Publications by authors named "Ragsdale B"

Human disturbance, such as trampling, is an integral component of global change, yet we lack a comprehensive understanding of its effects on alpine ecosystems. Many alpine systems are seeing a rapid increase in recreation and in understudied regions, such as the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, yet disturbance impacts on alpine plants remain unclear. We surveyed disturbed (trail-side) and undisturbed (off-trail) transects along elevational gradients of popular hiking trails in the T'ak't'ak'múy'in tl'a In'inyáxa7n region (Garibaldi Provincial Park), Canada, focusing on dominant shrubs (, ) and graminoids ( spp).

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Background: The United States continues to be plagued with pervasive health disparities. Leading health and professional organizations acknowledge structural racism as a contributing factor for the lack of a racially diverse nursing workforce particularly those serving in leadership roles which could help to mitigate health disparities among historically stigmatized populations.

Purpose: Purpose Lack of funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and lack of meaningful partnerships, stymie efforts that can be made by nursing programs at HBCUs.

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In recovering from one of the worst educational crises in recorded history due to the pandemic, in a mission to rebuild and become more resilient, there has been a heightened urgency to provide resources to communities most in need. However, precisely identifying those needs have become all the more important due to the increase in popularity of e-learning as a suitable option and the improvement of technologies. Most notably, socially disadvantaged and historically marginalized communities were disproportionately and severely impacted by several aspects of the pandemic, in terms of health, economics, access to education, and sustainable well-being.

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Objective: This paper describes the dental elements (i.e., teeth and incomplete tooth-like structures) formed by mature cystic teratomas and provide some diagnostic criteria to aid in their paleopathological identification and analysis.

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Diatoms are photosynthetic algae with a siliceous exoskeleton. Diatoms are utilized by a wide array of industries for applications such as filtration and pest control. Unsubstantiated claims have also propelled their societal reach to trendy oral and topical uses.

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Amelanotic melanoma (AM) is a rare form of melanoma which lacks visible pigment. Due to the achromic manifestation of this atypical cutaneous malignancy, it has been difficult to establish clinical criteria for diagnosis. Thus, AM often progresses into an invasive disease due to delayed diagnosis.

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Soil and freshwater-dwelling amoebae may opportunistically infect the skin and evoke a granulomatous dermatitis that camouflages their underlying morphology. Amoebic infestations are incredibly rare in the U.S.

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Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition with high mortality. Diagnosis is challenging due to variable clinical presentation and a protracted latency period following initiation of the offending drug. DRESS is a complex interplay that starts by introduction of the offending drug, reactivation of viruses and activation of the immune system.

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Cutaneous injuries due to industrial high-pressure paint guns are well-documented in the literature; however, the histologic characteristics are uncommonly described, and facial involvement has not been previously reported. Histopathologic features of paint gun injuries vary depending on the time since injection and type of material. Early lesions display an acute neutrophilic infiltrate, edema, and thrombosis, with varying degrees of skin, fat, and muscle necrosis.

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Unlike modern diagnosticians, a paleopathologist will likely have only skeletonized human remains without medical records, radiologic studies over time, microbiologic culture results, etc. Macroscopic and radiologic analyses are usually the most accessible diagnostic methods for the study of ancient skeletal remains. This paper recommends an organized approach to the study of dry bone specimens with reference to specimen radiographs.

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Cutaneous discoloration secondary to dermal deposition of titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles is recognized but seldom reported in the literature. In this report, the authors describe the case of a 61-year-old gentleman, with a long history of alopecia areata, who presented with numerous, discrete dark blue macules on the scalp. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis ultimately identified the macules as deposits of TiO2.

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Background: Giant basal cell carcinomas (GBCCs), (BCC ≥ 5 cm), are often painless, destructive tumors resulting from poorly understood patient neglect.

Objectives: To elucidate etiopathogenic factors distinguishing GBCC from basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and identify predictors for disease-specific death (DSD).

Methods: Case-control study examining clinicopathologic and neuroactive factors (β-endorphin, met-enkephalin, serotonin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and neurofilament expression) in GBCC and BCC.

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Ischemic fasciitis is a pseudosarcomatous nodule or mass resulting from sustained or repeated pressure and consequent ischemia of soft tissue. Fibrin and hemorrhage expand its hypocellular epicenter bordered by enlarged (atypical, ischemic) fibroblasts and reactive vascular prominence resulting in diagnostically important histologic zonation. Although classically in bedridden patients, ischemic fasciitis owing to posture-related intermittent pressure in ambulatory adults is not well characterized; there has not been a thorough review of its presentation in ambulatory patients in the dermatology/dermatopathology literature.

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Epidermolytic ichthyosis (EI) due to KRT10 mutations is a rare, typically autosomal dominant, disorder characterized by generalized erythema and cutaneous blistering at birth followed by hyperkeratosis and less frequent blistering later in life. We identified two KRT10 mutations p.Q434del and p.

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Severity level and type of exposure to community violence were examined to determine their effect on emotional distress and problem behaviors among 234 low-income urban African American early adolescents. There were 4 violence exposure scales developed from a principal component analysis of the Richters and Martinez (1993) exposure to violence scale: moderate and severe witnessing and moderate and severe victimization. Regression analyses indicated that moderate victimization was the most consistent predictor of emotional distress and behavioral problems, whereas moderate witnessing did not relate to any of the dependent variables.

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We report the case of a 34-year-old woman who was diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) during pregnancy. The patient presented with widespread blistering dermatitis and associated burning and pruritus. At 6 weeks' gestation the patient was admitted to the hospital to expedite her diagnosis and initiate treatment.

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Background: Calcific periarthritis, referring to a circumscribed juxta-articular deposit of minute non-birefringent mineral grains, is rarely the clinical diagnosis accompanying a pathologic specimen. Familiarity with the clinical, pathologic, and radiologic manifestations of calcific periarthritis, particularly when encountered adjacent to joints other than the shoulder, facilitates diagnosis and may obviate biopsy, avoid confusion with other entities, and speed appropriate treatment.

Methods: Pathologic specimens that fulfilled the criteria for a diagnosis of calcific periarthritis were prospectively collected.

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Cutaneous Pneumocystis jirovecii infection is rare. It is thought that the disease emerges from a latent infection delivered via hematogenous and/or lymphatic dissemination from a primary lung infection in immunocompromised individuals. A 32-year-old human immunodeficiency virus-positive male was admitted for headache and vomiting.

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Background: Conidiobolomycosis (also known as rhinoentomophthoramycosis) is a rare cutaneous/mucosal fungal infection seen mainly in the tropical rain forest regions of the world that can be associated with disfiguring facial elephantiasis, and rarely, death.

Objective: To present an exemplary case report and perform a systematic review of the world's literature to more accurately describe the natural history and the effect of therapy on outcome in conidiobolomycosis.

Methods: Case report and meta-analysis of published case reports and series of conidiobolomycosis to determine which clinical, pathologic, mycologic, and treatment factors impact on prognosis.

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Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a relatively common neoplasm of the major and minor salivary glands that can secondarily involve skin. In the vicinity of the ear lobe, mimicry of a benign cyst, both clinically and histopathologically is a diagnostic pitfall to avoid. The clinical manifestations, diagnostic histopathology, and clinical course of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland presenting as a clinically benign periauricular cystic nodule in four patients ranging in age from 11 to 63 years, are analyzed in the present report.

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Acquired acro-osteolysis (AOL) is defined as the resorption of bone from the tufts or shafts of the terminal phalanges. Acquired acro-osteolysis can manifest as a primary osteolysis syndrome and also appears in a number of disease states including rheumatologic disorders, neuropathic diseases, the result of prolonged exposure to polyvinyl chloride, and in rare cases, as a response to repeated mechanical stress. In this report, a 46-year-old surfer was evaluated for AOL as a complication of sports-related repetitive trauma to the right second and third toes.

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Osteomas of the cranial sinuses are rare, benign bony tumors that can be complicated by the formation of an intracranial pneumatocele. If not treated promptly, a pneumatocele can lead to abscess formation, meningitis, or ventriculitis. In the present case, an intracerebral pneumatocele was formed when an 18 cm(3) osteoma breached the posterior wall of the frontal sinus creating a one-way valve through which air could enter the intracranial cavity.

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Amelanotic melanoma, a renowned impersonator, has taken on a new persona. A 63-year-old woman was seen in the emergency room with a chief complaint of back pain after a fall and was discovered to have a 15-cm fungating mottled gray mass independent of bone on the right elbow. Initial workup discovered lytic calvarial lesions, anemia (Hb 7; Hct 20%), and circulating plasma cells consistent with plasma cell myeloma.

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