DigitalCommons@KCU (Kansas City Univ.)
Not a member yet
2803 research outputs found
Sort by
A Case of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: Highlighting Diagnostic Challenges and Underscoring the Need for Standardized Treatment Protocols
Get PDFDesmoplastic small round cell tumor is a rare and aggressive neoplasm, primarily affecting serosal surfaces within the abdomen and pelvic peritoneum in young males. Because of a low reported incidence, underdiagnosis and lack of current treatment guidelines pose a unique challenge for physicians and patients dealing with this disease. Therefore, it is imperative to present new information regarding this disease so that better detection and treatment guidelines can be created. This case report presents a 30-year-old male presenting with vague abdominal symptoms, ultimately diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumor after image-guided biopsy. The ambiguity of initial symptoms highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with desmoplastic small round cell tumor, further complicated by the absence of standardized treatment guidelines. This report aims to raise awareness of this exceptionally rare cancer, contribute to the existing knowledge base, and emphasize the critical need for collaborative efforts to develop standardized treatment regimens
Review of Peripheral Blood Eosinophilia: Workup and Differential Diagnosis
Get PDFEosinophils are a type of granulocyte key to immune system modulation seen in a number of disease processes. Nearly every major organ system can be connected to peripheral eosinophilia through a number of different disease processes, ranging from benign conditions to malignancy. In this paper, we review both common and rare causes of peripheral eosinophilia, their symptoms, and a framework for the workup of peripheral eosinophilia of unknown etiology
Perioperative Blindness in Spine Surgery: A Scoping Literature Review
Get PDFPerioperative vision loss (POVL) is a devastating surgical complication that impacts both the recovery from surgery and quality of life, most commonly occurring after spine surgery. With rates of spine surgery dramatically increasing, the prevalence of POVL will increase proportionately. This scoping review aims to aggregate the literature pertinent to POVL in spine surgery and consolidate recommendations and preventative measures to reduce the risk of POVL. There are several causes of POVL, and the main contribution following spine surgery is ischemic optic neuropathy (ION). Vision loss often manifests immediately following surgery and is irreversible and severe. Diffusion weighted imaging has recently surfaced as a diagnostic tool to identify ION. There are no effective treatments; therefore, risk stratification for counseling and prevention are vital. Patients undergoing prone surgery of long duration and/or with significant expected blood loss are at greatest risk. Future research is necessary to develop effective treatments
Medical Misinformation and Quality of Public Video Content on Cannabis for Chronic Pain Management: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the YouTube Platform
Get PDFBackground: As cannabis legalization expands nationally and globally, its use for chronic pain increases, prompting people to seek information on social media platforms like YouTube. This study evaluates the accuracy and quality of information of popular YouTube videos on cannabis for chronic pain.Methods: Using search terms related to cannabis for pain, the top 66 videos by view count were selected. Each video was classified as useful, misleading, or neither. The quality and reliability of each video were assessed using the modified DISCERN, mDISCERN, score and the Global Quality Scale, GQS. The video characteristics, usefulness classification, mDISCERN scores, and GQS scores were summarized. Continuous and categorical outcomes were compared using t-test and chi-square, respectively.Results: Of the 66 videos, 22.73% (n=15) were classified as useful, and 77.27% (n=51) were classified as neither. Of useful videos, 40.00% (n=6) were uploaded by physicians, 40.00% (n=6) were uploaded by corporations, and 6.67% (n=1) were uploaded by an independent user. Of videos classified as neither useful nor misleading, news sources uploaded 27.45% (n=14) of these videos (P=0.02). Physicians uploaded 37.50% (n = 18) of videos with a GQS score ≥ 3 (P=0.04), while independent users uploaded significantly more videos with a mDISCERN score \u3c 3 (22.20%, P=0.02). Useful videos had a mean GQS of 4.00 ± 0.65 compared to a mean GQS of 2.76 ± 0.86 for videos deemed neither (P\u3c 0.0001).Conclusion: This study suggests a moderate quality of YouTube content on cannabis use for chronic pain. Given cannabis’s growing popularity and potential for misinformation on popular social media platforms, healthcare professionals and organizations should consider uploading educational videos on this topic on YouTube
Attitudes Towards Conflicts of Interest in Medical Research: A Survey of US Medical Students
No full textIndustry funds nearly two-thirds of US healthcare research, and industry-sponsorship may produce more favorable research results and conclusions. Medical students report feeling inadequately prepared to avoid negative industry influence. Research of educational interventions that educate students on the potential effects of industry influence is lacking, and no interventions have demonstrated long-term benefit. Surveying and assessing student opinions of the relationship between industry and research may help improve future educational interventions. We surveyed preclinical and clinical students at seven US medical schools regarding their attitudes towards industry conflicts of interest (COIs) in medical research. A total of 466 medical students including 232 preclinical and 234 clinical students completed the survey. Of those who had research experience, clinical students were more likely than preclinical students to look for COIs (62.0% v 45.9%, p = .014) and to consider whether author COIs are pertinent to the article (68.1% v 54.1%, p = .023). Many disagreed that they felt adequately educated on the issue of COIs (42.7%), but most agreed that medical school should take a role in guiding student interactions with industry (65.0%). Students responded that all listed financial relationships between industry and investigator, except for providing food and/or beverage, would likely bias the investigator’s research. Many students feel inadequately educated on industry issues in biomedical research, and most believe medical schools should help guide interactions with industry. Our findings support further development of educational interventions that prepare students to navigate the relationship between industry and medical research during and after medical school
Novel Design and Analysis for Rare Disease Drug Development
No full textFor rare disease drug development, the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that the same standards as those for drug products for common conditions will be applied. To assist the sponsors in rare disease drug development, the FDA has initiated several incentive programs to encourage the sponsors in rare disease drug development. In practice, these incentive programs may not help in achieving the study objectives due to the limited small patient population. To overcome this problem, some out-of-the-box innovative thinking and/or approaches, without jeopardizing the integrity, quality, and scientific validity of rare disease drug development, are necessarily considered. These innovative thinking and/or approaches include but are not limited to (i) sample size justification based on probability statements rather than conventional power analysis; (ii) demonstrating not-ineffectiveness and not-unsafeness rather than demonstrating effectiveness and safety with the small patient population (i.e., limited sample size) available; (iii) the use of complex innovative designs such as a two-stage seamless adaptive trial design and/or an n-of-1 trial design for flexibility and the efficient assessment of the test treatment under study; (iv) using real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) to support regulatory submission; and (v) conducting an individual benefit–risk assessment for a complete picture of the clinical performance of the test treatment under investigation. In this article, we provide a comprehensive summarization of this innovative thinking and these approaches for an efficient, accurate and reliable assessment of a test treatment used for treating patients with rare diseases under study. Statistical considerations including challenges and justifications are provided whenever possible. In addition, an innovative approach that combines innovative thinking and these approaches is proposed for regulatory consideration in rare disease drug development
Therapeutic Potential of Embodied Cognition for Clinical Psychotherapies: From Theory to Practice
No full textBackground
This paper examines cognitive and body-based therapies through the lens of embodiment, framing treatments as constructed experiences shaped by individuals\u27 subjective and intersubjective lived experiences. Embodiment is considered to have restorative qualities that have the potential to improve psychotherapy’s success. We address some of the limitations associated with traditional brain-based reductionist approaches and treatments in clinical psychotherapy. An argument is made for the integration of an embodied approach, empowering clinicians and researchers to evaluate and integrate embodied therapeutic processes leading to successful treatment outcomes.
Methods
This integrative review provides evidence-based practice initiatives and findings from a range of embodied research as it applies to body-based techniques in psychotherapy. It gathers and synthesizes both empirical and theoretical evidence relevant to impact the overall success of psychotherapeutic interventions. Data collection involved keyword searches of electronic databases, including PsycINFO, NCBI, PubMED, Frontiers, MEDLINE, EBM Reviews, and Google Scholar.
Results
We present an array of cognitive and body-based methodologies that can be employed to enhance embodied and enactive therapeutic practices, offering a fresh and promising perspective on psychotherapy. Analyses provide insights into current body-based therapeutic applications, highlighting how a deeper understanding of recent advances in neuroscience can enrich both therapists’ and clients’ meta-awareness of mind–body-environment connections on mental health.
Conclusions
We conclude that psychotherapy can benefit from the transformative process that occurs when individuals gain insights, skills, and self-awareness through embodied therapeutic experiences. In the context of embodied psychotherapy, learning to self-heal extends beyond the acquisition of information; it involves a deeper understanding of the connection between one’s body, thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and the interconnectedness of these elements within the environment/context. Through this process, along with the therapist, clients acquire valuable insights into the root causes of challenges, develop coping strategies, and enhance emotional regulation. The learning extends to practical skills for managing stress, improving communication, and fostering healthier relationships. Embodiment in psychotherapy encourages a form of experiential learning, where individuals actively engage with and reflect upon their internal and external world
