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Vaccination efforts have limited the burden of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with substantial evidence showing reduced hospitalization rates among vaccinated populations. However, few studies have explored correlations between vaccination status and inpatient COVID-19 outcomes. This observational case–control study involved a retrospective chart review of adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 infection at a medium-sized hospital in Central Michigan between May 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021. Unadjusted analyses involved t-tests and chi-square tests followed by adjusted analyses using binary logistic and linear regression models. Of the 192 screened patients, 171 subjects met the inclusion criteria. Vaccinated patients were significantly older (71.09 vs 57.45, p

Adolescence is a vulnerable period for the development of eating disorders, but there are disparities in eating disorder risk among adolescents. One population that may be at increased risk but is vastly understudied, is adolescents residing in rural regions within the United States. Rural communities face many mental and physical health disparities; however, the literature on rural adolescent eating disorder risk is nearly nonexistent. In this paper we summarize the scant literature on disordered eating and eating disorder risk and prevalence among rural US adolescents. We also detail eating disorder risk factors that may have unique influence in this population, including socioeconomic status, food insecurity, healthcare access, body image, and weight stigma. Given the presence of numerous eating disorder risk factors, we speculate that rural adolescents may be a particularly vulnerable population for eating disorders and we propose critical next steps in research for understanding eating disorder risk among the understudied population of rural adolescents. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Rural adolescents may be at increased risk for eating disorders due to disproportionate burden of known risk factors, though this relationship remains understudied. We present a summary of the literature on prevalence and unique risk factors, proposing that this may be a high-risk population. We detail next steps for research to understand eating disorder risk in this population to inform future prevention, identification, and treatment efforts needed in this community.

Through participatory Arts-Based Research, constructed within the theoretical basis of the Activity System, participants engaged with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program content to develop a cohesive and meaningful project structure and aesthetic. Practitioner/researcher supremacy is disrupted by participatory Arts-Based Research and upheld by temporal constraints, as demonstrated by participant engagement and disruptions to participant collaboration. This research pilots a replicable framework that centers the experiences of individuals completing DBT, interrupts cycles of harm, and uplifts social knowledge construction that emanates from DBT skills training communities. DBT is a skills-based psychotherapeutic approach that prepares individuals to address problems in living that result from the development of mental disorders in environments that persistently signal that an individual is an unreliable informant of their own experience. In its standard format, DBT incorporates a group skills training component to remediate skill deficits developed in this invalidating environment. The body of literature that explores DBT skills training is structured in a way that elevates practitioner/researcher perceptions of individual progress over participants’ interpretations of their own collective experiences. Arts-Based Research is a theoretically-backed methodology that can disrupt the harmful parallels between the development of the disorders DBT is intended to treat and the dominant research paradigm into DBT.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the full spectrum of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) -- comprising gestational hypertension; preeclampsia with or without severe features; eclampsia; and Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets (HELLP) Syndrome -- is increased at high (≥2500 m, 8250 ft) compared with lower altitudes in Colorado independent of maternal background characteristics, and if so their relationship to neonatal well-being. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using statewide birth-certificate data to compare the frequency of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia (with or without severe features), eclampsia, HELLP Syndrome, or all HDP combined in 617,958 Colorado women who lived at high vs. low altitude (2500 m)- vs. low (

BackgroundIt is almost 100 years ago since Mahaim described the so-called paraspecific connections between the ventricular conduction axis and the crest of the muscular ventricular septum, believing such pathways to be ubiquitous. These pathways, however, have yet to be considered as potential pathways for septal activation during His bundle pacing.MaterialsSo as to explore the hypothesis that specialised septal pathways might provide the substrate for septal activation during His bundle pacing, we compared the findings from 22 serially sectioned histological datasets and 34 different individuals undergoing His bundle pacing.ResultsWe found histologically specialised pathways connecting the branching component of the atrioventricular conduction axis with the crest of the muscular ventricular septum in almost four-fifths of the histological datasets. In 32 of 34 patients undergoing His bundle pacing, the QRS complex closely resembled published images of known conduction through fasciculo-ventricular pathways. In only two patients was a delta wave not seen at any pacing voltages. Capture of these connections varied according to pacing voltage, a finding which correlated with the distance of the pathways from the site of penetration of the ventricular conduction axis. Ventricular activation times remained normal in the presence of the delta wave at higher pacing voltage but were prolonged at lower voltages.ConclusionsOur histologic findings confirm fasciculo-ventricular connections, initially described by Mahaim as being paraspecific, are likely ubiquitous. Analysis of 12-lead electrocardiograms leads us to conclude that fasciculo-ventricular pathways, concealed during sinus rhythm, become manifest with His bundle pacing.

Background Maternal opioid exposure during pregnancy has various effects on neonatal health. Buprenorphine/naloxone and methadone are examples of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) used for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Research comparing the impacts of these MOUD modalities on neonatal outcomes when used to treat pregnant people with OUD remains limited. We evaluated the differences in outcomes between neonates with in-utero exposure to buprenorphine/naloxone versus methadone. Methodology We performed a retrospective cohort chart review between October 15, 2008, and October 15, 2019, evaluating mother/neonate dyads at two medical centers in Michigan. The charts of female patients, aged 18+, with OUD and buprenorphine/naloxone or methadone treatment, were examined. The charts of the corresponding neonates were also examined. Multiple regression analysis was performed. Results In total, 343 mother/infant dyads were included: 99 patients were treated with buprenorphine/naloxone and 232 patients were treated with methadone. The buprenorphine/naloxone group had significant differences in maternal age, hepatitis status, asthma, gestational age in weeks, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) length of stay (LOS), neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) peak score, birth head circumference, and birth weight compared to the methadone group at baseline. Adjusted multivariable regression analysis demonstrated neonates with exposure to buprenorphine/naloxone had a NOWS peak score 3.079 points less (95% confidence interval (CI): -4.525, 1.633; p = 0.001) and NICU LOS 8.955 days less (95% CI: -14.399, -3.511; p = 0.001) than neonates exposed to methadone. Conclusions Neonates with in-utero exposure to buprenorphine/naloxone had significantly lower NOWS scores and shorter NICU LOS compared to neonates with in-utero exposure to methadone. These findings demonstrate that buprenorphine/naloxone is potentially a more favorable treatment for the reduction in metrics representing adverse neonatal outcomes in pregnant people with OUD than methadone.

Amyloidosis is a systemic illness that affects multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary systems. Common manifestations include restrictive cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, nephrotic syndrome, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. It is unknown whether coexisting atrial fibrillation (AF) worsens the disease burden and outcomes in patients with systemic amyloidosis. In this study, those with a diagnosis of amyloidosis with and without coexisting AF were identified by querying the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-specifically, the National Inpatient Sample for the year 2016-based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. During 2016, a total of 2,997 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of amyloidosis, including 918 with concurrent AF. Greater rates of mortality (7.4% vs. 5.6%); heart block (6.8% vs. 2.8%); cardiogenic shock (5% vs. 1.6%); placement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, cardiac resynchronization therapy device, or permanent pacemaker (14.5% vs. 4.5%); renal failure (29% vs. 21%); heart failure (66% vs. 30%); and bleeding complications (5.7% vs. 2.8%) were observed in patients with a diagnosis of amyloidosis and coexisting AF when compared with in patients without AF. Interestingly, patients with amyloidosis without comorbid AF had greater odds of associated stroke relative to those with concurrent AF (7.9% vs. 3.4%).

BACKGROUND Gallstones and cholecystectomy have been proposed as risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The reason for this may be that both gallstones, as well as NAFLD share several risk factors with regards to their development. Currently, there is a lack of sufficient evidence showing an association between these clinical conditions. AIM To determine whether there is a meaningful association between gallstones and cholecystectomy with NAFLD. METHODS We queried the National Inpatient Sample database from the years 2016 and 2017 using International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes to identify hospitalizations with a diagnosis of gallstone disease (GSD) (includes calculus of gallbladder without cholecystitis without obstruction and acquired absence of gallbladder) as well as NAFLD (includes simple fatty liver and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). Odds ratios (ORs) measuring the association between GSD (includes gallstones and cholecystectomy) and NAFLD were calculated using logistic regression after adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS Out of 14294784 hospitalizations in 2016-2017, 159259 were found to have NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD was 3.3% in patients with GSD and 1% in those without. NAFLD was prevalent in 64.3% of women with GSD as compared to 35.7% of men with GSD. After controlling for various confounders associated with NAFLD and GSD, multivariate-adjusted analysis showed that there was an association between NAFLD with gallstones [OR = 6.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.15-6.48] as well as cholecystectomy (OR = 1.97; 95%CI: 1.93-2.01). The association between NAFLD and gallstones was stronger in men (OR = 6.67; 95%CI: 6.42-6.93) than women (OR = 6.05; 95%CI: 5.83-6.27). The association between NAFLD and cholecystectomy was stronger in women (OR = 2.01; 95%CI: 1.96-2.06) than men (OR = 1.85; 95%CI: 1.79-1.92). P value was less than 0.001 for all comparisons. CONCLUSION NAFLD is more prevalent in women with GSD than men. The association between NAFLD and cholecystectomy/gallstones indicates that they may be risk factors for NAFLD.

In patients with infective endocarditis (IE), ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is an uncommon phenomenon. Due to limited data, we intend to evaluate the clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with STEMI with and without underlying IE. Mortality and morbidity are exponentially worse in STEMI with concomitant IE when compared with without IE. Patients with primary diagnosis of STEMI with and without IE were identified by querying the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project database of the National Inpatient Sample for the years 2013 and 2014 based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. During 2013 and 2014, a total of 117,386 patients were admitted with the principle diagnosis of STEMI, out of whom 305 had comorbid IE. There was a significantly increased in-hospital mortality (27.5% vs 10.8%), length of stay (LOS) (14 days vs 5 days), acute kidney injury (AKI; 44.9% vs 18.7%), stroke (23.6% vs 3%), aortic valve replacement (9.5% vs 0.3%), mitral valve replacement (0.2%-5.2%), sepsis (50% vs 6%) and acute respiratory failure (36.7% vs 16.7%) in patients with STEMI with IE when compared with patients with STEMI and without comorbid IE. STEMI without IE had a higher number of angiographies (58.7% vs 25.9%) and percutaneous coronary interventions (50.7% vs 14.4%) during the hospital course when compared with STEMI with IE. In conclusions, hospitalized patients with STEMI with a concurrent diagnosis of IE are at higher risk of in-hospital mortality, increased LOS, AKI, stroke, valve replacements, and acute respiratory failure.

Limited published data exist regarding the association of atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute pancreatitis. To test our hypothesis that AF increases mortality and clinical outcomes in patients with acute pancreatitis, we conducted a cross-sectional data review of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. The NIS database was reviewed for the collection of data on patient hospitalizations in 2016 and 2017. Patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis with and without concomitant AF were included in the analysis. The International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision coding system was used for the variables of interest. The Stata software program (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA) was used to perform statistical analyses. The chi-squared test or analysis of variance was used to identify differences in demographic characteristics between the groups. The study population included two groups of patients: those with acute pancreatitis only (n = 542,440) and those with both acute pancreatitis and AF (n = 32,790). The group with acute pancreatitis and AF had a two- to threefold higher rate of mortality [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.59; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.04–3.28] and increased length of stay (adjusted OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.08–1.48). Also, significantly higher odds of sepsis (adjusted OR: 2.49; 95% CI: 2.06–3.01), congestive heart failure (adjusted OR: 3.16; 95% CI: 2.87–3.49), acute coronary syndrome (adjusted OR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.17–2.21), stroke (adjusted OR: 3.94; 95% CI: 1.42–10.93), and acute kidney injury (adjusted OR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.30–1.55) were observed in patients with acute pancreatitis and AF relative to in patients with acute pancreatitis only. Our results suggest AF increases mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis and that patients with acute pancreatitis and AF are at greater risk of worse clinical outcomes.

To examine associations between in utero marijuana exposure and birth outcomes. In two separate cohorts (Appalachian, Rocky Mountain), data were collected from medical records. Marijuana exposure was positive based on urine drug screening at delivery, with nonexposed controls matched on multiple factors including other substance exposure. Marijuana-exposed newborns (n = 531) had significantly worse birth outcomes than controls (n = 531), weighing 218 g less, 82%, 79%, and 43% more likely to be low birth weight, preterm, or admitted to the NICU, respectively, and significantly lower Apgar scores. Marijuana exposure in utero predicted newborn factors linked to longer-term health and development issues. Effects were not attributable to other comorbidities in this study due to rigorous matching and biochemical verification of marijuana and other drug use. Findings add to growing evidence linking marijuana exposure to adverse birth and longer-term outcomes. Women should be encouraged to avoid marijuana use during pregnancy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate specific risk factors and their impact on hospital readmission risk following delivery in pregnancies affected by the hypertensive disease of pregnancy (HDP).We performed a 10-year case-control study for patients who delivered at our institution and whose antenatal courses were complicated by HDP. The primary outcome was the identification of specific patient factors contributing to readmission. HDP pregnancies experiencing readmission for HDP signs and/or symptoms were used as the cases, with HDP pregnancies not experiencing readmission randomly selected as controls. Maternal age, gestational age at delivery, gravidity, parity, and mode of delivery (vaginal including operative, or cesarean) were recorded. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were calculated over the 24 h preceding discharge. The most recent laboratory values preceding discharge for serum creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and platelets were also recorded. The presence or absence of prescribed antihypertensive medication was recorded for initial hospitalization. Postpartum readmission was defined as within 30 days of delivery. Exclusion criteria involved readmission for non-HDP cause and maternal age less than 17 at delivery.Within the study timeframe, 3601 patients with pregnancies complicated with HDP were identified. Of these, 34 patients were readmitted within 30 days postpartum for signs and/or symptoms of HDP after exclusion criteria were applied A cohort of 50 controls were used for comparison for a total of 84 participants. A diagnosis of pre-eclampsia was significantly associated with readmission (This study suggests that readmission overall for the hypertensive disease of pregnancy is rare, but that patient variables of increasing parity and presence of severe features were associated with postpartum readmission. Knowledge of these variables may assist physicians in the identification of HDP patients who are at higher risk for readmission.