Association of a Veterans Affairs Toxic Exposure Medical Evaluation with Symptom-related Care.

Service members exposed to burn pit emissions may be at risk for adverse health outcomes. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers screening medical evaluations for these individuals, but the benefit of this strategy is unknown. To determine the effect of a medical evaluation for Veterans participating in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (AHOBPR), the national registry program for service members exposed to burn pit emissions.

Trends in transgender healthcare curricula in graduate medical education.

Background: Recent studies have shown deficiencies in resident knowledge concerning transgender healthcare. However, there has not been an updated survey examining transgender healthcare training by medical residency directors. We assessed whether accredited residency programs in the United States and Canada were providing education on the healthcare needs of transgender patients.

Red blood cell distribution width as a potential inflammatory marker in pediatric osteomyelitis.

Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been used in the differential diagnosis of anemia and revealed to be a potential marker of inflammation.

Method: We conducted a retrospective study of acute-phase reactant changes in correlation with RDW among pediatric patients with osteomyelitis.

Results: We identified 82 patients whose mean RDW increased on average by 1% during antibiotic therapy (mean 13.

Predicting Outcomes in Trauma Patients With Cirrhosis Using Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is associated with increased mortality in trauma victims. We stratified the impact of cirrhosis on trauma mortality by Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score.

Methods: Trauma center database was accessed for patients with established diagnosis of cirrhosis presenting 2014 - 2018, matched to control patients without cirrhosis in a 2:1 ratio by age, sex, and TRISS.

Coccidioidomycosis Cases at a Regional Referral Center, West Texas, USA, 2013-2019.

We describe 73 patients with coccidioidomycosis diagnosed or treated at a regional referral center in West Texas, USA. Patients most at risk worked in oil production or agriculture; the most-associated health factors were smoking and diabetes. Patient demographics suggest that access to care may affect coccidioidomycosis diagnosis in this region.

Distribution of age and apnea-hypopnea index in diagnostic sleep tests in West Texas.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disease characterized by the collapse of the upper airway during sleep. It is debated whether increasing age is associated with an increased severity based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in OSA patients. To better characterize the distribution of age and AHI in OSA patients, a large, retrospective analysis of diagnostic sleep test results in West Texas was performed.

Rate control with intravenous diltiazem, verapamil, and metoprolol in acute atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate.

Introduction: Diltiazem is a preferred agent for rate control in atrial fibrillation due to its quick onset, minimal side effects, and low cost. Due to its intermittent national shortage since February 2018, the utilization of intravenous metoprolol and verapamil has increased. This study investigated the effect of intravenous diltiazem, metoprolol, and verapamil on rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate.

Urine staining intensity and observation of intraoperative ureteral jets among oral agents.

Introduction And Hypothesis: To determine if administration of a standard 400 mg oral dose of riboflavin (vitamin B2) was comparable to phenazopyridine (pyridium) for evaluating ease of visualization of ureteral jets at the time of cystoscopy.

Methods: A three-arm double-blinded, randomized controlled study was performed consisting of thiamine as placebo, phenazopyridine, and riboflavin. Agents were administered the morning of surgery prior to surgical procedure.

Implications of Age on Social Media Utilization in Health Care Practice Development: Cross-sectional Survey Study.

Background: Medical practices, which are businesses through which one or more physicians treat patients, have likely not yet taken full advantage of the reach of social media. This study analyzed data collected using an anonymous survey to assess the potential utilization of large, established social media platforms in health care. The survey collected data from a diverse population of health care professional students, faculty, and physicians affiliated with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC).

Evaluation of Pediatric Hematology Referrals at a Tertiary University Hospital in West Texas.

One in 40 pediatric office visits in the United States result in referral to subspecialty care, mostly for secondary opinion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the necessity of pediatric hematology referrals from Eastern New Mexico and West Texas to a tertiary university hospital. Retrospective data was obtained from chart review based on referrals made to the Southwest Cancer Center in Lubbock, TX for abnormal complete blood count or coagulation tests.

Assessing civility at an academic health science center: Implications for employee satisfaction and well-being.

Incivilities are pervasive among workers in healthcare institutions. Previously identified effects include deterioration of employee physical and mental health, absenteeism, burnout, and turnover, as well as reduced patient safety and quality of care. This study documented factors related to organizational civility at an academic health sciences center (AHSC) as the basis for future intervention work.

Angiographic And Clinical Response Of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Objectives: To identify whether intracranial atherosclerotic disease large vessel occlusion strokes differ compared to embolic large vessel occlusion strokes in angiographic response to mechanical thrombectomy and clinical course.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion, due to intracranial atherosclerotic disease or embolic etiology, who underwent mechanical thrombectomy in a primary stroke center from 11/2015 to 4/2018. We categorized patients into intracranial atherosclerotic disease or embolic large vessel occlusion based on the procedural findings.

Obesity Is Not an Independent Predictor of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection Outcomes.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are a group of rapidly progressive infections of the skin and its underlying tissue. These infections result in substantial morbidity and mortality. The focus of this study was to determine if obesity is associated with a worsened clinical outcome or prolonged hospital course for patients with NSTIs.

Obesogenic Toxicants in Breast Milk of Lactating Women: Investigation of a Risk Factor for Childhood Obesity.

Background: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), dispersed in all environmental compartments, are associated with increased adipogenesis and body weight. These lipophilic toxicants bioaccumulate in the human body and get transferred from mothers to their offspring via the placental circulation and breast milk. The current study was designed to compare polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) concentrations between obese and normal-weight lactating women.

Laparoscopic omental patch for perforated peptic ulcer disease reduces length of stay and complications, compared to open surgery: A SWSC multicenter study.

RCTs showed benefits in Lap repair of perforated peptic ulcer (PPU). The SWSC Multi-Center Trials Group sought to evaluate whether Lap omental patch repairs compared to Open improved outcomes in PPU in general practice. Data was collected from 9 SWSC Trial Group centers.