Associations of Cost Sharing With Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Burden.

Objective: To evaluate the regional variation of cost sharing and associations with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease burden in the US.

Methods: Patients with RA from rheumatology practices in Northeast, South, and West US regions were evaluated. Sociodemographics, RA disease status, and comorbidities were collected, and Rheumatic Disease Comorbidity Index (RDCI) score was calculated.

Increasing Advocacy Awareness in Early Career Rheumatologists: A Web-Based Educational Tool.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of a web-based advocacy training tool in increasing advocacy awareness.

Methods: Early career rheumatologists who attended 2019 American College of Rheumatology Advocacy 101 were invited to participate. A web-based tool consisting of 9 cases covering various aspects of advocacy was developed and included the opportunity for continuing medical education credit.

Morphometric analysis in ethnic neonates from multiple substance exposure.

In the United States, approximately 10% of newborn infants are exposed prenatally to alcohol and/or illicit substances. However, no studies have evaluated the compounding effects of multiple illicit substances exposure as potential teratogen (s). The potential teratogenic effects of nicotine and illicit substances (e.

Age-related mortality in blunt traumatic hemorrhagic shock: the killers and the life savers.

Background: There are sparse data on the association between age and mortality in hemorrhagic shock (HS). We examined this association in this study.

Materials And Methods: The Glue Grant database was analyzed.

Effects of a Dietary Beetroot Juice Treatment on Systemic and Cerebral Haemodynamics- A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Beetroot Juice (BJ) contains dietary nitrates that increase the blood Nitric Oxide (NO) level, decrease Blood Pressure (BP), increase athletic performance and improve cognitive functions but the mechanism remains unclear. Ultrasonographic measurement of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity with computation of Cerebral Augmentation Index (CAIx) is a measure of the reflected flow signal, modulated by changes in cerebrovascular resistance and compliance.

Aim: This pilot study tests the hypothesis that ingestion of an amount of BJ sufficient to raise the blood NO level two-to three-fold, decreases Transcranial Doppler (TCD) measured CAIx.

Cardiovascular Responses to an Isometric Handgrip Exercise in Females with Prehypertension.

Background: Hypertensive individuals are known to exhibit greater increases in blood pressure during an isometric handgrip exercise (IHE) than their normotensive counterparts.

Aim: This study tests the hypothesis that, compared to normotensive individuals, prehypertensive individuals exhibit an exaggerated response to IHE.

Materials And Methods: In this study, the effects of IHE were compared in matched prehypertensive vs.

Abdominal compartment syndrome in traumatic hemorrhagic shock: is there a fluid resuscitation inflection point associated with increased risk?

Background: The volume of fluid administered during trauma resuscitation correlates with the risk of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). The exact volume at which this risk rises is uncertain. We established the inflection point for ACS risk during shock resuscitation.

Trauma associated splenic artery aneurysms: an analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank.

Background: Trauma associated splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) is potentially life threatening and infrequently studied. We evaluated the subject using a large trauma database.

Methods: The National Trauma Data Bank (2002 to 2006) was queried.

African-American Men with Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: Modern Treatment and Outcome Trends.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment patterns for African-American (AA) men with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) using a national, population-based dataset.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database 2004-2008. AA men aged ≥40 years with low-risk PCa were identified.

Body mass index in blunt trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock: opposite ends of the body mass index spectrum portend poor outcome.

Background: There are controversial data on the relationship between trauma and body mass index. We investigated this relationship in traumatic hemorrhagic shock.

Methods: The "Glue Grant" database was analyzed, stratifying patients into underweight, normal weight (NW), overweight, Class I obesity, Class II obesity, and Class III obesity.

Effects of Nitrate Supplementation on Cardiovascular and Autonomic Reactivity in African-American Females.

Previous studies have shown that beetroot juice (BJ) decreases systolic blood pressure (SBP) and oxygen demand. This study tests the hypothesis that a beetroot juice (BJ) treatment increases heart rate variability (HRV) measured by the average standard deviation of normal-normal electrocardiogram RR intervals (SDNN) and the low frequency (LF), mainly sympathetic, fast Fourier transform spectral index of HRV. The subjects were 13 healthy young adult African-American females.

Early results of Massachusetts healthcare reform on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in cardiovascular care.

Background: Insured adults receive invasive cardiovascular procedures more frequently than uninsured adults. We examined the impact of healthcare reform in Massachusetts on use of coronary revascularization procedures and in-hospital and 1-year mortality by race/ethnicity, education, and sex.

Methods And Results: Using hospital claims data, we compared differences in coronary revascularization rates (coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention) and in-hospital mortality by race/ethnicity, education, and sex among Massachusetts residents aged 21 to 64 years hospitalized with a principal discharge diagnosis of ischemic heart disease before (November 1, 2004, to July 31, 2006) and after (December 1, 2006, to September 30, 2008) reform; 1-year mortality was calculated for those undergoing revascularization.

Pilot study to assess HIV knowledge, spirituality, and risk behaviors among older African Americans.

A pilot study was conducted in anticipation of implementation of a larger project to assess human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors among older African Americans. A cross-sectional methodology was employed, including 33 African Americans aged more than 50 years in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. The average age of the participants was 66 years old, with an age range from 51 to 86 years.

New retroperitoneal culdoplasty and colpopexy at the time of laparoscopic total abdominal hysterectomy (L-TAH).

Background: After a laparoscopic total abdominal hysterectomy, the safety of the translaparoscopic, prophylactic, retroperitoneal pouch of a Douglas reconstruction and vaginal vault suspension was evaluated.

Methods: This operation was adapted from the laparotomy approach and has been investigated from July, 1992, to July, 1996. Modest modifications have been introduced to meet laparoscopic technology requirements.

Laparoscopic suturing technique for total abdominal hysterectomy.

The objective of this report is to present the laparoscopic technique for total abdominal hysterectomy executed with no transvaginal approach, and by suturing and tying an extracorporeal sliding and an intracorporeal two-flat square knot. The hysterectomy methodology itself was adapted from classic abdominal hysterectomy and completed via laparoscopy with necessary modifications to meet laparoscopic technology standards. Following uterine extirpation, prophylactic, retroperitoneal posterior culdoplasty (the retroperitoneal layer of the uterosacral ligaments, rectal fascia, and paravaginal fascia were incorporated into the reconstructive process), and vaginal vault re-suspension were executed posteriorly, to the deep layer of the uterosacral ligaments, laterally, to the cardinal ligaments, and anteriorly, to the vesicocervical fascia.

Extensive iatrogenic adenomyosis after laparoscopic myomectomy.

Objective: To report a case of iatrogenic adenomyosis as a result of not reconstructing the uterine wall during a laparoscopic myomectomy.

Design: Retrospective case report.

Setting: University hospital.

An intraoperative method of localizing a missing piece of a broken laparoscopic instrument.

Missing a laparoscopic needle or a dislodged broken piece of a laparoscopic instrument presents a challenge in localizing it. A fragment of a broken instrument is often confined in an area remote from the primary operative side and entrapped in the bowel loop or in the omentum. An abdominal x-ray film identifies a missing part of the instrument intraabdominally; however, it is extremely difficult to find it with a laparoscope.