Socioeconomic and geographic differences in immediate reconstruction after mastectomy in the United States.

Disparities are evident in breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. This study examines multiple socioeconomic and geographic regions across the US to determine if disparities exist in the type of reconstruction obtained after mastectomy. This is a retrospective study evaluating socioeconomic and geographic variables of 14,764 women who underwent mastectomy in 2008 using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS).

Use of electrocardiogram indices of myocardial ischemia for risk stratification and decision making of reperfusion strategies.

After about a century since its clinical introduction, the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) remains a cornerstone in diagnosis and management of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It provides clinicians and researchers with invaluable information regarding the presence, location, and extent of myocardial infarction. Moreover the ECG contains a wealth of prognostic information useful in risk stratification of STEMI patients and identification of particular subgroups that may benefit from more aggressive therapeutic interventions.

Case 206: persistent hypertrophic primary vitreous.

History This patient was a 20-month-old full-term girl who had not received any routine pediatric care. During a physical examination, left-sided leukocoria was detected. Subsequently, a left-sided cataract was diagnosed.

Genetic associations with diminished ovarian reserve: a systematic review of the literature.

Purpose: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) affects 10 % of women seeking fertility treatment. Although it is much more prevalent than premature ovarian failure, less is known about its etiology. The purpose of this article is to review the possible genetic causes of, and associations with, pathologic DOR.

Prognostic significance of hyponatremia among ambulatory patients with heart failure and preserved and reduced ejection fractions.

Hyponatremia in heart failure (HF) is an established predictor of adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF). However, there is a paucity of data in ambulatory patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We examined the prevalence, risk factors, and long-term outcomes of hyponatremia (serum sodium ≤135 mEq/L) in ambulatory HFpEF and HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) in a national cohort of 8,862 veterans treated in Veterans Affairs clinics.

Mutations in the cholesterol transporter gene ABCA5 are associated with excessive hair overgrowth.

Inherited hypertrichoses are rare syndromes characterized by excessive hair growth that does not result from androgen stimulation, and are often associated with additional congenital abnormalities. In this study, we investigated the genetic defect in a case of autosomal recessive congenital generalized hypertrichosis terminalis (CGHT) (OMIM135400) using whole-exome sequencing. We identified a single base pair substitution in the 5' donor splice site of intron 32 in the ABC lipid transporter gene ABCA5 that leads to aberrant splicing of the transcript and a decrease in protein levels throughout patient hair follicles.

A phase I study of cabozantinib (XL184) in patients with renal cell cancer.

Background: Cabozantinib targets tyrosine kinases including the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 2, which are important drug targets in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Patients And Methods: This single-arm open-label phase I trial evaluated the safety and tolerability of cabozantinib in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic clear cell RCC.

Results: The study enrolled 25 RCC patients for whom standard therapy had failed.

Minimally invasive colorectal resection for benign pathology is associated with persistent proangiogenic plasma compositional changes.

Background: Minimally invasive colorectal resection for cancer is associated with increased plasma levels of numerous proangiogenic proteins for 3 to 4 weeks postoperatively, and plasma from postoperative weeks 2 and 3 stimulates proangiogenic endothelial cell behavior in vitro. It is unknown if similar plasma changes occur after minimally invasive colorectal resection for benign pathology.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess 1) plasma levels of angiopoetin-2, placental growth factor, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 after minimally invasive colorectal resection for benign pathology and 2) postoperative plasma's effects on in vitro endothelial cell proliferation (branch point formation), migration, and invasion.

Race, Relationships and Trust in Providers among Black Patients with HIV/AIDS.

A trustful patient-provider relationship is a strong predictor of positive outcomes, including treatment adherence and viral suppression, among patients with HIV/AIDS. Understanding factors that inform this relationship is especially relevant for Black patients, who bear a disproportionate burden of HIV morbidity and mortality, and may face challenges associated with seeing providers of a racial/ethnic background that is different from their own. Using data collected through the Enhancing Communication and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) study, we build upon extant research by examining patient and provider characteristics that may influence Black patients' trust in their provider.

Office based therapies for complex lower extremity epithelial defects.

The chronic wound environment and the ideal way in which to regenerate healthy tissue remain enigmas in the field of wound healing. There are multiple modalities that have been evaluated in an attempt to discern the most clinically beneficial and cost-effective treatment strategies for the millions of individuals who suffer from chronic wounds and their associated morbidity. Engineered skin substitutes represent one of the novel and continuously evolving approaches to providing wound coverage and regenerating functional skin.

Left ventricular hypertrophy and risk reclassification for coronary events in multi-ethnic adults.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has not been evaluated for reclassification improvement in the intermediate Framingham risk category for incident hard coronary events in a large multi ethnic population free of cardiovascular disease at baseline.

Design: A post-hoc analysis on the Multi Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) dataset (n = 4921) was performed.

Methods: LVH was defined as the upper 95 th percentile of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging derived left ventricular mass (LVM) indexed based on body surface area (BSA) and height.

Patient perceptions of ultrasound educational scans in the emergency department.

Background: Emergency medicine residents may perform bedside ultrasound (BUS) scans that are carried out solely for educational purposes. This may lead to confusion on the part of patients, as the implications in the context of their medical care may be unclear.

Study Objectives: We hypothesized that a scripted introduction would improve understanding of the objectives and limitations of educational BUS.

Folliculitis keloidalis nuchae and pseudofolliculitis barbae: are prevention and effective treatment within reach?

Pseudofolliculitis barbae and folliculitis keloidalis nuchae are chronic follicular disorders disproportionately affecting men of African ancestry. This article explores the etiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention strategies of these conditions. Effective treatment and prevention of these disorders involves pharmacologic and procedural interventions as well as behavioral modifications.

The effect of metallic tracheal stents on radiation dose in the airway and surrounding tissues.

Background: Metallic airway stents are often used in the management of central airway malignancies. The presence of a metallic foreign body may affect radiation dose in tissue. We studied the effect of a metallic airway stent on radiation dose delivery in a phantom and an in vivo porcine model.

Nodular lymphocyte predominant hodgkin lymphoma: biology, diagnosis and treatment.

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is an uncommon variant of classical Hodgkin lymphoma. It is characterized histologically by presence of lymphohistiocytic cells which have B-cell phenotype, are positive for CD19, CD20, CD45, CD79a, BOB.1, Oct.

Pediatric vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a disease of pigment loss. Most investigators currently consider vitiligo to be a disorder that occurs as a result of autoimmune destruction of melanocytes, supported by identification of antimelanocyte antibodies in many patients, and the presence of comorbid autoimmune disease in patients with and family members of individuals with vitiligo. One-half of vitiligo cases are of childhood onset.

Bitter taste phenotype and body weight predict children's selection of sweet and savory foods at a palatable test-meal.

Previous studies show that children who are sensitive to the bitter taste of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) report more frequent intake of sweets and less frequent intake of meats (savory fats) relative to children who are PROP insensitive. Laboratory studies are needed to confirm these findings. In this study, seventy-nine 4- to 6-year-olds from diverse ethnicities attended four laboratory sessions, the last of which included a palatable buffet consisting of savory-fats (e.