Medical Specialties Commons^™

Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy In Retinoblastoma - A Paradigm Change., Fairooz P. Manjandavida, Christina Stathopoulos, Jing Zhang, Santhosh G. Honavar, Carol L. Shields

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

Intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC), also known as superselective ophthalmic artery chemotherapy or chemosurgery, is currently widely accepted as one of the primary treatment modalities for intraocular retinoblastoma worldwide. Following the introduction of the technique in 1998, IAC has evolved over the past decades to be safer and more effective. Accumulated evidence shows that IAC is more effective in providing eye salvage in group D and E retinoblastoma as compared to conventional systemic intravenous chemotherapy (IVC). In contrast to IVC, IAC has the added benefits of reduced overall treatment duration and minimal systemic toxicity. This review provides a comprehensive update on the …

Coats Disease In 351 Eyes: Analysis Of Features And Outcomes Over 45 Years (By Decade) At A Single Center., Carol L. Shields, Sanika Udyaver, Lauren A. Dalvin, Li-Anne S. Lim, Hatice T Atalay, Chloe T.L. Khoo, Mehdi Mazloumi, Jerry A. Shields

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

Purpose: To assess features and outcomes of Coats disease over 5-decades.

Methods: Retrospective review of Coats disease patients at a single center. Features and outcomes were compared based on decade of presentation.

Results: There were 351 patients with Coats disease. The presenting median age (6 years), male sex (84%), and unilaterality (100%) did not change per decade. Coats disease classification did not change per decade with Stage 1 (1%), Stage 2 (21%), Stage 3 (68%), Stage 4 (6%), and Stage 5 (1%). Clinical features that changed per decade (1970s vs. 1980s vs. 1990s vs. 2000s vs. 2010s) included 1980s features …

Single Institution Implementation Of Permanent 131cs Interstitial Brachytherapy For Previously Irradiated Patients With Resectable Recurrent Head And Neck Carcinoma, Voichita Bar-Ad, Emily Hubley, Adam Luginbuhl, David Cognetti, Joseph Curry, Amy Harrison, Jennifer Johnson, James Keller, Cheng Peng, David To, Laura Doyle

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Purpose: Permanent interstitial brachytherapy is an appealing treatment modality for patients with locoregional recurrent, resectable head and neck carcinoma (HNC), having previously received radiation. Cesium-131 (131Cs) is a permanent implant brachytherapy isotope, with a low average photon energy of 30 keV and a short half-life of 9.7 days. Exposure to medical staff and family members is low; patient isolation and patient room shielding are not required. This work presents a single institution’s implementation process of utilizing an intraoperative, permanent 131Cs implant for patients with completely resected recurrent HNC.

Materials & Methods: Fifteen patients receiving 131Cs permanent seed brachytherapy were included …

Drug-Induced Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure In Asian Patients, Harshad Devarbhavi, Saeed Hamid

Section of Gastroenterology

Objectives: Acute insults from viruses, infections, or alcohol are established causes of decompensation leading to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Information regarding drugs as triggers of ACLF is lacking. We examined data regarding drugs producing ACLF and analyzed clinical features, laboratory characteristics, outcome, and predictors of mortality in patients with drug-induced ACLF.

Metods: We identified drugs as precipitants of ACLF among prospective cohort of patients with ACLF from the Asian Pacific Association of Study of Liver (APASL) ACLF Research Consortium (AARC) database. Drugs were considered precipitants after exclusion of known causes together with a temporal association between exposure and decompensation. Outcome …

Recommendations For The Design Of Therapeutic Trials For Neonatal Seizures., Janet S. Soul, Ronit Pressler, Marilee Allen, Geraldine Boylan, Heike Rabe, Ron Portman, Pollyanna Hardy, Sarah Zohar, Klaus Romero, Brian Tseng, Varsha Bhatt-Mehta, Cecil Hahn, Scott Denne, Stephane Auvin, Alexander Vinks, John Lantos, Neil Marlow, Jonathan M. Davis, International Neonatal Consortium

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Although seizures have a higher incidence in neonates than any other age group and are associated with significant mortality and neurodevelopmental disability, treatment is largely guided by physician preference and tradition, due to a lack of data from well-designed clinical trials. There is increasing interest in conducting trials of novel drugs to treat neonatal seizures, but the unique characteristics of this disorder and patient population require special consideration with regard to trial design. The Critical Path Institute formed a global working group of experts and key stakeholders from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, neonatal nurse associations, and patient advocacy …

Ethical Considerations For Conducting Sexual And Reproductive Health Research With Female Adolescents Engaged In High-Risk Behaviours In China, Xu-Dong Zhang, Sabrina Ching Yuen Luk, Yue-Hong Han, Gui-Rong Chen, Bao-Sheng Zhu, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

Background: Chinese female adolescents engaged in sex trade and substance use are often criminalized and stigmatized. As a result of these cultural, legal and political constraints, ethical concerns can discourage investigators from engaging these adolescents in research. This paper aims to address the ethical tensions between protection and inclusion in conducting sexual and reproductive health (SRH) research with adolescents engaged in high-risk behaviours. Processes of moral reasoning, and examples and practical mechanisms in managing such ethical challenges were presented in the hope of advancing the research ethics policies and practice with adolescents.

Methods: We extracted ethical issues from three previously …

Performance Measures For Small-Bowel Endoscopy: A European Society Of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (Esge) Quality Improvement Initiative, Cristiano Spada, Deirdre Mcnamara, Edward J Despott, Samuel Adler, Brooks D Cash, Ignacio Fernández-Urién, Hrvoje Ivekovic, Martin Keuchel, Mark Mcalindon, Jean-Christophe Saurin, Simon Panter, Cristina Bellisario, Silvia Minozzi, Carlo Senore, Cathy Bennett, Michael Bretthauer, Mario Dinis-Ribeiro, Dirk Domagk, Cesare Hassan, Michal F Kaminski, Colin J Rees, Roland Valori, Raf Bisschops, Matthew D Rutter

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) together with the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) recently developed a short list of performance measures for small-bowel endoscopy (i.e. small-bowel capsule endoscopy and device-assisted enteroscopy) with the final goal of providing endoscopy services across Europe with a tool for quality improvement. Six key performance measures both for small-bowel capsule endoscopy and for device-assisted enteroscopy were selected for inclusion, with the intention being that practice at both a service and endoscopist level should be evaluated against them. Other performance measures were considered to be less relevant, based on an assessment of their overall importance, …

Safety And Efficacy Of Bendamustine In The Conditioning Regimen For Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation In Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Lymphoma, Munira Moosajee, Samad Jehangir, Sobia Sawani, Tariq Muhammed, N. Ali, Usman Shaikh, Salman Adil

Section of Haematology/Oncology

Background: Bendamustine is an attractive option for the management of both de novo and relapsed lymphomas. It is being increasingly used in the conditioning regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) and can be an alternative to the traditionally-used carmustine. In this study, we aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of bendamustine in the conditioning regimen for autologous SCT in refractory/relapsed lymphomas.
Methods: We designed a descriptive study to evaluate bendamustine in combination with etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BeEAM) in the conditioning regimen for autologous SCT.
Results: Fourteen patients (median age, 28 yr) with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) (N=8), non-Hodgkin's …

Atrial Fibrillation And Exercise: Exercise Recommendations, Paul Sorace, Peter Ronai, Robert Berry

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Atrial fibrillation (AF), characterized by a rapid pulse rate and an irregular heart rhythm. It is a more common cardiac arrhythmia. AF may lack symptoms, although fatigue and an impaired exercise ability are common symptoms. This column will discuss exercise testing and training recommendations as well as special considerations.

Experience Of An Infectious Diseases (Id) Travel Medicine Clinic During A National Shortage Of Yellow Fever Vaccine (Yfv), Mark Knouse Md, Terri I. Langham Rn, Marcelo Gareca Md, Jarrod W. Kile Rphd

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplement - Medium Quantity On Reduction Of Stunting In Children 6-23 Months Of Age In Sindh, Pakistan: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (Or25-06-19), Sajid Bashir Soofi, Gul Nawaz Khan Nawaz Khan, Cecilia Garzon

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objectives:
We evaluated the effectiveness of a locally produced lipid-based nutrient supplement - medium-quantity (LNS-MQ) known as Wawamum to prevent stunting in children 6–23 months of age in Thatta and Sujawal districts of Sindh province, Pakistan. Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted and a total of 870 children between 6–18 months old were enrolled. Children in the intervention group received 50 grams/day of Wawamum for 6 months, while children in the control group received standard government health services, not including Wawamum. The primary outcome was stunting risk reduction among children 6–23 months of age.
Results:
Children who received …

Clinical Screening For Congenital Heart Disease In Newborns At A Tertiary Care Hospital Of A Developing Country, Muhammad Mohsin, Khadija N Humayun, Mehnaz Atiq

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective:
To screen all newborns admitted to a tertiary care hospital to rule out congenital heart disease before discharge and to find out the utility of pulse oximetry to detect congenital heart disease.
Methodology:
This prospective study was done at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2014 to December 2014 in 1,650 newborns over a period of 12 months. Pulse oximetry and clinical examination were done. Persistent oxygen saturation less than 95% was considered as positive pulse oximetry. Newborns who had positive pulse oximetry or abnormal clinical examinations findings were subjected to echocardiography.
Result:
Pulse oximetry was performed on 1,650 …

Nurturing Environments And Nutrient-Rich Diets May Improve Cognitive Development: Analysis Of Cognitive Trajectories From Six To Sixty Months From The Mal-Ed Study (Or10-01-19), Benjamin Mccormick, Laura Caulfield, Stephanie Richard, Laura Pendergast, Laura Murray-Kolb, Mal-Ed Network Investigators

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objectives: To identify clusters of cognitive developmental trajectories and associated differentiating factors of children aged 6 to 60 months old in 5 low to middle-income sites.
Methods: We followed 835 children and assessed anthropometry at enrolment (≤ 17 d old); bi-weekly illness data (0–24 and 60 mo); non-diarrheal and diarrheal stools (0–24 mo) analyzed for a panel of enteropathogens; quantitative complementary food intakes (9–24 and 60 mo); micronutrient status (Fe, Zn, Vit A; 7, 15, and 24 mo); quality of the child's home environment (6, 24, and 60 mo) and maternal reasoning ability and depressive symptoms via questionnaire. Child cognitive …

Exploring The Relationship Between Medical Insurance And Vaccine Acceptance Rates, Mark Knouse Md, Yennifer Lopez, Hope Kincaid Mph, Cph, Shae Duka Bs

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Patient-Specific Dendritic Cell Vaccines With Autologous Tumor Antigens In 72 Patients With Metastatic Melanoma., Robert O Dillman, Andrew N Cornforth, Edward F Mcclay, Carol Depriest

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Aim: Metastatic melanoma patients were treated with patient-specific vaccines consisting of autologous dendritic cells loaded with antigens from irradiated cells from short-term autologous tumor cell lines.

Patients & methods: A total of 72 patients were enrolled in a single-arm Phase I/II (NCT00948480) trial or a randomized Phase II (NCT00436930).

Results: Toxicity was minimal. Median overall survival (OS) was 49.4 months; 5-year OS 46%. A 5-year OS was 72% for 18 recurrent stage 3 without measurable disease when treated and 53% for 30 stage 4 without measurable disease when treated. A total of 24 patients with measurable stage 4 when treated …

Laryngeal Preservation Strategies In Locally Advanced Laryngeal And Hypopharyngeal Cancers., Athanassios Argiris, Jean Louis Lefebvre

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

For long, the treatment of locoregionally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell cancers (SCC) consisted of either total laryngectomy (TL) or definitive radiotherapy (RT). The development of induction cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (PF) and the correlation between chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity in previously untreated patients opened a new era of treatment aiming at laryngeal preservation (LP). The fundamental concept was to employ induction PF in order to select patients for subsequent treatment with either TL or RT according to tumor response to PF. The first two trials (VALGSG for laryngeal SCC and EORTC 24891 for hypopharyngeal SCC) concluded that such an approach …

Second-Harmonic Generation Microscopy Analysis Reveals Proteoglycan Decorin Is Necessary For Proper Collagen Organization In Prostate., Kirby R. Campbell, Rajeev Chaudhary, Monica Montano, Renato V. Iozzo, Wade A. Bushman, Paul J. Campagnola

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Collagen remodeling occurs in many prostate pathologies; however, the underlying structural architecture in both normal and diseased prostatic tissues is largely unexplored. Here, we use second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy to specifically probe the role of the proteoglycan decorin (Dcn) on collagen assembly in a wild type (wt) and Dcn null mouse (Dcn  -    /    -  ). Dcn is required for proper organization of collagen fibrils as it regulates size by forming an arch-like structure at the end of the fibril. We have utilized SHG metrics based on emission directionality (forward-backward ratio) and relative conversion efficiency, which are both related to …

Chemotherapy Is Avoided During The First Trimester Of Pregnancy, When Is The Safest Time To Start Treatment During The Second Or Third Trimester?, Elyce Cardonick, Emily Eicheldinger, John P. Gaughan

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Departmental Research

ABSTRACT

Background

Cancer occurs in approximately 1:1000 pregnancies. When chemotherapy cannot be delayed until postpartum, beginning chemotherapy is based on presumed safety after organogenesis is completed during the first trimester. The safest gestational age to start chemotherapy after the first trimester is unknown.

Patients and Methods

In an observational cohort of pregnant women diagnosed and treated for cancer at multiple centers, pregnancy outcomes for the mother, and clinical outcomes for the neonate were analyzed according to the gestational age in weeks of pregnancy at first chemotherapy cycle. Outcomes including birth weight, fetal growth restriction, congenital malformations, and perinatal complications for …

Technical Freediving: An Emerging Breath-Hold Diving Technique, Derek Covington, Robert H. Lee, Steven Toffel, Alberto Bursian, Kirk Krack, Chris Giordano

Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments

Technical freediving can be defined as freediving augmented by the use of oxygen-enriched gases or oxygen before, during, or after a freedive. As a result of these techniques, breath-hold divers can visit and enjoy underwater wrecks, reefs, and other diving locations previously located at depths unreachable to apnea divers. By pre-breathing oxygen-enriched gases in conjunction with hyperventilation—which decreases the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2)—the technical freediver now has additional oxygen to facilitate aerobic respiration during the dive. In addition, pre-breathing oxygen decreases tissue nitrogen tensions, which limits inert gas loading and decreases the risk of decompression sickness (DCS). Finally, …

Speaking Good (And Safe) Dermatologic English, Lawrence Charles Parish, W. Clark Lambert

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Periodically, our feathers become ruffled about the use or misuse of English in dermatology. 1, 2 We have railed against the derogatory term for crusted scabies3, suggested a contrived term to lessen the burden connoted by decubitus ulcers4, and discouraged renaming atopic dermatitis to atopiform dermatitis. 5 Imagine what the dermatologic lexicographers, Morris Leider (1908-1987) 6and Morris Rosenbaum, might be saying were they here today. 7

Using an appropriate word or words to describe an anatomic part or a portion of the skin is just good medical practice. We do not believe a lightning bolt will descend as portrayed in …

Use Of Best Practice Alerts To Improve Adherence To Evidence-Based Screening In Pediatric Diabetes Care, Daniel Desalvo, Sara K. Bartz, Blair Mockler, Rona Y. Sonabend

Journal of Nursing & Interprofessional Leadership in Quality & Safety

Background: Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at increased risk for comorbid autoimmune conditions and long-term complications. To help with early identification of these complications, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has published evidence-based screening guidelines. The aim of our quality improvement intervention was to improve and sustain adherence to the ADA recommended screening guidelines to >90% for youth with T1D in the Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) Diabetes Center by utilizing best practice alerts (BPA) within the electronic medical record (EMR).

Methods: In accordance with the ADA Standards of Care screening guidelines for youth with T1D, we analyzed the database …

A Retrospective Comparison Of Venetoclax Alone Or In Combination With An Anti-Cd20 Monoclonal Antibody In R/R Cll., Anthony R Mato, Lindsey E Roeker, Toby A Eyre, Chadi Nabhan, Nicole Lamanna, Brian T Hill, Danielle M Brander, Paul M Barr, Frederick Lansigan, Bruce D Cheson, Arun K Singavi, Maryam Sarraf Yazdy, Nirav N Shah, John N Allan, Erica B Bhavsar, Joanna Rhodes, Kaitlin Kennard, Stephen J Schuster, Annalynn M Williams, Alan P Skarbnik, Andre H Goy, Julie M Goodfriend, Colleen Dorsey, Catherine C Coombs, Hande Tuncer, Chaitra S Ujjani, Ryan Jacobs, Allison M Winter, John M Pagel, Neil Bailey, Anna Schuh, Mazyar Shadman, Andrea Sitlinger, Hanna Weissbrot, Sivraj Muralikrishnan, Andrew Zelenetz, Amy A Kirkwood, Christopher P Fox

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Venetoclax (VEN) is approved for relapsed/refractory (R/R) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as monotherapy (VENmono) or in combination with rituximab. Whether VEN plus anti-CD20 (VENcombo) is superior to VENmono is unknown. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort analysis comparing 321 CLL patients treated with VENmono vs VENcombo across the United States and the United Kingdom. We examined demographics, baseline characteristics, dosing, adverse events, response rates, and outcomes. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), estimated by Kaplan-Meier method, in patients treated with VENmono vs VENcombo. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed with COX regression. Three hundred twenty-one …

Publisher Correction: Toxoplasma Modulates Signature Pathways Of Human Epilepsy, Neurodegeneration & Cancer., Huân M Ngô, Ying Zhou, Hernan Lorenzi, Kai Wang, Taek-Kyun Kim, Yong Zhou, Kamal El Bissati, Ernest Mui, Laura Fraczek, Seesandra V Rajagopala, Craig W Roberts, Fiona L Henriquez, Alexandre Montpetit, Jenefer M Blackwell, Sarra E Jamieson, Kelsey Wheeler, Ian J Begeman, Carlos Naranjo-Galvis, Ney Alliey-Rodriguez, Roderick G Davis, Liliana Soroceanu, Charles Cobbs, Dennis A Steindler, Kenneth Boyer, A Gwendolyn Noble, Charles N Swisher, Peter T Heydemann, Peter Rabiah, Shawn Withers, Patricia Soteropoulos, Leroy Hood, Rima Mcleod

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Automated Fiber Tract Reconstruction For Surgery Planning: Extensive Validation In Language-Related White Matter Tracts., Matteo Mancini, Sjoerd B. Vos, Vejay N. Vakharia, Aidan G. O'Keeffe, Karin Trimmel, Frederik Barkhof, Christian Dorfer, Salil Soman, Gavin P. Winston, Chengyuan Wu, John S. Duncan, Rachel Sparks, Sebastien Ourselin

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Diffusion MRI and tractography hold great potential for surgery planning, especially to preserve eloquent white matter during resections. However, fiber tract reconstruction requires an expert with detailed understanding of neuroanatomy. Several automated approaches have been proposed, using different strategies to reconstruct the white matter tracts in a supervised fashion. However, validation is often limited to comparison with manual delineation by overlap-based measures, which is limited in characterizing morphological and topological differences. In this work, we set up a fully automated pipeline based on anatomical criteria that does not require manual intervention, taking advantage of atlas-based criteria and advanced acquisition protocols …

Mortality Not Correlated With Paclitaxel Exposure: An Independent Patient-Level Meta-Analysis Of A Drug-Coated Balloon., Peter A Schneider, John R Laird, Gheorghe Doros, Qi Gao, Gary Ansel, Marianne Brodmann, Antonio Micari, Mehdi H Shishehbor, Gunnar Tepe, Thomas Zeller

Heart and Vascular Articles

BACKGROUND: Five years of prospective clinical trials confirm that the paclitaxel drug-coated balloon (DCB) (IN.PACT Admiral, Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) is safe and effective to treat femoropopliteal artery disease. A recent meta-analysis of heterogeneous trials of paclitaxel-based balloons and stents reported that they are associated with increased mortality and that higher doses are linked to higher mortality from 2 to 5 years.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between paclitaxel exposure and mortality by conducting an independent patient-level meta-analysis of 1,980 patients with up to 5-year follow-up.

METHODS: Data from 2 single-arm and …

Scintillation Event Localization In Novel Hemi-Ellipsoid Detector For Spect, Hanif R. Soysal

LSU Master's Theses

A high sensitivity Cardiac SPECT system using hemi-ellipsoid crystals with pinhole collimation was previously proposed by Dey et al. To investigate detector resolution for this design, the scintillation light spread on a monolithic hemi-ellipsoidal CsI crystal was simulated using Geant4 Monte Carlo. The expected distribution of scintillation light on the outer surface of the crystal from photoelectric absorption events was obtained from the simulations for selected points inside the crystal. Two sets of simulations were performed. For the first set, a look-up table (LUT) of 12 points was created and each point mapped to its expected light distribution—four points at …

Diagnostic Value Of Two Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography Combined With Texture Analysis In Early Liver Fibrosis., Zhao-Cheng Jian, Jin-Feng Long, Yu-Jiang Liu, Xiang-Dong Hu, Ji-Bin Liu, Xian-Quan Shi, Wei-Sheng Li, Lin-Xue Qian

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Staging diagnosis of liver fibrosis is a prerequisite for timely diagnosis and therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B. In recent years, ultrasound elastography has become an important method for clinical noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis stage, but its diagnostic value for early liver fibrosis still needs to be further improved. In this study, the texture analysis was carried out on the basis of two dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), and the feasibility of 2D-SWE plus texture analysis in the diagnosis of early liver fibrosis was discussed.

AIM: To assess the diagnostic value of 2D-SWE combined with textural analysis …

The Clinical Rationale For The Sentry Bioconvertible Inferior Vena Cava Filter For The Prevention Of Pulmonary Embolism., Michael D Dake, Gary M Ansel, Matthew S Johnson, Robert Mendes, H Bob Smouse

Heart and Vascular Articles

The Sentry inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is designed to provide temporary protection against pulmonary embolism (PE) during transient high-risk periods and then to bioconvert after 60 days after implantation. At the time of bioconversion, the device's nitinol arms retract from the filtering position into the caval wall. Subsequently, the stable stent-like nitinol frame is endothelialized. The Sentry bioconvertible IVC filter has been evaluated in a multicenter investigational-device-exemption pivotal trial (NCT01975090) of 129 patients with documented deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or PE, or at temporary risk of developing DVT or PE, and with contraindications to anticoagulation. Successful filter conversion was …

Comprehensive Sleep Apnea Screening In Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Richard W. Schulz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Objectives: Recent studies have shown a higher prevalence of sleep apnea in veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is estimated that 69 to 83% of veterans have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) while 80 to 90% are undiagnosed or untreated. Untreated OSA can lead to severe chronic medical conditions as well as impairment of neurocognitive and fear extinction processing potentially decreasing responsiveness to trauma focused therapy. Despite the widespread dissemination of knowledge regarding the negative effects of OSA, many veterans are not screened. The goal of this project is to increase the rate of identifying veterans who are high-risk for …

Delirium In Long Term Care Rehabilitation Residents: A Correlational Retrospective Study, Rebecca Lerma-Kjonegaard

Dissertations

Abstract Background: Delirium is associated with devastating outcomes, cognitive loss,

decreased function and an increase risk of mortality which affects patients and places a heavy burden on family and the healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between select demographics, clinical characteristics, CHART- DEL-derived delirium diagnosis and ICD-10 coded discharge delirium diagnoses among Long Term Care (LTC) rehabilitation residents.

Method: A retrospective correlational design from174 LTC rehabilitation residents age 65 years or older using EMR and hard copy charts. The setting was a Southern California community hospital-based 100-bed LTC. Abstracted data included demographic characteristics (age, …