LSU Health Digital Scholar (Louisiana State Univ.)
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Untitled (green) by K. E. Sclafani
No full text6 x 5 Glazed Ceramichttps://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/art_med/1032/thumbnail.jp
Alternative Firing (Kintsugi) by A. D. Hollenbach
No full text9 x 6 x 6 Glazed Ceramichttps://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/art_med/1018/thumbnail.jp
The Effects of Rubber Dam Clamps on Zirconia Crown Restorations
Get PDFRubber dam isolation is crucial in providing sterility and a controlled environment when performing root canal therapy. Rubber dam clamps have been controversial due to their rigidity and composition, which is thought to cause damage to zirconia full coverage crowns. This study evaluated three types of zirconia crowns anterior 5Y, premolar 4Y, and molar 3Y to assess their resistance to damage from rubber dam clamps. Of the 30 total zirconia crowns that were tested for damage following the usage of rubber dam clamps, no fractures or chips were observed. There was no significant difference between the negative control group, and the experimental groups, showing that the post-test zirconia crowns demonstrated no measurable damage when examined under an endodontic microscope. The findings of this study suggest that rubber dam clamps pose no threat to the integrity of zirconia full coverage restorations, but more studies should be done in the future to determine the long-term prognosis of these crowns after repeated rubber dam clamp usage as well as to determine any change in chemical structure of these crowns after rubber dam clamp use
Preparing patients with cancer and their providers for climate hazards: the role of qualitative research
No full textPurpose: This comment explores the pivotal role of qualitative research for expanding knowledge and practice—and filling in gaps—around protecting patients with cancer from compounding disasters. Climate-related hazards are creating accelerating threats to population health, particularly in the realm of exposures to perilous heat and extreme weather events. Patients with cancer, including those recently diagnosed, currently undergoing treatment, or in survivorship, experience elevated risks due to their compromised health status and vulnerability to cancer care disruptions during disasters. Patients with cancer require customized support for performing both general and cancer care-specific disaster preparedness actions. Methods: A multi-disciplinary team of oncologists, psycho-oncologists, cancer researchers, and disaster public health and mental health experts is collaborating on mixed-methods research to define the best approaches for supporting patients with cancer to optimize their health and safety during exposures to hazards such as extreme heat and weather-related disasters. This comment outlines the use of qualitative approaches, including focus groups with patients and patient advisory committee members, subject matter expert interviews, and key informant interviews with cancer center professionals as a complement to detailed quantitative surveys to explicate disaster preparedness strategies and devise a “toolkit” of practical disaster preparedness resources matched to the unique needs of patients with cancer. Conclusion: Qualitative research is optimally suited for developing a nuanced understanding of how patients with cancer receive disaster warnings, make preparedness decisions, engage in protective actions, use social support, and deal with the combined stressors of their cancer diagnosis and disaster threat. Qualitative research provides critical insights into the creation and evaluation of tools to enhance disaster preparedness across all stages of the cancer journey, from initial diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship
Evaluating algorithmic bias on biomarker classification of breast cancer pathology reports
Get PDFOBJECTIVES: This work evaluated algorithmic bias in biomarkers classification using electronic pathology reports from female breast cancer cases. Bias was assessed across 5 subgroups: cancer registry, race, Hispanic ethnicity, age at diagnosis, and socioeconomic status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilized 594 875 electronic pathology reports from 178 121 tumors diagnosed in Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Seattle, and Utah to train 2 deep-learning algorithms to classify breast cancer patients using their biomarkers test results. We used balanced error rate (BER), demographic parity (DP), equalized odds (EOD), and equal opportunity (EOP) to assess bias. RESULTS: We found differences in predictive accuracy between registries, with the highest accuracy in the registry that contributed the most data (Seattle Registry, BER ratios for all registries \u3e 1.25). BER showed no significant algorithmic bias in extracting biomarkers (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) for race, Hispanic ethnicity, age at diagnosis, or socioeconomic subgroups (BER ratio \u3c 1.25). DP, EOD, and EOP all showed insignificant results. DISCUSSION: We observed significant differences in BER by registry, but no significant bias using the DP, EOD, and EOP metrics for socio-demographic or racial categories. This highlights the importance of employing a diverse set of metrics for a comprehensive evaluation of model fairness. CONCLUSION: A thorough evaluation of algorithmic biases that may affect equality in clinical care is a critical step before deploying algorithms in the real world. We found little evidence of algorithmic bias in our biomarker classification tool. Artificial intelligence tools to expedite information extraction from clinical records could accelerate clinical trial matching and improve care
Multi-level factors associated with low dose computed tomography lung cancer screening in the United States
Get PDFLow-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening is recommended for high-risk smokers to decrease lung cancer-related mortality and increase prognosis. In the U.S., the uptake of LDCT screening among eligible smokers is suboptimal. The impacts of social-environmental and individual factors on LDCT screening uptake using nationally representative dataset recommendations are understudied. The current study investigated multi-level factors associated with LDCT screening using national data. Methods: The 2017-2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, social determinants of health (SDOH) and other state-level variables (Medicaid expansion status and the number of screening facilities using American Lung Association (ALA) \u27s State of Lung Cancer) were applied. Our study outcome variance was LDCT screening among study participants who met the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for lung cancer screening. The final study sample consisted of 15640 respondents from 29 states. All analyses were weighted to account for the complex sampling design applied in BRFSS. Results: The overall utilization rate of LDCT screening is only 18.4%. The LDCT screening rate varied by state (6.2 -31.1%). LDCT screen rates were not significantly associated with the number of lung cancer screening facilities (r = 0.02, p = 0.909) but were positively associated with the number of lung cancer screening facilities per 10,000 smokers (r = 0.67, p \u3c 0.001). Among the respondents, individuals who were employed, never married, reported good health status, did not have primary care physicians, economic concerns like low income, did not have routine checkups, and did not have certain chronic conditions (i.e. cancer, asthma, COPD) had a lower utilization rate of LDCT screening compared with their counterpart. Conclusion: The use of LDCT screening among eligible smokers remains low. Enhancing access to care for high-risk individuals, promoting services to diverse racial and socioeconomic groups, and expanding Medicaid coverage to incorporate annual LDCT screening can be used to guide future lung cancer screening programs
A Compassionate Release Pilot in New Orleans
No full textThe prison population is aging and health care costs are rising. Compassionate release for the terminally ill and disabled is underutilized, especially in Louisiana, which is the state with the highest incarceration rate. This article evaluates the utilization of community physicians to improve compassionate release rates. Health care providers at a contract hospital for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections collaborated with attorneys, the Louisiana Department of Health, and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections to facilitate compassionate release for eligible individuals. A retrospective analysis of patients referred for compassionate release between August 01, 2022 and December 31, 2023 was completed. Outcomes included release rates and underlying conditions. During this time, 18 patients were eligible; most were 56 to 75 years of age, consistent with national trends. Of the 18 eligible patients, four were released, eight died while incarcerated, and six remained incarcerated. This retrospective review shows that a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach can have a significant impact
Rebecca Bealer Interview
Get PDFThis interview of Rebecca Bealer was conducted by Chandler Smith on May 23, 2025. Interview transcribed by John Gore.https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/oral_hist/1011/thumbnail.jp
Successful Medical Management of Gastrointestinal Invasive Mucormycosis with Associated Bowel Perforation in an Adolescent Patient with pre-B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
No full textRib-Sparing Scalenectomy versus First Rib Resection for the Treatment of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes
No full textNeurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS) is caused by compression of the brachial plexus (BP). Surgical intervention is pursued when conservative treatments fail. The present study aimed to investigate the mid-term functional outcomes of patients with nTOS who underwent first rib resection (FRR) compared to rib-sparing scalenectomy (RSS) using standardised patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The PROMs used included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Patient Satisfaction Scale (PSS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) and Cervical Brachial Symptom Questionnaire (CBSQ). Statistical analyses compared outcomes between the RSS and FRR groups, with regression models accounting for confounding factors. This study included 20 patients with supraclavicular nTOS, with a mean age of 42.5 ± 13.1 years and a mean BMI of 28.1 ± 5.5. There were 11 females (55.0%) and 9 males (45.0%). Mean postoperative follow-up before PROMs was 29.3 ± 13.9 months. The overall mean DASH, CBSQ and MHQ scores were 50.1 ± 34.1, 45.0 ± 42.1 and 59.8 ± 23.6, respectively. A significant positive correlation was observed between the Derkash score and time from symptom onset to surgery. Comparing FRR (n = 10) and RSS (n = 10), the DASH score was significantly higher in the FRR group (66.8 ± 36.2) compared to the RSS group (33.4 ± 22.9). No other significant differences in PROMs were found between the FRR and RSS groups. RSS and FRR were both effective in improving symptoms in nTOS, with RSS having a significantly lower DASH score postoperatively. Level III (Therapeutic)