Radiate & Educate: Empowering Future Physicians through an International Radiation Oncology Student Newsletter.

Background: The field of radiation oncology (RO) is frequently overlooked by medical students due to limited exposure during traditional medical school curricula. Initiatives aimed at increasing exposure while creating opportunities for medical student engagement are vital. Here, we present the inception, 1.

Safety of pre-operative venogram for hemodialysis access planning in pre-end-stage kidney disease patients.

Background: Although conventional pre-operative venography can accurately delineate venous anatomy as an alternative to ultrasound for hemodialysis access planning, it may carry a risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and progression of renal failure in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients not yet on dialysis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pre-operative venograms in pre-end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study (2018-2022) of consecutive pre-ESKD patients who underwent staged bilateral venograms for preoperative vein mapping prior to hemodialysis access creation at a tertiary care medical center.

General Kernel Machine Methods for Multi-Omics Integration and Genome-Wide Association Testing With Related Individuals.

Integrating multi-omics data may help researchers understand the genetic underpinnings of complex traits and diseases. However, the best ways to integrate multi-omics data and use them to address pressing scientific questions remain a challenge. One important and topical problem is how to assess the aggregate effect of multiple genomic data types (e.

The African Initiative for Bioinformatics Online Training in Neurodegenerative Diseases (AI-BOND): Investing in the next generation of African neuroscientists.

Unlabelled: Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and AD-related dementias (AD/ADRD), pose significant challenges to health care systems globally, particularly in Africa. With the advances in medical technology and research capabilities, especially in next-generation sequencing and imaging, vast amounts of data have been generated from AD/ADRD research. Given that the greatest increase in AD/ADRD prevalence is expected to occur in Africa, it is critical to establish comprehensive bioinformatics training programs to help African scientists leverage existing data and collect additional information to untangle AD/ADRD heterogeneity in African populations.

Developing a Bilingual Health Education Program to Identify and Address Healthcare Misinformation in a Border Community.

El Paso Health Education and Awareness Team (EP-HEAT®) is a bilingual program focused on increasing health awareness and dispelling health-related misinformation in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Prevalence and Economic Burden of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Medically Underserved Rio Grande Valley: A Retrospective Longitudinal Analysis.

Introduction Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, two of the most common forms of arthritis worldwide, are chronic diseases affecting the joints. The Rio Grande Valley is characterized by an abundance of health disparities, with previous studies showing increased rates of multiple diseases and disorders in this region. This study aimed to determine both the prevalence and the risk-adjusted average cost of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in the Rio Grande Valley and to compare them with the national average.

Effects of missing data imputation methods on univariate blood pressure time series data analysis and forecasting with ARIMA and LSTM.

Background: Missing observations within the univariate time series are common in real-life and cause analytical problems in the flow of the analysis. Imputation of missing values is an inevitable step in every incomplete univariate time series. Most of the existing studies focus on comparing the distributions of imputed data.

Directional value statements: Collaborative Family Healthcare Association's refined values.

In my column in last year's December issue (George, 2023), I asked you to engage with us to ask bold, uncomfortable questions informed by the ecocycle framework (Liberating Structures: Including and Unleashing Everyone, 1991). At the same time last year, the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA) board of directors began our strategic planning. While all parts of the strategic plan are important, this article will present our work to update CFHA's values.

Randomized Clinical Trial to Compare Cryopreserved and Lyopreserved Umbilical Cord Tissue to Treat Complex Diabetic Foot Wounds.

To compare the incidence of infection, wound closure and time to wound closure in patients treated with cryopreserved (CPUT) and lyopreserved umbilical tissue (LPUT) in complex diabetic surgical wounds. This single-blinded 12-week randomized clinical trial compared cryopreserved and lyopreserved amniotic cord tissue to treat complex diabetic foot wounds. LPUT or CRAT was applied at baseline and again after four weeks.

A Case of a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient on Newly Initiated Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Treatment Developing Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis Vasculitis: A Conundrum About Disease Overlap or Drug-Induced Vasculitis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a necrotizing vasculitides subset of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAVs) that involves small-sized arteries affecting multisystemic organs. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory polyarthritis involving the small joints. GPA and RA can have overlapping clinical presentations, including vasculitis, ocular inflammation, interstitial lung disease, and arthritis, but existing evidence indicates they are distinct conditions.

The Effect of Diabetic Neuropathy on the Frequency of Joint Replacement in the Rio Grande Valley.

Background Research has suggested that bone health may be impaired in patients with diabetic neuropathy, with a potential increased risk of fracture. Here, we sought to evaluate the frequency of joint replacements in individuals with and without DN. Our work may allow for prophylaxis to prevent further deterioration in bone health and reduce the necessity of surgical procedures.

Extraordinary variance in meta-analysis of venom toxicity of 160 most lethal ophidians and guidelines for estimating human lethal dose range.

Background: This is the first meta-analysis to characterize intra-ophidian-species variation in whole venom. Being the largest possible meta-analysis at this time, it encompasses all known records of animal lethality studies over the past 100 years. These results were not artifacts of resistant test-animal species and showed orders of magnitude beyond the 1.

Burden of Diabetes Mellitus in the Medically Underserved Rio Grande Valley.

Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) encompasses metabolic disorders characterized by elevated blood sugar. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated metrics of DM in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), a low-income and medically underserved region in the United States, and compare these metrics to the national averages from 2012 to 2022. Methods  A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using publicly accessible data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative-4 (ADNI-4) Engagement Core: A culturally informed, community-engaged research (CI-CER) model to advance brain health equity.

Introduction: The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative-4 (ADNI-4) Engagement Core was launched to advance Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementia (ADRD) health equity research in underrepresented populations (URPs). We describe our evidence-based, scalable culturally informed, community-engaged research (CI-CER) model and demonstrate its preliminary success in increasing URP enrollment.

Methods: URPs include ethnoculturally minoritized, lower education (≤ 12 years), and rural populations.

Integrated care identity: Evolutionary leaps and future directions.

As integrated care becomes mainstream, adaptively framing team members' identities based on their work context will help align their attitudes and required competencies. This article explores the emergence of integrated care identity, focusing on behavioral health professionals, and offers suggestions for future development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Identification of a specific APOE transcript and functional elements associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Background: The APOE gene is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD). However, the gene regulatory mechanisms at this locus remain incompletely characterized.

Methods: To identify novel AD-linked functional elements within the APOE locus, we integrated SNP variants with multi-omics data from human postmortem brains including 2,179 RNA-seq samples from 3 brain regions and two ancestries (European and African), 667 DNA methylation samples, and ChIP-seq samples.

Cilostazol after endovascular therapy for femoropopliteal peripheral arterial disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Endovascular therapy (ET) outcomes for femoropopliteal peripheral arterial disease (FP-PAD) remain suboptimal. Cilostazol therapy may improve patency rates and decrease major adverse limb events after ET for FP-PAD. Our goal was to analyze published studies evaluating the use of cilostazol after ET for FP-PAD.

Pediatric surgical border health: Supply may not be meeting demand in South Texas communities.

Introduction: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) has historically high incidence of congenital defects (CDs) necessitating intervention by pediatric surgical specialties. We examined mortality in this region and related workforce patterns.

Methods: Mortality data related to CDs (2007-2021) and surgical workforce trends/projections (2024-2032) were collected using multiple databases: National Vital Statistics System, Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Medical Board, Center for Disease Control.

Baclofen-induced excessive perspiration: A case report and review of literature.

This report highlights an unexpected baclofen side effect, a medication known for its safety profile. The rarity of excessive perspiration as a side effect distinguishes this case from typical baclofen adverse reactions. Documenting uncommon reactions is vital for physicians to broaden their awareness of baclofen's side effects and improve care.

When physician supply does not meet patient demand: A looming epidemic in vascular and renal care for a community with the highest incidence of end-stage renal disease in the United States.

Background: South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) are medically underserved-communities near the Texas-Mexico border with the highest incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the nation, and a shortage of available full-time equivalent (FTE) specialty-physicians.

Methods: Data on the incidence/prevalence of ESRD and workforce projections on vascular-surgeons and nephrologists were collected from the United States Renal Data System and Texas Department of State Health Services. We then merged data from both datasets to identify population-specific healthcare-trends.

A community-engaged interprofessional project led by medical students, school of social work students, and resident physicians: lessons learned and recommendations for success.

Addressing health disparities through community engagement and interprofessional partnerships is increasingly critical. However, learner-led approaches that integrate medical students, resident physicians, and social work students are not well-studied. We designed a learner-led, interprofessional, public health campaign for a majority Hispanic community, with the goals of building interprofessional leadership skills, engaging learners to address COVID-19 inequities, and disseminating lessons learned.