Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Willingness To Undergo A Repeat Liver Biopsy Among Hiv/Hepatitis C Virus-Coinfected And Hepatitis C Virus-Monoinfected Patients, Valerianna K Amorosa, Omowunmi Aibana, Norah J Shire, Zachariah Dorey-Stein, Thomas Ferrara, Joanne Gilmore, Jay R Kostman, Vincent Lo Re

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) management have recommended that a liver biopsy be repeated at 3-year intervals for HIV/HCV-coinfected patients and 5-year intervals for those with HCV monoinfection to assess fibrosis progression. However, it is unclear if patients are willing to repeat this procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and factors, particularly HIV coinfection, associated with willingness to repeat a liver biopsy.

METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to 235 HCV-infected patients (113 with HIV coinfection) between January 2008 and June 2011 who previously underwent liver biopsy. The main outcome was self-reported willingness to repeat the biopsy. The …

Blood Transfusion Practices In The Elective Total Joint Replacement Patient : A Research Study, Ileana Bonfante, Olushola Alaka, Marguerite Rowell

All Publications

No abstract provided.

Neuroactive Steroids For The Treatment Of Status Epilepticus, Michael Rogawski, Carlos Loya, Kiran Reddy, Dorota Zolkowski, Christoph Lossin

Michael A. Rogawski

Benzodiazepines are the current first-line standard-of-care treatment for status epilepticus but fail to terminate seizures in about one third of cases. Synaptic GABA-A receptors, which mediate phasic inhibition in central circuits, are the molecular target of benzodiazepines. As status epilepticus progresses, these receptors are internalized and become functionally inactivated, conferring benzodiazepine resistance, which is believed to be a major cause of treatment failure. GABA-A receptor positive allosteric modulator neuroactive steroids, such as allopregnanolone, also potentiate synaptic GABA-A receptors, but in addition they enhance extrasynaptic GABA-A receptors that mediate tonic inhibition. Extrasynaptic GABA-A receptors are not internalized, and desensitization of these …

Use Of Health Information Technology For Higher-Value Critical Care, Lena Chen, Edward Kennedy, Anne Sales, Timothy Hofer

Edward H. Kennedy

To illustrate how data from a comprehensive EHR might contribute to better triage decisions, we examined the records of a cohort of 101,912 patients admitted for reasons other than surgery to 121 VA acute care hospitals in fiscal year 2009. Critical care guidelines continue to maintain that the ICU is the place to care for “the most seriously ill patients.” For the most common noncardiac diagnoses, we found that, in keeping with this guideline, patients with a high severity of illness were much more likely to be admitted to the ICU than were patients with a low severity of illness. …

The Intrinsic Severity Hypothesis Of Pharmacoresistance To Antiepileptic Drugs, Michael Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

Pharmacoresistance to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is a barrier to seizure freedom for many persons with epilepsy. For nearly two decades, pharmacoresistance has been framed in terms of factors affecting the access of AEDs to their molecular targets in the brain or the actions of the drugs on these targets. Shortcomings in this prevailing view led to the formulation of the intrinsic severity hypothesis of pharmacoresistance to AEDs, which is based on the recognition that there are neurobiologic factors that confer phenotypic variation among individuals with etiologically similar forms of epilepsy and postulates that more severe epilepsy is more difficult to …

Protocol For Determining The Diagnostic Validity Of Physical Examination Maneuvers For Shoulder Pathology., Somerville Lindsay, Dianne Bryant, Kevin Willits, Andrew Johnson

Andrew M. Johnson

No abstract provided.

Role Of The Internet As An Information Resource For Surgical Patients: A Survey Of 877 Patients, Denise Hersey, Viji Kurup, Allison Consadine

Denise Hersey

The History Of The Hygiene Hypothesis, Jody Vogelzang

Jody L Vogelzang PhD, RDN, FAND, CHES

Since the beginning of the nineteenth century there has been a gradual rise in the prevalence of immunoregulatory problems. One attempt to explain the correlation between the rise in autoimmune diseases and allergies occurring during the urbanization period of the United States and parts of Europe is the Hygiene Hypothesis.

Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation For Patients With Limited-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer With Response To Chemoradiation, Patricia Tai, Avi Assouline, Kurian Joseph, Larry Stitt, Edward Yu

Edward Yu

Background Previous clinical studies have generally reported that prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) was given to patients with a complete response (CR) to chemotherapy and chest radiotherapy in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). It is not clear if those with incomplete response (IR) would benefit from PCI. Patients and Methods The Saskatchewan experience from 1981 through 2007 was reviewed. Patients were treated with chest radiotherapy and chemotherapy with or without PCI (typical doses: 2500 cGy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks, 3000 cGy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks, or 3000 cGy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks). Results There were …

Nci–Rtog Translational Program Strategic Guidelines For The Early-Stage Development Of Radiosensitizers, Yaacov Lawrence

Yaacov R. Lawrence

The addition of chemotherapeutic agents to ionizing radiation has improved survival in many malignancies. Cure rates may be further improved by adding novel targeted agents to current radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy regimens. Despite promising laboratory data, progress in the clinical development of new drugs with radiation has been limited. To define and address the problems involved, a collaborative effort between individuals within the translational research program of the Radiation Oncology Therapy Group and the National Cancer Institute was established. We discerned challenges to drug development with radiation including: 1) the limited relevance of preclinical work, 2) the pharmaceutical industry’s diminished interest, …

The Impact Of Case-Mix On Timely Access To Appointments In A Primary Care Group Practice, Asli Ozen, Hari Balasubramanian

Hari Balasubramanian

No abstract provided.

Brain Trauma, Pet Scans And Forensic Complexity, Jane Moriarty, Daniel Langleben, James Provenzale

Jane Campbell Moriarty

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that can be used to show brain function. Courts have admitted PET scan evidence in cases involving brain damage, injury, toxic exposure, or illness ("brain trauma") and to support claims of diminished cognitive abilities and impulse control. Despite the limited data on the relationships between PET, brain trauma and behavior, many courts admit PET scan evidence without much critical analysis. This article examines the use of PET as proof of functional impairment and justification of abnormal behavior by explaining its diagnostic use and limitations, the limited support for claims of its …

Spillovers Of Veterans Hospice Care: The Economic And Social Impact Of Palliative Care, Maximiliano Mendieta, Bruce D. Mcdonald Iii

Bruce D. McDonald, III

In exchange for military service in the United States, soldiers are promised a benefits package inclusive of health and education after the completion of their service. While the economic effects of the defense-growth relationship are well known, this study takes a unique approach to understanding the relationship between veterans and society by investigating the social and economic spillovers of veterans hospice care. This study shows that as an early adopter of hospice care, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs maximized its efficiency through sponsoring innovative research on geriatric care, introducing competition into the health sector, and legitimizing death and dying …

Observations On Eye Care In Lamu, Kenya: Overlooked Needs And Proposed Interventions, Erick Henderson '12, Rebecca Gearhart

Rebecca Gearhart Mafazy

Health Care And Hiv Testing Experiences Among Black Men In The South: Implications For "Seek, Test, Treat And Retain" Hiv Prevention Strategies, Rupali K. Doshi, David J. Malebranche, Lisa Bowleg, Thurka Sangaramoorthy

David J Malebranche

Few studies have explored how overall general health care and HIV/STI testing experiences may influence receipt of ‘‘Seek, Test, Treat, and Retain’’ (STTR) HIV prevention approaches among Black men in the southern United States. Using in-depth qualitative interviews with 78 HIV-negative/unknown Black men in Georgia, we explored factors influencing their general health care and HIV/STI testing experiences. The Andersen behavioral model of health care utilization (Andersen model) offers a useful framework through which to examine the general health care experiences and HIV testing practices of Black men. It has four primary domains: Environment, Population characteristics, Health behavior, and Outcomes. Within …

Validation Of Stroke Prognostic Scores: What Do Clinicians Need To Know?, Gustavo Saposnik

Gustavo Saposnik

No abstract provided.

Hydraphiles: A Rigorously Studied Class Of Synthetic Channel Compounds With In Vivo Activity, Saeedeh Negin, Bryan A. Smith, Alexandra Unger, W. Matthew Leevy, George W. Gokel

George Gokel

No abstract provided.