The Influence of Patient-Provider Communication on Self-Management Among Patients With Chronic Illness: A Systematic Mixed Studies Review.

Aim: To explore the influence of patient-provider communication on patient self-management of chronic illness.

Design: Systematic Mixed Studies Review.

Data Sources: CINAHL, Google Scholar, EMBASE and PubMed were searched until March 2024.

Morning Glory Disc Anomaly: Expanding the MR Phenotype.

Background And Purpose: Morning glory disc anomaly (MGDA) is a congenital malformation characterized by a funnel-shaped optic disc excavation with radiating vessels and a central glial tuft. Imaging is essential to evaluate associated cephalocele and steno-occlusive vasculopathy. The goal of this study was to assess optic nerve, chiasmatic, and sphenoid bone morphology in MGDA.

Mavacamten for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With or Without Hypertension: Post-Hoc Analysis of the EXPLORER-HCM Trial.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is common in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), but its effect on the treatment of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction is undefined. Although elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) may impact dynamic LVOT gradients, its response to cardiac myosin inhibition is unknown.

Objectives: In a post hoc exploratory analysis of the EXPLORER-HCM trial (Clinical Study to Evaluate Mavacamten [MYK-461] in Adults With Symptomatic Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy), the authors examined the characteristics of patients with obstructive HCM and HTN and the associations between HTN, SBP, and the response to mavacamten treatment of LVOT obstruction.

Confidentiality and Contraception: Protecting Adolescent Care in Response to One State's "Parents' Bill of Rights".

Purpose: This study aims to analyze parent responses to current strict Oklahoma confidentiality and consent laws in an outpatient subspecialty setting.

Methods: A consent for treatment form including an explanation of the benefits of qualified confidential care for adolescents was given to parents of patients under 18 years of age. The form asked parents to waive the right to access confidential portions of the medical record, be present for the physical exam, be present for risk behavior discussions, and consent for hormonal contraception including a subdermal implant.

Analyzing Diversity Elements on Otolaryngology Residency Program Websites.

Objective: To investigate how the internet presence of Otolaryngology residency programs influences recruitment of diverse applicants.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Website, Instagram, and AAMC Residency Explorer data from all US, non-military, allopathic otolaryngology residency programs.

Surgical Strategy for the Management of Cervical Deformity Is Based on Type of Cervical Deformity.

Objectives: Cervical deformity morphotypes based on type and location of deformity have previously been described. This study aimed to examine the surgical strategies implemented to treat these deformity types and identify if differences in treatment strategies impact surgical outcomes. Our hypothesis was that surgical strategies will differ based on different morphologies of cervical deformity.

Beyond guidelines: analysis of current practice patterns of AANS/CNS tumor neurosurgeons.

Introduction: Evidence-based medicine guidelines are increasingly published and sanctioned by organized neurosurgery. However, implementation, interpretation, and use of clinical guidelines may vary substantially on a regional, national and international basis. Survey research can help bridge the gap by providing a snapshot of neurosurgeon attitudes, knowledge, and practices.

"Association of Severity of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder With Inflammation: Using Total White Blood Cell Count as a Marker".

Background: Inflammation is known to be associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is not known if total white blood cell (WBC) count, a routinely checked inflammatory marker, is associated with PTSD symptom trajectories using medical record data.

Methods: We used latent class growth analysis to identify three-year PTSD symptom trajectories using PTSD Checklist (PCL) scores.

Native ancestry is associated with optic neuritis and age of onset in hispanics with multiple sclerosis.

Background And Objective: Hispanics with multiple sclerosis (MS) present younger and more often with optic neuritis (ON) as compared to Whites in the western United States. Regional differences related to Hispanic genetic admixture could be responsible. We investigated the association between global genetic ancestry and ON and age at onset of MS in Hispanics.

Extreme Price Variation for Generic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Medications.

Objective: To characterize geographic variability of generic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) medications in order to improve drug price transparency and improve patient access to affordable medication sources. This is of interest because BPH is one of the most common chronic diseases in men and contributes to individual healthcare cost. Medical therapy is the main treatment modality for BPH, burdening patients with lifelong medication expenses which may impact adherence and subsequent outcomes.

Physical Activity and Incidence of Heart Failure in Postmenopausal Women.

Objectives: This study prospectively examined physical activity levels and the incidence of heart failure (HF) in 137,303 women, ages 50 to 79 years, and examined a subset of 35,272 women who, it was determined, had HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and HF with reduced EF (HFrEF).

Background: The role of physical activity in HF risk among older women is unclear, particularly for incidence of HFpEF or HFrEF.

Methods: Women were free of HF and reported ability to walk at least 1 block without assistance at baseline.

Lower serum IgA is associated with COPD exacerbation risk in SPIROMICS.

Background: Decreased but measurable serum IgA levels (≤70 mg/dL) have been associated with risk for infections in some populations, but are unstudied in COPD. This study tested the hypothesis that subnormal serum IgA levels would be associated with exacerbation risk in COPD.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 1,049 COPD participants from the observational cohort study SPIROMICS (535 (51%) women; mean age 66.

MS in self-identified Hispanic/Latino individuals living in the US.

Self-identified Hispanic/Latino individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the continental United States (US) are a diverse group that represents different cultural and ancestral backgrounds. A marked variability in the way MS affects various subgroups of Hispanics in the US has been observed. We reviewed and synthesized available data about MS in Hispanics in the US.

Interprofessional Team's Perception of Care Delivery After Implementation of a Pediatric Pain and Sedation Protocol.

Background: Pain and agitation are common experiences of patients in pediatric cardiac intensive care units. Variability in assessments by health care providers, communication, and treatment of pain and agitation creates challenges in management of pain and sedation.

Objectives: To develop guidelines for assessment and treatment of pain, agitation, and delirium in the pediatric cardiac intensive unit in an academic children's hospital and to document the effects of implementation of the guidelines on the interprofessional team's perception of care delivery and team function.

encephalopathy: novel findings on phenotype, variant clustering, functional consequences and treatment aspects.

Background: We aimed for a comprehensive delineation of genetic, functional and phenotypic aspects of encephalopathy and explored potential prospects of personalised medicine.

Methods: Data of 48 individuals with de novo variants were collected from several diagnostic and research cohorts, as well as from 43 patients from the literature. Functional consequences and response to memantine treatment were investigated in vitro and eventually translated into patient care.

A Multiparametric Model for Mapping Cellularity in Glioblastoma Using Radiographically Localized Biopsies.

Background And Purpose: The complex MR imaging appearance of glioblastoma is a function of underlying histopathologic heterogeneity. A better understanding of these correlations, particularly the influence of infiltrating glioma cells and vasogenic edema on T2 and diffusivity signal in nonenhancing areas, has important implications in the management of these patients. With localized biopsies, the objective of this study was to generate a model capable of predicting cellularity at each voxel within an entire tumor volume as a function of signal intensity, thus providing a means of quantifying tumor infiltration into surrounding brain tissue.

Predicting Glioblastoma Recurrence by Early Changes in the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Value and Signal Intensity on FLAIR Images.

Objective: Recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) arises from areas of microscopic tumor infiltration that have yet to disrupt the blood-brain barrier. We hypothesize that these microscopic foci of invasion cause subtle variations in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and FLAIR signal detectable with the use of computational big-data modeling.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six patients with native GBM were studied immediately after undergoing gross total tumor resection.

Improving Response to Hormone Therapy in Breast Cancer: New Targets, New Therapeutic Options.

The majority of breast cancer expresses the estrogen and or progesterone receptors (ER and PR). In tumors without concomitant HER2 amplification, hormone therapy is a major treatment option for all disease stages. Resistance to hormonal therapy is associated with disease recurrence and progression.

Driving Performance Among Patients with Cirrhosis Who Drove to Their Outpatient Hepatology Clinic Appointments.

Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) may adversely affect driving skills.

Aims: To compare the driving performance of cirrhotic patients with and without prior HE as well as controls using a driving stimulator and to correlate psychometric testing with driving performance.

Methods: Adult patients with cirrhosis, who drove to the outpatient clinic for their routine appointments underwent a battery of driving and psychometric tests including number connection tests A & B (NCT-A and NCT-B), digit symbol test (DST) and critical flicker and fusion frequency (CFF) testing.

Trypanosoma cruzi-infected pregnant women without vector exposure have higher parasitemia levels: implications for congenital transmission risk.

Background: Congenital transmission is a major source of new Trypanosoma cruzi infections, and as vector and blood bank control continue to improve, the proportion due to congenital infection will grow. A major unanswered question is why reported transmission rates from T. cruzi-infected mothers vary so widely among study populations.

Accuracy of reduced-dose computed tomography for ureteral stones in emergency department patients.

Study Objective: Reduced-dose computed tomography (CT) scans have been recommended for diagnosis of kidney stone but are rarely used in the emergency department (ED) setting. Test characteristics are incompletely characterized, particularly in obese patients. Our primary outcome is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a reduced-dose CT protocol for symptomatic ureteral stones, particularly those large enough to require intervention, using a protocol stratified by patient size.

Current Options for Determining Fracture Union.

Determining whether a bone fracture is healed is one of the most important and fundamental clinical determinations made in orthopaedics. However, there are currently no standardized methods of assessing fracture union, which in turn has created significant disagreement among orthopaedic surgeons in both clinical and research settings. An extensive amount of research has been dedicated to finding novel and reliable ways of determining healing with some promising results.