Treatment and Survival Disparities in Asian Americans With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Need to Disaggregate a Diverse Cohort.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States and globally. The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) population has often been studied as one homogenous cohort despite its heterogeneity. We aim to understand differences in treatment modality and mortality among AANHPI patients with early-stage HCC.

Current state of APPE-readiness assessments in schools or colleges of pharmacy.

Objective: To determine components and assessments included in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) readiness plans in United States Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs.

Methods: An electronic survey was emailed to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Laboratory Instructors Special Interest Group. Survey items included demographic information about the program, APPE-readiness plan implementation status and components.

Effect of Fluoride Varnishes on Demineralization and Acid Resistance in Subsurface Demineralized Lesion Models.

This study aimed to clarify the effects of high-concentration fluoride varnish application on the inhibition of the progression of initial enamel caries. Remineralization capacity and acid resistance following high-concentration fluoride varnish application were compared with untreated models and models treated with fluoride mouthwash. Bovine enamel was used to create a model of initial enamel caries.

Comparing Polymerization Shrinkage Measurement Methods for Universal Shade Flowable Resin-Based Composites.

Universal shade flowable composites have been introduced to mimic tooth structure with reduced color mismatch and reduced chair time and cost. However, the polymerization shrinkage of resin material may lead to sensitivity and restoration failure. The purpose of this study was to compare the polymerization shrinkage of recently introduced universal shade flowable resin-based composites using both wet and dry density methods.

Skin Cancer Awareness, Beliefs, Behaviors, and Access to Care Among the Homeless and Underinsured Patients Using a Free Clinic in Nebraska.

Introduction: To understand the attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and access to care surrounding sun safety for a primarily homeless or underinsured patient population at a student-run health clinic.

Methods: All adult attendees at the health clinic were invited to complete an anonymous 16-item questionnaire that assessed their sun safety history, practices, knowledge, and beliefs.

Results: Fifty participants completed our questionnaire, with 35 individuals (70%) reporting that they were without permanent residence, and 21 individuals indicating that they were uninsured or using Medicaid (42%).

Non-HFE Hemochromatosis in the Context of β-Thalassemia Trait: A Case Study on Iron Overload Dysregulation.

Thalassemia and hemochromatosis are two distinct conditions that involve dysregulation of iron metabolism, though their origin, clinical presentations, and treatments differ. This case represents a patient with incidentally discovered microcytic anemia due to β-thalassemia trait and non- hemochromatosis. It discusses the potential synergistic effect of these two diseases on iron overload and highlights the need for further testing to determine hereditary versus secondary causes of hemochromatosis.

Telemedicine: Future of the healthcare system and its impact on patient satisfaction: A literature review.

Background And Objectives: The utilization of telemedicine has increased dramatically since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, we examined studies published within the past five years that investigated the impact of telemedicine on patient satisfaction.

Methods: Four investigators utilized PubMed and Google Scholar to find studies published within the past five years that assessed patient satisfaction with telemedicine in the field of adult primary care, using either the Press Ganey or CAHPS surveys.

Perioperative morbidity after primary hiatal hernia repair increases as hernia size increases.

Background: Minimally invasive hiatal hernia (HH) repair is the gold standard for correcting mechanical defects of the crural diaphragm due to its safety and favorable clinical outcomes (i.e., relief of patient symptoms).

Evaluating the use of sublingual sufentanil in patients with buprenorphine treatment who are undergoing ambulatory surgery: A Prospective Case Report.

Introduction: Opioid use disorder is a chronic illness with significant morbidity and mortality. Opioid agonists, like buprenorphine, are commonly used to prevent relapse. Recent changes in buprenorphine legislation are expected to increase prescription and guidelines recommend its continuation during the perioperative period for many patients.

Trends in sepsis-associated cardiovascular disease mortality in the United States, 1999 to 2022.

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, and sepsis significantly contributes to hospitalization and mortality. This study aims to assess the trends of sepsis-associated CVD mortality rates and variations in mortality based on demographics and regions in the US.

Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database was used to identify CVD and sepsis-related deaths from 1999 to 2022.

Patient and Tumor Factors on Overall Survival in Spindle Cell Melanoma.

Introduction: Spindle cell melanoma (SCM) is a rare melanoma subtype characterized histologically by atypical, spindled, malignant melanocytes. SCM often presents in older patients and lacks typical cytologic markers, complicating diagnosis and frequently leading to advanced disease upon presentation. While some studies have documented SCM incidence, none have thoroughly examined the demographic, socioeconomic, and treatment factors influencing survival outcomes.

Persistent Risk of Pulmonary Embolism in Acute Pancreatitis Despite Prophylactic Anticoagulation.

Acute pancreatitis, a sudden inflammatory condition, can lead to a hypercoagulable state resulting in complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). This case report discusses a unique presentation of a massive PE in a patient with acute pancreatitis despite being on appropriate prophylactic anticoagulation. A 27-year-old man presented with acute abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Telehealth Occupation-Based Coaching for Rural Parents of Children With Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: Because of the complexity of their child's diabetes management, parents often assume all care duties and report needing additional assistance to resume family routines.

Objective: To examine the preliminary efficacy of a telehealth occupation-based coaching intervention for rural parents of a child living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) to improve child glycemic levels, family quality of life, and parental self-efficacy.

Design: Double-blinded, two-arm, pilot randomized controlled trial.

Development and validation of a two-dimensional pseudorandom balance perturbation test.

Introduction: Pseudorandom balance perturbations use unpredictable disturbances of the support surface to quantify reactive postural control. The ability to quantify postural responses to a continuous multidirectional perturbation in two orthogonal dimensions of sway (e.g.

East London Project: a participatory mixed-method evaluation on how removing enforcement could affect sex workers' safety, health and access to services in East London.

Background: Sex workers' risk of violence and ill-health is shaped by their work environments, community and structural factors, including criminalisation.

Aim: We evaluated the impact of removing police enforcement on sex workers' safety, health and access to services.

Design: Mixed-methods participatory study comprising qualitative research, a prospective cohort study, mathematical modelling and routine data collation.

Trends in heart failure-related mortality among middle-aged adults in the United States from 1999-2022.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) represents a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. Heart failure mortality trends among the middle aged have not been fully characterized into the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to analyze the trends in mortality related to heart failure across various demographic and geographic categories-including gender, race, and census region-spanning from 1999 to 2022, with particular attention paid to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on HF mortality.

Using Postactivation Adjustment as a Marker for Inferior Outcomes in Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator Patients.

Objective: This study aimed to examine differences in postoperative outcomes between patients requiring postactivation adjustment and those who do not, within a cohort of patients undergoing hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Study Design: Retrospective database analysis.

Setting: Single-institution, academic center.

Prenatal Tobacco Exposure, Brain Subcortical Volumes, and Gray-White Matter Contrast.

Importance: Maternal tobacco use during pregnancy (MTDP) remains a major public health challenge. However, the complete spectrum of effects of MTDP is not fully understood.

Objectives: To examine the longitudinal associations of MTDP and children's brain morphometric subcortical volume and gray-white matter contrast (GWC) development.

'The upside-down' healthcare professional students' experiences of delirium: an all-Ireland focus group study.

Background: Delirium is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome characterised by an acute state of confusion, with a substantial impact on medical inpatients. Despite its growing recognition as a global healthcare concern, delirium remains underdiagnosed, partly due to a lack of awareness among healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to explore how healthcare professional students experience caring for individuals experiencing delirium, the influence of their current pre-registration healthcare education, and importance of interprofessional teamwork in their role.

Smartphone-Based Pupillometry Using Machine Learning for the Diagnosis of Sports-Related Concussion.

Quantitative pupillometry has been proposed as an objective means to diagnose acute sports-related concussion (SRC). To assess the diagnostic accuracy of a smartphone-based quantitative pupillometer in the acute diagnosis of SRC. Division I college football players had baseline pupillometry including pupillary light reflex (PLR) parameters of maximum resting diameter, minimum diameter after light stimulus, percent change in pupil diameter, latency of pupil constriction onset, mean constriction velocity, maximum constriction velocity, and mean dilation velocity using a smartphone-based app.

Light adjustable lens in eyes with a history of radial keratotomy.

Purpose: To evaluate visual and refractive outcomes in eyes with a history of radial keratotomy (RK) implanted with the second-generation light-adjustable lens (LAL).

Setting: Private practice, multiple locations.

Design: Retrospective, consecutive case series.

Markedly Exophytic Hypertrophic Lichen Planus in a Patient With Ichthyosis Vulgaris.

Hypertrophic lichen planus (HLP) is an idiopathic inflammatory condition characterized by hyperkeratotic plaques or nodules, typically occurring bilaterally on the wrists, ankles, or lower extremities. This variant of lichen planus is more common among African-American patients and occupies a broad differential with other keratotic skin conditions, some of which are malignant, making recognition and accurate diagnosis essential. We present an unusual case of a 49-year-old African-American woman with four markedly exophytic, horn-like lesions on her shins, ultimately diagnosed as HLP.

A Case of Deep Vein Thrombosis Complicated by Right Atrial Clot-in-Transit and Pulmonary Embolism in an Alcoholic Male.

This report presents the case of a 62-year-old male with a history of chronic alcohol abuse who developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) complicated by extensive bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE) and a right atrial thrombus. The presence of a right atrial thrombus in conjunction with PE and DVT is a rare and serious clinical presentation, often associated with a high thrombotic burden and increased risk of mortality. The patient initially presented with worsening shortness of breath following an occupational injury that resulted in a left heel laceration, subsequently leading to a significant thromboembolic event.

Diagnosis and management of dilated cardiomyopathy: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines and recommendations.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is extensively discussed in numerous expert consensus documents and international guidelines, with differing recommendations. To support clinicians in daily practice and decision-making, we conducted a systematic review of key guidelines and recommendations concerning the diagnosis and clinical management of DCM. Our research encompassed MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for relevant articles published, as well as the websites of relevant scientific societies.