a negative appendectomy (NA) rate similar to our rate 15 years earlier. Based on analysis of this data, a diagnostic pathway was implemented prospectively for adult patients with possible appendicitis.

Study Design: Rates of CT, NA, and perforation for nonpregnant patients over 14 years of age undergoing appendectomy between August 2001 and August 2002 (PRE) were compared with prospectively collected pathway data (PATH, August 2004 to August 2005).

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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurs with a reported frequency of 12%-18% after liver transplantation. Recurrence is associated with a mortality rate exceeding 75%. Approximately one-third of recurrences develop in the transplanted liver and are therefore amenable to local therapy.

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While classic teaching dictates computed tomography (CT) for postoperative abdominal or pelvic abscess in the first week is of low yield, little evidence supports intentional delays in imaging for suspected abscess. This retrospective review examined all CT scans obtained for clinical suspicion of abscess between 3 and 30 days after abdominal or pelvic operation over a 3-year period. Scans were grouped into those obtained between 3 and 7 days after surgery (EARLY) and those obtained after day 7 (LATE).

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Background: Retrievable vena cava filters (RFs) offer the appeal of short-term prophylaxis for trauma patients temporarily at risk for pulmonary embolism (PE) without the long-term risks of permanent vena cava filters (PFs). However, the evidence that RFs and PFs reduce the risks of PE and death in trauma patients is not conclusive. RFs were introduced at our trauma center in August 2002.

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Few studies have examined the effects of age and gender on the utility of diagnostic computed tomography (CT) for appendicitis. We retrospectively studied all adult patients undergoing appendectomy from January 2000 through December 2002 (633 patients). Patients 15-30 years old ("younger") were compared to patients >30 ("older") and further subdivided by gender.

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