Enhancing Disease and Management Knowledge Among Black Americans With Asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Purpose: Lack of knowledge contributes to disparate outcomes among Americans with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study assessed the impact of an educational intervention on disease knowledge and management in Black Americans with asthma or COPD.

Design: Pre-post study design with 9-month follow-up.

COVID-19 Vaccination Among Adolescents and Young Adults: Test of the Triandis Model of Interpersonal Behavior and the Health Belief Model.

This study purpose was to test the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Triandis Model of Interpersonal Behavior (TMIB) in predicting COVID-19 vaccine uptake among adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Data from an anonymous online survey were collected. Clusters of risk perceptions of infection were identified using Latent Class Analysis, and predictive values of TMIB and HBM factors were evaluated using logistic regression models.

Understanding Factors Associated with Uptake of Lung Cancer Screening among Individuals at High Risk.

Early detection using low-dose computed tomography scanning reduces lung cancer-specific mortality by 20% among high-risk individuals. Despite its efficacy, the uptake of lung cancer screening (LCS) remains low. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the uptake of LCS in high-risk individuals.

Community-Based Approach to Assess Obstructive Respiratory Diseases and Risk in Urban African American Churches.

Asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are significant health problems that have disparate effects on many Americans. Misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis are common and lead to ineffective treatment and management. This study assessed the feasibility of applying a two-step case-finding technique to identify both COPD and adult asthma cases in urban African American churches.

Health related quality of life in adult cancer survivors: Importance of social and emotional support.

Background: Adult cancer survivors (ACS) are at increased risk for developing various comorbid conditions and having poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) when compared to adults with no history of cancer. The effect of social and emotional support on HRQOL among ACS is not fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to understand the role of social and emotional support on HRQOL in ACS and to examine if the association between social and emotional support and HRQOL is modified by gender, time since cancer diagnosis, or marital status.

Pooling of Nasopharyngeal Swab Samples To Overcome a Global Shortage of Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR COVID-19 Test Kits.

The global outbreak and rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have created an urgent need for large-scale testing of populations. There is a demand for high-throughput testing protocols that can be used for efficient and rapid testing of clinical specimens. We evaluated a pooled PCR protocol for testing nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs using known positive/negative and untested clinical samples that were assigned to pools of 5 or 10.

Continuous Time Nonstationary Correlation Models for Sparse Longitudinal Data.

In this paper, we present a new continuous time model for nonstationary correlation structures for longitudinal data. This model, which provides a continuous time analogue to the antedependence model and is thus referred to as the continuous antedependence (CAD) model, is intended to provide more refined correlation models for longitudinal data and to better accommodate sparse (or highly unbalanced) data. A key component of this model is the 'nonstationarity function' which describes nonstationarity as a unidimensional function of time and has an interesting time expansion/contraction interpretation.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among older adults who reported medical cost as a barrier to seeking health care: findings from a nationally representative sample.

Background: Older adults aged 65 and over will make up more than 20% of U.S. residents by 2030, and in 2050, this population will reach 83.

Distinct subgroups of emergency department frequent users: A latent class analysis.

Background: Emergency department (ED) frequent users have high resource utilization and associated costs. Many interventions have been designed to reduce utilization, but few have proved effective. This may be because this group is more heterogeneous than initially assumed, limiting the effectiveness of targeted interventions.

The Effect of the Pain Symptom Cluster on Performance in Women Diagnosed with Advanced Breast Cancer: The Mediating Role of the Psychoneurological Symptom Cluster.

Background: Pain, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and constipation were reported in different symptom clusters at different stages of breast cancer. Managing symptom clusters rather than individual symptoms can improve performance status.

Aim: The study examined the effect of pain symptom cluster (pain and constipation) on performance when mediated by the psychoneurological symptom cluster (depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances) using age as a moderator.

Physical examination of dizziness in athletes after a concussion: A descriptive study.

Background: Dizziness is commonly reported after concussion. With the forces experienced at the time of the injury, several anatomical locations may have been altered, causing dizziness.

Objective: Describe an objective examination and the types of impairment/dysfunction implicated by the results of clinical examination tests in subjects with dizziness after a concussion.

Older Adult Attendance in Cardiac Rehabilitation: IMPACT OF FUNCTIONAL STATUS AND POSTACUTE CARE AFTER ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN 63 092 MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES.

Purpose: Older adults who use postacute care (PAC) after hospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI) are often overlooked as cardiac rehabilitation (CR) candidates because of physical limitations. This research describes the impact of functional status and PAC, including inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), skilled nursing facility (SNF), or home health care (HHC), on CR initiation in Medicare beneficiaries discharged from the hospital following an index MI.

Methods: The Chronic Condition Warehouse database of Medicare beneficiaries discharged to PAC following index MI in 2008 (n = 63 092) was used for this retrospective study.

Factors associated with parental reasons for "no-intent" to vaccinate female adolescents with human papillomavirus vaccine: National Immunization Survey - Teen 2008-2012.

Background: 1) To identify socio-demographic factors associated with parental "no-intent" for their 13-17 year old unvaccinated daughter to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series within the next twelve months, 2) to describe patterns in "no-intent" by socio-demographic factors, and 3) to identify socio-demographic factors associated with parental reasons for "no-intent".

Methods: Data from 2008-2012 National Immunization Survey - Teen (NIS - Teen) were examined in this study. Parents with "no-intent" to vaccinate their daughters were asked to identify reasons for their decision.

Social and emotional support as a protective factor against current depression among individuals with adverse childhood experiences.

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders among adults with adverse childhood experiences (ACE). Several studies have well documented the protective role of social support against depression in other populations. However, the impact of perceived social and emotional support (PSES) on current depression in a large community sample of adults with ACE has not been studied yet.

Influence of Depression on Utilization of Cardiac Rehabilitation Postmyocardial Infarction: A STUDY OF 158 991 MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES.

Purpose: On the basis of several small studies, depression is often considered a barrier to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) enrollment and program completion. The purpose of this research was to examine the association between depression diagnosis and participation in CR in a large sample of Medicare beneficiaries with recent myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: This was a retrospective study of Medicare beneficiaries with an MI during 2008 (N = 158 991).

Health-related quality of life in current smokers with COPD: factors associated with current smoking and new insights into sex differences.

Findings from studies that examined the association between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and smoking status among COPD patients have been mixed. Moreover, factors associated with current smoking in COPD patients and differences by sex have not been fully elucidated. Data from the 2011 and 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used in this study.

Current depression as a potential barrier to health care utilization in adult cancer survivors.

Background: Depression in cancer survivors is a major concern and is associated with poor health related quality of life (HRQOL). Delaying or forgoing care due to depression may further augment poor HRQOL. Although several studies have documented depression as a barrier to health care utilization in non-cancer populations, the impact of current depression on health care utilization among adult cancer survivors (ACS) has not been fully elucidated.

Psychological distress among adult cancer survivors: importance of survivorship care plan.

Purpose: The goal of our study was to better understand the importance of adult cancer survivors (ACS) receiving Survivorship Care Plans (SCP) especially for their psychological well-being. We hypothesize that the receipt of SCP would decrease the likelihood of symptoms of current depression (SCD) in this population.

Methods: We tested our hypothesis by using a representative sample of ACS, more than 1 year from cancer diagnosis, who responded to the 2010 BRFSS survey.

COPD in a nationally representative sample: sociodemographic factors and co-morbidity, diagnosis method, and healthcare utilization.

Introduction: In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the first time ever collected nationally representative prevalence data on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), spirometry diagnosis, and healthcare utilization factors related to COPD. This research reports on that data and describes characteristics of adults with COPD who reported diagnosis by spirometry compared to those who did not report diagnosis by spirometry. Variables examined included basic elements of healthcare utilization such as emergency room visits, hospitalization or personal physician utilization.

African ancestry influences CCR5 -2459G>A genotype-associated virologic success of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Introduction: In a North American, HIV-positive, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-treated, adherent cohort of self-identified white and black patients, we previously observed that chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5 (CCR5) -2459G>A genotype had a strong association with time to achieve virologic success (TVLS) in black but not in white patients.

Methods: Using 128 genome-wide ancestry informative markers, we performed a quantitative assessment of ancestry in these patients (n = 310) to determine (1) whether CCR5 -2459G>A genotype is still associated with TVLS of HAART when ancestry, not self-identified race, is considered and (2) whether this association is influenced by varying African ancestry.

Results: We found that the interaction between CCR5 -2459G>A genotype and African ancestry (≤ 0.

Clinical and individual factors associated with smoking quit attempts among adults with COPD: do factors vary with regard to race?

Only half of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) report a smoking quit attempt in the past year. Adults with COPD have frequent encounters with the healthcare system that are opportunities for health behavior interventions that support quit attempts. The purpose of this research was to examine individual- and clinical-level factors associated with smoking quit attempts in adults with COPD.

Construct validation and comparison of a novel postoperative quality-of-life metric and the Short Form-36 in colorectal surgery patients.

Purpose: Several methods have been used to measure quality of life (QOL) in colorectal patients, but existing QOL assessment tools are often complex, require complicated analysis, lack specificity for colorectal surgery, and are not focused on assessment of perioperative care. The postoperative QOL (PQL) assessment is designed to capture subtle yet important QOL factors in an easy tool validated for the postoperative period. Although internally validated, PQL lacks external validation with a universally accepted QOL metric, such as the Rand Short Form-36 (SF-36).

Influenza vaccination in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the impact of a diagnostic breathing test on vaccination rates.

Introduction: Influenza vaccination rates are low in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A diagnostic breathing test in adults with COPD may increase vaccination rates; however, research has not demonstrated this relationship. The purpose of this research was to determine if adults with COPD diagnosed by a breathing test were more likely to have had an influenza vaccination during the past 12 months when compared to those with COPD diagnosed without a breathing test.

Chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5 -2459 genotype in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy: race-specific influence on virologic success.

Background: In patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), antiretroviral drug-metabolizing enzyme and transporter gene polymorphisms, as well as chemokine receptor gene polymorphisms, may influence response to treatment.

Methods: In a North American, treated, adherent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive cohort (self-identified whites, n = 175; blacks, n = 218), we investigated whether CYP2B6 (516G>T, 983T>C), UGT2B7 (IVS1+985A>G, 802C>T), MDR1 3435C>T, chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) 190G>A, and CCR5 (-2459G>A, Δ32) polymorphisms influenced the time to achieve virologic success (TVLS).

Results: No difference in TVLS was observed between races.