Evaluation of an Audio-Visual Novela to Improve COVID-19 Knowledge and Safe Practices Among Spanish-Speaking Individuals with Schizophrenia.

In the United States, the health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately affected the Latinx community. Within the Latinx community, people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders are more susceptible to exposure to the virus. Given their increased risk of contracting and getting sick from the virus, efforts targeting the Latinx population should focus on increasing knowledge and safe practices associated with COVID-19.

Improving Self-management of Type 2 Diabetes in Latinx Patients: Protocol for a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial Involving Community Health Workers, Registered Nurses, and Family Members.

Background: The rate of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Mexican American individuals is 16.3%, about twice that of non-Hispanic White individuals. While a number of education approaches have been developed and shown to improve diabetes self-management behaviors and glycemic control for Spanish-speaking Latinx patients with T2DM, there is little research to guide health practitioners regarding which interventions to apply and when so that resources are used efficiently, and treatment outcomes are maximized.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in a patient with persistent hypoglossal artery and bilateral madelung deformity.

We explore a case of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in the context of Persistent Hypoglossal Artery (PHA) and bilateral Madelung Deformity (MD). PHA is associated with a raft of major adverse cardiovascular events. MD can result from manifold conditions such as Turner's Syndrome and mesomelic dwarfism.

Yield of Post-Acute Diverticulitis Colonoscopy for Ruling Out Colorectal Cancer.

Background And Aims: Colonoscopy is recommended post-acute diverticulitis (AD) to exclude underlying adenocarcinoma (CRC). However, post-AD colonoscopy utility remains controversial. We aimed to examine yield of post-AD colonoscopy in our majority-Hispanic patient population.

Management of symptomatic cholelithiasis: a systematic review.

Background: Symptomatic cholelithiasis is a common surgical disease and accounts for half of the over one million cholecystectomies performed in the USA annually. Despite its prevalence, only one prior systematic review has examined the evidence around treatment strategies and it contained a narrow scope. The goal of this systematic review was to analyze the clinical effectiveness of treatment options for symptomatic cholelithiasis, including surgery, non-surgical therapies, and ED pain management strategies.

Effectiveness of Goal-Directed and Outcome-Based Financial Incentives for Weight Loss in Primary Care Patients With Obesity Living in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Neighborhoods: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Financial incentives for weight management may increase use of evidence-based strategies while addressing obesity-related economic disparities in low-income populations.

Objective: To examine the effects of 2 financial incentive strategies developed using behavioral economic theory when added to provision of weight management resources.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Three-group, randomized clinical trial conducted from November 2017 to May 2021 at 3 hospital-based clinics in New York City, New York, and Los Angeles, California.

Knee Pain Reduction Using a Shock-Absorbing Sole.

Background: The biomechanics of the foot and leg are responsible for shock absorption during human gait. Lack of shock absorption is known to be a key component of knee pain. This study compares a new model of shoe sole with a built-in modification intended to absorb shock with a traditional sole shoe to examine whether shoe design modifications can help alleviate knee pain.

The role and timing of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in acute biliary pancreatitis without cholangitis: A nationwide analysis.

Background/purpose: The role and optimal timing of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in acute biliary pancreatitis without cholangitis (ABPwoC) remains unclear. Using a large national database, we aimed to examine hospitalization outcomes of patients with ABPwoC as a function of the performance and timing of ERCP.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of adult patients with ABPwoC utilizing the National Inpatient Sample from 2016-2017.

A Video-Based Consent Tool: Development and Effect of Risk-Benefit Framing on Intention to Randomize.

Introduction: Nearly 75% of clinical trials fail to enroll enough participants, and cohorts often fail to reflect the clinical and demographic diversity of at-risk populations. Effective recruitment strategies are critically important for successful clinical trials. Framing treatment risks are known to affect medical decision-making for both physicians and patients but has not been rigorously studied in surgical trials.

Exploring Perspectives on Establishing COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence in Black Communities.

Objective: To explore factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine decision-making among Black adults at high-risk for COVID-19 infection. Despite effective treatment and vaccination availability, Black Americans continue to be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Design Setting And Participants: Using community-engaged qualitative methods, we conducted virtual, semi-structured focus groups with Black residents in Los Angeles County before widespread vaccine rollout.

Fungal perianal abscess as the initial presentation of disseminated coccidioidomycosis.

Coccidioides is a dimorphic fungus that can cause various clinical presentations, mainly pulmonary, skin, musculoskeletal, and in the central nervous system; most reports are in the southwestern area of the USA. We present a case of a young male with a perianal abscess in the absence of any pulmonary or constitutional symptoms. Perianal abscess as initial manifestation is a novel presentation of coccidioidomycosis in the literature.

Comparison of laboratory methods for the detection of neoplastic plasma cells in plasma cell dyscrasias.

Aims: To compare the ability of immunohistochemistry (IHC), multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) to detect clonal plasma cells. We also attempted to outline a testing strategy for monitoring multiple myeloma patients.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 278 CD138+sorted FISH studies from November 2019 to December 2020 along with their concurrent IHC and MFC results.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in gastroenterology and hepatology: a survey of where we stand.

Background & Aims: In the setting of increasing attention to representation in medicine, we aimed to assess current perspectives of racial and ethnic workforce diversity and health care disparities among gastroenterology (GI) and hepatology professionals in the United States.

Methods: We developed and administered a 33-item electronic cross-sectional survey to members of 5 national GI and hepatology societies. Survey items were organized into thematic modules and solicited perspectives on racial and ethnic workforce diversity, health care disparities in GI and hepatology, and potential interventions to enhance workforce diversity and improve health equity.

Preoperative stents for the treatment of obstructing left-sided colon cancer: a national analysis.

Background: Given the risks associated with urgent colectomy for large bowel obstruction, preoperative colonic stenting has been utilized for decompression and optimization prior to surgery. This study examined national trends in the use of colonic stenting as a bridge to resection for malignant large bowel obstruction and evaluated outcomes relative to immediate colectomy.

Methods: Adults undergoing colonic stenting or colectomy for malignant, left/sigmoid large bowel obstruction were identified in the 2010-2016 Nationwide Readmissions Database.

Quantitative Analysis of Contrast-enhanced Mammography for Risk Stratification of Benign Versus Malignant Disease and Molecular Subtype.

Objective: To assess quantitative enhancement of benign, high-risk, and malignant lesions and differences in molecular subtype and grade of malignant lesions on contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM).

Methods: This IRB-approved retrospective study included women who underwent CEM for diagnostic work-up of a breast lesion between 2014 and 2020. Inclusion criteria were women who had diagnostic work-up with CEM and had BI-RADS 1 or 2 with one year follow-up, BI-RADS 3 with tissue diagnosis or stability for 2 years, or BI-RADS 4 or 5 with tissue diagnosis.

Association of Patient Belief About Success of Antibiotics for Appendicitis and Outcomes: A Secondary Analysis of the CODA Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: A patient's belief in the likely success of a treatment may influence outcomes, but this has been understudied in surgical trials.

Objective: To examine the association between patients' baseline beliefs about the likelihood of treatment success with outcomes of antibiotics for appendicitis in the Comparison of Outcomes of Antibiotic Drugs and Appendectomy (CODA) trial.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This was a secondary analysis of the CODA randomized clinical trial.

Gender, Race, and Ethnicity Representation Among Gastroenterologists: A Review of Recent Trends.

Diversity in medicine and the gastroenterology (GI) subspecialty is a topic warranting attention, especially in light of a number of recent incidents highlighting the persistence of racial, ethnic, and gender injustice in our nation. Insight into this topic is important insofar as the multitude of racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds comprising the national patient population should be reflected, to the degree possible, by the providers serving it. Inclusion becomes particularly imperative because the quality of health care and health research and bridging disparities may be closely linked to adequate representation among healthcare providers.

Identifying vulnerable populations with symptomatic cholelithiasis at risk for increased health care utilization.

Background: Gallstones are a common problem in the United States with many patients suffering from symptomatic cholelithiasis (SC). Patients with SC may first present to the emergency department ED) and are often discharged for elective follow-up; however, it is unknown what system and patient factors are associated with increased risk for ED revisits. This study aimed to assess longitudinal ED utilization and cholecystectomy for patients with SC and identify patient, geographic, and hospital characteristics associated with ED revisits, specifically race/ethnicity and insurance status.

Early Outcomes of Subtotal vs Total Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis.

This cohort study compares outcomes including hospital length of stay and 30-day rates of complications after nonelective subtotal cholecystectomy vs total cholecystectomy among patients with cholecystitis.

Delay to Surgery for Patients with Symptomatic Cholelithiasis: Retrospective Analysis of an Administrative California Database after Discharge from the Emergency Department.

Background: Timely receipt of surgery should be available for all patients. Few studies have examined differences in the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis (SC), a common surgical problem, based on race/ethnicity or insurance status. This study aimed to identify differences in repeat emergency department (ED) use and wait time to cholecystectomy for SC.

Intraoperative Laparoscopic Ultrasound Increases Fibroid Detection During Laparoscopic Myomectomy.

Objective: To assess the utility of intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasound in detecting additional fibroids during laparoscopic myomectomy (LM).

Methods: Forty-two patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. All cases were performed by the same surgeon at a university affiliated hospital between April 1, 2019 and February 29, 2020.